Artoria's eyes widened with a mix of rage and bewildernt.
Kneeling right in front of her was Ha Joon; his body was painted with different kinds of dirt and food, looking no different from a holess person.
Pinning him to the ground was Lancelot, with five other knights standing behind him, while Belinda stood at the side, a towel wrapped around her body as she tried to hold her tears in.
They were all inside the throne room, other nobles and servants were present, including the Nobleman Ral.
rlin, who stood behind Artoria, could barely believe her eyes; it took every nerve in her body not to go on a murdering spree.
Why was Ha Joon being treated like a criminal?
Questions sward her mind.
The murmurs of the nobles echoed throughout the room.
"What happened?! Why are you …" Artoria was so close to yelling, but she cald herself down, "take your hands off him".
Lancelot did just that, he was confident on how the events would play out in the end.
Ha Joon, still weak and tired looked up at Artoria, a smile on his face –
"Hey there Artoria, quite the look you have on your face."
Just those words made her stern gaze soften, she imdiately covered her mouth, "W…hy? What happened?" she asked.
"Your highness, I doubt the sha he feels will allow him to admit it. But he… he sexually assaulted one of the roundtable mbers, Belinda." Lancelot chid in, but he didn't stop there, "And just before that, be burnt down an orphanage ho, and beat up the won and children for not accepting his terms."
"Bullshit!" rlin yelled, about to walk forward when Artoria raised her hand.
"And you have proof of this claim?" Artoria asked Lancelot, a cold look on her face.
"Yes your highness, we have tons of witnesses that saw him do it. Even when he assaulted Belinda, unfortunately she hasn't recovered from it."
Artoria looked to the side, watching as Belinda was practically shaking in fear.
"The man Her highness made Pri minister? Assaulting children and kids?"
"Such disgusting acts".
"Is her Highness going to turn a blind eye to this?"
The murmurs of the nobles and Knights echoed inside the room.
rlin couldn't take it, she frowned, her hand hitched to punch every single one of them– how could they easily believe sothing like that? This was the sa man that helped them countless tis since his arrival.
Artoria suddenly went to her knees, her hand on Ha Joon's cheeks who was already looking to the ground.
"H..Ha Joon, see how dirty you look…you're the Pri minister, you should always look presentable." she uttered with a soft voice; she looked at him, as if on her verge of tears,
"They are accusing you of a very heavy cri, hmm… it could lead to your execution. So don't stay quiet, okay? I know you wouldn't do sothing like this… you're not that type of person, but you need to speak and let know, you being silent like this makes you feel guilty… so tell you didn't do it, tell it's a lie and I promise I'll defend you to the very end. Just tell you didn't do it".
Ha Joon didn't say a word, his head was still hung low.
Artoria felt her heart drop.
"I know it's hard to believe your majesty." Ral spoke from the midst of the nobles, "But I hope you understand the people of Calot will lose all faith in you if you decide to let him go… he's a criminal, and should be treated as such."
"Nobleman Ral." Artoria called out with a low tone.
"Yes, your highness."
"Another word from you and I promise I will cut you down where you stand."
Ral was a bit taken aback, but he still remained calm.
"My apologies."
Artoria gave Ha Joon one last look…her eyes almost bubbling up before she stood to her feet.
"In accordance with the law that Calot abides by…" she began.
"Artoria!!!" rlin shouted from behind, she was about to walk up to her when the Royal Knights blocked her path, "You know Ha Joon would never do sothing like this! Belinda? Of all won?!!! Think about it!"
"Your cris demand a just recompense. I hereby decree that you shall be imprisoned, until further judgnt."
"Artoria!" rlin yelled, she didn't have any choice, she was willing to use her magic to blast off the knights standing in her way.
But–
Artoria drew her blade and aid it at her, "rlin… don't do anything you'd regret".
rlin halted, seething with anger.
From nowhere, Mordred charged into the room.
She noticed the knights picking Ha Joon from the ground, and how dirty he was.
And then she picked up on Belinda at the side, half naked and tearing up.
"You fucking bitch! What did you do?!" Mordred stord forward, but just like rlin, the knights blocked her path.
This ti, Lancelot was among them.
"It's over, Mordred. The Traveler has been proven guilty by her majesty, you wouldn't go against the word of the king would you?".
"Wouldn't be my first ti." Mordred had reached for the hilt of her blade.
Before she could pull it out, Ral shouted -
"Don't tell … Lady Mordred wants to defend a sex offender?! Just how much lies has he fed her?"
"Uhn?" Mordred turned to look at Yal, and she was imdiately t with different stares, each one judging her where she stood.
She wasn't one to care about what people thought, she always viewed herself above anyone who stood before her.
That wasn't the case with Artoria, when Mordred noticed that even Artoria wasn't taking Ha Joon's side… her entire standing shattered— was she in the wrong?
And just like that, the knights carried Ha Joon away from the throne room, everyone watching… so with anger, so with sadness and so… so had a smile on their faces.
Sohow, they had successfully gotten rid of the Traveler and since he wasn't defending himself, it was all the more easier.
....
A/N
We made it to 60Gt. Thank you all, expect more bonus chapters.
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