Unknowingly, Mako had walked into the lion's den by calling for this trial to reclaim a position in the Royal Court.
It had started off smoothly enough, with Mako defending himself well at first, responding with confidence.
But that wouldn't last long.
'What an idiot,' Catherine thought, watching Mako. 'This trial's verdict was decided long ago.'
Catherine glanced up, catching the High Judge's eye.
The High Judge returned her look.
Unbeknownst to Mako, he hadn't just walked into the jaws of a bloodthirsty wolf. He was ensnared in a web spun by powerful nobles who now sought to sink his House.
Seated at the judge's podium was an older man with a long, gray beard reaching his chest. The High Judge, an elderly figure, looked down on everyone with an air of superiority, preparing to continue the proceedings.
The High Judge struck his gavel, silencing the room.
"Your Honor," Catherine said sweetly, certain of her victory, "we all respect the great legacy of the House of the Sun. However, I must remind everyone of one thing: its members are nothing but children."
Parts of the jury and the audience began whispering, agreeing with Catherine's point.
Mako's brow furrowed.
"Yes, that's true," the judge began, "but according to the report submitted, they have awakened their System. Legally, they are eligible for a position in the King's Court."
Catherine, unable to hide her smile, responded immediately, "Your Honor, if that's true, it brings us to another serious issue."
Mako, unaware of the machinations unfolding in the shadows, felt a deep vertigo in his stomach.
His instincts screamed that things were going very wrong.
"They have no experience whatsoever. All of us nobles awakened our systems at a very young age," Catherine said.
"But…!" Mako tried to protest, but the High Judge silenced him immediately, as it wasn't his turn to speak.
"Without practice, I highly doubt this boy is up to the task," Catherine concluded, as if driving the final nail into Mako's coffin.
"I've heard enough," the High Judge said. "Mako, it's time for your counterargument."
Mako froze for a moment. He couldn't even look at the High Judge, Catherine, or anyone in particular.
The sensation of standing before that massive audience mortified him.
Memories of being under the guillotine, facing a crowd eager for his fall, made Mako feel sick.
He touched the scar on his neck beneath his shirt's collar.
"Mako Sol," the High Judge said sternly, "will you present your counterargument, yes or no?"
Snapping out of his trance, Mako stopped staring into space, drenched in sweat, and lifted his gaze to the High Judge.
"Yes!" he said with all the conviction left in him.
'Damn it…' Mako thought.
Up to that point, Mako had defended himself well. Every point rehearsed with Polifemo and Ana had come up.
Did his House still have wealth? Yes.
Was his House still active in business? In theory, yes.
Could they still deliver what was expected? Absolutely.
Now it was time to prove it. Mako remembered the lines he needed to say to convince them, but then came the low blow.
"Your Honor," Catherine spoke out of turn, "I forgot one thing. Oops!"
Mako was about to object but fell silent at her next words.
"I must remind everyone that this boy's parents are dead. The greatest asset the House of the Sun had for this kingdom was its members," Catherine said loudly, ensuring everyone heard.
Mako couldn't even muster his usual anger. He didn't know how to respond.
"With them gone, who can assure us that Mako's system is as powerful as his parents'?" Catherine reveled in her words.
◇◆◇
Meanwhile, in the stands of the same tribunal…
Ana looked at Erick with sad eyes. She understood perfectly what it meant to see Erick arrive with an angel.
"You…" Ana said, her tone dripping with disappointment. "You made a deal with an angel?"
Erick didn't say a word. He merely looked at her with his crimson eyes and sat down silently.
The angel, a being that seemed to emit light on its own, only smiled. At first, its smile seemed pleasant, but after Ana's reaction, it felt more like a silent mockery.
Polifemo was practically exploding with rage.
"I can't stand these creeps!" he said, scooting as far from the angel and Erick as he could.
Polifemo then noticed Ana hadn't stopped staring at Erick. Puzzled, he tried to ask what was wrong, but she suddenly stood up.
"You haven't shown up in days," Ana said, worried. "Do you know how important it is for us to work together now that Mako's awakened his system?"
Erick didn't even bother to frown. He surveyed the scene before saying, "Sit down. Don't make a scene."
Ana was stunned by Erick's callous words to a concerned friend.
The castle guards weren't used to disruptions, so they didn't move.
What they didn't account for was that Ana knew the implications of making a deal with an angel.
Her worry and confusion turned to anger. Without thinking twice, she grabbed Erick by the collar, yanking him from his seat.
The angel let out a surprised laugh but did nothing to intervene.
"Answer me!" Ana shouted.
Erick tried to reason with her, pointing out they were in a tribunal, but the solemn atmosphere was already shattered.
Several spectators in the stands around Polifemo were watching the scene unfold.
Seeing she wouldn't back down, Erick finally gave in.
"Yes! I signed a contract with one of them," he admitted.
Ana, now more disappointed than angry, released Erick's collar, letting him drop back into his seat.
More than one guard sighed in relief, seeing they didn't need to step in.
"Then that can only mean one thing," Ana said. "Making a deal with an angel means making a deal with the Lunar House."
The angel tried to suppress a laugh, elegantly placing a hand over its lips.
"How entertaining humans are," the angel said.
Then, looking at Polifemo, it added, "You demons always pick the most interesting ones. Sometimes, I'm a bit jealous."
The High Judge observed the scene from afar. He was about to strike his gavel but held back when he saw Ana and Erick take their seats.
◇◆◇
Mako, feeling cornered, had nothing prepared for this.
His parents had died so long ago, but the world refused to let them rest.
'Of course,' Mako thought to himself. 'I'm the problem. I've tried to forget their deaths, and that's let everyone use it as a weak point.'
"Your Honor and members of the jury," Mako said confidently, turning his gaze from Catherine to the jury. "Not only do I have a system as powerful as my parents'."
A few jurors began listening with more interest, though others still seemed dismissive, thinking the verdict was already set.
The High Judge watched Mako curiously.
"The system I've awakened," Mako continued, "is even greater than theirs."
The room fell silent at Mako's words.
Catherine could only think, 'Poor fool, he's clearly cornered.'
The High Judge's gavel struck three times, signaling the trial was about to conclude with his verdict.
Mako's words sounded more like a jester's than a noble's. Everyone thought he was mad, despite his conviction.
Everyone except one person.
"By the authority vested in me," the High Judge began, reciting his preliminary words from memory, "in light of the arguments presented here…"
Catherine was using all her strength to keep from bursting into laughter.
To her shock, what she heard next wiped the mocking smile from her face.
"It's clear there can be only one solution. The House of the Sun must prove its claim," the High Judge said, sparking a thousand murmurs in the room.
Everyone had expected an immediate denial of the position.
"Typically, each House is required to present evidence of what gives them value to be judged," the High Judge continued. "But due to the unusual nature of what the House of the Sun offers, we have only one option to test the worth of your system for the kingdom."
Mako swallowed hard.
Catherine couldn't believe her ears.
"A duel of systems," the High Judge declared, sealing the verdict with a final strike of his gavel.