Shattered Sanity

(Meanwhile, White Castle, Riven’s POV)

Riven had not seen his father once since they had returned to White Castle, as the Duke seemed to have become exceptionally busy with work following his confrontation with the Imperial authorities.

Over the past seven days, Riven had witnessed numerous noble carriages arriving at the castle, with several important bannermen reportedly traveling from distant territories to attend private meetings with the Duke.

And although Riven had not been invited to attend these discussions, the conversations he overheard among the servants suggested that his father was preparing for the possibility of war.

Apparently, Duke Drew had written letters to his bannermen, informing them of how his son had been unjustly persecuted by the Imperial authorities and had instructed them to start preparing their armies should House Dawnriver be forced into a confrontation with the Emperor.

For Riven, this revelation had come as quite a shock, as he had never imagined that the Duke considered him important enough to risk open conflict with the Empire.

’I never knew Father considered me so dear...’

Riven thought, as he recalled how Duke Drew had personally arrived at the Academy with his flying cavalry, openly defying Imperial authority to secure his release.

And now, even after successfully bringing him home, the Duke was apparently preparing to mobilize his forces rather than allow the Imperial Court to condemn him for crimes he could not remember committing.

Although Riven understood perfectly well that he was not the Duke’s biological son, the fact that Drew was willing to go to such extraordinary lengths to protect him, treating him no differently from his own flesh and blood, genuinely touched his heart.

’Father might not express his affection through words, but he must care for me deeply.’

Riven concluded, feeling increasingly moved by everything the Duke had done for him, especially considering how cold and distant Drew had always appeared during their private interactions.

Perhaps his father simply wasn’t someone who knew how to express his affection openly, Riven reasoned, as the Duke’s actions over the past several days had spoken far more clearly than his words ever had.

’Since I can’t spend time with Father, I might as well train...’ ℯ𝔴ℯ

Riven decided eventually, as rather than wasting away his days idling, he resumed his daily training after selecting a replacement halberd from the castle armory, since Sky-Cleaver had been retained at the Imperial Academy as evidence.

However, on the fourth day following his return, Riven received an Imperial summons requiring him to attend a public hearing before the Imperial Court in approximately twenty-five days, to which Duke Drew had agreed.

And so, to prepare him for the proceedings, the chief librarian Archimedes began visiting Riven regularly, spending several hours each day coaching him on how to answer the questions he might face.

”Let us begin again, Young Master. Tell me what happened during your confrontation with Gary Ironveil.”

Archimedes instructed, as he sat opposite Riven inside a private study, holding a written copy of the testimony Riven had previously provided to the Academy investigators.

”Gary attacked me, and although I tried to fight back, he eventually overwhelmed me...

After that, I might have lost consciousness.”

Riven answered, only for Archimedes to immediately shake his head.

”Wrong. You were attacked by Gary Ironveil, and despite defending yourself to the best of your abilities, you sustained severe injuries that eventually rendered you unconscious. Do you understand the difference?”

Archimedes asked, as Riven frowned slightly before nodding in acknowledgment.

”Yes, Chief Librarian. Your version makes it clear that I was knocked unconscious.”

”Precisely. The Imperial Court will be examining every statement you make, Young Master, and careless wording can create an impression entirely different from what actually happened. Now, repeat your answer.”

Archimedes instructed, as Riven straightened his posture and repeated the revised statement word for word.

”Better. Now, tell me what happened after you regained consciousness.”

”I woke up and saw blood nearby, before then seeing Gary and Cedric, as I rushed to get Gary to safety.”

”Wrong again.”

Archimedes interrupted, his expression becoming noticeably sterner as he placed the testimony upon the table.

”You woke up feeling dizzy and beat up.

The whole world was spinning, and nothing made sense.

Even so, once you saw your injured classmate, you discarded your own pain and heroically brought him to safety.

And at that point, you did not even know that there were others who had died nearby.”

Archimedes said, as Riven raised an eyebrow.

”But if I say that, won’t that essentially paint the Academy as trying to frame me needlessly?”

Riven asked, as Archimedes nodded solemnly.

”That is precisely what we intend to establish, Young Master. The Academy authorities had every reason to investigate the massacre, but they had no right to presume your guilt before conducting a proper investigation. You were unconscious, severely injured, and incapable of explaining what had happened, yet rather than treating you as another victim of the incident, they immediately began treating you as a murderer.”

Archimedes explained, as he tapped his finger against the written testimony before continuing.

”And remember, you are not claiming to know who committed those murders. You are stating that the Academy authorities appeared more interested in establishing your guilt than discovering the identity of the actual killer.”

Riven nodded, although he was beginning to understand that the hearing would be considerably more complicated than simply recounting what he remembered.

”Now, suppose His Imperial Majesty asks whether you believe the Academy conducted its investigation fairly. What will you say?”

”I don’t think they were fair to me, especially Vice Principal Chadwick. He seemed convinced that I was guilty.”

”Too vague!”

Archimedes snapped, causing Riven to straighten in his chair once again.

”You will say that Vice Principal Chadwick appeared to have formed an unfavorable opinion of you before the investigation had properly begun, and that his subsequent actions made you question whether the Academy was genuinely interested in establishing the truth.”

Archimedes corrected, as he leaned forward and fixed Riven with a stern gaze.

”More importantly, you must mention the Truth Orb. The Vice Principal somehow came into possession of an artifact that the Academy was not authorized to use, and rather than explaining its origins or the circumstances surrounding its acquisition, he attempted to use it against you.”

”But the Truth Orb confirmed that I wasn’t lying about losing consciousness.”

”Exactly! And yet, despite that confirmation, the Academy continued treating you as a suspect without adequately explaining the contradictory evidence. You will make that distinction absolutely clear.”

Archimedes declared, before turning another page and continuing the interrogation.

”Now, suppose the Emperor asks whether you believe the Academy authorities deliberately attempted to frame you for the massacre.”

Riven hesitated for a moment.

”I don’t know if they deliberately tried to frame me, but it certainly felt that way.”

”Wrong. Again.”

Archimedes interrupted, his patience visibly wearing thin.

”You will say that you cannot speak to the private intentions of the Academy authorities, but their actions gave you reasonable grounds to believe that you were being unfairly singled out for crimes you had no recollection of committing. You will also request that the Imperial Court examine whether the investigation was conducted impartially.”

Archimedes instructed, as he waited for Riven to repeat the answer before continuing.

”Remember, Young Master, there is an enormous difference between accusing someone of a conspiracy without evidence and asking the Emperor to investigate suspicious conduct. We intend to do the latter, while ensuring that the Court understands just how questionable the Academy’s treatment of you has been.”

”I understand, Sir Archimedes.”

”Then let us proceed. Suppose His Imperial Majesty asks why your father intervened at the Academy. What will you say?”

”Father came to rescue me because the Imperial investigators were accusing me of murder.”

”Absolutely not!”

Archimedes snapped, causing Riven to instinctively straighten in his chair.

”His Grace exercised his responsibility as your father and the Great Duke of the East to protect you from what he reasonably believed was an unjust accusation. You will not describe his actions as rescuing you from Imperial authority, particularly when the Emperor himself appointed the investigator involved.”

Archimedes corrected, as he leaned forward and fixed Riven with a stern gaze.

”Your father’s actions are already being scrutinized by the Imperial Court, Young Master. The last thing we need is for his own son to make statements that could be interpreted as an admission that House Dawnriver deliberately obstructed an Imperial investigation.”

”I understand. I’ll be more careful.”

Riven replied, although Archimedes appeared far from satisfied with his response.

”Being careful is insufficient. I expect you to remember the precise wording we have discussed, because once you stand before the Emperor, there will be no opportunity for me to interrupt and correct you.”

Archimedes declared, before turning another page and continuing the interrogation.

For nearly two hours, he questioned Riven about the events of Black Week, repeatedly interrupting whenever his answers became vague or included unnecessary details that could be interpreted unfavorably.

By the time their session finally concluded, Riven felt considerably more exhausted than he had after his morning training, although he could no longer deny that Archimedes’ corrections had made his testimony substantially clearer.

”One final question, Young Master. Did you murder those twenty-one students?”

Archimedes asked, as he closed the document and looked directly into Riven’s eyes.

”No.”

Riven answered, maintaining his composure despite the uncomfortable nature of the question as Archimedes nodded in approval.

”Good. That is the one question that doesn’t need any clarifications.”

Archimedes instructed, as he gathered the documents and rose from his chair, apparently satisfied with the progress they had made.