My Body Has Been Possessed By Someone - Chapter 69

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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 69
The hall fell silent in an instant.
The nobles who had been condemning Prince Casil closed their mouths. He smiled wickedly, as if savoring the silence.
“That day was when my exile ended. I wanted to see the village, so I dismissed my guards and wandered alone. Perhaps she mistook me for a commoner, because that woman beat me indiscriminately.”
It was the truth. Prince Casil spoke with confidence.
“I was beaten so severely that I lost consciousness right there. Only after several hours did I regain my senses. So I searched for that woman. I intended to punish her.”
“….”
“As you all said, I did not know that the ruffian who assaulted me was a noblewoman. I merely sought retaliation. It was to uphold the dignity of the Imperial Family.”
Everyone fell silent.
To assault a member of the Imperial Family—that was a capital crime!
The nobles who had been defending Silvien closed their mouths like those who had eaten honey. They had no words to refute him. Then.
“I did say it.”
Kanna Adis spoke quietly.
“When I was kidnapped and just before the hunt began, I told Your Highness exactly who I was and my status. Yet you did not believe me.”
“No, I did not hear it. You said no such thing.”
Prince Casil brazenly denied it without hesitation.
“Even if you had said it, you assaulted me. You insulted the Imperial Family. Do you not know that insulting the Imperial Family is punishable by death? I would be justified in severing your head this very moment!”
“Restrain yourself, Your Highness.”
He should know when to stop. That was what the Emperor thought.
Yet Prince Casil seemed to believe he should press this momentum forward, and he cried out as if aggrieved.
“Am I wrong! What exactly have I done wrong? She was a woman who deserved execution anyway! What crime is it to hunt such a woman!”
That fool!
The Emperor clenched his fists. That idiot was losing his mind and ruining everything!
“How can you speak such words, Your Majesty! The Duchess of Valentino is a noblewoman! She has the right to a fair trial!”
“To execute a noblewoman by summary judgment—I have never heard of such a law!”
“Your Highness is using the authority of the Imperial Family to undermine the laws of the Empire!”
Just as I feared!
The Emperor gritted his teeth. If that fool had simply stopped and withdrawn, all would have been well, but he had said what he should never have said! How foolish!
“Silence! The Empire stands above the law, and the Imperial Family stands above the Empire! I have merely dealt with a woman who insulted the Imperial Family. I am without fault!”
Prince Casil was sincere. He could speak such words because he genuinely believed them.
Father had said it would end with exile.
‘No, I despise that life!’
I am sick of it!
Being watched by guards! Being confined to that rural backwater!
Bang, bang, bang! The Chief Justice struck his gavel. He mediated among the shouting nobles.
“We are in the presence of His Majesty. All of you, please exercise restraint.”
“Yes, everyone has become far too excited. Calm yourselves.”
Then the Empress, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward.
At her words, the Emperor grew uneasy. What was this venomous woman trying to find fault with now!
“Your Highness, you are in need of proper education. It would be good for you to read the legal code thoroughly at least once.”
The Empress paused briefly, then continued.
“The Imperial Family derives its purpose from governing the Empire. Yet true governance is not rule through mere authority.”
Prince Casil clenched his teeth and glared at the Empress. But to her, his gaze was nothing more than that of a child unworthy of even a scoff.
“Prince Casil has ravaged countless noblewomen throughout his life. This stems from his having escaped proper punishment until now, which is precisely why he dared to hunt down the mistress of Valentino, guardian of this continent, and the eldest daughter of Adis like some mere beast.”
“I….”
As Prince Casil attempted to retort, the Empress’s eyes widened sharply.
“How dare you interrupt the Empress, Prince Casil!”
Even Prince Casil trembled at her commanding presence and hunched his shoulders.
“Your crimes undermine the very foundation of the Empire. You have tarnished the honor of the Imperial Family, which has governed justly for seventeen centuries, and insulted the loyal subjects who have protected this realm.”
The Empress swept her gaze across the assembled nobles and proclaimed with solemn authority.
“Therefore, lifelong confinement to the Northern Tower is the appropriate sentence.”
“Agreed!”
“A wise judgment, Your Majesty!”
Marquis Mercy leaped to his feet and cried out. The nobles supporting him began to applaud.
The Emperor clenched his teeth. Yet he could say nothing. Even those nobles who supported him and Argon remained silent in agreement!
‘This is it. There’s no way around it. This time, I cannot protect Casil.’
Then a Servant entered through a small side door and approached the Emperor’s ear in silence, whispering.
“Your Majesty, Concubine Teresa has collapsed!”
“…!”
The Emperor’s eyes widened.
Teresa. My beloved. She wept for days and nights over worry for Casil, and now her mind has finally broken!
‘I cannot allow this. I must protect Casil!’
The Emperor clenched his fists tightly.
If I impose confinement on Casil, he will never leave that tower until his death. Death itself would be a kinder punishment.
‘If Casil receives confinement, Teresa’s mind will never recover.’
“My thoughts differ.”
The Emperor spoke.
“There is merit to Casil’s words. The origin of this incident lies with the Duchess of Valentino. Had she not insulted Casil, this matter would never have occurred.”
I must protect them. By any means.
My son. My Teresa.
“Since both Prince Casil and the Duchess of Valentino’s crimes are evident, it is difficult to determine whose transgression is greater. Therefore, I believe a compromise is necessary.”
If Kanna Adis’s crime were a pebble, Casil’s would be a beach of sand. I knew this, yet shamelessly equated them as deserving the same punishment.
“I deem it appropriate to impose only a fine on the Duchess of Valentino, and exile for approximately three years on Prince Casil.”
Then Silvien Valentino, who had been watching with amusement, opened his mouth.
“Your Majesty.”
The Emperor’s jaw stiffened. Silvien Valentino unsettled him even more than the Empress.
“Is a fine and exile truly a compromise between my wife’s revealed crimes and His Highness’s crimes?”
“It is.”
The Emperor forced out his most authoritative voice.
“The Duchess assaulted Casil, and Casil attempted to murder the Duchess.”
And I continued speaking with the utmost audacity.
“While both parties deserve severe punishment, given that this was an unfortunate incident where neither recognized the other’s identity, I propose we compromise with a fine for one and banishment for the other.”
“How wise you are.”
Silvien smiled. And nodded his head.
“I shall defer to Your Majesty’s judgment.”
What…?
The Emperor found himself at a loss for words.
What? What did that Duke just say? That he would defer to my decision?
The Emperor was not alone in his shock. The Empress and even the nobles wore expressions of disbelief.
If Silvien pressed further, if he took a harder stance, he could easily heap far greater charges upon Prince Casil.
But then, Kanna’s punishment would not be mitigated.
A severe sentence would still fall upon her.
Could this decision be to protect the Duchess?
No, that couldn’t be it.
As these two thoughts swirled in confusion.
“Chief Justice, what are you doing? Render your verdict at once!”
“Y-yes!”
In any case, I could not let this opportunity slip away! At the Emperor’s urging, the Chief Justice raised his gavel.
“Prince Casil is sentenced to three years of banishment to a foreign land, and Duchess Kanna Valentino is sentenced to a fine of thirty thousand gold.”
Bang, bang, bang! The gavel came down.
In that moment, the Emperor felt as though he had seen the light. Perfect! Thanks to that Duke’s help, I was able to save Casil!
‘Done! Teresa, I saved Casil!’
My heart raced with anticipation. I wanted to rush to Teresa at once, wipe away her tears, and whisper that she need not worry about anything anymore!
Meanwhile, the nobles seemed bewildered. The Empress was visibly furious. Silvien had done something utterly incomprehensible. Then.
“Your Majesty the Emperor.”
Kanna rose from her seat.
All eyes turned toward her. Casil glared at her with an intensity that suggested he might lunge forward and kill her. He seemed deeply dissatisfied with the banishment.
‘How foolish.’
Unaware that a far greater punishment was about to fall upon him.
She suppressed her smile.
“I wish to accuse Prince Casil of orchestrating the poisoning of sailors from the Eastern Continent trading vessel.”

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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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