Prosecution

The colonel stood at attention, his stern gaze shifting first to the man seated on the grand chair to his right. He lowered his head respectfully. "Your Grace," he addressed the Duke. Then, he turned to the woman seated on the matching grand chair to the left. "Your Grace," he repeated, acknowledging the Duchess with a nod just as firm.

The colonel dropped to one knee, his head bowed low. Behind him, Ophelia and the elven scholar followed suit. Ophelia's gaze stayed sharp and steady, contrasting with the subdued posture of the scholar at her side.

The grand chamber stretched high above, its stone columns engraved with scenes of the fortress's past. Light from wrought iron chandeliers cast an even glow, illuminating the patterned tile floor and the walls adorned with paintings of victories and alliances. 

Pairs of nobles sat along the chamber's edges, their high-backed chairs creating a symmetrical line. They bore the marks of their houses, some gripping scepters or resting hands on sword hilts. Their eyes stayed fixed on the Duke and Duchess, observing the unfolding scene calmly.

At the head of the chamber was the Duke. His short black hair framed sharp features, and his dark coat, lined with silver embroidery, reflected his wealth. A single ring on his left hand bore the crest of his lineage—a black eagle, a symbol of vigilance and dominance.

Beside him, the Duchess held her head high. Her dark gown, traced with golden patterns, accentuated her long brown hair and shifty gray eyes. She also had the same ring as the Duke, but with a few other rings scattered across the rest of her fingers.

"Colonel Kaden Polsort, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting this fortress. I understand it was your first battle as the commander of an army, but…" As the Duke's gaze shifted to Ophelia, Kaden's head lowered with defeat. "I would like to call up the true hero of this battle." 

"Yes, your grace," Ophelia rose, walking to the middle of the center red carpet unfurling towards the feet of the Duke and Duchess's high back chairs. 

"I have watched the magic footage over and over again… yet I still don't understand how you managed such a feat?" The Duke pondered to the room yet expected no answer. 

"If I may…" The Duchess suddenly spoke up, turning to her husband who gently nodded. "I do not approve of your achievements. I appreciate you for protecting us, however, the damage you have caused to the minds of our soldiers is nearly irreversible. It has been only one day since the battle ended, yet in that time, we have lost 90% of our soldiers. Not just because of them retiring from the mental trauma you placed upon them… no… only 5% of that 90% did such a thing. The rest had to be medically discharged for numerous reasons as they were unable to continue being a soldier because of your despicable actions." 

The Duke looked at Ophelia who stood tall, cold, and unwavering as if the words of his wife meant nothing to her. "It seems you have something to say. Go ahead," The Duke uttered. 

"With all due respect…" The woman's eyes once again turned blood red, with her pupils fading into black for her very next words. "I do not care."

The nobles on each side of the chamber rose as one, their previously composed and reserved expressions erupting into outrage as they faced Ophelia. Voices overlapped, forming a chaotic, heated wave filling the vast hall.

A nobleman with a thin, graying beard, wearing a deep blue robe embroidered with golden accents, sneered at Ophelia. "You claim to be a hero, yet you've desecrated the very sanctity of our forces! This is not honor—it's savagery!" His voice cut through the atmosphere with disdain.

Beside him, a noblewoman in a maroon gown with an ornate necklace of emeralds pointed a jeweled finger at Ophelia. "You've crippled our soldiers! Many of whom have served this Dukedom for generations! How dare you disregard their minds and souls!" Her voice trembled with fury, eyes flashing.

Another nobleman, younger and with a sharp jawline and intense green eyes, slammed his fist onto the arm of his chair. Dressed in a knightly uniform with silver accents, he practically spat his words, "If we reward you for such recklessness, we may as well reward betrayal! You are no commander—you're a scourge upon our ranks!"

These complaints continued until every last noble had spoken their mind, yet as the nobles' accusations echoed and rippled through the hall, the Duke and Duchess watched silently. The Duke's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched, while the Duchess looked at Ophelia with chilling eyes.

"SILENCE!" The Duke ripped through the hall, glaring at the nobles on either side of the hall to sit back down which they obediently did. "Right now, I can strip you of your rank and lay you bare on the streets to be tar and feathered. Do you understand the weight of the words you have just uttered?" 

Ophelia stayed calm. "Can you? Can you really? If you do that, then what will happen to your Dukedom? By the time you return to the main capital, you will be humiliated to the point where everybody will believe you are unworthy of said position." 

"Quite bold words for somebody so easily executable," The Duchess declared. 

"You are right. I am weak. I have no magic. I have no sword aura. I have nothing but my body and mind. If you were to execute me right now, I could do nothing but accept my fate…" Ophelia's eyes darkened as she pulled a move both Colonel Kaden and his elven scholar felt chills just by seeing once again. She spread her arms wide until they could no longer extend. "However, how will you deal with the consequences? The hero of said battle was decapitated via guillotine? The hero of said battle was tar and feathered? The hero of said battle was hung to death? According to the Magic Tower Rule Book, Clause 14, all magic recordings are kept confidential to the Magic Tower and approved outside sources. Said sources are you, The Duke, your wife, The Duchess, and all the royals within this room. However, outside of these people, word has already spread that I am the hero. All across the empire." 

Everybody felt chills, their initial anger and rage being replaced by the words uttered by this woman. Each deduction of her argument made them feel more defeated and defeated.

"You truly believe the media coverage within this fortress hasn't labeled you as a demon? A monster that broke her men?" The Duke fired back, adding a bit of hope to the people within the room, however…

Ophelia couldn't help but grit her teeth and roll her eyes. "First of all, the Magic Tower retains absolute neutrality in situations like these, so they are of no worry to me. And the media coverage you speak of… Do you really think they are so stupid as to create even more disarray within this Empire? They are only thinking of money…"

"And a media story about a demon being within the empire will draw more attraction than a hero," The Duchess retorted.

"Sure, it might…" Ophelia muttered. "But the truth of the situation is that the empire is in a desperate situation. Civilians are fearful that war will break out at any moment in their town, city, or village. Such fear-mongering will only enrage them as they don't want to hear that. They want to hear of some hope for their situation, not something that makes them feel worse. Articles that cover me like that will be buried by an outcry by civilians, by the ones who are ignorant otherwise known as the common people. What they want to hear are stories of hope and peace and my very being right now exemplifies that. You all who sit upon your high thrones will never understand such a concept, so do not question me again." 

"SUCH ARRGONACE!" One of the nobles cried out, a noblewoman in a maroon gown with an ornate necklace of emeralds. "WE MUST EXECUTE HER! SUCH A DARK THREAT TO THE EMPIRE MUST NOT EXIST!" 

"Ah… that's right," Ophelia muttered, walking over to the noblewoman who backed away into the seat of her chair instinctively, feeling the pressure of this woman who seemingly dominated the aura within the hall. "Colonel Kaden, you remember how I told you there is a traitor amongst us? How about you start by investigating this thing…" 

"W-WHAT ARE YOU SPEWEING NONSENSE ABOUT IT!? GAURDS! TAKE HER AWAY!" The noblewoman cried out, but Ophelia quickly twirled back towards the Duke, her words somehow carrying more weight than before.

Yes, she had activated [Silver Tongue].

"Duke, I know you aren't a fool. You have suspected a traitor for a while, but you never investigated the nobles due to each house holding a high level of respect for the Dukedom of The Black Eagle. It is time for you to take initiative and grow your power." 

"Y-Yes," The Duke felt his mind twist and bend at her words before reaching out his hand towards the guards approaching Ophelia, yelling, "STOP! DO NOT APPREHEND HER! INSTEAD APPREHEND THE BARRONESS OF THE STONE BEAR HOUSE!" 

"W-WHAT!? YOUR GRACE! YOU MUSTN'T DO THIS! THIS BITCH IS LYING TO YOU! YOU MUST KILL HER NOW! YOU MUST KILL HER! IF YOU DO NOT THIS ENTIRE EMPIRE WILL FALL!" She shouted all the way till the guards dragged her out of the hall, swiftly shutting the large wooden doors behind them.

The Duke rubbed his chin, looking back and forth between Ophelia and the nobles. He pondered for quite a while before finally speaking up. 

"Sigh… alright," The Duke muttered. "You may continue with your life in peace, however, I cannot promote you nor reward you out of my own digression. It will leave a bad taste in my mouth-" 

"I see… then shall we move on to the next topic? The corruption lingering within this horribly disgusting room," Ophelia announced.