Captain! Where is the Battlefield?

 

 

  Emperor Patrick cleared his throat loudly.

 

  “Tsk, I’ll ask again. Lady Sonia Amins, did you send your knights to kill a commoner belonging to the Duchess’s territory?”

 

  With his question, a suffocating silence filled the air. Sonia, unable to meet his cold gaze, looked toward Count Amins, who stood beside her.

 

  “Sonia, answer him quickly and deny it.”

 

  Under Patrick’s watchful eye, Count Amins whispered softly to Sonia. Sonia fought down her anxiety and opened her mouth to speak, but Rosalie was faster.

 

  “Your Majesty, it seems like she’s hesitant to deny it, so I will present more concrete evidence.”

 

  Rosalie gestured to Joey, who was behind her. Joey quickly got up and opened the door to the courtroom.

 

  “Our duchy’s knights arrested two of the Count’s knights, and the maid Sonia tried to kill.”

 

  The heavy doors of the courtroom opened, and the nobles watching all displayed shocked expressions. It was because the brooches of the Count’s knights were prominently displayed on their chests.

 

  Rosalie looked at the brooches as they swayed with each step.

 

  ‘I was surprised to find the brooch in their back pocket, but that just goes to show how poorly they’ve been trained.’

 

  Sonia couldn’t hide her pale complexion. As it became clear that the knights belonged to the County, Count Amins trembled as well.

 

  “This is false! Why would my daughter want to kill that subject of the Duchess?”

 

  “It was to hide the fact that Lady Sonia Amins had paid that vassal to kill me.”

 

  Rosalie immediately explained the motive, causing another uproar in the courtroom. Count Amins looked at Sonia with anxious eyes, and she, avoiding his gaze, turned her resentful eyes toward the County’s knights, who were bowing their heads in shame.

 

  Reading the look in Sonia’s eyes, Rosalie shook her head.

 

  ‘I see, she has no idea what her knights are capable of.’

 

  As the noisy conversation threatened to fill the courtroom once again, Emperor Patrick spoke up once more, his voice filled with annoyance due to the increasingly complicated situation.

 

  “Everyone, silence! Lady Sonia Amins, explain what has happened.”

 

  Sonia clenched her fists momentarily and struggled to gather her thoughts. Just as Emperor Patrick was about to raise his voice again, she managed to speak.

 

  “It’s not true…! I’ve never had a proper conversation with that vassal! Also, when the County’s knights went after her… they were merely sent to warn her because that maid, I mean, that vassal, was spreading false rumors!”

 

  Callie, who had been sitting in a wheelchair, suddenly raised her head from her slumped position and began shouting.

 

  “Lies! You pushed me into the path of a speeding carriage, and my lower body got paralyzed! Where did that lie come from?”

 

  “I’ve never done such a thing!”

 

  “Ha! I can’t believe you’re lying even after seeing me in this state!”

 

  Callie struggled in her wheelchair, trying to reach out to Sonia but was restrained by the Imperial Knights. Sonia secretly smiled at Callie’s unhesitating actions.

 

  ‘Sure, as if the nobles will believe the words of a commoner over mine.’

 

  Sonia exaggeratedly trembled as she held her hands, appearing pitiful. Her act was nothing short of repulsive.

 

  ‘How can she be so disgusting!?’ Callie thought to herself, seething with anger. The image of Sonia’s smiling face as she pushed her with all her might came to mind.

 

  “That noble lady pushed me into the path of a running carriage because she wanted to hide the fact that she financially supported me to assassinate the Duchess! She pushed me!”

 

  Emperor Patrick raised his hand to silence Callie’s outburst. At his gesture, Callie was silenced by the Imperial Knights.

 

  In the silence, Rosalie spoke up.

 

  “Your Majesty, we have already obtained confessions from the knights who were instructed by Lady Sonia to assassinate the vassal. Why would Lady Amins want to push a healthy vassal to her death? I think her actions will prove the truth.”

 

  Sonia flinched at Rosalie’s words. Patrick frowned, making a pained sound at the further complication of the situation.

 

  “That is nothing more than the vassal’s claims and speculation based on the circumstances! Your Majesty, it is not solid evidence.”

 

  Anxious, Count Amins stood up and countered. At that moment, the courtroom door opened slowly, revealing Derivis.

 

  “If there is solid evidence, then it wouldn’t be speculation.”

 

  In his hand was Sonia’s money pouch.

 

  “Why is that maid here…?”

 

  Count Amins mumbled as he saw Hilda, who followed Derivis. Sonia’s face also turned ashen as she struggled to grasp the situation.

 

  Before long, Derivis stood in front of Emperor Patrick and spoke with his head lowered.

 

  “As additional evidence, I will present Lady Amins’s money pouch and her maid, Hilda, as a witness.”

 

  “Speak.”

 

  “This money pouch was a limited-edition product that was sold at the most famous general store in the capital last year. I acquired it from the assassination guild that the vassal visited, and the guild master who can testify to this fact is currently imprisoned in the Imperial underground prison.”

 

  “Do you have evidence that this belongs to my daughter?! It could be one of the remaining four, couldn’t it?”

 

  At Count Amins, exclamation of disbelief, Derivis chuckled and took a piece of paper from his chest pocket.

 

  “This money pouch was a special limited-edition item, and each noble family received a certificate from the designer. Inside the pouch, you’ll find his signature confirming its authenticity.”

 

  Derivis presented the evidence to the judge next to Emperor Patrick. Sonia looked at Derivis with trembling eyes.

 

  ‘How did that certificate end up with Derivis?’

 

  Sonia’s gaze involuntarily turned to Hilda, who was behind him. Hilda avoided eye contact with Sonia.

 

  ‘This is why… You should have treated me well while I was still there.’

 

  Hilda ignored the piercing look at her back. Her goal was to reveal the truth here and secure her position as a palace maid safely. A position as an Imperial maid was a rarity among maids, as they were paid well and treated well wherever they went.

 

  “Furthermore, this maid of the Count witnessed a scene that supports the vassal’s claim.”

 

  Derivis turned his head and gestured towards Hilda. After hesitating for a moment, Hilda spoke.

 

  “I was the closest maid to Lady Amins. On the day of the incident, while I was away for a while, I saw Lady Sonia pushing the vassal toward the path of an oncoming carriage. 

 

  I was too shocked at the time, and I knew it wouldn’t end well for the maids who knew the secrets of their masters, so I didn’t speak out recklessly. That’s why the young lady doesn’t know that I saw her.”

 

  Hilda’s words brought a hush over the courtroom. Emperor Patrick stroked his chin with his hand and asked.

 

  “Is what you’re saying true?”

 

  “Yes. She was borrowing my robes at the time, so there’s no way I could have mistaken her. I’m so sure of it that I could swear on my life to the God of Truth.”

 

  Sonia’s breath caught in her throat as Hilda continued her testimony. It was the last straw.

 

  “It was stolen from me by the vassal! That’s why the money pouch was found in the guild.”

 

  “In that case, did you push the vassal with the intention of killing her because she stole the money?”

 

  Rosalie’s chilling question left Sonia unable to answer recklessly. As silence fell over the courtroom, Patrick glanced around for a moment and let out a bitter laugh.

 

  “Ha! I’ve never seen such a chaotic trial during my reign.”

 

  His cold voice enveloped the courtroom. At his gesture, an attendant behind him brought the Emperor’s seal.

 

  “Judges, listen. Given the overwhelming number of witnesses and evidence, I will no longer continue this trial. Is there any objection?”

 

  “No, Your Majesty. We will follow your opinion.”

 

  Emperor Patrick looked at both judges and nodded. Everyone began to focus on the final verdict about to be announced by the Emperor.

 

  “Then I will render the verdict. First, Lady Sonia Amins is undeniably guilty of assault for throwing a teapot at Duchess Rosalie Judeheart. Additionally, it is acknowledged that she attempted to murder the Duchess’s vassal.”

 

  Count Amins started to protest, but the cold glare in Patrick’s eyes silenced him. Even he could not interrupt the Emperor. Meanwhile, the judges besides the Emperor diligently recorded Patrick’s words on blank sheets of paper.

 

  “Furthermore, it is unreasonable to fully acknowledge that she intentionally gave money to the vassal. However, due to the reasonable doubts raised by all witnesses’ claims, we will take this into account in the adjustment of her sentence.”

 

  Emperor Patrick picked up the seal. Once the seal touched the paper, the result would be irreversible.

 

  “Based on the punishment suggested by Duchess Judeheart, Lady Sonia Amins is indefinitely prohibited from social activities in the capital, as well as entering the capital. And the Amins County must pay the compensation demanded by the Imperial Family to the Duchess. In addition, instead of the estate suggested by Duchess Rosalie, Lady Sonia Amins will be appointed to the furthest territory from the Capital as designated by the Imperial family.”

 

  Count Amins and Sonia were left dumbfounded with bewildered expressions. Count Amins, in particular, was devastated by the imperial punishment, which was worse than what Rosalie had told him.

 

  “The day when Lady Sonia Amins’s banishment is lifted will be solely decided by Duchess Judeheart’s judgment.”

 

  The judges handed the paper on which they had diligently recorded his words to Emperor Patrick. The Imperial Seal stamped down onto the paper like a decisive blow. With this, Sonia’s verdict had come to an end.

 

  “Furthermore, I leave the determination of the punishment for Lady Sonia Amins to Duchess Judehart’s discretion.”

 

  The two papers with the seal were handed to the judges, who then placed them in front of Rosalie and Count Amins.

 

  “This cannot be!”

 

  “…What do you mean, ‘this can’t be’?”

 

  As Count Amins grabbed the paper with trembling hands and exclaimed, Emperor Patrick became offended. However, all Count Amins could see was his daughter, who was being sent into exile.

 

  

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