The Sinful Young Master

Chapter 362: Law of the empire

"Finance Minister Richardus arranged this. It seems like they had all planned this ahead of her arrival."

"I wouldn’t know about that either, Matriarch," the captain said.

"But I have my orders. Jolthar Kaezhlar must come with us now."

Jolthar looked at Milan, then at the two women. His expression was calm, but his mind was thinking. This was a power play: catch them unprepared, force them to trial without adequate defense, and leverage the confusion to secure a conviction or at least advance to full prosecution.

Richardus had outmaneuvered them.

"Give us a moment," Milan demanded.

The captain hesitated, then nodded.

"Five minutes, Your Highness.

Then we must leave."

He withdrew with his men, closing the door behind them.

As soon as they were alone, Cleora turned to Jolthar with panic in her eyes.

"We’re not ready. We don’t have witnesses prepared, we don’t have legal counsel, we don’t have—"

"I will take care of it," Jolthar said quietly.

"I killed the baron as he was doing a heinous crime."

"The truth didn’t stop them from arresting you in the first place," Raayani pointed out sharply. "They’re not interested in truth. They’re interested in destroying you and taking Tekkora."

Milan paced across the room.

"This is Richardus playing games with the legal system. He’s forcing us into a rushed trial, knowing we can’t possibly mount an adequate defense on such short notice."

He turned to face them.

"But if we refuse to appear, they’ll issue a warrant and it will look like Jolthar is fleeing justice."

"So we’re trapped," Cleora said bitterly.

"No," Jolthar corrected.

"We’re forced to play on their timeline. That’s different."

He looked at each of them in turn.

"I’ll go to this trial. I’ll answer their charges. And if they want to prosecute me for saving people from slavery and torture, let them try to make that case in open court."

"Jolthar—" Cleora began.

He took her hands.

"Trust me. I didn’t come this far to be taken down by Hernais Rothgard and a corrupt finance minister. We’ll get through this."

Raayani moved closer.

"We’re coming with you. Every step."

"I wouldn’t expect anything less," Jolthar said with a slight smile.

Milan straightened his clothes.

"Then let’s go. And let’s make sure everyone in that courtroom understands exactly what kind of justice is being served today."

The captain returned exactly five minutes later.

Jolthar walked out to meet him without resistance, the others following close behind.

As they exited the villa into the morning sunlight, carriages waited to transport them to the court. The city of Cahns’ar was already awake and bustling, and word seemed to have spread overnight. People lined the streets, watching as the procession formed.

"The trial of Jolthar Kaezhlar," someone whispered loudly enough to be heard.

"Already? I thought that was days away."

"But what’s a boy from Kaezhlar doing in such a barony?"

"Is he the son of the Kaezhlar clan?"

The whispers followed them as they climbed into the carriages. Jolthar sat between Cleora and Raayani, with Milan across from them. The mood was tense but determined.

"Whatever happens," Milan said as the wheels began to roll, "I want you to know I believe you did the right thing with Rothgard. Sometimes the law is too slow to stop monsters, and someone has to act."

Jolthar nodded his appreciation.

"Thank you."

Milan told the captain that he will escort Jolthar himself, as Milan didn’t want to make it any more public than it had to be.

The carriages moved through Cahns’ar toward the imperial court building, a massive structure of white marble that represented the empire’s legal authority. As they approached, Jolthar could see more crowds gathering. News of the rushed trial had clearly spread fast.

This was going to be very public. Which meant whatever happened next would be witnessed by hundreds, maybe thousands of people.

Good, Jolthar thought.

Let them watch.

The carriages came to a stop before the court’s grand entrance. Guards stood at attention on either side of the massive doors.

Jolthar stepped out first, then helped both women down.

Together, the four of them walked toward the entrance, toward whatever judgment awaited inside.

The trial was about to begin.

*

The imperial court chamber was vast and intimidating by design.

Vaulted ceilings soared overhead, supported by marble columns carved with scenes of justice and law. Rows of benches lined both sides where observers could sit, and they were already filled with nobles, people from the city, and anyone else who had enough influence to gain entry. At the far end, an elevated platform held the seats for the presiding officials.

Justiciar Halvren sat in the center, flanked by senior magistrates.

To one side, Finance Minister Richardus occupied a chair reserved for ministerial witnesses. Duke Hernais Rothgard and his son Varnik sat in the plaintiff’s section, both dressed in formal mourning colors to emphasize their supposed grief.

Jolthar was directed to stand in the center of the chamber, a position deliberately designed to make the accused feel isolated and exposed.

Behind him, in the observer section, Cleora, Raayani, and Prince Milan took seats in the front row.

The crowd murmured as everyone settled.

This was unprecedented, a trial scheduled and executed within two days, involving a rising young man, two of the empire’s most notable women, and the prince supporting them.

The entire city was talking about it.

It did not take a genius to see it; this was no simple hearing.

Word had spread.

The city’s appetite for scandal was sharp, and today, he was the meal.

Jolthar’s face remained calm as he walked forward, but his eyes missed nothing. He saw the smug looks and the barely hidden satisfaction on certain faces. Men who had never held a sword looked at him as if justice had already been done.

He stopped and looked back at them.

Then he smiled.

It was a small thing, almost polite.

Yet several of those smug faces stiffened, their confidence faltering. A smirk from a condemned man unsettled them more than anger ever could.