Melora’s head spun; she had mentally prepared for many things, but not this. Every action slowly started to make sense: his cold demeanor towards her, the fact he never gave her any work befitting her status—she was treated more like a disposable soldier.

  Lucius got up from his chair and approached the slumped Melora, whose tears slowly fell. The face of her loving mother came to mind, her only source of warmth when she was young. Her tragic and sudden death left Melora feeling alone and disconnected until Stephan entered her life. Her mind regained focus as a question came to mind; in an instant, she shot up and smmed Lucius to the wall.

  “DID YOU KILL MY MOTHER!”

  Her voice roared as Lucius tried to break free. Melora then raised him even higher, with his feet now dangling.

  “I am the Grand Duke! I order you to let me go.”

  “You do not possess an ounce of Stormville blood in your veins. Now answer me! Did you kill my mother?”

  Her grip tightened as Lucius squirmed even more.

  “Guards! Guards!”

  Lucius called out as a group of sword masters entered the room. They were instantly confused about what action they should take. Lucius started to point at Melora as the group slowly approached her.

  “Commander, please let go of the Grand Duke.”

  One of the sword masters urged, with his right hand on the hilt of his sword. The rest quietly surrounded her as they paid attention to her movements.

  “From today, Lucius Stormville is stripped of his rank as Grand Duke and his st name on the crime of treason, conspiracy, and the murder of the previous Grand Duchess.”

  “She is lying; her time spent in the forest has clearly poisoned her! Arrest her now.”

  “Call for the Duchy's grand wizard. As an heir of the Stormville blood, I call for the trial of Judgment.”

  “I am the Grand Duke! My authority is final.”

  The sword masters gnced at each other once more.

  “Jacob, go and call the grand wizard and prepare the trial.”

  “As you will, commander.”

  Lucius’s eyes widened as the man left the room.

  “If you avoid the trial everything will be stripped including your life.”

  Stephen shortly came running into the room and witnessed the chaotic scene. Worry instantly engulfed him as he stared at Melora.

  “Grand wizard, prepare the ceremony for the trial of Judgment; that is an order.”

  Melora released Lucius as he crashed down. She then left the office for the grand hall. Inside, the knights lined from wall to wall, wearing their grey armor, with Melora now changed to her dark armor, this time with a white cape attached. She stood at the middle of the room in front of a table with an ornamental bowl. It was etched with two dragons on each side, staring upwards, with their front hands cradling the four handles.

  The door swung open, with Lucius walking in alone, wearing a dark suit-like outfit with a white cape. He slowly made his way to the table and stared at Melora, who had a cold gaze.

  “Aren’t you interested in who your father is? If you yield and stop this stupid stunt, I will give you that and more.”

  “You have blinded me and my people for far too long; I refuse to let it continue.”

  The doors opened once more as Stephen, now wearing a ritualistic outfit, entered, carrying a porcein vase, with wizards and witches behind him. He stopped behind Lucius, then made a right turn, with the wizards and witches going to the left and waiting with others.

  “Who among you volunteers to be the second witness to this Judgment?”

  A young man with blue hair and dark eyes stepped forward instantly and made his way and stood in front of the wizards and witches.

  “I, Jacob Girona of House Girona, volunteer to be the third witness.”

  “Before we begin, I will state what the trial of Judgment is. This is a sacred ritual used to determine two things: truth and intentions. There will be three questions asked in this order, two from the witnesses which had been prepared before hand by the priestess and one final question of your own choosing. You have to answer truthfully. If you lie, you will experience excruciating pain and lose one sense; if you lie all three times, you will die. It can also determine half-truths and your intentions towards Credoa.”

  Stephen paused after a lengthy conversation, then turned to face Melora and Lucius with a serious face. The door then opened once more as a dy wearing a religious robe entered with clergy men behind her. She bowed to both parties and slowly made her way to the throne and stood next to it. Lucius frowned, then stared at Melora.

  “Do all parties understand and would like to proceed?”

  “Melora, rethink this; I do not wish to humiliate you in such a manner.”

  “Do not pretend to care for my wellbeing now. Grand wizard, proceed.”

  Stephen waved his hand as the wizards and witches stood in a circle and started to chant something with their hands raised, creating a barrier. He carefully opened the vase as a dark smoke shot out of the vase and hit the barrier. Lucius trembled slightly, while Melora stared at it. Stephen released his green mana while chanting a spell. The dark smoke slowly retreated into the vase. Once he was done, he lifted the vase, then tilted it into the ornamental bowl full of water. A singur drop of dark fluid slowly fell into it as it slowly spread throughout the water, turning it pitch bck. Stephen carefully closed the vase and pced it away.

  “If you have second thoughts, this is the time to air them and leave.”

  “The Grand Duke has no say in this; if he backs out, he will be stripped of everything and tortured, then hanged like the traitor he is.”

  Lucius’s usual cold and emotionless face slightly twitched at Melora’s words. Jacob, on the other hand, stared at the strange liquid in front of him; he was the same age as Melora and a young sword master, but paled in comparison when it came to experience and strength. His senses were sharp enough to know something ominous was in that water.

  Stephen frowned slightly as he started to recite another spell. His green mana surrounded the enclosed space as the water started to boil. After some time, he stopped.

  “Everyone, pce their right hand on their respective handle and do not let go.”

  They all simultaneously held the different handles as the bck fluid rose up, then split into four portions, then entered their bodies. Melora felt a strong uncomfortable sensation in her heart, but it quickly passed. Lucius, on the other hand, could be seen struggling, with his veins popping out.

  “Now, let’s begin.”