The Imperial Hearing (3)

The imperial hearing. Standing before the empire's sole ruler, the emperor enthroned upon the throne. Proving one's innocence and defending oneself in front of countless nobles watching. It was bound to be an incredibly burdensome affair.

Nobles who had personally experienced a hearing described it as feeling like being thrown into a lake teeming with cannibalistic fish. And honestly, the analogy wasn't entirely wrong. In the end, you still got bitten either way. The only difference was whether it was your body or your spirit that suffered.

However, today's hearing had a completely different atmosphere. For one thing, the mood among the nobles felt strangely off from the start.

"Are we really holding a hearing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for Sir Leonhardt?"

"There have been some strange rumors circulating among the nobles lately, but..."

"Ahem! Watch your tongue, man! Do you want to cause trouble?"

Normally, hearings were occasions for nobles to gleefully tear into someone with a shady past. Those attending would always be brimming with confidence. Yet today, not a single noble carried that energy. Instead, their faces were filled with countless question marks.

The one who provided answers to those questions was an elderly man attending the hearing just like them.

"Sir Leonhardt has chosen to charge straight ahead."

His face was etched with deep wrinkles from the harsh winds of time, and his hair had turned pure white. Yet the intelligence gleaming in his eyes was as vast and profound as the ocean itself.

When an unexpected answer came from an unforeseen direction to a question they hadn't thought would be addressed, the nobles' gazes turned toward the old man. Soon, they rose in shock and bowed their heads respectfully.

"W-we greet Your Grace, Duke Ifrit!"

"Everyone, please be seated. I am merely one noble attending the hearing like the rest of you."

"Thank you, Your Grace, Duke Ifrit!"

"Um, however... what do you mean by 'charging straight ahead'?"

A noble with more curiosity than courage raised his hand to continue the question. He received disapproving glares from the other nobles for his boldness, but Duke Ifrit paid them no mind and answered calmly.

"You all must be aware of the strange rumors circulating among the nobility lately, yes?"

"We are."

"There are generally two ways to handle rumors. The first is to ignore them. The second is to respond with utmost severity. Both approaches tend to leave lingering consequences."

Ignoring them could allow the rumors to spiral out of control. On the other hand, responding firmly might suppress the rumors but would likely fuel even more whispers behind closed doors. The sort of talk that went, 'Where there's smoke, there's fire,' as the common saying went.

That was why she had chosen to charge straight ahead. Duke Ifrit could read her determination in that decision.

If you have questions, ask them. I will neither run nor hide. But you must step forward with the same courage.

'As expected... it's exactly the kind of approach she would take. It reminds me of the old days.'

Unlike himself, who had already burned out completely and was left as nothing but ashes, she still blazed as hot as a flame.

Yes, ten years ago. Just like when Duke Ifrit had first met her.

Back then, the conflict between the Imperial Faction and the Noble Faction had been particularly fierce. It was only natural. With so few resources to go around, they had fought tooth and nail over every scrap. It was an utterly ugly sight.

Or perhaps everyone had simply given up by then.

Duke Ifrit knew how much blood and sweat his ancestors had shed in their struggle to overcome the Winter of Annihilation. Yet they had all failed and been defeated in the end. Worn down by continuous failure, they had lost even the smallest spark of hope. They could only focus on what they held in their hands right now. Imagining a future had become impossible.

More accurately, they didn't want to imagine it. Everyone knew that if they did nothing, they would eventually be devoured by the Winter of Annihilation. But the learned failures passed down from their ancestors had turned the empire into helpless losers. That sense of powerlessness had kept anyone from acting even after hearing of the victory report from the Baikal Territory.

It's going to fail again anyway. Why bother getting involved and just end up losing more?

Even then, she had chosen to charge straight ahead. Honestly, at first he had wondered if she was insane. Some nobody ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no one had ever heard of suddenly appeared and boldly demanded supplies and troops.

Her bold demand for support upon suddenly appearing was practically no different from robbery, even if she wasn't holding a knife. Yet despite that, she had burned like a flame.

'Perhaps this hearing was also something she planned.'

He had found it strange that a mere baseless rumor would lead to a full imperial hearing, but considering her personality, it wasn't impossible at all.

And finally, she had arrived.

The ornate door ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made of luxurious brown wood opened. Though one of her eyes was covered by an eyepatch, no one dared meet her golden eyes that shone as brilliantly as the sun. The woman wore a perfectly immaculate military uniform and cap.

Wolfgang Leonhardt sat down in the seat prepared for her. There was not a hint of hesitation in her movements.

Finally, discharge!!!

...It seemed the will Duke Ifrit had read belonged to someone else entirely.

Wolfgang had long known that imperial hearings were essentially graveyards for nobles. If the nobles attacked her during the hearing, she had planned to respond appropriately before ending with this line at the end:

With that, she could finally be discharged and return to a peaceful life. She could also give Vendetta a reasonable excuse. It would be killing two birds with one stone—hitting the jackpot.

However, her perfect plan had gone completely awry from the very start of the hearing. Even after the hearing began, not a single person threw a question at her.

What the hell? Why is it so quiet? I thought this was supposed to be a noble's graveyard. Show me that so-called power already!!

While Wolfgang internally urged the nobles on with desperate impatience, Duke Ifrit could guess the reason. Every single one of them had been completely overwhelmed by Wolfgang Leonhardt's presence.

Originally, this hearing had been arranged even though she had refused it. In truth, it had been set up largely because of a small number of nobles who kept finding fault with her. It was essentially an invitation for her to try and prove them wrong. Even if she had refused, there wouldn't have been any major issues.

But she hadn't refused the hearing. Instead, she had stepped forward with such confidence. What did that signify?

'Asking her a question here would be the same as stepping onto the stage she has prepared.'

She would neither run nor hide. Instead, she had appeared boldly before everyone, waiting for the sword called a question. It was exactly like a duel stage had been set.

At the very least, in the empire, there were extremely few people with the guts to casually accept a duel against the hero Wolfgang Leonhardt.

As everyone remained silent like mutes, Duke Ifrit finally stepped forward himself. When he raised his hand and gestured, a young noble who had been carefully watching him rose from his seat in response to the signal.

"I am Count Carnarvon, holding the position of Imperial Investigator."

"Wolfgang Leonhardt."

"Have you ever heard the name Lana Frost?"

The moment the name Lana Frost was mentioned, the already quiet atmosphere of the hearing froze over completely. There was no one present who didn't know that name.

"I know it. Isn't that the name of a notorious villainess from the kingdom?"

"Yes, that's correct. She is infamous for attempting to poison the fiancée of the Mines Kingdom's prince, trying to kidnap her, and pulling all sorts of other schemes."

"Indeed."

"I will ask this clearly here and now. Sir Leonhardt, are you not Lana Frost?"

"I am not."

No matter how much Wolfgang wanted to be discharged, she wasn't so foolish as to be unable to tell shit from miso. Lana Frost's notoriety was so famous that it had even inspired imperial bards. Admitting to being her? She might have to worry about her treatment long before any discharge.

Once again, what she wanted was a comfortable and peaceful life after discharge. Not some maggot-infested existence crawling out of the trash.

Besides, she had actually anticipated this question would come up.

I've prepared materials thoroughly over the past three days just in case. Come at me!

"Understood."

......Huh?

"That concludes my questions."

As soon as Count Carnarvon finished his inquiry, he glanced at Duke Ifrit and gave a slight shake of his head. Duke Ifrit nodded in return.

So it really was just baseless rumors after all.

Count Carnarvon possessed a natural ability to detect lies. It was closer to an innate power than magic. From his perspective, she had not been lying.

That was why Duke Ifrit had tried to determine the truth through Count Carnarvon. The conclusion he reached was that she was not Lana Frost.

'Unless an entirely different soul has entered that body, there should be no way to evade Count Carnarvon's power.'

When Duke Ifrit remained silent, the other nobles didn't dare say a word either. The emperor, seeing no further need to continue the hearing, brought it to an end.

Leaving behind Wolfgang, who was desperately searching for her discharge.