Chapter 55: Chapter 55

Duke Marcellus then gave his opinion. The middle-aged man nodded.

"I agree with Duke Terion. We must find out more about those troops. But I heard that Prince Sylas passed through the dark forest, which is known for its bandits. We must capture those bandits, right? It’s a threat to the kingdom’s safety. Isn’t that right, General Huron?" he said, his words very subtle.

Terion grinned at Marcellus. The man was known to be very pious and respected throughout the kingdom. His words were always taken seriously. And right now, he was covering up the evidence that pointed to Virouse.

"Maybe the bandits are just obsessed with a man who has nothing to hide. They even chased Prince Sylas twice?" replied Terion.

Alvaro then asked for permission to add something. "I don’t know if this is useful, but I saw an emblem on one of the shadow troop’s uniforms. It was the emblem of Prince Virouse’s special knights."

Immediately, the room was filled with whispers of disbelief. They had heard rumors that Virouse might have planned all of this. But only Alvaro dared to say it out loud.

The judge had to call for order.

"The accusation you’ve made is very serious. If it’s not proven, you will be punished for defaming the prince," said Duke Marcellus.

Alvaro nodded. "I understand, My Lord. But I’m only saying what I saw."

Virouse smirked, his fingers tapping uncomfortably. That guard was truly a pain. He then signaled to the captain guard of the royal prison, Hidran, to come forward.

The judge read out the current situation when Hidran asked for permission to speak.

"I interrogated a slave, Your Honor. He came with Duke Terion and Prince Sylas. He claimed to be Prince Sylas’s servant. And he admitted that he secretly brought the poison to the palace on Prince Sylas’s orders."

Everyone was speechless. Who should they believe? If the servant had really come with Prince Sylas and Duke Terion, wouldn’t Duke Terion also be accused?

"Bring him forward," the judge ordered.

Hidran then walked toward Kai. The slave immediately trembled as the man pulled him to his feet. He couldn’t breathe.

Hidran dragged him roughly, causing Kai to stumble into the middle of the courtroom, creating a commotion. He quickly got up, but his left leg wouldn’t move properly.

Without thinking, Sylas moved to help him, but the guard beside him stopped him from leaving his place.

Sylas clenched his lips, staring at Kai, who was slowly staggering behind Hidran. Would that slave become a witness who would incriminate him?

Was Kai on Virouse’s side?

Kai bowed his head, standing not far from Sylas. He glanced at Sylas, who was staring at him sharply. He immediately lowered his head again. Fear crept through his body.

"What is your name?" asked the chief judge.

Kai looked up, staring at the judge fearfully. "K-Kai..."

Then Judge Sorende ordered Kai to swear to tell the truth. Kai stammered as he repeated the oath, his heart pounding wildly.

"Will you tell the truth?" asked the judge.

"The testimony you give will either count against or support Prince Sylas. So please be careful and speak responsibly."

Kai swallowed hard. "Y-yes, Master..."

The judge and everyone else were stunned by how Kai addressed the judge. The prosecutor then asked Kai basic questions and confirmed his identity. He was a slave from Omino.

Virouse looked calm and slightly bored. But this was worth the wait. The slave would be the key witness and would eliminate several people at once.

"Did you prepare the poison?" the prosecutor asked.

Huron took a deep breath. Sylas couldn’t breathe either. His heart was racing. He wanted to scream. He was completely innocent, but evidence kept showing up from everywhere. Even from the slave he had saved.

He couldn’t believe it.

Terion couldn’t stay calm either. He cursed everything Virouse had done. But he regretted not securing the slave, forgetting that a cunning snake would use anything and anyone for his own gain.

"Give your statement," said the prosecutor.

Kai looked at Sylas, his chest warming just from seeing his handsome face. He would do anything for him.

He only needed to say what Virouse had ordered, and everything would be fine.

Kai looked at the prosecutor. "I... made the poison myself. I learned it while in Omino. Then I met a servant named Misil. That servant wanted to kill His Majesty."

The prosecutor continued. "Was it Prince Sylas who ordered you to do it?"

Kai fell silent. He looked at Sylas. All eyes were on him at that moment. Then he looked at Virouse. Instantly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

His heart was racing. He looked at the prosecutor. He shook his head quickly. "No."

That one word shocked everyone. Especially Virouse. The man sat up straight, his gaze sharp and threatening toward Kai.

Kai only bowed his head.

"Can you say it clearly? Why did you make the poison, who gave you the order, and what was your intention?" the prosecutor asked, speaking for everyone.

Kai took a deep breath. "I... don’t know. I did it myself."

Sylas gaped in disbelief. Where did that slave learn to make up such a story? He was sure the slave was innocent. Kai was too innocent to make poison, let alone plan to assassinate a king. Who would believe him?

"That’s all? You did it without a reason and asked Misil to do it for you when Prince Sylas was outside the palace?"

"But where did you meet Misil? Since when? What is your relationship with her? And how did you send a message when you were far away in Omino?" The prosecutor asked because he was sure Kai had received orders from someone and was covering it up.

Kai felt his head throbbing painfully. He hadn’t expected so many questions. His stomach churned. His tongue was tied.

Sylas interrupted. He looked at Kai, seeing the slave was overwhelmed.

"Kai..." Sylas called.

Kai immediately looked at Sylas, fear clearly showing in his eyes. But when he saw Sylas, his gaze became calm.

"Kai, you don’t have to lie. Tell them the truth. Who told you to lie?" Sylas asked.

Kai stayed quiet. He was a slave, but he could still think. Anywhere, even in Omino, someone accused of poisoning another person was a criminal and deserved to be executed.

Sylas couldn’t die. Kai was too afraid to trust Virouse. What if Sylas was found guilty? Would anyone help him?

Kai was ready to be a shield. And he didn’t regret it. Even though he knew he might be tortured by Virouse before being executed. It might hurt, a lot. But he had made up his mind.

Kai looked at Sylas and smiled slightly. If he had just a moment to experience a peaceful life with that man, it might be the greatest happiness for him.

But maybe he wasn’t meant to feel happiness.

Maybe he was meant to die ever since he was in Omino. If his death could help his master, he wouldn’t regret it. Better than dying alone in Room Zero.

"Kai..." Sylas tried to speak to him. He didn’t want the slave to give false testimony. Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novｅlfire.net

Kai stared at the prosecutor, swallowing several times.

"I made the poison. I killed the King. I tried to stop Master Sylas’s carriage on the way to the palace to kill him on the road, but I couldn’t... I’m guilty." Kai spoke softly and nervously, but his words were clear, making everyone fall silent.

The prosecutor asked him again and again, and Kai only said he was guilty. That he only wanted the King and Prince dead. That he would gladly use all the slaves to make his plan succeed.

To free Sylas from the charges.

And that made everyone look at Kai like he was a monster. A disgusting monster.

But the nobles knew Kai was just a scapegoat. Still, his testimony cleared Sylas’s name and blurred the charges connected to Virouse.

They had found the culprit. As long as the royal family’s name was cleared, that was enough. No need to drag it out.

The judge had to issue a decision according to Valigria law. Kai became the only suspect after his companion, Misil, died. He would be executed on the public stage two days later.

Sylas was declared innocent and cleared of all charges. Any discussion involving Prince Sylas about it, would now be punished.

The chief judge raised his stick, signaling the end of the trial.

Hidran grabbed Kai’s hand to take him to the underground dungeon. A prison for high-ranking criminals.

But because he was too rough, Kai fell back to the floor.

This time, no one felt sorry for him. Everyone stared at him with contempt and disbelief.

Kai tried to move, but Hidran quickly grabbed him again, dragging him away with the other guards.

The trial ended, but it left a deep unease. Especially for Virouse. He was the one most affected, because it meant Sylas now had authority over the throne while King Adrien couldn’t rule.

He clenched his fists tightly, holding back his anger. After everything he had done...

And Sylas still managed to sit on the throne.

"That damned slave," he muttered. He had never been tricked . By a slave?

He had been too careless. Since when had he been so confident that he believed the slave would obey everything he said?

"Damn, damn, damn!!!" Virouse shouted many times, clenching his fists even tighter.

Sylas wanted to go to Kai, but Huron quickly stopped him.

"If you get involved with that slave, no one will be able to save your name, Your Highness," Huron warned.

Sylas felt his chest heaving. "He’s innocent. He’ll be tortured before he’s executed. I can’t let that happen."

The general was silent. "He is very loyal to you, Your Highness. If you act, his efforts will be useless. In the end, he will be executed for giving false statements. He won’t survive, whether you help him or not."

Sylas collapsed onto the sofa. He should have been happy with the decision. He was innocent. His name was clear. But he wasn’t happy at all after hearing that Kai had lied to protect him.

"Kai... why is that slave so stupid?"

Kai was the only one he ever regretted meeting.

"Why did I bring him? Why did I take him to the palace?"