"You've been found guilty of obstruction of justice and custody of your children will go to your husband. You will be escorted to the asylum and will be given a week to get your affairs in order before then." A gavel pounded against a wooden block atop the stand. "Court is adjourned."
Judge Gunther rose from his stand, the rest of those in the courtroom stood along with him. He scanned the room once before disappearing into the door that lead to his office outside of the courtroom. He spilled into the chair at his desk and sighed as he pulled off the black robe and tossed it aside. A knock pounded against his door.
"You may enter," Gunther said.
Prince Hans stepped into the office and clicked the door shut behind him. Gunther rose from his seat and bowed once before plopping back into his seat.
"This is, what, the fourth one this week?" Judge Gunther said, smiling at the youngest prince. He removed the powered wig from atop his own mop of blond hair and ruffled the sweating strands to air them out in the humid summer. "And here I bet your brother that the party would put you in a sour mood. Well… sour-er. To whom do I owe for the rarity of a visit from the illusive Prince Hans without one of his brothers accompanying him?"
"Thank the newest person you landed in the asylum," Prince Hans grumbled. "She was a tough one to find."
The judge clicked his tongue. Crown Prince Rudolf was a tough man to get to crack a smile, but at least it was possible. The same couldn't be said about the thirteenth son of King Sigurd. Oh well, nothing lost if he kept trying.
"I do want to thank you for making my job easier," Gunther said. "The fewer violent cases that I have to deal with in a month, the better."
Prince Hans nodded and looked to the side, his eyes catching a look at himself in the mirror on the wall. His eyes flickered open and closed before he shook his head and stepped closer to the judge.
"How do you deal with it?" Hans asked.
"With what? The cases?"
"Yes."
"Well, for one, I try to keep myself impartial so that I can deliver the verdicts as justly as I can."
"Don't you ever feel remorse? Ever wondered how it would be on the other side of the ordinance?"
"Of course. I'm only human," Gunther said. "Are you feeling alright? These are rather strange questions to be asking me, even from you."
"To be honest, I'm quite distracted lately."
"Ah, is it the Viktor case?"
The prince flinched. "Is it that obvious?"
"Prince Rudolf mentioned it."
"Anything else he mentioned that I should be aware of? I've just been informed that bets are being made behind my back."
"Nothing to be worried about, and I do mean it. You're not supposed to find everyone, and I say that with the utmost respect, Your Highness. Just the magicians you've tipped everyone off about are enough, and even then you're doing above and beyond what everyone asks of you. I'm just surprised that you continue to submit the information anonymously when there are complaints about you just sitting in the castle, twiddling your thumbs, doing nothing for this kingdom. Take some credit, why don't you?"
"So you're admitting that there is something."
Gunther scoffed and hung his handkerchief around his neck before scooting his chair into his desk and gesturing to another seat positioned across from the table. The prince bit his lip, as if considering something, before sitting down.
"It's hot out, Prince Hans," Gunther said. "There's a coat rack right there. I'm surprised you're not baking in all those layers."
The prince looked down at his attire briefly, a small bead of sweat forming at his temple. He shrugged. "I'm only here for a few moments, and what does my choice in clothes have to do with the Viktor case?"
"One day I'll get you to stop being so business-minded and just have a pleasant conversation," the judge sighed. "But yes, there is 'something.' They found his body washed up on the beach. Right now there's an investigation. But considering everything, it sounds like it might be an apparent suicide, though I'm not ruling out murder. There were quite a few people who've had it out for him ever since he was under investigation for being a magician, even after he had a not-guilty verdict."
"Anyone that sticks out to you?"
The judge shrugged. "That's all I know about the situation. I try to let the investigators build the case against someone, not me."
"Oh."
Gunther raised a brow. "Rudolf has mentioned that you've been even more withdrawn since Viktor's disappearance. He thinks the rumors about you are getting to you."
Hans sighed. "I suppose they are."
"I'm not surprised. It's almost similar to Viktor's circumstance. You're worried that the people will turn against you, too, hm? Don't worry, I've never convicted anyone just on rumors. With hard evidence however…"
"How could I forget? You had my friend killed, after all."
Gunther recoiled. "I apologize if you felt my reaction to the case was harsh, but I am unrepentant for serving justice."
Hans shook his head vehemently. "Let me rephrase that. I'll never forget the fact that you're impartial. I wouldn't be surprised if you wouldn't think twice about having me executed if I ever were guilty of anything."
"I beg your pardon?"
Hans rapped his knuckles twice against the desk and nodded, then he sighed and scrubbed a hand against his face, tracing it upward into his hair to thread through his sweaty scalp. The minute contractions along Hans' face spelled expressions that were too small to read. There was a flash of disappointment, however, as if Gunther failed a test in the prince's mind. The disappointment disappeared as soon as the judge realized it was there.
"Never hold back your rulings, judge. Bit by bit, you'll make this world a better place."
The prince stood and tipped his head forward before leaving the office.
Hm. What a peculiar visit.