The Trial Of The Holy Sword — Rod’s Trial

Rod had been born as Britannia’s eldest son. That he was neither crushed by expectations nor spoiled into corruption was likely thanks to his mother’s upbringing.

She scolded him properly when he did wrong, and praised him when he did right. He loved that strict yet gentle mother dearly.

One day, he sulked after being refused when he begged her to play with him because she had work to do. The words she spoke then stayed with him forever.

“Mother, why do you go to orphanages of all places? Spend more time with me.”

“Rod, you may be a prince and therefore important. But the life you enjoy exists because nobles and commoners alike work very hard. Isn’t it only natural to be grateful—and to give something back?”

“But there’s no need for you to go yourself, right? We give them money properly. Everyone does that.”

“Perhaps… but there are things you can only see by going in person. As someone who will rule this country, it’s better to have a broad perspective.”

“Then I’ll go too. I’m going to be king someday. So I’ll work hard to become someone with the broad vision you’re talking about, Mother.”

When Rod said that proudly, his mother’s eyes widened in surprise—then she hugged him tightly.

In truth, he didn’t really care about commoners at all. He simply wanted to be with his beloved mother. But seeing how happy it made her, Rod thought that maybe he could try a little harder.

“Why are these children dressed like this?”

“They aren’t wealthy. Only a small number of people can live the way we do.”

Following his mother and seeing children his own age at the orphanage, Rod was shocked. Their clothes were patched and tattered—so worn that, frankly speaking, even the rags used in the royal castle were of better quality.

That was why Rod was shaken. So people like this really existed…

“Look, Her Majesty the Queen brought food. Line up properly, everyone—no fighting.”

Watching children swarm toward the bread unloaded from the carriage his mother rode in, Rod was shocked yet again.

“That’s food servants eat… why are they so happy?”

To Rod, it wasn’t a feast at all. And yet they laughed joyfully as they shared the bread.

Seeing that scene, a question arose in his mind. Why were they so happy?

“Hey, you there. I have a question.”

“And who do you think you are, talking so arrogantly?”

Irritated by the cold response, Rod pointed at his expensive clothes.

“I am important. Can’t you tell just by looking?”

“You’re not important. Your ancestors were.”

Rod had casually spoken to a girl his own age nearby, but her blunt attitude left him stunned.

Up until now, every child his age had spoken only pleasant words, desperate not to displease him.

“Whatever. Why are you all having so much fun? Your clothes are in rags, and you don’t eat anything special. Why can you smile like that?”

Rod truly didn’t understand. They were poor, yet they looked happy—not with the pasted-on smiles he saw so often in the royal castle, but with genuine ones. That intrigued him.

“Isn’t it obvious? If you’re with friends you get along with, of course it’s fun. Or… don’t you have any friends?”

“W-what?! I’m a prince. Of course I don’t need things like that.”

“Wow… that’s sad. Then I’ll be your friend. Prince.”

As she held out her hand, Rod froze, unsure what to do. He looked to his mother for help—and saw that she was smiling happily.

If Mother was happy… then maybe it’s okay…

“If you insist, then I’ll be your friend. My name is Rod. And you are?”

“I’m Ludmila. Nice to meet you. Then, let’s get started…”

After introducing herself, Ludmila flashed a mischievous grin and shouted loudly.

“Everyone—! This big brother says he’ll play with us!! If you can keep running until the end of tag, he’ll treat you to something delicious!!”

““Yaaay!!””

“Huh?!”

The children who had been noisily eating bread scattered like spiders fleeing in all directions.

“Mother… what am I supposed to do…?”

“Since you’re here, go play. I’d like to see how cool Rod is.”

“Leave it to me, Mother. Watch the heroic figure of your son, who trains daily with knights!!”

With that, Rod dashed off energetically to catch the children. Watching him, his mother laughed happily.

From then on, Rod began accompanying his mother on her volunteer visits.

“Hey, is it true there are lots of maids in the castle, and even commoners can become one?”

“Hm? Not around me, but there are commoners among the menial maids.”

“Ohh—then maybe I’ll aim for that too. Maid outfits are cute, and you get to eat lots of bread, right?”

“Hah. Someone like you could never become a maid. It requires knowledge and refinement.”

Because they had visited the orphanage together many times, Rod and Ludmila had grown close enough to banter freely.

At first, he’d thought her rude, but her blunt honesty felt refreshing to Rod, who was used to nobles’ flattery.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to inherit the orphanage? What about that?”

“Ah—that too. Lots of kids want to repay the orphanage. But aren’t there very few people who genuinely want to take care of you? Your mother asked me as well.”

“Mother… meddling again…”

Embarrassed by his mother’s unnecessary consideration, Rod failed to notice the slight trembling of the girl before him.

“And also… I have fun being with you. Or was it a bother?”

“No… it wasn’t. Fine. I’ll make you my fourteenth maid.”

“I finally worked up the courage…”

“If you’re my maid, even a commoner needs education. I’ll teach you how to brew tea, how to read and write—everything. So show me your effort.”

“…Thank you.”

Understanding that Rod meant he would help her become his maid, Ludmila’s face flushed red as she turned away—just as Rod’s did.

Yes, as Rod lived among commoners, he felt his sense of discrimination—of privilege by birth—fade away.

Instead, he began to think it wouldn’t be so bad to give commoners more opportunities. He had known this feeling before… so why did he suddenly feel ill?

“Huh… why do I feel like something bad is about to happen…?”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? Should I call Her Majesty the Queen?”

Ludmila—no longer Maid Number Fourteen—peered at Rod with concern as his complexion worsened.

“Mother… that’s right—where is Mother?”

“Huh? She’s probably handing out bread right now, but—wait, Rod?!”

Ignoring Ludmila’s voice as he suddenly ran off, Rod couldn’t shake the image in his mind—his mother being stabbed by a commoner who’d lost his job and fallen into despair.

“Mother!!”

“Oh my, what is it, Rod? Did you and Ludmila have a fight?”

A knight was just taking bread from the carriage as his mother watched—and behind her stood a man with dull, lifeless eyes.

“You hypocrite!! While we’re suffering, you dress all refined and look down on us!!”

“Stop—!!”

Rod’s body moved on its own when he saw the man raise a knife. He threw himself at him with all his strength—but the difference in weight sent him flying instead.

“Rod?! Everyone, forget about me—protect Rod!!”

Even as the knights hesitated over which order to prioritize, the man stood back up and lunged at Rod’s mother again.

I have to do something…

When Rod thought that, a sword was suddenly in his hand. It emitted a strange light and fit his grip perfectly.

“Stop! Don’t touch my mother!!”

“You brat!!”

He swung the sword on instinct, knocking the knife from the man’s hand. His mother was safe now. All that remained was for the knights to capture him—

“Is that really enough? Won’t you be satisfied unless you kill the one who murdered your beloved mother with your own hands?”

As a voice shouted in his ear, the true scene flooded his mind.

‘Ah, that’s right… While I was talking with Ludmila, Mother—who was kind to everyone—was killed by this man… That’s why I decided there was no point being soft on commoners… that we, the chosen bloodlines, had to lead them.’

“If only you weren’t here, Mother would—!!”

“Rod, don’t. Your hands would be stained.”

As the surroundings blurred, and even the faces of his mother, the knights, and the hated man became indistinct, only Ludmila remained clear—desperately trying to stop him.

“Sorry. I can’t forgive him.”

Now the same age as he was in the present, Rod swung without hesitation, severing the blurred man’s neck. Blood sprayed through the air.

“Ah… so you couldn’t cast aside your hatred. If you had listened to her advice, you might have been worthy…”

“This is the trial… Even so, I cannot forgive him—the one who took my mother from me.”

At some point, the surroundings had turned into a white void. The men, the knights—even Ludmila’s figure faded away.

“Ah… come to think of it, Ludmila kept her promise from back then…”

Years after his mother was killed and he could no longer visit the orphanage, a girl came forward asking to become a maid. Because she was from an orphanage his mother had favored, his subordinates had hired her out of misplaced consideration.

He knew at a glance it was Ludmila. But he had changed so much that he couldn’t speak to her honestly and kept running away. Even so, she tried to support him… If he hadn’t deliberately been cold to make her hate him, would something have changed?

As the holy sword vanished from his hand, Rod’s consciousness faded away as well.