When the Dragnaut Duke asked how he knew the exact number of ballistae, despite only mentioning them in vague terms, Duke Clovis appeared momentarily flustered, his gaze wandering.

However, he quickly refocused on the Dragnaut Duke and began to speak.

“Why, you ask? Hmm, indeed, Pascal, you did not mention a specific number. But those plotting against the territory of the Thunder Duke wouldn’t think a mere one or two ballistae would suffice. Yet, it’s hard to believe they had the funds to prepare ten or twenty. Hence, the number five seemed plausible.”

“So, you’re saying you didn’t already know the number of ballistae. In other words, you haven’t been sending thieves into my territory, correct?”

“There’s no need for an answer. Surely, you don’t suspect that I, Daren Clovis, who has served loyally for three generations, providing unwavering service and dedication to the kingdom, would stoop so low as to arm thieves with ballistae? To doubt such loyalty over trivial matters would be the height of rudeness!”

Duke Clovis’s emphatic declaration was filled with conviction, leaving no room to sense any guilt. It was clear he harbored no doubts about his righteousness.

The Dragnaut Duke, looking sorrowfully at the man who had once supported him, sighed softly before speaking again.

“Please, be clear. Did you send thieves into my territory or not?”

“How tedious, Pascal! I have not sent any thieves to your land! How could you even think I would do such a thing?”

As Duke Clovis vehemently denied the accusation, all eyes turned to Zeram.

Before Duke Clovis could question this, Zeram spoke in an even tone.

“The words of Duke Clovis just now were false.”

After a moment of silence, Duke Clovis realized his statement had been scrutinized by the “Truth Sense Lie,” understanding that his lie had been detected.

Immediately, the aged duke’s face turned a furious red.

“You…! To use ‘Truth Sense Lie’ on me, a duke, without permission! It’s one thing to use it on criminals of the state, but to do so on a noble… Do you think such disrespect is permissible?!”

Duke Clovis, glaring at Zeram, then turned a stern gaze to the king.

“Your Majesty as well! If you suspect me, it would be proper for Your Majesty to personally inquire, not to allow the Pope’s aide to use ‘Truth Sense Lie’… This sets a precedent for the Law God’s Temple to judge the dukes of the Canaria Kingdom! It could lead to the Temple’s authority surpassing that of the kingdom’s nobility!”

“Truth Sense Lie” is a sacred magic usable by clerics of the Law God’s Temple and above, capable of discerning lies. While useful, its limitation is that only the caster can discern the lie.

Therefore, even if the caster claims, “That statement is a lie,” the accused could argue, “The caster is lying to frame me.”

However, such a bold defense would be meaningless if made by a common criminal. Regardless of what the criminal claims, the authority of the Law God’s Temple prevails.

This authority is precisely what guarantees the outcome of “Truth Sense Lie.”

And it was this authority that Duke Clovis was challenging.

Being declared guilty by “Truth Sense Lie” without concrete evidence would imply that the king himself recognizes the authority of the Law God’s Temple as surpassing that of the nobility.

If it became common for the Law God’s Temple to judge nobles through “Truth Sense Lie,” the people would come to respect the Temple more than the nobility, and the nobility would seek to ingratiate themselves with the Temple.

This would essentially mean that the sovereignty of the country would shift from the king to the Law God’s Temple.

“The founding king did not make the Law God’s Temple the state religion for this very reason! It’s an act of national destruction not only to incorporate empire’s blood into the royal family but also to strengthen the influence of the Law God’s Temple by subjecting nobles to ‘Truth Sense Lie.’ Do you intend to destroy the Canaria Kingdom, Your Majesty?”

“Great-uncle, please calm down a bit. Even if you are my blood relative, you are speaking too freely.”

The king tried to soothe Duke Clovis, who was almost frothing at the mouth with anger.

However, the elderly duke, already excited by his own words and dissatisfied with the king’s attitude towards the empire, seized the opportunity to vent his frustrations.

“I speak out of a desire to enlighten Your Majesty! If you continue this policy of becoming a puppet of the empire, you will be remembered as a tyrant who led the country to ruin. If you wish to meet your father and grandfather, the kings of Canaria through the ages, without shame in the afterlife, now is the time to sever ties with the empire—”

“Silence! You are speaking out of turn, Daren Clovis!”

Before Duke Clovis could finish, King Thorvald shouted from the throne.

The rarely angered King of Canaria showed his frustration, veins bulging on his temples.

As the king’s voice silenced him, Duke Clovis closed his mouth, and the king continued with a stern look.

“You wish to enlighten me? What right do you have to speak, after bringing the country to the brink of disaster with your folly? Let me make it clear: we do not need ‘Truth Sense Lie’ to prove that you orchestrated the attack on Pascal’s land!”

“What!? How could that be—”

“One of the servants in your employ overheard the plan and reported it to the Law God’s Temple. This servant, a follower of the Temple, harbored a deep grudge after being severely punished by you for his faith.”

Upon receiving the servant’s report, the Law God’s Temple in the capital Horus immediately informed Pope Noah.

Pope Noah, upon hearing the report in the Holy City, dispatched Zeram, his aide, to contact Princess Consort Sayaka. Noah and Sayaka had become acquainted during her wedding ceremony and had kept in touch through letters since. Given that Duke Clovis’s aim was clearly to eliminate Sayaka, it was only natural for Noah to inform her.

…Gaining favor with Sayaka, who is to become the Queen of Canaria, could have been a strategy to increase the influence of the Law God’s Temple within the country and, ideally, to have it recognized as the state religion. However, only Noah truly knows her intentions.

Nonetheless, eliminating Duke Clovis, who was both anti-empire and anti-Law God’s Temple, served the interests of both the Temple and Sayaka.

Together, they began to quietly gather evidence and witnesses. This effort coincided with Astrid’s report on the bandit subjugation.

The king continued, visibly agitated, tapping on the armrest of his throne.

“Using ‘Truth Sense Lie’ was a precaution, Daren. It was to consider the possibility of a conspiracy to entrap you. After seeing the numerous orders written in your handwriting, the likelihood seemed slim… Zeram merely accommodated my selfish desire to believe in my great-uncle.”

“Wait, Your Majesty! That very Zeram might be the mastermind trying to condemn me! Do you trust the ‘Truth Sense Lie’ used by such a person? Those orders must be forgeries!”

Duke Clovis’s face twisted in dismay as he desperately appealed to the king.

But his pleas did not sway the king, who was already convinced of Clovis’s guilt.

“How disgraceful, Daren. Now that you’re caught, at least face the end with dignity. The damage inflicted upon the Canaria Kingdom by this affair cannot be atoned for merely with your life.”

The king’s words were dismissive.

Indeed, that was the reality.

Duke Clovis, once a leading noble who used his private army to loot within his own country and tried to pin the crime on the empire—such news, if made public, would greatly anger the people and cause turmoil among nobles of all factions. The wrongly accused empire would be furious as well.

Internally and externally, Canaria’s reputation would be severely damaged, likely taking decades to restore. It was a tremendous blow to the kingdom.

—This matter could not be made public.

The king planned to handle this secretly, in consultation with the Dragnaut Duke.

The reason why only the king, the Dragnaut Duke, the accuser Sayaka, and Zeram, excluding the royal guards, were present at this judgment was precisely for this reason.

It was a bold plan, but Thorvald had his reasons.

For Princess Consort Sayaka, it was undesirable for the Canaria Kingdom, which she was beginning to establish herself in, to decline.

And the Law God’s Temple was cooperating with Sayaka. Therefore, it was likely they would agree to her decisions on resolving the situation.

Of course, a suitable compensation would be necessary. Thorvald would owe a significant debt to both Sayaka and the Law God’s Temple for uncovering Clovis’s conspiracy and aiding in its cover-up.

Going forward, he would have to consider their wishes in many matters. The thought was headache-inducing, but publicizing his great-uncle’s foolishness was not an option.

Ignoring Clovis’s continuing protests, the king sighed heavily, contemplating the difficulties ahead.