ORHML 17

Chapter 17

“Begin.”

At the emperor’s command, one of the advisers unfolded a sheet of paper he had been holding. Then he began to read. It seemed to be a summary of the events he had compiled.

“Read it aloud.”

Ander Vils

Adviser / Affection for the Emperor: 50%
From the Dayrid royal family

If he’s from the Dayrid royal family, he must be related to Joshua. But if he’s reached the position of adviser, could he be a traitor to his country?

Still, the emperor I had seen so far was meticulous in his work, even if he was kind to me.

A countryman would neither be kept close nor trusted.

“Your Majesty!”

Hearing all five say the same thing—it was kind of disgusting.

“Make it brief.”

“The defendant has been caught as the one who destroyed the dam of the Ver River. But he claims he is innocent and denies it.”

A goat must have a goatee.

“I didn’t do that. How could I have destroyed the dam on my own?”

He looks like a crying sheep.

“What about the other three?”

“They are brought as witnesses.”

“Witnesses for whom?”

“For the plaintiff.”

Ah, the ones the goat brought. So they must be Goat Friends 1, 2, and 3.

“Speak, witnesses.”

Looking closely, the goat seemed quite wealthy. His clothes were high quality, not much different from those of palace attendants—just less flashy. Even his accessories seemed expensive.

If the goat is rich, it’s unlikely he would harass the sheep for money.

From the sheep’s tattered clothes, it’s clear he has nothing of value. His sleeves are patched, the fabric stretched despite being non-elastic.

“I— I caught the defendant stealing bread from my store! Even though I felt pity and let him go, he didn’t repent and committed other thefts!”

The sheep had stolen bread from Goat Friend 1’s shop. The friend let him go once, but he stole again.

“I brought the defendant as a servant! But he refused my wife, who bought him as a bed slave to please her! I tried disciplining him, feeding him, clothing him—but he was ungrateful and ran away! My wife suffered so much after being rejected by him… Hence, we are here together!”

The sheep is Goat Friend 2’s wife’s bed slave. He disobeyed and fled.

“What country is the defendant from?”

Curiosity made me ask. The Bastian Empire seems quite open about such relationships.

“I am from the Dayrid Kingdom.”

The sheep’s expression was blank. Perhaps he had resigned himself to death. That lost look reminded me of someone.

“Continue with the other testimonies.”

“I informed the plaintiff after seeing the defendant destroy the dam.”

“Did the dam collapse?”

At this, Leonil Graham frowned deeply and replied,

“Yes. That caused the Ver River to flood, leading to disaster.”

I see.

“He couldn’t have destroyed the dam alone! The remnants of the Dayrid Kingdom must be arrested!”

“What are your professions?”

“I run a small trade company.”

“I run a bakery.”

“I am a subordinate trade master.”

“I am a navigator.”

I lazily opened the goat’s status window, which I hadn’t checked before.

“▼ Slave trade is illegal in the Empire.”

“Your Majesty, I believe slave trading is illegal in the Empire. Is that correct?”

“Yes. But slaves from the Dayrid Kingdom have been pardoned starting this year.”

The status window was rooting for me. This was definitely a clue to the case.

Trade master, slave, subordinate trade master, navigator, and bakery owner.

“Do the plaintiff and the witnesses work in the same trade company?”

“Yes.”

I think I know what this is about.

“When did the Dayrid Kingdom become our vassal?”

“Five years ago. That was the year Crown Prince Joshua Dayrid arrived.”

Leonil looked at Joshua, probably annoyed by the way he stood neatly beside my sister. Provocative, clearly.

“Does the defendant have anything to say?”

Leonil stood alone to the emperor’s left, the other four advisers on the right. Perhaps the sides reflected factions?

“I am innocent. But what use is it if I speak? I am a former slave from a vassal state, and I have lost the purity valued in the Dayrid Kingdom. Neither side welcomes me, and I’ve lived forgetting that I am human.”

Wait, the Dayrid Kingdom values purity? But Joshua seemed to shed his clothes so easily in front of me…

“Your Majesty, in my opinion—”

“Who said you could speak?”

The emperor silenced Keira immediately when she tried to speak for me. I smiled a little, restrained.

“Did you steal the bread out of hunger?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Ah, so that must be why my sister brought Joshua here. But how did she know to bring him? Did Leonil tell her?

“Is the navigator also associated with the plaintiff’s trade company?”

“…Only occasionally.”

The emperor wasn’t paying attention, and the advisers clearly sided with the Empire. That’s why Joshua was brought here.

In the prologue, he said: “I will return my country.” So showing the state of the Dayrid people before Joshua was meant to sway him.

“Then the plaintiff and the three witnesses are connected. Using their testimony is unfair to the defendant, right, Father?”

Appealing to reason rather than title.

“I see.”

“In my humble opinion, the testimonies are meaningless. Theft from hunger is hardly a crime. The law should provide relief in such cases.”

“You are right. Theft from hardship should have been pardoned and collected through labor.”

The emperor treats me kindly, yet expects me to show competence. I must not just be cherished—I must prove my ability.

“However, the witnesses did not act accordingly and testified when the defendant was at a disadvantage. The validity of the testimonies is doubtful.”

“You are correct.”

“Furthermore, adopting testimony from people in the same trade company is suspicious. Did the trade master previously run a slave shop?”

The goat glanced at Leonil. Ah, this charade must have been orchestrated by you.

“Yes, a slave shop.”

“Your intentions are too obvious.”

“State your opinion.”

I took a deep breath when he gently removed a stray hair from my cheek, then calmed myself as he smiled kindly. His soothing manner helped me truly relax.

“How could he have destroyed the dam alone? Surely it was the work of former Dayrid slaves who resented being pardoned and elevated to citizen status.”

“That makes sense.”

“Thus, I believe this act was carried out by the plaintiff. Look at the defendant. He seems fragile, like he could lose even to me.”

“If I were to fight you, I’d cut your head off.”

“Father, that’s not what I meant.”

He teased playfully, making me smile but I held it in.

“So I believe this act was meant to reduce the pardoned Dayrid slaves back to slavery within the trade company.”

“But the dam really did collapse. How do you account for that?”

“I don’t think the former slaves from last year could have done it. It must have been someone wealthy and powerful.”

The emperor smiled—not his usual smile, but a contented one. I knew its meaning. It was the look of a patron expecting something from me.

“I earnestly request a reinvestigation of this case.”

“If that is your wish, so be it.”

“Ander Vils, the adviser.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You are the most capable, so take charge of this matter.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The emperor rose, stretching his hand toward me as if to signal me to follow. I lightly placed my hand over his and exited the audience chamber. Through the gap, I saw Joshua’s green eyes, looking somewhat surprised.

Joshua Dayrid