Patrick’s statement announcing Pamila’s death was clear.

Her death added to Emperor Kazan’s crimes.

Kazan, who had stained and trampled the Arkan continent with blood, committed many unprovable atrocities of murder.

He killed the midwife who assisted in the birth of the twins, along with ladies-in-waiting and maids, and killed the knights guarding the West Tower.

The poisoning of the former empress was widely rumored among the noble circles of the Tane Empire, but the emperor did not even properly investigate the circumstances of the murder. Rather, he reduced the funeral procedures to cover up the incident.

In collusion with Empress Pamila’s schemes, he broke the peace treaty of the Arkan continent and branded Patricia, the shadow princess of the West Tower, as an enemy general. And Pamila ordered the assassination of the crown prince, namely Patricia, who was commanding the war against Karsik.

Digging into Pamila’s crimes absorbs them into Kazan’s crimes.

The person who reacted by jumping up at the mention of Pamila’s death was Duke Parse.

“Your Highness Patrick, this jest goes too far.”

“Duke Parse, this is no time for jokes. Since you’ve stood up, let me ask you.”

Patrick walked towards Duke Parse, who was standing with both hands on the table next to Kazan.

As he walked, he thought quickly. A way to announce the incident without mentioning Patricia.

If it was revealed that there was an attempt to assassinate Patricia in this situation, he didn’t know how Harchen would react.

Harchen had already unexpectedly challenged the emperor to a duel.

Hah, hopefully he wouldn’t be pushed back, but the emperor had been on battlefields for forty years. It would be a close duel.

“Duke, five days ago, you left Duse Palace with His Majesty the Emperor, then changed carriages with Empress Pamila and went to Duke Leak’s residence in Karsik. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“When you returned to Trier on the outskirts of the capital where His Majesty the Emperor was, the empress remained with three assassins. Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“Afterwards, the empress attempted assassination but failed and was killed by the attack of a Heun tribe hunter. One of the accompanying assassins remained, so the truth can be verified later.”

Duke Parse’s face darkened at Patrick’s explanation.

“Count Luken. A trial for the dead seems pointless. However, as records must remain, I request testimony from witnesses to confirm the facts about Empress Pamila’s serious crimes.”

Count Luken huddled with about ten people seated together to exchange opinions.

Half of them were representatives of the existing imperial nobility council, and Count Luken, Count Akaban, and Pamuk Valenti were with them.

In their hands were documents that Patrick had written and distributed in Luken.

In fact, no one would oppose the idea of rebuilding a new Tane Empire through agreement between the existing imperial nobility council, common nobles, and imperial citizen representatives, rather than a rebellion achieved through blood and intrigue.

“Declaration of Convening the Tane Imperial Citizens’ Assembly.

The Tane imperial family is corrupt, and evil deeds and fraud are rampant.

To eradicate injustice and corruption, and to rebuild a new Tane Empire where not only nobles but also more imperial citizens can live well, guaranteed their own happiness and free lives, we declare the following.

The cause of corruption and injustice by the emperor and empress representing the imperial family is because the power of the Tane Empire was concentrated in the imperial family.

Therefore, we strongly recommend the dissolution of the imperial nobility council that has condoned imperial power.

We will convene an immediate trial by merging wise and righteous common nobles into the existing imperial nobility council, prove the crimes of the corrupt imperial family, and make them pay the price for their crimes.

Kazan Calian Evis, deposition of the emperor.

Pamila Lasbur, life imprisonment in Nuqs Prison.

Norman Lasbur, confiscation of trading company, revocation of viscount title.

After eradicating imperial corruption, convening of the Imperial Citizens’ Assembly.

The Imperial Citizens’ Assembly shall consist of 5 persons from the existing imperial nobility council, 5 common nobles, and 5 representatives of imperial citizens.

The Imperial Citizens’ Assembly decides on the administrative and legislative powers of the Tane Empire.

Furthermore, the Imperial Citizens’ Assembly collaborates with the Karsik Empire and kingdoms to prepare administration and legislation regarding non-aggression agreements, migration rights, commercial rights, and labor employment within the Arkan continent to promote peace and safety in the Arkan continent.

Please sign below if you actively support and will implement the convening of the Imperial Citizens’ Assembly.

Patrick Calian Evas.”

On the paper added to the document with the declaration, countless signatures followed, led by Patrick, including kings who had their kingdoms taken by Kazan, common nobles, and imperial citizens.

Some of the imperial nobility council had been fed up with Emperor Kazan’s reign of terror and the empress’s overreach and tyranny. Kazan’s imperial power wielding a blood-stained sword was strong, but there were many internal enemies.

If Patrick presented a valid justification, there would be many who would join his cause.

Moreover, they couldn’t ignore the situation where Patrick’s rebellion would succeed and a new Tane Empire would be rebuilt.

Above all, the official meetings and trials of Tane were recorded.

Later, when Patrick succeeded in the change of power, even those who cast opposing votes would all be recorded.

Three scribes sat side by side recording the situation where the empress’s birth celebration banquet had turned into an emergency trial, and horn-blowing boys stood by the entrance with shining eyes.

Those gathered for the impromptu trial pooled their opinions.

The 5 representatives of the existing imperial nobility council, Count Luken, Count Akaban, and Pamuk Valenti agreed to decide on proceeding with the impromptu trial by a show of hands. It was decided that Count Luken would conduct the trial.

Count Luken threw a question at Patrick.

“Is there a witness here to testify to the crimes of Pamila Lasbur?”

As if he had been waiting, Patrick looked at the blind old Heun woman sitting next to Eden.

Wearing a black robe, she removed the hood of her robe and came to the center where Patrick was standing.

Patrick continued:

“Pamila Lasbur poisoned the former empress, Aldisha Valenti. I call as a witness the person who prepared the poison herb at that time.”

Count Luken approached the Heun old woman and questioned her about her personal information and the situation at the time.

“I am of the Heun tribe and was selected as an Amir at the age of eleven. I must be forty-seven years old now.”

Murmurs could be heard here and there in Gratia Hall. Kazan glared at her with reddened eyes.

“My childhood name was Hairin. I assisted the priestess at the Grand Temple of Hesperos and delivered oracles. I helped the midwife during the birth of Empress Aldisha and later prepared herbal remedies for Her Majesty the Empress.”

“When Empress Pamila found out about this fact, she threatened me and had me prepare a poison by adding arsenic to the Datura Purple poisonous herb.”

The hall, which had been murmuring, fell silent as if cold water had been poured on it.

“Due to the high amount of arsenic, the poison took life in ten days, and Her Majesty the Empress passed away.”

“Couldn’t that old woman be lying?”

Norman Lasbur, Pamila’s younger brother, said in a loud voice, unable to hide his excitement. At his words, the Heun old woman took out a pouch containing the poison herb and a necklace from the folds of her robe.

“I brought this just in case. This is the poison herb I prepared on the empress’s order. And this is the necklace I received from the empress as payment.”

What the old woman held out was a necklace with a large red pyrope garnet set among dozens of diamonds, which Kazan had given to the empress as a gift.

Gratia Hall, with over two hundred people gathered, was so quiet that not even breathing could be heard.

Only the thin voices of Count Luken asking detailed questions and the Heun old woman answering floated through the hall.

Count Luken consulted with those who had the right to deliberate and decide on the trial. There were differing opinions on deciding an immediate judgment for the crimes of the Heun old woman and the empress. Finally, they decided to decide by majority vote and raised their hands.

Emperor Kazan looked at the Heun old woman called Hairin. Looking closely, she wasn’t an old woman. He was more surprised by the long-ago appearance of the thin woman standing before him than by the death of Empress Pamila.

‘Hairin, yes. Did I ask the name of the Amir who bit the inside of her mouth and spat blood?’

Hairin, it seemed familiar. Despite the urgent situation, he wanted to ask her about his own flesh and blood. To ask what gender that flesh and blood was, and where and what they were doing in life.

However, asking such questions would only reveal more of his crimes. As long as the Heun old woman kept her mouth shut, now was not the time. He decided to find out discreetly after all this was over.

Count Luken announced the results of the on-the-spot judgment after the deliberation was over.

“Pamila Lasbur is sentenced to life imprisonment in Nuqs Prison for the crime of poisoning Empress Aldisha Valenti. However, due to testimony that she has become deceased, we order the revocation of her empress qualification, confiscation of property, closure and dismantling of Pyrope Palace followed by demolition, as well as prohibition of funeral and use of burial plot.”

Norman Lasbur sobbed, exhaling a suppressed breath, but no one else showed emotion.

Count Luken turned towards the Heun old woman and continued his announcement.

“Heun Hairin. You are also sentenced to ten years for the crime of preparing poison while knowing its intended use.”

Patrick and Eden looked at Count Luken with somewhat surprised expressions.

“However, we acknowledge the coercion due to threats. The resolution regarding amnesty will be decided at the Imperial Citizens’ Assembly. Until then, remain under the surveillance of the guard knights.”

“I accept, thank you.”

Heun Hairin smiled faintly. She was more than satisfied to be able to watch the duel between Kazan and the Karsik emperor. She willingly held out both wrists to the guard knights holding ropes.

Patrick looked around Gratia Hall and walked towards where Roan was standing as he spoke.

“Tane Imperial Year 773, April 27th. Here is Roan, one of those who ambushed the delegation returning with the Karsik emperor’s reply after delivering Kazan emperor’s letter proposing gold mining to the Karsik emperor.”

At Patrick’s indication, Roan scratched his head, stood up from his seat, and bowed his head in greeting.

“Roan, you and your colleague Sade killed the delegation. Your colleague Sade was killed by someone. Is that correct?”

Patrick asked Roan.

“Yes, that’s correct, without a doubt.”

“Who directly ordered the killing of the emperor’s delegation at that time?”

“Yes, it was Norman, the head of the Lasbur trading company, on the order of Empress Pamila.”

“After killing the delegation, what order was given next?”

“He said war with Karsik would soon break out, and ordered us to find and kill the crown prince in silver armor.”

Patrick enunciated clearly while staring directly at Emperor Kazan.

“The order to attack Karsik was written and signed by Emperor Kazan himself.”

Only then did Kazan realize that Patrick was aiming an invisible sharp sword at him, and he tightened his grip on his sword.

“What are you saying? Patrick, this is a fraud. I never gave an order to march on Karsik.”

At that moment, Harchen stood up and unfolded a paper from his uniform jacket pocket.

“Here, I submit the marching orders found on the body of the silver-armored person I captured as a prisoner.”