Objection! #2
The Agarpe estate was impressively vast and sprawling, as befit a manor run directly by a count's household. It boasted every facility one might expect of a proper city.
A low murmur of voices rose and fell.
There was even a plaza large enough to hold a crowd. Judging by the shadow on the sundial installed in the square, the time was roughly two in the afternoon. Perhaps a hundred people had already gathered.
"What's going on?"
"They're checking whether Lady Psyche is possessed by a demon or not."
"A demon? In the young lady?"
Word had spread that there was a spectacle worth watching, and more people began to flock in, drawn by curiosity. Watching the swelling throng, Count Doban looked thoroughly uneasy.
"Hyde, my boy — what exactly are you trying to pull? A public trial? Do you mean to stand my daughter out in the open and make her a sideshow for the rabble?"
Count Doban seemed to be a man who placed great weight on aristocratic dignity. As a father raising a daughter, he also clearly hated the idea of her being put on public display.
"My daughter may be ready to accept you as family, but I am not — not yet. If this affair does not resolve cleanly, Hyde, you had better start thinking hard about how you will answer for it."
"Please do not worry, my lord. All you need do is remain still. No matter how they provoke us, so long as you give them nothing to seize upon, that will be enough."
Whether he understood or not, Doban only let out a low, pained groan.
And what of Psyche, the star of this trial?
Like any lady attending a medieval church service, she wore a white veil over her head. It was meant to hide her face, yet it made her look for all the world like a new bride.
In a way, that was exactly what she was.
If we just get through this cleanly, she'll be marrying me!
As that thought crossed my mind, Oscar of House Archibold — a Silver Badge priest — appeared alongside the knight Loras. Loras waved his hands this way and that, and the crowd cheered for him.
"Sir Loras!"
"Congratulations on taking second place in the tournament!"
"You idiot — you're supposed to say it's a shame he didn't win!"
"Is that right?"
Loras seemed to be the most popular man on the entire estate. Of course, one man was furious at the sight — Count Doban, naturally.
"That bastard Loras! Sidling up to the second son of Archibold like that! If his father saw this, he'd grab a club and break every bone in the man's body on the spot!"
From the look of it, Loras — once a knight of Agarpe — had fully decided to throw in his lot with the Archibolds. Knights inflating their own value and jumping to greener pastures was common enough. Having recently watched any number of knights surrender and convert to cults, I found Loras's defection hardly surprising.
If anything, I was glad he had switched sides.
Trash is easier to clean up when you pile it all in one place.
Soon Oscar Archibold mounted a raised platform and raised his voice.
"Beloved people of the Agarpe domain! Brothers and sisters! We have gathered you here today on account of a pitiable woman — and the man who would use that woman to commit fraud—"
A wave of boos and jeers rose from every side.
They were the people of Agarpe. Watching them, Doban — seated among the spectators — clenched his fist tight.
"In a public trial, public opinion is everything! No one in our domain hates priests and the Archibolds more than our people. A stroke of luck!"
Doban was right. But the moment armed soldiers entered the plaza, the crowd fell silent one by one. They appeared to be Oscar's escort, dispatched by the Church.
"From this moment, anyone who opens their mouth without leave shall be deemed to have insulted the Creator of all things and His earthly proxy, the Church — and Baldwin of the Holy Crusade will personally deliver the harshest punishment!"
A man gripping a massive spear slammed the butt of it against the ground with a ringing crack. He was a middle-aged man with iron-gray hair streaked with white, one eye hidden behind a scar.
Count Doban clicked his tongue at the sight.
"The one-eyed knight Baldwin, is it. So even that dog has come to our lands. A man who slaughtered who knows how many of our soldiers, strutting about with his neck stuck out like that—"
Bronze Badge Knight Baldwin. A man who looked formidable enough.
As the crowd gradually fell quiet, several more men approached under the soldiers' escort. It was Manaan in his immaculate priestly robes, along with his assistant priests Gurvan and Ogid.
Seeing them, Doban turned on me with a mix of worry, lament, and anger.
"Hyde — why in heaven's name did you choose them as witnesses? They are little better than spies planted in the Agarpe domain by Archbishop Archibold! Do you truly believe they will say anything favorable to us?"
So that was why the church in Agarpe territory had been withering away. Count Doban had already figured out they were something close to planted agents. He hadn't held the count's seat for show, then.
Of course, I had my reasons for calling them as witnesses.
I rose from the special gallery reserved for the count's household and walked toward the makeshift court set up in the plaza. As eyes began to gather on me one by one, I addressed the crowd.
"I shall conduct my own defense. And before I begin, I have a question for the witnesses. Priest Manaan and all those under him — can you swear that today you will speak only the truth?"
At my words, every gaze swung toward Priest Manaan and his companions. Manaan offered me a smile that seemed to reek of something foul, then finally nodded.
"As a cleric who pursues truth and goodness, I have always sought only the truth. Upon the Holy Scripture I solemnly swear that in this place today I shall speak nothing but the truth. Amen."
The Iron Badge priests followed with the same oath and a firm "Amen."
Everyone was watching with rapt attention. I turned to Manaan.
"Manaan — do you know the shape of this earth that the Creator of all things fashioned? No — let me put it differently. What does the Church teach regarding the shape of the earth?"
Priest Manaan glanced around, then laughed as if the question were absurd.
"The Church teaches that this earth is shaped like a vast dish. And that the stars, the moon, and the sun created by God revolve around our earth. This is common knowledge."
"Correct. Then what of Archbishop Archibold's position? Does Archbishop Archibold also claim the earth is shaped like a dish? Does he also say the sun revolves around this earth?"
"…That…"
Manaan started to speak, then shut his mouth. He clutched at his chest as if in agony, drawing a deep, ragged breath, utterly at a loss.
Perhaps his conscience was pricking him.
In truth, I already knew. Roughly three years from now, Archbishop Archibold would publicly advocate heliocentrism and the spherical earth. The man was a cleric and theologian of rather progressive views. From what I remembered, the research itself had been finished a decade earlier — he was merely waiting for the right moment to announce it.
That was why I rather liked Archbishop Archibold.
We'd probably get along!
So if Priest Manaan was truly the archbishop's confidant and maintained any real closeness with him, he would know perfectly well what the man was researching.
And so it proved. Manaan clutched his chest, cold sweat pouring down his face, with no idea what to do.
I looked around lightly and said:
"Priest Manaan — you are well acquainted with the Ninth Commandment: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. It would be best not to sin, and simply speak honestly."
"Ghh… haah… Yes. Archbishop Archibold has likened this earth to a round sphere and designated the word 'globe' for it, and he holds that the earth itself revolves around the sun…"
The people listening were stunned. The claim was far too radical.
The most flustered of all was Oscar Archibold.
"Priest Manaan! What in God's name are you saying!?"
Oscar had been smiling with supreme arrogance ever since Manaan was called as a witness. Now his expression looked like a deer that had gone to drink and found a crocodile instead. The wooden cup in his hand trembled so hard he could not hide it.
I seized the moment of confusion and added a few words in haste.
"By Oscar Archibold's own logic, then, Archbishop Archibold's claims would also be heretical. Priest Manaan — is Archbishop Archibold, who advanced such views, perhaps possessed by a demon as well? Is it a demon that makes him say the earth is round?"
"Archbishop Archibold is… not possessed. He is sound of mind. He is a theologian of unmatched brilliance, a cleric held in the highest esteem, and…"
"Then! Does that not mean that I, Hyde — who advanced the very same claim as Archbishop Archibold — may likewise be regarded as a great theologian, a man more devout and faithful than any other!?"
I flung both arms wide and cried out.
Priest Manaan was in agony.
For some time now, it had felt as though someone were driving a thick darning needle straight into his heart. Had he suddenly contracted some heart ailment?
He realized the pain flared whenever he tried to bear "false witness."
Is God truly punishing me? How can this be…!
Punishment.
The thought sent fear spreading through Manaan's heart like black ink. He had never been so terrified in his life. And yet, at the same time, the very "God" and "truth" he had so long craved seemed to be testifying through his own body — and he felt a kind of awe.
God truly exists.
And now that young upstart he had lately wanted to chew up and spit out like an enemy was shouting at him.
"Then! Does that not mean that I, Hyde — who advanced the very same claim as Archbishop Archibold — may likewise be regarded as a great theologian, a man more devout and faithful than any other!? Answer me!"
Manaan desperately wanted to keep his mouth shut. Of all times, he had to speak while Oscar Archibold himself was watching.
But if I lie, the pain in my heart will kill me! I cannot die in a place like this! I must become a Silver Badge bishop — and after that, an archbishop!
Manaan squeezed his eyes shut and decided, first and foremost, to survive.
"Monk Hyde — whether you are more devout and faithful than any other, I honestly cannot say. But that you are advancing the same claim as Archbishop Archibold is certain."
Speaking the truth brought relief. The stabbing pain in his heart vanished.
But the comfort was temporary.
If that damned brat asks another question, my heart will start hurting again for sure!
Manaan wanted nothing more than to bolt from the stand. He was wishing the whole trial would simply end when the Wood Badge monk shouted:
"Did you all hear that? To say the earth is round is an act of perfect theological correctness! It is in no way grounds for claiming someone is possessed by a demon! Therefore Lady Psyche is not possessed! On the contrary — she deserves praise for recognizing a devout and faithful man and choosing him as her husband!"
The man was spouting whatever he pleased. Praising himself so shamelessly!
Look at that arrogant bastard! Does he have no face at all? Is he not even embarrassed? His hide must be as thick as a mask. Truly the worst!
Thinking this, Priest Manaan glanced at Oscar Archibold's face. Oscar's face was flushed deep red, and he was gripping his wooden cup so hard it was starting to crack.
Monk Hyde — you dare invoke my father's name, you worm?
As Oscar seethed with barely contained fury, Monk Hyde turned to him with a question.
"Lord Oscar — will you put your own father, Archbishop Archibold, on trial for heresy? I can even help you draft the indictment. Writing is something of a hobby of mine."
Oscar ground his molars until his jaw ached. His vision went red and his guts twisted. Never in his life had he felt such humiliation and rage.
I want to take that bastard's head right now! Seize him and hang him on the rack!
But he could not. Oscar was a reasonably clever man, and he knew exactly what this situation demanded.
He smiled thinly and spoke.
"It seems my learning has been insufficient, and I have been lacking in my grasp of Church doctrine. Monk Hyde — your claim was not heretical in the least. Nor was it the answer of a man possessed."
Oscar felt as though he might die — his stomach churning, cold sweat pouring down him. His fury now turned on Priest Manaan, the man he had trusted as a loyal subordinate.
How did that empty-headed black-haired bastard know something Father only shared with a select few?
Archbishop Archibold, Oscar's father, had once said: "Faith" is something that can never be established between one human being and another.
Remembering those words, Oscar now saw Priest Manaan as a turncoat who had already colluded with House Agarpe and betrayed them.
Manaan — that useless fool must have opened his mouth. He hasn't blabbed about Father's plans as well, has he? Did he collude with Hyde for this trial too?
That was certainly how it looked. Throughout the trial, Manaan had testified only in ways that favored Hyde. The reason Hyde had requested Manaan as a witness must have been that they were in league.
They colluded and made a fool of me. I invited Manaan as a witness thinking Father's confidant would testify in my favor — and these dogs plotted together to mock me.
Oscar summoned Baldwin, the Bronze Badge knight of the Holy Crusade, and spoke softly.
"Sir Baldwin — the moment this trial ends, kill Manaan and the priests under him. Do it in secret, so no one suspects. Make it look like the work of the Crescent Moon Sisterhood, as before."
"Understood."
The man bowed and vanished somewhere. Then the Wood Badge monk stepped before Oscar. Those black eyes looked at him as he spoke.
"Well then — as promised, innocence has been proven. So in the name of Archbishop Archibold, please notarize the marriage of Hyde and Lady Psyche Agarpe. With so many people gathered, let us proceed right here."
This son of a bitch — you're going to humiliate me this far?
But there was no way out. He could not simply erase a promise made in Archbishop Archibold's name. Far too many people were present — including Count Doban himself.
Count Doban's face, which had been as dark as storm clouds all day, brightened at once. He clapped his hands.
"An excellent idea! Let us hold the wedding right here! On such a joyous day, what cause is there for anyone to flush red and quarrel? Call the musicians and have them play! You there — open the storehouses and distribute bread and cakes to all who have gathered!"
The crowd delighted in the sudden wedding. The atmosphere had already swung completely.
Oscar was furious, but he had no choice but to accept defeat.
Monk Hyde, you absolute bastard of a bastard. I'll remember your name.