chapter_0080

80 – Hearing

80 – Hearing

As Azel escorted Calix toward the Platinum Council for the hearing, she felt troubled.

Azel’s ancestor was Kaizel Tis, the protagonist of the fairy tale “The Noble Knight.”

Once a nameless commoner, he gained recognition for his exceptional swordsmanship and sense of justice during the Game of Thrones 200 years ago, receiving a title from one of history’s greatest kings, Lukael Archer Novarensia.

Since then, the Tis family had become a paragon of righteous knights, taking pride in that legacy.

Azel’s father was no different, and she was proud of him.

She vowed to become a knight who would protect the weak and be just like her father when she grew up.

However, her father was branded a traitor and killed for freeing free men who could no longer endure the lord’s tyranny.

Afterward, her mother, who barely survived, taught her to follow the justice of power, and shocked by her father’s death, Azel lived by her mother’s words.

Yet, while she acted as a bold knight carrying out orders for justice, her insides rotted away day by day.

She knew the missions were unjust, but she forced herself to brainwash her mind into believing they were just, and she endured. By the time she met Calix, she had reached her limit.

During that time, she thought that if she were ever assigned an unjust mission, she would kill the lord or the knight commander, anyone, and then take her own life.

But then she met Calix.

He was a lord more just than the rumors suggested, even more so.

He loved the common people, took the initiative to do hard work, and instead of expanding the castle, he built homes for the commoners and cultivated land so that people would not go hungry.

He loved everyone like family, and all the commoners loved him.

He was truly the lord who practiced the justice her father spoke of.

Moreover, he cared for her, who was usually aloof, and considered her, who might be a spy.

As she escorted Calix, she felt herself healing.

And at some point, she began to enjoy everything.

Escorting the lord, chatting with Lana, being a subject in Sharen’s magical experiments, learning about wealth management from Noah, and purchasing bonds for the first time—all the moments she experienced while staying in Cron were joyful and felt precious above all.

And when she crossed the line with Calix, she made a vow.

No matter what, she would protect Lord Calix, the man she loved, even if it meant her own death.

Ironically, at that moment, she understood her mother’s heart.

Her mother’s insistence on following the justice of power must have been like this.

She liked the just Calix. But now, she wished that Calix would value her a little more according to the justice of power.

At some point, it became more important to her that Calix remained unharmed than to pursue justice.

“Father… what should I do?”

She wanted to ask her father if he were alive.

What choice would be best for her… she wanted to ask if there was a way to pursue justice while ensuring Calix would not be harmed.

As she pondered, Calix’s party arrived at the hearing hall of the Platinum Council.

The doors to the Platinum Council opened.

The Platinum Council.

The political decision-making body of the empire that carries out the emperor’s orders.

Composed of 200 members, they are guaranteed a maximum term of 20 years and can exert influence when making various political decisions for the empire.

To become a member of the Platinum Council, one must be appointed by the emperor when a vacancy occurs, receive a recommendation from royalty, or obtain the recommendation of ten fellow members.

Naturally, most of them came from powerful noble families and wielded significant influence for their own and their families’ interests, with no commoners present.

To address this issue, 200 years ago, the great emperor Lukael granted titles to many commoners, allowing them to enter the Platinum Council, but over the course of 200 years, they too became just like the nobility.

As the emperor fell ill and the royal family became divided, the corruption of the Platinum Council reached its peak, and now the most malicious agenda had been raised.

The proposer of the agenda was the Northern Duke’s faction member, Boros Saturn.

The content of the agenda was that “the Crones Family is inciting the citizens to rebel against other noble territories and causing unrest, disrupting the order established by His Majesty the Emperor and disrespecting the royal family.”

In response, Boros argued that the governing rights over the Crones Family’s territory should be revoked for treason.

Most members were aware of Boros’s intentions.

They understood that he aimed to create a link between the Crones and the prince, making it appear as if the prince was favoring the nobility less, thereby encouraging more nobles to defect to the Northern Duke’s faction.

The question was how Boros would provoke the Crones to create that link with the prince, and what choice the prince would make. The hearing for Calix Crone attracted not only the members but also numerous nobles and commoners, filling the space to capacity.

“Lord Calix Crone is entering.”

“Lord Calix has arrived!”

The meeting hall, adorned with brilliant platinum, boasted a grandeur befitting the essence of the empire.

The dome of the ceiling was filled with frescoes depicting the ancient divine kings’ wars, and at the center podium stood the empire’s symbol, a platinum eagle statue, spreading its wings as if to symbolize the empire’s ironclad order.

Amidst this, Calix entered, his silver hair flowing.

Originally a quiet Platinum Council, the presence of numerous spectators made that day’s council far from serene.

Nobles frowned at the presence of commoners, while the commoners avoided the nobles’ gazes, sending looks of hope and admiration toward Calix.

As Calix stepped onto the podium, the hearing began.

“This agenda is a hearing regarding the Crones Family!”

As the voice of the presiding chair, Kalen Nuas, echoed from the podium,

the 200 members seated in marble chairs turned their gazes toward the podium in unison.

“The proposer is member Boros Saturn. The agenda concerns the charges of treason against the Crones Family. Member Boros, you may speak.”

As Kalen’s words ended, Boros stepped up.

The large figure of Boros, clad in a silver coat, slowly approached the speaker’s podium.

The wrinkles on his forehead were as creased as his greed, but he showed no sign of shame.

With eyes full of arrogance and scorn, he looked at Calix and began to speak.

“Honorable members, and loyal subjects of the empire.”

Boros’s voice was low and heavy.

At first glance, it seemed reverent, but beneath it lay the coldness of a seasoned viper.

“Today, I wish to accuse those who disrupt the order of the empire and violate the regulations established by His Majesty the Emperor.”

He began to read from the documents he had brought.

As if wielding a sword, he infused his words with malice.

“The Crones Family has disregarded the empire’s system, inciting commoners to forcibly occupy the territories of other nobles. This is not merely a violent clash; it is the destruction of the empire’s order and, indeed, ‘treason’!”

Then, an image appeared in the center of the Platinum Council.

It showed rebels from the Lenas territory receiving support from someone.

“The investigators have found that the rebels from the Lenas territory received support from those calling themselves ‘descendants of the Crones.'”

They were wrapped up so tightly that their identities were unrecognizable.

They likely could not find any connection to the Crones.

Their true nature was that they were individuals specialized in covert operations within the Golden Knights.

They would have left no evidence behind.

But the mere suspicion of such beings was enough.

“We do not know which irreverent individuals supported the Crones Family, but the circumstantial evidence is already very clear.”

The Lenas family fell due to their support.

Whether it was the Crones or someone using the Crones’ name, there existed those who sought to bring them down by exploiting the people.

That alone instilled fear in the nobles.

“The Crones Family and the traitors supporting them are conspiring to destroy the empire’s order and devour the empire.”

One supporter of the Crones was clear.

Princess Selenia Lily Novarensia.

Openly supporting the Crones, she was undoubtedly one of them, but the lords supporting her were outsiders, wizard nobles like the common people.

However, another supporter, the prince who created this situation, was a different story.

Kailos Sword Novarensia favored both nobles and commoners.

But in the current situation, it was impossible to choose both sides.

He had to direct his members on whom to support.

“I therefore request the revocation of the governing rights over the Crones Family’s territory.”

With that statement, Boros concluded his presentation.

Boros descended from the podium to applause from fellow members of the Northern Duke’s faction.

“Next, it is the speaking time for Lord Calix Crone. Lord Calix, you may speak.”

Calix Crone, who stepped onto the podium, closed his eyes for a moment.

As murmurs filled the air, Calix quietly opened his eyes.

As the murmurs gradually faded and all sound disappeared, Calix began to speak.

“Honorable members, loyal subjects of the empire, I wish to pose a question to you today.”

Calix’s voice was filled with strength and fervor.

And the next words carried an even greater shock.

“Which emperor has claimed tyranny?”

In that moment, everyone present was taken aback.

Before the shock could dissipate, Calix continued his address.

Calix’s time was just beginning.

A word from the author (Author’s note)

Thank you for your attention today.

I will return tomorrow with a more interesting chapter!

( ´╹ᗜ╹*)