Chapter 35: The Royal Court Trial and a Princess’s Objection

“Wait a moment, Your Majesty, the Demon King, don’t you find this a rather appealing proposition?”

Stung by such an unceremonious rejection, Silvya found herself momentarily flustered, her previously feigned monarch-and-subject demeanor faltering as she unexpectedly pleaded in a humble tone.

“…”

Letitia offered no further reaction to her words, her eyes closed as if she had drifted into slumber.

“Come, Lord Silvya.”

Beatrice’s tone grew subtly firmer, for while she possessed the ability to instantly subdue Silvya, resorting to force before the throne was, after all, highly impolite.

If only Silvya could grasp her current predicament and make a wise, compliant choice, it would be for the best.

In doing so, His Majesty might even forgive her insolence, allowing her to continue serving the Empire’s grand cause.

“Very well, very well, if that is the case…”

Silvya’s body trembled uncontrollably, a tremor born of disappointment and fury, as she bowed her head, her golden hair falling forward to conceal her contorted features.

“Then, as a demonkind, as one who has traversed the Dark Pilgrimage, I wish to undertake the Royal Court Trial here!”

At her declaration, the solemn atmosphere instantly stiffened, leaving everyone in the grand hall momentarily stunned.

Silvya’s two confidantes behind her froze, as did Beatrice, whose hand had been poised to reach out; the entire maid corps and Royal Guard were similarly dumbfounded, while Noah blinked with an uncharacteristically bewildered expression.

Even Letitia, taken aback, parted her eyes slightly.

Silvya’s words had, in essence, amounted to a direct challenge to the Demon King before them.

“Ah, this is troublesome…”

Abraham, displaying a rare, subtle expression, rubbed his temples in exasperation.

The younger generation of demon lords naturally did not recognize the reclusive Lord of the Royal Court, and unless absolutely necessary, they preferred to avoid dealings with such antiquated figures.

Consequently, every public action undertaken by the Demon King was attended by a dedicated record-keeper from the Royal Court, either a projection of an eminent mage or a promising young prodigy.

The intention behind this was twofold: to monitor the Demon King for any transgressions against Royal Court rules, and simultaneously, to prevent situations precisely like the current one.

Theoretically, any demonkind possessed the potential to ascend to the position of Demon King.

Upon completing the Dark Pilgrimage, one gained the right to an audience with the Lord of the Royal Court and to demand a Royal Court Trial; throughout this process, the reigning Demon King was forbidden from interfering in any manner.

After successfully passing the trial, the challenger was then permitted to directly challenge the incumbent Demon King, with the victor ascending to the throne and reigning over the lands of the demonkind.

Thus, the demonkind empire saw new rulers succeed old, generation after generation, a legacy that had endured for tens of thousands of years.

As fate would have it, Abraham, the Lord of the Royal Court, happened to be temporarily residing in the Demon King’s castle and had thus been tasked with this very duty.

Though he had indeed anticipated such a possibility, its actual occurrence still gave him a considerable headache.

Especially so soon after the proposed alliance that very noon.

Clearing his throat twice, he approached Letitia, who remained languidly reclined upon her throne, and declared in a resonant voice:

“O Seeker who has devoured many wyrms, as one bathed in darkness, you are indeed qualified to demand a trial from the Royal Court.”

“Once initiated, the Royal Court Trial cannot be halted. Do you truly wish to accept this honor?”

“Yes, I have no regrets, esteemed Royal Court Mage.”

Silvya knelt on one knee, displaying even greater reverence and submission than she had before the Demon King, for in a certain sense, her ascension to Demon King would rely on the Royal Court’s endorsement.

She subtly lifted her gaze, stealing a glance at the scholarly-looking man, attempting to discern any particular sentiment on his impassive face.

“Is that so? However, the Empire is currently at war; our valiant soldiers are rushing to the front lines. A change in sovereignty at such a time would be ill-advised.”

Abraham’s unperturbed declaration set alarm bells ringing in Silvya’s mind; her eyes widened slightly as she lifted her head in astonishment.

“Therefore, for the duration of this war, Challenger Silvya shall be under the protection of the Royal Court. Your armies, lands, and possessions shall not be touched in the slightest by the reigning Demon King in the name of sovereignty;”

“Furthermore, you shall not commit any disrespectful acts towards the reigning Demon King.

During this period, you are still bound to honor her as your sovereign and obey her commands. Any transgression shall be deemed contempt for the Royal Court’s rules and met with execution. Do you have any objections?”

“…No objections…”

Silvya’s entire body trembled, and she uttered the words almost through clenched teeth.

Abraham was not, in fact, showing any favoritism; any member of the Royal Court unrelated to the current Demon King would have spoken the same words.

Yet, while it was stated that rules could not be overstepped, if Letitia, as the Demon King, truly wished to trouble Silvya in the name of her sovereignty, it would be all too simple.

For instance, sending her to the front lines to face the most ferocious human artillery, then forcing her to undergo the Royal Court Trial while critically wounded and without time for recovery — such a maneuver was entirely plausible.

Although the Royal Court was nominally a higher authority than the Demon King, in ordinary times, even the Lord of the Royal Court addressed the Demon King as a subject.

Should the Demon King employ minor stratagems without committing any actual wrongdoing, the Royal Court, though displeased, would likely remain silent.

“Then, Your Majesty, the reigning Demon King, do you approve of this decision?”

Letitia nodded languidly, seemingly unconcerned by the prospect of Silvya potentially threatening her position.

“If no one present has any objections, you may all withdraw to rest. The matter of the trial shall be discussed later.”

Abraham announced in a clear voice, and without exception, all the soldiers and maids present bowed their heads slightly, preparing to depart.

Only one individual remained.

“I have an objection~, Uncle Abraham~.”

A small, pale hand shot up, and a sweet, soft voice, imbued with a peculiar charm, drew the gaze of everyone present.

There stood Noah, her small hand raised high, her charming smile paired with a natural innocence, making her seem like nothing more than a playful girl who had wandered into the grand hall.

This sight once again left everyone in the room dumbfounded.

Letitia displayed the most profound shock she had shown thus far, turning to Noah beside her and blinking, as if unable to believe those words had just come from the girl’s lips.

“What did you just call me?”

Abraham’s typically impassive handsome face also revealed a rare expression of utter astonishment, as if the address itself stirred him more profoundly than the fact that an objection had been raised.

“Uncle Abraham~, didn’t you say at noon that you were going to establish me as a Princess of the Royal Court? So, as the Lord of the Royal Court, you are naturally my uncle~.”

Noah’s tail swayed as if it possessed a mind of its own, while her clear, light blue eyes unconsciously shifted downwards, causing Letitia, under her gaze, to avert her own.

Letitia had never spoken of this matter to Noah; it was something Noah had deduced from the current situation and ongoing developments.

“Ahem! Then, Princess of the Royal Court, maiden of dragon blood, what objection do you have?”

Abraham coughed awkwardly twice. He had deliberately avoided addressing Noah as the human saintess, thereby implicitly confirming her status as Princess of the Royal Court.

“I was thinking, since that lady’s objective is me…”

“Then, how about I, as part of the Royal Court Trial, settle this here with her?”

Noah gently stroked Tuantuan, then playfully winked one eye, and with a slightly mischievous tone, uttered words that once again left everyone in the hall dumbfounded.