"What is Lady Furina doing?"
"She looks utterly astonished! Could she not know the details of today's Judgment?"
"Silence! How could Lady Furina possibly be unaware? Which nation sent you spies to slander her so brazenly?"
"Lady Furina must be devising the perfect punishment for Relf. Everyone, quiet down and don't disturb her deliberations!"
Furina's awkward posture immediately amplified the murmurs in the hall, with some even erupting into heated arguments.
Finally regaining her composure, Furina's eyes still betrayed disbelief. Knowing she couldn't feign ignorance, she adopted an air of profound contemplation, as if she had finally reached a conclusion, and calmly took her seat.
As she sat down, Furina let out a small sigh of relief. That was close. I almost lost even more dignity.
But who can explain what's happening? Why is Relf the one on trial?!
I've only been holed up at home for less than a month. How does it feel like years, decades, have passed?
If Clorinde were here, she would undoubtedly know the reason.
Earlier that day, Furina had merely heard there would be a Judgment. After so long without incident, she assumed it would be routine and attended as usual. However, Clorinde had left beforehand on urgent business and wasn't by her side.
Furina had anticipated a mundane Judgment, a chance to re-establish her presence in the public eye.
The moment Furina saw Relf, a pang of regret struck her. I really should have waited for Clorinde, she thought. At least she could have explained what's been happening in Fontaine recently.
As for asking others, Furina considered her dwindling authority and quickly abandoned the idea.
Wait, wasn't there some unrest in Fontaine a while back? Clorinde mentioned something about workers demanding their wages. Could Relf be facing these charges because of that?
But Clorinde had said the nobles had already paid the workers.
Furina maintained her dignified posture, but her mind was racing.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up. I get it! I understand everything now!
Relf must have just claimed to have paid the workers to appease them, without actually intending to. The furious workers then filed a complaint, leading to this Judgment.
The thought of those hardworking laborers being denied their hard-earned money filled Furina with indignation.
"Relf, you deserve to die!"
"Have you been a noble for so long that you've forgotten your place?"
"Today, you'll pay for every debt you owe!"
Furina sternly rebuked Relf, who paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Lady Furina, shouldn't you be at home taking an afternoon nap? What do you think?"
"Relf!"
Furina shot to her feet, her anger flaring anew.
How dare he be so arrogant! she thought. He's committed a crime and shows no remorse!
Is money all that matters to these people? Their families have enough wealth to last generations!
And he, a mere mortal, dares tell the Hydro Archon to go take a nap!
This is infuriating!
Naps are nice, but is this really the time for such nonsense?!
Relf's words ignited the crowd, who erupted in vehement condemnation.
"Silence."
At that moment, Neuvillette, already seated in the judge's chair, tapped his cane against the floor.
"The Judgment is about to begin."
The uproar gradually subsided as Neuvillette spoke, though the audience continued to glare venomously at Relf.
He's practically staring death in the face, yet he remains so insolent! We can't wait to see Marquis Relf convicted.
Sensing Neuvillette's gaze, Furina reluctantly sat back down, her cheeks puffed up in anger. Yet, she couldn't suppress a flicker of smugness at having immediately grasped the details of the case.
Judging by everyone's reaction, it really was about the unpaid wages!
I knew it! This Miss is simply too clever!
Furina felt a smile tugging at her lips. To maintain her dignity, she quickly propped her hand against her cheek, striking a perfect pose. Flawless!
Just then, as the courtroom finally quieted, Neuvillette began reading out all the charges against Relf.
Huh? The Fleuve Cendre Purge Plan?
Huh? Using his authority to make the Marechaussee Phantom clean up his dirty work?!
Huh? Collaborating with the serial suicide case killer to orchestrate the "Crimson Sea" incident, resulting in nearly a thousand deaths, and planting bombs underground to slaughter tens of thousands of residents returning from the Fleuve Cendre?!
What was going on? Wasn't this supposed to be about unpaid wages?!
Wait a minute!
"Relf, you deserve to die!"
Furina slammed her fist on the armrest and leaped to her feet, her voice dripping with venom as she glared at Relf.
Furina couldn't believe Fontaine could harbor such a pest as Relf. Even the dry descriptions of his crimes sent shivers down her spine. She was practically seething with rage.
"Lady Furina, you've already said that."
"If you can't think of anything better to say, you might as well keep your mouth shut."
Relf remained remarkably calm under Furina's furious gaze. Having already lost almost everything, he had nothing left to fear.
His attitude infuriated the audience, and the chamber erupted into chaos like a bustling marketplace.
"What kind of attitude is that? So arrogant!"
"Lady Furina, let me handle this! I've been a professional insult artist for twenty years—I'll make this beastly creature wish he could crawl back into his own rear end!"
"How dare you speak to Lady Furina like that? She's so adorable! Relf, you're inhuman!"
"Silence!"
"Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from interfering with the proceedings."
"Lady Furina, please return to your seat."
Furina seethed with indignation, but ultimately retook her seat, her gaze towards Relf turning icy.
More than anger, however, she felt bewildered. What on earth had been happening lately? It had only been a month, yet Fontaine felt as if it had been turned upside down!
Meanwhile, Neuvillette had finished outlining all the accusations against Relf. He fixed Relf with an impassive stare and asked, "Monsieur Relf, do you have any objections to these charges?"
Relf met Neuvillette's gaze directly, his voice deliberate and clear. "Chief Justice, I request a Champion Duel."
Relf's words stunned the courtroom into silence. No one had anticipated that he would challenge Neuvillette to a duel to avoid conviction.
Soon, a chorus of mocking laughter erupted across the chamber.
"You scumbag! Can't you just accept your punishment like a man?!"
"A duel? You're delusional! You don't stand a chance!"
"They'd throw you in a pigsty and the swine would finish you off! You think a duel will save you? Keep dreaming!"
Relf felt nothing but disdain for the crowd's jeers.
These commoners would never understand that Fontaine's laws were merely a smokescreen for the nobility's power. At least a third of the Champion Duelists were in their pocket, and they could easily manipulate the rest through other means.
Fortunately, the Champion Duelist presiding over this case happened to be one of his men, which was why Relf was so brazenly confident.
The duelist wouldn't dare betray him, as Relf held compromising evidence against them.
If they truly left him no escape, he'd drag them all down with him!
Now, all he had to do was go through the motions.
"The request is deemed valid. The Judgment is temporarily suspended."
"Monsieur Relf and the Champion Duelist, please step down."
Upon hearing Neuvillette's words, Relf's lips curled into a faint smile.
Appointing Neuvillette as the presiding judge for this case had been their greatest mistake. Any other judge might have succumbed to external pressures and denied his duel request, but not Neuvillette.
He had won!
Relf strode onto the stage, gazing down at the jeering, mocking crowd below. He couldn't help but wonder what expressions would cross their faces when he was acquitted. His actions had been entirely within the rules; even the Hydro Archon Furina couldn't find fault.
But then, Relf sensed an unusually piercing gaze. Following his instinct, he spotted Navia in the audience. Her eyes were cold, as if she were looking at a dead man.
Why is Navia so calm? Relf puzzled, a sudden unease creeping into his heart.
At that moment, the crowd erupted in gasps and cheers.
"It's Miss Clorinde!"
"Hahaha, Relf, you might as well confess now! You wouldn't stand a chance against Miss Clorinde even if she fought with one hand tied behind her back!"
"You're thinking too small! Relf couldn't even defeat one of Miss Clorinde's fingers!"
Relf spun around in horror, his heart pounding with terror as Clorinde strode toward him.
"How can it be you?!"
"Surprised?" Clorinde scoffed coldly. "The original Champion Duelist had an unfortunate tumble earlier today and is now hospitalized. I'll be taking his place as your opponent, Relf. The substitution has already been approved."
"So now..." Clorinde's body crackled with a terrifying surge of Electro energy. "Before you beg for mercy, Marquis, I'll enjoy playing with you thoroughly!"
Sensing Clorinde's chilling killing intent, Relf panicked, unable to imagine the torment she might inflict. "Wait! I surr—"
His plea was cut short by a devastating blast of purple light, followed by a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the arena.
The audience reveled in the one-sided beatdown.
"Bravo, Miss Clorinde!"
"Stick it to him good! Teach him never to be so arrogant again, not in this lifetime or the next!"
"Miss Clorinde is so cool! I want to have your babies!"
Even Furina felt a surge of satisfaction. She finally understood why Clorinde had disappeared earlier: the original Champion Duelist had been injured and needed a replacement.
Touched by Clorinde's dedication, Furina abandoned all decorum, waving her small fist and shouting wildly, "Go, Clorinde! Beat him to a pulp!"
Well, I can regain my dignity later, she thought.
As soon as Furina finished speaking, Relf's anguished cries grew even more pitiful.
Finally, battered, bruised, and scorched from head to toe, Relf, with Clorinde's permission, managed to stammer out the words he had been trying to say from the beginning: "I... confess..."
Then, he promptly collapsed into unconsciousness.
This dramatic moment sent the crowd into another frenzy!
The Judgment concluded, and Relf was undoubtedly sentenced to death. His crimes warranted execution dozens of times over.
Capital punishment was rare in Fontaine. Most criminals facing such grave charges understood that submitting to the Judgment meant certain doom. They would fiercely resist arrest by the Court of Justice or the Marechaussee Phantom, demand a Champion Duel, and fight to the bitter end, refusing to quietly accept their deserved punishment.
Amidst the crowd's cheers and adoring gazes, Clorinde quietly bid farewell to Navia. Watching Navia's retreating figure, she returned to Furina's side.
Upon seeing Clorinde's return, Furina excitedly grasped her hand. "Clorinde, you were absolutely magnificent earlier!"
Clorinde's stern expression softened at the sight of Furina. "My apologies, Lady Furina. I didn't know you would attend today's Judgment, so I failed to inform you of the case details beforehand."
"Nonsense! You were simply fulfilling your duty."
"And regarding the previous incident, I intentionally withheld the truth from you, fearing it might distress you."
"Actually, that day wasn't about nobles withholding workers' wages."
"Oh..."
Furina's smile stiffened slightly at Clorinde's revelation. Clorinde's well-intentioned lie had nearly caused her immense embarrassment!
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice. Otherwise, she would have had to shut herself up at home for another month!
"It's alright, Clorinde. I understand you were worried about me."
"But please don't do that again."
"And that detestable culprit is already dead. Hmph! It's a pity I didn't get to personally deliver Judgment upon him!"
The thought of that vile person daring to threaten the Hydro Archon Furina filled her with rage.
At least such incidents would never happen again. She could finally rest easy!
With this thought, Furina's smile returned, bright and genuine.
-
Thats Volume 1 done. Ill start uploads of Volume 2 soon, just need to make some chaps.