"You're here."
Grand Commander Raymond looked at Annan.
At his low words, the murmur echoing through the Council Hall died away.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward Annan and his two companions at the entrance.
Annan let Illymoyas and Black Widow follow the guard to the side seats. He stepped across from Grand Lord Raymond under the weight of those watchful gazes and casually surveyed the room.
"This is more formal than I expected."
“After all, you represent Territory and the Empire.”
Grand Commander Raymond might have been greedy, but he was no fool. The more people who witnessed this, the fewer grounds Annan would have to object. Even the Empire would have to swallow the insult.
As for why he thought the Empire would obediently pay up, that was simply ignorance.
The only problem was that he had gotten two things wrong:
Annan was no pushover, and Joan was no Imperial Princess.
Grand Commander Raymond's sec... eldest son, Elvis Raymond, presided over the hearing.
His close-fitting, gold-trimmed old-fashioned noble attire, coupled with his resemblance to his father, reminded many of Grand Commander Raymond in his younger days.
Back then, the Grand Commander had carried himself with the same pride and swagger.
“This hearing concerns five charges against Annan Reeves, Lord of Free City, for allowing the Imperial Princess and his subordinates to cause destruction, attack nobles, and massacre a village in the Broken Mountains.”
"Annan Reeves, do you admit to them?"
The young man's voice echoed through the Ceremonial Hall. Beyond the windows, the snowy landscape cast a pale, chilly light over the Council Hall. “I certainly...”
"Of course I..."
Annan met Illymoyas's eyes across the side seats. "Do not."
Whispers spread through the council seats.
"Quiet."
As silence returned to the Council Hall, Elvis Raymond's breathing grew just a