Chapter 466: Chapter 466- Trial of Rhabanz Dreau

The iron doors creaked open as a series of synchronised steps echoed along the walls of the Grand Throne room.

Following the footsteps like a plague was the rattling of chains and clubs.

At this point, all heads had turned towards the source like a flock of birds and they stared at the very cause of this meeting. This trial had only one ending despite the many sudden occurrences.

Making their entrance were the Imperial Guards clad in armour of blunt silver and black, and the prisoner… the Accused, Rhabanz Dreau.

The murmurs were instant.

Everyone had taken a good look at the fallen noble, and they all had one thing or the other to say about him.

But all of that amounted to noise absorbed by the four walls of the Majestic Hall.

As their murmurs rose to a degree, the First of the Law made his stand.

“Silence in the throneroom.”

With that, their idle chatter ended, but their thoughts were anything but silent.

They watched as the guards led the Man down the aisle.

Arms and legs were locked with clubs and chains, bound to the four guards.

The chains shook the air with a violent hum of scratches and scrapes.

Dragging along the tiled floor with demeaning ungracefulness.

The sound projected into the air and bounced against the High ceiling of the Throne room.

Pulling with it a song of damnation.

While many were focused on the man, some busied themselves with the meaning of this Trial which had an ending before it even began.

Rhabanz Dreau was a symbol of a mistake gone unnoticed. A fallen star, tossed with the waste of the Earth.

Perhaps… this was a Trial with more meaning than being a spectacle.

The aisle was a distinct path of white tiles which contrasted magnificently with the gold that littered the Throne room floors.

And farther down, where the Throne was tethered like the living stone of a tomb, and where the King sat and watched with hungry eyes, stood a small Podium.

And on the Podium was a simple, wooden lectern.

There, he was led and on their arrival, his chains were redirected to four erected iron lances.

The guards, each with a chain that bound him, clasped them tightly into a puncture within the lances.

In that manner, the four guards dispersed to the four corners surrounding him and stood at attention. Maintained composure and an everlasting silence.

With that, the Accused was now present for the Trial.

“Hm. Hm.”

Clearing his throat, the first pulled the attention of the congregation towards himself.

“With the appearance of the Accused, the Trial will begin in session.”

The Second stood to his feet on a Podium one foot shorter than the first.

In his hand, a document.

His gaze, sharp and bold, glanced through the silent hall which pulsed with the anticipation of Nobles and Aristocrats alike.

Great Families, and the Royal Vassal Families… each with their Household Head or their Representatives.

Amongst which, his gaze lurked on the Vassal Families.

The second, the Dreau Household was now led by an Acting Head. A Matriarch, and the wife of the Accused, Linda Dreau.

He could only imagine the emotions that plagued her at this moment… but to him, none of that mattered.

What did, was the law and that Law would bring justice, always, to the Accused.

‘There is no wrong justice… for justice is always right.’

He cleared his throat as he began.

“Let it be heard, before this council and before all present, the charges laid against Rhabanz Dreau, Head of House Dreau and Master of the Homeric Academy.

First! Negligence of duty, in that you proved ignorant and inadequate in the station entrusted to you.

The Academy under your jurisdiction was attacked and your actions failed to fulfil the duty that comes with your title as Headmaster.

Second! Dereliction of care, in that you failed to safeguard the wards under your tutelage.

Students of Nobles and commoners. Future aspirants of the sword and magic.

Our light… the ones who will lead the world when we face oblivion.

Third! Breach of defence, in that you could neither shield the Academy nor repel the foes that assailed it.

Strength is a factor you do not lack, but you failed nonetheless.

Fourth! Endangerment of innocents, in that thousands of young lives were cast into peril by your failures.

Children were lost… Faculty heads were extinguished… Manpower of the Kingdom, WASTED!

Fifth! Complicity by neglect, in that you allowed betrayers to fester within your own staff, unchallenged and undiscovered.

Years they lingered within your watch, and you left it so.”

The Throne room hummed with idle chatter as each Accusation held its weight within the dry air around them.

The surprise at the numbers was one thing, but the fact that each held true on its own was another.

Each and every accusation was one worthy of years of imprisonment… and amassed together, one would either consider life imprisonment or straight out death.

The young prince, Jullian, who had gone through the accusations over in his head, slumped into his chair.

‘This is no joke…’

He thought to himself, but a frown of dissatisfaction took its place on his face.

‘But why so many?’

He glanced at the back of the Throne where his father occupied.

‘Wouldn’t it be far easier to convince the People of Treason and working with the enemy, and sentencing him to murder on the spot?’

With that, his skin began to prick at him.

Something… something bothered him. Irked him, and he could tell what it was.

‘Those bastards interfered…’

He glanced at the L.A.W. where the second seemed to be catching his breath.

‘This trial won’t end like expected…’

Then he glanced back at his Father.

‘He’s slowly losing control of the people in his own Throne room.’

A smirk formed on his face, and a dark mask grew across it.

‘Father… you’re losing your worth.’

Besides him, the Princess sat, but in that moment, she had jumped on her Throne, a startled sensation creeping on her skin.

Her expression grew cold as she turned to her younger brother, and immediately, a mask of dread wove itself on her face.

‘Wha– What’s with that expression?!’ She wondered a she whipped her head away.

‘What atrocity is he imagining now?!!!’

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The storm was yet to settle within the Throne room when the Second spoke once more.

“And sixth! Treasonous suspicion, in that you stand accused of interference with, and possible alliance to, the very enemies of this realm.”

All hell broke loose.

“TREASON?!”

“The Dreau Household betrayed the King?!”

“Off with his head!”

“What atrocity the Headmaster has committed today.”

The chatter was continuous, and it quickly assembled into noise that shook loudly and clearly.

“Silence!”

The first announcement was made, but no one responded.

“Is this true? Would the Vassal Household truly betray the King?”

“But of course! Everyone knows of the matter between the King and the former Headmaster.”

“True. Even in their Academy days, Rhabanz had opposed him!”

And the noise only rose.

“Silence!” “Silence in the Courtroom!”

But no response ever came as chaos was beginning to ensue.

Seated calmly on their chairs, the Great Families glanced at one another.

Retrieving themselves to their thoughts while voicing out concerns amongst themselves.

One of such was Derrick Silvan.

Ever the conversation initiator, he glanced at the woman next to him.

Her expression told him everything he needed to know as it screamed one thing.

‘BACK OFF’

But did Derrick Silvan ever care? No, not really.

“Lady Kira, what do you postulate on the matters here?”

The Witch winced slightly as she slowly turned towards Derrick.

Her lips curled downwards in a frown as she caught sight of that smirk that had always toyed with her patience.

“I don’t concern myself with such mediocrity.”

Derrick arched his brow with a smile that made it clear he wasn’t satisfied.

“He was your subordinate, no? I heard he helped with whatever task you gave to him…”

His smile darkened just a bit.

“…dirty or not.”

The other Heads sat with their thoughts and the lingering conversations of the two which failed not to meet them.

While some showed notions of curiosity, the others simply remained impassive to the whole thing.

Most had not even wanted to be here, but the importance of the Trial could not be overstated.

After all, it wasn’t just a matter of the endangerment of the Kingdom or its commoners, but a threat that had somehow found its way to them.

But the conversation between the Head of the Silvan Household and the Merlin Household did nothing to attract their attention.

Kira scoffed as she looked away.

“You jest, Derrick. This is a matter that concerns the Kingdom. My relation with him has nothing to do with it.”

With her arms crossed, she made her stand, and with that, Derrick drew the line.

There were times he spoke just enough… and times when he spoke too much.

Knowing when to use the tongue to cause damage had always been his forte, and one of the reasons most stayed away from a battle of words with him.

And that included the feared Witch of the West.

An exaggerated sigh escaped his lips as he turned away.

“Since you say so, Lady Kira.”

No response came, and just like that, the attention was once again fixed on the Accused.

The chatter though, never quelled and that only fueled the chaos that was beginning to ensue.

The L.A.W. tried as they did, but could not control the crowd.

The Sixth Accusation had caused more than a stir.

It had caused a revelation, and that wouldn’t sit well with the public’s eyes.

As everyone grew uneasy, one individual grew content.

The King, still on his Throne, seemed to be smiling from ear to ear at the commotion.

And it only ignited with the failure of the L.A.W. in trying to quell it.

‘but enough is enough…’

He raised an arm in the air, and everyone began to turn their head to it.

The noise pestered until–

“SILENCE BEFORE MY THRONE!”

The effect was immediate, and the people quelled their curiosity as the will of the King was made evident in the leftover sparks from his command.

The people settled, the Great Families sighed and the L.A.W. shook their heads.

But the King paid no mind to any of that.

With his gaze on Rhabanz, he spoke.

“Let the Accused now make his plea.”