Duel Trial (1)
Clank, clank.
The heavy plate armor of the Moonlight Palace knights clashed noisily, echoing down the corridor. Leading the way with confident strides was, of course, the palace's mistress, Asella. Unlike usual, the knights were fully geared in full plate armor, even hoisting flags. It looked like they were marching out to slay a dragon.
Bam! The attendants flung open the doors at the end of the corridor with vigor, and Asella strode into the trial chamber. I stuck close to her side, slipping in quietly.
The trial chamber was symmetrically structured. On the right sat rows of spectators, including a few members of the imperial family. Across from us, another door opened, and a group of knights marched toward us with purpose. At their head, a blond man with hair whipping in the air—none other than Georg, the 2nd Prince.
Asella and Georg closed in on each other in an instant. The air thickened with taut tension.
“Asella, you dare challenge me to a trial and waste my precious time? Don't you owe your sky-like brother some respect?”
Asella crossed her arms and glared at Georg sharply.
“No need for words. Draw your sword.”
“You have no shame. Me, assassinating the western duke? Baseless accusations without reason or proof. Ridiculous.”
Georg let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
“Well, we do have evidence.”
“What?”
Georg furrowed his brow at my words.
“There were two assassins at the ballroom attack. The thieves were killed on-site by the knights. The black mage was captured alive by Moonlight Palace and is in custody. And this one... had quite the loose tongue.”
Georg's lips tightened as he glared at me. In truth, the captured assassin had been sealed with a silence curse via black magic. The attempt to lift it had failed. He was barely clinging to life. But Georg had no way of knowing that, so the anxiety of it all being exposed meant he had to bury this trial.
Asella raised her arm, pointing at Georg with a finger.
“For threatening my safety—and by extension, the imperial family and countless nobles...”
Asella declared each word deliberately.
“Pay with your blood, Georg.”
“Tch.”
Georg's eyebrow twitched for a moment, but he quickly rallied with bravado.
“Don't make me laugh. For trapping me with your empty words, you should pay dearly, Asella!”
“Let's just get on with the trial, Your Highness. Bickering like this won't settle anything.”
I pointed to the left side. Asella and Georg faced off at the center line dividing the chamber horizontally. Following that line led to the judge's bench, where the trial judge sat.
“Your Highness Georg von Württemberg, 2nd Prince, and Your Highness Asella von Württemberg, 3rd Princess—do you both agree to settle the truth via duel trial?”
“Of course.”
“Exactly what I wanted.”
The two declared immediately to the judge.
“Witnesses, step forward.”
“Yes! I've always wanted to do this!”
Rauga bounced forward eagerly. She had no alliance with either and shared succession rights, making her a suitable witness.
“Now, we need an assistant with high faith. Doctor Boishu, step forward!”
“As you command, Your Highness.”
Rauga's personal physician, Boishu, advanced. I'd passed him a few times at the Imperial Medical Office. He was a young man who looked like a boy—standing next to Rauga, he even seemed younger.
Rauga would witness the duel process and outcome, while Boishu would lend legitimacy with his faith. Boishu explained calmly in his clear voice.
“In a duel trial, the winner's claim is truth. For the goddess naturally grants victory to the one who speaks it.”
That was why duel trials held in the empire, where the goddess faith was widespread. By my common sense, it was absurd. But when needed, like now, you used it. It turned a potential military clash between Asella and Georg's forces into a one-on-one duel, giving us the edge with our superior fighter.
“Then, please declare to the goddess. What truth does the 2nd Prince claim?”
“Asella slandered me without basis and deserves fitting punishment. I'll take compensation from Moonlight Palace.”
“And the 3rd Princess's claim?”
Here, I stepped in.
“His Highness Georg knows the true culprit behind this assassination attempt on Her Highness Asella and Duke Shvartsshubaiku.”
“A true culprit in the assassination?”
“That's Moonlight Palace's point.”
The spectators murmured.
“Compensation, then. If His Highness reveals the culprit and stays out of the palace for three years, that should suffice.”
“What did you say? Banish me from the imperial family?”
Georg panicked at the unexpected condition. I'd rephrased it from admitting guilt to revealing the culprit for several reasons. In a duel trial, the winner's words became truth. If Georg wasn't the direct employer but knew the culprit, it stayed buried forever. Plus, announcing an imperial assassination as internal strife would displease the emperor. His word was absolute—if he voided the duel, we'd be nowhere. Though the culprit was most likely Camilla anyway.
“Earth Palace sees not just Your Highness but many nobles coming and going. If one of them is the culprit and Your Highness hid it to avoid responsibility, three years' exile is fair, no?”
“Ha, you dare punish me? You, a mere physician!”
“I'm not the one punishing. The trial is.”
Georg flushed red, clenching his fists.
“Your insolence pierces the heavens. I won't lose. Do I look like some frail scholar like you?”
Shing! Georg drew the sword at his waist—a dazzling greatsword encrusted with jewels.
“I've trained under the imperial guard's swordmasters. Who wins between Asella and me? Obvious!”
Georg had reason for confidence. He was a sword user with decent skill—captain-of-the-guard level. Asella was a skilled mage, but in one-on-one, melee swordsmen dominated ranged casters. Once they closed distance, defenses vanished.
“Why so serious, you two? You're not really fighting to the death, right?”
Rauga asked, a bit worried. Both snapped back.
“I'm dead serious! I won't tolerate the insult!”
“Moonlight Palace was insulted first. Time to uproot Earth Palace.”
Rauga shrugged, grasping the mood.
“Got it. Real steel duel between Asella and Georg.”
“Princess Rauga, as witness, please confirm rule 6 of the duel trial.”
“Rule?”
At my request, Boishu opened a book.
“Rule 6: In real steel duels between man and woman, the man receives a handicap.”
“What nonsense!”
Georg fumed, but the chief judge nodded solemnly.
“Indeed. It accounts for women's physical disadvantage.”
“That's from an era before magic was widespread!”
“Tradition is tradition. Precedents include burying the man's lower body. Your choice?”
Asella tilted her chin.
“Only one weapon and armor allowed in the arena. I'll add one more carry-on.”
“Carrying an extra weapon... there's precedent. Acceptable, Princess?”
Rauga nodded.
“Not unheard of. As witness, I approve!”
“Scheming already...”
Georg faltered. The duel had already begun, Georg. Should've read up.
“What will be the extra weapon?”
Asella replied flatly.
“A retainer is their lord's property. Shield and weapon. I'll bring one retainer into the duel.”
“Absurd! I refuse!”
Georg raged. He'd caught on. Naturally, we meant Tanya. The expert swordmaster could crush him instantly.
“No handicap. Honorable duel. One-on-one, no outsiders.”
“And fighting an eight-years-younger woman in earnest is honorable for Your Highness?”
“You...!”
Georg ground his teeth at me.
“We're just proposing trial rules. If displeased, admit the suspicion and flee.”
“Physician, you schemed this.”
Georg jabbed a finger at me.
“Fine. If your extra is you, the physician, I'll accept. Your insolence against me is countless. If I can cut your throat myself, gladly!”
The chamber buzzed at the tense turn. Killing in a duel was legal. I'd have no grounds to complain if Georg slew me. As a non-combatant, my presence wouldn't change win rates, he figured. Rejecting the trial meant no banishing him from the palace. I glanced at Asella. Even she hesitated, not expecting this.
No. 012: Empire's Fall 30% → 38%
Asella's hatred for the imperial family was slowly growing. No wonder, with such pettiness. This was our chance to oust Georg. We'd come this far—had to make the duel happen.
“Fine. I'll participate.”
Georg smirked, certain of victory at my answer.
“Conditions agreed. The goddess's blessing will be with the truth-speaker.”
Boishu manifested divine power, fulfilling his role.
Clap! Rauga clapped her hands.
“As witness, I declare the duel trial between Georg and Asella established! Date: two weeks from now!”
Asella haughtily lifted her chin, looking down at Georg.
“Tch! What an unpleasant woman.”
Georg spat curses and turned to leave the chamber. We headed back down the corridor we'd entered.
“Young master, what are you thinking?”
As expected, Asella immediately scolded me.
“The plan was for Georg to back out or set favorable terms. What were you going to do fighting alongside me?”
She was pretty pissed.
“Don't worry. We'll definitely win the duel.”
“Georg's not that easy to dismiss. He's a proper swordsman. You could really... die.”
“For all his talk, Georg can't openly go for Your Highness's life. Things have escalated—the emperor will watch. He won't look kindly on a successor torching the family.”
“That's not what I... Fine, whatever.”
Asella grumbled, crossing her arms.
“Now that it's come to this, we'll crush them. Young master, going to train with a sword?”
“Gotta do what I can. Your Highness, focus on magic practice.”
“Got a plan?”
I shrugged and made a request of Asella.
“Just lend me some knights. I need manpower to gather materials.”