CHAPTER 306: THE DAY OF TRIAL HAS COME

"Hmmm..." The warden hummed softly as he walked toward cell number 450.

That was where Belfor was being held. Although his crime was considered "serious," he wasn’t placed in the same cell as the other criminals.

His status as the Emperor’s father-in-law made the guards extra cautious. It was impossible to put him in just any cell.

When the warden reached cell 450, his eyes widened in horror.

"What? How is this possible?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.

The cell in front of him had been split in two, and Belfor, who should have been inside, had simply disappeared.

"Impossible! The guards were supposed to check this area every two hours! This shouldn’t have happened!"

He shook his head and staggered back, but the reality was undeniable—Belfor had truly vanished.

A chill ran down his spine as cold sweat soaked his back. He knew that once this news spread, they would all be severely punished.

Unfortunately, he had no choice but to report it to his superiors. Gritting his teeth, he turned and ran toward the back with unsteady steps.

...

Today, the capital was more crowded than usual. It was all because of one thing—Belfor’s trial day had arrived. Everyone wanted to witness firsthand how the trial would unfold.

The palace square and courthouse were packed with people.

Men, women, and even children gathered together; no one wanted to miss this rare moment in the Empire’s history.

"Do you think the trial will proceed fairly?" A man asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"I don’t really know," another man replied. "But I doubt His Majesty will give Belfor Horven a fair punishment. After all, he’s the Emperor’s father-in-law."

The woman beside them quickly objected. "Although it sounds unlikely, I believe His Majesty will uphold justice. He’s known as the Iron Hand—he should remain fair."

"Well, I thought so too before. But this time, he’s dealing with his father-in-law. Well, let’s just see what the court decides."

Several people who overheard the conversation nodded in agreement. Most of them held different opinions about how the Emperor would act.

If he were fair, their trust in the Imperial family would grow rapidly. But if not, it would be difficult for the people to trust the government again.

While the crowd filled the square and the courthouse, the Imperial family, the five supreme judges, the prime minister, and the ministers were already inside.

Unlike the courthouse in the eastern region, this courtroom was vast and imposing.

The pillars rose high, and at the back stood a massive carving of the scales of justice, estimated to be 25 meters tall.

Beneath the carving of the scales stood a large table arranged horizontally.

The emperor sat at the center, with the five chief judges seated to his right and left.

On the right sat Roswell and the ministers, while on the left were the queen and the concubines, followed by the princes and princesses.

"What do you think, Cedric? Will Belfor Horven really be finished this time?" Aldric asked jokingly.

His gaze shifted toward Cedric beside him, but anyone observant would notice his eyes occasionally flicking to Zarak, who was seated next to Adalen.

Zarak’s face flushed red with anger, but he couldn’t do anything.

"I don’t know," Cedric replied, adjusting the center of his glasses. "But as far as I know, all the evidence is there. He’ll definitely receive his punishment."

Of course, he understood Aldric’s intention.

The burly man was simply trying to stir things up between him and Zarak.

Though Cedric looked down on Zarak, he wasn’t foolish enough to make unnecessary enemies. That would only add to his burdens and make the future unstable.

Every action led to countless possibilities, and as someone who disliked uncertainty, Cedric preferred not to pick fights—unless the person truly deserved to be an enemy.

"Tch!" Aldric clicked his tongue in annoyance. "You’re really boring."

Among all his siblings, Cedric was the most dangerous. The four-eyed man possessed a sharp mind and extraordinary caution. The small trap Aldric had set earlier was easily seen through by him.

Meanwhile, Adalen, who was standing beside Zarak, couldn’t help but smile.

"Zarak, you can only hope your grandfather is okay. You know what will happen to you if he isn’t, right?"

Unlike Cedric, Adalen didn’t care whether or not he made an enemy out of Zarak. To him, they had been enemies from the very beginning. Provoking him was nothing new.

"You..." Zarak gritted his teeth, glaring with fury. "Don’t get too excited, Adalen. If my grandfather survives, you’ll be the first person I’ll deal with!"

Hearing the threat, Adalen only chuckled softly.

"Go ahead if you can. But remember—if you can."

He emphasized the last words with a hearty laugh and a shake of his head.

Watching their exchange, Cassian, Nolan, and Elina stayed silent, offering no comment. But then Cassian suddenly turned to Nolan.

"Do you think Belfor Horven will be punished?" he asked casually. His gaze looked innocent, as if it were just small talk. But Nolan could read the meaning behind those eyes.

"I don’t know," Nolan replied with a shrug. "We can’t be sure whether he’ll be punished or not. There are too many unpredictable factors that could happen at any moment. What about you?"

A slight smile appeared on Nolan’s lips, making Cassian pause for a moment before quickly regaining his composure.

"You’re right. Let’s just wait and see." His expression returned to its usual flatness.

What a cautious man, Nolan whispered to himself with a chuckle.

Cassian was his calmest brother and appeared unambitious. But don’t be fooled—people like him were often the most dangerous.

As the old saying goes, "Still waters are the most dangerous."

That saying fit Cassian perfectly. In politics and business, those who seem weak or harmless often become the hidden blades that bring down their opponents.

Nolan had encountered people like that before. But thanks to his caution, he had always managed to deal with them decisively.

Nolan, I sense something strange about your brother, Malverna’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

Nolan was slightly surprised. What do you mean?

Malverna fell silent for a moment before explaining, "For some reason, I sense a demonic aura from him. But it’s so faint that I’m not sure if it’s truly demonic or something similar."

If anyone was most sensitive to demonic auras, it was Malverna. As the Demon Empress, her awareness of her own kind was unmatched.

Oh? Nolan blinked slowly, his gaze shifting toward Cassian. If that’s the case, then we have to investigate it.

A thought surfaced in his mind—a hypothesis. But if it turned out to be true, things would become far more interesting.

The boring battle for the throne would finally enter its most thrilling phase...