When the Female Lead Went Off-Script, the Main Male Lead Became the Tyrant's Empress - Chapter 5.1
Arden waved his hand at Clary as the corners of her eyes rose sharply.
“You have to listen until the end. Haster already told you. That can happen if there isn’t enough evidence, and Arthur Lurie is only under suspicion right now. Judging from what you’ve told us, there’s a high chance Baron Lurie is involved in crimes other than violence and human trafficking.”
Haster clicked his tongue again, sounding displeased.
Arden continued.
“But right now, there’s no evidence or witness to prove the crimes he committed. We’ll probably find something once we turn Baron Lurie’s territory upside down. We can set aside the human trafficking charge, since we only need to catch the man who tried to marry you and the priest who intended to officiate the ceremony. What you can prove at present is the assault. So show them your wounds in the courtroom. That way, they’ll be entered into the official trial record.”
“What if I don’t show them?”
“The trial will take longer than it would if you presented the evidence.”
Haster spoke in a grave voice.
“During that time, Baron Lurie will try to sway public opinion. For example, he might spread rumors that the Emperor framed an innocent noble and confiscated his property to replenish the imperial family’s budget deficit. Regardless of whether the rumors are true, the proud nobles who despise suffering losses will see this incident as an opportunity to weaken imperial authority.”
Arden’s and Haster’s explanations made Clary feel as though she were being cornered.
“But…. But my uncle is only a baron. How could he have that kind of power?”
“Being a baron doesn’t necessarily mean his influence is weak.”
The Emperor, who had remained silent and listened to their conversation, quietly refuted her in a low voice.
“Lurie may be a barony, but it is a fairly large territory with a port. Until the state reclaimed the right over a hundred years ago, the barony even possessed the authority to mint currency. A lower title does not mean that one’s power and wealth are proportionately lesser. In fact, until your grandfather’s generation, the family was powerful enough to surpass even a duke.”
“Ah.”
In other words, a wealthy and capable minor noble had devoted himself to forming connections in order to expand his influence.
And the great nobles had readily fallen for the wealthy baron, who was skilled in business, in hopes of getting their own share.
Arthur Lurie was greedy and ambitious enough to hand his niece over to an elderly wealthy man, so he had probably scattered money everywhere and worked hard to establish collusion between political and financial interests.
Clary was so impressed by her own brilliant deduction that she forgot about the pain.
No. She hadn’t forgotten.
The moment she shifted her body, it hurt as though her flesh were literally being torn apart.
When she raised her head because tears had filled her eyes, the pressure against her skin made it hurt even more.
“Then can’t I be treated before the formal trial?”
“Of course you can. You only have to endure until the summary trial.”
“To present the evidence, you will have to remove your clothes in front of everyone.”
Haster interrupted Arden, who had jumped in to say that there was no way they would make her endure until they reached the capital.
Clary furrowed her brow.
All she had to do was show her back in front of hundreds of people, but the act of removing her clothes itself was still somewhat uncomfortable.
“Can you do it?”
His words were blunt, but they were filled with concern and consideration.
She didn’t think for long.
“Fine. Let’s do it.”
And Clary boldly removed her blouse and exposed her back.
Arthur Lurie’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, then flushed red before finally becoming ashen like a corpse.
It had been a foolish and naive assumption befitting an arrogant noble.
Unfortunately for him, Clary’s soul wasn’t that of a noble, and the people urging her to do it were members of the imperial family.
At the sight of her wounds and brand, some people groaned while others spat out curses.
The verdict was delivered swiftly.
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* * *
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A week had passed since they returned to the capital, but Haster remained at the imperial palace instead of returning to the North.
There was nothing particularly urgent awaiting him, so he left only a few close aides behind and sent the rest home.
When he said that he intended to impose upon them a little longer, the Emperor readily granted permission.
His cousin grinned and clung to him, pestering him even more persistently than before, but it wasn’t unbearable.
…In truth, there had been one occasion when Haster couldn’t endure it and drove his fist into his cousin’s side.
Annoyingly, Arden had dodged.
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