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~Chapter 29~
The Main Act of Revenge
“Today is the trial between Count Pyro and Serna, isn’t it?”
“Anyway, Kellen’s a lost cause. No need to worry about him.”
“We have to help her win, though.”
Tan and Tanias were having breakfast early in the morning.
A warm bowl of soup, soft bread, and a side salad were the meals Tanias enjoyed. Tan preferred meat, but he had prepared a breakfast suited to her tastes.
Tanias only made a few motions with her fork, never actually bringing food to her mouth. She was upset at Tan’s words.
She had thought that someone like Kellen would be enough of a challenge for the foolish Serna. That had been her mistake.
“Help? Even if the Troyd family’s wealth was completely taken, she could still get by.”
“If she loses this trial, it’ll at least mean permanent exile.”
“Good. No death sentence, I hope? All the evidence has been destroyed anyway.”
She said it as cheerfully as ever. Tan swallowed the last bite of bread and continued speaking.
“I helped her.”
“How…how?”
Tanias straightened her body from its reclined position, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Though Kellen was now a useless card, she was curious how the last piece of the game would play out.
“She’s my client, after all.”
“Not a client—she’s the target.”
“Anyway.”
“So?”
“I tampered with the holomagic stone that will be submitted as evidence.”
Tan said it casually while drinking water. The sour expression on Tanias’ face seemed to melt into a bright smile.
“You know, Tan.”
“Why?”
“I hate the Troyd family.”
“I know. No need to remind me.”
“Do you remember my family name?”
“Bolton.”
“Right.”
“Tanias Bolton.”
A strange silence filled the air.
‘Bolton.’
It had been a long time since that name was spoken aloud.
The Bolton Marquisate had been known in the Ether Empire as the Emperor’s “dogs,” absolute in obedience and loyalty to Emperor Kalios.
Even after the family fell from power, merely uttering the name ‘Bolton’ was considered taboo in the Empire.
“I despise how only the Troyds hold their heads high while the Boltons disappeared without a trace.”
The Troyds and Boltons had been one of the few noble families tied together not by profit but by what seemed like genuine friendship. Though, in truth, the alliance was mostly a façade.
“I know. I’m helping you because you took me in.”
“Don’t betray me.”
“I won’t, Tanya.”
Despite the harshness of their words, both maintained poker faces.
Every bite of salad, bread, and sip of water tasted bitter to Tanias. She couldn’t swallow it—not one bit.
Serna.
I want to see your face when you lose this trial.
On the mana-infused holomagic stone, a bluish light shimmered, projecting a holographic image into the air. Even as I said I would submit it as evidence, Kellen’s shoulders didn’t shrink in fear.
On the contrary, he seemed to think,
‘Go ahead if you dare.’
I couldn’t understand how Kellen could still be so confident, but the holomagic stone from the Blacktan Agency played the video as if a tape were running.
“…Count Pyro.”
The video began with Serna’s father, Count Calvert Troyd, lying in bed, barely able to summon his voice to call Kellen.
Kellen, wearing his usual annoying smirk, approached the old man. Pulling a chair beside him, he sat down and suddenly shoved a document in Calvert’s face.
“What are you doing? Your daughter caused the accident—you should fix it.”
“What…?”
“You hear me? How can a sick old man explain this properly?”
With his typical mocking tone, he was toying with Calvert. The holomagic stone showed both their faces and voices vividly.
Kellen’s confident shoulders, so unyielding before, now seemed to shrink in terror—why did this video even exist?
“She owes me money, Count Calvert.”
“Serna… borrowed money?”
The exhausted father tried to sit up, coughing, blood mixed with his coughs.
“If she borrows money and doesn’t pay it back, I have to protect myself. Here’s the document about that. You don’t need to read it, right?”
“Impossible…”
“Ah! Why’s this old man being difficult? Sign it while I’m speaking nicely. My time is precious!”
Kellen forced the pen into the old man’s hand, making him sign it against his will. The video ended right there, the blue light fading.
Kellen, trembling, stood across from me.
“This is enough, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Lady Serna Schweb Troyd, and Count Kellen Pyro. This trial…”
“No!!”
Just as the verdict was about to be announced, Kellen shouted, unable to contain his anger.
How could he not see the evidence with his own eyes?
“This video is forged!!”
“What?”
“There’s a magician under that woman! Magicians can manipulate mana to forge videos! This was created that way! I never did that!”
I almost cursed at the absurdity. Claiming the video was forged? That’s not your line, Kellen—it’s mine.
When the holomagic stone arrived from Blacktan, I had examined it and nearly choked. The video made it appear as if my father willingly approved the trade, a complete manipulation.
That was why I had insisted on calling Orbi, even though he was busy in Quilln.
“Lady Serna.”
“Orbi, I know you’re busy, but I need your help.”
“For your request, of course.”
Though slightly tired, Orbi appeared by the window, his golden hair shining as usual.
The moment he saw me, he said:
“You look exhausted.”
“Just a little. Anyway, I need your help with this holomagic stone.”
He gently brushed my hair aside. I felt a surge of warmth at his touch.
He had been with me earlier, confirming whether the video stone was manipulated. This time, he would verify it completely.
“This is the real deal. I didn’t forge it. You can even ask a magician to verify it.”
I lifted my head, never taking my eyes off Kellen.
“Surely you forged it, Kellen.”
“Ha!! Serna, you insolent—!!”
“If a holomagic stone is manipulated, any magician can detect it.”
I took one slow step toward him. Then another.
“I call Orbi, a Quilln magician, as a witness.”
Kellen and I locked eyes.
“Serna!!!”
The thrill of watching someone so arrogant crumble was exhilarating.
Orbi, still handsome, appeared in the center of the courtroom, perfectly composed. The crowd murmured in surprise.
“The… Quilln Grand Magician?”
Even Kellen turned pale at the title.
Orbi gave a small smile in my direction.
“I am Orbi, here as Lady Serna’s witness.”
He bowed politely, hand on his chest.
In the Ether Empire, Quilln magicians were notoriously difficult to handle. Even committing crimes against nobles, they were judged under their own laws.
And this was not just any magician—it was the only Grand Magician in Quilln.
“Please present your statement.”
“The holomagic stone was already manipulated when I first saw it.”
“Please explain in detail.”
“Mana flows in a specific pattern. In the manipulated holomagic stone, the mana was irregularly tangled.”
“I see.”
“Lady Serna noticed this and requested verification.”
“So the holomagic stone submitted as evidence has been restored from the manipulated one?”
“Yes.”
Orbi held the stone, showing the mana flow clearly to all. Blue energy flowed like rippling water.
“When mana loses its regular flow, it indicates the object was manipulated. In this case, the holomagic stone had been tampered with.”
“Impossible!! I didn’t do this!!”
“Shh. Quiet, sir.”
“You! Are you acting on her behalf?! This is all a scheme! I am innocent!”
Bang, bang, bang!
The judge silenced Kellen’s protests. I smirked at his sputtering.
“Everyone, please be quiet.”
“….”
“Count Kellen Pyro tricked the transferor into signing the trade ship transfer document under false pretenses. This is therefore null and void.”
Bang, bang, bang.
Three sharp gavel strikes echoed.
It was finally over.
Kellen’s face was frozen in shock. I, in turn, smiled brighter than I ever had before.
