Ch.146Governance (5)

“…I see no reason to reduce the sentence.”

The judge of the Dijon Central Court, who took over the trial, rubs his throbbing temple as he reads through the prosecutor’s indictment.

Why on earth did they transfer this kind of case here?

No matter how he looks at it, there’s nothing that warrants overturning the original verdict. If the first court had just prohibited appeals and handled the judgment themselves, this would have been over quickly…!

Could it be that they dumped this on me because the defendants have status and they didn’t want to deal with them…?

“I believe the sentence should be increased.”

“Haah… I agree.”

Even the sentences for mere accomplices are far too lenient.

Simply being part of a mob creates significant intimidation for victims and is no different from supporting the ringleader’s criminal acts.

Not only did they harm His Majesty’s assets—his officials—but they also roamed the Governor’s Palace in groups, exercising force and intimidation, and attacked a Lotharingian soldier on guard duty.

It’s a matter of scale and intensity, but the overall form is identical to treason.

Yet they got off with just six months of house arrest and education? Is this a joke?

“In my opinion… the judge in Lutetia seems to have been quite lenient with them.”

“You mean, ‘Stop fighting, go home quietly, and I’ll be merciful’? Something like that?”

“Yes.”

If that was the judgment, they shouldn’t have allowed an appeal…!

…Tsk, fine. It’s not a completely incomprehensible decision.

If they were shown mercy but failed to recognize it and instead demanded more leniency, anyone would lose the will to be merciful—especially since these aren’t uneducated commoners.

‘…I need to finish this quickly before it catches His Majesty’s attention.’

His Majesty’s standards go beyond strict to cruel. Especially when the subject of his evaluation is someone with power.

Crimes that might be overlooked for commoners receive vastly different treatment when committed by nobles or clergy or other powerful figures.

Under His Majesty’s motto, “The noble bear obligations,” Lotharingian law and its successor, Carolingian law, become increasingly harsh—beyond merciless—as one’s status rises.

Moreover, here at the Dijon Central Court, there are too many eyes watching to allow for lenient judgments, and these people who stubbornly pushed their way up here are highly likely to reject the verdict.

If that happens… the punishment inflicted on them will become even more severe.

Resisting and defying a just verdict is also considered a crime.

“What will you do?”

“…Shouldn’t we conclude this as quickly as possible?”

“I have the exact same thought.”

This profession is truly unbearable.

Not only do we decide others’ lives, but their very existence—some might enjoy this kind of power, but it absolutely doesn’t suit my temperament.

……….

“What is the meaning of this?!”

As expected, the sentences for the nobles and clergy who caused a disturbance at the Carolingian Governor’s Palace were not reduced at all.

Even though Dijon University had begun producing graduates, and there were many law specialists throughout the country, the defendants didn’t even consider appointing them as defense attorneys.

How dare commoners judge the noble? That right belongs solely to His Majesty and God.

“How dare you judge me…!”

For those who had spent their entire lives secluded in their domains, the concept of being subject to the same laws they used to govern commoners was completely unthinkable.

But what could they do? The verdict had already been delivered.

They had no more chances left.

“Three years…? The sentence has increased!”

“I was under house arrest, so why has it changed to 18 months of labor?!”

Not only was the sentence not reduced, it had actually increased.

Though the prosecutor’s charges remained unchanged, the judges of the Dijon Central Court had delivered a completely different verdict.

While only the defendants—no, the criminals—failed to understand anything about the situation, the prosecutor and judge were inwardly smirking bitterly and shaking their heads.

“Summon His Majesty at once!!”

“…We don’t have the authority to summon His Majesty.”

“Of course a commoner like you wouldn’t! We are requesting an audience with His Majesty in the names of all of us here!!”

“Haah…”

The prosecutors, seemingly unable to bear this long, unpleasant relationship any longer, turn their heads away to remove the defendants from their sight. The judges, who can’t avoid facing them directly, continue to endure their stares.

“You don’t have the authority to summon His Majesty either. You are criminals caught in the act of committing serious offenses, and visits from outsiders who are not relatives, employees, or attorneys are prohibited.”

“Outsiders?! Are you looking down on us because we’re from Carolingia?!”

“…That’s not it. ‘Outsiders’ refers to individuals with no connection to this case—”

“You commoner bastards!!”

The judge, who had been calmly explaining, grimaces at the sudden outburst.

Not out of fear, but out of disbelief.

Even in this situation, they still assert their social superiority? What world have these people been living in?

Do they expect such outbursts to change their situation?

“His Majesty! Let us see His Majesty!!”

“We cannot accept this trial!!”

“Damn it!! Let’s all go to His Majesty!!”

“Guards, guards!!”

The commotion eventually erupts into a massive riot.

Although they were caught in the act, they hadn’t been formally convicted yet, so they weren’t restrained, and because of this, the courtroom instantly descended into chaos.

Though they carried no weapons due to prior body searches, it was still overwhelming to control more than ten adult men who refused to comply and were acting out.

Soldiers on duty nearby rushed in immediately, but the heated atmosphere in the courtroom wouldn’t easily subside.

“Surrender and get down!!”

“You dare demand my surrender?!”

The nobles and clergy had no weapons or armor, but because of this, the soldiers hesitated to use their weapons. They merely extended their swords, slowly approaching while demanding surrender.

Moreover, the highly agitated nobles and clergy, far from being intimidated by the swords, had their judgment clouded by fear that if they remained passive, they would suffer unjust punishment along with dishonor.

The courtroom, which until moments ago had only been filled with raised voices, now became a powder keg ready to explode.

“What’s all this commotion?”

And at that moment, Claude enters the courtroom, opening the door.

……….

“Your Majesty!!”

The judges and prosecutors, who recognized Claude from his frequent visits to the university, immediately shouted and bowed their heads, causing the heated atmosphere in the room to instantly cool.

The lower nobles and clergy stared at Claude with wide eyes, while the soldiers, seemingly confused about the situation, hesitated before offering brief bows to Claude.

No matter how suddenly His Majesty had appeared, this was still a real situation—they couldn’t take their eyes off the criminals or let the encirclement collapse while paying respects, as no one knew what might happen.

“…So, what’s going on here?”

Just moments ago, I was admiring the good facilities, but the courtroom before me now is in complete disarray. It looks almost like a livestock pen.

“Your Majesty…! Please hear our petition!!”

“Petition?”

While I’m looking around the chaotic courtroom in bewilderment, such words emerge from among those surrounded by soldiers.

A petition? Do they want to ask me for something?

Given the surrounding circumstances, it’s impossible to think this is a normal request, but I should at least hear them out.

“…”

The judges and prosecutors, seeing criminals making direct appeals to the king, sense their fate and their expressions darken, but Claude, focused on the criminals, doesn’t notice this change in expression at all.

“Very well, a petition. Let’s hear it.”

“These uneducated commoners dare to falsely accuse us!”

“They’re imposing ridiculous punishments on us and preventing us from having an audience with Your Majesty! Please punish them!”

“They’re completely separating us from the Carolingian Governor, preventing us from giving any policy advice, and even on the grounds that we were educating ill-mannered commoners—”

“Enough.”

Ugh, so noisy.

From what they’re saying, these must be the nobles and clergy who caused a disturbance at the Carolingian Governor’s Palace before.

They’re all talking at once, making it hard to understand, which is irritating, and the nonsense coming from their mouths is making it even worse.

“Uneducated? Aren’t those people legal professionals who completed the law curriculum at Dijon University?”

“Audience? What audience does a criminal caught in the act need? What do you expect to achieve by seeing me?”

“From what I heard, you tried to enter the Governor’s Palace without prior appointment and were stopped. Speak properly, will you? And education? By what qualification are you educating anyone? Are you a professor or something?”

The expressions of the nobles and clergy freeze dramatically. They look as if they never expected me to say such things.

No… that dumbfounded expression… ah, never mind.

“Listen, judge.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“From what I can see, these people seem to have started a riot because they refused to accept the verdict. Is my assessment correct?”

“Your Majesty’s assessment is correct.”

“If someone defies a verdict and commits acts of violence in court, I believe the punishment can be as severe as death. Is there any error in my recollection?”

“…No, Your Majesty.”

At the mention of the death penalty, the courtroom falls completely silent. Not even the faintest breath can be heard.

Well, the maximum penalty is death, but there’s no minimum penalty specified in that law.

Since the court system isn’t fully established yet, they set the maximum penalty as death to intimidate those who might take the court lightly. Unless they riot in court and kill a judge for defying a verdict, the punishment won’t actually be death.

“Judge them according to the law.”

Hmm, just to be safe, I should specify that they be punished according to the law.

The judge might mistreat them just because they showed such disgraceful behavior in front of me.

“According to the law…! Yes, I will do so, Your Majesty.”

When I mention “according to the law,” the judge makes a gloomy expression before nodding.

Is he annoyed because his workload just increased?

I understand that. I also get very irritated when unexpected work pops up, so the judge must feel the same way.