The dark side of justice
Upon entering the room, one had the impression of having run into a dance. A very orderly one, yes, but a dance in any case. Saillune's throne room was filled with people in their best clothes, all milling in an orderly line that moved at a slow, leisurely pace. However, here and there there were small details that ruled out the idea of a party. To begin with, it was daytime. The sun streamed in through the windows and its warmth mixed with the aroma of the guests in an… unappetizing broth. Then there were the faces. Most were long and serious, others were nervous. Because, what at first glance seemed like a dance, was actually a series of audiences with Saillune's royalty.
Today Amelia was alone at the top of the stairs. Phil was in Taphorasia, helping to rebuild the kingdom, and the duties of the palace fell into her. The princess looked even younger sitting on her father's throne. Her feet didn't reach the ground and her little shoes disappeared in the pompous pink mass that was her dress. Her gaze, on the other hand, was adult, serious. It distilled Justice (™) and the sentences came clear out of her mouth, strong as punches.
"That man is lying," she said after listening to the baker. "There's no such thing as an 'anti Drag Slave' insurance company, and he is definitely not their representative in Saillune. So, sir, you will return all the money raised right now and, as a punishment, you will also do community service hours in the NGO created for those affected by Lina Inverse's spells."
"How many hours will he serve, princess?" one of the guards asked.
"As many as coins he has stolen," she replied.
The baker's face filled with despair as well as flour, and Amelia watched him go with a smile on her face. Imparting justice was one of the things that she liked the most about being a princess. It was straight, simple. Her mind knew what to do as soon as she listened to both sides of the problem and her words just flowed effortlessly out of her mouth. Everything could be divided into good and bad, citizens and villains. There were no grays in between. The princess settled a little more in her seat and called one of the guards.
"Send the next one, please, Adam."
It was the turn of a young merchant and a lady who vigorously waved a green pendant.
"Your Highness, Your Highness! This man here has ripped me off."
"My, my, good lazy, how could you accuse me of such a thing?"
"It's the truth, Your Highness!" the lady yelled "his anti-Lina Inverse amulets don't work."
Amelia sighed softly. She was not at all surprised that this case was also related to her friend. In fact, in high season (when Lina was in town), three out of five cases were related to her.
Luckily, they were now in low season. It had been months since Lina and Gourry had set foot in Saillune, and a wary calm hung in the air. Amelia knew what they were on to because of the trail of Drag Slaves that they were leaving along the way, and because of the happy letters that the sorceress sent her. On the other hand, she hardly knew anything about Zelgadis. The girl's mind traveled for an instant outside the palace, as she wondered where her companion was now and what was keeping him so busy.
The memory of the chimera brought a subtle smile as she hid her charcoal hair behind her ears. After that, she returned little by little to the reality of the trials and the castle.
"Selling fraudulent items is not tolerated in Saillune, my lord. Only villains dare rip off the good people of Saillune."
The princess took a deep breath and the Accusing Finger was raised in the direction of the merchant.
"The anti Lina Inverse amulets have never existed" although it would not hurt if someone invented them, the princess thought to herself, "and, of course, you must return all the stolen money. In addition, your entire inventory will be inspected by the guards and, if any other kind of fake amulets are found, you will spend a time in prison."
The lady with the amulet bowed low. "Thank you, Your Highness."
And, without further ado, the couple walked away. Leaving the princess with the aftertaste of a job well done.
"Adam, next, please."
A line of defendants and plaintiffs filed past her eyes. None of the cases took more than twenty minutes. They were all simple, direct. The justice speeches filled the room with their righteous words and, thus, the throne room emptied with cries of 'Innocent' and 'Guilty"'.
"Let the next one approach," the princess repeated, and then she let out a small sigh.
This had been a long day. The sun was already beginning to descend in the sky and the room now glowed oranges and reds where before the radiant yellows had danced. Suddenly, a blue color crept into her field of vision and, for a moment, Amelia thought she saw a familiar face in the swarm that was the room.
"Zelgadis?" she whispered.
After so many months, her friend finally was in front of her. Yes, it was him, in flesh and bone. Yet, the situation seemed unreal, fictitious. The chimera was… different. changed. His eyes averted her gaze and his sand-colored clothes were torn, dirty. But what shocked her most were the chains. Thick chains were wrapped around his neck and bounded his wrists. The princess' eyes widened, first in surprise, then, with anger.
"Zelgadis! What happened?" she asked, sitting up on her throne. "Somebody let him go right now."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Your Majesty," a deep voice replied.
Amelia noticed for the first time the guard accompanying Zelgadis. He was wearing a navy blue uniform and his hands were holding one of the ends of the chain that bound her friend. Amelia felt rage boil in her gut. " And who are you?"
The guard made a small bow. "I'm Miguel Torres, Your Majesty. I belong to the royal guard of Sairaag and, in accordance with the Sairaag - Saillune Treaty of Justice, I request a hearing so that you can convict the murderer I captured yesterday on your land."
She didn't understand it. Zelgadis? A murderer? The princess looked at the chimera and he again avoided her gaze. A bitter grimace crossed his face, was it rage? Was it Impotence? She didn't know.
"Is that right?"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Miguel began. "I have been chasing this criminal for six years now, since he was still working for the great and wise Red Monk…"
"No, not you."
"Your Highness?"
"I want him to answer me. Zelgadis, is that true?"
The chimera still didn't react, he didn't look at her. But, little by little, his lips parted, and from his throat came terrible syllables.
"Amelia. I…"
The chimera stopped speaking, but a follow-up wasn't needed. She didn't believe it. She did not believe it. She knew that The Red Monk had been a horrible person and she also knew that Zel didn't have a good time with him. However, she was reluctant to think that her partner was a murderer. Only villains killed people, and these, of course, did not tuck in princesses when they were cold nor prepare hot chocolate for them on rainy days. No, Zelgadis couldn't be a villain, right?
Time continued to slide around the room, while the princess remained static and the chimera averted her eyes.
"Zelgadis…" she implored "tell me it's not true."
Their eyes met and reality hit the princess with the force of a hundred Drag Slaves.
"It's true."
Her mouth went dry. Suddenly, justice was no longer black or white. It was no longer simple. Now it was dark and thorned. It was complicated. It was raw and painful.
Part of the Zelameweek 2022. Today's prompt: Dark side of justice.