Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

 

  Nathan stole a glance at the paper and muttered.

 

  “Is there a place you need to look for after the trial is over?”

 

  “Hmm, a place?”

 

  Rosalie stopped writing and looked at Nathan.

 

  “Do you remember the story I told you before?”

 

  “Of course. I have a surprisingly good memory~.”

 

  “There’s always a final villain in a book. I never intended to get involved with that villain, let alone drive them away.”

 

  As Rosalie spoke, she tapped the desk with her index finger, filling the brief silence between them with a rhythmic sound.

 

  “But I changed my mind. I want to get rid of that villain.”

 

  Rosalie murmured in a low voice. Until just before the Demon Hunting Tournament, she had no intention of intervening in the confrontation between Derivis and Nine or of getting involved in their conflict.

 

  She had just planned to throw crucial hints to Derivis as if by chance during their confrontation.

 

  ‘I never thought it would come to this.’

 

  However, Derivis had become someone important to her, and Rosalie couldn’t stand by and watch a villain threaten him.

 

  ‘It feels like I’m facing a war worse than the territorial war.’

 

  She thought that winning the territorial war would bring peace. However, she encountered a completely unexpected new enemy, and this situation felt like facing a new battlefield in a different form.

 

  “By any chance, is that villain also Derivis’s villain?”

 

  While Rosalie was lost in thought, Nathan, who was stroking his chin, asked. When she sent him a questioning look about how he knew that, Nathan simply shrugged and said it was just a random guess.

 

  “If you need help with anything, just let me know.” 

 

  “Help?”

 

  “Well, I received a lot of help from Devi.”

 

  Rosalie nodded, remembering the story of how Derivis saved Nathan. Given Nathan’s abilities, he was a help, not a hindrance.

 

  “What are you two doing here instead of sleeping?”

 

  Erudit opened the office door and asked. When Rosalie asked why he had returned to the office, Erudit said he had heard noises as he was passing by.

 

  “It’s nothing. I’m going to bed now.”

 

  “Erudit~ if you can’t sleep, let’s hang out.”

 

  “No, thank you. I’m going to sleep.”

 

  Rosalie left the bickering pair behind.

 

          ⊱⊱⊱────── {.⋅ ✧✧✧ ⋅.} ──────⊰⊰⊰ 

 

  Time passed quickly, and the day of the trial finally arrived. Rosalie was getting ready to go to the palace with Emma’s help.

 

  “Your Grace, I’ve prepared the carriage for you.”

 

  “I’ll be out in a minute.”

 

  Emma nodded in satisfaction, finishing off Rosalie’s dress with skillful hands. The dress wasn’t extravagant, but with small accessories and her hair styled elegantly, it added greatly to Rosalie’s dignified aura.

 

  “Good job.”

 

  “No, it’s nothing. It’s just what I have to do.”

 

  Rosalie pulled out the family ring engraved with the crest of the Dukedom of Judeheart as a final touch. The golden gem at its center glinted as if to welcome its long-lost owner.

 

  After finishing all preparations, Rosalie opened the door and stepped out to see Nathan standing there with a smile. Erudit was standing beside him, holding some documents.

 

  “I can’t go into the courtroom because I don’t have the qualifications, but if things don’t go your way, I’ll kill that woman for you,” Nathan said.

 

  “No, it’s okay. Just pray for me or something.”

 

  Rosalie shook her head at his sincere attitude.

 

  “Your Grace, everything is ready.”

 

  Joey, dressed in full knight’s armor, came forward and bowed his head. Rosalie nodded and walked with Erudit.

 

  The front of the palace was filled with journalists. Erudit, who was riding in the carriage with them, murmured while looking outside.

 

  “There’s an overwhelming number of journalists. It seems like everyone is very curious about this trial.”

 

  “Everyone seems interested.”

 

  “It’s probably because it’s the trial of Duchess Judeheart, the Goddess of War.”

 

  Rosalie didn’t even look out the window, frowning at the nickname. The carriage never stopped moving even as the journalists tried to grab their attention.

 

  After passing all the journalists, Rosalie got out of the carriage and headed straight to the courtroom where the trial would take place. There, she faced Count Amins and Sonia.

 

  “Did it have to go this far?”

 

  She ignored them and turned to leave, but Sonia’s accusatory words stopped her.

 

  “You refused to admit your mistake,” Rosalie said with a sigh. 

 

  Sonia glared at her without saying a word and took a step closer to her.

 

  “I don’t know what you said to Father, but he believed me. My father did. And everyone else will believe me, too.”

 

  “Sonia.”

 

  Rosalie also took a step closer to Sonia, narrowing the distance between them until not even one person could fit in between. Rosalie whispered a small question into Sonia’s ear in a voice that only Sonia could hear.

 

  “Where are the knights sent by the Count?”

 

  “Sonia! What are you doing?”

 

  The question caused a ripple effect, making Sonia’s pupils tremble, and Count Amins flinched. As his loud voice drew the attention of people in front of the courthouse, he shut his mouth and patted Sonia’s back while glaring at Rosalie.

 

  Ignoring them both, Rosalie turned around and opened the courtroom door without hesitation. Inside, a red carpet was laid out, and at the far end of the room were the flags of the Misha Empire and the symbol of the God of Truth.

 

  In the center of the courthouse, there was the Emperor’s podium with two judges’ podiums on either side. They exuded an invisible but immense sense of pressure that tolerated no falsehoods.

 

  The chairs in the courtroom were divided into two sections, with plenty of space to accommodate many nobles on either side.

 

  ‘The format of the trial is different, but the decor is similar to that of the modern era.’ 

 

  Rosalie thought to herself as she sat in the frontmost left chair. Erudit and Joey sat behind her. The courtroom door opened again, and Sonia, Count Amins, and their entourage followed, taking seats on the right side.

 

  Count Amins glared at Rosalie with all his might, but Rosalie did not even give him a glance.

 

  “Sister~” 

 

  A small voice called out, and Rosalie turned to see Bianca waving at her from the chair behind the courtroom.

 

  Rosalie also nodded at her and sent a faint smile. Bianca smiled in return and turned around, meeting Sonia’s gaze.

 

  “Hmph.”

 

  However, Bianca turned her head away sharply. Soon after, several nobles entered the courtroom and took their seats behind, and finally, the Emperor and two imperial judges opened the door and entered.

 

  All the nobles stood up at his arrival, and Emperor Patrick, who stood in front of the podium, cleared his throat.

 

  “Before we begin the trial, I will first swear before the God of Truth.”

 

  Rosalie’s gaze turned to the flag with the symbol of the God of Truth, which was decorated in the center of the wall. 

 

  The God of Truth and Justice had the ability to distinguish all falsehoods, so it was only customary for the Imperial Family and all citizens of the Misha Empire to swear the truth to the God of Truth before starting the trial.

 

  “Duchess Judeheart, do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth in the trial before the God of Truth here today?”

 

  “Yes. I, Rosalie Judeheart, swear to speak only the truth before the God of Truth, and will offer my tongue and heart to God if I break this oath.”

 

  Rosalie answered with a slight bow of her head to Emperor Patrick’s question. As Patrick nodded his head and looked at Count Amins, Sonia, who was next to him, also bowed her head and answered.

 

  “I, Alben Amins, and my daughter, Sonia Amins, also swear to speak only the truth before the God of Truth, and will offer our tongue and heart to God if we break this oath.”

 

  “Very well. All those who have set foot in this courtroom must keep in mind that they are under the eyes of the God of Truth. Let us commence the trial.”

 

  Once Emperor Patrick took his seat, all the nobles who had been standing took their seats as well. Then, the judge on the right side spoke.

 

  “The purpose of today’s trial is to mediate the appropriate compensation for Lady Sonia Amins’ assault on Duchess Judeheart, namely the charge of assault, and the punishment for Lady Amins.”

 

  After the right judge finished speaking, the left judge began to speak.

 

  “Duchess Rosalie Judeheart insists that Lady Sonia Amins be punished by staying away from the capital for the next 15 years, but the Lady refused, calling it an excessive punishment. Today’s trial will seek to mediate this matter.”

 

  As soon as the judge finished speaking, Rosalie raised her hand. All eyes in the courtroom turned to her.

 

  “Do you have something to say, Duchess Judeheart?”

 

  “I would like to add charges. Sonia Amins attempted to kill a subject who belonged to my territory.”

 

  “That’s ridiculous!”

 

  Count Amins rose from his seat, raising his voice. The inside of the courtroom became noisy with the murmurs of the nobles.

 

  “Everyone, quiet!”

 

  As the room became excessively noisy, Emperor Patrick slammed the gavel hard. The courtroom fell silent like a mouse.

 

  “Duchess Judeheart, do you have evidence to support your claim?”

 

  “I will submit it.”

 

  Rosalie submitted the documents she had prepared earlier with Erudit, and Emperor Patrick’s face hardened as he read them. 

 

  “Lady Sonia Amins, please rise.”

 

  Following Patrick’s command, Sonia slowly stood up from her seat.

 

  “We will examine whether Duchess Judeheart’s claims are true or not.”

 

  Beside her, Count Amins looked anxiously at Emperor Patrick in the unexpected situation. Sonia, who had completely stood up, clutched her trembling hands.

 

  “Did you send the County’s knights to kill the duchy’s citizen?”

 

  “My daughter would never do such a thing!”

 

  The response that burst out came not from Sonia, but from Count Amins.

 

  “I asked Lady Sonia Amins!”

 

  However, Emperor Patrick raised his voice as if to say that he would not tolerate any interruptions. 

 

  Seeing his angry face, Count Amins lowered his tail and closed his mouth.

 

 

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