Chapter 81

"Empress! Take your seat!"

Duke Despoina, seated at the head table, barked, but Adel remained motionless, staring at the chair set in the middle of the courtroom before raising her head to survey the surroundings. The accused were seated at the lowest point, while the royal family and judges were seated much higher, so even the most noble of royals would feel intimidated or flustered upon entering the courtroom. However, the Empress instead looked at the judges with a piercing gaze and spat out,

"I am not a criminal."

"……"

"Therefore, I will not sit in the criminal's chair."

The judges were taken aback by her golden eyes, which burned like flames in the darkness. Duke Despoina let out a loud snort and struck the floor with his cane.

"I have heard the most disgraceful news! As an elder of the Ulrich royal family, I was the one who immediately called for this emergency trial! You have committed an unforgivable act!"

"Lord Despoina, Her Majesty is still the Empress. Please lower your voice!"

When Elizabeth rebuked him, Duke Despoina snorted and muttered to himself,

'I will certainly get rid of this insolent one!'

At that moment, the Emperor, who had been silently watching Adel, spoke.

"Begin."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the Emperor's command was given, the chief judge cleared his throat and began the trial.

"Today's trial is requested by Emperor Karl Ulrich Echmont. The reason for the prosecution of Empress Adelaide Ulrich Echmont is the failure to fulfill marital duties."

As the judge's words pierced her ears, Adel took a deep breath and clenched her fists hidden in her skirt. The judge continued,

"Therefore, today's trial will have the high priest who officiated the wedding of the two of you in attendance."

As he finished speaking, the door at the back opened, and a high priest in white ceremonial robes walked in. After the high priest took his seat, Elizabeth, who had been holding her breath, spoke.

"The Empress has not only removed the Tower of Vieta out of concern for the lives of the Echmont people but also taken care of the poor on the national holiday. How can this be a failure to fulfill duties! She has set an example as an Empress more than anyone else!"

"Indeed! How can that be the duty of an Empress?! The Tower of Vieta should be removed by the mages, and the lives of the poor should be taken care of by the Emperor! The Empress has other duties to fulfill!!"

Duke Despoina's words, which echoed loudly in the courtroom, made Adel finally realize why she was standing there. The weight on her shoulders felt even heavier, as if she would be buried alive. Before Duke Despoina could shout again, the judge quickly added,

"Her Majesty the Empress is here because she refused the Emperor's request for a private night."

No one dared to speak after the judge's words. The cold silence that fell over the room made Adel's entire body feel icy cold. Her fingertips were so cold that it felt as if she had been thrown into the bitter cold of winter. The Emperor, seated at the head table, stared at Adel intently.

'Well, how about it, Adelaide? I am the one who can send you to hell, and I am the only one who can pull you out of it. So, collapse completely before me.'

The judge, flipping through the documents, said,

"His Majesty the Emperor has summoned Baroness Hannah Gix as a witness, who has been serving by the side of Her Majesty the Empress."

As he finished speaking, the back door opened again, and Baroness Gix entered with a stiff expression. Seeing the Empress standing alone in the middle of the dark and authoritative courtroom, Baroness Gix felt as if the world had collapsed. Unlike her usual calm demeanor, she stared at the Empress with red eyes, clenched her fists, and stood at the witness stand. The judge asked her in a businesslike tone,

"Baroness Hannah Gix, has Her Majesty the Empress ever refused the Emperor's request for a private night?"

"That day, before His Majesty the Emperor made the request, the two of them had a big argument. How could anyone perform a private night in such a situation?! Most importantly, the one who refused the private night on the wedding day was none other than His Majesty the Emperor."

Baroness Gix, taking a deep breath to steady her trembling voice, stared at the Emperor with fierce eyes and strongly criticized him.

"Answer only the question asked. Did Her Majesty the Empress refuse the Emperor's request for a private night?"

When Baroness Gix hesitated to answer, Duke Despoina leaped to his feet and waved his finger.

"An impartial trial indeed!! Can't you answer the question right away?!!"

The noise in the courtroom hit Adel's ears one after another. Adel watched the scene as if she were standing apart from it all. Life had led her to an unknown place, ultimately bringing her to this position. Her bright golden eyes, which had once shone, dimmed as they looked at Baroness Gix, then at the judge, and finally at the Emperor, becoming murky. Adel closed her eyes. The chaotic voices faded away, and she felt as if she were submerged in the deep sea, suffocating. The weight on her shoulders finally crashed down on her. Her soul, pinned to the ground, struggled to breathe. The Tower of Vieta, the poor who wandered from decaying houses, the dying people, and her desire to save them all felt unbearably heavy. Ah, she was tired. ...She wanted to stop.

'Adel!!'

Amidst all this, his voice kept ringing in her ears like a hallucination. Was she going mad? Adel took a slow breath. At that moment, Baroness Gix's voice pierced her ears.

"How can this be solely the fault of Her Majesty the Empress?!"

When she opened her eyes, she saw the disheveled Baroness Gix. As she was about to speak again, Adel stopped her.

"Her Majesty the Empress...,"

"Baroness Gix."

Her choked voice made Baroness Gix slowly turn her head to look at the Empress. Seeing the exhausted face of the Empress, Baroness Gix finally shed tears.

"That's enough. Stop now."

"Her Majesty the Empress..."

Karl, crossing his legs leisurely, leaned forward. That's it. She had finally been broken. All that was left was to declare her deposition and push her into hell, then extend his hand.

'Yes, Adelaide. Abandon every shred of pride. And lean on me.'

As the Emperor smiled triumphantly, Adel raised her head and looked at him. Meeting her gaze, Karl narrowed his eyes. Her face was empty, devoid of any emotion. There was no anger, no despair. Just nothing.

Just as he sensed something was wrong and tried to stand up, Adel spoke. Unbelievable words fell from her lips.

"I admit everything. I could not possibly perform a private night with the Emperor."

The judge, who had been staring blankly, quickly regained his composure and asked,

"Do you admit the reason for the prosecution?"

To his question, the Empress replied very lightly.

"I admit."

Without any excuses.

"Then, let me announce my judgment on this."

Duke Despoina, inwardly shouting in triumph, loudly declared,

"Deposition!!"

The word "deposition" echoed loudly in the courtroom, and Elizabeth, slamming her fist on the table, stood up.

"High Priest! This cannot be allowed!"

But even her cries were met with the high priest's helpless shake of the head.

"A private night is a duty of the Empress as stipulated in the palace law, and it must be observed for any reason. Since Her Majesty the Empress has admitted to failing to fulfill her duty, she can be deposed."

Duke Despoina, nodding triumphantly, glared at Elizabeth. At that moment, a chilling laugh began to echo through the vast courtroom. It was none other than the Empress.

'Deposition, deposition.'

The laughter, as if boiling up from within, made her shoulders shake. As the judges, feeling their spines chill, swallowed hard, the Emperor leaped to his feet.

"If you acknowledge your mistake and seek to correct it, I will give you a chance!!"

"What the hell...!!"

As Duke Despoina, who had been shouting, bit his tongue and grabbed his neck, the Emperor shouted again.

"Acknowledge your mistake, fulfill your duties as an Empress, and make a promise to me!!"

After laughing for a while, Adel stopped and looked at the Emperor. Then, she calmly said,

"No."

"…What?"

"No, I won't."

Karl finally realized something was wrong. Feeling a chill down his spine, he opened his eyes wide and tried to salvage the situation, but it was too late. Adel, with a hollow face as if she had given up everything, spoke softly to the judge.

"Judge, what are you doing? You haven't confirmed my punishment yet."

With a face that seemed to have given up everything, Adelaide abandoned her position as Empress.