"Absolutely not." Richard von Petra locked eyes with his daughter. She had brought a disheveled looking boy with black hair and strange eyes. He of course recognized the boy as Wayne and Rubellia's son.
The child had visited the estate many times throughout his childhood and was always careful to avoid coming into contact with either him or his daughter, as was requested. From what he knew, the boy was a good child. It was unfortunate that he was marked.
His half-beastman lineage wasn't a concern since that meant the boy had great potential and would have been a great addition to the domain's military…though with the recent changes in the kingdom's policies…maybe…
A strange sensation tingled at the back of his mind and it continued to increase in noticeability as he continued to think about the situation. Richard looked around the room to try and find the source of the feeling. His daughter and Lucius looked at him quizzically, and suddenly the situation was gone.
The strange anxiety having been exchanged for quiet calm. Soon his thoughts turned to the events of the woods he had been told of. Rena and Lucius admitted to the boy using his mark to defend themselves, a crime worth the punishment of death in his domain. However if one considered how the boy saved his daughter…the sensation came back momentarily.
'No, a crime is a crime and rules like this cannot be bent,' Richard thought. When that thought passed through his mind, the uncomfortable sensation dissipated again.
"Lucius. You have committed the crime of using your mark during our sacred trials. Do you know the punishment for this?"
"Father!" Rena objected.
He silenced her cry with a hand. Thomas was also present along with his father, and the parents of Vik and Peter who were reportedly killed by Lucius' mark. Standing in the back with solemn looks were also Lucius' parents, Rubellia and Wayne.
Rubellia's face was surprisingly stoic, just like her husband's, though his was expected. This told Richard that they were prepared for this to have happened because of the trial. Of course, Marked Ones resorting to using their marks in times of stress was decently common…
As he began to think of leniency for the boy, the uncomfortable tingle returned. It seemed that some part of him subconsciously would not allow him to pardon the boy. Though, that made sense. He did personally slay two of Richard's nephews in combat, yet another crime punishable by death…
He was sure that Thomas, Vik, and Peter had attempted to harm his daughter, but at the moment it was Thomas' word against Rena's. Richard had attempted to interview the other children present, but all of them claimed to have not witnessed the events.
According to them all they saw was a shadow attacking his three nephews. It was strange though, since their eyes would cloud over every time they tried to recall what happened in the clearing, and as such they could not provide an accurate account of what really occurred.
Of course, Lucius was the accused, a commoner, and a Marked One, so his word held no weight; leaving this entire situation as Rena's word against Thomas' word. No matter how much he wanted to believe his daughter, and knew in his heart that she was telling the truth, the other branch families would rise against him for blindly choosing 'favorites' in the situation.
Since the only thing for certain was that Lucius admitted to the deaths of Vik and Peter, and admitted to the use of his mark…his hands were tied.
"Rena. Thomas. I am unable to corroborate either of your accounts due to the other children present being unable to explain what they saw. As such, any allegations regarding Thomas', Vik's, and Peter's attacks on Rena are dismissed as hearsay." Richard sighed.
"But…I understand father…" Rena sighed. She looked indignantly at him, and then glared at Thomas who had a slight smile teasing the corner of his mouth.
"As for Lucius. Since all three parties confirm that you indeed used your mark in our sacred trial as well as confirmed you were responsible for the deaths of two members of the Petra household…You are sentenced to death."
"Father! No! You cannot do that! I'm sure he did not know of the crime of his mark…and for my cousins, he acted in self-defense! He had no way of knowing who they were…" Rena cried out. Tears fell from her face. He found it strange that the girl seemed so attached to the boy she only met yesterday in the woods, however there was something else there…fear? Why would she be afraid?
"Rena…" Richard said slowly. "Ignorance of the law does not relieve one of the guilt of breaking it."
"Yes…father…" Once again the look on his daughter's face was one of abject horror which faded into a strange defeated acceptance…
"Lord Petra…if I may?" a voice called out from the back of the room.
The source of the words was the boy's father, Wayne. He stepped forward calmly. Only the sounds of clanking metal could be heard in the room as he strode forward. Everyone maintained an almost reverent silence, as if they knew what was about to happen.
Wayne was a very accomplished swordsman, was the guard captain, and was a Master Rank warrior, which made him one of the strongest fighters in the domain. Richard's brother began to open his mouth and speak, but one look from the Lord of the house shut him up quickly.
"Ignorance of the law indeed does not absolve guilt…however, guilt should be placed upon the source. Especially if someone else manipulated him into committing the crime. For years I have exposed Lucius to the truth. The truth of how people like him are treated.
"For years I trained him and groomed him to become a survivor. I told him every day that in his trial he must do anything it takes to survive, no matter what it takes…"
Everyone listened to the warrior speak. They all knew what he was doing. Even Rubellia, who was still at the back of the room, seemed aware of what was happening. It appeared that they both resigned themselves to this fate as if it were always a possibility.
"It is well-known that my father was also marked, and so I have a soft spot for people like him. Of course, Lucius is my only son as well, so I did what I could to give him the best life one like him can have. As such…his actions were not out of ignorance of the law, but rather a result of manipulation by an adult who should have known better."
Richard simply stood their and looked at the man who had fought beside him in countless battles. Wayne's face was that of stone-cold resolution. His words, his posture, and his eyes begged no other options. Wayne was willing, ready, and desired to shoulder the weight of his son's crimes.
"It is as you say, Sir Wayne. Being manipulated into committing a crime does indeed shift the blame to the one who did the manipulating." He muttered. "…very well…my friend. Lucius shall be absolved of guilt, and instead you, Sir Wayne of Pelith, Captain of the guard of house Petra, are hereby found guilty of inciting violence towards your lord's family, encouraging a Marked One to commit heinous acts, and violating our land's sacred trials."
Richard paused and took a deep breath. "You are sentenced to death."