Chapter 416: Trial
Facing the mirror, Astrid tied the black bow neatly in front of the girl’s clavicle, smoothed the collar, and half-bowed her body. Her arms circled around Amalia’s smooth, flat back, gently adjusting the hem of the dress.
Then, she reached under the skirt, carefully feeling around. Seemingly sensing her sister’s movements, Amalia relaxed her body, and her two legs, wrapped in delicate white silk stockings, quietly straightened.
After helping Amalia adjust the petticoat, Astrid finally stood up. Gazing at the pale, black-haired little girl before her now dressed in a pure black Lolita dress radiating a cool elegance, she nodded in satisfaction.
According to the etiquette of the Valeria Empire, scenes of a hearing were required to wear black.
Given the novel’s description as "A Blonde, White-dressed Tyrant Empress", and with that established impression, the outfit Astrid let Amalia wear had typically been styled in soft, sweet, pure-white feminine dresses. The sudden switch to pure black now accentuated that inherent coldness even more.
Still, she looked equally beautiful.
One could say her little princess had such good fundamentals that she looked good in everything.
Amalia placed her hands on the edge of her skirt, lifted her knees slightly to tap the tips of her shoes, and gazed at her reflection, her tights, dress, gloves, and little leather shoes all pure black. The stark contrast between her snow-white skin and the dark fabric once again affirmed the timeless, unique visual appeal of black and white.
"Let’s go, sister."
"Mm."
Taking Amalia’s hand, Astrid followed Elise out of the bedroom and boarded the carriage heading to the court under the midday sun.
Thirty minutes later, at the Royal Court located in the northern part of the imperial capital, several rows of solid wooden benches rose upward beneath the solemn statue of the Emperor. A few specks of dust floated in the air, forming transparent beams of light.
As the political center of the entire empire, those who stood trial here were none other than extraordinarily high-ranking nobles and wealthy merchants.
Today, this long-unused Royal Court finally welcomes its new guests.
Amidst the noisy footsteps, Astrid and Amalia took their seats on the right side of the jury bench. This was the most comfortable spot for observers and also the gathering place for the Crown Prince’s faction. Surprisingly, Finance Minister Florence was seated in the row directly in front of them.
"To dare tamper with the tribute offered to the Emperor, Viscount Rostlin is growing bolder by the day."
"Though his title may not be stripped, if the charges are proven, he’ll certainly lose all dignity. I wonder how a noble who’s been tried can hold his head up in his own fief."
"No one should commit such a heinous act."
"Such a man has already tarnished the glory of the Valeria Empire."
Listening to the whispers around her, Amalia placed her hands on her two slender, smooth silk-covered legs, sitting upright and obedient. Her petite, delicate frame seemed somewhat out of place on the large jury bench, but thanks to the petticoat Astrid had prepared in advance, the awkwardness was slightly reduced.
Finance Minister Florence also heard the conversations, but as a trusted aide of the Emperor, making personal judgments before the trial was clearly an unprofessional act. Thus, he remained silent, his wise gaze fixed on the court ahead.
A moment later, a commotion arose from the jury benches as a golden-haired man in a long black robe entered the courtroom.
The man had a handsome face and a slender build, his wavy hair cascading over his shoulders. His pure black noble’s robe bore dark gold patterns at the cuffs, signifying his extraordinary status.
At this scale, an unaware observer might have mistaken him for Viscount Rostlin, the main defendant of today’s hearing.
Astrid politely greeted Lucas. The next second, another person appeared. As if deliberately provoking the Crown Prince, Alistair followed closely behind, greeted by an even louder uproar than before.
This time, the two princes showed no restraint. Alistair walked straight to his allies, his blue eyes casting a sidelong glance at Lucas, his arrogance clearly evident.
Lucas was equally unyielding, a mocking curve forming at the corner of his lips.
In his view, this trial was a sure victory, Viscount Rostlin would be humiliated in public, and Alistair, standing behind him, wouldn’t escape unscathed.
When that happened, everyone would understand that Alistair lacked the ability to compete for the throne.
Having observed every detail, Astrid remained silent. She elegantly crossed her long legs, wrapped in smooth black silk, and quietly placed her hand over Amalia’s back.
During the time Hibbort had been absent, the confrontation between Alistair and Lucas had continued to intensify. This wasn’t just today, just a week ago, they had already clashed covertly due to political dissents.
Now, they were merely bringing the vortex hidden beneath the surface into the open.
Time passed quietly. When the wall clock’s hands pointed to nine, a line of black-clad attendants filed in, bringing Viscount Rostlin, the central figure of this incident.
Unlike Astrid’s humiliating appearance in prisoner’s garb during the Sword of Light Trial, Rostlin now wore a luxurious robe. Aside from slightly unkempt stubble, his outward appearance remained that of an imperial noble whom commoners had to look up to.
On the other side, the witness presented was Rostlin’s new butler, a middle-aged man around thirty with deep-set eye sockets.
All participants in the trial were now present. With Hibbort absent, the authority to deliver the verdict fell to the presiding judge seated at the center of the northern end of the courtroom. He wore a red robe and a pure gold honeysuckle badge on his chest, his back facing the portraits of past judges.
Royal Judges were appointed directly by the Emperor, representing justice and fairness under imperial rule.
"Viscount Rostlin Eric, you have been brought to court by your butler on charges of tax evasion," the Royal Judge spoke slowly.
Candlelight flickered, and the sound of heels striking the floor tiles rang out as Rostlin stepped onto the defendant’s stand, facing the judge with his back to the nobles.
"This is a false accusation."
The man’s voice was deep and resonant, his posture upright and dignified. Standing on the steps covered by the anti-magic barrier, he appeared neither subservient nor arrogant, as if facts were truly as he said.
"Because I refused his request for a salary increase, he slandered his master."
"This kind of despicable man is the one who should be standing where I am now."
After hearing this, the judge waved his hand, signaling an attendant to bring forth the evidence. In less than half a minute, two thin stacks of parchment were placed on the evidence tray and brought before the silver scale symbolizing justice.
"These are the detailed tax receipts. According to the accusation, during the collection of rice tax from tenant farmers in his domain, Viscount Rostlin secretly withheld a portion."
The Valeria Empire’s agricultural tax depends on three parties: the Emperor, the nobles, and the tenant farmers. The Emperor’s share going into the treasury was stipulated by clear legal statutes, requiring landowners of all ranks to pay quarterly. The amount of land tax paid by tenant farmers to the nobles, however, was determined by the landowners themselves.
However, after Hibbort took power, he implemented a new Rice Tax Law with an iron fist. In addition to refining tax rates based on farming conditions, he also set a maximum limit on the land tax nobles could impose, ensuring the stability of the lower social strata. Of course, this premise relies on nobles actually abiding by the law.
"The stack on the left is the tax inventory submitted by Viscount Rostlin to the royal household. The stack on the right is the quarterly harvest data collected by the accusation. There is a clear difference between the two sets of data."
"Comparison shows that Viscount Rostlin concealed at least thirty percent of the tax."
"This is no small sum."
The cold male voice echoed through the courtroom. Astrid leaned forward with mild amusement, resting her elbow on her thigh, causing the smooth fabric to dip slightly, unintentionally revealing the softness of that patch of skin.
It was evident that the butler on the accusation’s bench was the hidden trap Lucas had planted for Viscount Rostlin. Based on her understanding of the Crown Prince, the latter must have obtained definitive evidence before daring to so openly challenge Alistair.
Now it remains to be seen how the Second Prince will salvage the situation.
Amalia listened to the judge’s statements, her crimson eyes reflecting Rostlin’s back, her soft pink lips lightly pursed.
Before coming to the hearing, Astrid had discussed some new ideas with her, one of which was that she no longer needed to completely hide her own talents.
Hibbort’s illness was most likely a false report leaked for public consumption, intended to expose restless factions within the country and simultaneously test the actual capabilities of the various imperial heirs.
Astrid doubted whether this test included only the two princes publicly known.
If he knew Amalia’s existence, then all previous hints point to one conclusion: he hoped Astrid could appropriately reveal Amalia, or perhaps her abilities.
From the Emperor’s perspective, appearing as a timid, helpless little girl in front of others merely proved Amalia had excellent emotional control, but did not demonstrate her potential in politics, especially considering the possibility that Livia Calliste truly held the mindset of a little girl outwardly.
As she pondered, the evidence was projected before everyone via light magic. Alistair gazed at the translucent screen in the air, a flicker of coldness flashing in his eyes.
"Your Honor, making a judgment based solely on a few pieces of paper seems overly hasty."
Viscount Rostlin showed no sign of panic, merely turning his head to glance at the middle-aged man standing beside him, making the accusations.
"Not even the Emperor’s personally appointed Inspector raised any objections to the submitted rice tax data. How can this individual’s personal collection of annual rice yields be considered valid?"
"The possibility that he forged the data is not low."
Inspectors were a special oversight body under successive emperors, directly belonging to the Valeria Imperial Household, tasked with periodically purging lawbreakers within the imperial system and conducting certain tax audits.
Hearing this, Lucas, who had previously remained silent, gave a disdainful smile and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Your Honor, Viscount Rostlin seems quite skilled at justification."
"The Inspector he mentioned is currently outside the courtroom. Perhaps we should invite him in for everyone to see."
Having said this, Lucas signaled to his aide, who immediately stood and brought in a brown-haired man dressed in black.
"He has already admitted to colluding with Viscount Rostlin in dirty deeds that harmed imperial interests."
"Here are also property purchase documents from his wife and servants as evidence."
The large amount of real estate investments held by his associates undoubtedly confirmed the man’s guilt. Even Astrid was somewhat surprised, Lucas had managed to conduct the trial so flawlessly.
However, Hibbort’s appointed personnel meant the Crown Prince’s actions were becoming increasingly reckless.
Or perhaps... this had the Emperor’s tacit approval...
Not only, but many around Alistair also considered this possibility, frowning accordingly.
Realizing this trial was no longer merely political maneuvering between the two sides, but had turned into a personal showcase for Lucas to demonstrate his authority to the capital’s nobility, Alistair’s expression grew even darker. He immediately interrupted the proceedings.
"The Royal Court does not allow two trials to proceed simultaneously."
"Furthermore, does my elder brother mean to say that a trusted servant of our father would betray the Emperor for personal gain? That seems rather implausible."
"Though the Inspector holds no noble title, he is essentially the Emperor’s eyes and ears. His review methods are similar to, and even stricter than, those of the Imperial Guards. Combined with the Emperor’s favor and support, how could he be so easily betrayed?"
In truth, compared to the Emperor’s trust, the exalted status, and the generational privileges bestowed upon the Inspector, the real estate assets Lucas presented were indeed insignificant.
In other words, the benefits did not outweigh the risks. Only a greed-blinded fool would take such action.
"The purpose of a trial is to let the public understand the criminal’s infringement and impose appropriate punishment."
Alistair raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to look at the transparent crystal ball at top the silver scale, recording the trial process.
"Can my elder brother present the entire procedure of your private interrogation?"
"After all, a peak tier Magnus healing magic can easily cure a prisoner’s external injuries."
The implicate was clear, Alistair was criticized Lucas’s arbitrary conduct during Hibbort’s supposed illness, suggesting the testimony might have been obtained through torture.
By now, the courtroom was filled with tension. Alistair’s argument wasn’t targeting the evidence itself, but rather the Inspector’s motives and status. Only the Emperor had the authority to judge his trusted aides. Lucas, merely a prince, had no right to interrogate or punish such a person.
If Lucas dared to publicly present the interrogation process, Alistair wouldn’t just lose this trial, the Emperor still lived. If even such a transgressive act could be tolerated, it would mean Hibbort had already chosen his successor and was beginning to pave the way for him.
Upon hearing this, Lucas narrowed his eyes, his emerald gaze fixed coldly on Alistair across the way.
On a day when Hibbort’s exact condition remained unclear, he indeed had no confidence to openly reveal his hand.
"My younger brother speaks correctly. A trial should be fair."
"But his sources of funding do indeed contain significance."
Seeing Lucas unwilling to dwell further on the matter, Astrid who had been watching the spectacle for a while, spoke calmly.
"Your Honor, today’s main focus should be Viscount Rostlin."
"Since the two princes hold opposing views, and the Inspector’s funding sources are questionable, he should be removed from the witness stand."