I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 35: Trial [Part Two]

“First, the act of giving false testimony in court. Second, even if that testimony were true, turning one’s back to the enemy at the moment of injuring one’s calf. If you were trying to apprehend the person attempting to abduct the lady, wouldn’t you have received a wound on your front rather than your back? Someone like that has no qualifications to become a holy knight. Well, in a temple where deceit is practiced, pawns who obediently follow without questioning are more likely to be favored over those with actual skill.”

As I stated firmly, the face of the self-proclaimed witness, Squire Squall, turned pale. He had been striving since childhood, hoping to become a holy knight in a few more years, but now he was faced with a choice: either admit that the temple was conspiring or admit to lying and give up his seat as a holy knight. It was only natural.

Judging from his stance, it seemed he didn’t have much strength, so he was probably viewed as expendable. He seemed so shaken that his eyes were unfocused as he began to mutter something.

“I-It’s not like that… This is the right thing to do, Priest!”

“How dare you be so disrespectful!”

As Squire Squall’s voice was drowned out by the loud voice, a man in priestly robes emerged from the audience and stepped forward. Wasn’t this the same person who had just been about to be called by Squall “High Priest”? At this point, it could be considered that my predictions were quite accurate.

The sudden appearance of the priest caused a stir in the audience. He had been hiding among the spectators, but it seemed he rushed out to prevent Squire Squall, who had been set up as a witness, from saying something unnecessary.

“Silence!”

As the judge banged his gavel, the courtroom fell silent.

“Judge! The words of Sir Vandière, the Knight Commander, just now were an insult to the temple! As a priest, I must protest!”

The priest was the first to break the silence. Are you trying to be the hero? One of the judge’s eyebrows twitched upwards.

“Only those who stand at the witness stand are permitted to speak. The audience must remain quiet.”

The priest seemed to want to retort, but he closed his mouth with a frustrated expression after being glared at by the judge. Let’s deliver another blow for good measure.

“Judge, I would like to rebut the witness.”

“Go ahead.”

“If the two victims of the attempted abduction were here, it would become immediately clear. It was not the Squire Squall over there who prevented the abduction, but me.”

As I said this firmly, the spectators began to murmur interestingly. The judge banged his gavel again.

“Silence! The audience must remain quiet!”

Thanks to my statement, it didn’t become completely silent, but whispers could be heard here and there. However, it seemed to be at a volume that didn’t disrupt the trial, as the judge gestured for me to continue with his gaze.

“It seems that those who wish to entrap me are cooperating, but their coordination seems lacking. The dagger presented as evidence is mine, but it was stuck in the calf of a lackey-like man who tried to carry away Lady Diane de Taleraan, not someone standing at that witness stand.”

“Then, the witness is not a witness?”

Just as the noise was getting louder, the judge asked me a question.

“Yes, they are likely fabricated witnesses. From here on, it’s just my speculation based on the circumstances… It seems the temple was behind the abduction. Considering the recent increase in monster activity, it’s likely they’ll announce the presence of a saint soon. If that happens, the temple would want to make the saint the fiancée of the crown prince. However, since the crown prince already has a fiancée, if any dishonorable incident were to occur, the engagement would likely be canceled.”

During this, the priest who had caused a disturbance earlier seemed like he was about to speak up, so I glared at him to silence him. As for the spectators, they seemed to be listening intently, as if they didn’t want to miss a word.

“And then, when the crown prince, who received testimony that I and the victim were together, was so eager to believe I was the culprit that he didn’t bother to hear the testimony of the parties involved and proceeded with the trial, the temple tried to use his bias to cover up their own crimes… That’s what it seems like. They didn’t even consider that I might have helped. The dagger in question is not a custom-made item; it’s a standard one sold in stores. They probably intended to have the shopkeeper testify that it was an item I purchased.”

“Do you believe that you saved Diane?”

“Crown Prince, please be quiet.”

The judge calmly reprimanded Ernest, who had stood up to protest.

“Do you think the Crown Prince’s words just now indicate that my speculation is close to the truth? Perhaps they are detaining the two of them because they fear they might reveal the truth. Isn’t it normal for the parties involved to testify? And isn’t it strange that even the coachman who carried the two of them that day isn’t here?”

From the gallery, murmurs of agreement with my words could be heard. Just one more push.

“The Second Knights followed orders from above and fulfilled their duties, but the one who gave those orders deceived the kingdom’s knights with false information despite knowing the truth. I recommend bringing the one who gave those orders to trial.”

At that moment, the door through which I and the false witness had entered burst open.

“Wait! Sir Justin de Vandiere saved us! He is not a kidnapper!”

It was Lady Diane, dressed in a maid’s outfit, who shouted as soon as she entered. Perhaps she had disguised herself as a maid and slipped out of the royal castle. Naturally, the courtroom was not so much in an uproar as it was filled with murmurs of astonishment.

That Ernest, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish, is quite comical. I expressed my gratitude with a knightly salute to Lady Diane and turned to the judge.

“Did you hear that, Your Honor? From the looks of it, Lady Diane de Taleraan was confined in the royal castle, which is why she has come here dressed as a maid. This is the work of someone who knows I’m not the culprit and wants to make me one. I would like to have that person stand here and now.”

“Very well. I declare Justin de Vandiere, the Marquis’s son, not guilty! Guards, arrest the witness who gave false testimony! This court is adjourned!”

The last sound of the gavel for that day echoed throughout the courtroom, along with the protesting cries of the false witness.