Queen's Gambit (2)
The courtroom was filled with a cold air. No, it was more than cold—it was chilling. On the right sat the upper nobility led by Louise Violet, while on the left sat the fallen nobles headed by Alicia Floren along with the academy's lower ranks. They faced each other across the arranged seats, their gazes brimming with murderous intent, as if they might tear one another apart at any moment. Had this not been a courtroom, had imperial law not held sway here, a brutal battle would surely have erupted.
“A seat has been prepared for you, my lady. Please sit.” As I moved toward the left side, a student offered his place, and Alicia took it with a displeased expression. I settled into the empty seat beside her.
“I’ve heard the rumors, Eden Rofas. That you reported their atrocities to the committee.”
“Be quiet. The trial is about to begin.”
“Understood.”
Before long, three noble heirs took their seats at the center of the courtroom, their faces gaunt and haggard. Jeers rained down upon them.
…That old habit is surfacing again. Memories of the distant past rose unbidden. Back then, everyone had been an enemy. They had schemed to bury me, and though I had done nothing wrong, I was branded a traitor and forced to leave the academy. But this time is different. Those seated behind me are all pieces moving at my command.
“The trial will now commence.”
Therefore, this time, things will be different.
Episode 3 Queen’s Gambit
Louise Violet swept a cold gaze across the courtroom. ‘So it’s come to this.’
The defendants in today’s trial were Yanis Dailer, Conrad Suss, and Gabriel Banks—all three of them Louise’s closest aides. The fact that they had been singled out and brought before the court meant only one thing: Eden Rofas had begun to move.
‘Does he still lack anything capable of bringing me down?’ Or perhaps… the time simply wasn’t right yet.
Just then, someone leaned in and whispered into Louise’s ear. “Lady Violet, the items you requested.”
She handed Louise a single document envelope. “It contains information on the Floren family, along with the imperial lawyers’ rebuttals and evidence. All you need to do is read it. The imperial lawyers are seated among us.”
“.....”
Louise gave a slight nod. She opened the envelope and glanced through its contents. Perfect. There was no way she could lose.
‘Eden Rofas. You’ve underestimated the power of authority.’
She didn’t know what tricks he had played, but she knew Eden Rofas possessed both information and force. However, there was one thing he had overlooked: a trial was far from simple. The imperial legal code spanned over five thousand pages and contained more than a thousand clauses. If one dissected those clauses one by one, any crime could be evaded. That was the nature of the law. It was created and wielded for the strong—a meticulously woven web that the uneducated could never hope to penetrate. A handful of fallen noble families banding together could never tear it apart.
‘This time, victory is mine, Eden Rofas.’
Louise tossed the envelope to the floor and smiled.
“The trial of Yanis Dailer and two others on charges of assault, rape, and drug distribution and use will now begin. We shall start with the opening statement from the plaintiff, Eren Lopez.”
Redona Leonhart, clad in a black judge’s robe, declared the start of the proceedings. After the customary formalities—judge, defendants, lawyers, and witnesses bowing in greeting—I rose from my seat and stepped up to the witness stand. All eyes turned toward me.
“Good day. I am Eren Lopez.”
After a brief self-introduction, I retrieved the prepared documents and evidence. First, the syringe.
“I will submit the physical evidence first. Everyone, please observe.”
As I raised the syringe above my head, jeers erupted from the right side.
“This is evidence that Yanis Dailer and the other two secretly used drugs within the academy. I request a mana analysis.”
Mana analysis. Any human capable of using mana possessed a unique mana pattern, much like a fingerprint—distinct to each individual. These patterns could linger on objects they touched for several days. It was a magic developed by the empire to catch criminals, and the mage who created it had himself been imprisoned for a crime, caught by his own invention.
“Correct. The patterns match those of the three individuals.”
The analysis team took the syringe and swiftly identified the mana patterns.
“Additionally, this is the substance remaining inside the syringe. Upon personal analysis, the contents were identified as Felopon.”
“Analysis confirms it is Felopon.”
At the team’s words, the jeers grew louder. Then a lawyer from Louise’s side stood up from the opposing bench and raised his hand.
“Honorable Judge, the fact that the mana patterns match is not proof that they used drugs! I submit as evidence the case from three months ago in which a counterfeiting ring was arrested for manipulating mana patterns to conceal their crimes.”
“I will submit additional evidence.”
Though the bespectacled lawyer spoke with confidence, I produced something new before the disciplinary committee could respond.
“This is a photograph of Yanis Dailer in the act of using drugs.”
The image clearly showed Yanis with a syringe inserted into his arm. When the photograph was enlarged with magic, a translucent projection appeared in the air. The lawyer, visibly flustered, quickly raised his hand and shouted.
“There is a possibility of tampering, Your Honor!”
At that, the witness stand erupted.
“How could anyone tamper with a photograph! Bring proof that such magic even exists!”
“If everything is called tampering, then where are the crimes in this world!”
“How dare you speak when you don’t even understand the law! Do you think this trial is some children’s game?”
“Cowardly bastards! Just admit it already!”
“Order! Order! Maintain silence in the courtroom!”
In an instant, the courtroom descended into chaos. Fierce jeers and accusations poured from the witness stand toward the opposing side, and though Redona Leonhart tried desperately to mediate, the heated atmosphere showed no sign of cooling.
This was deviating from the plan. I raised one hand high into the air and brought it down with all my strength.
With a resounding boom, the witness stand cracked and caved inward.
“.......”
The courtroom fell silent in an instant.
“Be silent. This courtroom is a place for law and evidence, not for insults and accusations.”
I rose from my seat and surveyed the room.
“I will continue.”
I could not win through force here. Though this was a trial I was certain to win, pushing forward with power and violence would not achieve my true objective. Louise Violet had already attempted both assassination and information gathering. And those attempts had been effortlessly blocked. She would know by now that she could not defeat me through force alone.
Louise Violet was a woman of strong pride. Her power, information, and wealth were the very components that made her who she was. Without her family, she was nothing—and without her family’s strength, Louise Violet was merely a foul-tempered, talentless mage. Therefore, I would destroy everything she possessed. Just as she had destroyed everything I once had.
I picked up the photograph I had set down.
“As you can see from the photograph, there are no signs of tampering. The defense claimed there was a possibility of manipulation, yet no trace of alteration can be found no matter how closely one examines it.”
The analysis team confirmed this. If a photograph had been tampered with, the signs would inevitably show. Even the most skilled artist could not alter an image without leaving some trace.
Then the opposing lawyer raised his hand once more and leapt to his feet.
“It is possible to alter the image’s form through magic. There is ample possibility of tampering. Your Honor, please punish this malicious act! The plaintiff is currently inflating the charges with falsified evidence.”
“Hmm…”
This, too, had been anticipated. Though photographs were accepted as evidence in court, their validity was weaker compared to other forms of proof. I had known that Louise Violet would exploit that weakness.
“Then, would you care to attempt the tampering yourself?”
But if I were going to be defeated by something like this, I would never have challenged her in the first place. If you won’t bite, then don’t bark. It was an excellent proverb.
“Try altering this photograph with magic.”
The lawyer snorted and drew his wand. With a confident expression, he asked, “Your Honor, may I use magic?”
“If any disturbance arises, there will be consequences. Bearing that in mind, you may proceed.”
“Change form.”
The lawyer swung his wand with full confidence. However—crackle! Small sparks flew around the photograph. Everyone in the courtroom flinched, and Redona Leonhart narrowed his eyes.
Now was the moment. I rose from my seat and approached the lawyer, pointing at the photograph.
“Observe. The alteration magic has no effect.”
Black smoke was still rising from the photograph.
“This photograph has been treated with a new magical coating technique developed by the Erden School. It is impervious to any form of tampering and has been adopted as valid evidence even in court. It is the defense, rather, that seeks to conceal evidence and evade punishment. Your Honor, I request a strict judgment.”
The lawyer’s brow furrowed, and Louise Violet slammed her fist against the armrest before rising to her feet.
“I acknowledge it. The photograph will be admitted as evidence.”
Cheers erupted from Alicia’s side, while Louise ground her teeth in fury. But this was no time to stop. I had only climbed one step. When the tide turned, I had to ride it with certainty.