Once more Ace stood outside the barred cell. Clover was slumped against the wall with their face down in the same fashion, either in contemplation or intense study of the ground. Gritty stone slabs offset the ground by an inch or so, and a small blade of grass had snuck through.
The only sound was the splash of dripping water hitting the ground in the dark silence.
"Master," Ace began. He didn't expect an answer.
However, to his surprise, Clover's eyes came up to meet him. Clover rocked forward and with a stagger, they reached the bars.
Ace flinched as he came face to face with the demon lord. Clover looked different than that night a week before. They were pale, the same soft features seemed drawn in. There was still bruising and redness around the eyes. The gaze was unusually subdued and the light pink eyes were almost watery.
"Is this a new form of torture?" Clover tapped a finger on the bar, "What do you want from me, hmm? Maybe this is your revenge? You get to see me like this, pity me. But I told you before, I never pitied you. So why are you doing this? Can't you see I just want to be left in peace?"
Ace was taken back and for a moment he went quiet.
"If you didn't pity me, why did you help me?"
Clover cast Ace an annoyed glance."How many times do I have to tell you I only saved you on a whim? There's your reason. Take it or leave it"
"I don't believe you, "
Clover sighed loudly. They swung back still holding the bars to stare up at the ceiling. It was empty and desolate. At length, the demon Lord answered:
"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter now. I helped you for my own selfish reasons. Just look at you now. You have everything I ever wanted, everything I can never have just sitting in front of you. I did it to clear my soul. For my own redemption. It had nothing to do with you,"
Suddenly, Clover snapped forward with an uncharacteristically harsh tone, "Now will you wake up, Ace?! Stop spending your life on these useless daydreams. You don't know the meaning of love. And..." Clover stopped abruptly, intaking a sharp breath.
"Just stop wasting your time on me," with that the demon lord released their hands from the bars and returned to a seat against the wall.
"What did you need redemption for? "Ace asked quietly.
Clover shrugged with a reticent smile, " Who knows,"
"Clover, please," Ace persisted.
Clover let out an audible moan, "What does it matter?!"
"Exactly. So answer," Ace returned, undeterred.
Clover abruptly came to their feet with surprising swiftness. A hand shot through the bars. Ace was knocked to the ground. The demon lord stood over him with unsympathetic eyes.
"Don't tell me what to do, Ace. There's nothing I hate more. I don't know what you're trying to do but stop it. Enough,"
"No!" Ace came to feet with a start, "I won't let your redemption be wasted on me! This doesn't have to be the end. You can have a real redemption. You can have all the things you wanted! All you have to do is fight this with me!"
" What is there to fight? "Clover's expression remained blank.
"I didn't listen to what you wanted before, but I'm listening now! Tell me you want to go free and I will do what I can to make it possible. I refuse to let you die here. The sword saint and I have a way to fight against this trial. All you have to do is work with us," he blurted out excitedly.
Still, Clover didn't react. So, Ace continued on enthusiastically explaining the plan he and the sword saint had come up with. He felt certain that once Clover heard the plan, it would be as good as settled. However, the demon lord expeditiously rid him of this notion.
"No," Clover said after listening.
"No?" Ace replied, baffled, "You don't think it'll work?"
"It doesn't matter if it works. The Emperor is going to kill me. If not in this trial, then by some other means. If you get in his way, he won't hesitate to kill you,"
Ace shook his head desperately.
"Why?! What did you even do? You helped them win the war. What possible reason could the Emperor have for wanting to kill so badly?" he began to pace anxiously.
Clover was quiet for a moment. "I let the Empress die,"
Ace froze in place. He stared in disbelief at the demon lord. Clover averted their eyes with an expression Ace had never seen. It looked akin to guilt.
"So you see, it's quite futile," Clover added, forcing a restrained smile.
Ace scoffed derisively.
"Bullshit!" He spat, "I don't believe it! Why do you keep doing this?!" his voice rose uncontrollably.
"ACE!" Clover snapped. Ace was brought to a stop. He had never heard such anger in his Master's voice.
"I did what I did without regret. That's who I am. My redemption isn't that I get to live, it's that I earned a worthy death. I told you before there was a difference between us. It's the reason I've lived so many lifetimes more than I should have and yet all I've done is cause death and destruction wherever I go. I can't help it. I'm a demon, that's it. So stop fighting for me. Stop looking for the good in me...Stop trying to love me. It's a burden. Let me die with some dignity,"
Ace forced a sharp intake of breath. Then he stormed out of the dungeon without another glance back.
---------------
It would be another week before Ace saw Lord Clover again. This time it was behind the barricades of the open court. It was held in the great hall on account of the requests to sit in for the trial. It was a theatre of merciless onlookers.
The prospect of seeing a demon in the flesh was a mere pass time to upper classes whose lives were far removed from the horrors of the war. The war was fought and the Empire had succeeded that was all they needed to know. Information about demons was kept on a tight leash.
The nights proceeding, Ace had scoured any resources he could get his hands on. He spent half his time reading the reports and the rest of the time in the library studying empire law. The sword saint had been helpful to this end, getting material that was restricted.
However, in spite of their efforts as the day of the trial dawned, they weren't any closer. Without Clover's help, it would be difficult to convince the court. Nevertheless, they had to try. If Ace had to, there was one more option he could try...but it would probably make Lord Clover even angrier.
As Ace made his way through the angry crowd he was jostled by both sides. Finally, he reached the sword saint's side. Albaric's title afforded him a seat at the forefront of the stage. Aside from them, the rest of the court members sat in attendance.
Everyone rose as the Emperor was announced. For the first time, Ace laid eyes on the Emperor. He had a towering height with adonis cut features, only they were bereft of any emotion. The steely blue eyes were that of an Emperor, cold and decisive. He was dressed all in black.
When the Emperor reached the throne, the entire ramble of the crowds and ministers who had thus far tolled in a sea of chaos became silent. The Emperor's command of the room was palatable. The atmosphere was heavy. Noone dared to move until he sat upon the throne.
The entire theatre followed suit. Beyond the ministers, all the noble families were present. They leaned in eagerly waiting to lay eyes on the infamous demon lord. They were soon gratified.
The doors opened and Clover was dragged into the room in chains, thrown down before the Emperor's throne. The metal ring was still locked around the demon lord's neck. The wizard followed and presented himself to the Emperor. He was there supposedly to subdue the demon lord. However, Ace suspected his motive was just to revel in his victory. He had an expression of supreme satisfaction. It was as if the outcome had already been decided.
The minister of defence accompanied him. He had a knight's gait, tall and bloated with pride.
"Who is that?"Ace questioned.
"The minister of defence. He's going to present the case," Albaric answered. His eyes betrayed his apprehension.
Ace's heart was pounding as he turned back in front. He recalled that the minister of defence was only called for the most serious of charges. They knew that Clover would be accused of the mountain raids. Now Ace feared there might be more in store. A knot rose in his stomach as he forced himself to stay composed.
Bird, too, was seated at the front not far from the wizard. He shot Ace a pleading glance, but Ace ignored it. His eyes were on Lord Clover. For a moment, Clover didn't move. Then with a provoking smile, Clover threw their head back meeting the Emperor's gaze, much to the horror of the rest of the court.
"The demon shows no remorse as expected," they whispered.
However, the Emperor continued with the same unaffected manner.
"Read the charges,"
The minister of defence was handed a scroll which he proceeded to read aloud:
"Demon Lord Clover, you stand accused of murder, theft and treason. Your crimes span over several decades. We have not been able to find records to substantiate your claims of being half-human,"
"I don't recall claiming anything of the sort, "Clover uttered drily.
At once, the wizard waved his hand and water slammed Clover to the floor. The demon lord coughed as they pulled themselves up. Ace almost rose in protest then and there, but Albaric held him back.
"Don't speak unless you're spoken to!" the wizard barked.
Clover ran a hand through their dripping wet hair with a satisfied smile. The minister stared down with undisguised contempt and went on.
"In spite of this and on account of services rendered during the war, we have granted you clemency. Therefore the trial will proceed accordingly. The first charge states you carried out a raid of the Northern temples, stole priceless relics of the Empire and murdered the sisters who guard these temples,"
The crowd let out disgusted and horrified gasps.
"What do you say in your defence?"
Clover shot the wizard a glace with a smug smile.
"Speak," the wizard consented reluctantly.
Clover scratched their head with an indifferent blank expression. "Relics of the Empire, you say? As I recall, those items never belonged to the Empire in the first place." Clover grinned," But then it's so hard to keep track of all the things the Empire has stolen,"
The minister shook his head with disdain but went on undeterred:
"So you stole them back, is that what you're saying?" His agitation showing in his voice.
"Is that what I said?" Clover returned icily.
This brought a rise out of the minister. "Did you or did you not raid the northern temples?!" He snapped.
Clover shrugged, "Sounds like something I would do,"
"I will take that as an admission," the minister scoffed, "We will move onto the next charge,"
"Wait!"