Chapter 438: Trial That Defies Fate (3)

“The Blood Shackles are a force of absolute compulsion placed upon a lower-ranking vampire by a higher-ranking one. The Elders directly control the blood of their Ancillae, robbing them of the ability and even the will to resist. A retainer can never betray their maker. However…”

Murmurs erupted all around the room.

A few vampires turned to look at Tyr, wondering if they ought to stop Lyre from continuing.

But Tyr did nothing to interrupt, silently allowing Lyre to go on.

With the Progenitor’s tacit permission, Lyre continued her testimony.

“My father hoped my mother would rebel, that she’d break free of the Blood Shackles and stand on her own. Only then could he return to savoring her blood, as a gourmet. He turned her into an Ancilla, made me a Neonate by sharing his blood, and then gave me more blood to make me an Ancilla again. He twisted the shackle and tangled the hierarchy, all to orchestrate rebellion. And more than that, he forced us to attempt it.”

A maker removing their own shackle was shocking, but somewhat acceptable. It even made sense that the one who bound it could unbind it.

But for a retainer to undo the shackle on their own?

That was unacceptable.

These vampires had retainers of their own.

A retainer who rebelled meant their own limbs acting without control.

And no one would be pleased when their hands move against their will.

The vampires turned a cold gaze on Lyre.

“…In the end, it became the very noose that strangled him. My father proved his method worked because I was the one who ended him.”

Maybe sensing the mood in the room, Lyre didn’t say how.

Was that wise?

Or did she not realize the vampires might want her dead more for withholding it?

Or maybe she just didn’t care what happened to her anymore.

Her words were strange.

I thought she was pleading for her life, but all she’d done was lay bare her father’s sins.

A scandal is still a scandal, even if the subject is dead.

Her goal seemed to be tarnishing the reputation of a long-gone Elder.

She was… oddly twisted.

Deeply concerned with the lives of others, but completely detached from her own.

Even now, I couldn’t feel a shred of fear in her at the thought of death.

“If I am to be judged guilty for the crime of rebellion, then so is my father, who forced my mother and me to commit it!”

An oppressive stillness settled over the room.

After delivering her lengthy testimony, Lyre waited for the Progenitor’s judgment with a face expressionless like any vampire.

It was truly unexpected and scandalous enough to shock everyone present, but… it changed nothing.

“So, you are saying you killed Luscynia.”

“Yes, I am.”

“This trial exists to uncover the truth behind the Elder’s death. Whatever circumstances you had, they do not matter. Circumstances do not change the outcome of what you have done.”

Tyr remained unmoved, as was fitting for the Progenitor.

Even if her heart beat again, even if her senses had returned, her long years of experience had not vanished.

She, more than anyone, knew that getting caught up in every minor detail would make judgment impossible.

The crime was clear.

Tyr’s voice was quiet but solemn as it echoed through the hall.

“Nothing has changed. I hereby pass judgment on the criminal, Lyre Nightingale—”

“I object.”

The voice came from nearby.

Tyr turned sharply, almost startled by the sudden interruption.

In her eyes was… me, standing with my hand raised.

“Hu?”

“Tyr. No, things are different now. The situation’s changed.”

“Changed? How?”

“That last testimony. If what she said is true… then this trial must be overturned.”

– Step. Step.

I walked down from the podium.

Standing squarely in front of the accused, I looked up at Tyr and asked.

“Your Honor, according to Lyre Nightingale’s statement, Elder Luscynia also attempted to break free from the Blood Shackles. Is there no room for leniency, given that fact?”

Tyr was taken aback, but adjusted quickly, responding in a composed manner.

“Even so, it changes nothing. Only I have the authority to judge an Elder. Whatever crimes Luscynia committed, the moment he was killed without permission, punishment became inevitable. Even setting aside the fact that no one can now investigate Luscynia’s alleged crimes.”

“So only the Progenitor can judge an Elder? Then what about other Elders? Are they forbidden from judging one another?”

As I said that, I stole a glance at Valdamir.

He, too, was a vampire.

He showed no reaction to my words—none visible at least.

Though he was clearly paying close attention to my every move.

“Of course. Elders must not kill other Elders.”

Then… what if the truth hidden between two culprits looked like this?

“What if it wasn’t ‘another’ Elder?”

“…What?”

To a vampire, their retainer is an extension of themselves.

Defiance is like your own limbs rebelling and strangling your neck.

“You all know it too. That Ancillae cannot resist their maker. That’s why what Lyre did is so shocking and unbelievable.”

But what if that limb didn’t rebel?

“What if it wasn’t rebellion?”

We would call that suicide.

“What if Elder Luscynia’s death… was something he planned himself?”

What would that mean then?

An unfamiliar murmur swept through the room.

Even the cold-hearted vampires couldn’t stay silent at my words.

The atmosphere became restless and their thoughts, even more so.

What everyone assumed would be a show trial built on circumstantial evidence and distorted memories had taken an entirely unforeseen turn.

Outbursts echoed from all sides, mostly from the coven who had lost their Elder.

“This is outrageous!”

The Ancilla who had been disected by Valdamir earlier shouted.

Her feather-planted form bristled, her whole body puffed up with menace as she approached me.

I welcomed her with a smile.

“Oh, the opposition has arrived. Are you my opponent, then?”

“Vampires? Committing suicide? That’s absurd!”

“You must not know this, being a vampire, but in the human world, suicide—or behavior close to it—is more common than you think.”

“That’s the weakness and foolishness of livestock! There’s no way Lord Luscynia would ever choose such a thing! He was powerful and ruthless!”

“Maybe so, but it’s not only the weak or foolish who do such things. There are people who climb sheer cliffs with their bare hands, challenge unbeatable foes to duels, or charge into enemy camps alone. Those who seek to test their limits often throw themselves into danger.”

If we’re talking about a mad Elder who implants feathers into his Ancillae, adds an extra joint to their arms, and attaches membranes so they can fly like bats, then twisting the Blood Shackles wouldn’t be out of the question either.

“From what I’ve heard, the late Luscynia was quite the risk-taker himself, no? Wouldn’t the Luscynia you knew be the type to attempt such a thing?”

“Hmph. That’s all conjecture. You have no evidence.”

A vampire was still a vampire.

She didn’t fall for my pacing and instead pointed out the flaw in my reasoning with precision.

“All you’ve suggested, consort, is a mere possibility. It’s true. Lord Luscynia could have done such a thing. With his nature, yes, it’s not impossible. However…”

The Ancilla pointed directly at Lyre.

“If the culprit is Lyre Nightingale, then we don’t even need to consider that possibility. She had the motive and she acted. She took Lord Luscynia’s Primordial Essence. She even confessed her guilt! The truth is plain as day.”

The other vampires nodded.

Murmurs of “That’s true,” and “It’s obvious,” rippled through the audience.

The Ancilla straightened herself before addressing the Progenitor with a deep bow.

“I mean no offense, but I question the consort’s intent in muddying the issue. I humbly ask that the Progenitor will deliver a clear and firm judgment.”

“Hm…”

｢I’m sorry, Hu, but she is not wrong. Simply raising a possibility will not be enough to overturn this judgment. If you truly wanted to save the girl, you should have given me advance notice. Had you done that, I could have spoken with Valdamir and Kavila and declared her innocent.｣

Oh?

If I’d just said so ahead of time, she’d have been acquitted?

That kind of move never even occurred to me.

I guess the Progenitor really can bend the rules like that.

But don’t worry, I didn’t take up her defense to save Lyre.

I did it to uncover the truth.

The truth matters.

And curiosity can’t be satisfied with mere lies.

“Motive. Action. Evidence. You said the accused has all three, didn’t you?”

The Ancilla’s logic was sound.

If this were a Military State’s court, she’d be convicted without question, setting aside the fact that in the State, the point is often just to get results.

But this is the Duchy, a land ruled by vampires.

“I intend to disprove all three with one thing: ability.”

“Ability?”

“Yes. With her ability.”

In this country, where no retainer vampire can even think of defying their maker…

“Intent to rebel, attempts to do so, even succeeding in taking the Elder’s Primordial Essence… none of it could have been done by Lyre Nightingale herself.”