The Arranged Suitor Was the Kidnapper

As Sienna finished speaking, the surroundings erupted into a commotion.

Among them, the most surprised person was undoubtedly Laria.

‘Why did Sienna…’

She had thought Sienna was going to defend him, since she was still sitting right next to Marquis Hashir today. She hadn’t even imagined she would expose him like this.

Could it be that she hadn’t left from the start because she was planning this?

“No! I’m innocent!”

Marquis Hashir, who had been cursing Sienna, shouted so loudly that the building shook.

“That’s all fabricated. How could I, the head of the Sorcery Office, use forbidden magic!!”

The Marquis wielded his position as head like a shield.

As if it were his only way to survive.

“Banesion Hashir obtained the position of Sorcery Office head through unjust means.”

The Marquis turned his head at the voice coming from beside him.

Laria was there.

Laria stared directly at the Marquis as she recalled the past that Theodore had told her about.

At that time, Theodore and Banesion had been chosen as candidates for the head position. During the final competition, Theodore had dealt with forbidden magic, endangering the tower. For that crime, Theodore was expelled from the Sorcery Office, and Banesion took the head position.

That was what people knew, but the truth was different.

“During the head candidate competition, he cast forbidden magic and framed Theodore Rohan for the crime.”

The reason they hadn’t killed the Marquis at the hunting competition and brought him to trial was all to clear Theodore’s false charges.

If the Marquis died, Theodore would have to live forever bearing that stigma.

“I request a retrial regarding this matter.”

“What nonsense are you spouting! It was that bastard who used forbidden magic back then!”

As Marquis Hashir pointed accusingly at Theodore, Laria’s gaze turned coldly calm.

The reason the Marquis could act like this was because there was no evidence. Much time had passed, and the Marquis, upon taking the head position, would have immediately destroyed the evidence.

So Laria sought another method.

She was thinking of formally asking the judge’s permission to administer a truth serum.

Just as Laria was about to open her mouth, an old man sitting in the audience stood up.

“Her words are the truth.”

Laria and Marquis Hashir turned to look at him simultaneously.

“I am Samad Lapel. I am a top-tier sorcerer of the Sorcery Office and was the mentor of both Theodore Rohan and Banesion Hashir.”

Samad’s face, having revealed his identity, was stained with faded guilt.

Decades ago.

It was the night before the final competition.

Samad had come to check the competition venue and accidentally discovered Banesion.

Banesion was burying something at the competition site.

Before he could even question what he was doing, Banesion quickly disappeared.

Samad felt uneasy but let it go, thinking it was probably nothing.

And then disaster struck the next day.

What Banesion had buried was a magic circle made with forbidden magic.

The forbidden magic was activated when Theodore infused it with magical power.

Fortunately, a catastrophe was avoided thanks to Theodore detecting the anomaly early.

However, all the blame fell on Theodore.

Samad knew the truth but remained silent. Public opinion was on Banesion’s side, and he was afraid of being expelled from the tower himself.

He was plagued by guilt for a very long time.

On the other hand, he justified that others would have acted the same way.

As time passed and memories of that day were almost forgotten.

Samad encountered Theodore for the first time in decades.

And it was at the duel between Laria and Sienna, the daughters of his two disciples.

Flustered, he avoided Theodore.

At the same time, Samad was confronted with his karma that he thought he had forgotten. Indescribable shame weighed him down. Samad regretted and wanted to ask Theodore for forgiveness.

Yet the reason he couldn’t approach Theodore was probably because he was ultimately a hypocrite.

Though very late…

“Long ago, during the head competition, I witnessed Banesion Hashir engaging in suspicious behavior.”

Samad finally revealed the truth he had kept hidden for so long.

However, he didn’t dare to look at Theodore. He was afraid Theodore would resent him for speaking up only now.

“…Master.”

A familiar voice called out to Samad.

Samad hesitated but finally raised his head.

As he finally met Theodore’s gaze, Samad’s cheeks trembled.

Far from resentment, Theodore was giving him a faint smile as if nothing had happened.

Tears flowed down his wrinkled eyes.

He knew he didn’t even deserve to ask for forgiveness.

But this time, he finished his words without avoiding Theodore’s eyes.

“Though late, I will pay for my sin of remaining silent until now.”

At Samad’s testimony, Marquis Hashir’s body trembled finely.

All that remained for him now was his position as head of the Sorcery Office. More honorable than his title as Marquis, the one and only thing that was solely for himself.

After all he had done to obtain this position, he couldn’t give up the head position, if nothing else.

“It’s the ramblings of a senile old man! I won fairly!”

At the Marquis’s outburst, Sienna smiled coldly.

“Then you should have disposed of the evidence properly.”

Mocking the Marquis, Sienna turned to the judge and said:

“I personally checked Banesion Hashir’s research room. All the forbidden magic formulas he used at the time remain.”

Marquis Hashir, who had been frozen and unable to speak at Sienna’s words, collapsed in his seat.

“Good heavens…”

With someone’s exclamation, an uproar ensued.

Voices clamoring could be heard from all around, but the sorcerers of the Sorcery Office remained silent.

Some sorcerers lowered their heads, their faces deathly pale. These were the ones who had cursed Theodore and defended Banesion.

The ‘head’ wasn’t simply a leader, but meant the most outstanding person in the Sorcery Office and was the pride of the sorcerers.

This revelation was tantamount to the collapse of their foundation.

“…”

Marquis Hashir hunched his shoulders.

Even if he were to be executed, he had thought of an honorable death as the head. He believed that at least that much couldn’t be taken away from him by anyone…!

Marquis Hashir, having lost his senses, drew upon his magical power, forgetting where he was.

“That position is mine! It’s too good for a bastard like you…!”

However, before he could properly complete the spell, his mouth was sealed shut.

Unable to move even a finger, he could only glare with his eyes.

Gazes full of contempt, not respect or envy, poured down on Marquis Hashir.

He tried to shout at them not to look, but he couldn’t even make a proper breath sound.

The judge checked the evidence submitted by Sienna and then heard the opinions of the jury.

Finally, after speaking separately with the Emperor, the judge returned to his seat.

“The defendant Banesion Hashir dealt with forbidden magic and unjustly seized the position of head. He also cast a brainwashing spell on the Grand Duke of Krassium, aiding Rubenta Krassium.”

In addition, all sorts of charges were attached like a trail of ants.

Even one of them was serious enough that he couldn’t avoid the death penalty.

“His title will be stripped, and all assets will be confiscated.”

At the judge’s verdict, everyone looked at Sienna.

However, Sienna didn’t even blink, as if listening to someone else’s affairs.

“Furthermore, Banesion Hashir is sentenced to death, and his head will be displayed on the city gates.”

At the expected outcome, Laria looked at Banesion.

Until his execution, he would live in hell.

She could clearly imagine him begging to be killed instead.

“And Theodore Rohan.”

The name that fell from the judge’s lips landed heavily.

Laria looked at Theodore while clutching her skirt.

Theodore, usually a coward, seemed calm unlike his usual self.

As if he would endure any punishment given.

“You have done something that shouldn’t be done as a sorcerer.”

The judge reprimanded Theodore, saying that tampering with others’ memories through magic was absolutely not a light crime.

“Theodore Rohan’s title will be stripped.”

As soon as the verdict ended, complaints arose from various places, saying it was too harsh.

It wasn’t for personal gain, and people’s memories had returned.

Yet stripping his title was tantamount to the fall of the family.

‘Thank goodness.’

But Laria and the other family members were satisfied with the verdict.

It was much better than Theodore being imprisoned.

The judge’s gaze, which hadn’t reversed the verdict despite protests, turned to Theodore.

His expression remained stern throughout, but there was a certain softness in his eyes.

Finally, the Emperor rose from his seat.

“Theodore Rohan rendered meritorious service at the previous Imperial banquet. It was also the Rohan family who uncovered Banesion Hashir’s misdeeds.”

Mentioning the poison incident, the Emperor continued.

“I haven’t yet been able to commend his merits, and coincidentally, the Marquis title has become vacant due to Hashir’s crimes.”

The Emperor smiled cunningly, as if it were a truly remarkable coincidence.

Finally, he declared in a majestic voice:

“In recognition of his service, I bestow the title of Marquis upon Count Rohan.”