My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 68

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 68
Yes, that would be the case. From Silvien’s perspective, this trial wouldn’t be particularly difficult.
‘Casil has committed far too many crimes up until now. Many nobles will oppose this, and if Silvien so chooses, he can amplify that opposition tenfold.’
The Duke of Valentino—if he set his mind to it, every noble in the realm would sign a petition.
‘And you are strong.’
If Silvien decided to attack Casil and defend Valentino, he would execute it with chilling perfection.
So it would be easy.
This trial would be nothing more than a pebble caught in his path—one that blocked his way forward, but could be swept aside whenever he applied force.
A bitter smile escaped me.
What required her to stake her very life was, to him, merely that trivial.
“Then I shall understand that you depart tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“You may go now.”
Kanna Adis bowed deeply at the waist and rose from her seat. As she grasped the door handle.
“Miss Kanna.”
She froze. Her movements stopped. A cool laugh drifted from behind her back.
“You are truly amusing, Miss Kanna.”
She swallowed hard. I forced out the most composed voice I could muster.
“What do you mean?”
But no answer came.
After lingering for a moment, I left the room. Fortunately, Silvien said nothing more.
‘I thought I’d been caught….’
I pressed a hand to my chest.
Using the Empress to uncover the truth of this matter.
‘Did he suspect something?’
* * *
“Father, this is unjust!”
Prince Casil wailed, clutching at the Emperor’s arm.
“It’s unjust! Why must I stand trial, why!”
“Release me.”
The Emperor suppressed his fury with great effort. Yet it was difficult—anger seeped into his voice.
“I said release me, Casil.”
“Father!”
The Emperor’s wrath roiled and churned. He glared at Casil with savage eyes.
“F-Father….”
Prince Casil’s shoulders trembled.
Seeing that, my resolve weakened. It was a face that mirrored my own like a reflection.
“You have crossed the line, Casil.”
“Father….”
“It was only possible to overlook what you’ve done because you committed these acts against houses of lesser power. But.”
Yet as I continued speaking, my anger flared anew.
“You touched the Valentino Family.”
“Father. I… I didn’t know that woman was… that she belonged to Valentino.”
“That is irrelevant!”
The Emperor’s wrath rang through the room like a bell. Prince Casil trembled at the overwhelming force of it.
“What matters is you! That you attempted to hunt that woman! The mistress of Valentino!”
“But… but—”
Prince Casil clenched his fists so hard they nearly shattered as he protested.
“After all, that woman is nothing but a scarecrow, isn’t she? Scorned by both Valentino and Adis…”
“You fool! Is your mind truly so dull?”
I wanted nothing more than to strike him.
That my own son could be such an utter idiot!
“Every nobleman in the realm now knows what you have done! The very nobles who already despised you!”
“…”
“Do you think they care who Kanna Adis truly is? What matters is the pretext! The pretext that you attempted to harm the daughter of a great noble house—while she was under exile!”
“…”
“You have given them the justification they need to destroy you!”
I seized him by the collar and hurled his body across the Study desk.
“Look! These are the petitions the nobles have submitted!”
Papers stacked like mountains.
Prince Casil stared up at them in a daze.
“Every nobleman in the Aslian Empire! Every single one has submitted a petition!”
I felt as though I had aged a thousand years. My shoulders sagged. My head throbbed.
Every noble demanded his punishment.
Even those who favored Concubine Teresa, her children Argon and Princess Lilienne—even they did so.
‘In their eyes, it would be more beneficial if Prince Casil simply disappeared.’
The Empress’s faction, the Concubine’s faction, my own faction—all united in demanding severe punishment for Prince Casil.
The nobility had risen as one!
“M-Marquis Krantz, surely? The Marquis is close to Mother, to Argon, is he not? Couldn’t Marquis Krantz persuade the other nobles…?”
“Marquis Krantz demands your execution.”
“…”
“He advised that you must be completely severed so that no suspicion falls upon Argon.”
Prince Casil’s face drained of all color.
Execution? Execution?
“What have I… what have I done…?”
“What have you done?”
I laughed despite myself. The absurdity was beyond words.
“Do you know how many noblewomen you have violated?”
Likely dozens.
“Are you aware that more than half of them took their own lives?”
“Is that not a rather humble household?”
“My son, when raindrops gather, they become the sea.”
The Emperor exhaled deeply.
There was nothing more he could do. He had never in his life witnessed the nobility unite so completely, their voices joined in singular purpose.
To suppress them would invite catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.
Moreover, the Valentino Duchy stood at the forefront of this movement.
The Holy Knights’ household, whose bloodline was more noble than the Imperial Family itself. Should such exalted descendants decide to overthrow the throne, the justification was already abundant.
At this very moment, the grounds were sufficient.
‘It could become the seed of treason.’
Should he crush Valentino and the nobility, a tidal wave would surely sweep over the Imperial Family and drown it.
There was simply no choice.
“Father, execution? You mean to… kill me?”
“How could I ever take the life of my precious son!”
The Emperor pulled Prince Casil into his embrace.
Despicable as he was, the boy remained his beloved child.
The son born of his cherished Teresa. His youngest, the spitting image of himself. For that reason alone, he had to find some way to save him.
Fortunately, there was a path forward.
“This Kanna Valentino—she struck you first, did she not?”
“Y-yes, that’s right. She started it! That woman started it!”
“Then there is hope.”
He sighed.
“I will do whatever it takes to reduce this to exile.”
Even as he spoke, he knew it would not suffice. There would certainly be a lengthy exile, and beyond that…
‘They will demand corporal punishment as well.’
But if he mentioned flogging, the punishment of being beaten, his son would surely be consumed by terror. Unable to bear that thought, the Emperor held his tongue.
And yet.
“Exile?”
Prince Casil was dissatisfied even with that.
Again?
His last exile had only recently ended, and now they wanted him banished once more? And surely another prohibition on alcohol would follow?
He wanted to complain, but the Emperor’s expression was unusually stern. Prince Casil swallowed his grievances.
* * *
The trial commenced.
Last time, I had sat in the defendant’s seat, but now I found myself in the witness stand.
‘What happened to him?’
Aizek was so disfigured I barely recognized him.
His entire body was grotesquely swollen—without the nameplate before him, I would never have identified him.
‘He was tortured.’
I clicked my tongue in disapproval.
He must have resisted giving up his information easily, which is why he suffered such injuries.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress have arrived!”
The Emperor and Empress entered. As they took their seats upon the imperial throne, the trial began.
The trial proceeded exactly as anticipated.
“Prince Casil, Your Highness. You are accused of abducting the Duchess of Valentino and attempting her murder. Do you admit to these charges?”
“I do.”
Prince Casil nodded. He was following his father’s instructions precisely.
“Duke Valentino, Your Grace. You fired a total of three arrows at Prince Casil, Your Highness. Do you admit to this?”
“I do.”
Silvien Valentino nodded with a smile. At that, a nobleman in the Spectator Gallery suddenly rose from his seat.
“This is self-defense! When one’s spouse faces mortal peril, what man could stand idle?”
Another nobleman then rose and shouted.
“Moreover, the Duke could not have possibly known his attacker was Prince Casil, Your Highness!”
“Who could have known? My wife was abducted and nearly murdered by a scoundrel—how was I to know that scoundrel was Your Highness?”
As if by agreement, they all rose to defend Silvien Valentino.
Silvien Valentino had only to sit at ease.
He was a man who need not speak for himself. There were countless voices ready to defend him without his lifting a finger.
‘That is power. How enviable.’
As I contemplated the force of power in this world anew.
“I did not know that woman was the Duchess of Valentino.”
Prince Casil, sitting with unshakeable confidence, pointed at Kanna Adis with his finger.
“Because that woman struck me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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