Chapter 438: The Trial That Defies Fate - 3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 438: The Trial That Defies Fate - 3
“The Blood Shackles are a power that exerts absolute coercive force on a subordinate vampire. Because the liege directly controls the Kindred's blood, it robs them of both the ability and the will to resist. A Kindred can never betray their liege. However.”
A murmur went through the crowd.
Some vampires looked to Tyr, as if to ask if they shouldn't silence Lyre right now. But Tyr listened to Lyre's words without any sign of stopping her. Under the Progenitor's tacit permission, Lyre continued to speak.
“My father wanted my mother to rebel, to break the Blood Shackles and stand on her own. Only then, from his position as a gourmet, could he taste my mother's blood anew. He turned my mother into an Ain, then had her turn me—her own blood—into a Yeiling. Then he gave me his blood, turning me into an Ain as well. By twisting the shackles and tangling the hierarchy, he plotted to defy fate. Moreover, he forced us to attempt this defiance.”
The idea of the shackles being broken from above was shocking in its own right, but it was acceptable. It made sense for the one who placed the shackles to be the one to remove them.
But for a Kindred bound by the shackles to break them on their own—that was unacceptable. They had Kindred of their own, and a Kindred defying fate was like one's own limbs running rampant. No one would be pleased to find their own hands and feet moving of their own accord.
The vampires stared at Lyre with cold eyes.
“…In the end, however, that was what led to his undoing. My father proved his abilities, after all. Since he was annihilated at my hand.”
Perhaps reading the room, Lyre didn't mention the method.
I wonder, was that really a wise choice? Did she not consider that the vampires would be even more determined to kill her before that method could be revealed?
Or does she simply not care whether she lives or dies?
Her words have been strange for a while now. I thought she was pleading for her life, but all she's done is confess her father's sins in detail before the court. A scandal involving an Elder is still a scandal. Lyre's goal was to tarnish the reputation of a man already annihilated.
That woman... she's subtly twisted. She's deeply concerned with the lives and deaths of others, yet detached from her own. Even now, I can't sense any fear of death from her.
“If I am a sinner for daring to defy fate, then my father, who made my mother and me do so, is a sinner as well!”
Silence.
Only stillness filled the hall. Having delivered her speech, Lyre, like a true vampire, waited for the Progenitor's words without a hint of expression.
It was a truly unexpected revelation, and every vampire was shocked by the scandal... but the outcome did not change.
“So. You are saying it is true that you killed Luscynia.”
“That is so.”
“This trial is to determine the truth of an Elder's murder. Whatever your circumstances may be, they are irrelevant. Your personal story does not obscure the result.”
Befitting the Progenitor, Tyr did not dwell on such a minor scandal. Even though her heart was beating again and her senses had returned, the years and experience she had accumulated had not vanished. Tyr knew better than anyone that dwelling on every trivial detail would make it impossible to pass any judgment at all.
The crime was clear. Tyr spoke softly, yet with a solemnity that carried to everyone in the hall as she passed sentence.
“Nothing has changed. I will now pass sentence on the sinner, Lyre Nightingale—”
“I object.”
The voice came from nearby. Tyr spun around as if struck by a surprise attack. Her gaze fell upon... me, with my hand thrust forward.
“Hu?”
“Tyr. It's different. The situation has changed.”
“Changed? How?”
“That statement just now. If that series of claims is true... this trial is overturned from the very beginning.”
Thud, thud. I walked down from the dais. Standing tall before the defendant, I looked up at Tyr and asked.
“Your Honor. According to Lyre Nightingale's testimony, Elder Luscynia also attempted to escape the Blood Shackles. Are there no grounds for leniency on that point?”
Tyr was slightly taken aback but calmly played along.
“Even so, nothing changes. I am the only one who can pass judgment on an Elder. Whatever sins Luscynia may have committed, she cannot escape punishment for killing an Elder on her own authority. That's not to mention the fact that we cannot ascertain the sins of the deceased Luscynia in the first place.”
“Only the Progenitor can judge an Elder? Then what about other Elders? Can an Elder not judge another Elder?”
As I spoke, I glanced over at Valdamir. He too was a vampire. He showed no sign of being swayed by my words. Of course, seeing as he was focused on my every move, it was clear he was paying close attention.
“Of course. Should an Elder kill another Elder?”
Then how about this? What is the truth hidden between the two culprits?
“What if it wasn't a 'different' Elder?”
“…What?”
To a vampire, a Kindred is like a limb. Defying fate is the act of one's own limbs moving to strangle oneself.
“As you all know, a Kindred cannot defy their liege. That is why what Lyre has done is so shocking and unbelievable.”
But one's limbs are a part of oneself. If a Kindred—whose body and mind are dominated through shared blood—moves to kill their own liege...
“But what if it wasn't an act of defiance?”
We call that suicide.
“What if the death of Elder Luscynia was something he planned himself?”
A fresh wave of murmurs spread. Even the cold-hearted vampires could not remain silent in the face of my statement. The atmosphere was in disarray, their inner thoughts several times louder.
The trial, which I had expected to end with a lack of evidence, distorted memories, and a verdict that followed the general consensus, had taken a completely unexpected turn. Unfiltered shouts erupted from here and there. They came mainly from the Kindred who had lost their Elder.
“That's absurd!”
The Ain who had been subjected to Valdamir's upper-and-lower-body-detachment show shouted. Puffing up her entire body by raising the feathers embedded in her skin, she approached me with an intimidating presence. I smiled and welcomed my opponent.
“Oh, we have an objector. Are you my opponent?”
“A vampire, commit suicide? Is that even a plausible thing to say?”
“Since you're a vampire, you may not be aware, but there are quite a few people in the world who commit suicide or attempt something similar.”
“Only weak and foolish humans would do such a thing. Lord Luscynia was nothing of the sort! For the powerful and cruel Lord Luscynia to choose his own annihilation!”
“Well, there's no rule that says only the weak and foolish do so. Climbing a dizzying cliff with bare hands, challenging an unbeatable opponent to a duel, charging into the heart of an enemy army alone on horseback. Those who wish to test their limits often throw themselves into danger.”
An insane Elder who would embed feathers in his own Kindred, give them double-jointed arms, and attach membranes to them so they could fly like bats wouldn't hesitate to twist the Blood Shackles.
“From what I've heard, the late Mr. Luscynia was a very... challenging individual. What do you think? Is the Lord Luscynia you knew the type of person to attempt such a thing?”
“Hmph. Mere speculation. There is no evidence anywhere.”
A vampire was a vampire, after all. She didn't get swept up in my words and accurately pointed out the blind spot.
“The Consort speaks only of possibilities. As you say, it would not be strange for Lord Luscynia to do anything. That it's a possibility for him is a clear fact... however.”
The Ain pointed a finger at Lyre and said,
“Lyre Nightingale. If she is the culprit, there is no need to even consider possibilities. She had a motive, she made the attempt, and she actually took Lord Luscynia's original blood. She even confessed to her own crime! It is crystal clear that this was her doing.”
The vampires who were listening nodded. Murmurs of agreement like 'That's right,' and 'Obviously,' could be heard. Backed by the audience, the Ain bowed to the Progenitor.
“With all due respect, I find the Consort's intentions in muddying the waters here to be suspicious. I implore the Progenitor to make a clear judgment.”
“Hmm...”
'My apologies to Hu, but their argument is sound. Merely presenting a possibility is not enough to overturn the judgment. If he wanted to save that child so badly, he should have given me a heads-up beforehand. Then I could have spoken to Valdamir and Kavila and had her acquitted.'
Huh? If I'd mentioned it beforehand, she would have just been found innocent? The idea was so novel it never even occurred to me. I guess that's possible when you're the Progenitor.
Don't you worry. I didn't volunteer to defend Lyre to save her. I did it to find out the truth.
The truth is what's important. Curiosity can't be satisfied with lies.
“Motive. Attempt. Evidence. You said the defendant has all three.”
The three points the Ain made are valid. If this were a Military State court, even setting aside the fact that a guilty verdict is a performance metric, she would have been found guilty.
But this is the Duchy. The land of vampires.
“I will refute those grounds with an ability.”
“An ability?”
“Yes. With an ability.”
The inability of a Kindred to defy their liege, to even think of doing so.
In this nation, where perfect dominion is exercised.
“For a Kindred to have the intent to rebel against their liege. To attempt such a thing. And to succeed in taking their original blood. All of it... would have been impossible for Lyre Nightingale to do on her own.”