Chapter 58: The Duke’s Sentence and a Chilling Plague
by xennovel* * *
I hereby pronounce sentence. Considering that His Highness was confined for approximately 45 hours—and that falsehoods were spread to incite public fear and perpetrate widespread fraud—the charges are extremely grave. Therefore, I sentence the defendant, Dieses Esteban, to 5 months in prison.
Bang, bang, bang.
The crisp sound of three gavel taps echoed through the courtroom. As everyone rose to accept the verdict, one person remained seated with an incredulous expression.
“I’m getting prison time? This is outrageous! It’s nothing but a frame-up against me—the Duke!”
Rising in a burst of anger, Dieses Esteban slammed his desk and shouted at the judge. His dark, drooping eyes were filled with a heavy, ominous aura.
“I’m a man driven by an insatiable desire for possession. Locking up someone I want is only natural—there’s no crime in that. What I deserve is His Highness’s unspoiled body and soul, not a jail sentence!”
“Overruled.”
“And why is that?”
“Because no crime can ever be justified, regardless of reason. Defendant, do you have anything more to add?”
“Heh! Do you even know who I am…? I belong to the Estevan Dukedom—the founding noble house of this empire…”
“I know very well.”
Placing his gavel aside, the judge briefly adjusted his glasses. Deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes flickered through the transparent lenses.
“But the law is the law. If the law that guarantees equality before all loses its impartiality, the nation will only rot away,” he stated firmly.
“So you plan to lock up a duke like me? That’s ridiculous!”
“What did you expect? A pardon? Then you shouldn’t have sinned. No matter how wealthy or influential you are, you must pay the price equally. Duke, don’t expect any special treatment in jail—everything is under surveillance.”
With that, the judge briskly left the courtroom—it was lunchtime.
Thus was born the empire’s first Duke with a red-lined record.
* * *
“He really ended up in jail… I wonder if this novel is any good.”
Lara Schmord, having heard the news from Lady Elina IV, murmured gloomily.
It appeared that the obsessive Male Lead was headed to jail for the next 5 months—casting a long shadow over any romance. Yet having felt that way over 9234 times, Lara was far from surprised.
“What about Lady Elina I?”
“I heard she’s deeply heartbroken from not seeing him for 5 months.”
“I hope she can pull herself together. Hoho.”
When Lara had nothing more to say than a forced smile, Lady Elina IV suddenly fixed her serious gaze on her.
“Actually, Lara, I came because I have something important to discuss with you.”
“What is it?”
“It concerns Lady Elina V. I tried explaining that the plague incident was entirely fabricated, but she wouldn’t believe it. She insists on witnessing the suffering firsthand before accepting the truth.”
Indeed, the Female Lead had taken it upon herself—as a saintess—to personally aid commoners stricken by the plague.
“Perhaps she feels a sense of duty as a saintess, but no matter how much I tried to dissuade her, she wouldn’t listen. Since Youngae, who is close to Lady Elina V, is with you, I thought you might be persuaded,” continued Lady Elina IV.
“Ah… hoho, do you really think so?”
“The problem is that Lady Elina V has gone to the slums.”
“Good heavens, that’s far too dangerous!”
Lady Elina IV nodded heavily. The slums were notorious for every imaginable crime. Even with a paladin in tow, one couldn’t help but worry.
“I understand your concern for Lady Elina V. But still…”
“No, I’m talking about the people in the slums!”
With a pale, weary expression, Lara corrected her softly.
“Oh… my goodness. We need to go find her immediately. If those clueless people dare lay a finger on Lady Elina V… oh, heavens, I can’t bear to think of it.”
Most citizens knew only that sacred power could heal life. If that destructive beam were unleashed in the slums, it might result in a horrifying tragedy with casualties.
As Lara hurried to find Lady Elina V, Lady Elina IV quietly shook her head.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t join you.”
“What? Is something wrong?”
“If I don’t return my books today, I’ll be charged a fine.”
…What the—?
Though Lara tried not to show her displeasure, it was surprisingly difficult. What seemed like a mere excuse turned out to be genuine; Lady Elina IV had really gone to the library, leaving Lara alone to head for the slums.
‘What on earth are you doing? Just stuffing books in without care is robbing you of your personality. This is a surefire recipe for an integrity scandal!’
Lara wanted to defend her, but she soon realized that no matter how much she was the Female Lead, this integrity scandal was inescapable.
Riding in a carriage toward the slums, Lara sighed silently as she gazed out the window. The once-splendid street had transformed into a modest, secluded lane. When the carriage finally stopped at the edge of the village, Lara cautiously stepped out.
Not even five minutes after setting off in search of Lady Elina V did Lara’s pace come to an abrupt halt.
“Eeek!”
‘Dog poop on the sidewalk… Disgusting. I can’t possibly walk down this street!’
‘How on earth am I supposed to get through here?!’
As Lara leapt over a clump of dog poop on the pavement, a sudden scuffle from an alley caught her attention. Glancing back, she saw a crafty boy who had been hiding behind a wall dash away in the opposite direction.
‘Do you know who that boy is…?’
His logic was strangely compelling. Lara chased after the boy. Although she nearly lost him several times due to his nimbleness, she eventually managed to follow him to a small vacant lot behind the village.
As she scanned the lot, unsure where he had taken cover, she caught sight of a flash of radiant silver hair peeking from behind a shabby wall.
Overjoyed at having found Lady Elina V, Lara hurried over. Crouched down, Lady Elina V stood with a little girl before her, the child sobbing in distress.
Could it be that she had already unleashed her sacred power? As fear overtook Lara, the girl produced a pitiful, broken doll from behind her.
“My doll… it’s completely ruined. It was so precious to me. …Can you fix it?”
Accepting the doll with a gentle smile, Lady Elina V replied, “I’ll fix it soon.”
“Just a little while!”
“Wow.”
The little girl’s tear-stained face burst into a bright smile as she giggled softly. Lady Elina V held the doll and focused her sacred power on its shattered face. With a blinding flash, radiant energy burst forth from her eyes.
“Dangerous…”
Lara gasped and raised her hand to cover her face as the beam of sacred power not only obliterated the doll but also demolished the wall behind it.
Amidst the rising dust, the figures of Lady Elina V and the little girl came into view. Lady Elina V slowly opened her hand, letting the black ash scatter in the wind.
“I’m sorry. I tried to fix it, but I lost control of my power… I truly apologize for breaking your precious doll.”
“Ah, aah!”
Embarrassed, Lady Elina V stood before the girl, who burst into tears—not merely of sorrow, but of sheer terror. Her desperate cries for help soon fell silent.
“Ugh… Huh…”
Grasping her chest, the little girl soon went silent. Cradling the girl in her arms, Lady Elina V murmured gravely,
“It appears this is indeed the outbreak of the plague…”
‘No, it’s obvious this is all your fault.’
Lara watched the scene from a short distance, lost in thought.
Just then, a woman—presumed to be the little girl’s mother—rushed over and anxiously asked what was happening. With a gloomy expression, Lady Elina V replied, “It seems the plague has already spread deep within her. For now, please take her home—I will follow shortly.”
Unaware of the true situation, the girl’s mother simply nodded earnestly, scooping up her daughter and dashing off.
As Lara moved to follow and learn more, the crafty boy hiding in the corner of the lot quietly rose and approached Lady Elina V.
Could he be seeking to avenge the little girl? Lara wondered, thinking the boy looked every bit the brave, extraordinary hero. Yet, contrary to her expectations, the slum boy dutifully stuck to his role as a mere extra.
“That power… it’s sacred power, right? Sister, you’re a saintess?”
“Yes, that’s right. What’s the matter, kid?”
“…Heh, my mom… she’s sick. Please, help her get better.”
‘Is sacred power always so miraculous?!’
Seeing someone plead for their mother’s life so cliché made the stakes of this novel feel absurdly high.
As tension rose and Lara’s body trembled with foreboding, Lady Elina V led the boy away.
Lara quietly followed the pair until they arrived at a shabby house in the slums. The boy opened the creaking door and looked up at Lady Elina V with a sorrowful gaze.
“Her mother is inside.”
“I’ll go in first.”
“Ah, no! Lady Elina V…!”
Just as Lady Elina V was about to step through the door, she paused with wide eyes, glancing back.
“Schmord? What are you doing here?”