Chapter 63: CH 63

“Of course, I know that it is not enough to just listen to the owner of the accommodation and decide the crime.”

Gabriel smiled as he folded his eyes into a crescent shape. His smile resembled a beauty who ruined the country.

“Bring a second witness.”

Cesare looked at him with a frozen face. Cesare swallowed the dried saliva.

Those summoned as Gabriel’s second witnesses were the elder nobles of Burstoad.

Those elder nobles who ignored all of his letters and did not even respond.

The elder Burstoad who met Cesare’s eye and his ferocious eyes trembled.

“Tell me your name and where you belong.”

“I am Friedrich Burstoad.”

A man with a gray beard stepped forward.

“I’m a member of the Burstoad Senate.”

“Friedrich Berstrod. Did you know about the actions of the Duke of Burstoad?”

“It’s embarrassing, but it is.”

Friedrich bowed his head.

“Because he shut me up saying it was for the prosperity of the Burstoad…”

“When did the Duke do such a thing!”

Count Louisana jumped up and protested.

“The Duke I know is not the type of person to do that!”

“Uh-huh! Be quiet!”

The judge shouted. Cesare cast his eyes full of anger at Friedrich.

“Be careful!”

At the words of the Court, Count Louisana slumped into his seat. A sigh burst out.

“Hah.”

“So, are you here to reveal his sins?”

“That’s right, too, but I thought I had to choose between the two.”

“Continue…”

“The Duke forced the Crown Prince to stay in his mansion. And many times he imprisoned His Majesty the Crown Prince trying to escape.”

“You locked him up!”

The Emperor was angry and shouted. Calming him down, the judge asked.

“Why?”

“In order to gain the upper hand in the Imperial power struggle that will arise in the future.”

The nobles were startled and babbled for that reason. Cesare sharpened it.

I can’t believe you betrayed me like this.

In order to prove that all of those statements are false, it must be revealed that Gabriel stayed in his house as a slave in the first place.

And it was the worst move that led not only to Gabriel, but also to Burstoad.

This is because he took the person who would dare to become the future Emperor as a slave.

When he finds out the truth, the Emperor will never just stand by him. And the wrath of the Imperial family will have to be endured solely by the Burstoad.

The residents of the estate, the mansion owner, and even his wife Daphne.

“Hah.”

A cynical self-help was drawn on his mouth. He had no idea that Gabriel would be able to strike him in the back so thoroughly.

I thought he would be a child less than a puppy for a day, but in fact, he was hiding his sharp teeth and looking for an opportunity to bite Cesare’s neck.

“After two attempts, I was able to get out of the Burstoad. Sir Friedrich was very helpful.”

“His Majesty the Crown Prince….”

Friedrich made an impressed face. Gabriel politely bent the corners of his eye and shouted to the crowd.

“But I couldn’t stand the atrocities of Duke Burstoad any longer. Even for the victims who suffered for trying to do good. So I went back to Burstoad to gather evidence of the Duke’s atrocities.”

Gabriel took a break to maintain the tension.

“In the Imperial Hunting Grounds in the Burstoad Territories, there is a hut where the hunting grounds keepers stay. I found out through the butler, Albert, that there were documents hidden by the Duke down there.”

“Then….”

“Yes. However, the Duke first set fire to the hunting grounds to destroy the evidence. And he threatened Albert to keep his mouth shut. Confused by that, Albert pushed me down the stairs, thinking it would be resolved if I disappeared. He was inseparable from the Duke’s family. Because he was in a lot of debt from gambling.”

Countless eyes focused on Cesare. From contempt for how he could do such a thing as human, to his eyes that doubted whether those words were true.

Cesare accepted all those glances without avoiding them.

“That’s all.”

The trial is over.

At trial, Cesare was sentenced to three years in prison.

It was the crime of causing property damage to the hunting grounds owned by the Imperial family and trying to conceal the identity of the Prince.

Even so, the sentence of five years was the result of Gabriel’s request for leniency, citing the hard work of the Burstoad that had been passed down from generation to generation.

However, before the actual sentence was executed, it was decided that an investigation team dispatched from the Imperial family would search his mansion and estate.

It was requested by some nobles to prevent the great noble Burstoad from living his sentence like this.

It was concluded that Cesare would be imprisoned in the Imperial dungeon until the results of the investigation by the Imperial investigation team were released.

The aristocrats who thought this trial was to seize the Prince’s discipline could not hide their embarrassment.

To say that he was making a deceptive claim, there was a lot of evidence prepared by Crown Prince Gabriel, and above all, Cesare Burstoad did not deny the charges.

In fact, even if it was an unreasonable decision, what would be different? The Emperor had already sided with the Prince.

Gabriel was the only Prince of the Hylister Empire. He is also a Prince whom the Emperor cherishes very much.

Unless you’re trying to commit treason, you won’t be on the side of the Burstoad.

However, failure to refute the results of the trial did not prevent the resentment that had been planted in their hearts.

“How could His Majesty the Emperor do that! Isn’t the Duke of Burstoad a family that has worked for the Imperial family from generation to generation?”

“Hmm…”

“I cannot believe that the Duke of Burstoad committed the crime of assassinating His Majesty the Crown Prince.”

The nobleman who had been helped by Cesare when there was a flood the other day, said in a rage.

Without Cesare’s help, his estate would have been devastated and destroyed.

Cesare’s help was great in reviving the ruined estate and being able to pass that winter without starvation.

“If this is the case, anyone will protest. Who will be the next target? It could be us!”

“Shh, lower your voice. You never know who will listen.”

“Isn’t it unfair?”

“Now is the time to hold your breath. Your Majesty the Emperor’s will is so firm.”

The fact that the Emperor cares for Crown Prince Gabriel is a fact known to all the aristocrats in the capital.

I didn’t think he’d try to empower us like this, but… If you look for a cause at a time like this, you may lose your neck.

“Be quiet, too.”

“Count.”

“I advised.”

In the place where the trial ended like that, only muffled murmurs filled the scene.

*****

“What?”

I dropped the vase I was holding.

The crystal vase shattered and the flowers that Gabriel had given me yesterday were scattered on the floor.

“Madam! Are you okay?”

“What did you say now? Cesare was arrested?”

“Madam, the piece of glass….”

“Why? The fire wasn’t made by Cesare!”

Shannet shook her head at my cry. A messenger came from Joseph, who was waiting outside the courtroom, and he didn’t even know why.

I set out to read the short note in Shannet’s hand.

“Ah!”

“Madam!”

I stepped on the small shards of glass without realizing it. As I was wearing thin slippers, I felt as if I had stepped on something.

Shannet was terrified and ordered the other maids.

“Come on, everyone, bring a first aid kit! Get rid of the pieces of glass here too. hurry!”

“Yes!”

“Madam. Are you okay? If there’s even a glass pierced…. First we have to remove the glass and apply the medicine!”

“I brought a first aid kit here, madam!”

All of a sudden, the maids who came with a first aid kit urged me to get treatment.

I gave them my feet and said.

“Shannet. Give me that letter first.”

Shannet wept and handed me a small note. The note had a short sentence written in cursive.

[Sentenced three years in prison. Currently applying for a visit.]

“Ugh…”

“Madam. Are you in a lot of pain?”

I haven’t even seen Cesare’s face since he went out like yesterday morning.

Sir Joseph is asking for a visit, but he keeps getting rejected.

I wanted to participate in the trial today, but it was not possible because I did not have the authority to participate.

But it’s three years. You mean it’s such a big sin to have a hunting ground set on fire?

As always, bad things happen.

Bang-

A loud knocking on the door was heard.

Shannet got up and looked out the window. Soon she called out to me, Shannet with her pale white face.

“Madam! There are a lot of suspicious people standing in front of the gate!”

“What?”

I got up from my seat, paying attention not to step on the part where the shards of glass were embedded.

As I limped, I looked out the window and checked it out, just as Shannet said.

About a dozen or so men were standing in front of the gate as if they were waiting.

Looking at his attire, he didn’t look like a nobleman or a knight.

The maid, who had gone out to find out what was going on, came back soon and told me the news.

“That… They are carpenters and blacksmiths belonging to the workshop.”