NOVEL NEXT Chapter 260: A New Issue and Preparation for Trial
"The trial will be presided over directly by the palace envoy…"
Upon hearing that, Nolan and Aston were taken aback.
"Duke Austin, are you serious about this? How can the palace interfere? Didn't you say earlier that they wouldn't?" Aston asked in surprise, his brows furrowed.
Their confidence in winning the trial rested on two things: the Austin family's support and the assurance that the Imperial Palace would not intervene.
Nolan had even guaranteed that the Emperor would stay out of it and leave everything to Alvaron, the head of the eastern region.
But now, with this sudden turn of events, their carefully prepared plan was on the verge of collapse.
Alvaron took a sip of his tea and smiled wryly. "I don't know either, Marquis Valmire. Earlier, I confirmed that the palace would not interfere. Yet somehow, a letter arrived stating that they would send an envoy to oversee the trial."
"If I refuse, His Majesty will surely suspect me of rebellion. I cannot take that risk."
He shook his head with a soft sigh. He knew the Emperor had always been wary of him because of his strong influence in the eastern region.
The Emperor feared that he might rise in rebellion and split the eastern territories from the Empire. Of course, such a thought had never once crossed his mind.
After all, he was fiercely loyal to the Great Velmora Empire. Unfortunately, the Emperor would never easily believe that.
And so, Alvaron found himself in a bind, unable to take any reckless action.
Otherwise, the Emperor's vigilance would only escalate into hostility, and he would begin to perceive Alvaron as a threat.
Aston's expression hardened at those words. He knew the palace had been keeping a close watch on the four Dukes, fearing that their growing power might one day spark a rebellion.
In truth, such caution was understandable. Yet, in a fragile situation like this, such suspicion could prove dangerous—especially if it fractured the unity between the Dukes and the palace.
Meanwhile, Nolan, who had been listening silently, remained calm, his expression unchanged.
He was already aware of the matter, but in his view, his father was doing what any ruler would. As Emperor, he naturally sought what was best for the Empire.
Placing the Dukes under watch was, in his eyes, a step taken for the Empire's stability. Still, he could not deny that it risked sowing dissatisfaction among them.
"By the way, do you know who will represent the palace's side?" he asked indifferently, glancing at Alvaron.
Alvaron fell silent for a moment before replying, "The envoy is Louis Carvin. He is one of the chief judges in the capital and has presided over countless trials, from the most severe to the most minor."
"Louis Carvin?" Aston was stunned. "How could it be him?"
Alvaron looked slightly surprised, turning toward him with curiosity. "Do you know him well, Marquis Valmire?"
Aston gave a small nod. "Yes, I do, Duke Austin. He is one of the five chief judges of the Imperial Palace. Surely you must know this too, don't you?"
"Yes, I know of him," Alvaron admitted honestly. "But I do not know him very well."
The five chief judges held the authority to preside over cases in court. Their status was extremely high, as they served directly under the Emperor.
However, Alvaron did not truly know Louis Carvin, since they had never interacted nor had any form of connection.
"About a month ago, I was involved in a trial against the Red Obsidian Trading House over a land dispute," Aston explained, his expression grim. "I had purchased that land years ago with the intention of building a factory there. But suddenly, the Red Obsidian Trading House appeared and claimed it as their own. Eventually, we brought the matter to trial, and the presiding judge was none other than Louis Carvin."
Alvaron's brows lifted slightly at this revelation. He then asked, half-guessing, "Don't tell me—you lost the trial?"
Aston gave a small nod. "Yes, I lost. But I had submitted solid evidence, and still, the outcome was against me. I strongly suspect that Judge Carvin was colluding with the Red Obsidian Trading House to suppress me back then."
He paused briefly before turning to Nolan at his side. "Your Highness, the upcoming trial will not be easy. I believe Louis has come at Belfor's request to put pressure on the Castellan family. His aim is clear: to strip the Castellans of their property and undermine their standing so that they lose their title as the Marquis family of the East."
Since Rovert's death, the Castellan family had already begun to lose influence. Aston was certain—without a shred of doubt—that Belfor sought their complete downfall, reducing them to nothing more than a common family.
By doing so, the Marquis title once held by the Castellan family would fall into the hands of one of the Count families, eager to rise in rank and take their place.
Ultimately, Belfor's goal was twofold: to secure the Red Obsidian Trading House's dominance in the eastern region and to strengthen Zarak's prestige in the ongoing battle for the throne.
But before that, Belfor needed to reclaim his money tied up in the Castellan family estate, which was currently under the control of the Austin family.
Thus, he would most likely appear at the trial to set his plan in motion.
Nolan, however, remained calm. He casually picked up another grape and ate it.
"Thank you for your concern, Marquis Valmire. I appreciate it," he said politely. "But you can rest assured—no matter the obstacles, we will succeed in winning this trial."
At those words, Aston fell silent. He had already witnessed how terrifying this young man could be.
If Nolan was this confident, then surely he had a way to deal with the matter.
Afterward, the three of them continued their discussion of the trial in earnest.
With only a few days left, they knew they had to prepare everything with the utmost care.
"By the way, Your Highness, the Castellan family still lacks a defense attorney for the trial. Would you like me to arrange one? I happen to have many acquaintances well-qualified in this field," Alvaron offered sincerely.
A defense attorney is the one who represents a party in the trial. With a skilled lawyer on their side, any charges or punishments could be lessened—or even dismissed entirely.
Nolan waved his right hand dismissively. "Thank you for your kindness, Duke Austin, but that won't be necessary. I have already made the arrangements for the trial."
A faint, meaningful smile touched his lips.
Alvaron felt an uneasy chill at the sight of that smile, but he said nothing and merely gave a small nod.
"Very well. I'll trust you on this."