He understands why the soldiers were raising their voices which were why he decided to go with trialing the criminal they caught. This was the safest method in order to not be executed by the Emperor for going against his edict, but also allowing the criminal to prove herself.
'Is the trial the reason why the knights are interfering?' The soldiers glanced at each other in silence.
The reason why they thought so was that it was rare for the military to ask to trial a criminal. To give trial and justice was something knights did. And it made more sense why the knights were suddenly interfering with their jobs if it was because the lieutenant had asked for a trial.
"... But it doesn't look like the Great Nobles will be overseeing the trial." The lieutenant sighed, which made the soldiers very anxious.
Normally big trials such as this one have to be overseen by 1 Great noble and 1 lower-ranking noble. This was to give the criminal a fair judgment. However, when the lieutenant requested a trial, the reply he got from the higher-ups was for the trial to be kept a secret from the public as well as quickly done and over with.
The higher-ups will send this case to the 2nd highest esteemed figures in Xenperia and did not mention who they were. According to the higher up, a major situation had occurred which made it impossible for the Great Nobles to attend the execution.
"The Emperor wants this trial to be done and over with quickly. The trial will commence tomorrow. Anyone who objects to the trial will be put in a cell for not following your commands."
"You are dismissed." He has tried. Tried to make it as fair as possible, however, it was too bad that the criminal did not have any luck for her trial to be overseen by the Great Nobles.
Before the lieutenant left the room he paused. He could sense the disappointment in the soldiers. With his fists clenched tight he ordered, "Give the child medical attention for the trial." This was the only thing he could do.
"..." The soldiers were surprised that the lieutenant would change his mind. They didn't have time to think when the person in charge of Eugene immediately ran to get help from the military physician.
"..."
.
.
.
The day of the trial, aka, the next day
Eugene laid in her cell with her eyes opened wide. She had received some medical help the previous day and was feeling a bit better. Her description of better was being conscious for 10 minutes, and then sleeping for 20 minutes, before coming back conscious for 10 minutes again.
Her body was getting better hence she decided to order her blood to digest one of the lives she took. She made sure to insist on the word 'one' because she was afraid that if she did not give a precise order, her blood would make her digest all of the lives she took. Because if that happens, the worst case is, she will go into a sleeping coma and before realizing it herself she would have already died.
Yes, she had heard about the trial from the soldier who had stayed with her all night yesterday. Though she had been in and out of sleep, she was carefully listening to him and his words.
Of course, she was shocked. She had wondered why she was in a cell, but because she was too concentrated on staying awake, worrying about her family, and her dreams, she did not actually think about the reason 'why' she was in a cell. It was only yesterday that she was told of the reason why she was here.
The reason why she was here? Because of the damn Emperor and the guild! Apparently, the guild told the soldiers that they saw the children that were accused of hurting the Duchess in the forest. The Emperor's order was also similar to that of the guild's information. And that they are to capture the bandit but kill the children!
And what was she? A child! No one knew about the disappearance of Eugeneia Veria because it was kept a secret. This means, no one knew that she was Eugeneia Veria and only knew that she was a child criminal, spy, agent, whatever they called it.
What's worse than that was the Great Nobles not overseeing her trial!! Because of an apparent 'crisis', they couldn't oversee the trial and could only give it to the second-highest-ranking knight! What the heck was that bull crap?!?!
The frustration that came with this knowledge rendered Eugene completely speechless. She knew what the huge crisis was and it was probably the fuss of her going mia! And because she was mia they couldn't come to see the trial. But if they did, they would solve two problems in one move! So please come do your job!!
Eugene pouted, displeased at the situation she put herself in. What could she possibly do at the trial anyway? It was already hard to mutter a sound, how on earth was she supposed to introduce herself or even defend herself?
Eugene moved her line of sight. Her face was blank as she stared at what was in front of her blankly. Well, she didn't stare at 'what' was in front but 'who' was across from her. She wasn't even surprised anymore at this point.
"..."
Maybe a few minutes ago, It was a wtf moment. But now, she felt nothing. Only the person from the cell opposite of her still remained in shock.
'Well hi comrade. What crime have you committed?' Eugene asked Con using her face. She had been too busy to think about Con, but now that she simply gave up on life, she had the time to express her thoughts.
"..." Con's face was just as blank as Eugene's.
"Comrade… What are you doing here?" He asked. He didn't want to believe his eyes, but when he saw Eugene moving for the first time in these few minutes, he asked her. His voice was hoarse and parched as if he had not been given a single sip of water for a long time.
'No. That's what I want to ask you. Me being here makes sense. But you. What are you doing here?' She stared at Con as her eyes conveyed her answer and question.
"... I was caught. I told them who I was but they didn't believe me. They thought I was a bandit." He replied.
The minute Eugene heard Con's response, Eugene's face became more blank. She knew the reason why the knights didn't believe him. People, in general, did not believe him because his face was expressionless and devoid of any emotions so it wasn't shocking that he was here right now.
'You have it hard as well, comrade.' Eugene wanted to pat Con on his back.
All of a sudden Con furrowed his eyebrows, "It has been 14 days since the incident." He muttered.
Eugene's eyes immediately widened! 'What?! 14 days!?!' She had been unable to keep count on how many days she had been here because her brain couldn't operate properly. It was incredibly shocking to hear that she has been here for more than 10 days, let alone two weeks. No wonder the Great Nobles were making a big fuss! They must've thought that she had been successfully kidnapped and was brought to Occul island in place of Euria!
All of a sudden, footsteps could be heard coming in their direction. Con and Eugene both glanced in the direction of the footsteps when Con turned back to Eugene, "I will tell them who you are. Don't worry."
Eugene's face brightened immediately! That is a good idea!
It didn't take a second before her face became dark. 'They didn't believe Con when he told them of his identity, so why would they believe him if he said who she was?'
What Eugene didn't realize was that the Emperor had just announced her disappearance today. Her details, as well as her physical appearance, were announced and released to only the knights and the soldiers. And that, despite the fact that the soldiers and knights in Raden haven't received news because they were a little far away, they will soon receive it in the middle of the trial. So even if the soldier's did not believe in Con now, they would believe in him later on.
'Well, it's better than nothing.' Eugene nodded to Con, agreeing with his plans.
"..." Eugene watched as Con got dragged out of his cell with a cloth stuffed inside his mouth. His eyes appeared to be sending her an SOS signal as he was dragged out of his cell.
"..." Are you f-cking kidding me?
Everything happened so fast. Two soldiers came. One unlocked Con's cell while the other headed straight to Con. Con opened his mouth and was just about to say something when the soldier stuffed his mouth with a cloth. The soldiers paid no heed to the panic in Con's eyes but were thankful to Con who put up no resistance and made it easy for him to shut him up.. And the rest was as follows.