The courtroom fell silent.
Not because the nobles had finished arguing.
Because every eye turned toward the empty throne.
Toward the place where judgment should have come.
Instead…
The Royal Covenant System appeared before Kael.
The Crown does not seek a perfect answer.
It seeks a worthy judge.
Kael took a slow breath.
His gaze returned to Captain Lucien Ashford.
The young officer stood in chains, shoulders straight despite the accusations surrounding him.
He hadn't spoken a single word in his own defense.
That bothered Kael more than the evidence itself.
The Missing Piece
"There isn't enough information," Kael said aloud.
The Royal Judge looked toward the empty throne.
"The evidence has been presented."
"No," Kael replied.
"The evidence has been selected."
The entire courtroom grew still.
Kael stepped closer to Lucien.
"I've seen three memories."
"You met the enemy."
"You secretly helped orphans."
"You made a promise to a dying soldier."
He folded his arms.
"But I haven't been shown why you met the enemy."
One of the nobles slammed his fist against the railing.
"The man admitted the meeting!"
"That alone is enough!"
Kael looked at him.
"Is it?"
The noble faltered.
"If someone is seen leaving a burning house…"
"…are they automatically the one who started the fire?"
Murmurs spread through the hall.
The Royal Judge narrowed her eyes.
"You question the evidence?"
"I question whether I know enough to take a man's life."
A King Who Listens
Kael turned back to Lucien.
"For the first time since entering the courtroom, I'm going to ask the accused a question."
The chains around Lucien rattled as he raised his head.
"Why did you meet the enemy commander?"
The young captain remained silent.
Seconds passed.
Then he answered.
"Because I gave my word."
The courtroom erupted.
"A confession!"
"He admits it!"
"Execute him!"
Kael raised his hand.
The voices stopped.
"You gave your word to whom?"
Lucien looked down.
"To my commanding officer."
"He ordered me to negotiate a temporary ceasefire so civilians could escape the western district."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"Why didn't you tell the court that from the beginning?"
Lucien smiled bitterly.
"Because the commander who gave the order died before he could confirm it."
"If I spoke…"
"…it would sound like I was inventing excuses."
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Kael noticed something.
Lucien never once claimed he was innocent.
He simply explained his actions.
The Weight of Judgment
The Royal Judge stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
"The court still possesses evidence that he met the enemy in secret."
"The law is clear."
"Communication with the enemy during wartime is punishable by death."
Kael nodded.
"I know."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Back on Earth, he had often heard people say that justice was blind.
Now he realized something different.
Justice wasn't blind.
People were.
They saw only the pieces they wanted to see.
He looked toward the gathered nobles.
"If I execute him today…"
"…what lesson does this court learn?"
No one answered.
"If I pardon him without consequence…"
"…what lesson does the army learn?"
Again…
Silence.
"There is no decision that leaves everyone satisfied."
Kael smiled faintly.
"So this…"
"…is what Judgment means."
The Verdict
Kael took a step toward the throne.
His voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Captain Lucien Ashford."
"You disobeyed military protocol."
"You acted without sufficient witnesses."
"You allowed your loyalty to become vulnerable to suspicion."
Lucien bowed his head.
"I accept responsibility."
Kael continued.
"However…"
"The purpose of law is to protect the kingdom."
"Not to destroy those who sought to protect its people."
The courtroom erupted once more.
Kael's voice cut through the noise.
"Therefore…"
"I reject the sentence of execution."
Gasps filled the hall.
"The accused will instead be stripped of command until a full investigation is completed."
"If his actions are proven to have saved innocent lives under lawful orders…"
"…his rank shall be restored."
"If evidence of treason is later discovered…"
"…he shall answer for it."
Kael looked directly at Lucien.
"Justice without truth becomes revenge."
"And mercy without accountability becomes weakness."
"I will accept neither."
The chamber fell silent.
Not because everyone agreed.
But because no one could immediately challenge his reasoning.
The Crown's Answer
The moment the verdict was spoken…
The entire courtroom dissolved into light.
The nobles vanished.
The guards disappeared.
Lucien smiled once before fading into golden dust.
The throne at the end of the hall shone brighter than the sun.
A voice—deep, ancient, and filled with quiet pride—echoed through the chamber.
"A king who rushes to punish creates fear."
"A king who refuses to judge creates chaos."
"A king who seeks truth creates justice."
The Royal Covenant System appeared one final time.
First Throne Trial Complete.
Compassion: Passed.
Courage: Passed.
Judgment: Passed.
Overall Evaluation: Worthy of the First Oath.
Golden light surrounded Kael.
The silver ring on his finger glowed warmly.
He felt no surge of overwhelming power.
Instead…
He felt something stranger.
A sense of responsibility settling upon his shoulders.
As if the Crown itself had whispered:
"Now prove this wasn't luck."
The light intensified.
The trial was over.
It was time to return to the real world.