CPBF 22

Chapter: 22

Maybe… no.
Definitely not.

When prey you’ve long desired is standing there with its throat completely exposed, there’s no way you wouldn’t tear into it.

Wasn’t it said that if the jurors can’t reach a unanimous decision, the presiding judge delivers a verdict, and the jurors then vote to approve or reject it?

If that’s the case, then my fate turning out badly was already a foregone conclusion.

“…Did I struggle for nothing?”

It felt as if the fragile strand of hope I’d been clinging to had finally snapped.

And with that, all the negative emotions I’d tightly bound deep inside burst forth like a fountain, erupting from the abyss of my heart.

Just as I felt like I was about to be completely swallowed and lose myself entirely, a voice rang out.

“I request a verdict of not guilty for the defendant.”

Those words came from Cis.

He continued.

“The defendant’s actions in Serom amounted to nothing more than performing odd jobs as a civilian mercenary. It’s difficult to say that such actions directly affected the war with Serom. However, even the insignificant flutter of a butterfly’s wings can cause unforeseen consequences. So why not have those wings beat toward Abert this time instead?”

“Juror, did you not just request a verdict of not guilty? What you said sounds more like a recommendation for community service or forced labor.”

“It is not a ‘punishment.’ Who would consider the honor of joining the Abert Imperial Knights a penalty?”

…Huh?
What is he talking about right now?

What? The Knights?

Me…?

“The reason the defendant was able to operate as a mercenary in Serom for the past seven years was due to her exceptional swordsmanship. Rather than letting Serom monopolize that talent, it would benefit the Empire to claim it for itself.”

“I understand Juror Heder’s opinion. We will now take all jurors’ statements into consideration and deliver a verdict shortly. Until then, this court will recess.”

The moment the judge declared a recess, sighs escaped from two different places.

From Cis—and from Bin.

Despite their faces appearing calm and composed just moments ago, their expressions were now clearly tense.

…What is wrong with both of them?

Why is Cis trying to save me?

And why is Bin going to such lengths to imprison me? Why—why?!

“The court is now back in session. We will deliver the verdict. The defendant is hereby… found ‘not guilty.’ However, as Juror Heder suggested, the defendant must offer her talents to the Empire. Failure to comply will result in a retrial. Jurors, please cast your votes in approval or opposition of this ruling.”

Kelly and the Crown Prince voted against it.
Cis voted in favor.
And surprisingly, Bin also raised a vote in favor.

He even looked pleased, despite his plan to imprison me having failed.

Two votes in favor, two against… a tie.

“As the vote is tied, we will call upon the deputy juror for their decision.”

A deputy juror is someone who may only cast a vote when a tie prevents a majority decision.

Given how many enemies Irillin has, unless a family member had been chosen as deputy juror, this was guaranteed to be a vote against.

With that thought, I glanced toward the person entering the courtroom—without much expectation.

…But the face was strangely familiar.

Where had I seen him before?

“I am Deputy Juror Evantes Frostine.”

Excuse me, who?

Judging by that vague, forgettable appearance, he was clearly an extra…
So why did he have such an unnecessarily dazzling name—one more suited to a male lead?

“I… agree with delivering a verdict of not guilty.”

As he said that, the deputy juror gave me a playful wink—and suddenly, a memory resurfaced.

‘Just because you can’t hold a sword doesn’t mean you should be so discouraged. You can win a spar this cleanly even with a tree branch—so what’s the problem, huh?’

The same wink.
The same gentle consolation.

My swordsmanship instructor!

You had a name all along?!
…Is that too rude a reaction?

“With the deputy juror’s vote, the final count is three in favor and two against. The defendant is hereby declared not guilty. This court is adjourned.”

…Not guilty?

I’m alive?
Not life imprisonment? Not confinement?

“That’s a relief, Irillin.”

Instructor…
I thought you were either one of the four people trying to kill me, or just a nameless extra.

You really are my light. My savior.

The negative emotions that had been bursting out like a fountain were now tightly bound once more—this time by a cord called hope—and sank back into the depths.

The one who handed me that cord was my swordsmanship instructor.

Does that mean… I don’t have to die anymore?
Really?

Tears welled up in my eyes.

“Thank you, Instructor. You saved my life.”

“Saved you…?”

A dry, hollow laugh came from behind me.

Actually—two of them.

From Cis and Bin.

If the two of them hadn’t voted in favor, the deputy juror wouldn’t have even had the chance to cast a vote.
Maybe they felt slighted that I only thanked my instructor.

I still couldn’t believe those two would feel hurt over something like that—but they did help save me.

So I turned and thanked them as well.

“Cis. Bin. Thank you.”

Bin froze briefly at the sound of something so normal coming out of Irillin’s mouth, while Cis simply let out a weak, exhausted chuckle.

Normally, Cis would’ve reacted the same way as Bin.

That guy really is strange.

“It’s all over now, Irillin. Let’s go home.”

Now he was calling me by my name so gently?
Did he get hit on the head or something?

With Cis acting like that, Irillin’s parents probably wouldn’t immediately drag me off to Doctor Saint’s hospital, right?

They must’ve gotten somewhat used to their child changing into someone else.

I followed Cis out of the courtroom—but just before the door opened, Bin spoke from behind.

“See you tomorrow.”

At that moment, I realized.

If I joined the Knights…

That meant I’d have to keep seeing Bin.

I thought I’d finally escaped the cliff’s edge and found a way to survive—only to realize it led right back to the same place!

“See you tomorrow.”

The Crown Prince, who had been busy glaring at my instructor, suddenly echoed Bin’s words.

It was an ordinary farewell.

But to me, it sounded like a death sentence.

* * *

“The defendant is hereby declared not guilty. This court is adjourned.”

The moment those words left the judge’s mouth, Bin dispelled the protective magic he’d cast on himself.

It was a signal to his private soldiers hiding outside.

The objective has been secured alive. Withdraw without being detected.

He’d said imprisoning Irillin wouldn’t be a bad outcome—but that was only a joke.

He hadn’t spent seven years searching for her just to lock her up in a place so poorly maintained that suicide would be preferable.

So… what now?

That thought had crossed his mind the moment he found her.

For seven years, his only purpose had been to find her.
Now that he had, he didn’t know what to do next.

So Bin chose to act according to his feelings.

The thought of her suffering in prison made him uneasy, so he bribed the guards to ensure she’d be treated as comfortably as possible.

And if the trial had gone badly—or if she’d been declared not guilty only to escape again—the mere thought made his teeth grind.

That was why he’d planned to confine her in his own residence instead.

And if that wasn’t possible, he was prepared to use force to break her out.

Seven years ago, he wouldn’t have even imagined doing something so reckless.

But now, there was nothing left for him to fear.

Except losing Irillin again.

In the end, she was declared not guilty.

But it wasn’t an unsatisfactory outcome.

He hadn’t completely failed to achieve his goal of keeping her bound to his side.

After all—

He could say those words now.

See you tomorrow.

This time, he would never let her go.

The opportunity to see her every single day—whether she wanted it or not.

He would hold onto her tightly, never allowing her to escape his side again.

* * *

When Irillin’s parents saw their daughter return after seven years, they burst into tears and made a huge fuss.

And then—just as expected—they said it.

“Doctor Saint…”

“I don’t need to go! You know how people often run away from home during puberty, right? Mine just lasted a bit longer because the borders were closed.”

“But… you must have suffered for seven years. Don’t you think you might be carrying emotional scars? At least some counseling—”

“I’m not hurt at all. If anything, I’m grateful I had the chance to reflect on myself. So please don’t be too surprised if I seem different from seven years ago. I’ve simply become a little more mature.”

Thankfully, all the answers I’d rehearsed on the way back paid off.
They didn’t bring up Doctor Saint’s hospital again.

Still, I couldn’t avoid undergoing every kind of physical examination after my mercenary scars were discovered.

Because of that, it wasn’t until late at night that I was finally able to lie comfortably in bed.

“I really did come back…”

I gently stroked Irillin’s bed—the one I was lying in for the first time in seven years.

I remembered the first time I woke up here.

After being told I’d never be able to hold a sword again due to my injuries, I’d cried myself to sleep in my late mother’s wardrobe—only to wake up to an unfamiliar ceiling.

While I was blinking in confusion, the maid Wendy came in, and I caused a scene, accusing her of kidnapping me.

Never imagining that one incident would leave me terrified of being locked up in Doctor Saint’s hospital for years to come…

Seven years had passed since then.

Sometimes, I wondered if all of this was just a dream.

But the unfamiliar sensations were always too vivid—forcing me to accept it as reality.

“…What should I do now?”