Surrounded by guards, he was escorted into the Hall of Kings, and Borena unconsciously grabbed his hair.

He did his best to clean up the blood from his head, hoping he didn't look too bad. Ethan said that it was nothing to be miserable, which would indicate that he had been abused, but Borena felt that he was not "miserable" to that extent.

The rectangular hall is grand and solemn, with sunlight shining through high skylights, and among the white marble columns are statues of kings of all ages, with different faces and the same posture.

They stood there, their hands folded over their chests, indifferently watching Borena slowly walk past them. And in the corridor behind them, crowded with many nobles who had been laughing and laughing with Borena at Trine less than ten days earlier, they were talking to each other in high spirits.

-- I hope they will be satisfied with today's performance.

Borena thought sarcastically.

Anktann has been in turmoil for hundreds of years, and most of the kings have not died well. It's already a blessing to die on the battlefield, and many more die here, at the hands of swords, poisons, or magic, at the hands of friends, brothers, and even wives and children. The short-lived Freon I was assassinated the day after he ascended the throne, and the blood-stained red and white marble floor is said to still glow with a bleak red water on rainy days.

And the murderer succeeded to the throne in front of his corpse and became Nonan I.

Today, the statues of the brothers stand side by side, separated only by a snow-white stone pillar.

Of all the Black Keep, only the interior of the Hall of Kings was pure white. Except for the black throne under the black throne at the end of the hall.

The banner of the Dejuri dynasty combines the coats of arms of the Longfu and Dejuri families, with a white horse leaping upright on a black background, with three white stars side by side overhead.

And now. The galloping horse is gone.

The cold black marble throne was empty. Borena suddenly remembered that he hadn't even seen his father sitting here. Black suited him well, it symbolized majesty...... But it also symbolizes death.

On the lower platform were two smaller thrones, and on the left sat Queen Kezia, dressed in a black dress, who did not shroud her still beautiful face with a black veil, and did not seem to mind being seen by all, that she had not been haggard and grieved by the death of the king.

In contrast, Sercio, who sat on the right, was as pale as a ghost. He looked confused and kept curling his fingers. Didn't even look at Borena.

Prime Minister Gilbert Barnet stood in front of the throne, under the steps, calmly looking at Borena, looking tired. Sad, humble and majestic, every emotion was well controlled, but Borena only wanted to ask someone to give a chair to the old man, who was a little trembling even when he was standing.

"Borena Dejuri. The old prime minister called out his name, and the whispers in the hall fell silent.

"The eldest son of Joaquin Dejury I, son of Deborah Langley, you are accused of murdering your father, King of Anktan...... Are you denying your guilt?"

――Does that need to be said?

"God above, I have never committed such a terrible crime. Borena replied aloud.

Gilbert nodded. This seems unsurprising.

"So do you have any evidence or witnesses that can prove your innocence?"

"My only witnesses are the gods, and may my father be with them at this moment. ”

He would have liked to ask the guard outside the door if he was dead or deaf. They should have rushed in when he yelled, "Get out of the way!", and he wanted to ask Celsio why he pushed the door in so "timely", and according to his character, he shouldn't have respectfully asked his father outside the door, "May I come in......?"

But that obviously doesn't make much sense.

"Your father will say that the problem that humans can solve is not to bother the gods. Kazia sneered, "You have no proof. But I have. ”

She gave her a soft high-five, and Borena heard the clatter of armor behind her. Two guards were half-kneeling beside him.

"Tell everyone what you heard that day. Kazia ordered.

As Borena expected, the guards heard his argument with his father, the king's words, "You ought not to come here," and "Leave alive or dead...... The only thing I didn't hear him shouting, "Get out of the way!"

"May I ask why you heard the threat to His Majesty but didn't come to protect him in time?" he interjected.

The two guards glanced at each other, and one of them cautiously spoke, "You are the son of His Majesty the King, Your Excellency...... Without His Majesty's call, we would not dare to enter without permission. ”

-- Brilliant reason.

Borena couldn't help but look at Sercio, who had "trespassed".

The little blonde prince was also looking at him stunned, and then quickly looked away.

Kazia also seemed to notice Sercio's nervousness and uneasiness, and seemed a little annoyed.

"Do you want to know what your brother saw? Tell him, Cercio, tell him how you saw your father die at his hands. ”

"I ......," Sercio said hesitantly, "I see...... I saw my father lying on the ground, and my brother ...... Borena hugged him ......"

Borena looked at him with some confusion, it wasn't like some grief-stricken and indignant accusation.

"Prince Sergio...... Did you see Borena do it?" asked Gilbert mildly.

Borena's heart pounded suddenly—he shouldn't have hoped, but ......

Sercio looked at his mother, and Kazia straightened up and turned her head to glare at him sternly.

Borena could almost see his lips trembling slightly, his face completely bloodless.

"Nope. He replied softly.

There was a whisper in the hall, and the sound of thin voices rang out in every corner.

"Sercio!" Kezia roared.

"Silence, silence!" cried Gilbert.

Borena looked at the "younger brother" in amazement, who he had never looked down upon. Listen to him repeat again firmly in a trembling voice: "I didn't see him do anything to my father, I only saw him lying in his arms, and he ...... He looked frightened and dazed. It's like...... Just like I ......."

"Silence!!!" Gilbert cried out helplessly, barely able to silence the noise in the hall.

"My poor, well-meaning child. Kazia clutched the handrail and said coldly, "Even if he wants to defend his brother at this time, he is not the only one who has witnessed it, Behring?

She looked at the silent chief of the guard, "You don't need to hide anything from his relatives like Sercio did, tell us the truth. ”

Behrin stared at the top of Sercio's head in a daze.

"Belling!" Kazia urged impatiently. He looked agitated and angry.

"What I see is the same as His Royal Highness the Prince. Behring replied without looking up.

"Then why are you attacking Borena - if you don't think he's a murderer. Gilbert asked.

"I saw His Majesty fall to the ground, and there was no one in the room but Borena...... I'll admit I was too impulsive. But I'm not sure that Borena is the murderer. Behring's tone grew calmer.

"What else do you need!" Kazia roared and stood up, "The king is dead, and the only bastard who was by his side at the time!!"

The "mongrel" looked at him almost sympathetically, and asked, "May I ask His Royal Highness the Prince and his chief guard...... Who opened the door?"

“...... We don't. Sercio looked up at Behring. "When I was about to knock on the door...... It opened on its own. ”

"That's his spell!" Kazia pointed angrily at Borena, "He killed Joaquin with a spell and then ......"

She stopped abruptly.

- Stupid woman.

"Excuse me, if I really have any powerful spells...... Why did I have to kill my father when I was alone, and open the door so that Prince Sercio and Behrin could see it?" asked Borena calmly.

"Maybe just for the sake of this moment, to prove your innocence. ”

In the crowd, a man spoke unhurriedly.

Everyone looked into the corner, but Borena didn't—his face turned pale in an instant.

So that's what Ethan Croeffler is hiding from him.

"That's right, that's it!" Kazia seemed relieved and sat back on her throne.

"Maybe. Ethan's cold voice rang out in the other corner. "Just maybe. I doubt that 'maybe' can be used as a charge against a man accused of murder - and murder, especially when this man has recently come close to death. ”

In the midst of the noise that sounded again, Gilbert touched his bare chin in embarrassment.

Borena let out a sigh of relief. It's now.

He spread his hands and said in a loud voice, "My father did often say, 'If a human can solve a problem, don't bother the gods,' but now may be the time to turn to the wisdom and justice of the gods—I ask the gods to compete." ”

The hall fell silent for a moment.

“...... Do you know that God will fight to the death?" asked Gilbert, "and as an accused...... A healthy accused, you can only play for yourself?"

"Of course. Borena replied.

Gilbert glanced back at Kazya.

“...... Agree. Her Majesty's gaze was filled with burning resentment, "Behring, Grean! I believe you will be willing to fight for your king." ”

Sercio's face turned pale, and he looked at his chief guard pleadingly. Without much hesitation, the young knight spoke:

"I do. ”

"And which god would you be willing to be judged on?" Gilbert asked Borena, a little tired. "You have the right to choose the gods you worship. ”

"Nio, the god of water. Borena blurted out.

“...... You're just trying to stall for time!" Kazia roared again, "Llewellyn doesn't have a priest of the water god at all!"

"Then I should really pray to the God of a Thousand Eyes. Borena said sarcastically. "It is said that his priest can only be found on the southern island, and by the time he arrives I will probably be dead in peace. ”

"In fact, there is a priest of the god of water in Llewellyn...... Ed Singall, whose mother came from the ancient and noble family of Christus, had only healed a poor man who had been wounded and dying in Place Trine a few days earlier. I think you know him too. ”

The man in the crowd spoke again, with the same sarcasm in his tone.

Borena was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but smile bitterly. He should have asked Ed which god he worshipped.

Perhaps there are gods who are looking down on this farce, watching how everyone is struggling to survive, knowing that the end is already predestined.

"Are you ......" Gilbert looked at him almost sympathetically. He had no other choice.

"The gods are above. Borena calmly accepted his fate, "I will put my life and honor in the hands of the goddess Nio." ”.

(To be continued)