Saved Or Ruined

"Are you truly this foolish?" he hissed. "Do you think you can always get away by bluffing? We all know that you do not have any proof. Spouting lies here could get you killed." the man gritted his teeth fuming. He had never seen a foolish person like Elias. Was it gold which had made him like this?

"Lord Velmore." Elias said softly in an almost amused voice. "Do you have the right to question me directly or shout in the royal court?" 

His question stunned the crowd. Lord Halves's face turned dark instantly.

"That…." 

 "Or have you forgotten the bribe you offered to the assassins in the woods? You wanted your hands clean, but they weren't very discreet. A few of them had letters and sealed orders bearing your name. You think I didn't take them before I left their corpses behind?"

Velmore froze and Elias smiled. That smile was slow, grim, and merciless. It spread like cold fire across his face.

"You see, I thought I would bring them with me to court," Elias continued. "But I didn't want to spoil the surprise."

The scribe started to note down again with a mouth slightly open and mind blank. So he was only using the traders. Even if they would not have supported him, he would have won the case. A chill ran down their spine too and they shuddered.

Evil! Elias was pure evil. He used this chance to cut lord Velmore's ties first before throwing him down the ditch. But they had already burnt the bridges so, the traders and nobles stepped back from Velmore, as though proximity to him might taint them. One of them even muttered, "if lord Velmore had succeeded, he would have gained all that money and the Crestford estate too."

Velmore's eyes darted from face to face. "This is a trap. This boy is manipulating all of you! He is desperate! He has forged those letters, he must have!"

"You can challenge their authenticity in front of the magistrates," Elias said without a hint of worry in his voice as if he had already won this round. "You did ask for this to be witnessed by the crown, didn't you." The scribe instantly took the hint and ran to Elias to take the letter from his hands.

He ran to Lord Halves and passed the letter to him. The crowd watched, holding his breath as the man touched the seal on the letter.

Velmore's face was pale now. The cold fury that simmered behind his sneer had melted into a sudden, dawning realization. He had been outplayed. Not only had Elias survived, he had come prepared. Velmore took a shaky step back.

Lord Halves held the sealed letter between gloved fingers, examining the wax impression carefully under the light. The insignia was unmistakable. It was Velmore's personal crest, pressed deep and clean.

"This is your seal, is it not, Lord Velmore?" Halves asked in a voice sharp enough to pierce his skin.

Velmore's mouth opened, then closed again. No words came because he knew liying would not work anymore. He did not understand what the issue was here. He was strong, Elias was weak. Shouldnt strong prey on weak. He wanted to fight this over, but under the scrutinizing gazes, he could not speak his heart out. A few weak sounds slipped out of his mouth in an attempt to get attention but when lord Halves pressed again, He could no longer deny it.

At Elias's subtle nod, Halves broke the seal and unfolded the letter. The parchment crackled ominously in the silent court. Lord Halves only looked disappointed after reading it. Velmore was a fool, even if he wanted to save him, he had no means to. 

"Read it aloud," Elias said smoothly "Let the truth echo through these hallowed halls."

Halves obliged with reluctance.

"To those who carry this order," he read, "you are to eliminate the boy known as Elias Crestford. He will take the easy route from Crestford estate to the royal court early tomorrow morning. He did not have many knights or guards. Kill him on the way and make it look like a robbery. If you completed the task properly, I will pay you half of the gold you would rob. When the task is done, bring the spoils to me directly. — Lord Velmore."

Gasps rippled through the chamber. A few nobles turned their heads in shock. Others glared outright at Velmore with unveiled disgust.

One of the traders muttered, "he wanted to take all the benefits to himself."

"I trusted him!"

Velmore stumbled forward, his voice shrill. "Lies! This is a forgery! Anyone could have copied my seal! Or someone might have stolen it."

"You just confirmed it was yours a moment ago," Elias pointed out with mocking sympathy.

"You don't understand!"

But his protests were feeble now, drowned beneath the heavy judgment of the room. The air turned heavy, like it might snap under the weight of Velmore's disgrace.

Lord Halves slammed the letter on the table beside him and stood. "Lord Velmore, for the crime of conspiracy to murder and the abuse of noble authority, I declare your sentence to be two years' imprisonment in the royal dungeons. Let this serve as a reminder that corruption has no place in this court."

Gasps turned to murmurs of approval, but Elias lifted his hand.

"With respect," he said coolly, "I was the target of this crime, and I have received nothing in return. Not even an apology, much less compensation."

Halves paused, then turned toward him. "What would you suggest, Baron Elias?"

Elias smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I want him to kneel and apologize rather than serving in imprisonment since it would be a waste of his talent. But if he could not do that, I suggest that half of Lord Velmore's estate be confiscated. It should be offered in restitution for the attempted murder and theft. I will consider the matter settled with that."

Velmore erupted. "This is madness! You are robbing me now! What made you think you have the right to bargain here?"

"Would it not be better than serving in the prison?" Halves said gravely, "you can choose any of the decisions you like, this is already mercy."

Velmore gritted his teeth. Mercy was worse than death when it came from an enemy. But lord Halves was right, he needed this chance to take a step back so that he could attack with more force next time.

He turned to the court officers. "I agree to give half of my property." the voice came out reluctantly but still accepted immediately.

Lord halves repeated his decision. "Since they have come to a conclusion, we would not press the matter further. see to the division of property and ensure Elias Crestford receives his due share."