Chapter 275: The Imperial Court

(The Imperial Court, Ten Minutes Before The Hearing)

The Imperial Court had seldom witnessed a gathering quite as tense as the one assembled within its walls that morning, as hundreds of nobles, officials, and distinguished guests filled the enormous courtroom for a hearing that had become the talk of the entire Valdrak Empire.

Amongst those present were the grieving parents of the twenty-one students who had lost their lives during the Imperial Academy massacre, with the families of Batista, Flair, Orton, and several other deceased students occupying the seats reserved for the victims’ relatives.

Some sat in complete silence, their expressions hollow with grief, while others whispered angrily amongst themselves, occasionally directing hostile glances towards the entrance through which the accused would eventually arrive.

They wanted answers, and more importantly, they wanted someone to pay for what had happened.

Yet, despite the grief that hung over the gathering, there was another unmistakable emotion spreading throughout the courtroom, as the nobles and Imperial officials understood that the outcome of today’s hearing could have consequences extending far beyond the fate of a single Academy student.

After all, the accused was none other than Riven Dawnriver, whose father, Duke Drew Dawnriver, had made his willingness to defy Imperial authority abundantly clear should the verdict go against his son.

"The hearing is scheduled to begin in ten minutes, isn’t it?"

Duke John Winterfang whispered as he stood beside Duke Rob Embercrest, the two men observing the gathering from their designated position amongst the Empire’s highest-ranking nobles.

"Protocol dictates that everyone attending must be present at least ten minutes before His Majesty’s arrival, yet I see no sign of Dawnriver anywhere."

John remarked, glancing towards the entrance with an expression of mild irritation.

"Are you really surprised?"

Rob replied with a dismissive scoff.

"That arrogant bastard will probably arrive at the very last minute, just before the Emperor himself makes his entrance. The Dawnrivers have always considered themselves above everyone else, so I wouldn’t expect him to suddenly develop any respect for Imperial protocol."

He muttered, shaking his head before continuing in a considerably quieter voice.

"Although, I must admit, I never expected his son to turn out to be such a cold-blooded killer. Twenty-one students were slaughtered inside the Academy. That’s quite a fearsome child."

John nodded grimly.

"Well, that’s what happens when you have Drew Dawnriver as a parent.

That bastard probably raised his son believing he could do whatever he pleased without ever facing the consequences, and judging by what happened at the Academy, the boy seems to have taken that lesson to heart.

However, they’ve finally gone too far this time.

Drew might have gotten away with his arrogance for years, but even he cannot expect the Emperor to overlook something of this magnitude."

He replied, allowing his gaze to wander towards the grieving families seated nearby.

"Judgment is finally coming for House Dawnriver, and I suspect His Majesty intends to make certain that the entire Empire witnesses it."

Rob smiled faintly at those words, although he was careful to conceal his expression as another prominent noble entered the courtroom.

It was Duke Alaric, who had arrived accompanied by his severely injured son, Gary.

Although nearly a month had passed since the Academy massacre, Gary had yet to recover sufficiently to walk without assistance, forcing his father to arrange for him to be brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair.

Two servants carefully guided the chair through the gathering, while Alaric walked beside his son, acknowledging the greetings of several nobles without stopping to engage them in conversation.

Gary’s appearance immediately attracted considerable attention, as he was amongst the few students who had survived the massacre and was therefore expected to provide valuable testimony concerning the events of that dreadful night.

His face remained pale, and although he attempted to maintain a dignified posture, the occasional grimace of pain betrayed just how far he remained from making a full recovery.

Nevertheless, he had insisted upon attending the hearing personally, determined to speak on behalf of the boy who had saved his life.

A short distance away, several students from Houses Aureate and Argent who had personally known the deceased occupied their designated seats, their somber expressions reflecting the grief that continued to linger over the Imperial Academy.

Closer to the front of the courtroom, a group of Imperial Investigators had already taken their positions, while Chief Imperial Inquisitor Jack Sullivan busied himself reviewing the documents and evidence that would soon be presented before the Emperor.

Beyond them, several dozen high-ranking Imperial officials occupied the seats nearest to the throne, while Prince Yamal, other members of the Imperial household, and numerous courtiers gathered along the sides of the chamber, exchanging hushed conversations as they awaited the Emperor’s arrival.

Yet amongst all those present, perhaps nobody understood the true purpose of today’s hearing better than Prime Minister Vinicius.

Standing near the elevated Imperial dais, Vinicius surveyed the gathering with a composed expression, occasionally acknowledging the greetings of nobles who approached him.

To the grieving parents, today represented an opportunity to obtain justice for their murdered children.

And to the nobles gathered within the courtroom, it was a chance to witness the resolution of a scandal that had threatened to undermine the reputation of the Imperial Academy itself.

However, Vinicius knew better.

As far as he was concerned, the hearing was little more than an elaborate performance, with the outcome having already been decided long before the first noble had stepped through the courtroom doors.

Whether Riven Dawnriver was innocent or guilty mattered very little now, as the Emperor had already resolved to use the proceedings to force Duke Drew Dawnriver into a confrontation.

All that remained was to ensure that House Dawnriver emerged from the hearing looking as guilty, arrogant, and defiant as possible.

And judging by the angry expressions of the grieving families and the hostility already spreading amongst the assembled nobles, Vinicius was quietly confident that the atmosphere was developing exactly as he had hoped.

’Yes, come even later... Or even better, don’t show up at all.

The less humility you show, the angrier this crowd gets.

In a way, you are your own worst enemy, Duke Drew...’

Vinicius thought, as he glanced at the empty doorway with a slight smile on his lips.