Chapter 111
Ashid bit his lip hard, anxiety creeping in.
Like a protagonist standing on stage, Chris looked around at everyone and continued speaking.
“But the official seals on this document are real. It's completely incomprehensible.”
Marquis Langham asked,
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“We need to find the one who framed these people.”
“!!”
“If they are innocent, then someone must have forged the documents.”
Chris shook his head.
“Who could have done this, and why? For what reason?”
At those words, people swallowed nervously.
A single person came to everyone’s mind.
Someone with the power to make this possible.
And someone with a motive to do it.
As if to confirm everyone’s suspicion, Chris turned his gaze.
Directly toward Ashid.
“Do you have any idea who it might be, Lord Ashid?”
“!!”
“Someone with the capability to forge all these official seals and also with a reason to frame these people… only one person comes to mind.”
Ashid clenched his fist tightly.
Chris was trying to frame him!
It was certainly a clever move.
No one besides Ashid had the means or the motive.
‘You bastard. You think I’ll go down just like that?’
It was simple.
There was no proof it was Ashid’s doing, so he just had to lift his head and deny it.
But then—
“L-Lord Ashid.”
The accused were looking at him with desperate eyes.
As if pleading for help.
And not just them.
Everyone in the courtroom was focused on Ashid.
Waiting to see what choice he would make.
“Please think carefully before you answer. If we cannot prove that this letter is a false accusation, these people will be punished according to their family law.”
In other words—
The moment Ashid denied involvement, they would all be executed.
It was a trap, a choice between two paths.
Would he protect them, or abandon them?
‘This bastard.’
But for Ashid, it wasn’t even something to agonize over.
At his core, Ashid was a sociopath.
The idea of suffering a loss for someone else was unthinkable.
Chris had seen right through Ashid’s nature—and laid this trap because of it.
“I’m absolutely not the one.”
“!!”
A sigh swept through the courtroom.
Ashid clenched his teeth and continued.
“There must be another culprit. We have to catch that bastard—”
“Yes, I’m sure. Though I wonder who could possibly pull off something like this.”
Chris smirked mockingly, and Ashid flinched.
The gazes directed at him had turned cold.
Unlike before.
It was only natural.
Everyone believed Ashid had framed them.
Especially the betrayed retainers—whose reactions were intense.
“Lord Ashid!! How could you do this to us?!”
“To frame us, who have followed you with absolute loyalty!! Even the devils of Gehenna wouldn’t stoop this low!!”
They shouted at Ashid, full of resentment.
And it wasn’t just them—the other retainers who once supported Ashid were equally cold.
The human sacrifice suspicions, they could overlook.
But to frame loyal retainers and cast them aside in front of everyone?
Everyone had completely lost faith in Ashid.
In a single moment, Ashid lost the support of his entire House.
He had lost a tremendous power base in an instant.
‘Serves you right.’
Chris grinned inwardly.
‘I can’t let this opportunity slip by.’
When people’s hearts wavered—that was the moment to strike.
Chris put on a sorrowful expression.
“Since Lord Ashid denies involvement, it seems we must punish them. But I don’t believe that’s right.”
“Not right?”
“Yes, because I’m sure they were falsely accused. I believe in their innocence.”
At those words, the retainers looked at Chris with moved expressions.
Ashid, whom they had faithfully followed, had abandoned them—yet Chris, whom they once persecuted, was now protecting them.
In that moment, many retainers had the same thought.
‘The next head of the House should be someone like Lord Chris.’
Especially those who were falsely accused—their reactions were even more dramatic.
‘If we can just clear our names, we will serve Lord Chris from now on.’
It was a moment when the succession power structure shook dramatically.
After today, many retainers would come to support Chris.
Especially those who had been framed—if they survived, they would surely become his loyal vassals.
On the other hand, Ashid was in the opposite position.
With today’s events, he had lost a large portion of his support base in an instant.
And it wasn’t just that.
From now on, everyone in the House would point fingers at Ashid behind his back.
From being praised by all and shining at the highest place, he had now become the disgrace of the family.
At that moment, Marquis Langham poured cold water on the situation.
“How do you plan to prove their innocence? Unless you expose who’s truly responsible for the false accusation, it’s impossible.”
“If there’s no evidence, then there’s only one method.”
Christian looked at Ashid and spoke in a firm tone.
The final goal of today’s trial.
The most important part.
“I formally challenge Lord Ashid to a Judgment Duel.”
“!!”
In that instant, everyone gasped.
When the truth could not be revealed, a duel was held—where the winner’s claim was acknowledged as truth.
An ancient method based on the idea that the victor is in the right.
It was a method rarely used in recent times.
“Surely, you’re not going to run from this too, like a coward?”
At Christian’s provocation, Ashid let out a cold chuckle.
“…You really are insane. Fine. I’ve no reason to refuse.”
It was the expected response.
Christian was a 4-star—lower grade, at that.
On the other hand, Ashid had already reached the 5-star Upper class.
“Lord Christian, this is a bit much.”
“Please reconsider.”
Those who had looked at Christian with favor now spoke out with concern.
They didn’t believe Christian stood a chance.
They thought he would either be severely injured or killed.
But then—
“Keuk keuk, a Judgment Duel? What a bold suggestion, like a thunder-struck fool.”
Everyone held their breath.
It was Nordian!
The Head of the House spoke in a voice that seemed rather amused.
“Well, Marquis, what do you say? It doesn’t look like the truth will come out clearly anyway. Settling it with a Judgment Duel doesn’t sound too bad. Of course, this old man is only here to watch, so the decision is yours, Marquis.”
“……”
Marquis Langham fell silent for a moment.
Whose opinion could he dare to ignore?
However—
‘…There’s no way Christian could defeat Ashid, right?’
It was an absurd thought.
The gap in their abilities was overwhelming.
Marquis Langham glanced at Christian, just to be sure.
4-star, lower grade.
Prime Low class.
The gap was such that no twist could possibly occur.
Marquis Langham said to Christian,
“However, there will be a condition.”
“What is it?”
“Whatever happens during the duel will be your own responsibility. If you’re willing to risk your life, then the Judgment Duel will be permitted.”
It was a statement telling Christian to accept the risk of death.
At the same time, it was a message to Ashid.
To ensure that he takes Christian’s life in the duel.
Whether he understood the meaning or not, Ashid gave a savage smile.
Christian let out a faint laugh.
“Do not worry.”
Christian’s eyes turned to Ashid.
Coldly.
“This is exactly what I was hoping for.”
That’s right.
Christian planned to completely finish Ashid through the duel.
Thus,
A duel that would completely overturn the succession structure was decided.
* * *
According to the Magus Empire's law regarding Judgment Duels, the duel was scheduled for a month later.
The purpose of this waiting period was to allow time for reconciliation instead of a duel, but in their case, it didn’t apply.
The official reason was to uncover the truth, but everyone in the Dark Demonic House knew.
This was a formal duel over the successor position.
This duel would determine the fate of the two.
The loser would lose everything.
The winner would take a step closer to the position of Grand Duke.
However, there were almost no people predicting Christian’s victory.
No—in truth, not a single one.
Because it was a match between a 4-star and a 5-star.
A difference as vast as a towering wall.
“Why on earth did Young Master Christian make such a decision?”
“Wasn’t it for the retainers who were falsely accused? Even if Lord Christian seems reckless at times, he’s surprisingly upright and cares for others.”
“True.”
If Christian hadn’t requested the Judgment Duel, those retainers who had been falsely accused would not have survived.
“Those retainers were, in a way, his enemies. Yet he stepped forward for them. Incredible.”
“He’s nothing like someone like Ashid.”
Thus, the people of the Dark Demonic House expressed admiration and praise for Christian.
To those who didn’t know the details, it looked like Christian had stepped up for the sake of the wronged retainers, even at great risk.
A reputation completely different from the past, when he was dismissed as a scoundrel.
“But he was too reckless. No matter how much of a genius Lord Christian is, this duel is too much.”
“That’s right. It might be better to cancel the duel even now.”
Even those close to Christian thought the same.
“…Just what are you thinking?”
Merian shook her head.
Christian, sipping the strawberry juice that Marie had made through a straw, asked.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“You’re really asking that?! Pulling such a reckless stunt!”
“You don’t have to worry so much. Marie, would you like to offer Aunt a glass of juice too?”
[Hohoho. Shall I prepare it as Virgin’s Blood Juice? Or perhaps the newly researched recipe—Bachelor’s Blood Juice? Or maybe she prefers the flavor of Middle-aged Man’s Blood Juice?]
Merian immediately frowned.
“Enough. Who needs juice or whatever. Lidan, say something, will you!”
Lidan.
The name of Count Khazar.
He had come to the main house because of this incident.
“…I believe in Christian.”
“You do? Then what’s with that face? You look like the world’s about to end.”
“……”
Just as Merian teased, Count Khazar’s face was full of gloom.
It was because he was worried.
‘I believe in my son. But still.’
It was an incredibly reckless challenge.
No matter how much of a genius Christian was, the gap was too great to overcome.
At that moment, Melin chimed in from the side.
“Please don’t worry so much, both of you. Isn’t it Lord Christian we’re talking about? I’m sure he’s already thought of a brilliant way to win.”
She continued with eyes full of trust.
“Back when he wasn’t even a 2-star, he still fought me on equal footing.”
At those words, both Merian and Count Khazar looked at Christian.
Christian was still calmly drinking his strawberry juice with a relaxed expression.
There wasn’t a single trace of worry on his face.
“…Alright, let’s hear it then. What clever plan have you come up with this time?”
“I don’t have one.”