The Blank Edict's Double-Edged Verdict
“Elise de Bellaph.”
Dozens of armed knights were visible beyond the iron bars.
“It’s time for the trial.”
At those words, I slowly rose to my feet.
“My liege…”
Leoness, beside me, grabbed my sleeve anxiously.
I tried my best to reassure her.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m going off to die.”
“But…”
“I said it’s fine. Come on, let’s go.”
I trusted the blank edict completely, so I wasn’t too worried, but it must have looked different in her eyes.
Like I was resolute even in the face of death or something.
The iron-barred door creaked open, and we stepped out of the cell.
“My liege.”
Leoness called out to me solemnly.
Her voice trembled with unease, yet carried a grave tone.
“Go forth.”
“Huh?”
“This one shall pray for your fortune from this place. Though our bodies may be parted, forget not that this one’s soul remains bound to yours.”
She gazed at me with wistful eyes.
Just like a wife seeing off her husband to the battlefield.
“Please… return alive… so we may meet again.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Caught up in the moment despite myself, I spoke to her.
“Leoness. Don’t worry.”
I flashed a grin and reached out through the bars toward her.
“I’ll be back soon. Eat properly without me, don’t cry, and wait. We’ll see each other alive.”
“Hic… My liege…”
Leoness gripped my hand tightly, her touch burning hot.
We locked eyes, sharing what might be our final bond of friendship.
A touching farewell.
But the moment shattered after exactly three seconds.
“Leoness von Austria.”
The knight spoke in a flat tone.
“You’re on trial too. Come out.”
“…”
“…”
Leoness’s and my faces stiffened instantly.
Our clasped hands wandered aimlessly, lost.
“Uh… M-me too?”
“Of course. Charges of jailbreak and conspiracy to murder. Did you think a accomplice would be left behind? Hurry up.”
“A-alright… Ahem, ahem.”
Leoness cleared her throat loudly as she scrambled to her feet.
The solemnity from moments ago was gone; her face was red as a ripe tomato.
Surrounded by knights, we walked out of the prison.
All the way down the corridor, Leoness avoided my gaze, clearly embarrassed.
“I-I really thought I’d be the only one left behind…”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
What a dramatic farewell that was.
We headed side by side to the courtroom, utterly mortified.
The courtroom was the academy’s grand auditorium.
The upper floor of the place where Leoness and I had wreaked havoc.
Normally buzzing with entrance ceremonies or festivals, it was now filled with suffocating silence and murderous intent.
Below the podium sat high-ranking imperial nobles, academy professors, and student representatives filling the jury seats.
I scanned around for Lilliana, but she was nowhere to be seen.
And at the highest seat.
Golden chair: Crown Prince Adrian sat arrogantly, legs crossed, looking down at us.
“Criminals Elise de Bellaph and Leoness von Austria. Enter.”
With the clerk’s shout, we were positioned at the defendant’s stand in the center of the auditorium.
A barrage of stares. Contempt, disgust, fear.
Adrian fixed me with a cold glare.
“Elise. You know your crimes, don’t you?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Magic use in the academy, black magic use—indisputable capital offenses. Do you agree to these charges?”
Quite the list.
“I agree.”
“And Leoness von Austria.”
“Yes.”
I spoke casually, but I gripped Leoness’s trembling hand tightly.
Her shaking subsided.
“Though it failed, plotting imperial overthrow. Also a capital crime. Do you agree to these charges?”
“Indeed. ‘Twas this one’s doing.”
Adrian rose, slamming the armrest.
“If you all agree, no need to present evidence. Thus, by imperial law, I sentence the defendants to death—”
“Hold on.”
I cut Adrian off.
“You have to give me a chance to defend myself.”
“Defend? I have no time for your nonsense.”
“Well, whether it’s nonsense or not, you’ll know once you hear it. But…”
I slipped my hand into my bosom.
“No need for long talk.”
“What trick is this?”
“This explains it.”
I held up the scroll high.
And grinned at Adrian.
“Any objections?”
In my hand was the blank edict, stamped clearly with the emperor’s seal. Two of them.
The room buzzed.
Adrian’s eyes widened.
“Th-that’s…”
“A blank edict granted by His Majesty. Empty content, but absolute authority.”
I waved it.
“If I write ‘not guilty’ here, I’m not guilty. Right?”
Adrian gritted his teeth.
No need to verify authenticity—the imperial seal couldn’t be forged.
“Cowardly…”
“Cowardly? This is skill too.”
I scrawled boldly on the first sheet with a pen.
[Elise de Bellaph is found not guilty in this trial.]
Second sheet.
[Leoness von Austria is found not guilty in this trial.]
The simplest, most concise sentences.
I placed the completed edicts before me.
“That ends my defense.”
Adrian took the two edicts.
His eyes scanned the words.
I awaited his “I acknowledge” defeat.
“Hah.”
A short sigh escaped Adrian.
His hand holding the edict trembled.
Impulse to tear it versus duty to obey battled fiercely.
“Adrian.”
I drove the wedge home.
“It’s stamped with the emperor’s seal. You’re not refusing, right?”
“…”
Adrian ground his teeth.
Too many eyes watching.
Ignoring it would be treason against the emperor.
“Cowardly.”
“Cowardly? It’s a talent.”
After long silence, Adrian finally bowed his head.
“…I acknowledge.”
He admitted defeat.
“By the edict… Elise de Bellaph and Leoness von Austria are found not guilty.”
“Woooah!”
Leoness beside me cheered.
“We did it! My liege, this one and you live!”
I let out a sigh of relief.
This was it. No longer criminals, back to academy student status…
“For that reason.”
Adrian’s voice echoed again.
“This concludes the first trial.”
“…What?”
First trial?
“We’ll proceed immediately to the second trial.”
Adrian pulled out a new stack of documents.
“These charges: underground prison break and murder, academy property destruction, and saintess kidnapping. Do you agree?”
“W-wait a second.”
“And Leoness von Austria: underground prison break and murder, academy property destruction, and imperial—tch—lady kidnapping. Do you agree?”
“Wh-what? This one was clearly found not guilty…”
“Yes. You two are not guilty on black magic use and imperial overthrow plot.”
Adrian smirked like a victor.
“But last night’s deeds are separate. The edict’s effect is exhausted in the first trial. Isn’t it?”
“Th-that’s ridiculous!”
I shouted in outrage, but Adrian just shrugged.
“Where? In the imperial code. The cases were separate from the start.”
“…”
I was speechless.
No rebuttal possible.
“I’ll continue the verdict. Black magic, jailbreak, murder, hostage drama. More than enough for execution.”
“N-no, there’s context…”
“Quiet. The law must be strict.”
Adrian raised the gavel high.
Leoness grabbed my sleeve, trembling like an aspen.
“M-my liege… This one doesn’t want to die…”
We’re screwed.
Truly screwed.
Game knowledge, blank edict—nothing against the law’s hammer.
“Elise de Bellaph. Leoness von Austria. These two defendants are sentenced to—”
Adrian paused.
He glanced at the now-spent edicts on the desk, then looked at us oddly.
“Death, as fitting.”
He continued.
“However, considering that executing those who just used an imperial edict would undermine royal authority.”
Adrian clicked his tongue.
Wants to kill, but can’t for prestige’s sake.
The edict saved us after all.
“Thus, death penalty is commuted.”
“Phew…”
“Thank goodness…”
Leoness and I sighed in relief.
We lived.
Our lives were spared, at least.
“Instead.”
Adrian’s eyes gleamed.
“Your crimes aren’t erased. You remain threats to the empire. For imperial safety, I render judgment.”
Adrian pointed at Leoness.
“First, Leoness von Austria.”
“Th-this one?”
“You’re sent to the northern front, the ‘Frostwall Barrier.’”
“N-northern front?”
Leoness paled.
The north: eternal blizzards, monster-infested front lines.
“Serve three months there to prove loyalty. Light compared to your crimes.”
“Th-this is absurd! How can you send me there…”
“Refuse, and the noose awaits.”
“…”
Leoness shut her mouth.
No choice anyway.
“Second, Elise de Bellaph.”
His gaze pierced me.
“One month house arrest. Return home, don’t step out, reflect.”
“House arrest?”
Surprised by the leniency—
“And until academy graduation, wear this mana restraint collar.”
Mana collar? What’s that?
Right next to the academy courtroom, in the witness waiting room.
Lilliana clutched her pounding heart, waiting for her turn.
The lady in absolute crisis.
—Wait!
She bursts through the door.
—I forgive the lady! This trial is invalid!
—Guh, no choice then. The lady is not guilty!
The acquitted lady approaches me…
—Lilliana, no, Lily. You saved me.
—Lady, no, Bell…
Then we embrace…
“Heh, heh heh, heh heh heh.”
Lost in delusion, Lilliana didn’t even notice the trial had ended.