The cold stone floor of the prison cell was damp beneath Yuuya's frail body. His uniform, once pristine, was now stained with dirt and dried blood, torn in several places. The thin gruel given to him was barely enough to sustain him, and on some days, they didn't even bother. The knights mocked him daily, taking pleasure in their insults and beatings, but Yuuya had long stopped reacting.
He sat against the rough wall, his head tilted slightly to the side, his dull eyes staring blankly into the void. He had lost track of time. His mind had dulled to the point where he no longer felt the pain. Only a numb emptiness remained.
Then, the heavy clang of keys turning in the iron lock snapped through the silence. The door swung open, and two unfamiliar knights stepped inside.
"Get up, scum," one of them spat, kicking Yuuya's leg.
Yuuya did not respond. His body merely swayed slightly from the impact. One of the knights clicked his tongue before roughly grabbing him by the arm and hauling him to his feet.
His legs felt like dead weights beneath him, but the knights didn't care. They dragged him forward, his feet scraping against the ground as they pulled him out of the dark cell and into the harsh light of the academy courtroom.
It was time for his trial.
The grand courtroom of Arcadia Academy was packed with spectators. Arcadia kingdom's Nobles and teachers had gathered, all eager to witness the trial of the accused criminal. The high-ranking nobility of Araulia sat in their designated seats, watching with interest. Cedric and Leonhardt stood to the side, acting as witnesses. And at the very end of the grand hall, sitting upon the judge's elevated seat, was none other than King Alfred von Araulia himself.
The moment Yuuya was dragged inside and placed in the center of the courtroom, gasps erupted among the audience.
Alfred's hands clenched into fists as he took in the sight before him. The boy before him, the very same boy who had once stood with pride and strength, was now a lifeless shell of himself. His body bore signs of severe mistreatment bruises, dried blood, torn clothing. His eyes, once burning with spirit, were void of life. The sight boiled Alfred's blood.
Even Eltharion and Leonhardt visibly stiffened. Some of the teachers exchanged worried glances. However, amidst the shock, there were those who smirked in satisfaction.
Isaac Verne sat among the nobles, his sharp eyes gleaming with amusement. Everything was proceeding exactly as he had planned.
The trial began with the presentation of witness testimonies. Cedric was the first to speak.
"I saw him disappear with the girls during the banquet," Cedric stated firmly, his expression unwavering. "It felt suspicious, so I decided to follow him. When I caught up, I saw him in the middle of committing his crime. I immediately alerted the villagers and led them to catch him in the act."
Murmurs spread through the courtroom, and the nobles nodded in agreement.
Then, Leonhardt stepped forward. "I also noticed Yuuya's absence, but I refuse to believe he would commit such a crime!" he declared. "There's no proof that..."
"How can you be so sure?" a noble interrupted with a sneer. "Do you have any evidence that disproves his guilt?"
Leonhardt clicked his tongue in frustration. "I..."
"You have none right," the noble cut in, smirking. "Blind faith means nothing in a court of law."
Leonhardt gritted his teeth, fists clenched at his sides.
Next came the testimony of those closest to Yuuya.
Eltharion stepped forward, his posture firm, his voice steady. "Yuuya has proven himself time and time again," he declared. "He subdued a dangerous dungeon before any of the other students could, preventing potential casualties. He has displayed remarkable courage and discipline. A person like him..."
"But none of that matters here," a noble interrupted with a smirk. "Are you suggesting that past achievements erase current crimes?"
Eltharion's lips pressed into a thin line. "I am saying that his character speaks for itself! His actions up until now prove that he is not someone who would..."
"And I am saying," the noble cut in again, voice laced with condescension, "that criminals often hide their true nature behind false good deeds."
A few nobles chuckled in amusement, nodding in agreement.
Eltharion's hands curled into fists at his sides, frustration mounting. "That logic is absurd! If we condemn a man simply because he chooses silence or because his past isn't enough for you, then what does that say about our so called 'justice'?"
Another noble scoffed. "It says that we do not let emotions cloud our judgment."
The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder, tilting against Eltharion. His reasoning, sound and rational, was drowned beneath the weight of pre-established bias.
He exhaled sharply, eyes flickering toward Yuuya, who remained still, unmoving, as if nothing happening around him mattered. Eltharion gritted his teeth. Why won't you say anything…?
Just then—
BAM!!
The heavy doors to the courtroom slammed open with force, silencing the murmuring crowd.
A tall figure strode inside, his boots echoing against the marble floor. His regal bearing and sharp eyes commanded immediate attention.
Cain von Paldia.
He scanned the room swiftly, ignoring the stares, and locked onto Yuuya. His expression hardened. "I will not stand by and let this farce continue," he announced, voice cutting through the tense atmosphere like a blade.
The courtroom was momentarily stunned by the sudden intrusion.
From the judge's seat, King Alfred's brows lifted slightly in surprise. Meanwhile, Isaac, who had been watching the trial unfold with smug amusement, narrowed his eyes. An unexpected variable. But rather than show concern, a slow, knowing smile curled at his lips.
"I came because I heard that you guys want to punish Yuuya."
Cain stepped forward with unwavering confidence. "There is no real evidence tying Yuuya to this crime," he declared. "This entire trial reeks of corruption!"
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
One nobleman scoffed. "Mind your words, King of Paldia. You stand before the court of Araulia."
Cain didn't so much as flinch. His eyes locked onto King Alfred, his words directed toward him. "You claim justice, but you manipulate perception instead of presenting facts. What kind of justice is that?"
Isaac exhaled through his nose, his expression unbothered. "And what proof do you have of corruption your majesty?"
Cain fell silent for a beat.
Isaac tilted his head, a mocking glint in his eyes. "Exactly."
Cain clenched his fists.
Isaac took a slow step forward, his voice silky with confidence. "Your Majesty may be a King of Paldia, but that does not grant Your Majesty the right to make baseless accusations. And besides…" He gestured subtly toward Yuuya. "Are you even close to the accused?"
Cain stiffened.
"Do you know him well enough to stake your reputation on his innocence?" Isaac continued. "Or are you try to protect him because your daughter ask to?"
Cain's jaw tightened. He had no solid counter.
And just like that, another defense was silenced.
Meanwhile, outside the court, Flora sat in silence, her hands trembling in her lap. She wanted to believe in Yuuya, to trust the boy who had saved her and protected her more than once. But the trial… the accusations… the sheer weight of it all pressed against her chest like an invisible force, making it hard to breathe.
From beyond the heavy courtroom doors, muffled voices seeped through the cracks.
"It's obvious he's guilty," sneered a noble, his voice filled with disdain. "Even a fool can see that."
"The way he just sat there, lifeless. Doesn't even try to defend himself."
Flora's hands clenched into fists. She wanted to shut out their voices, to pretend she hadn't heard. But the words clung to her mind, festering like an open wound.
Another voice spoke, softer, yet no less venomous. "His silence is proof enough. He knows what he's done."
Flora's stomach twisted. She wanted to deny it, to push back against the creeping doubt. But it was already there, gnawing at the edges of her heart.
She squeezed her eyes shut, recalling Yuuya's face. His lifeless eyes, his dirt-streaked uniform, the blood that had dried into dark stains against the fabric. He had looked so… empty.
"Why? Why won't he fight back?"
Was it because he had given up? Or was it because… he truly had something to hide?
Flora shook her head, forcing the thought away. "No… Yuuya wouldn't… He's not like that."
Flora clenched her fists. She wanted to deny it. But she couldn't. The doubt had already begun to take root.
Back in the courtroom, the air was already thick with judgment when Isaac revealed his final weapon.
The heavy doors creaked open once more, and a young girl stepped inside, flanked by two noble guards. She had delicate features, her soft blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, and her doe-like eyes shimmered with unshed tears. The moment she appeared, the murmurs in the courtroom intensified.
She stepped forward hesitantly, her hands trembling as she clutched the hem of her dress. The nobles looked at her expectantly.
Isaac turned to face the crowd, his voice sharp yet composed. "This trial has already shown us the gravity of Yuuya's crimes, but now..." He gestured toward the girl. "We have yet another victim and she is nobility."
Gasps rippled through the audience.
The girl took a shaky breath before speaking. "Yuuya…" she hesitated, voice trembling, "…once forced himself on me in the academy library."
A stunned silence fell over the court. Then—
Chaos.
The courtroom exploded with noise. Nobles roared in fury. Some teachers exchanged troubled glances, while others outright expressed their disgust.
"Is that why he always in the library" one of teacher spoke
"How vile!"
"To think there was more to his depravity!"
"He must be punished immediately!"
Even those who had initially harbored doubts about Yuuya now had them crushed under the weight of the growing accusations.
King Alfred narrowed his eyes as he studied the girl. There was something… off. But before he could say anything, one of the nobles called out—
"Wait! What is your family name?"
The girl blinked, momentarily startled by the question, before answering in a soft voice. "…Eldor."
A strange pause followed. Then, confusion spread through some of the nobles.
"Eldor?" one of them whispered. "But… that's not a Verne faction family."
Murmurs of uncertainty rippled through a portion of the court, but Isaac swiftly stepped in.
"And what does that matter?" he said smoothly. "Criminals do not discriminate between their victims. Yuuya's depravity knows no bounds."
At his words, the doubt wavered, and soon the same nobles who had hesitated fell silent.
Isaac took a slow step forward, closing in on Yuuya, who remained lifeless in the center of the room. His voice rang out, clear and unwavering.
"And yet," he continued, his words dripping with calculated malice, "this boy does not even defend himself."
The crowd grew quiet as Isaac turned his gaze on Yuuya.
"Tell me, Yuuya... if you are innocent, why do you remain silent?"
The room held its breath.
Yuuya did not move. Did not speak.
He merely sat there, his dull eyes staring at the floor, completely detached from the storm raging around him.
Isaac smirked. Then, without warning—
CRACK!
The sharp sound of skin meeting skin echoed across the silent courtroom as Isaac struck Yuuya across the face.
The force sent him sprawling to the ground. His body hit the marble floor with a dull thud, yet—he remained still.
Not a single twitch. Not a single reaction.
The court erupted once more.
"He doesn't even fight back," Isaac said coldly, his smirk widening. "Doesn't that say everything?"
The nobles, already drunk on their righteous fury, roared as one.
"Lèse-majesté!"
"He must be punished!"
"Sentence him immediately!"
Their voices filled the chamber, a deafening chorus demanding retribution.
From the judge's seat, King Alfred clenched his fists. His heart burned with frustration. He wanted to protect the boy, to at least grant him a fair trial, but Isaac had masterfully twisted the entire court against him.
If he defended Yuuya any further, the nobles would accuse him of blatant favoritism. Worse, they would claim the royal family was protecting criminals.
His people might revolt.
His kingdom might fracture.
Alfred exhaled deeply, the weight of his duty pressing down on him like an iron shackle.
At last, he spoke.
"Yuuya will not be executed." His voice carried through the courtroom, commanding attention. "However…" He shut his eyes briefly before continuing, "He is hereby expelled from Arcadia Academy and permanently banned from entering the Kingdom of Araulia."
A final blow had been struck.
And through it all—
Yuuya remained silent.
Hearing the verdict, Leonhardt storm out from the courtroom, He promise himself that he will help Yuuya clear his name
"This time, I will be the one that protect you Yuuya."