Chapter 286: The Defendant's Coercion Method (1)
Clack, clack.
The carriage jostled along. It wasn’t as rough as a market cart, but even a luxury carriage couldn’t replicate the modern suspension of a car. Every small pebble on the road was felt sharply against the buttocks.
“Well, still better than cramming into a village bus during rush hour, standing and bumping into the person next to me,” Lloyd mused with a faint smile, recalling his time in Korea. This was far more comfortable, having plush leather seats all to himself, being able to cross his legs and chat leisurely with the person opposite him.
“Isn’t that right, Javier?”
Javier looked up from his documents, eyes locking with Lloyd’s. “What do you mean? Aren’t you worried at all?”
“Worried about what?”
“Today’s trial.”
Javier tapped the slightly disheveled documents, straightening them out before presenting them. “We’ll be arriving at the courthouse soon, and there won’t be any time to dawdle. The trial will start immediately. Aren’t you going to read these? They outline the main issues for today’s trial.”
“No, it’s okay.”
“Even though these documents outline the main points for today’s trial?”
“Yeah.”
Lloyd nodded. He didn’t need to read them. He knew the gist.
“If you’re doubtful, test me.”
Confidently, Lloyd challenged Javier, whose eyebrows furrowed.
“Fine. What is the main accusation the Nobility Council has made against you?”
“Losing the Heart of Winter, the royal relic. Since I was the chief at the site of the incident, they want me to take responsibility for the mishap.”
“Correct. One point.”
“…What, we’re keeping score now?”
“Let’s continue.”
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“How many points in total?”
“A hundred.”
“And you gave me just one for that answer?”
“It was a basic and simple question. Honestly, if you didn’t even know the charge against you, you’d be better off jumping out of the carriage right now.”
“We’re crossing a suspension bridge, you know?”
“Sounds like a good morning for a water temperature check.”
“……”
“Next question. What punishment did the Nobility Council request when they filed the complaint?”
“Stripping me of my meritorious title.”
“Correct. Ten points.”
“Wow.”
“Don’t celebrate prematurely. What do they hope to achieve by stripping you of your title?”
“Obviously, they want to seize my privileges and tarnish my honor. Especially since I’ve only recently received this title, having it taken away would damage my reputation more than if I had never received it at all. It would probably go down as an infamous record in the history books of the kingdom.”
“Yes, correct. Thirty points. And once they strip you of your meritorious status, their real attack will begin.”
“Likely. With the loss of the non-arrest privileges and the royal immunity that come with the title.”
“Yes. They’ll arrest you and bring you before a tribunal presided over by the Nobility Council.”
“Tch. Does this place not have double jeopardy laws?”
“What?”
“Never mind. After they strip away my shield like that, they’ll try to stab at my heart.”
It was all too predictable.
Lloyd wasn’t frightened in the slightest, just possibly annoyed.
Javier continued to probe.
“So, you can guess why they’re attacking you like this?”
“Uh.”
Lloyd nodded. He could guess even without reading the documents.
“I’m too handsome.”
“Wrong. Minus 100 points.”
“……”
“Please take this seriously. We’ll be arriving soon for the trial.”
“Tch. It’s because I’m a noble from the provinces. To the nobles in the capital, I’m just a parvenu. Plus, I exposed corruption at the academy before, and many nobles and professors involved in harassing Julian faced thequeen’s wrath then. There must be quite a few houses holding a grudge against me.”
“Good to know you’re aware. Next question.”
“Wait. Isn’t that correct? What about my points?”
“None.”
“Why?”
“You started with a ridiculous answer.”
“Hey, I might be considered good-looking if you squint a bit…”
“Next question. At today’s trial, how should you effectively counter the charges the Nobility Council is bringing against you?”
“Maybe I should beg for mercy?”
“……”
“I’m serious.”
“Lloyd.”
“What?”
“Do you feel confident about winning today’s trial?”
“Of course. A clean sweep.”
It was all very obvious.
But there wasn’t time to explain the intricacies to Javier; they had arrived at their destination.
“Looks like we’re here. Let’s go.”
Before Javier could complain further, Lloyd quickly opened the carriage door.
The royal courthouse was in view, where today’s trial would be held.
He entered and quickly prepared for the trial, adjusting his formal attire and receiving a brief on the proceedings from the court administrator.
The protocol, order of speaking, and courtroom etiquette were explained.
And then, shortly after, the trial began.
‘Wow. This place is impressive.’
Standing in the defendant’s box, Lloyd looked around the courtroom with internal admiration.
The layout was imposing, reminiscent of a miniaturized baseball stadium. His defendant’s box was where the batter would stand, with other seats arranged like the bases. Thequeen sat in the pitcher’s position, central and commanding.
‘The rest of the spectators? They’re out in the outfield, watching this verdict. And the seating is drastically tiered to ensure I’m noticeably the lowest, putting psychological pressure on the defendant. Everyone looks down from their high seats, discussing how severely to punish me. Being here makes one naturally feel diminished, shoulders hunched under the weight.’
Lloyd swallowed a bitter smile.
What did it matter? He was going to win anyway.
Might as well get the trial over with and get back to work.
As he pondered, Queen Alicia began the formal proclamation.
“I hereby declare…”
All rose as Queen Alicia stood, enveloping the courtroom in a solemn silence that was then filled with her declaration.
“Today’s trial will address the incident of the Heart of Winter’s cold leakage and subsequent loss at the royal construction site on the 9th of this month, as well as other losses incurred. Additionally, before today’s verdict, I extend words of consolation to all royal mages, guards, and workers affected by this incident at the site.”
Her gaze swept over everyone in the courtroom, then settled on Lloyd.
“First, the defendant.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lloyd bowed quickly, ready for her questions.
“First, let’s confirm your identity. Are you Lloyd Frontera, heir and eldest son of the Count of Frontera?”
“I am, Your Majesty.”
“Very well. Be advised, as the defendant, you may choose to withhold statements or refuse to answer specific questions at your discretion, and you will bear all responsibilities for exercising this right. Do you understand what I have declared?”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Good. Duke Toscano.”
Her eyes turned to Duke Toscano, the head of the Nobility Council, a stocky and formidable elder with a bulldog-like demeanor.
‘That’s the man who’s accused me. Though it wasn’t solely his decision.’
Lloyd’s inner smile was tinged with bitterness. Duke Toscano, a principal power broker among the central nobility, linked by blood to the royal family for generations, was a steadfast stickler for principles.
Queen Alicia continued, “Duke Toscano. You are to approach today’s trial based on the strict laws and justice of the kingdom, excluding personal biases and avoiding any leading questions that hint at the answers you seek. Do you understand my instructions?”
“I have understood, Your Majesty,” Duke Toscano bowed, accepting her directives.
Queen Alicia’s expression hardened slightly, a faint worry crossing her eyes.
‘Can Lloyd Frontera avoid a disadvantage in today’s trial?’
The more she thought, the more her doubts grew.
The burden of today’s questioning would fall on the Nobility Council’s prosecutor, Duke Toscano.
‘That Duke Toscano. A true bulldog when it comes to principles.’
He was incredibly stubborn, a man who valued principles above all and rarely compromised.
Today, he had taken his place with the intent to rigorously pursue Lloyd’s guilt.
Queen Alicia was particularly concerned about this.
‘Lloyd Frontera won’t be easily let off by him. Once he bites down on a weakness, he clings tenaciously, intent on exposing the other’s crimes and responsibilities.’
Moreover, Duke Toscano’s demanding nature was not his only challenging trait.
‘Behind him stands the entire Nobility Council.’
Just thinking about this fact made Queen Alisha sigh.
Even though she presided over today’s trial and would make the final judgment…
She could not blatantly defend Lloyd without solid evidence or justification.
‘The matter is too serious and grave. One of the royal family’s three sacred relics has been lost.’
The Heart of Winter was indeed a critical artifact.
Gifted to the kingdom’s founding hero, King Michael Magentano, by the ice dragon Tyrannus, it contained the essence of winter’s cold—a formidable strategic weapon.
And now it had been lost.
A national calamity of incalculable financial and symbolic loss.
Even as queen, even if Lloyd was a national hero, she could not lightly cover for him without due cause.
Moreover, the circumstances surrounding the use of the Heart of Winter were also problematic.
‘It was meant to be used only in dire national crises, upon theQueen’s request and with unanimous approval from the Nobility Council.’
She had followed this procedure when requesting the Nobility Council’s permission to use the Heart of Winter.
Initially, the Council was reluctant.
They argued that the urgent royal construction was not a matter of national survival, their initial stance being perfectly reasonable and rational.
Thus, she had taken on the political risk of persuading the Council members, one by one—sometimes through enticements, sometimes through outright bribes.
Eventually, she had secured their unanimous consent.
But now, the politically risky and burdensome decision to use the Heart of Winter had resulted in its loss.
Effectively, this meant that she, the queen, also bore some responsibility for the debacle.
‘Thus, I cannot overtly favor Lloyd Frontera. Doing so could alienate the entire Nobility Council.’
Queen Alicia’s brow furrowed deeply.
Though she was the queen, though she wielded substantial royal power…
She could not completely disregard the Nobility Council.
The smooth cooperation between her leadership and the Council was essential for stable governance.
Her own legitimacy as queen also needed to be solidly maintained.
So she worried.
About Duke Toscano, the head of the Nobility Council.
Was he set on prosecuting Lloyd? How could she protect Lloyd without making it obvious, while still maintaining a justifiable position?
Queen Alicia was immersed in these worries and calculations as Duke Toscano rose to speak.
“Honored courtroom and esteemed Queen, I begin my statement. Firstly, the defendant Lloyd Frontera has performed commendably, thwarting an assassination attempt against our beloved Queen and boldly defending his region against the eastern disaster, saving tens of thousands of refugees—an example for us all,” Toscano began.
“…”
What was this?
The head of the Nobility Council.
Why was he praising Lloyd now?
Queen Alicia felt a surge of confusion.
This unexpected praise of Lloyd.
What was the strategy behind it?
She furrowed her brow even more, trying to grasp his motive.
Meanwhile, the Nobility Council head continued.
“And not only that. Defendant Lloyd Frontera stood firm against calamities in Namaran and alongside the Queen against the threat of the Bonedragon, playing a pivotal role in protecting the royal family. Furthermore, he was appointed a royal meritorious figure for these considerable contributions. And not least, during the unfortunate incident involving the Heart of Winter…”
“…”
What really was going on?
TheQueen tilted her head slightly.
The jurors exchanged glances and murmured quietly among themselves.
Regardless, the Nobility Council head’s unprovoked praise of Lloyd continued.
“He remained undaunted in the unprecedented situation of the Heart of Winter’s rampage… etc… faced fearsome dangers without flinching… etc… truly, he is the utmost… etc…”
“…”
Had this man lost his mind, or what?
The Queen seriously began to worry about the Nobility Council head.
This was entirely different from what she had expected.
‘Surely the head of the Nobility Council hasn’t gone mad.’
Normally, he should have been denouncing Lloyd, presenting charges, and arguing his guilt—that’s why he had submitted the indictment and taken his place there.
Why then was he, from start to finish, fervently spitting out praises as if he were Lloyd’s advocate, not his prosecutor?
‘It makes no sense.’
Was she dreaming some bizarre, illogical dream?
Queen Alicia even began to entertain that thought seriously.
It was just that nonsensical.
That baffling.
And she wasn’t the only one perplexed; the jurors felt the same.
They all looked around at each other, murmuring, “Isn’t the head of the Nobility Council acting a bit strange today? Could he be mistaking himself for Lloyd’s defense attorney?”
Carefully, they nodded and whispered among themselves, sharing their confusion.
And as the Nobility Council head’s litany of Lloyd’s praises seemed ready to enter the annals of sycophancy, a content smile quietly played upon Lloyd’s lips.
He thought triumphantly, ‘People are the same everywhere.’
Blood ties, school ties, local connections.
There’s no world where blackmail and bribery don’t work.