Balam quickly answered. "Naturally, Sir Orobas. Astaroth has left no stone unturned to help Nethermoor!"
"Considering the ledger filled with the embezzlement evidence, forgive me if I don't trust your words, Sir Balam."
Instead of arguing with Orobas, he turned to his son.
"Tell them Astaroth. You did consider using your divine powers, didn't you?" He urged, making eye contact.
Xeraphine, too, looked at her son, her silent gaze pressing him to give the right answer.
Astaroth felt a numbness encroaching upon his throat. The biting gazes made him sweat.
Zerath smiled faintly. "Yes, do tell the court. Did you consider the suggestion I had offered five years ago?"
Astaroth froze.
"What nonsense! When did you ever suggest anything like this? Stop spouting lies!"
Xeraphine narrowed her eyes. "Did my lord truly suggest that or are you weaving tales to trouble your brother?"
Nefarion glanced at Zerath. "When did this supposed conversation take place?"
"Five years ago in Wisteria forest. The young lord was out hunting. I had come across a scripture in the Royal Library and suggested that his divine power could help. Unfortunately, he didn't take it seriously."
Astaroth pointed a trembling finger at him. "Aren't you too shameless? Anybody can concoct an imaginary conversation like that!"
"I have evidence to support my claim. Remember the book I showed you? In a fit of rage, you burned it and threw it on the ground. I still have those burnt scraps with me."
Before he got any chance to protest, Zerath continued.
"Before anybody assumes that I burned them myself, I can bring that book here. Sir Draconis can use his crystal sphere. Since the young lord used his fire, it'll detect his mana, no matter how faint."
Vivia's face lit up with joy. Hope sparked in her heart watching Zerath dismantle every narrative against him.
Across her, Astaroth's situation was becoming grimmer and grimmer and his mind went blank.
This idiot had still kept that wretched book with him till now!?
"T-This is completely absurd…! My lord has set up an extremely elaborate trap to humiliate me, Your Majesty!"
Gressil raised his hand. "Young lord Astaroth. Even if we keep this argument aside, the question then is why didn't you think of it yourself?"
He was too stumped to respond.
"You proudly claimed Nethermoor's responsibility. In such dire circumstances, how could it not occur to you as the Sovereign that the most natural and powerful element of fire in our world - the sun, could be what we were looking for?"
Asmodea coolly fanned the flames further. "Indeed. Perhaps others overlooked it because the sun is such a regular part of our life. It's easier to ignore something which is right in front of you. But you repeatedly assured us that you devoted yourself solely for Nethermoor. How can a valid possibility like this slip past you?"
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the courtroom.
Nefarion's somber voice echoed after a long time. "I've heard everything. I'll now announce my judgment."
"Your Majesty. May I be allowed to speak?" Xeraphine rose and bowed.
"There is nothing left to hear, Madam Xeraphine. The facts have been stated and proved," he frowned.
She pressed her lips. "Indeed, Your Majesty. My son has erred in his ways. As a mother, I'm deeply ashamed."
Mother…Astaroth clenched his fists.
"Naturally, Astaroth deserves to be punished. But…" her brows crinkled pensively. "May I humbly ask for leniency?"
Vivia clenched her hands, seething with rage.
What shamelessness!
Xeraphine quickly added. "I understand how very shameless it's for me to ask this. However…Astaroth is blessed as the Sovereign of the Sun and Shadow. How would it look for the blessed to be punished?"
Balam latched onto that argument. "My wife speaks merit, Your Majesty!"
The courtiers exchanged uncertain glances. It was easier to punish a normal citizen, even a noble, but the blessed? One who held divine power?
Nefarion narrowed his eyes. "After how he embezzled the royal funds, neglected his duties despite asking for Nethermoor's jurisdiction himself and triggering today's catastrophe - you believe I should show leniency?"
Orobas angrily scoffed. "You cannot hide behind your status as the Three Greats or some divine title. We'll become a joke if we fail to carry out justice!"
Suddenly, Veloria chimed in with a soft voice, "Let us hear what she has to say. We shouldn't deliver a judgment in haste."
A tense silence fell with her abrupt interjection.
Xeraphine smiled. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
She then turned to Orobas. "I understand your concern. That's why, I simply ask to pardon his imprisonment, not the entire punishment."
Astaroth grew anxious.
What is Mother trying to do…?
She addressed Nefarion again. "Our realm could fall into a political crisis if our blessed will be in prison. With Princess Clairette here, it'll be just a matter of time before the Emberlain convoy learns of this news. They could plot a revolt against us, seeing our realm weakened and defenseless."
Gressil coldly interrupted. "Madam Xeraphine. You insult my ministry. The Demon Realm isn't so easy to conquer just because our blessed will be punished."
Vivia stood. "I fully assure you that I've no intention of reporting this to anybody, nor would my father plan any revolt against Rudaheim."
Xeraphine smiled helplessly. "You both make valid points but Sir Gressil, war isn't the only way. They can use a number of other tactics to pressurize us. To have their blessed free while ours is imprisoned is a powerful advantage for them."
Gressil's eyes narrowed.
"And Princess Clairette. I appreciate your resolve, but you're a human at the end of the day. We demons cannot base our actions on a human's promise, with whom we already have so many differences."
Vivia pressed her lips hard.
Draconis cleared his throat. "I can't say if I fully agree with Madam Xeraphine…"
Astaroth gnashed his jaw.
How dare you change your colors now after enjoying a fair share of gold yourself!
But he could do nothing. He hadn't formally pleaded guilty in court and revealing Draconis's involvement would only expose himself.
Nefarion was thoughtful for a moment. "What do you suggest then, Madam Xeraphine?"
She solemnly said, "Your Majesty. Astaroth has deeply wronged Nethermoor. There is no excuse for that. Which is why, I suggest he be sent to Nethermoor to wholeheartedly serve the citizens there for a year as repentance."
"M-Mother!" his eyes widened, horrified.
"Quiet Astaroth," her cold voice promptly erased his will to resist.
Vivia was outraged.
That's it? What about Eurus? Isn't this as good as letting him go scot free?
Zerath came forward, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Madam Xeraphine makes a fair point. We cannot compromise our political stature. I agree to your suggestion of sending him to Nethermoor for atonement."
Astaroth and Balam were visibly stunned, not expecting him to agree so easily.
Xeraphine bowed. "I humbly thank my lord for his understanding."
"But this is not enough of a punishment, Madam. It wouldn't instill the trust in our citizens in their King's justice."
Her eyes slightly narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"What about today's chaos? He hurt Eurus and Princess Clairette and now we stand at an awkward position to explain this to the Emberlain convoy. Don't you think they will consider the burn injuries on her hand as our retaliation toward the humans?"
"Naturally, Astaroth will apologize and take full responsibility."
"He also endangered the palace and Casca because he pushed Eurus to his breaking point."
Xeraphine maintained her composure. "Naturally, there will be an apology for that too."
Zerath smiled. "Then why not simply apologize to Nethermoor's citizens too? Why send him to spend a year there?"
Her smile faintly faltered. "...What do you suggest then, my lord?"
Zerath looked at Nefarion. "Your Majesty. I offer three suggestions. First, in addition to spending a year in Nethermoor, he must return all the embezzled gold to the royal treasury."
Astaroth puked blood.
"Second, if Nethermoor's citizens face grievances because of him, he will be duly punished - and at that time, there would be no concessions given on account of his blessed status."
"You are-"
"Lastly, it's extremely unfitting for a noble demon, the blessed at that, to hurt a child and our esteemed royal guest and endanger our people's lives. As a consequence of his actions, I suggest young lord Astaroth be stripped of his noble title and live as a commoner."