The clouds of silence in the hall cleared, making way for a storm of a different kind. While the suspicious documents circulated among the nobles, Count Silver stepped forward with confident strides and snatched one of the papers from the hand of a whispering, panicked baron.
Count Silver (In a booming voice that halted everyone):
"Enough of this nonsense! This hall is dedicated to justice, not a market for rumors. Your Honor, these papers being distributed in secret have been confiscated. They claim the King has committed treason, and since we are in a formal trial, I demand the jury investigate their authenticity immediately before any verdict is rendered!"
Judge Nichiren nodded and signaled to Manatok, the foreman of the jury—a man known for his strictness and expertise in detecting forgery. Manatok withdrew with the rest of the jurors to a side room guarded by sentries.
Inside, Manatok placed the papers under an electromagnetic magnifying lens while the other jurors argued heatedly.
First Juror: "Manatok, look at the seal... it is the King's personal seal. If this is true, then Ragus is the one who brought the Liberation Army to destroy us!"
Second Juror: "That is impossible! King Ragus sacrificed his health for Atheria. Why would he betray us now?"
Manatok (Leaning closer to the lens):
"Calm down, all of you. Look here... the ink used in the signature contains particles of 'Cold Aether,' a type used exclusively in Queen Laura's offices. More importantly, look at the angle of the seal; there is a slight deviation that does not exist in the original seal kept in the royal vault."
Third Juror: "You mean they are forged?"
Manatok: "Not just forged, but a clumsy fabrication relying on the nobles' panic. Laura is trying to poison our minds to save her son. If we issue a verdict based on this lie, we will be accomplices in a coup."
After a discussion that lasted half an hour, Manatok emerged into the hall, his face set with resolve. Everyone returned to their seats, and a silence like the lull before a storm fell over the room.
Judge Nichiren: "Mr. Manatok, has the jury reached a conclusion regarding the confiscated papers?"
Manatok (Looking sternly at Laura):
"Yes, Your Honor. We, the jury, have unanimously agreed that these documents are a cheap forgery. The seals are fabricated, and the ink was sourced from the laboratories of the North Wing—Queen Laura's wing."
The hall erupted in whispers. Laura's face turned deathly pale, while King Ragus stood up. He no longer looked like a broken old man, but rather an unshakable mountain.
King Ragus (Addressing the judge and the audience):
"I have remained silent for long enough regarding your ambition, Laura, and I have overlooked your cruelty toward the subjects. But to forge a charge of high treason against your King and husband to save a criminal is a line that cannot be crossed. Your Honor, I officially accuse Queen Laura of orchestrating a conspiracy to mislead justice and inciting a coup!"
Laura (Screaming in despair): "This is a lie! You are trying to get rid of me and your son to hand the city over to Kayan!"
Judge Nichiren (Striking his gavel forcefully):
"Enough! This trial has turned into a revelation of hidden truths. Manatok, since the jury has confirmed the forgery, and since the King has leveled a direct accusation, the decision now rests jointly between me and you. Does Pionel deserve mercy after his mother attempted to destroy the judiciary?"
Manatok: "The jury believes the crime has been compounded. This is no longer just about Pionel's experiments, but about the Voank family's attempt—with the exception of the King—to rebel against the law."
The jury gathered around the judge in a solemn scene, whispering to draft the final wording of the verdict. Pionel watched in silence, and for the first time, fear appeared in his eyes, while Laura stood surrounded by royal guards who were no longer protecting her, but watching her as a prisoner.