POV: Allan
I was currently in a torture room at the Royal Palace of Kingdom Renhard. My face swollen, there were skin torn all over my body... Frankly speaking, I was covered with my own blood.
"Oye, it's time for your judgement."
A knight approached as he freed the shackles attached to the pins on the walls, and lowered me. Then he handcuffed me with the same shackles. Those were heavy, solid and strong. There is no way an ordinary prisoner can break threw it.
Outside the room, red hairs, with few knights guarding him, was waiting for me.
"From now on, you will be our king's mercy. If his majesty wants you to live, you will live. But, if he wants you to be dead, then you're done for. You can pray as much as you want."
"Pray? To whom?"
I slightly chuckled. He looked at me, but then ignored it.
"Cover his face."
At red hairs order, a knight covered my face with a black cloth.
"Hey, what does this suppose to mean? Are you planing to hang me before present me in front of your king."
"Don't be afraid, I just want to make sure of everyone's safety. Who knows what trick you have hide in your sleeves. Maybe you can use some sort of hypnotic magic through your eyes or thing like that."
"Maybe you are living in your own fantasy world... Aren't you getting way too wary of me?"
"Heh, who knows? I just want to make sure so that I wouldn't regret it later. Now enough chit-chat, move!"
...
We arrived at the door of throne room. The door was huge, ah, it reminds me of old days. Door slowly opened. As we walked in, I saw that there were more people than I expected. The thorne room was full of people who looked like nobles and royalty, guarded by knights.
In front of me, an old man, around 50s, was sitting on thorne. He was the king.
Beside him was a lady, who looks 45+, the queen was sitting. 'I am not going to ask her age, cause it's an universal law not to ask lady's age.'
Also there were quite faces who I already know.
There was Lucia Renhard, the princess of Renhard, and the prince of Renhard, whose name was Laren Renhard, at least that's what I heard since I arrived Royal capital, sitting beside the queen.
They both were divinity holders. Well lesser divinity though, but still, they possess divine blessing.
There was also Leon and Nerisa, standing at Lucia and Laren's side. They both were commanders in-charge of Royal Knights.
But still, there were 𝙬𝙖𝙮 too many people present here. They maybe the court members but still, why they all are here for just a mere judgement for a criminal? Do they have a lot of free time to spend.
And the main question was, how I can tell that they were all present here.
Well every living being emits a special force or you can say energy. They can be referred in many names such as aura, mana, magical energy, spiritual force and so on.
Everyone has there own, distinguished aura. One's aura can be similar to other's in the case if they are blood related, but still it can't be same. Nobody can have a same aura as someone else.
If one trained a little, they can easily sense aura. It can be helpful in many ways, such as if there is someone near you and you can't see them. If you can sense him, you can easily know his exact location or can know there numbers.
Though in case of deities, celestial beings, supreme beings or the gods, called by many names, they have divine aura or divinity which is impossible to be sensed by mere mortals. Though if they see it, they will unconscious bow or kneel before them even if they don't know them. It's a natural instinct.
But now I was not using that trick. I was using my enlighten eyes to see through black cloth...
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POV: Lucia
I was sitting on the throne beside my brother. My father and mother were also there sitting on the other side of my brother.
Leon and Nerisa was also present there to guard us.
Normally, when there was a testimony, there were not as many attendees as it was today. Usually my brother or my father held testimony with few court members or other important peoples or nobles, with few knights guarding them.
But today, it was different.
Yesterday, Neulon on of the four commanders of the Royal Knight order, arrested a guy. Neulon claims that he is someone who doesn't belong to our country. He was from Lufi Empire or either Demon Kingdom, and also the mastermind behind all the disturbance caused in capital recently and attempt of my assassination.
'From assassination, I remembered... What will be Allan doing at this moment? I hope he will be doing fine... Wait! I don't have any time for this. I have to focus!'
The door of the hall opened. Neulon entered with his knights, surrounding a person.
His legs were shaking. There were cuts all-over his clothes and his wounds were all visible through it. His arms were covered in blood, and even his clothes were soaked in his own blood. And it can be clearly seen that is left arm was broken.
His hands were bound by shackles, and he was using them to support his broken arm with his other one.
He was tortured so horribly that everyone present were looking at him with a bit terrified look. Even I can't help and feel bad for him. But he was still a criminal and that's how Neulon do things. It's his way of doing things. I doubt there will be anyone who can torture someone better than Neulon.
"Good day to you, yours majesty. Just as you ordered, I brought the mastermind behind the scenes."
Neulon greeted father.
"Neulon, is this the one you were suspicious about."
"No, your majesty. I am not suspicious but is sure that he is the mastermind."
"And how can you be so sure? Do you have any proof or witness?"
"Yes my lord, I have a proof."
Neulon took out something out from his pocket. It was...a necklace case, if I was not wrong. He opened the case, inside it there was a beautiful necklace.
"It's a necklace. Is it some kind of magic artifact?"
My brother spoke up.
"No, Prince. It's a simple necklace though a beautiful one. I have inquired each and every jewellery and ornament shop in the whole kingdom and no one was ever made or sold this kind of necklace. It my first time seeing something like this. Also, I even checked it many times and confirmed that this necklace is not a magical artifact."
"So, what does it had to do with this? I can't understand what you are saying."
"Prince, I found it other day when me and my knights encountered the demons near the cave, in the forest. I also spotted a person in black cloths who was discussing something with demons that day. And I am damn sure that this necklace belongs to that person!"
"I see your point. But how will you explain that this necklace belongs to this guy?"
"Well he admitted it himself that this necklace belongs to him... It seems like this thing is really important to him. When I was torturing him, no matter how many times I asked, he never denied it. He keep admitting that this necklace belongs to him."
"Ho, you are quite brave. But why have you covered his face. I would like to see him."
My father spoke said.
"My apologies, your highness. But I just want to make sure everyone's safety. We can't say for sure that he is totally safe. Maybe he knows some sort of cheap trick which can hypnotise the one who looks in his eyes."
"I think your are reading quite novels now a days, Neulon... But maybe you are right. There is no way we can say that he is totally safe."
I said. He smiled and then continue.
"Though I have to admit, this guy is really stubborn...Even after being tortured for continuous 5 hours, he didn't admitted his guilt."
"What!?"
"How is this guy still alive?!"
"He survived Neulon's torture!!"
"I can't believe he is still alive after being tortured for non-stop 5 hours by Neulon."
Everyone was shocked by what Neulon said. This guy survived Neulon's torture! Just what in the world is this guy?
My father interrupted everyone.
"Everyone, please maintain you composure-"
"But, If you may permit me, then I can make him confuse in front of everyone."
"There is no need for you to do that, hmm... You, would you like to say something?"
"I am sick of saying this again and again that I have done nothing. I am innocent."
The man spoked.
Neulon grabbed his collar in anger and said,
"You! How dare you to disrespect his highness?! Know your place, criminal. His highness is giving you a chance to speak, kneel down before you answer. And Beg For Mercy!!"
"𝙆𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣? Heh, you are saying me to kneel before your king. No way I'm gonna do that!"
"Youuu, take your words before I remove your head from your body."
"I don't care what you do. I'm not gonna kneel before someone even if he is a king... All these status, sense of superiority, social standings and all are created by mortals. Gods created everyone equal, and if everyone is equal then why should one bow to other. It would be different if one help other, then the one can bow to him as a token of appreciation... Just because one is noble or royal doesn't change the fact that they are mortals...
Or are you saying that your king is not a human, but a superior being. Even if he is I'm not gonna kneel before him. I don't give a shit to this discrimination... If one should lowered himself to someone, it should be a God not a mere mortal!"
Everyone present here was shocked by what just this man said. We were all dumbfounded.
"Youu! That's it. I have heard enough. I'm gonna execute you!"
"Enough Neulon!"
"Y-Your Majesty? B-But-"
"I said enough!"
My father commanded Neulon to remain silent.
"You, you are quite a brave man. I admire your courage. What you said is right, all these are rules created by us, mortals, and how things work... But you. You really are something lectured us in a middle of testimony, I am really impressed... Neulon would you do the honour of showing this man's face to me. I would like to see it with my own eyes."
"B-But your Majesty-!?"
"It's fine. Just remove the cloth."
"As you wish my lord."
Neulon slowly removed the black cloth from man's face. When he removed the cloth, I saw something unexpected.
"!"
I was surprised and shocked by the face I saw. I looked at Leon only to found him staring me. He also seems to be shaken up by the true identity of the man...