"The jury will now render its judgment," the Herrscher said, habitually relinquishing the right to speak. But this time, the voices that were usually eager to speak fell silent.
"Is... is this really the crime of Wrath?" a small voice asked.
"Not sure, let's look again."
[...]
Another dead silence.
"Thoughts?" a voice asked the Herrscher standing on the high platform. The Herrscher's only response was silence.
There were indeed many people in this world like Siegfried, draped in clothes made of rosy clouds, who seemed like suns that dispelled darkness just by standing there.
But in reality, they knew very well how rotten these people were once their hearts were peeled open, just like the confusion they had when they pulled Siegfried in here.
No darkness could hide here, including the darkness in a person's heart.
Those with a bright and beautiful exterior often had their true forms revealed by simply extracting their inner thoughts.
But... now there was an accident.
The Herrscher raised her hand, waved it, and shielded the image on the stone tablet, leaving only a voice. This was Siegfried's inner voice at the moment of his outburst...
["I don't know what sins you have pinned on this child, but right now, all I see is you trying to kill this child! So I must stop you!
"Until I know the truth, I will not continue to let you do as you please, using private punishments!"]
?
This was probably the first time the Herrscher's face had shown such a bewildered expression. At this moment, her expression even twitched a little.
"Why..." Subconsciously, she actually cast a bewildered look at Siegfried. "Why are your inner thoughts the same as what you said?"
"Unity of thought and action," Siegfried said, raising his chin proudly at the Herrscher. "What, is that so hard?"
Hard? Although the Herrscher had not judged many people, she did not lack experience with people. As a large city, the data left behind by the history of the City of Sighs was even enough for her to define what kind of creature humans were.
What kind of person had she not seen?
But this person in front of her... she had never seen anyone like him.
And the jury had already exploded with Siegfried's words.
"What unity of thought and action? Can anyone really do that?" a voice exclaimed, full of disbelief.
"But the truth is right in front of us. Are you questioning our ability or the truth that has already happened? Are you also going to commit the crime of slander and distortion?" a voice deliberately lowered, reprimanding its companion.
"But this is really the first time we've encountered someone like this! The crime of Wrath... is it really valid?!" a voice said urgently.
After a brief silence, the jury made its judgment.
"Not guilty..." This was probably the first time the Herrscher had announced such a result. She looked at Siegfried standing below with a confident expression, and she actually felt a sense of unreality.
But the power had taken effect without a doubt, and there was no sign of any resistance... unless the other party's mastery of their power was dozens of times greater than hers, how could she have obtained such a result so smoothly?
And the Honkai energy she felt on the person in front of her was negligible. In fact... it was only concentrated on the weapon in his hand.
Was someone like this a Herrscher like her? She didn't believe it. And even if she did believe in that extreme situation, it would be useless, so it was better not to.
"Now, the second charge will be read," the Herrscher said, suppressing the slight agitation in her heart and reading it again.
["I don't know what sins you have pinned on this child, but right now, all I see is you trying to kill this child! So I must stop you!
"Until I know the truth, I will not continue to let you do as you please, using private punishments!"]
Why... was it still this scene?
Siegfried himself was a little confused. This was the third time he had heard his own voice, and it was the exact same words. It made him a little embarrassed...
No, shouldn't he be very serious now?
Siegfried instantly put on a serious face and looked at the Herrscher above him.
"The jury... will render its judgment."
This time, the jury was no longer silent. They seemed to have returned to their previous impatient nature, like the vengeful spirits of those who had drowned in the water, reaching out to pull the people on the shore into the abyss.
"Interfering in other people's affairs and setting others' goals according to your own standards, what is this if not arrogance?!"
"You think from the bottom of your heart that we are wrong, and you harshly believe that your own judgment is correct. You have imposed your subjectivity on others, and you do not tolerate doubt! This is the crime of Pride!"
"The world is drunk, and I am sober~ What a deep-seated arrogance!"
The jury's chirping echoed in Siegfried's ears. They laughed heartily, cheering for the flaw they had found.
"Is that what you think?"
The clamor stopped. The Herrscher frowned slightly and looked at Siegfried below.
Those azure eyes were looking at her. For some reason, the Herrscher seemed to see a burning flame... it was brilliant, magnificent...
"Since this is a trial, then you should also listen to my testimony, right?" Siegfried showed a smile. He casually placed his hand on the small cage that confined him and stared at the Herrscher.
"Do you guys... have this segment?"
It had always been there... there was no lawyer to help with the defense here, because the judgment here directly struck the heart. No one would be slandered because they couldn't express themselves clearly. The display of the heart would express all meanings to everyone.
So the sinner himself also had the ability to express himself.
The moment she saw the Herrscher nod, Siegfried raised his hand and placed it on his heart.
"I am a member of the Kaslana family... from birth, I have carried the Kaslana name and the Kaslana honor.
My father once told me... the Kaslana family was lifted up by the people. They held us high above their heads and provided us with the most favorable conditions. And all they needed was for us to see farther, wider, until we could see the hidden darkness...
And then... shatter it."
Siegfried's hand on his heart gradually clenched. His fiery eyes were full of pride, and also filled with an emotion that the Herrscher had never felt before.
"I have never considered myself a savior, because I understood a long time ago that this world has never been so bad that it needs a savior. Everyone's needs have always been very simple."
Speaking of which, Siegfried paused, took a deep breath, and then solemnly made his declaration to the Herrscher.
"Since they want to maintain such a beautiful world, then we will bring them such a beautiful world!"
"They raised me up high, and I will fight for them until the very last moment!"