Read Novel Full Chapter 574: Looming Judgement
Chapter 574: Looming Judgement
The silence that followed seemed to stretch endlessly across the palace courtyard.
Thousands of eyes remained fixed upon the Empress as she stood at the top of the grand staircase, looking down at the son she had once envisioned as Lechia’s greatest ruler. The weight of the moment rested entirely upon her shoulders. Not only was she a mother whose child had betrayed her trust, but she was also the sovereign of an empire whose people demanded justice.
Her heart and her duty were at war.
The pain inside her grew with every passing second.
She could feel the eyes of the nobles behind her.
She could feel the eyes of the soldiers surrounding the courtyard.
She could feel the eyes of the countless citizens gathered beyond the palace gates.
All of them were waiting.
Waiting to see whether the Empress would act as a grieving mother or as the ruler of Lechia.
Prince Khan remained silent as he stood between the guards. His head was lowered, and for the first time since his capture, he seemed unable to meet his mother’s gaze.
The Empress studied him for several moments.
The tears threatening to form in her eyes were quickly suppressed.
Years of ruling an empire had taught her how to control her emotions, even during the darkest moments.
Yet this was undoubtedly the hardest test she had ever faced.
Her son.
Her own flesh and blood.
Standing before her as a traitor.
The crowd grew increasingly restless as the silence dragged on. Murmurs began spreading throughout the courtyard and beyond the palace walls. Some demanded immediate punishment. Others called for an execution. Many simply wanted answers.
The Empress slowly closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, the grief was still there.
But the ruler had regained control.
She took a single step forward.
The movement alone was enough to silence every whisper.
The entire palace grounds became deathly quiet.
Then she finally spoke.
Her voice was calm.
Firm.
Royal.
Yet beneath it all was a sadness that everyone could hear.
“Prince Khan of Lechia has been accused of conspiring with the enemies of this empire and of this entire continent, aiding those responsible for bringing suffering to countless innocent lives.”
Her words echoed throughout the courtyard.
No one dared interrupt.
“These accusations are grave.”
“Far too grave for judgment to be delivered through emotion.”
For a brief moment, her gaze lingered on her son.
A flicker of pain crossed her eyes before disappearing once more.
“I am both his mother and his Empress.”
The statement struck everyone deeply.
Many lowered their heads.
Because they understood exactly what she was saying.
No one envied her position.
No one wished to stand where she stood.
“Because of this, justice must be fair.”
“It must be impartial.”
“It must be worthy of the laws upon which Lechia was built.”
The crowd listened carefully.
Even those demanding blood remained silent.
The Empress straightened her shoulders.
“Therefore, Prince Khan shall be confined within the imperial dungeons under maximum security.”
A wave of reactions swept through the gathering.
The Empress continued before anyone could speak.
“He shall remain imprisoned for three days while the court gathers every piece of evidence regarding his actions.”
Her voice hardened.
“At the end of those three days, a formal trial shall be held before the people of Lechia.”
The crowd exchanged looks.
The nobles nodded.
The ministers visibly relaxed.
This was the correct decision.
The lawful decision.
The Empress’s gaze swept across the thousands gathered before her.
“On that day, judgment shall be delivered fairly.”
“Not as a mother.”
“But as the ruler of this empire.”
A heavy silence followed.
Then slowly, the tension that had gripped the courtyard began to ease.
The people had received the answer they wanted.
Justice would not be rushed.
Nor would it be ignored.
The prince would face trial.
He would answer for his actions.
And whatever punishment awaited him would be determined openly before the kingdom.
The citizens began nodding in approval.
Soldiers exchanged satisfied glances.
Even many of the nobles who had feared favoritism found themselves impressed by the Empress’s decision.
She had not protected her son.
Nor had she condemned him without due process.
She had chosen the path of law.
The path of justice.
Before long, voices began spreading through the crowd.
“The trial will be in three days.”
“We’ll return.”
“Let him answer for what he has done.”
“The Empire deserves the truth.”
One by one, the people began dispersing.
The enormous gathering slowly dissolved into streams of citizens leaving the palace grounds.
Though emotions still ran high, there was a sense of satisfaction among them.
They would return.
All of Lechia would return.
Three days from now.
To witness the trial of a prince.
To hear the truth of his betrayal.
And to see what fate awaited the son of the Empress.
As the crowds gradually disappeared and the palace courtyard emptied, Prince Khan was turned over to the guards once more. Surrounded by elite soldiers, he was escorted toward the depths of the imperial prison beneath the palace.
The chains rattled softly with each step.
The Empress watched him leave.
She did not call out to him.
She did not stop him.
She did not even move.
She simply stood there as her son disappeared into the darkness below.
Only after he was completely gone did her composure finally begin to crack.
The courtyard was nearly empty now.
No citizens remained to witness her weakness.
No court officials stood close enough to hear her breathing grow uneven.
For the first time since his capture, the Empress allowed herself to feel the full weight of her grief.
Three days.
In three days she would have to sit in judgment of her own child.
And deep within her heart, she feared that no matter what verdict was reached, she had already lost her son.
The moment the proceedings ended, the Empress turned away from the courtyard and walked back into the palace.
The grand doors closed behind her with a heavy thud, shutting out the noise of the crowd and the countless eyes that had watched her maintain her composure.
Only then did her pace begin to slow.
The strength she had displayed before the kingdom seemed to drain from her shoulders.
She looked tired.
Not physically.
Emotionally.
Years of warfare, political intrigue, assassination attempts, and national crises had never managed to wear her down the way this had.
The betrayal of her own son had struck deeper than any enemy ever could.
The girls exchanged glances before silently following after her.
None of them knew exactly what to say.
This was not a wound that could be healed with words.
Still, they could not simply leave her alone.
As they entered one of the palace’s private chambers, the Empress finally sat down.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
The room was quiet.
Heavy.
The Empress stared absentmindedly toward one of the windows overlooking the capital.
Her people trusted her.
Three days from now they would return expecting justice.
And she would have to give it to them.
No matter how much it hurt.
Selene was the first to move.
She gently sat beside the Empress and placed a hand over hers.
“You did the right thing.”
The Empress managed a faint smile.
“Did I?”
“You did,” Selene replied softly. “You gave him a fair trial instead of a rushed judgment. Nobody can question your integrity.”
The Empress remained silent.
Lira stepped forward.
“He may have betrayed the kingdom, but what happened today showed everyone why you’re respected. You put Lechia first.”
The Empress lowered her gaze.
“And yet he was my son.”
Nobody had an answer for that.
The room fell silent once again.
Even those who despised Khan’s actions understood the pain she was carrying.
The betrayal itself was terrible.
But being the one forced to judge him?
That was a burden few could endure.
One after another, the girls offered whatever comfort they could.
Some spoke softly.
Some simply remained beside her.
Some reminded her that the kingdom needed her strength.
Others assured her that none of this was her fault.
The Empress appreciated every word.
Yet nothing could erase the reality before her.
Three days from now, she would likely have to condemn her own child.
Then the Ice Belle spoke.
Unlike the others, her expression remained cold.
Her voice carried neither hesitation nor sympathy.
“Khan must die.”
The words landed like a stone in a calm lake.
Several of the girls immediately turned toward her.
“That’s enough.”
“Not now.”
“Show some sensitivity.”
One of them even looked genuinely annoyed.
“The Empress is already suffering.”
The Ice Belle remained completely unmoved.
“I am being truthful.”
“Truth doesn’t require cruelty,” another girl snapped.
The Ice Belle folded her arms.
“No.”
Her icy blue eyes shifted toward the Empress.
“It requires honesty.”
The room became quiet once more.
Nobody liked hearing it.
Nobody wanted to hear it.
But everyone knew exactly what she meant.
Khan’s crime was not theft.
It was not negligence.
It was not incompetence.
He had betrayed an entire empire during a time of war.
He had aided the enemy.