The next day.
The trial of the trash and its appendages has finally begun.
'Actually, it's a trial.'
The evidence was already clear, a confession had been received, and public opinion had completely turned around, so it was simply a place created to announce the punishment.
In any case, the trial was held publicly in a large square.
It may be that they intentionally announced it in front of many people to divert the cause of the disaster and the anger of the imperial people towards them.
'Anyway, I'm telling you, he's a genius when it comes to thinking outside the box.'
I sat on the high throne and glanced at the Emperor, who was looking down at the judge with a pleased face, with fresh eyes.
It's clearly helpful to me, but why does it feel so annoying?
It was at that moment that I, clicking my tongue, was about to turn my head again.
“...”
My eyes met with a man's.
A man with a straight personality that is clearly revealed by his mysterious, dark purple eyes, his softly falling black hair, and his sharp jawline that falls beneath it.
It was Crown Prince Declan Garnazzo.
'I heard you were imprisoned, but I guess you've been released.'
After all, he is the crown prince, so how many days would he be imprisoned?
It was only natural that he would be released soon.
At that moment, I was quietly looking at him without thinking much.
The crowd gathered under the stage suddenly began to stir.
'You came.'
As expected.
I turned my head in the direction of the sound and saw the trash family being dragged by the knights, tied up tightly with ropes.
'Hey, those guys are ridiculous.'
Not only was the Duke in prison for three days unwell, but the condition of Madame Magadha and Melina, who had only been in prison for a day, was also extremely grim.
The difference was even more evident because they were people who always dressed up as extravagantly as peacocks.
I wasn't the only one who was surprised by that sight; there were reactions of shock here and there.
“Is that the Duke of Veloce?”
“Why does he look like that? He's been incarcerated for several days.”
“Did he come out of a boiling pot?”
“It’s a shame to even throw stones.”
The crowd, holding fist-sized rocks in their hands, hesitated and faced each other, refusing to leave these inhuman beings alone.
Thanks to that, the three people who avoided being stoned made it up to the stage safely and knelt down.
“Ha, how did my beautiful wife and daughter end up like this...”
The Duke, who had seen the two women in a state of disarray, seemed to be overcome with emotion and shed tears.
But Madame Magadha and Melina's expressions were only cold.
“You’re acting worried now. Whose fault is this? If you hadn’t made that ridiculous confession, we wouldn’t have ended up like this!”
“That’s right. It’s all Dad’s fault that Mom and I ended up like this!”
“No, how can you say something like that... There seems to be some misunderstanding. Everything I confessed...!”
“Yes, I know. It was probably to reduce your sentence.”
"...What?"
The Duke's eyes widened at Madame Magadha's words.
A bitter sneer formed on Melina's lips as she looked at the sight.
“Are you being ignorant? I heard clearly that thanks to that confession, my father’s sentence, which was clearly the death penalty, could be reduced.”
“Oh, no, that’s not just to reduce my sentence...!”
At that time, he tried to make excuses, saying, 'It was to save us all.'
“Huh, if you’re going to die, die alone. I don’t know how people can be so disloyal.”
“Wh, what did you say?”
The Duke's mouth fell open at Madame Magadha's sarcasm.
'Did I hear something wrong?'
I couldn't believe that those words came out of the mouth of my concubine who had been like a tongue in my mouth for 18 years.
But his shock didn't end there.
“That’s right. As a man, you would sell your wife and children to save your own life. You should know shame.”
“Melina, what did you say to your father...!”
The Duke's eyes shook without mercy.
Although Melina was born out of wedlock, he raised her with more love than his legitimate daughter, Shayne, because she was born from a woman he loved.
He gave three noble ladies from poor baronial families as his maids, and gave her whatever she wanted, no matter how much it cost.
Although he did not give her the title of Princess, he did everything he could.
But as soon as things got worse, you turned into someone else and started blaming your father?
The Duke, feeling sad that his life was in vain, let out a sarcastic remark.
“Well, even if that confession was intended to reduce my sentence, what’s so wrong with that?”
“What did you say?”
“Who brought your mother, who was almost a courtesan, and made her live in luxury like a duchess?”
The Duke snorted.
“If it weren’t for me, your mother would have become a prostitute like your grandmother. Melina, you too would have walked the same path as a prostitute’s daughter...!”
“This, this human is really!”
Lady Magadha hurriedly cut him off, fearing that someone might be listening.
But it was already too late.
“What, Mushikan’s mistress was a Cortisan’s daughter? I heard she was a commoner?”
“Oh, it’s not wrong to say that Cortisans are also commoners.”
“Oh, even so, a prostitute’s bloodline is occupying the Duchess’s room. Isn’t this a disgrace to the Veloce family?”
Madam Magadha's face turned bright red.
She was the daughter of a courtesan, but she kept the fact that she was the daughter of a courtesan completely hidden, even though she was pointed at as the Duke's mistress.
But she never thought it would be exposed to the world like this.
She was too ashamed to even raise her head, but instead of offering comfort, her only daughter harassed her with an expression of shock.
“Mom, what does this mean? Are you really the daughter of a courtesan?”
“...”
“No, right? No matter what, I’m not a prostitute’s daughter. Yes?”
Madam Magadha, who could neither deny the truth nor admit the corruption with her own mouth since everything had already been revealed, gritted her teeth and ignored her daughter's questions.
Instead, she vented her anger on the Duke.
“You, how can you bring such shame on me... What have I done to you all this time! I supported you like an Emperor and even gave birth to a child with you, even though you were pointed at by everyone as incompetent and stupid. How can you do this to me!”
“Huh, if someone saw you, they’d think you really loved me. Using that as an excuse, you enjoyed all sorts of luxuries by my side.”
The Duke smiled faintly.
“And who would think you gave birth to a son? What good do you think you did when you just gave birth to a daughter?”
“What did you just say?”
Melina's gaze sharpened at the Duke at the sudden sniping.
“Why, did I say something wrong? If you have a son, you’ll be strong, but what’s there to brag about when you give birth to a daughter who only knows how to spend money?”
Once their fight started, it continued endlessly.
As their voices grew louder, the crowd became quieter.
They all had excited expressions on their faces as if they were watching a play.
'A family of three, a family of three. That's how they lived.'
It was ridiculous how they suddenly turned into enemies as soon as the situation got worse.
'I didn't mean to, but it's still a bit too much.'
Just as I was laughing inwardly, the Emperor suddenly raised his voice.
“Oh my, can’t you all restrain yourself? Where the hell do you think you are to make a fuss!”
The square, which had been bustling like a market street, suddenly became as quiet as a mouse.
'Oh, charisma.'
No matter how stupid or incompetent a person may be, he is still an Emperor... Bullshit!
I, who was newly amazed, caught the corners of the Emperor's mouth twitching slightly and made a flustered expression.
The Emperor was simply glad to see his majesty after such a long time.
‘...Good.’
The Emperor, who had been feeling satisfied and content for a while, not knowing whether he knew my feelings or not, finally began the trial.
Again, there really wasn't a trial.
Because the evidence included confessions, and there wasn't even a lawyer to defend them.
The Emperor, who had listed the three scum's crimes one by one, immediately pronounced his verdict with majesty.
“It is unprecedented for an illegitimate child born of a slave to murder the legitimate heir of a ducal family and usurp the title. Furthermore, to hide the fact, he murdered the young Duchess’ wife at the time, so the crime is very serious.”
The Emperor took a moment to catch his breath and continued speaking.
“Therefore, the current Duke, Mushikan Veloce, is stripped of his title and hanged. Also, his family members who participated in the crime are to receive the same punishment, so he must receive a heavy price for his crimes.”
“Wow!”
Cheers erupted here and there at the clean, no-frills verdict.
The only ones who didn't laugh at this situation were the trash and its appendages.
Madame Magadha and Melina's faces were as pale as if they had been bleached, and Trash looked at me with trembling eyes as if wondering what was going on.
He had clearly promised a reduced sentence, but his eyes, which had been screaming silently, were instantly filled with anger.
It seemed like he thought I had tricked him.
'Well, it makes sense since the word death penalty came out of the Emperor's mouth.'
But I had no intention of breaking my promise to him.
I quietly looked at the crowd cheering enthusiastically and the Emperor who was looking pleased with the crowd's reaction, and then slowly got up.
“Please take those words back, Your Majesty.”
The trial of the trash and its appendages has finally begun.
'Actually, it's a trial.'
The evidence was already clear, a confession had been received, and public opinion had completely turned around, so it was simply a place created to announce the punishment.
In any case, the trial was held publicly in a large square.
It may be that they intentionally announced it in front of many people to divert the cause of the disaster and the anger of the imperial people towards them.
'Anyway, I'm telling you, he's a genius when it comes to thinking outside the box.'
I sat on the high throne and glanced at the Emperor, who was looking down at the judge with a pleased face, with fresh eyes.
It's clearly helpful to me, but why does it feel so annoying?
It was at that moment that I, clicking my tongue, was about to turn my head again.
“...”
My eyes met with a man's.
A man with a straight personality that is clearly revealed by his mysterious, dark purple eyes, his softly falling black hair, and his sharp jawline that falls beneath it.
It was Crown Prince Declan Garnazzo.
'I heard you were imprisoned, but I guess you've been released.'
After all, he is the crown prince, so how many days would he be imprisoned?
It was only natural that he would be released soon.
At that moment, I was quietly looking at him without thinking much.
The crowd gathered under the stage suddenly began to stir.
'You came.'
As expected.
I turned my head in the direction of the sound and saw the trash family being dragged by the knights, tied up tightly with ropes.
'Hey, those guys are ridiculous.'
Not only was the Duke in prison for three days unwell, but the condition of Madame Magadha and Melina, who had only been in prison for a day, was also extremely grim.
The difference was even more evident because they were people who always dressed up as extravagantly as peacocks.
I wasn't the only one who was surprised by that sight; there were reactions of shock here and there.
“Is that the Duke of Veloce?”
“Why does he look like that? He's been incarcerated for several days.”
“Did he come out of a boiling pot?”
“It’s a shame to even throw stones.”
The crowd, holding fist-sized rocks in their hands, hesitated and faced each other, refusing to leave these inhuman beings alone.
Thanks to that, the three people who avoided being stoned made it up to the stage safely and knelt down.
“Ha, how did my beautiful wife and daughter end up like this...”
The Duke, who had seen the two women in a state of disarray, seemed to be overcome with emotion and shed tears.
But Madame Magadha and Melina's expressions were only cold.
“You’re acting worried now. Whose fault is this? If you hadn’t made that ridiculous confession, we wouldn’t have ended up like this!”
“That’s right. It’s all Dad’s fault that Mom and I ended up like this!”
“No, how can you say something like that... There seems to be some misunderstanding. Everything I confessed...!”
“Yes, I know. It was probably to reduce your sentence.”
"...What?"
The Duke's eyes widened at Madame Magadha's words.
A bitter sneer formed on Melina's lips as she looked at the sight.
“Are you being ignorant? I heard clearly that thanks to that confession, my father’s sentence, which was clearly the death penalty, could be reduced.”
“Oh, no, that’s not just to reduce my sentence...!”
At that time, he tried to make excuses, saying, 'It was to save us all.'
“Huh, if you’re going to die, die alone. I don’t know how people can be so disloyal.”
“Wh, what did you say?”
The Duke's mouth fell open at Madame Magadha's sarcasm.
'Did I hear something wrong?'
I couldn't believe that those words came out of the mouth of my concubine who had been like a tongue in my mouth for 18 years.
But his shock didn't end there.
“That’s right. As a man, you would sell your wife and children to save your own life. You should know shame.”
“Melina, what did you say to your father...!”
The Duke's eyes shook without mercy.
Although Melina was born out of wedlock, he raised her with more love than his legitimate daughter, Shayne, because she was born from a woman he loved.
He gave three noble ladies from poor baronial families as his maids, and gave her whatever she wanted, no matter how much it cost.
Although he did not give her the title of Princess, he did everything he could.
But as soon as things got worse, you turned into someone else and started blaming your father?
The Duke, feeling sad that his life was in vain, let out a sarcastic remark.
“Well, even if that confession was intended to reduce my sentence, what’s so wrong with that?”
“What did you say?”
“Who brought your mother, who was almost a courtesan, and made her live in luxury like a duchess?”
The Duke snorted.
“If it weren’t for me, your mother would have become a prostitute like your grandmother. Melina, you too would have walked the same path as a prostitute’s daughter...!”
“This, this human is really!”
Lady Magadha hurriedly cut him off, fearing that someone might be listening.
But it was already too late.
“What, Mushikan’s mistress was a Cortisan’s daughter? I heard she was a commoner?”
“Oh, it’s not wrong to say that Cortisans are also commoners.”
“Oh, even so, a prostitute’s bloodline is occupying the Duchess’s room. Isn’t this a disgrace to the Veloce family?”
Madam Magadha's face turned bright red.
She was the daughter of a courtesan, but she kept the fact that she was the daughter of a courtesan completely hidden, even though she was pointed at as the Duke's mistress.
But she never thought it would be exposed to the world like this.
She was too ashamed to even raise her head, but instead of offering comfort, her only daughter harassed her with an expression of shock.
“Mom, what does this mean? Are you really the daughter of a courtesan?”
“...”
“No, right? No matter what, I’m not a prostitute’s daughter. Yes?”
Madam Magadha, who could neither deny the truth nor admit the corruption with her own mouth since everything had already been revealed, gritted her teeth and ignored her daughter's questions.
Instead, she vented her anger on the Duke.
“You, how can you bring such shame on me... What have I done to you all this time! I supported you like an Emperor and even gave birth to a child with you, even though you were pointed at by everyone as incompetent and stupid. How can you do this to me!”
“Huh, if someone saw you, they’d think you really loved me. Using that as an excuse, you enjoyed all sorts of luxuries by my side.”
The Duke smiled faintly.
“And who would think you gave birth to a son? What good do you think you did when you just gave birth to a daughter?”
“What did you just say?”
Melina's gaze sharpened at the Duke at the sudden sniping.
“Why, did I say something wrong? If you have a son, you’ll be strong, but what’s there to brag about when you give birth to a daughter who only knows how to spend money?”
Once their fight started, it continued endlessly.
As their voices grew louder, the crowd became quieter.
They all had excited expressions on their faces as if they were watching a play.
'A family of three, a family of three. That's how they lived.'
It was ridiculous how they suddenly turned into enemies as soon as the situation got worse.
'I didn't mean to, but it's still a bit too much.'
Just as I was laughing inwardly, the Emperor suddenly raised his voice.
“Oh my, can’t you all restrain yourself? Where the hell do you think you are to make a fuss!”
The square, which had been bustling like a market street, suddenly became as quiet as a mouse.
'Oh, charisma.'
No matter how stupid or incompetent a person may be, he is still an Emperor... Bullshit!
I, who was newly amazed, caught the corners of the Emperor's mouth twitching slightly and made a flustered expression.
The Emperor was simply glad to see his majesty after such a long time.
‘...Good.’
The Emperor, who had been feeling satisfied and content for a while, not knowing whether he knew my feelings or not, finally began the trial.
Again, there really wasn't a trial.
Because the evidence included confessions, and there wasn't even a lawyer to defend them.
The Emperor, who had listed the three scum's crimes one by one, immediately pronounced his verdict with majesty.
“It is unprecedented for an illegitimate child born of a slave to murder the legitimate heir of a ducal family and usurp the title. Furthermore, to hide the fact, he murdered the young Duchess’ wife at the time, so the crime is very serious.”
The Emperor took a moment to catch his breath and continued speaking.
“Therefore, the current Duke, Mushikan Veloce, is stripped of his title and hanged. Also, his family members who participated in the crime are to receive the same punishment, so he must receive a heavy price for his crimes.”
“Wow!”
Cheers erupted here and there at the clean, no-frills verdict.
The only ones who didn't laugh at this situation were the trash and its appendages.
Madame Magadha and Melina's faces were as pale as if they had been bleached, and Trash looked at me with trembling eyes as if wondering what was going on.
He had clearly promised a reduced sentence, but his eyes, which had been screaming silently, were instantly filled with anger.
It seemed like he thought I had tricked him.
'Well, it makes sense since the word death penalty came out of the Emperor's mouth.'
But I had no intention of breaking my promise to him.
I quietly looked at the crowd cheering enthusiastically and the Emperor who was looking pleased with the crowd's reaction, and then slowly got up.
“Please take those words back, Your Majesty.”
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