Chapter 276: Bold And Unyielding

(The Imperial Court, Riven’s POV)

"Now entering, His Grace Duke Drew Dawnriver, the Flame of the East, accompanied by his son, Riven Dawnriver."

The court announcer said as Drew walked into the court room with Riven and Archimedes in tow.

Their arrival immediately attracted the attention of everyone present, as hundreds of heads turned towards the entrance, with the conversations that had previously filled the chamber gradually dying down.

Drew walked with his head held high, his immaculate ceremonial robes flowing behind him as he made his way through the gathering, seemingly unbothered by the hostile expressions directed towards him, while Riven maintained the dignified posture his father had instructed him to adopt.

However, unlike his father, Riven found it considerably harder to ignore the hostility surrounding them, as he could feel countless pairs of eyes following his every movement.

Some regarded him with undisguised contempt, while others whispered angrily amongst themselves, their expressions growing increasingly hostile as the accused murderer walked past their seats.

"MURDERER!"

A woman’s anguished scream suddenly rang through the courtroom, drawing everyone’s attention towards the section occupied by the families of the deceased students.

"You bloody murderer! You killed my son!"

The woman shouted, rising from her seat as tears streamed down her cheeks, while the man beside her hurriedly grabbed her arm to prevent her from approaching Riven.

"You took my boy away from me! How dare you walk in here with your head held high after what you’ve done?"

Her voice cracked with grief, and although several nearby nobles attempted to calm her down, as they whispered things like, ’It’s not worth it,’ in her ears, all their actions did was trigger Drew even more.

"Aghh.... Mrs. Sigfried, I remember you..."

Drew began, as the woman’s face suddenly turned pale.

"Yes, I remember that royal gala twenty years ago, when you drunkenly grabbed my arm and begged me to bed you, claiming that you wanted to experience what it was like to be with a real man."

Drew continued as her husband’s face contorted now.

"I remember you telling me how your husband was a cunt, and could not satisfy you.

And how, you would even pay me for my services....."

"But I also remember rejecting you, and telling you that I’m not interested in bedding whores.

Hahahaha.

Nice to see you here."

Drew concluded, laughing in contempt as the woman’s face turned red with rage.

"SHUT UP! WHAT ARE YOU SAYING? None of this ever happened!"

The woman shot back with rage, as Drew scoffed.

"And my son never killed your son. But that never stopped you from running your mouth....."

Drew fired back, turning towards the woman with an expression of utter disdain.

For a moment, the courtroom fell into stunned silence, as several nobles struggled to comprehend the sheer audacity of the Duke’s response.

A few involuntary chuckles escaped from amongst the gathering, although they were quickly drowned out by the disapproving murmurs of those who found his remark thoroughly distasteful.

Even Riven was momentarily taken aback by his father’s words, although he wisely maintained his silence as the atmosphere within the courtroom grew increasingly uncomfortable.

"As vile-tongued as ever, Dawnriver."

Count Sigfried, the woman’s husband said, as he clenched his fists hard.

"But your arrogance won’t save you today. You’re standing inside the Emperor’s court now, and here, your status means absolutely nothing."

Sigfried declared, seemingly satisfied with the opportunity to publicly challenge the Eastern Duke.

Drew merely turned towards him with a smug smile.

"Is that so?"

He replied, appearing thoroughly amused by the remark.

"Well, I suppose we’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?"

The casual confidence in his response only served to irritate Sigfried further, although before the Count could offer another retort, a commanding voice suddenly interrupted their exchange.

"SILENCE, PLEASE!"

Prime Minister Vinicius announced, stepping forward from his position near the Imperial dais.

"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Diomande Valdrak, is now entering the court!"

At once, the murmuring crowd fell silent as every noble, official, and distinguished guest rose from their seats in accordance with Imperial protocol.

Even the grieving parents who had been shouting moments earlier were forced to compose themselves, as the enormous doors behind the Imperial throne opened to announce the Emperor’s arrival.

Emperor Diomande entered the courtroom with an air of practiced dignity, his magnificent Imperial robes trailing behind him as he slowly made his way towards the elevated throne.

Rather than proceeding directly to his seat, the Emperor deliberately maintained a measured pace, allowing his gaze to wander across the assembled nobles as though he were personally inspecting every individual who had come to witness the hearing.

His eyes briefly passed over the grieving families, the Imperial officials, and the various Dukes gathered within the chamber, before eventually settling upon Drew Dawnriver and his companions.

For a fleeting moment, the two powerful men exchanged glances, although neither offered the other so much as a nod of acknowledgment.

Diomande continued walking without altering his expression, eventually ascending the steps leading to the Imperial throne before turning around and lowering himself into his seat.

Yet even after the Emperor had settled upon his throne, the gathering remained standing, as nobody dared to sit without receiving the appropriate permission.

Prime Minister Vinicius approached the throne shortly afterward, leaning towards the Emperor’s ear as he began whispering something that those gathered below could not hear.

Their conversation continued for several moments, with Diomande occasionally nodding or offering a quiet response, while hundreds of nobles waited patiently for the proceedings to begin.

Riven stood motionless beside his father, his attention fixed upon the two men seated above the courtroom, wondering what they could possibly be discussing at such an important moment.

Eventually, Vinicius straightened his posture and stepped forward, turning towards the gathering with a solemn expression.

"The Imperial Court is now in session!"

He announced, his voice carrying clearly throughout the enormous chamber.

"All those present may take their seats."

A collective rustling filled the courtroom as hundreds of nobles and officials finally settled into their designated places, although Drew remained standing alongside Riven and Archimedes.

Before they could proceed towards their own seats, however, two Imperial guards approached Riven and bowed respectfully.

"Young Lord Riven, as the accused in today’s proceedings, you are required to accompany us to the designated section before the Imperial throne."

One of the guards explained, gesturing towards an isolated area near the center of the courtroom.

"You will be seated separately from your father until the hearing has concluded."

Riven glanced towards Drew, who regarded the guards with an indifferent expression before offering his son a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Remembering his father’s instructions to maintain his dignity regardless of what happened, Riven straightened his shoulders before turning towards the guards.

"Very well. Lead the way."

He replied calmly.

The two guards escorted him through the courtroom, past the rows of seated nobles and grieving families, until they reached the designated section reserved for those standing judgment before the Emperor.

As Riven took his position, he became acutely aware of the hundreds of eyes fixed upon him, with the elevated Imperial throne looming directly ahead.

From where he stood, he could see his father taking his seat amongst the Empire’s highest-ranking nobles, while Archimedes settled beside him with his usual composed expression.

Their presence offered him some reassurance, although he understood that he would now have to answer the accusations directed against him personally.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Vinicius stepped forward carrying an official scroll bearing the Imperial seal, which he carefully unfurled before addressing the accused.

"Riven Dawnriver, son of Duke Drew Dawnriver of the Eastern territories."

Vinicius began, his voice echoing throughout the silent courtroom.

"You stand accused of committing one of the most heinous crimes, having allegedly murdered twenty-one of your fellow students within the grounds of the Imperial Academy."

He paused briefly, allowing the gravity of the accusation to settle over the gathering before continuing.

"According to the charges brought before this court, you willingly slaughtered your comrades in cold blood, employing your personal Aether weapon, the halberd known as Sky-Cleaver, to carry out these murders."

Several grieving parents stirred uneasily at the mention of the weapon, although the Imperial guards stationed throughout the courtroom ensured that nobody interrupted the proceedings.

Vinicius lowered the scroll slightly before fixing his gaze upon Riven.

"To the charge of deliberately murdering twenty-one fellow students of the Imperial Academy, how do you plead?"

The courtroom fell completely silent.

Hundreds of nobles waited for the accused to speak, while the grieving families watched him with expressions ranging from hatred to desperate anticipation.

Riven could feel his heartbeat quickening beneath his ceremonial robes, although he remembered his father’s instructions and refused to lower his head before the gathering.

Instead, he raised his chin and looked directly into Emperor Diomande’s eyes, meeting the gaze of the most powerful man in the Valdrak Empire without the slightest hint of submission.

"Not guilty, Your Majesty."

Riven declared, his voice carrying clearly throughout the courtroom.

"I haven’t killed a single soul."