Chapter 50

Five years ago.

Year 933 of the Loaiza Calendar. The Royal Capital, Amageer.

A few hours had passed since the sentence of beheading was handed down to Harold and he was forcibly dragged to a cell beneath the Deliberation Chamber. Cody was currently in Vincent’s office.

"Why the hell does Harold have to be executed!?"

Cody pressed the master of the office, his face unusually stern.

Vincent, the target of his interrogation, looked no better; his expression was twisted as if he had just swallowed a mouthful of insects.

"Except for me, the verdict was unanimous—including Commander Cox. This sentence is far too heavy, especially since we haven’t even finished confirming the facts..."

Certainly, Harold was surrounded by suspicious circumstances and stood accused of being a spy. Nevertheless, both men shared the understanding that this sentence had skipped over every necessary legal hurdle. It could hardly be called legitimate.

"...In other words, someone’s been pulling the deliberators’ strings?"

"Most likely. If we want to stop Harold’s execution, our only choice is to find out who."

Vincent clearly had his own reservations about Harold, but he didn't believe the boy had committed a crime worthy of death. Cody had already filled him in on the broader details of the mission.

The suspicion of treason might not have been entirely scrubbed away, but Vincent remained firmly opposed to the execution.

"We only have a week..."

The timeframe was far too short. Conducting an investigation and smoking out a mastermind—along with their ultimate goal—in seven days was a tall order. And even if they did find the culprit, there was no guarantee they could stop the process.

But if they did nothing, Harold would die. No matter how impossible it seemed, they had to act.

Cody and his allies were prepared to move immediately, but the situation only worsened the following day.

Once the execution was officially decided, malicious rumors about Harold began to spread like wildfire through the Knight Order and into the streets. Some were spiteful distortions of the deliberation's contents; others were entirely fabricated.

This confirmed Cody’s suspicions. Someone was definitely trying to kill Harold. They were manufacturing a public atmosphere where his death would be seen as a just and necessary end.

Naturally, such foul rumors eventually reached her ears.

"I apologize for the sudden visit two days in a row."

Erika, Harold’s fiancée, bowed as she spoke. Once again, she had come to see Cody.

Her reason was obvious. She wanted the truth regarding Harold’s sentence and the source of the vicious rumors.

To be honest, Cody didn't have a full grasp of the situation himself, which left him with little to share. The beheading sentence was a cold fact, but whether he should tell that to Erika—a girl who was still just a child—was a problem that weighed heavily on his mind.

Since she was a guest, he led her into the same room as the day before. Her female attendant followed silently, taking up her usual position in the corner.

As soon as they sat across from each other, Cody cut to the chase.

"What can I do for you today... though I suppose asking that is just being boorish."

"Yes. I would like to know the specifics of Lord Harold’s situation, based on the verdict released by the Deliberation Chamber."

"...I’ll be blunt: the situation is incredibly grim. Do you still want to hear it?"

"I beg of you."

Erika answered without a moment’s hesitation. It seemed she was already braced for the worst.

She’s quite something for her age, Cody thought.

"First, the sentence of beheading is a fact. As it stands, Harold will be executed in six days."

Upon hearing Cody’s words, Erika closed her eyes and let out a soft breath, as if trying to steady her heart. When she opened them again, her gaze was level and unwavering.

"...You say 'as it stands.' Does that mean there is a way to overturn this?"

The girl had calmly read between the lines, picking up on the hidden implication in his words.

She really is a match for Harold, Cody thought with genuine respect.

"I don't want to get your hopes up, because I can't say for sure. It’s a gamble with very bad odds."

"That does not matter. Even if it is only a glimmer of hope, I will take any chance to save Lord Harold."

She wasn't ignoring the despair of the situation, nor was she in denial. She had accepted the facts for what they were, yet she remained unshaken, her mind focused solely on saving him.

Cody checked their surroundings, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. It was safe to talk.

"Normally, a verdict from the Deliberation Chamber is final. But this deliberation was anything but normal."

Cody revealed everything to Erika.

He told her how the verdict had been rushed. How Harold’s own statements and actions were completely ignored. And how the entire process seemed to have been a foregone conclusion aimed specifically at an execution.

As she listened, Erika’s face—and that of her attendant—grew increasingly stiff.

"...That’s where things stand. There is undoubtedly someone who wants Harold dead."

"Do we know who?"

"Unfortunately, no."

Cody shook his head, throwing his hands up in a helpless gesture. It was a pathetic admission, but he truly had no leads.

"But we have to find them in the time we have left. Though, like I said, there’s no guarantee it’ll save him even if we do."

To be blunt, they were facing a checkmate. Turning the board over at this stage was bordering on the impossible.

Erika was surely smart enough to realize that, but she didn't buckle under the weight of grief or hopelessness.

"Then we must act immediately. Lord Cody, who were the officials who handed down the sentence?"

"Eh? Ah—right. It was six members of the Deliberation Chamber plus the Knight Order’s Commander, Vice Commander, and the Captain of the expeditionary force. Of those nine, only the Vice Commander opposed the execution."

The Deliberation Chamber usually convened an odd number of officials to ensure a majority vote after debate. Nine was the maximum allowed. For such a high-level deliberation to reach a verdict in just two weeks was utterly irregular.

"Lord Cody, where do you stand?"

"To be honest, my policy is to always bet on the winning horse. But this time... I’m prepared to serve as the rearguard even for a losing battle."

Cody gave a sheepish, wry smile. Seeing this, Erika let a tiny, genuine smile of her own slip through.

It seemed he had finally earned her trust.

"Then I have a request. Could you provide me with a list of those who voted for the execution? Their names, titles, and backgrounds will be enough."

"I can manage that much, I suppose..."

"Then please. Yuno, handle the boarding procedures for the airship. I will join you shortly."

Erika issued her orders without a trace of doubt. Her attendant bowed and left the room with a quick step.

Cody told her to wait a moment and hurried to his private room. He had a list of the deliberators among the documents he’d been gathering. He returned to the guest room and handed it over.

"Here. So, what’s the plan?"

"...It is frustrating, but I lack the personal power to change this outcome. I will take this list to my father and have him pressure the authorities to withdraw the sentence and grant a re-deliberation."

Tasuku Sumeragi. The current head of House Sumeragi was a man whose name was known by almost everyone in the capital. His influence far exceeded that of a common noble. If House Sumeragi made a formal protest, other nobles would likely follow their lead. Whether that alone would be enough to overturn the verdict remained to be seen, however.

"In the meantime, I will conduct a background check on these deliberators. We must investigate who they were in contact with before the verdict was reached. Tracing the source of the rumors would take too long, but this..."

"I’ll take care of the street-level stuff," Cody interrupted. "There are some things you can only find through a local information network. Believe it or not, I’ve got quite a few connections in this city."

It was the result of all the times he’d "slacked off" at various shops during his patrols. It wasn't exactly something to boast about, but it meant Cody was more deeply connected to the common citizens than almost any other knight.

"The Vice Commander, Vincent, is already looking into the Commander. You can leave that side to him; he’s a capable man."

He had full confidence that Vincent would dig something up. Erika seemed to sense that trust and nodded.

"Alright. So Vincent handles the Commander. I’ll look into the expedition captain and the rumors."

"And House Sumeragi will devote its full strength to investigating and persuading the remaining deliberators."

They did a final check of their roles. Though Vincent wasn't there to agree, Cody decided he could just get his approval later.

Regardless, the 'Harold Rescue Alliance' was now officially formed. It looked like a week of sleepless nights was ahead of them.

"Then, I shall take my leave. Thank you for your immense cooperation, Lord Cody."

"Ah—wait a second."

Cody stopped Erika just as she was about to rush out. It might have been meddling, but he felt compelled to say one more thing.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but try not to panic. Even if things look bad, try to keep enough perspective to think: 'Worst case, I'll just storm the dungeon and break him out.' You'll think clearer and see more options if you have a little breathing room."

"If you did that, you would be stripped of your rank, Lord Cody."

"If that happens, you’ll just have to hire me at the Sumeragi estate. I’m pretty confident with a blade, so I’d be worth my salt."

"Fufu... I suppose so. I will be sure to mention that to my father if the time comes."

She gave him a smile that could captivate anyone, regardless of age or gender. It seemed he’d managed to ease her tension, if only a little.

When he had first told her the news, her face had remained calm, but her hands had been clenched so tightly her knuckles were white. She had been desperately fighting back the terror and despair of losing Harold. Her shoulders had been trembling, ever so slightly.

He could tell she was the type of person who might charge blindly into the fire just to outrun her own fear. But to save Harold, she needed to be cold and calculating. The path to survival was razor-thin and unstable; momentum alone wouldn't be enough to cross it.

"I'm counting on you, then."

"Yes. Thank you very much."

With a deep bow, Erika finally left the guest room. Cody watched her go.

"...What a strong kid."

Alone in the room, the words escaped him naturally.

It wasn't a physical strength, like combat prowess or raw power. It was an internal fortitude—a soul with a solid, unbreakable core. Even though she clearly cherished Harold more than anything, she forced herself to remain calm in his greatest hour of need. No—she was remaining calm because it was his hour of need.

That was no small feat.

For Harold’s sake, and for Erika’s, Cody felt a surge of determination. He would save the boy, even if it cost him his position in the Knights. Watching her face a cruel reality without flinching had struck a chord deep within him.

"It’s an adult’s job to support a kid who’s trying her best, right?"

Is this what it feels like to be a parent? Cody wondered. The sudden thought gave him goosebumps.