Chapter 3

"Very well, I also have a question. I would like you to testify again here about what you saw."

"Huh,……………a, I didn't see anything!"

The son of the Chief Justice turned away from the girl with the loose curls and faced the junior student, then asked again. Being questioned by him, who usually gathered the heated gazes of the young ladies as a handsome and fair man, the junior student, overwhelmed, inadvertently blurted out the truth. Behind her, the girl with the loose curls glared fiercely, but the junior student's eyes were so fixed on the handsome senior in front of her that she didn't even notice.

"Hmm? You didn't see anything?"

"Yes!………………………ah,"

She replied enthusiastically, lost in admiration, and a few moments later, she realized what she had said. But once the words were out, they couldn't be taken back.

"Of course, you know that lying in the presence of the royal family is a crime according to our country's law, right?"

The son of the Chief Justice narrowed his eyes, and the junior student trembled.

"You have just committed that crime."

"Ah…………"

"Is there any explanation you can offer?"

The son of the Chief Justice's voice was calm and admonishing, but it also carried a firm resolve that he would not forgive any further crimes.

"Um, ah, that... "

"If you have no explanation, I must punish you as an admission of guilt."

"Ah, ah,………w, well, she told me to say that!"

After a moment of panic, the junior student pointed at the girl with the loose curls and declared it clearly.

"………Is that so? Is it true?"

The son of the Chief Justice turned around and asked the girl with the loose curls, who was now furious. Although she had lost all traces of cuteness, his tone remained calm.

"Wait! How dare you suspect her!"

"Your Highness, I am asking her now."

"I didn't say that! Why don't you believe me!?"

"That's it! She must have said it out of desperation!"

"Are you saying that she has just committed another crime in your presence, Your Highness?"

Surely not. Once someone has committed a crime, it is highly unlikely that they would commit another, especially in such a serious situation. This would only happen in extreme cases, such as when someone has been sentenced to death and has given up. Most people in the room thought this, but the prince seemed to think differently.

"Hmm. ━━Then, Your Highness. I suggest you file a complaint with the Court of Justice."

"……………Huh!?"

"If you have such suspicions, it is necessary to conduct a proper investigation and gather evidence to clarify the facts. For the sake of justice, please file a complaint."

"Isn't that a bit much?"

"To prevent wrongful convictions, it is necessary, Your Highness."

The prince hesitated when told to file a complaint, but the son of the Chief Justice did not let him off. His greatest hatred was wrongful convictions, and he saw it as his mission to save as many innocent people as possible from unjust suffering.

"Speaking of wrongful convictions,"

He then turned to the prince's fiancée.

"I would also recommend that the daughter of the Marquis file a complaint."

"Wha!?"

It was not the daughter of the Marquis but the prince who immediately reacted.

"There's no need to make such a big deal out of it."

"As I said, it is necessary to prevent wrongful convictions, Your Highness."

"But, but..."

"Even if someone has committed a crime, it is inhumane to subject them to an unjust wrongful conviction. We must correctly determine where the crime ends and where it does not to decide the appropriate punishment."

Therefore, it is necessary to file a lawsuit and have a trial. The prince had no choice but to remain silent when he heard this. But he quickly raised his head and declared:

"Enough! I don't care about the details! I declare this person to be evil! Do you dare to disagree with me!"

The grand hall fell silent all at once.

Of course, it would. The second prince had declared someone to be evil by his name. Moreover, the person declared to be evil was the fiancée of the second prince.

"Mercy is not needed for someone who does not admit their guilt and does not apologize! I will break the engagement and immediately—"

"Your Highness"

In the silence, the prince's loud condemnation was interrupted again by the calm voice of the son of the Chief Justice.

"Are you really sure about this?"

"What, what do you mean?"

"Are you really sure that you, as the second prince, will declare a crime and pass judgment without a trial, by your own command?"

In other words, it means to handle the matter extrajudicially by the prince's command. Indeed, this is possible for the royal family in this country.

"However, this is the exercise of the second prince's official authority. Therefore, there must be no mistake in this declaration. ━━Are you certain there is no mistake?"

"W, w, well, that is..."

The command of the royal family is nothing but the exercise of power. It is natural to use it correctly, but if used arbitrarily, it could undermine the loyalty of the subjects to the royal family. Therefore, the king and the royal family do not exercise this power lightly. It is a precious sword, a last resort, and not something to be wielded carelessly.

"Furthermore, the prince's command can be changed or revoked by the king's order. Will you still exercise it?"

This time, the prince could not say anything and bowed his head.