The audience was equally shocked by the Emperor's laughter. Whispers spread like wildfire, some nobles stiffening in their seats, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.
Julius Chrono leaned forward on his throne, his piercing golden eyes locking onto Aden. "You've got some real guts, kid," he spoke. "And you're a funny one too."
The Emperor straightened up and turned his gaze to the gathered court. "This trial shall not be conducted here," he declared. "I want to hear this boy's words firsthand. The trial will continue within the Imperial Palace, with only the Five Dukes present."
The announcement sent a ripple of murmurs throughout the court. Such a decision was unprecedented. A criminal being granted an audience in the Imperial Palace was unheard of.
Henry Remes stood abruptly, his face red with anger.
"Your Majesty, how can you—"
A crushing force filled the hall.
An overwhelming, suffocating presence descended upon everyone, pressing them down like insects under the great hall. The weight of it made even the strongest of knights break into cold sweats. Ministers fell to their knees, struggling to breathe.
It was the Emperor's Aura.
Julius Chrono's golden eyes burned with fury as he slowly turned his gaze toward Henry Remes.
"Did you say something?" His voice was eerily calm, yet it carried a pressure that made the air itself tremble.
Henry's lips parted, but no sound came out.
The Emperor leaned forward slightly.
"I can't hear you. Speak up."
Silence. Absolute silence.
The court was reminded, in that very moment, of the kind of man Julius Chrono was. The Empire's most powerful and influential figure. A man above all others, whose mere presence dictated life and death. Even Ed Vasco, the Grand Duke among the Five Dukes, would have a tough time battling him.
With no further protests, the decision was final.
Soon a group knight came forward moving Aden to the Emperial Castle.
Seated within a grand chamber, the Five Dukes sat in their respective seats, with Emperor Julius Chrono positioned on his elevated throne. The heavy atmosphere remained as Aden Vasco was led into the room, standing before the rulers of the Empire.
A royal advisor stepped forward, clearing his throat before speaking. "Aden Vasco stands accused of a grave crime—the murder of an heir to one of the Great Five Houses, committed under the pretense of an unfair duel."
Aden felt his breath hitch. A duel? He barely knew the details. All he had were the fragmented, vague memories of Aden Vasco's past.
Julius Chrono studied him carefully before speaking. "How do you plead, Aden Vasco?"
Aden took a deep breath, steadying himself as he met the piercing gaze of Emperor Julius Chrono. The moment had come—his answer would determine his fate. His cursed speech had betrayed him countless times before, but now, he had to push through it , he knew he had to pull of the most insane bluff if he wanted to get out of this situation.
"Not guilty."
The room fell into silence.
Each of the Five Dukes displayed varying reactions—some intrigued, some skeptical, and one visibly enraged.
The Duke of Remes, the father of the murdered Clark Remes, tightened his grip on the armrest of his seat, his knuckles whitening with fury. The Emperor's expression, however, remained unfazed.
The King's Advisor stepped forward, his presence commanding the chamber's attention.
"Not guilty? Aden Vasco, are you truly claiming innocence after spilling the blood of a Great House heir? The honor of the duel aside, you must understand the weight of such a crime."
Aden straightened his posture, suppressing the trembling in his hands. If he wanted to live, he had to make them believe in his justification.
"Clark Remes challenged me," he said, his voice steady. "He dishonored my House. Refusing a duel would have been a disgrace, and accepting it meant fighting with my all. I had no choice."
The Advisor's eyes narrowed.
"And yet, the duel resulted in Clark Remes' death. You expect us to believe this was an accident?"
"At the end of the day," Aden said after a brief pause, a sharp glint in his eye,
"it's survival of the fittest, isn't it?"
A chilling stillness overtook the chamber. The words hung heavy in the air, like a blade waiting to drop.
The Emperor blinked, momentarily taken aback, but then a slow, amused grin crept onto his face.
The Duke of Remes, however, was far from amused. The veins in his forehead bulged as his aura flared to life, dark and suffocating, his sword drawn in a swift motion.
"You insolent—!"
Before he could move, an overwhelming force rippled through the hall. Four other auras erupted simultaneously, each belonging to the remaining Dukes. Their combined energy crashed into the Duke of Remes like a tidal wave, forcing him back in his seat.
The sheer difference in power was unmistakable—despite his rage, the Duke of Remes was clearly outmatched.
Yet, he refused to yield.
Aden could barely breathe, his body frozen under the suffocating weight of the auras. It was as if he had been thrust into an ocean's depths, his limbs unable to move, his vision blurring from the pressure.
The very air seemed to shatter as Emperor Julius Chrono released his aura. It was unlike anything Aden had ever felt—crushing, absolute, and divine. The walls of the chamber trembled under its might, the torches flickering wildly as if in fear.
"Enough."
A voice, sharp and commanding, rang through the chamber like the toll of a bell.
The Duke of Remes stiffened, cold sweat trailing down his temples as the Emperor's golden eyes bore into him.
"Calm down, Remes," the Emperor said, his voice dipped with a quiet fury.
"Let the boy speak."
The oppressive pressure receded, and Aden collapsed onto one knee, gasping for air. His body ached from the unseen force that had held him down, but he forced himself upright, refusing to show weakness.
The Emperor leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with amusement.
"You say it's survival of the fittest, boy? Then tell me—let's assume the duel was justified. How do you plan on dealing with the consequences?"
Aden swallowed hard.
He had avoided immediate execution, but now, the real trial had just begun.