Interlude: The Ruin of a Certain Knight
Around the time Justin and the others were beginning to feel that life had returned to normal—
At Landval Castle, the second session of the Kingdom Council was being held.
Usually, most matters discussed in the first session of the Kingdom Council reached a conclusion, and the second session was generally just for confirming the resolutions.
However, this time, things did not go as usual.
In the first session, a flood of people came forward asserting Justin’s innocence.
Among them was Cyan Bellows, Vice-Commander of the Knights Order.
The parliament was thrown into chaos.
It was clear that they couldn’t bring things to order as they were, so the second session was declared a place for presenting proof, and the meeting was adjourned.
And so, the awaited second session arrived—
Led by Bellows, Justin’s defense team brought forth hard evidence such as falsified reports and testimonies from those who had been coerced into lying, plunging the parliament into turmoil.
At that point, even those who had previously denied the possibility of Justin’s innocence began to change their expressions. Suspicion soon turned toward the one who had submitted the falsified reports claiming embezzlement and who had coerced others into false testimonies by exploiting their weaknesses—Hank.
Summoned by the Speaker, Hank approached the witness stand with a pale face.
He gave incoherent and evasive answers to the questions posed to him, getting warned repeatedly.
His agitation made it blatantly obvious even to a child that he was guilty.
“It’s over for him…”
“Yeah…”
Gary and Miracca, who had sided with Justin’s defense, murmured as they watched Hank, weakened and needing the support of fellow knights as he staggered out of the room.
“According to Vice-Commander Bellows, it seems there are still other crimes.”
“So there were other knights he set up too…”
Justin had been blessed with both comrades and superiors.
When he was driven into a corner, there were people who reached out to save him.
That was the difference that brought about an outcome unlike those of the other knights who had been framed.
That’s where Hank had miscalculated.
The knights he had previously set up were all, like Hank, highly ambitious individuals who sought to rise even at the cost of pushing others down.
Because of that, no one appeared to sympathize with or save them.
Seeing Hank unable to offer a single counterargument, the atmosphere of the parliament quickly tilted toward “Justin is innocent.”
Moreover, when Bellows remarked that excessive competition for promotion led to the folly of betraying comrades, many voiced their agreement.
—The only one who remained grim-faced was Commander Solard, Commander of the Knights Order.
Whether he was displeased with Justin’s exoneration or had some other intention, Bellows could not discern.
Meanwhile, Gary and Miracca breathed a sigh of relief and quietly exchanged a fist bump to share in the joy.
Soon, the topic shifted to the person who had made a major contribution this time.
“Still, it’s amazing they managed to spot the falsified documents. Hank must’ve hired someone pretty skilled since he’d be in real trouble if the lies were exposed… But whoever caught it outdid even that.”
“Apparently, a highly skilled mage in service to a ducal house lent their help.”
“A ducal house? You mean the McCreed family, the one that hosted the ball?”
“Yeah… But it’s a strange connection, isn’t it? The McCreed family, which had a mage who helped prove Justin’s innocence, and the Tryon family, lords of his reassignment location, ended up drawing close through that ball.”
“Just shows the difference in how people live their lives. That guy was also ambitious and aimed for promotion, but his drive came from genuine self-improvement.”
“Exactly. That was the decisive difference between him and Hank.”
With a sense of relief, the two began discussing how they should start preparing for the border security assignment that would soon be officially announced.
After the Kingdom Council ended,
Gary and Miracca were summoned to Bellows’ office.
The reason—about the border security assignment.
“I’ll get straight to the point. Your transfer orders have been revoked.”
““...…””
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, well… how do I put it… it’s kind of blatant, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious.”
Their transfer orders had been revoked just as soon as discussions about Hank’s expulsion from the Order began—
It was highly likely that someone had intervened behind the scenes.
Because of that, Bellows couldn’t feel at ease just yet.
Something—or someone, even he didn’t know—was still trying to push the Knights Order in the wrong direction.
He had no proof, but a nameless unease continued to swirl within his chest.
What do you think about this chapter?
