Chapter 20: The Merchant of Benetsa 10

In an instant, Anton found himself unexpectedly accused of attempting suicide.

Simultaneously, the courtroom atmosphere, which had focused on punishing Shaylok by any means, transformed into one filled with contemptuous gazes directed at Anton for the horrific crime of attempted suicide.

‘While I dislike that Jew Shaylok, suicide is… unimaginable for a believer.’

‘To forsake the precious life bestowed by God, all for mere money… this has gone too far.’

‘In the end, they bickered over a single phrase, only for it to lead to this. Pitiful fools, they should have planned more meticulously.’

Although there were still no outright declarations of Shaylok’s innocence, those who had previously sided with Anton also vanished without a trace.

Anton’s actions had effectively amounted to a self-incriminating confession within the courtroom.

No one wished to align themselves with such an individual, and doing so risked being swept up in the prevailing atmosphere and suffering consequences.

Thus, the observers regarded Anton with chilling gazes, a fact that Anton and Portia began to recognize.

Those who had boldly demanded Shaylok’s punishment mere moments ago now trembled in fear, overwhelmed by the complete reversal of the courtroom’s atmosphere.

If this continued, Anton risked being condemned as an attempted suicide and thrown into a boiling cauldron – a terrifying prospect.

Gripped by this extreme dread, Anton desperately attempted to flee.

“W… Wait, Anton!”

“Let… Let me go! I… I can’t die like this!”

“No… You mustn’t! If you do something like that, our plan will…”

“Plan, schmlan – I don’t need it anymore! To die over mere money? I absolutely cannot accept that!”

Brushing aside Portia’s restraining hand, Anton rushed toward the center of the courtroom.

There, he knelt before the judge and Cazeros, pleading in a fervent voice.

“I… I’ll confess! I… I was aware of that phrase’s meaning! That the expression about offering one’s heart is a common idiom used among Jews!”

Anton blatantly contradicted his earlier vehement denials, driven by the desperation to avoid the ‘attempted suicide’ charge and its punishment of being boiled alive.

To survive, or at the very least, to avoid ruin alone, he could only resort to revealing the truth he had prepared for emergencies.

And observing his actions, Cazeros spoke in a chilling voice akin to a razor’s edge.

“In other words, everything you have stated in this courtroom until now has been a lie… Is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s… That’s right! The… The truth is, my business failed, and I couldn’t repay Lord Shaylok, so I resorted to this…”

“…To continue lying in this situation. Regrettably, were the collateral you offered for the deal not sufficient to repay the debt? Unless… could it be that you even forged official documents?”

“! No… No, that’s… That’s not it…”

In his attempt to mitigate his wrongdoings, however slightly, Anton’s hastily concocted excuses carried no weight with Cazeros.

“Your Honor, it appears Anton’s testimony in this courtroom has lost all credibility. As such, it seems only appropriate to impose the prescribed punishment for attempted suicide, in accordance with the principles.”

“Hmm…”

Faced with Anton’s self-contradictory statements and the resulting doubt cast upon them, the judge began to ponder the matter gravely…

Simultaneously, Anton’s expression grew increasingly haggard.

At this rate, he truly risked being thrown into the boiling cauldron.

Yet, with his credibility now in question, further excuses would be futile.

‘No… No way… Not like this… I can’t die alone… Then… Then…’

Consumed by sheer terror and losing his grip on sanity, Anton ultimately…

Disregarded Portia’s presence entirely as he revealed the truth.

“I’m… I’m sorry! The… The truth is, all of this was a ploy to defame Lord Shaylok! That… That woman offered me a large sum of money and instructed me to orchestrate this… I… I merely followed her orders!”

With those words, Anton pointed toward Portia, the prosecutor standing behind him.

Faced with the imminent danger to his life, he desperately clung to the one who had supported him from behind, exposing her involvement.

“What nonsense is this now? What is Anton babbling about, Prosecutor Portia?”

The judge’s bewildered words prompted visible consternation on Portia’s face as she spoke in a trembling voice.

“No… No! I… I would never do such a thing… Anton is merely spouting nonsense, consumed by extreme fear and confusion! I have nothing to do with this case…!”

Amidst her attempt to cover for Anton, her actions were instead perceived by the panicked man as an act of betrayal – abandoning him to save herself.

As a result, to secure his own survival, or at the very least, to avoid ruin alone, Anton produced the evidence he had always carried in preparation for such an emergency.

“Don’t lie! I… I even brought proof! You made a deal with me, offering a large sum of money! You said if I cooperated in bringing down Shaylok, you’d let me take over Benetsa’s commercial interests!”

“! Wh… What…!?”

With those words, Anton revealed a document from within his garments.

Witnessing the wholly unanticipated evidence, shock and a profound sense of betrayal etched itself onto Portia’s face.

“You… You wretch… Don’t tell me from the very beginning…”

“Did you think I’d be so easily fooled? I… I’ve been carrying this, just in case, and if you’re going to abandon me like this, I have no choice! I won’t die alone! If I must die, we’ll go together!”

With those words, Anton presented the document to the judge. Upon seeing it, the judge’s expression froze in astonishment.

Although typically lacking motivation and indifferent to his duties, the contents of this contract were such that…

No matter how apathetic his nature, he could not simply overlook it – as a proud citizen of the Benetsa Republic, he could only react with shock and outrage.

It was a contract detailing cooperation to allow the Holy Imperium to seize Benetsa’s commercial interests, along with the corresponding rewards.

It bore Anton’s distinct seal…

As well as the seal of Portia, the prosecutor and bishop hailing from the Holy Imperium, present before his very eyes.

“…This is clearly a matter that cannot be decided here.”

“I concur, Your Honor.”

Until this point, the trial had merely involved a dispute among Benetsa’s citizens.

However, the content of this document elevated the issue to an entirely different dimension.

Explicit evidence of a foreign nation’s attempt to usurp Benetsa’s commercial interests.

As such a matter could potentially escalate into an international conflict, the judge recognized that it must be addressed not within the courtroom, but by the Republic’s council.

And preceding that…

Faced with this monumental act, which could be construed as an invasion attempt by a foreign power, the judge deemed any further debate within this trial meaningless and decided to conclude the proceedings.

“The defendant Shaylok is hereby acquitted, having been unjustly implicated in the Holy Imperium’s plot to seize the Benetsa Republic’s interests.”

With those words, the judge’s gavel struck down.

In the courtroom, there was neither outcry nor cheers of relief – only the same indifference and a tinge of bitterness.

For these believers of the Church, Shaylok the Jew’s acquittal held little significance.

In this moment, the people’s focus was solely on Anton and Portia, whose fates were now intertwined with the conflict between Benetsa and the Holy Imperium.

Amidst this atmosphere, the observers filed out while the shackled Anton and Portia, hurling insults at each other, were dragged off to prison.

Thus, leaving behind the indifferent masses and the two conspirators whose grand scheme had ended in spectacular self-destruction…

Shaylok deeply bowed before Cazeros and Santana, who had rescued him from this crisis, as well as his butlers, whose faces displayed profound relief and joy.