The Courtroom of Judgment
The grand hall of the Clover Kingdom's court was filled with an uneasy silence. Nobles, military officials, and commoners alike had gathered to witness the trial of Duke Roswell, Marquis Eldrin, and Count Gregor—three of the most powerful noble lords in the kingdom, now brought to their knees.
Solis Vermillion, dressed in his royal crimson robes, sat high on the judge's seat, the symbol of the king's absolute authority hanging above him.
Julius Novachrono, as the official overseer, sat beside him with a neutral expression, though his keen eyes observed everything carefully.
The three nobles stood in chains, their once-grand attire torn and dirtied from their arrest.
The courtroom was packed, whispers filling the air.
"I never thought I'd see nobles in chains."
"He's truly fearless… Solis Vermillion really is a tyrant."
"But… isn't this justice?"
The Charges Read
A royal scribe stood and began reading the charges in a booming voice:
"Duke Roswell, Marquis Eldrin, and Count Gregor—You stand accused of the following crimes against the Clover Kingdom:"
• High treason – Conspiring against the throne.
• Attempted assassination – Orchestrating the attack on His Majesty.
• Embezzlement – Stealing kingdom funds meant for public projects.
• Corruption – Using bribery and threats to control the Parliament.
Solis leaned forward. His voice was calm but absolute.
"How do you plead?"
The nobles looked at each other, then at the court filled with commoners eager to see them punished.
Duke Roswell, the boldest of the three, stepped forward.
"This trial is a farce!" he spat. "You have no real proof! You think you can just execute noblemen like common criminals?!"
Solis remained unfazed.
"You're right. I wouldn't execute noblemen like common criminals… I'd make an example of them."
The room fell silent.
Then, the doors burst open.
A group of soldiers entered, dragging in two trembling men—former servants of the accused nobles.
"T-Tell them!" a guard barked, shoving one forward.
The man fell to his knees, face pale with terror.
"I was ordered to send messages to the assassins! The nobles funded them! Please, spare me—I had no choice!"
The other servant followed.
"They stole from the kingdom's treasury! I saw it with my own eyes! They moved gold to their private vaults!"
The evidence was undeniable.
The nobles' faces drained of color.
The crowd erupted into shouts.
"Traitors!"
"Execute them!"
"Long live the king!"
The Verdict
Julius sighed.
"This evidence leaves no room for doubt."
Solis rose from his throne.
"Duke Roswell, Marquis Eldrin, Count Gregor—For your crimes against the Clover Kingdom… I sentence you to death."
The room exploded in noise.
The condemned nobles shouted in rage and horror.
"You cannot do this!"
"You are destroying the nobility!"
"The people will turn against you!"
Solis descended the steps, stopping in front of them.
His golden eyes burned like the sun.
"You nobles have ruled with greed and cruelty for too long. Your time is over."
He turned to the guards.
"Take them to the public square. Their execution will be at dawn."
The nobles screamed as they were dragged away.
And as Solis turned to face the courtroom, he saw fear in the eyes of the remaining nobles.
Good. Let them fear me.
Aftermath
That night, Solis stood alone in the royal garden, watching the moonlit sky.
His mother approached.
"Solis… are you sure about this path?"
He didn't look at her.
"The kingdom must change. And if I must be the villain to make it happen… so be it."
She sighed, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"I only wish for you to be safe."
He finally turned to her.
"I know, Mother. But safety is a luxury I can't afford."
Tomorrow, the traitors would die.
And the revolution would continue.
End of Chapter 31