Chapter 113: The Marquis is right about one thing

Julian took another step forward, the crutches supporting his weight as he approached the center of the hall. He didn’t look at the Emperor yet. He didn’t look at the dead assassin. He looked at his father.

"Marquis Astrea," Julian said, his voice dripping with a cold, calm poison. "You look disappointed. Were you expecting someone else to walk through those doors? Or perhaps... You weren’t expecting anyone to walk at all?"

The Head Judge finally found his voice, though it was weak. "Julian Von Astrea... you are... You are standing."

"I am breathing, at the very least," Julian replied, bowing his head slightly toward the throne, though his eyes never left the Marquis. "And I have a great deal to say about the ’accidents’ and ’assassins’ that have plagued my recovery."

The Emperor leaned forward, his grin widening until it was almost predatory. At first, he almost looked disappointed that Julian was alive and well, but it wasn’t like his brother would’ve let him die anyway. It didn’t matter. He would have other chances in the future.

For now, he just needed to watch and see just how far his brother had gone—and will keep going—for this man.

He looked at Alaric, then at Julian, and finally at the trembling Marquis.

"Well, well," the Emperor purred. "The witness has returned from the grave. This hearing just became significantly more interesting. Shall we continue?"

Julian looked at the Emperor and met his intense golden gaze, trying to push him under the dirt with the pressure. It was the first time he had seen him since the hunt, and he still had that chill running down his spine just looking at that smile and amused expression on his face.

Before the questioning could begin, Alaric moved.

He didn’t ask for permission; he simply stepped toward the center of the hall and signaled to one of his knights, who immediately brought forward a heavy, velvet-cushioned chair.

"Your Grace," the judge called out as he watched this performance. "What is this?"

"You can’t expect a patient to stand for this entire ordeal, can you?" Alaric asked, his voice echoing through the silent courtroom. He looked at the Head Judge with a cold, unyielding stare. "Or does the testimony only count if he’s on his two feet?"

The Head Judge cleared his throat nervously, glancing up at the Emperor for a reaction. Finding none but that same entertained grin, he nodded quickly.

"Of course, Your Grace. We shall take account of the witness’s condition and let him be seated."

Julian looked at the Duke. Even in front of so many people, nobles, commoners, and aristocrats, he did not relent from displaying his care for him.

He was very serious when he said he didn’t plan to keep their relationship hidden.

This made Julian feel even more confident to stand trial. This time, he would help the Duke.

Julian sat down; the soft cushions were a sharp contrast to the stiffness of his body, which had been stiff all week. He rested the crutches against the side of the chair, his hands gripping the armrests. He felt Alaric move to stand directly behind him, a silent, towering wall of protection.

"Julian Von Astrea," the Judge began, leaning over his high desk. "The Marquis has charged the Grand Duke with your kidnapping, house arrest, and suggested that your life was in grave danger within the Duke’s walls. He claims the Duke is using you as a pawn in a rebellious plan. What do you have to say to these accusations?"

Julian took a slow breath, feeling the weight of the Emperor’s eyes. He didn’t look at the Marquis yet; he kept his focus on the Judge.

"The Marquis is right about one thing," Julian said, his voice surprisingly steady for someone who had just woken from a few hours’ coma. "My life was in danger last night. An assassin entered my room while I was incapacitated, intending to ensure I never spoke again."

A wave of murmurs broke out across the hall. The Marquis’s face went from pale to a blotchy, panicked red.

"But," Julian continued, turning his head to look directly at his father, "that danger didn’t come from the Duke. It was the Duke who stayed by my side. It was the Duke who caught the killer and protected me. If the Duke wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have spent the last week keeping me alive."

"He’s manipulated you!" the Marquis suddenly shouted, slamming his hand down. "Your Majesty, look at him! He is clearly terrified of the Duke! He’s saying whatever he must to survive his captor!"

Julian tilted his head, a small, cold smile touching his lips. "Terrified? Father, do my eyes look like those of someone who has been kept against their will?" he asked, and indeed, his eyes were sharp.

Those were not the eyes of a man who had been broken by the will of another.

"I got hurt during the hunting competition," he continued, his gaze drifting towards the Emperor. "And my life was in grave danger. If it hadn’t been for the Duke rescuing me, I would be dead by now. And that same Duke stayed by my side and tried to relieve my pain as much as possible. He is the reason I am sitting here today. If I am terrified of anyone in this room, it is definitely not the man standing behind me."

The Emperor let out a short, sharp bark of laughter. He seemed to love the way Julian was biting back.

"And what of the Royal Tutor position?" the Judge asked, trying to stay on track. "The Emperor graciously offered you a place at the Palace for your safety and honor."

"And I graciously declined that offer." Julian boldly declared in front of everyone, so the Emperor wouldn’t look for a loophole later. "It has nothing to do with the Duke."

The judges exchanged glances, and then another asked,

"Then, what about the healers from the Royal Sanctum? Surely, the Duke had something to do with it this time? Why did the Duke refuse to let the Royal Healers heal you?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Julian looked up at the Emperor, seeing the trap for what it was—a way to separate him from Alaric and put him under the Emperor’s thumb.

Well, it was unfortunate for him because he had seen all this coming and made sure to rehearse his lines in the carriage.

"I told the Duke I was not ready to be moved," Julian said, his voice ringing out. " My recovery required peace, not the constant bustle of the Palace or the numerous hands from others.’

He dropped his gaze, his expression softening and looking a little pained.

"As embarrassing as it was, I was already suffering from trauma from the incident, and the only people I let near me were a select few. The Duke wanted to make sure I was recovering not just health but mental state, so he didn’t refuse the Emperor’s mercy—he respected my wishes as a patient."