paradise ; the rising of the shield hero

thirteen ; justice

I WRAPPED MY ARMS AROUND Filo as we walked towards the castle. I knew what was going to happen yet I didn't know how to feel.

Sure I hated the king and Myne but I don't wish death on them. I sighed looking at Naofumi who was in deep thought.

Naofumi's gasp woke me up last night. I had slept with Filo but once Naofumi woke up he couldn't go back to sleep so I went to sleep with him. Even in my arms he would move a lot, it was like there was a mind battle going on. I knew he felt almost responsible for what was going to happen.

I sigh as we arrive at the castle door. We follow some some guy into the throne room where lots of people filled.

I remain by Naofumi's side. I look around to see the other heroes here as well. "I thank you for coming, Four Cardinal Heroes." The queen's voice fills the room.

"Where's Myne?"

"I don't see the king, either." I roll my eyes as the other hero's whisper.

"Bring those two in. " the queen suddenly declares.

"Myne!" Motoyasu yells as she and the king are dragged in the throne room tied up. "What's going on!"

"It is as you see. They are criminals" The queen simple says as gasp fill the room. "Now, let's begin..the trail of the foolish king consort and the first princess!"

"A trial?"

"For the king and the princess?"

"What's happening?"

"Mama, you're being too cruel!" Malty tries saying but the queen ignores her.

"My queen, what brings you to commit such an outrage to us?" The king starts. "This isn't like you!"

"With the four cardinal heroes in attendance, this trial seeks the punish the ones responsible for shaking the country to its core, and I, the queen, am it's judge and executor!"

"What? Don't tell me..did the devil of the shield hero brainwash you too?"

The queen glares and uses her fan to create ice to cover the king making him stuck. "The shield hero has no such ability, and you know it. I can't believe I have to even say that."

A guy comes up to the queen with a plate of slave crest tools. "What's that?"

"In order to ensure a fair trial, you will be given a temporary slave crest."

"A slave crest?" Naofumi questions as I look over to the queen.

"How can you do that, she's your own daughter?!" Motoyasu yells as the queen glares.

"Because my daughter is a pathological liar."

"No way! You know I'm a good girl, a honest girl!" Myne tries saying. "Stop please mama!"

The queen ignores her as the guards applies the crest mark onto Myne who lets out a loud annoying screech. She throws her head back and then to the front panting hard.

The king was next.

"Let us officially start the trail. That said, your crimes are clear for all to see. You can't worm your way out of this."

"You can't convict them without any evidence, besides what so called crimes are you saying they committed.

"First, let's address the recent events. Using a fake holy weapon, the Pope of the Three Heroes Church tried to murder the world's heroes, but he was defeated in the act. We are rounding up the Church's remnants as we speak, too."

"Appallingly, the king and the first princess
were colluding with the Church." The queen added as mummers emerged around the room.

"Wh-What? That can't be" Motoyasu leaps forward.