Princess's Struggle for Survival-Chapter 274: Trial of Sword (4) - Second Trial

If it were Princess Astrid facing this situation now, what would she do?

Sensing several gazes falling on her, Lyra’s heartbeat accelerated slightly, but she restrained herself from showing fear, her thoughts racing rapidly.

If Princess Astrid were here, she would have thought of the most suitable reason to exonerate herself from the start, found a point that Casto couldn’t refute, and used it as the basis to emphasize her argument, making it invincible.

For example, the fact that the other party struck first, no matter how you look at it, excessive self-defense is better than the crime of endangering imperial security.

Hearing Lyra’s words, a rare trace of surprise flashed in the judge’s eyes as he continued to stare at the pink-haired girl in front of him, who had now also considered her argument and spoke again.

"Casto indiscriminately slaughtered civilians and prisoners while carrying out his mission in Vansterlin Village, and allowed his subordinates to loot and plunder, amassing wealth."

"Anyone who has investigated should be able to determine this from the traces left at the scene."

They were able to bring her to the defendant’s stand today, so they must have conducted on-site investigations.

Casto and his men’s actions were not concealed, and the attacked village was in complete disarray, so it’s impossible that they wouldn’t have found evidence.

Being directly called out by Lyra, Casto’s expression grew even more displeased, his brows revealing a hint of coldness, his teeth grinding audibly.

The army’s looting of villages was actually an unwritten rule.

Living on the edge of death for years, enduring the constant pressure of possible death, many soldiers were mentally unstable and needed an outlet.

The higher-ups generally turned a blind eye to this, as long as it wasn’t done excessively, it usually wasn’t brought up openly.

But if Lyra insisted on bringing this matter to light, their plundering was actually unjustified, at least according to the written rules.

All gains from the army belonged to the emperor or the lords, whether prisoners or property.

Anyone who attempted to embezzle or destroy them would face corresponding punishment.

"I witnessed Casto’s atrocities in Vansterlin Village and tried to stop him from stealing the wealth that rightfully belonged to His Majesty the Emperor and the lords, but I was attacked on the spot by his subordinates."

Calming her mind, her thoughts became clearer after speaking. Lyra, wearing shackles, looked at Casto with sky blue clear eyes, her lips moving.

"Perhaps this explains why Casto allowed his men to attack an unknown early Grand Knight, he was afraid of the secret being exposed and wanted to silence me, so he acted without hesitation."

The crisp female voice echoed in the courtroom, even Lyra herself was somewhat surprised that she could make such a logical statement.

Some of the jury members below showed thoughtful expressions after hearing this, but most did not have a significant change in their impression of Lyra, at most they thought she was quite clever.

On certain issues, as jury members with similar identities to Casto, they could understand his actions, while Lyra seemed like an outsider.

As the discussion gradually died down, a silver-haired woman raised her eyes and looked with interest at the defendant’s stand.

Lyra also realized that most of the jury members in the military court were more inclined to stand on Casto’s side.

Even if he had made mistakes, it was their internal matter, and she, as an outsider, would not get any support.

Fortunately, at this moment, the judge, who had remained silent, whispered to those around him.

After a moment, having received accurate information, he slowly spoke.

"Based on the information obtained so far, Casto did not receive any order from his superiors to carry out the massacre. The plundering was for personal gain and indeed harmed the interests of the emperor and the lords."

"Based on this point, plus the necessity of self-protection, Lyra Beckett’s actions have some justification. Although actual damage was caused, rendering Casto’s team unable to continue their mission, it is not appropriate to handle this solely as a crime of endangering imperial security."

Noticing the judge’s tone softening, before Lyra could speak, Casto was the first to speak up.

"But this doesn’t explain why Lyra Beckett was in Vansterlin Village. Did she already know about these things and was waiting there specifically?"

"Entering a military-controlled area without permission, Lyra herself does not have the right to protection. Moreover, on the battlefield, we have the right to attack unfamiliar faces who are armed and do not show identification."

With a few words, the public opinion was reversed back to its original direction.

No matter how Lyra tried to explain, the fact that she appeared within the borders of the Kingdom of Velys to help civilians escape was undeniable.

Given the current sensitive situation, her actions were hard not to raise suspicions. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Having been caught on the biggest blind spot in the debate, Lyra pursed her lips, unsure how to explain.

That sword... what exactly does it want her to do...

Telling the truth would surely ruin everything...

At that moment, a cold female voice sounded.

"Your Honor, since the suspect is involved in treason, the evidence we currently have doesn’t seem sufficient to support the entire trial..."

"...Why don’t we first have Lyra return to her cell pending trial, and when we have solid evidence, we can hold a second trial."

This voice is...

The iron chains on her hands clinked coldly as she moved. Lyra turned her head to look at the jury stand, which had been in her blind spot all along.

A stunningly beautiful woman with silver hair and red eyes sat at the jury table.

She wore a black veil hat, her delicate hands hidden under pure white silk gloves, one hand propping up her chin, her expression calm.

Princess Astrid?

Looking into those crimson eyes, Lyra’s lips moved slightly, feeling somewhat awkward and uneasy about her current predicament.

Wearing a prisoner’s uniform... Princess Astrid has seen her like this...

Her momentary confusion ended quickly. The familiar eyes looking at her showed no emotion, as if she were a complete stranger.

This is in the illusion mirror. The Princess Astrid in front of her is not the Astrid Calliste she knows, and judging from her cold demeanor, she probably doesn’t know her either.

Feeling the gaze of the entire room on her, Astrid casually brushed her hair, uncrossed her black-stockinged legs, the golden and silver flower patterns on her thighs glowing temptingly under the light.

"Without sufficient evidence, whether the verdict is too harsh or too lenient is inappropriate. Since Lyra has said so, why not wait a bit longer? Things might become clearer once the evidence is complete. What do you think?"

Astrid Calliste, the third princess of the empire, backed by the highest imperial authority, her words made even the judge think twice.

Especially since this case involved the emperor’s property, a hasty verdict might cause unnecessary trouble.

"Princess Astrid is right."

The evidence was indeed insufficient, and the case itself was full of doubts. The judge had originally planned to adjourn the trial and reconvene later. Now with Astrid providing a way out, there was no need to stubbornly push forward.

"Let’s end here for today. We’ll reconvene when more evidence is presented."

Opening the iron bars that blocked magic, Lyra stepped out of the defendant’s stand, her gaze shifting to Astrid, who did not look at her.

Instead, she placed her hand on the brim of her veil hat, her long, curved eyelashes standing quietly, looking beautiful in the light.

Returning to her cell, Lyra sat on the straw, silently recalling the dialogue in the courtroom.

She ultimately couldn’t be as confident as Princess Astrid. There was still much room for improvement, otherwise she wouldn’t have been pushed to such an extent by Casto.

The mix of information made Lyra’s headache, especially the iron chains around her ankles, which were particularly irritating.

The slight pain transmitted through her nerves to her brain, stimulating her mind.

The sword’s purpose is not clear at all. What exactly does it want her to do?

And Princess Astrid... if she doesn’t know her, why did she speak up to help...

...

From afternoon until evening, Lyra finally received her dinner, a black, rock-hard piece of black bread and a small pot of water.

Moistening her lips with her tongue, she used saliva and water to soften the bread. Lyra carefully took a bite, and a taste of dry leaves instantly filled her taste buds. The slight granularity on her tongue made her hesitant to chew.

Leaves, gravel, sawdust, coarse bran flour, and a very small amount of real wheat flour, these were the components of a prisoner’s dinner today.

Although she came from a village, Lyra’s family was not so poor as to eat this unpalatable black bread.

The girl tried to get used to the taste, the hard small piece of bread sliding down her esophagus, bringing a very noticeable sense of blockage.

It took her over half an hour to finish the entire piece of black bread. Lyra felt as if she had used up all her strength.

She leaned her back against the prison wall, the cold bricks conveying the chill through the rough cloth to her skin.

She didn’t know how long she would have to stay here. Perhaps enduring this prison suffering was also part of the illusion mirror.

After more than half an hour, Lyra heard sharp footsteps outside the iron bars. Unlike the iron boots of the jailers, this sound was more like high heels hitting the floor.

As a former personal maid, Lyra was particularly sensitive to this sound, sometimes even hallucinating it in her sleep.

"Princess Astrid, are you sure you want to go in alone? The person inside is an early Grand Knight, and even with the magic-sealing handcuffs, there’s still a risk."

"It’s fine, you stay on guard outside. Don’t come in without my orders."

"Understood."

Is Princess Astrid here?

Standing up, Lyra used the remaining bit of water to look at her face, noticing some dust on her cheeks.

She quickly raised her shackled hands and used the fabric on her arm to wipe her face, but the dust not only didn’t come off, it only got worse.

At that moment, one of the two prison doors opened from the outside. Astrid looked at Lyra standing in the cell, looking somewhat timid, her red eyes calm.

"You were so composed in the military court earlier, why are you so scared now?"

"Don’t be so afraid, I’m not going to eat you."

Hearing a tone somewhat similar to the past, Lyra hid half her face in the shadows, and after a long while, spoke softly.

"Princess Astrid..."

"...Do we know each other?"

This feeling of both familiarity and unfamiliarity made Lyra unsure for a moment.

Astrid shook her head upon hearing this, her tone cold.

"Of course not. If I hadn’t been in the mood to attend the hearing today, I wouldn’t have known they caught such an interesting person."

Through the iron bars, Lyra could smell the sweet scent emanating from Princess Astrid’s dress, as if the foul air in the prison had been purified at that moment.

"Interesting?" Lyra repeated.

"Yes, a young knight born in a remote mountain village, yet with such strength and eloquence. It’s hard to believe she wasn’t trained by some other force."

As she spoke, Astrid adjusted her collar, inadvertently revealing a small section of her smooth, delicate neck.

"Of course, Miss Lyra, don’t misunderstand. I’m also one of those who don’t believe it."

The woman was still wearing the same black dress from the afternoon in the jury stand. The lotus-leaf hem with lace patterns, paired with sheer black stockings that only deepened slightly at the thighs, the delicate golden and silver flower patterns adding a touch of mystery and allure. Even in the dimly lit prison, she remained elegant and noble, like a white rose blooming in the night.

"Then... why did Princess Astrid help me out of the situation..."

Given the circumstances at the time, she was about to be at a disadvantage, and the trial result probably wouldn’t be good, likely at least a life sentence. But then Astrid suddenly appeared, helping to postpone the verdict.

"Help you out of the situation? Is that what you think, Miss Lyra?"

Hearing this, Astrid’s lips curved slightly, her crimson eyes reflecting that dusty yet still strikingly beautiful face.

"I just thought such an interesting person shouldn’t be wrongly convicted."

"After all, someone who can make that kind of statement in front of everyone doesn’t seem like the type to recklessly attack Casto."

"Why did you really attack the army? If it’s still that lame excuse of ’protecting the wealth that rightfully belongs to the emperor,’ I don’t mind having you retried tomorrow, and during the judge’s verdict, I’ll say a few more words to ensure you’re convicted of treason."

The crimes Lyra has already committed are only "possibly" punishable by death. Once treason is established, she wouldn’t need to consider whether she would be executed, but how to die without too much pain.

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