Reincarnated in an Otome Game

Chapter 21: The Trial

Here's the next part to this arc. Please read and enjoy.😊

As I stepped into the trial room, I saw that it was a large stone circle at the bottom. Above were wooden benches where the spectators will be watching the whole trial. In the center, I saw a big metal pole where I would be during this whole thing. Up above the center were nine seats where I realized Julian and the other council members would be. When Vice Commander Aile stepped in, I followed with the other two knights following.

I looked up at the benches and saw Edward, Cyril and Elizabeth were there dressed in their royal clothes. I also noticed that most of the spectators were nobles like Lucian, but I knew he wouldn't be here because of his situation with Teacher Eric. Soon, we stopped before the metal pole and Aile turned to the knights and told them, "Lift!"

The two knights went to the pole and lifted it off the ground. Aile then motioned for me to the front and I complied. When I got to the front, Aile told me, "Kneel." And I did and after I did, the two knights lowered the pole into the loop of my cuffs and secured it tightly.

Once I was secured, Aile nodded to the two knights and they walked to the edge of room towards the wall. I watched as Vice Commander Aile walked around and stood right next to me. Pretty soon, I heard a door open and I saw nine people wearing black robes walk out and to their seats. Before the trial began, Vice Commander Aile told me a few things. One, the whole trial would be watched by the king and queen in a separate room. Two, there will be one witness to testify what they saw on the day of the crime. And three, depending on how many votes the Magic Council gives, I'll either be guilty or not guilty.

Of course, there was one thing that was really important. In the center of the trial room where I am, there's a magic circle which meant I couldn't speak unless I was spoken to. I looked up towards the center and saw Teacher Julian was there. When he looked down at me, I saw he had a look in his eyes that clearly said he had no clue what to do.

As I was looking at Julian, I began to think that the whole reason for this trial in the first place was so Julian can give up his seat in the magic council. I began to worry for the poor man as he has been nothing but good to me and my friends and he'll have to make a choice if I'm guilty or not guilty. I looked down at the floor and began to remember what I told Vice Commander Aile a few days ago.

Few Days Before The Trial:

As I was in my cell in the dungeon after my skirmish with Teacher Eric, I told the vice commander everything that Eric told me. Once I was done, Vice Commander Aile just stood there in shock, surprise and disbelief. He then asked me, "Are you sure that's what he said?!"

I nodded and said to him, "My guess is that this whole murder trial is a set up to not just get rid of me, but to kick Julian out of the magic council so he can give up his first seat. And knowing Julian like I do, he won't say one bad thing when it comes to me."

Aile began to pace hysterically in front of me while biting his thumbnail and the he stopped, looked at me and said, "But if you didn't kill the commander, then what really did happen to him?"

I shrugged my shoulders and said as I remembered some scenarios that happened in the anime I watched. Some characters, like Avan in Dragon Quest or Joseph Joestar in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, the characters thought they were dead, but in reality they were alive. I looked at Aile and said to him, "My best guess is Commander Reeves might not really be dead. I believe his "murder" is a fake just so I will be blamed. Whoever did this to him thinks I'm in the way of some big plan that's gonna happen and they're trying to get rid of me."

"The witches?" Aile asked to himself and I just stared at him while he was thinking.

The vice commander looked at me, nodded his head and said, "I trust you. I'll talk things over with the king and see what he says. Hopefully, and for not just your sake but Sir Julian's as well, this whole trial will be turned around." And after he said that, Vice Commander Aile left the dungeon and I was left alone thinking about what he has planned.