The Rewards of Loyalty

As night fell, György Batthyány sat in a lavishly decorated carriage, slowly making his way towards High Justice Rozgonyi's mansion.

Outside the carriage window, the afterglow of the setting sun painted everything in gold, but his mood was exceptionally heavy, as if a huge stone was pressing on his chest.

Once, he was so powerful, a truly influential figure in Transylvania.

Now, to reclaim a salt mine, he had to bow to a minor noble he despised, which filled his heart with resentment and unwillingness.

The carriage stopped in front of Rozgonyi's mansion. Batthyány took a deep breath, adjusted his collar, trying to make himself appear more composed.

His servant followed behind him, carrying a carefully prepared, lavish gift.

The gift was valuable, containing exquisite gold and silverware, as well as precious jewels. He hoped these would move Rozgonyi and sway him to rule in his favor regarding the salt mine.

Having just finished a day's work and returned to his residence, Rozgonyi's heart tightened slightly upon learning of Batthyány's visit.

He naturally knew Batthyány's intentions. For this once-high-and-mighty great noble to be reduced to such a state, Rozgonyi felt little sympathy.

When Batthyány was in power, he had not hesitated to oppress the surrounding minor nobles, and Rozgonyi himself had suffered at his hands.

What goes around comes around. Now he was up against the rising Hunyadi, with his family's most important economic source taken away. Surely Batthyány could finally understand the suffering endured by those he oppressed?

It's still that old saying: you can't only think of using the law to protect yourself when you are the one being bullied.

Batthyány walked into the living room, forcing a smile, and said, "High Justice Rozgonyi, long time no see, I trust you are well."

His tone carried a hint of forced enthusiasm.

Rozgonyi bowed slightly, responding politely, "Lord Batthyány, may I ask the purpose of your visit at this hour?"

His gaze was calm, yet it revealed an unfathomable depth.

Batthyány waved his hand, signaling his servant to present the gift, and said, "This is a small token of my regard, which I hope you will accept.

High Justice, you hold an important position, laboring for the legal justice of the Kingdom. This small gift merely expresses my respect."

His eyes held a hint of expectation, hoping Rozgonyi would accept the lavish gift.

Rozgonyi's gaze fell on the gift, his heart gave a sudden tremor, and a surge of greed welled within him.

These gifts indeed looked valuable, and for him, they were a considerable temptation.

But the next moment, the Emperor's trusting gaze appeared in his mind, and he remembered the heavy responsibility he bore to uphold legal justice.

His expression became serious, and he said, "Lord Batthyány, what is the meaning of this?

The laws of the Kingdom are holy and inviolable. As High Justice, I bear the duty of impartial judgment. How could I accept your gift!"

His voice was firm, without the slightest hesitation.

Batthyány's smile instantly froze on his face. A flicker of embarrassment and anger crossed his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He hadn't expected Rozgonyi to refuse him so resolutely, and he couldn't help but feel some regret, wondering how he could have been so naive as to think he could bribe this High Justice with money.

"High Justice, please reconsider. This salt mine in Paraid was originally the property of my Batinyai Family. You only need to make a truly impartial judgment, that's all."

Batthyány still tried to make a last struggle, his tone carrying a hint of pleading.

Rozgonyi shook his head and said coldly, "Lord Batthyány, please return.

I will, of course, make an impartial judgment based on facts and law. This is the holy mission entrusted to me by the great Emperor and the Kingdom of Hungary."

Seeing Rozgonyi's firm attitude, Batthyány knew it was pointless to persist.

He stood up and said disappointedly, "Very well, High Justice, I hope you can truly act as you speak."

With that, he left Rozgonyi's mansion with his servant, disheartened.

After Batthyány left, Rozgonyi sat in his chair and let out a long sigh.

He knew he had just made the right decision.

Although refusing the generous gift made him somewhat reluctant, he could not betray the Emperor's trust, nor could he let the law be disgraced.

The next morning, the Royal Court within the Royal Castle opened on time.

The atmosphere in the court was tense, and some nobles who had not yet left Budapest came together to observe this high-stakes lawsuit.

It was a rare occurrence in Hungary for the Emperor's court to hear a territorial dispute between two great nobles.

They discussed the territorial dispute trial that was about to begin.

Hunyadi and Batthyány arrived at the court early, their eyes meeting with hostility.

Batthyány was the first to attack, his face flushed red, pointing at Hunyadi, and angrily saying, "Hunyadi, you have forcibly occupied my Paraid salt mine; this is blatant robbery!

Today, I will seek justice in this court."

Hunyadi sneered and said, "Batthyány, don't slander me.

This salt mine was already transferred to my Hunyadi Family long ago; it is you who refuse to acknowledge it."

His eyes revealed a hint of disdain.

Batthyány took out a deed from his bosom, held it high, and provocatively said to Hunyadi, "This is my family's deed, clearly stating that the Paraid salt mine belongs to my Batinyai Family.

What evidence do you have to prove that the salt mine has been transferred to you?"

Hunyadi was not flustered at all, and also pulled out two pieces of paper, a forged deed and a property transfer agreement, and loudly said, "Your deed is forged!

I also have evidence here to prove that the salt mine has been legally transferred to my Hunyadi Family."

His voice was firm, attempting to overwhelm Batthyány with his demeanor.

Forging documents was commonplace for nobles, even a fundamental skill. Without this skill, territorial expansion would not be so smooth.

At this moment, High Justice Rozgonyi stood up and said, "Both parties, please be quiet.

The court will render an impartial judgment based on the evidence provided by both parties and the relevant legal provisions."

His voice was steady, and the noise in the courtroom gradually subsided.

Rozgonyi carefully examined the evidence provided by both sides. In fact, he knew very well what was going on.

He thought of how Archbishop Veszter had specifically instructed him before the trial not to let the Emperor's loyal subjects feel disheartened.

This was very likely the Emperor's intention, and if so, there was no need to consider fairness or justice anymore.

The judges sat together, discussing in low voices.

Batthyány nervously watched the judges, feeling uneasy in his heart.

Undoubtedly, this trial would decide the fate of the Batinyai Family.

Hunyadi appeared calm on the surface, but he was also somewhat nervous internally.

He was still concerned that the judges might make a ruling unfavorable to him due to some minor details.

After all, the salt mine's annual income of tens of thousands of florins was also an important economic source for him.

After a period of deliberation, Rozgonyi stood up, cleared his throat, and pronounced, "After the court's review and deliberation, we believe that although the Batinyai Family once owned the Paraid salt mine, the transfer procedures provided by Hunyadi possess higher authenticity."

Upon hearing this, Batthyány's face turned pale, his hands clenched into fists, and his heart was filled with anger and despair.

Rozgonyi continued, "However, considering the Batinyai Family's historical ownership of the salt mine, for the sake of fairness, the court has decided to award the salt mine to Hunyadi, but the Hunyadi Family must pay one-tenth of the salt mine's income as compensation to the Batinyai Family."

As the verdict was announced, the courtroom erupted in an uproar. Many nobles grew even more wary of the Hunyadi Family's excessively expanding power.

Hunyadi breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had to give up one-tenth of the income, at least the salt mine still belonged to him. Batthyány, on the other hand, felt immense disappointment. He had originally hoped to completely reclaim the salt mine, but he had only received this small compensation in the end.

Batthyány stood up and roared unwillingly, "This judgment is unfair! I refuse to accept it!"

Rozgonyi said sternly, "Mr. Batthyány, this is a judgment made by the court after careful consideration. If you have any objection to the judgment, you can directly appeal to the Emperor.

But before that, you must abide by this judgment."

Batthyány glared fiercely at Hunyadi, then turned and left the courtroom.

Hunyadi watched Batthyány's retreating back, secretly pleased.

He walked up to Rozgonyi, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you, High Justice, for your impartial judgment."

Rozgonyi nodded and said, "I merely made a judgment according to the law and facts under the wise leadership of the Emperor.

I hope you will abide by the law in the future and avoid similar disputes."

"I understand."

Hunyadi gave Rozgonyi a meaningful look, then turned and left the courtroom.

Outside the Royal Castle, Szilágyi, who had been waiting there, immediately came forward.

"How was it? Was my prediction correct?"

"Hmm," Hunyadi nodded slightly, "The Emperor's reward came so quickly; that was quite unexpected for me."

"Oh?" Szilágyi showed a curious expression, "Didn't the Emperor hurry back to Vienna already?"

"Anyway, that's more or less what the High Justice implied. Perhaps His Majesty had anticipated this; who knows? The result is favorable to us, and that's enough."

"What are your plans next?"

"I'll be returning to Transylvania in two days. You just stay in Budapest and enjoy your leisurely life."

"You brat, still daring to tease your uncle," Szilágyi laughed heartily, "Give my regards to your mother, and don't forget to write to check on your younger brother; he is now a favored subject of the Emperor."

"I understand."

Hunyadi nodded gently, filled with aspirations and ambitions for the future, and strode forward with his head held high.