101 The Trial

I walked in a slow pace with guards in front of me and behind. They had allowed Kibbles to rest on my shoulder but Loki had to take a seat in one of the stands that were packed with people. I glanced up for a little spotting a few people here and there that I knew but for the most part, I had not the faintest idea who half of the people were.

I looked down at my shoes as I shuffled towards the podium where I would be tried and most likely sentenced. I could not help but try to stop myself from smiling. I had a plan that might just work out best for everyone.

The crowd began to mumble as I made my way up to my seat. I was not handcuffed nor was I shackled. It seemed that at least the royal family was kind enough to give me my dignity as I was made to plan the role of the villain. At least the Yuki from the game and me as Yuki now had something in common.

This world it seemed was very different to Romance Fantasy ++ all the key elements were there but it had become more of a choose your own adventure novel rather than the harem game that I had played.

I took in a big breath of air and turned around as I looked at the people who had just appeared. The King of Tama was an elderly man that had more wrinkles on his face then anyone dared to count. The king looked like he had robbed a jewellery store as he was covered head to toe in diamonds and gold.

Vance royal fashion looked terribly guady to me.

Romeo was not dressed much better I looked at him before glancing away unable to look into his eyes. He did not seem wounded in the least as he walked up to seats on the other side of me and sat down with his father.

The next to come in were the emperor, the square empress and the three royal siblings. They all sat up in front of the courtroom. Nathan looked down at me for a brief moment before nodding his head and staring at the ground. Rosli looked like she wanted to say something as she nodded and Leopold had his hand clenched.

[ Thank you for worrying about me everyone ]

I patted Kibbles who was sitting on my shoulder before finally my grandfather came and sat down next to me. He grabbed my hand from Kibbles and without saying a word held it. His warm hands felt soothing.

" Today we are gathered discuss the future of Yuki Akiyo, All rise and bow to the King!" A man shouted to the audience.

Everyone including myself and my grandfather stood up and bowed. All except the Vance Emporer who merely nodded. We all sat down in unison creating a strange sound that echoed through the air.

" Yuki Akiyo rise and make your way to the podium," The Emporer said as he eyed me off.

I shuffled over and stood as my designated spot. It was in front of the king and he looked down at me for a moment before nodding.

" Do you understand why you are here today?" The Tama king said.

" Please explain it to the court," The king replied.

" It is because I slapped Crown Prince Romeo for arranging the nobles of Tama to gang up on my team during the Arena battle resulting in the death of teammate Ki Akiyo," I said as I choked on the last few words.

And eruption of murmurs was heard throughout the courtroom starting as a dull sound to a loud exchange of conversation.

" Silence!" Shouted the man who was aiding the king.

" NONSENSE! He tried to murder my son!" bellowed the Vance King as pit flew from his lips.

The murmurs erupted further. It seemed as though no one had heard the entire story as even the Tama king had his eyebrow raised.

" Yuki Akiyo, you are here charged with the attempted murder of Crown Prince Romeo of Vance, How do you plea?" The king of Tama said.

" Not guilty, your majesty" I replied.

" You may step down," The Emporer said as hushed whispers were heard.

The king of Vance was the next to stand up, he explained to the court that I had gone out of my way to hunt down Romeo and then went berserk using my abilities to not only humiliate a member of the royal family by slapping him but trying to murder him after I lost control of my magic.

Not only that but he said the nobles ganging up on me was nonsense and that Romeo was a kind and honest boy who would never do such a thing.

He only made a brief mention of Ki using the words " A maid was killed" as if Ki being my maid and dying was no big deal. Listening to his side of the story infuriated me to the point of squeezing my grandfather's hand. I had to quickly let go as he looked at me then down at his hand. His hand had gone purple.

I looked at my grandfather apologetically and he weakly smiled in return.

Next to come forward were some of the nobles who were involved in ganging up on me. They all that they had been coerced into trying to gang up on my team.

I could understand why they were saying this conspiring to hurt me with the recent enemy country Vance could be seen as treasonous behaviour and would not bode well for their families.

Leo, Princess and Nathan all took turns on the podium all of them defending me, retelling the story as they had seen in from the Magic images that were shown as a video during the arena battle.

It was a pity that none of the images could be recorded but having all three of the Tama children back me up made me feel a little better about my chances.

Finally the people everyone had been waiting for took the stands one after the other. First, it was Rinny who retold everything exactly as she had probably seen it, then it was Sora who said almost the exact same thing and then finally Romeo's guard who seemed to tell the same story.

None of them had painted me in a light that made me seem like a murder.

When it was Romeo's turn he seemed to hesitate for a moment before looking at me and then at the King of Tama, he merely stated the facts of the fight not mentioning at all what he had done with the Tama royals before sitting down again.

The whispers in the room had reached a peak when Romeo had sat down as he too did not paint me as a person who tried to kill him.

" Court will be adjured for five minutes." The King said obviously exhausted before he stood up and left the room.

"Hmph, don't think you can get away with what you did boy," The Vance king said to me as soon as the king had left.

" Vance King, please remember we are in Tama." My grandfather said with a warning.

" Ah, Reo how is your family doing? Is your son well?" The Vance king said in response.

I had to quickly take a hold of my grandfather as he slammed his hand on the bench in front of us nearly breaking it in half.

[ This guy is a pig! ]

" Yuki I umm," Romeo said as he looked at me.

" Save it" I replied still holding back my grandfather.

Romeo turned around and looked at his table crestfallen, I couldn't be bothered being nice to him after all the damage he had caused and I merely wished for all of this to be over with.

The king came back exactly when he said he would and while his trusted aid told everyone to rise and then sit.

He looked at me and then at the King of Vance and finally he stared at everyone who had gathered here today.

[ It seems like he is thinking about something ]

" We find Yuki Akiyo for the charge of trying to murder the crown prince of Vance not," The Tama king said before the Vance king cut in.

" You better be careful, I would hate to think our peace treaty could be damaged so easily over a mere boy," The Vance king said.

The Tama king looked down on the Vance king and glared before sitting silently.

[ I knew this nonsense was going to happen!! ]

" Yuki Akiyo, We request you come to the podium," The Tama king said.

I stood up, looked at my grandfather one last time and stood up on the podium.

" Yuki Akiyo, We believe it to be true that you did not attempt to kill crown prince Romeo, But" The Tama king said before he paused.

" You did cause him damage and your powers did go berserk, for this, you must be punished!" The Tama king said as voices from all over the room erupted.

" King of Vance how do you will me to punish him?" The Tama King said as he looked over at the Vance emperor.

I could feel the king of Vance's gaze on my back sending shivers down my spine. It was a sickly feeling making me wonder if he was going to vie for the death penalty.

" It is only proper that a boy like him not be welcomed into your family. I ask that not only do you dissolve his engagement to your daughter and give that right to my son Romeo, but you must also send that Akiyo boy to the Dredge lands to the west were he be indefinitely exiled!" The Vance King said announcing every word with more and more excitement.

[ So that is what he was after… my engagement to Rosli! ]

" FATHER YOU CAN'T!" Rosli screamed as she stood up from her seat.

" I cannot agree to this!" Romeo said as he stood and looked at the King of Vance.

Loki walked up from behind the stands and stood at my side before kneeling towards the king.

" I suppose you have something to say too?" The Vance king said as he looked at Loki.

" Yes, your majesty, may I approach you?" Loki said still kneeling.

No one else besides me had noticed that Loki's eyes had changed colours at that point I wasn't sure what he was doing but the emperor seemed to be mildly entranced.

Loki had then been given permission from the king to approach as he whispered something in his ear. The emperor nodded seeming to agree with Loki before Loki finished and walked to my side and kneeled again.

" You have a true protector Yuki Akiyo, you best thank this young man. Yuki Akiyo, You will be banished to the Dredge Lands with your guard for exactly four years. Two years for every slap that landed on Romeo's face."

"Your engagement to our daughter is hereby dissolved. I am truly disappointed. As for whom Rosli will be engaged to in future I will leave that up to my daughter. Court dismissed" The Emporer said in a loud voice.

Rosli broke down in tears and ran out of the courtroom. Nathan and Leopold both nodded their head at my grandfather and me before chasing after her.

Reo held me in his arms before a guard tapped him on the shoulder and began to take me away.

I took one last look at Romeo who had his hands over his face while his father snarled in my direction. I finally let out the air in my lungs.

" Does that mean you don't have to marry that smelly girl anymore?" Kibbles said telepathically.

[ Looks like it ]

The road ahead of me was very bumpy, but at least if I was exiled I could start looking for my mother and father… and perhaps… just perhaps I could finally find some happiness.

I have survived high school it was not the way I wanted to but I am alive… for now.