At the break of dawn, the royal palace had already been active for hours.The inner doors stood open, the corridors were under guard, and units of the Royal Guard held their positions without movement. Nothing had been announced, yet everyone who had been summoned knew this was no ordinary session.
The Grand Royal Court Hall was fully prepared.The royal throne stood at the center, the Right Chancellor to its right, and the Royal Judge to its left.Below, the seats of the nobility were arranged by rank—an independent row reserved for the sixteen families, and an open space before all others designated for the Royal Investigator.
The nobles entered one after another. Dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts. Familiar faces, yet silent. No greetings. No whispers. No exchanged glances.
Then the sixteen families entered without announcement. Each duke took his seat without turning his head. The silence grew heavier.
The royal procession entered.Adrian first, then Leon, then Ken, with Eliana behind them, and finally the King.
All rose, then sat again at an unspoken command.
Ken sat with outward calm, his body taut.Eliana sat upright, her hands clasped together.Leon surveyed the hall with a soldier's eye.Adrian looked like a man bearing a weight no one else could see.
A side door opened.
Royal Guards entered, surrounding the accused. Numerous nobles, heavy footsteps, tense faces.
Then Prince Darius entered. He did not look around. He did not speak. His eyes were fixed on the King.
The Royal Judge stood and spoke in a formal voice:
"In the name of the throne, and in the presence of His Majesty the King, the session of the Grand Royal Court is hereby opened."
He looked to the King, who nodded.
Then he said:
"Royal Investigator… you have permission."
Marvin stepped forward once. He opened a single file and spoke in a steady voice heard by all:
"We will begin at the beginning.With the first crisis that shook the kingdom four years ago… the Northern Mines Crisis."
He raised his gaze toward the hall and said:
"At that time, official reports were presented to the King, claiming severe contamination in the northern mines. It was said the pollution threatened the health of the workers, and that continued operation would lead to an environmental catastrophe. Based on this, an immediate closure was ordered. The mines were shut down, the treasury suffered immense losses, and then the mining contracts were transferred under the pretext of restructuring."
He paused briefly, then said:
"But the investigation we later conducted proved one thing… the contamination did not exist."
Silence fell.
Marvin continued:
"Not a single illness was recorded. Not a single health complaint was filed. No site was ever truly isolated. And yet, the mines were closed. Two weeks later, all contracts were transferred to a single company."
He raised a document.
"Metal Dawn Company."
Then added, without raising his voice:
"A company directly linked to institutions under the management of Prince Darius."
No objection was heard.
Marvin closed the file and said:
"Had this incident stood alone, we would not be here today."
He opened another file.
"Let us speak of the currency crisis."
He stepped forward and said:
"The following year, sealed coins began to appear—nearly identical to the originals. Merchants could not tell them apart. Fear spread. Markets froze. No blood was spilled, but trade was completely paralyzed."
Then he said:
"At the time, the cause was attributed to external smuggling rings. But the truth was different."
He raised another document.
"The minting molds were not smuggled from abroad. They came from an official workshop, affiliated with the Royal Trade Council."
He paused, then said clearly:
"That workshop was under the influence of a lord holding direct authorization from Prince Darius."
He looked across the rows and added:
"Let us begin naming some names."
He said:
"Viscount Roderick Valen was responsible for administrative cover.Baron Kellen Hart and Baron Seraph Moin handled distribution.Count Albrin Cross and Count Neras Volt facilitated passage through the provinces."
Then he said:
"This was not a conspiracy of a single class. It was a network."
He opened a heavier file and placed it on the stand.
"Now… the bankruptcy of three royal banks within a single month."
He raised his eyes and said:
"The value of the Orf currency dropped by fifty-five percent. Panic spread. Then the solution appeared."
He produced a document.
"The Financial Stability Fund."
He paused, then said:
"But the rescue was not free."
Turning the pages, he said:
"The loans did not pass directly through the banks. They passed through intermediary companies. These companies were linked to a single circle. The debts did not appear after the collapse… they existed before it."
Then he said with decisive clarity:
"The crisis was not discovered. It was executed."
He moved to another file without hesitation:
"After that, agricultural projects collapsed. Factories shut down. Entire noble families went bankrupt. It was said the market was correcting itself."
Then he said:
"And then the Royal Credit Council appeared as the savior."
He raised the contracts.
"Partial control of assets did not go to the state… it went to companies tied to the same circle."
Then he said calmly:
"And among those harmed… Duke Loren."
Ken turned instinctively. He saw Elaine—her face pale, her hands clenched tight. He returned his gaze forward.
Marvin continued:
"Then came the sudden price drop. An agricultural contagion was announced. Warehouses were sealed."
He raised a disbursement order.
"This order was signed forty-eight hours before the announcement."
Then he spoke the name without hesitation:
"Prince Darius."
He added:
"What occurred was not trade. It was control of food."
Several nobles clenched their fists.
Marvin opened a new file and said:
"We move on to the maritime trade crisis."
He said:
"Five ships were lost. Trade halted. Prices rose."
Then he said:
"But the truth is that the ships were sold before the announcement. They were replaced with old vessels. They were deliberately sunk."
He raised a document.
"Sea Route Company."
Then named the individuals:
"Baron Eldric San.Baron Haven Rex."
Marvin took a deep breath and said:
"Then came what was called the economic recovery."
He said:
"Prices fell. Goods became available. But this recovery was not universal."
He displayed a list.
"These companies alone benefited. All of them are linked to nobles who later became the most prominent supporters of Prince Darius."
Marvin fell silent.
The silence that followed was not the silence of a hall…It was the silence of a kingdom that had finally understood what had been done to it.