Courtroom Chaos

Diana sat in her office, sipping on warm chamomile tea while reviewing the reports from the capital. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow on her desk.

Everything seemed peaceful—until Ellise suddenly burst into the room, her face pale yet oddly conflicted.

"Y-Your Majesty…"

Diana barely glanced up, still focused on the parchment in front of her. "Hmm?"

Ellise hesitated. "… The former Emperor's loyalists caused a ruckus in the courtroom this morning."

Diana raised a brow. That wasn't surprising. They had a tendency to be dramatic. "What did they do? Slam the table? Shout about tradition?"

Ellise's lips trembled. "They, uh… drew their swords… in front of the Emperor."

Diana inhaled sharply.

She coughed. Then she coughed again.

Then she choked so hard on her tea that Ellise had to rush forward and pat her back.

"…They what?" Diana wheezed.

"They said they would rather die than let the Emperor ignore this injustice!"

Diana gaped at her maid.

What… What kind of melodramatic play was this?

"Are you sure we're talking about the same old men?" Diana asked incredulously.

Ellise nodded vigorously. "Yes! It was a mess! One of them even threw his coat onto the floor and declared, 'If Your Majesty does not investigate this crime, then I have failed in my duty as a servant of the Empire! Strike me down now!'"

Diana nearly dropped her teacup.

The absolute audacity—

"…And what did Cassian do?" she asked, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Ellise hesitated. "Well… at first, His Majesty thought they were joking. But then… uh, Minister Argyle actually pressed his sword against his own neck and said, 'I shall perish here, for the innocent must be protected!'"

Diana slammed her forehead against the desk.

Who… Who does that?!

"His Majesty was forced to order an official investigation just to calm the courtroom down," Ellise continued. "Otherwise, it might have turned into a disaster."

Diana let out a long sigh, lifting her head slowly.

"…I suppose that's a good thing," she muttered.

Ellise gave her a hesitant look. "Your Majesty, aren't you at least a little concerned? They caused an uproar in your name."

Diana shook her head, exhaling. "They don't even know what they're doing. But if it gets results, I won't complain."

Ellise wasn't so sure about that.

---

Tension filled the air.

The courtroom was usually a place of controlled discussions and calm debates, but today… today was different.

Today, the former Emperor's loyalists had reached their limit.

For years, they had remained silent, watching the empire fall into political games, unable to do much without risking their positions.

But after everything—after seeing Empress Diana suffer for five years, they could no longer stand aside.

So when the Emperor refused to immediately acknowledge the accusations against Marquis Evermont, something inside Minister Argyle snapped.

"Your Majesty!" the old minister suddenly bellowed, slamming his palm onto the table. "This is no time for hesitation!"

Cassian frowned. "I am not hesitating, Minister. I simply need more evidence before I—"

"I shall provide evidence with my life!" Minister Argyle interrupted dramatically.

Before anyone could react, he unsheathed his sword and pressed it against his own throat.

"If Your Majesty will not protect the innocent, then I have failed my duty as a loyal subject! I shall perish here!"

Cassian's eyes widened. "What in the—?!"

The entire courtroom erupted into chaos.

"ARGYLE, PUT THE SWORD DOWN!"

"STOP THIS AT ONCE!"

"MINISTER ARGYLE, HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"

But Minister Argyle wasn't the only one.

Another minister, Count Bernwick, suddenly stood up, yanked off his coat, and dramatically threw it onto the floor.

"If this empire turns a blind eye to corruption, then I refuse to wear these robes of honor!" he declared.

Cassian rubbed his temples.

Was he in a courtroom or a theater?!

General Grantham, another loyalist, slammed his fist onto the table. "Your Majesty, the truth must be revealed!"

The chaos only escalated.

More ministers stood up, shouting in agreement. Others banged their canes on the floor. A few even began arguing about who was more loyal.

"I shall be the first to die if His Majesty does not act!"

"NO! I shall be the first!"

Cassian had to shout just to regain control. "ENOUGH! SIT DOWN, ALL OF YOU!"

Silence fell.

Minister Argyle reluctantly lowered his sword.

Cassian pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. An official investigation will be launched immediately. Just… stop this madness."

The courtroom finally settled down, but the loyalists exchanged proud looks.

They had won.

As they left the courtroom, Minister Argyle muttered under his breath, "Perhaps I overdid it."

Count Bernwick patted his back. "Nonsense. It was necessary."

General Grantham nodded solemnly. "For the Empress."

Minister Argyle sighed.

Yes. They could not let anyone know Diana was the former Emperor's spy.

So they had to frame this as an act of loyal ministers protecting the empire instead.

No one could ever know the truth.

---

Diana let out another deep sigh, still recovering from the ridiculous news.

She took another sip of tea.

At least… the investigation was happening.

Even if the method was absolutely insane.

She set her cup down, resting her chin on her hand.

"…Ellise."

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"If this empire collapses one day, I want it recorded that it wasn't my fault."

Ellise pursed her lips, trying not to laugh. "Of course, Your Majesty."

*****

The air smelled of old parchment, bitter medicine, and the faintest scent of incense. In a spacious but modest room within the palace, several elderly men lounged about like exhausted war veterans.

Minister Argyle groaned as he shifted on the couch, rubbing his lower back. "My bones are not what they used to be…"

Count Bernwick sighed, adjusting the blanket over his lap. "We are too old for this nonsense."

General Grantham huffed. "No regrets. We did what had to be done."

The former Emperor, Allen Verdeca, sat across from them, sipping a glass of fine liquor. His black hair, streaked lightly with silver at the temples, framed a face that still held remnants of his former sharpness. His crimson eyes, however, gleamed with amusement.

"So," Allen mused, setting down his glass, "let me get this straight. You all nearly gave Cassian a heart attack in the courtroom?"

Minister Argyle clicked his tongue. "Hah! As if we care about his feelings. The Emperor has been blind for years. We just helped him see the truth."

Allen chuckled, swirling his drink. "And yet, you all seem to be paying the price now. Aching bones, stiff backs… dramatic declarations of loyalty take quite a toll, don't they?"

Count Bernwick gave him a withering look. "We are suffering for the sake of the Empire, Allen. A noble sacrifice."

Allen's lips twitched. "Indeed."

The former Emperor knew better than anyone that Diana was no helpless victim of political schemes. But he didn't bother correcting their misunderstanding.

After all, they weren't entirely wrong.

Diana did love the Empire. Otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered trying to stop the calamities looming over them.

He took another sip of his drink, his gaze distant.

The past weighed heavily on him—his failure to protect Miraila, his unborn son's death, the mistakes that led to his downfall… For years, he had thought himself undeserving of salvation.

But now, he couldn't afford to remain a foolish, grieving old man.

Miraila wouldn't want that.

So when one of the ministers suddenly asked, "By the way, Allen… how exactly did Diana heal you?"

Allen merely shrugged. "I can be healed anytime I want."

The room fell silent.

"…What?" General Grantham narrowed his eyes.

Allen leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I was simply… unwilling to let go of my guilt before."

It was a partial truth. The real reason he was healed was because Diana told him the truth of her rebirth. But that was a secret he would take to his grave.

Minister Argyle looked skeptical. "So you're telling us… you just decided to get better?"

Allen smiled. "Something like that."

The old men exchanged glances.

Count Bernwick muttered, "That sounds like nonsense."

Allen's smirk deepened. "Does it?"

Before they could press him further, a knock on the door interrupted them.

A small head peeked inside.

Lucien.

The boy's black hair was slightly tousled, his gray eyes wide with curiosity. He stepped inside hesitantly, his small hands clasped together as he glanced around the room.

"Good afternoon," he greeted politely, his voice soft.

Every single old man in the room froze.

Lucien blinked at them. "Um… is something wrong?"

General Grantham was the first to react.

"…For the Empire…" he whispered under his breath, gripping his chest as if he'd been struck.

Lucien tilted his head. "Pardon?"

Minister Argyle suddenly felt devastated. This innocent child… so polite, so well-mannered… so utterly unaware of the suffering his mother had endured for years.

He doesn't even know!

Count Bernwick let out a long sigh, rubbing his forehead. "You poor child…"

Lucien blinked again. "I'm not poor."

The old men shared a look of unspeakable sorrow.

Allen, watching from his seat, didn't even try to fix the misunderstanding. He simply poured himself another drink.

Lucien, however, had no idea why all these grandpas were looking at him with such tragic expressions.

Then, Minister Argyle suddenly reached into his coat and pulled out a handful of wrapped sweets.

"Here, child. Have some candy."

Lucien's eyes widened slightly. He hesitated before stepping forward and carefully accepting the sweets. "…Thank you."

General Grantham nodded solemnly. "Eat well. Grow strong."

Lucien shifted awkwardly under their heavy gazes. "…I will."

Allen watched, amused, as one by one, the ministers handed Lucien more sweets, patting his head gently as if he were a fragile flower that needed protection.

Lucien, of course, was completely oblivious.

In his mind, he had simply met a group of very nice old men who liked giving him treats.

He was very pleased with this discovery.

Allen took another sip of his drink.

"…The world is truly unfair," Count Bernwick muttered. "If only things had been different…"

Lucien, happily unwrapping a caramel, paused. "What do you mean?"

The old men all gave him the same pitying look.

"…Nothing, child," Minister Argyle sighed. "Nothing at all."

Lucien simply nodded, satisfied with that answer.

Allen shook his head, hiding a smirk.

If Diana ever found out about this ridiculous misunderstanding, she'd probably choke on her tea again.