Chapter 98. May You Find Peace
The trial began in a solemn atmosphere.
"Duke Delmark, you have claimed that the true culprit of the Empress's Palace fire incident ten years ago was not the late Empress. Do you have any evidence or witnesses to support that claim?"
"Of course."
Herdin stepped forward before Ivan with a composure so unhurried it bordered on arrogance, and continued speaking.
"First, the claim made by the Grand Empress that the late Empress attempted to murder the Princess is not true. Testimony regarding this matter will be given directly by the Princess herself, the sole survivor and witness of that incident."
Next was Blair's turn.
After taking a deep breath, Blair rose from her seat and calmly stepped forward before Ivan.
"I, witness Blair Delmark, swear to speak only the truth before the gods and His August Majesty the Emperor."
Once the Oath of Truth was completed, Ivan questioned Blair.
"I understand the witness had lost her memories of the accident from ten years ago."
"That was true until just a few months ago. However, a few months ago, I was kidnapped by an unidentified assailant, and while enduring that incident, I recovered my memories of the accident from ten years ago."
"Witness, state everything you saw that day without omission."
Blair traced through her recovered memories and recounted the truth of that day.
How Esmeralda had sensed something was amiss and hidden her in the wardrobe; how when she awoke, she had witnessed Marina Floran, a maid of the Empress's Palace who had been known as her rescuer, strangling Esmeralda.
And that she had killed that woman.
"The late Empress was not a culprit who tried to harm me, but my savior who protected my life."
Blair's words caused the audience to begin murmuring.
The late Empress, who had borne the ignominy of being a traitor who attempted to murder the Princess for a whole ten years, was actually the opposite.
"Therefore, I stand here to clear her unjust stigma, however late it may be, so that she who closed her eyes unjustly may rest in peace."
Blair spoke calmly and looked up at the Queen Mother.
Katrina's expression stiffened as she met that gaze. In that moment, the look in Blair's eyes as she looked up at her resembled Esmeralda's to a terrifying degree.
'You would ultimately drag this mother of yours into the mire to clear the injustice of that dead woman.'
Blair, having finished her testimony, returned to her seat. Behind her, she could hear the nobles whispering.
"Then does the true culprit of the incident fall back into obscurity?"
As if he had heard that very voice, Herdin spoke again at that moment.
"I reconstructed the incident based on that testimony and traced clues to reveal the true culprit. And I found both clues and witnesses."
Herdin signaled to Ruth, who was waiting nearby. Ruth then approached the Grand Chamberlain standing below the tribunal and handed him something.
The Grand Chamberlain delivered it to Ivan. It was a coin.
"What is this? It doesn't appear to be a gold coin used in Ardel or foreign lands."
"It is a coin that was in the possession of Marina Floran, the culprit who murdered the late Empress. If you take this coin to a pawnshop, you can receive an agreed-upon payment. This method was chosen to minimize direct contact with the culprit."
"Where was this coin discovered? I remember no such evidence being found at the time of the incident."
"It likely wasn't. The soldier who arrived first at the scene concealed it."
When Herdin gave a signal, a man who had been standing by stepped forward. It was the soldier who had hidden Marina Floran's coin.
He testified that he had smuggled it out thinking it was a gold coin to use for drinks, only to later realize it was no ordinary coin, and had hidden it out of fear of being punished for concealing evidence from the scene.
Ivan, watching the soldier leave, asked.
"Then do you also know who the owner of that coin is?"
"The pawnshop owner refused to testify, but fortunately, we were able to find the artisan who minted the coins."
"So who is the owner of the coin?"
Before answering, Herdin looked at Katrina. Katrina's complexion was pale as she gazed at the coin in Ivan's hand.
"Viscount Vernon."
At the name that spilled from Herdin's lips, the nobles began to murmur loudly.
"Viscount Vernon—isn't he the brother of Countess Magrid?"
At that moment, a man among the jurors leapt to his feet. It was Viscount Vernon.
"Th-this is a frame-up! I've never seen such a coin!"
"A few days ago, I contacted the pawnshop owner and confirmed that someone is still bringing that coin to receive payment. The source of the payment is still Viscount Vernon."
As if he had already anticipated Viscount Vernon's reaction, Herdin immediately presented a rebuttal. The hall grew noisy once again.
"Then the true mastermind behind the incident is..."
Viscount Vernon is the brother of Countess Magrid, who is Katrina's lady-in-waiting and confidante.
That fact alone led everyone to deduce one person, but no one dared voice it aloud.
As the tribunal buzzed with commotion, Ivan signaled the Grand Chamberlain. Understanding the meaning, the Grand Chamberlain shouted.
"Silence!"
Once the hall fell quiet, Ivan resumed the trial.
"I believe this much will suffice for witnesses and evidence. I ask the jurors to freely cast your verdicts based on these testimonies and evidences."
The nobles exchanged glances and hesitated before one by one raising the placards placed before them.
The imperial loyalists naturally leaned toward there being insufficient evidence, while the Delmark vassals opined that the testimony and evidence were sufficient to overturn the trial's verdict.
Up to this point, it was the obvious outcome that had been predictable even before the trial began.
What truly mattered was the verdict of the nobles who belonged to neither side.
Those nobles who had been watching each other began raising their placards one by one.
As a result, the final vote was nearly even, but the side deeming the testimony and evidence sufficient was slightly more numerous.
In truth, everyone knew. Herdin's claims were more credible. They were simply wary of the Emperor and the imperial family.
But the final verdict rested with the presiding judge—the Emperor.
Katrina looked at Ivan with desperation.
'Ivan can never abandon me.'
Even though he had pressed her when she failed to kidnap Blair, I am this child's mother.
She trusted her son without a doubt.
"Having reviewed the jurors' verdict and the various evidences presented, it appears there are aspects that were not considered in the previous judgment."
"..."
"While the late Emperor, your royal father, was the most dignified sovereign of the empire, he was not ashamed to admit his mistakes and always lent an ear to wise counsel. If the late Emperor were still alive, I believe he would have reconsidered the previous verdict."
Until Ivan's verdict was delivered.
"In accordance with that will, as his son, I will rectify the parts that I missed, however late it may be."
At Ivan's unexpected response, not only Katrina but even Herdin raised an eyebrow as they looked at him.
With the Emperor lending weight to Herdin's claims, the nobles who had stood on the opposing side began to cautiously lower their placards again.
Ivan observed this sight and called the Knight Commander who was waiting beside him.
"Marcus."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Immediately escort Viscount Vernon to the imperial prison and interrogate him to reveal who the true mastermind is."
"By your command."
The imperial knights, having received the Emperor's order, dragged Viscount Vernon away.
The voice of Viscount Vernon, crying out that he was innocent, echoed from the corridor, but Ivan pretended not to hear it and moved on to the next matter.
"And the injustice suffered by the late Empress must also be redressed."
"..."
"As of today, I clear the false charges against the late Empress Esmeralda Delmark and revoke the stigma of treason placed upon the Delmark ducal house."
It was the moment Herdin had earnestly longed for throughout the past ten years.
But for some reason, a lingering discomfort remained—was it because of Ivan's attitude?
He had expected that Ivan would eventually accept the evidence he presented, but he hadn't thought he would yield this readily.
'Is he cutting loose the mother whose reputation was already tarnished by rumors, to salvage his own image?'
While it was favorable from his position, Ivan's attitude, changing as quickly as flipping his palm, wasn't particularly pleasant.
"I thank Your Majesty for your fair and just judgment."
"Thanks are unnecessary. When family has misunderstandings, they should be resolved."
The word 'family' that he had always heard sounded a bit more meaningful today. Herdin found that strange, but his thoughts were cut short by the declaration of the trial's conclusion.
"With this, the trial is adjourned."
Ivan rose from his seat and extended his hand to escort Katrina. Katrina placed her hand on the hand of the son who was no longer on her side, and looked at Blair.
Blair met the emotions contained in that gaze without avoiding them.
Something venomous.
It was as if she could hear Katrina's voice screaming that. But now, she was neither afraid nor hurt by falling out of her mother's favor.
Now she had Asiel.
Katrina, who had been staring at Blair with resentful eyes for a moment, left the tribunal following Ivan.
Blair quietly watched her retreating figure.
The back of the Queen Mother, who had always seemed so large, appeared small and wretched today.
"Blair."
Herdin approached her side as she was lost in thought and enveloped her hand in his.
The two left the imperial palace and boarded the waiting carriage.
Blair quietly gazed at the passing scenery of the imperial palace through the window, then suddenly turned to look at Herdin as if something had occurred to her.
"Herdin."
His gaze had never left her from the start, resting quietly upon her as always.
Blair, who looked into those eyes for a moment, spoke.
"Let's stop by the cemetery for a moment."
* * *
Even though it was summer, a cool atmosphere lingered in the imperial cemetery. Perhaps it was because it was located far from the other palace buildings, making it excessively quiet.
The two crossed the empty cemetery and stopped before a gravestone.
[Esmeralda Delmark]
Having been stripped of her title and the imperial surname under a cloud of disgrace, she who could not even be buried beside the Emperor as the Empress—her grave would now be moved to the Emperor's side.
Recalling that fact, her heart grew heavy anew.
On the day she returned to the past and faced her second marriage, she had made a promise to herself before this very gravestone—and she had finally kept it.
'Rest in peace now, Your Majesty.'
The gently swaying wind felt as though it softly caressed her hair.
Like Esmeralda's touch from sometime ago. Like her smile.