Next Day
The Throne Room was normally filled with nobles of the Empire during their monthly gatherings, where they discussed the state of the nation.
But for the first ti in years, a second court session was held in the middle of the month—a rare and urgent occurrence. The reason? Mavis Belfrost, the Royal Librarian, had been accused of hiding her true power with ill intentions and brutally killing five instructors, three students, and even the Headmaster of the Academy.
The Emperor sat on his throne, flanked by the First Empress, also known as the Golden Empress, on his right, and the Third Empress, the Dark Empress, on his left. Their seats were placed slightly lower than his, signifying his absolute authority.
Below the Empresses sat two figures, while six chairs were arranged in total. However, only the Third and Fourth Princes were present in the Imperial Capital at the mont.
The First Prince, Second Prince, and the First and Second Princesses were currently outside the capital due to various reasons.
The atmosphere was tense, and when the Pri Minister stepped forward, silence fell over the room.
"Ahem. Today, we hold this ergency court session due to the cris of the Royal Librarian, Mavis Belfrost."
"The Royal Knights have captured her on the charges of treason and acting against the Empire."
He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable.
"Mavis Belfrost, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Mavis, shackled in heavy enchanted chains, smirked as she looked up—not at the Pri Minister, but directly at the Emperor himself.
"What is left to say when I have already been dragged in this court chained like an animal....without even being given the chance to explain myself?" she said mockingly.
The Pri Minister scoffed, narrowing his eyes.
"Your tongue is just as sharp as ever, I see," he sneered. "So that ans you admit to your cris?"
Mavis tilted her head, her smirk widening.
"So now we're now also skipping imperial investigation and going straight to execution?"
The Pri Minister frowned but continued.
" It seems you really have nothing to add" he said as he begin.
"You have been sentenced to—"
"WAIT!"
Just as he was about to **announce her punishnt—public execution, one of the highest forms of imperial justice—soone interrupted the proceedings.
The Pri Minister frowned as he heard soone interrupting him. However, when he saw who it was, his frown quickly vanished, replaced with a dignified expression.
"What is it, Third Prince?" he asked.
And yes, the one who had stopped the execution was none other than Fenric, the Third Prince of the Empire.
'Damn this crazy woman... just what the hell did she do this ti?' Fenric cursed internally.
He had assud that so lesser figure had been dragged to the courtroom, but when he saw Mavis—wounded and shackled—he was dumbfounded. This was unprecedented.
Even in the original tiline, when the Empire was on the brink of destruction, she had never acted so recklessly. It took the Fourth Prince forcing her hand to make her fight for Empire, yet now, this lazy woman had massacred five instructors and nearly destroyed the Academy.
'God knows how much trouble I'm about to be dragged into.' Fenric grimaced, both troubled and displeased by the situation.
And to make things worse, he had yet to fully master the Fairy Language, and if Mavis were executed, the First and Third Empress might seize control of the Royal Library. If that happened, he could kiss his peaceful days of studying goodbye.
Which he couldn't allow, as his survival depended on it.
"Why are you being so rash?" Fenric asked in a cold voice, his expression unreadable.
The Pri Minister frowned. "What do you an, Third Prince?"
"I was just keeping it straight and simple so that we shouldn't waste the precious ti of this court on a re traitor who was hiding her powers," Pri Minister said.
"Yes? But I see soone else is doing their best to hide their own agenda," he added in a low cold voice, but his words echoed in whole court.
Mavis raised an eyebrow, wondering what exactly the Third Prince was trying to pull.
The Emperor's gaze sharpened as he watched Fenric closely. 'What is this boy up to?' he wondered.
Then, for just a mont, guilt flickered across the Emperor's face as he looked at the Third Prince's body.
'I'm sorry, my child...' he thought privately, but his cold, emotionless expression remained unchanged.
"I don't understand... What exactly are you implying, Third Prince?" the Pri Minister asked, his gaze now steely. He also glanced at the Third Empress, who looked displeased.
Then, Fenric dropped a bombshell.
"I was the one who sent her to the Academy."
His words stunned the entire courtroom into silence.
The Third Empress's eyes widened, but she quickly controlled her expression, while the Pri Minister's face hardened.
anwhile, the Golden Empress smirked, her interest clearly piqued.
'Interesting, very interesting...' she thought, watching the scene unfold.
"Are you implying that you knew about her powers and that she is serving you?" the Pri Minister asked, narrowing his eyes.
The Third Prince glanced at Mavis for a mont before nodding.
"She was my mother's childhood friend. After my mother's death, she beca like a mother to and my protector under the Second Empress... my late mother's order," he said, as the courtroom fell into silence, all eyes shifting between him and Mavis.
For the first ti, the Emperor's face revealed a flicker of emotion—it was montary, but unmistakable. 'I wonder why you're going this far to protect that sharp-tongued girl, Fenric...' he thought as he gazed at his son.
"So why would your protector go on a massacre at the Academy, killing students as well as the Headmaster?" the Pri Minister pressed, his gaze hardening. "Don't tell ... you plan to take control of the Academy? Given that His Majesty has not assigned you any responsibilities due to your weak body?" he accused, now shifting the bla onto Fenric.
'Poor guy... playing the bla ga with .' Fenric thought, amused. 'I've read over a hundred books with manipulative villains—I can make you eat your own words without lifting a finger.'
"I am grateful to His Majesty, who has cared for so much, even though my elder and younger brothers have all been assigned responsibilities," Fenric said with a polite smile.
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