10 Chapter 10: Judgement of the Unjust

One strike. Two strikes. Three strikes.

"HYAAAAAH!"

Again. One strike. Two strikes. Three strikes.

Each one, more aggressive than the other. Each strike was filled with emotion. Regret. Sorrow. Anguish. He experienced a multitude of emotions that always kept him up at night since Sophia's kidnapping. And yet he felt an emotion that wasn't him.

He felt rage.

It was intoxicating. The anger he felt when he deliver swift blows from his lance. The burning feeling of his clenched knuckles. The loud thumping of his heart. It was tempting to give in.

And he hated it.

His emotions. The hot sensation on his chest. The fever. The sense of powerlessness. He hated it.

The way it crept up to his body. The way it always drove him to see red in the world. The whisper telling him to let all flow. He hated it.

For as long as he remembered, he never experienced these types of emotions, at least, not so intensely. It felt brand new to him and he didn't know what to do.

He felt sadness when he watched as his father die right in front of him. He felt anger when his uncle couldn't give a damn about his kingdom and how he always indulged himself vain. He felt regret when he couldn't do anything to stop his land, the very place he was born, from tearing itself apart.

To calm himself with the whirlwind of emotions he felt, he would always visit the training grounds of the castle. Even at the dead of night, the owls could hear his grunts, the wind that followed every strike, the loud impact resounded the throughout the night.

"Careful, that dummy might dirty the floor at the sight of your wrinkles."

Enough to catch the attention of a certain nobleman.

Charlemagne looked over only to see flow of white hair leaning against a pillar. His sharp feminine features made him look like a fair maiden yet his well built body and posture belies his serene look.

"Alexander! What are you doing here?"

Alex took a step towards Charlemagne his hands behind his back. "Shouldn't you be in your cell? Your trial is tomorrow."

"This trial is a farce and you know it, Besides, a cell could not keep me, I much prefer the training grounds." Charlemagne scoffed. "You don't believe my uncle and the Valencian nobility, do you?"

Alex drew his rapier and cuts the head of the dummy swiftly. "I believe you, but the evidence remained the same. This doesn't change the fact that you guys broke the treaty of peace between nations. A national offense of the highest order if I ever saw one."

"But they kidnapped Sophia and—"

"I know that and I wanted nothing more than to punch them in their sorry excuse of a face but there are plenty of ways to deal with the problem. Invading a country for a single woman and her little brother is at the bottom of the list."

"So what would you have me do? Wait around until you come back from your noble talk?! We were forced Alex!"

"Those 'noble talks' you mentioned is what got your uncle off your back and House Maine is at the border of Valencia, it was their responsibility to fend of any invaders, bandits or otherwise." Alex placed his gloved hand on his shoulder. "You didn't have to get involved and that's the reason why your uncle and those pesky nobles are so mad at you. The best we could do for House Maine is to send reinforcements and supplies and instead you brought the whole cavalry to end the royal line. We could've negotiated her and Andriodos's release."

The blonde prince scowled at his friend. His mind went over to his talk with Cynthia that night. They were right, political instability was imminent in both countries and now he just made things worse.

But that doesn't mean that he agreed with the sentiment.

"Charlemagne, I'm not saying that what you did was bad. Far from it, your compassion for your friends and your people surpasses any king before you. But what you did was wrong. You have to understand, there is more to solving your problems than just swinging your lance."

"You're right... I should have thought this through. It's just that whenever I see someone in need, I cannot turn the other way. Sometimes I wish I could."

"No you don't." Alex smirked at him.

He chuckled, "No, no I don't. You know me too well friend, thank you."

Alexander grinned at him then patted his back as hard as he could. "We've been together since our little hands could touch the skies. We are brothers in all but blood Charlemagne, never forget that."

Charlemagne found it inspiring that despite his friend's loss of both of his parents in the Firbolg war years back. The smile he always displayed put everyone at ease, including him.

"It's already past midnight, you should get some rest. Reinhardt's Shore is a long ways ahead, reaching it by ship is certainly not gonna help. May the goddess be with you, Charlemagne."

"...Yes, see you tomorrow Alex."

And just like that, the prince couldn't feel his presence anymore as he walked off to the hallway. He scratched his in annoyance, did he really did the right thing? He sighed before he packed everything up for tomorrow's judgement day.

_________________________________________

Reinhardt's Shore was the location of the trial. The land was used to conduct trial on a national scale that requires the attention of the five kingdoms involved in the treaty of peace. Though it was used many times in the past and with peace prevailing among them, Reinhardt's Shore was a prevalent place even among history classes.

Charlemagne looked up to the tall tower after they landed, his iron cuffs hugged his wrist tightly that even with his inhumane strength, he would still find trouble breaking free from it. He was escorted by the knights of different nations to the upper levels of the old tower. The marble floors were in pristine condition and so was the wood carvings of the walls.

He entered the courtroom only to see the multiple nobles from the five nations waiting for him in an elevated row parallel to each other while the other set of high-ranked nobility facing the stand at the side. At the far end of gallery, he saw high nobles from each nation already sitting.

Five seats. One huge throne in the middle and two smaller ones on each side raised from the small stand where the defendant would be. The one who sits in the middle would be the judge for the current defendant.

To assume a fair trial, each of the five nations would send a representative of their own to oversee the trial as the jury. At the end, the judicator will decide the fate of the accused

But Charlemagne knew better to assume a fair trial. He needed to expect the worst.

What he didn't expect was the judicator of this trial.

He saw a slight grin on the man in the throne, hidden way from the rest but him.

The king of Bolsung himself, King Gunther.

The heavily armoured king was accompanied by Malcolm Flitz Duncan of the Republic of New Venetia, Alexander Apollo Burgundy, Cidel and a noble he could not recognize from Valhalla.

He looked over to his friend who gave him a comforting look across the stand. King Cidel's face was unreadable while Lord Duncan's expression was that of disappointment but he tried to hide it.

Charlemagne stood at the wooden stand across the judge, the knights took of his tight cuffs. He felt naked without his armour, his tunic did not feel like it would protect him in any way.

King Gunther rose from the throne and soon after, everyone followed his example.

"I, King Gunther, ninety-ninth ruler of the Kingdom of Bolsung, descendant of one of the Twelve Champions, Baldur and the Ancient Ones, will sit as judge in light of the accused. With me, King Cidel of Valencia, Lord Malcolm of House Duncan, Lord Alexander of House Burgundy and Lord Hans, an advisor to Emperor Sturluson."

Charlemagne stood straight in front of the representatives for this trial. He could see king Gunther tower almost everyone and with his dark armour, he looked intimidating, even to him.

"And if found guilty, may the goddess punish the accused." King Gunther's words rang loudly across the courtroom. He sat back down from the throne and everyone followed.

"Prince Charlemagne of Lombard, you are accused by the Valencian nobility of regicide. Did you kill King Gadea?"

He could feel everyone's intense gaze at him, it made him somewhat uncomfortable, "No."

"Did you organise an army to invade Valencia?"

"No."

"How do you say the king and his children died?"

"...I do not know."

Whoever framed him for this crime would pay with their blood.

"Very well..." King Gunther sat up straighter, "The goddess may call upon the witness."

To their left, he saw a man with green armour, he knew of that armour, it was from Valencia. He must've been one of the soldiers who at the forest that night.

The man went over to a small stand to his left, ready to give his testimony.

"You may begin." King Gunther ordered and every nobles attention turned to the knight.

The knight nodded. "Me and my squadron were guarding the Taifa Forest, when everything happened. We didn't even know that prince Charlemagne has already entered Valencian soil, staining it by my brethren's blood. There was one survivor amongst his onslaught and he warned us about his army. We did the best we could but his forces were far too powerful."

Charlemagne looked down in guilt and with frustration. While he did engaged in combat against Valencian soldiers, he spared those who decided to surrender. He also noticed that the knight omitted Cidel in his story. Whether or not he didn't saw the prince turned king was up in the air.

"Another soldier also reported that he killed prince Desig in his wake of slaughter and the autopsy report confirms his blade. Some knight of Lombard he is."

The prince felt his anger rising up as he scowled at the man. It made the knight flinched a little bit but ignored the angered prince.

"You may now leave the stand."

His feet were becoming sore, his heart was building up in his chest from the man's words. The voices coming from the judge was getting farther and farther as he tries to listen. It was as if the senses he trained since he was old enough to hold a lance were getting duller. He didn't like that. Not one bit.

A knight wearing the reindeer sigil on his cape and black armour walked in the stands his gray hair bristled against his brow. King Gunther raised his hand, "You may proceed Inigo Jose Naimon."

He was glad to see his friend helping him. Out of all the three, Inigo has the biggest head on his shoulder and in spite of his lackadaisical attitude, he still trusted him to do the most difficult and compromising tasks. A cunning and eye that could match Roy as Alex always said.

"Our prince ordered us to prepare to take back House Maine. It was overrun by the second prince of Valencia, Prince Desig. We were only doing what was best for the realm, your majesty."

"And you consider killing the second prince 'what was for the realm'?" This time, it was Malcolm who asked him.

"Yes, Lord Malcolm. It was live combat after all, one side will always lose men even if they are princes." Inigo's tone was hiding his venom and for the most part, he managed to hide it. Charlemagne was thankful that he managed to control his annoyance.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself prince Charlemagne?" King Gunther asked him.

He was brought back to reality by king Gunther's voice echoing in his ears. He saw that all of the jury were looking at him with mild discomfort. Even his friend Alex was concerned. Charlemagne looked over to the judge only to see him hiding a grin. He heard a little sigh from the stand beside him only to see his childhood friend standing there.

"...I'm sorry, what was the question again." His ragged voice asked quietly.

"I am asking if prince Desig held Castle Maine as a stronghold during your skirmish."

Charlemagne huffed with how hot he seemed to feel, "Yes. He...he almost killed...Lady Sophia's men."

King Gunther grunted before calling out the next witness.

The way he felt was unnatural. It was similar to last night but he brushed it off as mere hindrance to the trial. He knew he should focus his attention to them but still...

"Prince Charlemagne." Malcolm called his attention. His neatly slicked hair was obviously made with the help of his manservants. Coupled that with his cape and light brown armour and Charlemagne could definitely see that he was green when it comes to battle with the lack of will to fight.

"I wanted to asked you if killing prince Desig was necessary?" Malcolm's pretentious tone could slap him in his face. No wonder Roy made so much fun of him, he thought.

"Like Lord Inigo said. Battle will have casualties. I did not want for his death but it was a necessity for retaking the castle."

"A necessity? You speak as if he was livestock."

Charlemagne merely shook his head. "Battle is not one-sided, it can take the lives of my men or his. I chose the latter. It was my duty as a prince and knight of Lombard."

Everyone was silent by the little back and forth before King Gunther took control. "You may leave now Lord Inigo."

The commander slowly left but before giving Charlemagne a look of worry and reassurance. He could have sworn that king Gunther grunted impatiently at him.

"Bring in the next witness."

It was an old decrepit old man, his hunched back was his most prominent feature, the second was his blind right eyes. He slowly walked up to the stand to give his testimony, in which the judge allowed. When their eyes met, he saw a small glare from him. He didn't even know who he was.

"Good afternoon prince Charlemagne. You may not know of me but I am the court mage of Valencia, Russell the Fifth. I tried to stop you from your tracks that night however, I did not forsee that you would have a mage of my caliber in your army." The old man shifted in beneath his robes. "Nevertheless, for what you have done to my liege, for your crimes against the two most perfect sons that the goddess put on this realm."

He pulled out a small brown box and inside it was a dagger but not just any dagger, it was his dagger. There was no mistaking it, the simple Black-Grained dagger that he owned coated in blood. He remembered its blue hilt from when he first entered the academy a year ago. Ever since then, he has used it extensively without the blade looking as a day old as when he got it.

"This is the murder weapon that decapitated King Gadea's head! And the owner of this blade was none other than the prince himself!" He declared among the audience.

Charlemagne heard the collective gasp, the chatter became louder at the declaration and now the judges looked intrigued at the new development, even the noble from Valhalla who was too disinterested leaned forward.

He saw that Cidel had a look of shock on his face. For being one of the people who knew the truth, Cidel knew that it wasn't the truth, and yet he did nothing to stop it. Only listen.

King Gunther almost couldn't help but laugh but no one noticed his reaction. He wondered why he was so elated about his demise. To break the rules of being a neutral party so readily.

"Wait! I didn't do anything! King Cidel was—"

"Silence!" King Gunther bellowed and everyone in the courtroom froze in fear, even the jury.

"You will not speak, until you are told to!"

This really was a joke of a trial. None of the testimony even mattered. Just one evidence of his knife being shown and he was on the backpedal of the jury.

"Russel the Fifth, will you elaborate more on this evidence."

"Certainly, Your Majesty." The mage nodded and lifted the knife for all of them to see. "As all military officers know, Black-Grain made weaponry was made for the purpose of cutting through even the toughest ice. The edges of the knife can even cut through steel swords. This was found on the ruins of the castle and after analysing it with other mages, it indeed has the blood of all the royal family."

He grabbed the hilt of the dagger and showed the pummel, "The pummel was custom made, meaning only high ranking nobles or royalty can ever make such requests. The pummel itself was made of Lomardian Steel, decoration to have the sigil of the griffin on it. The only family who has the sigil of the griffin is the Carolingian line. Which makes prince Charlemagne the owner of the murder weapon!"

He could only hear the increase in volume of the mutters, it almost deafened him. He could not believe the words that came out of that man's mouth. There was obviously foul play at work here. He looked over to everyone to see them looking at him with scrutiny. Judging him from a crime he did not even commit. Fool was the word that could describe them.

"If you still do not believe me, the official reports of our investigation will let you see the truth, Your Majesty."

"I have heard enough." King Gunther's voiced boomed to the ears of the nobles. Unlike before, he had a look of stoicism yet he could still feel his presence looking down on him.

"In light of what the evidence has showed, the reports and the motive of the accused. The five nations under the light of the goddess deemed him guilty."

Major outcry came from the Lombardian nobility even from their soldiers. Charlemagne however, could not keep his focus on the king with utter hatred he was bottling up. To the unjust king. To the passive king. To the incompetent king. Hatred was all he was feeling.

"You will be punished accordingly. You will be stripped of your rights of your royal and military status. You will be exiled in your country of Lombard and you will be sent to Valencia to serve a lifetime in prison for your crimes against the goddess."

"You cannot do that..." The prince said quietly.

King Gunther looked at him with narrowed eyes. This was the second time that the prince has talked back.

"What was that?" His voice was dangerously low.

"You..." Charlemagne gripped the wooden stand, tightly. "Cannot..." Until he broke it without even trying. "Do this to me!" Charlemagne roared at the top of his lungs, silence came after the sudden outburst. They were too shocked that the noble prince would show his ferocity at the presence of the king.

King Gunther however did not flinch from him and instead unsheathed his massive claymore. A jagged black blade with no tip. And pointed it at the prince.

"You dare defy the will of the goddess?! After what you've done?! This is not my will nor theirs, keep that in mind boy before I forget that I am just a judicator." He sheathed back his sword to his hip. "This court is adjourned."

Charlemagne was ready to bite back but Alex gave him a look that he hasn't seen in a while. A look of anger.

He felt a hand over his shoulder only to see Inigo with Judith and Lyon there behind him, all of them had a concerned look but Inigo's was a much darker one.

"Get some rest, Your Highness. The goddess has decided." Inigo said.

Charlemagne heard the message from his words and calmed down enough for him to be escorted out quietly. But no one would forget the scene that unfolded just a minute ago.