The Sinful Young Master

Chapter 352: Prince Milan

”The eastern district had a fire last month,” Pim added.

”Big one. Took out a whole block of tenements. People are still rebuilding.”

Jolthar listened, asking occasional questions, filing away information.

These men might be prisoners, but they knew the rhythms of the capital in ways that nobles and officials never would. They understood the undercurrents, the real problems that affected common people.

”What about the nobility?” Jolthar asked casually.

”Any scandals worth knowing about?”

The older man grinned, showing gaps in his teeth. ”Always scandals with that lot. Lord Varen got caught with someone else’s wife, again. The Minister of Trade is apparently skimming from the treasury, but everyone knows, and nobody does anything about it. And there’s talk that Finance Minister Richardus is running some scheme with land taxes, bleeding people dry.”

Jolthar’s expression didn’t change, but he noted that name.

Richardus. The same minister who sent them the summons letters.

They talked for the better part of an hour, the conversation meandering through topics from weather to politics to the best places to get cheap ale in the city.

Jolthar seemed completely at ease, as if he had all the time in the world and no concerns whatsoever.

The other prisoners found themselves relaxing in his presence.

Something was calming about his demeanor, something that suggested he knew exactly what he was doing, even locked in a dungeon cell.

*

Above ground, in the administrative wing of the Department of Justice, the meeting was far more tense.

Lord Dodd Halvren’s office was impressive: high ceilings, rich wood paneling, shelves lined with legal texts, and a massive desk that spoke of authority. Halvren himself was a man in his sixties, silver-haired and sharp-eyed, who had navigated the treacherous waters of imperial justice for decades.

When Bertelot Aravain, Cleora, and Raayani entered, he rose from behind his desk with polite formality.

”Lord Aravain, Lady Cleora, and Matriarch Raayani. This is unexpected but welcome. Please, sit.”

Before they could fully settle, the door opened again.

Prince Milan entered with Arvant one step behind, his presence immediately shifting the dynamics in the room.

”Your Highness,” Halvren said, standing again and bowing more deeply.

”I was not informed you would be joining us.”

”Neither was I,” Milan replied smoothly, moving to stand near the others rather than taking a seat. ”But I’ve heard disturbing news about the arrest of Baron Jolthar Kaezhlar. I thought it prudent to understand the situation directly.”

Halvren’s expression remained professionally neutral, but Cleora saw the slight tension in his shoulders. Having a prince personally involve himself in a case raised the stakes considerably.

”Of course, Your Highness. I’m happy to explain the circumstances.”

”Please do,” Milan said.

It wasn’t a request.

He turned to Cleora and Raayani, offering them a curt bow.

”Lady Cleora. Lady Raayani. I would say it’s a pleasure to meet you—but given the mess we’re standing in, I fear that would be a lie.”

Cleora forced a polite smile, dipping her head slightly.

”Even so, we appreciate your presence, my lord. Circumstances may be grim, but allies are never unwelcome.”

Raayani stepped half-forward, eyes narrowing in frustration.

”Circumstances be damned. Just tell us what we’re facing before it breaks us further.”

He could see the tense expression on their faces. He knew about the lady Cleora, the blue rose matriarch, but when did she get so attached to Jolthar, he wondered.

He sighed, shaking his head, leaving that matter for later.

Then they turned to Halvren and told him to continue.

Halvren returned to his seat and folded his hands on the desk. He wasn’t feeling any pressure or showing any sense of respect for the people present.

Raayani was taking notes of his disrespect. And in time, she would deal with him.

”Jolthar Kaezhlar has been charged with the murder of Baron Rothgard of Tekkora. The charges were formally filed three days ago by Hernais Rothgard, the late baron’s brother, and supported by documentation from Finance Minister Richardus.”

”On what basis?” Raayani asked, her voice cool and precise.

”The basis is straightforward,” Halvren replied.

”Baron Rothgard was executed without proper legal authority. While the crimes he allegedly committed were serious, the law is clear: only this department, the Ministry of Justice, has the authority to execute a sitting noble of baronial rank or higher. Jolthar Kaezhlar took it upon himself to execute without trial, without official sanction, and without authorization.”

”That’s absurd,” Cleora said, her voice sharp.

”Rothgard was using his people as slaves. He was torturing them in the mines. Jolthar stopped a monster.”

”I don’t dispute the crimes of Baron Rothgard,” Halvren said carefully.

”But the law exists for a reason. If every person who witnessed injustice could become judge, jury, and executioner, we would have chaos. The proper procedure would have been to report Rothgard’s crimes to this office. We would have investigated, tried him, and if found guilty, executed him ourselves.”

”And how long would that have taken?” Milan asked quietly.

”Weeks? Months? How many more people would have died in Rothgard’s mines while bureaucracy ground forward?”

Halvren met the prince’s eyes steadily. ”That is a fair question, Your Highness. But it doesn’t change the law.”

Bertelot spoke up for the first time. ”Lord Dodd, surely there were mitigating circumstances. Was there not an imperial representative present? I recall reports that Lady Maena Kaezhlar witnessed the execution.”

”We contacted Lady Maena,” Halvren confirmed.

”Her response was... instructive. She confirmed that Jolthar acted on his own initiative. She was present but did not authorize the execution. In fact, she stated quite clearly that Jolthar made the decision and carried it out before she could intervene one way or another.”

The words hung in the air.

Cleora’s heart sank slightly.

Maena had told the truth, which ironically made Jolthar’s legal position worse. He had acted independently, without sanction.

”So you’re saying,” Milan said slowly, ”that because Jolthar acted decisively to stop ongoing atrocities, he should be prosecuted for murder?”

”I’m saying the law was broken,” Halvren replied.