Chapter 117
The majority of the Center had a match rate of over 60% with the Guide in question.
On the very day that this fact had been found out, as well as the same day that the Guide had sought protection from him, he went in and overpowered all the Espers there.
And on top of all that, he had forced the Guide to imprint on him.
These were the allegations against Claude, and the reason why he was now standing trial.
“Do you acknowledge this, defendant?”
“I acknowledge it.”
Claude responded readily, causing a stir in the courtroom.
The Espers present, mostly as spectators, started hurling accusations and curses at Claude.
Despite the barrage of criticism, Claude’s gaze remained unshaken.
Sitting in the witness stand, I looked at him and then turned my head away, unable to bear looking directly at him any longer.
Claude was the hero of not only the Center but also of the whole nation, overcoming numerous national disasters and crises from a young age—all without a Guide.
He was an object of admiration for Espers and longing for guides.
And now, he was the target of everyone’s condemnation.
“We will now begin the witness interrogation. First, we need to verify whether the guide was coerced during the imprinting process.”
〈Tell them that you didn’t want it. That I forced you.〉
Claude had insisted, holding my hand tightly.
〈I don’t want to.〉
〈Listen to me, Rose.〉
〈So, you want me to say that you’re some despicable person who imprinted on me without my consent?〉
〈You won’t be punished that way, Rose.〉
〈……〉
〈Imprinting without consent is a crime, Rose. It’s better that only I am punished rather than both of us for consenting.〉
No, that wasn’t true. I could avoid punishment by playing the victim, but then Claude would face much greater condemnation and punishment.
〈But why should you be punished if we didn’t imprint? There was no coercion, and we didn’t imprint, so just tell them the truth…〉
〈Rose.〉
Claude’s face became stern.
Glancing at him nervously, Claude finally softened his expression and comforted me.
〈…I can’t bear to see you in the hands of other Espers.〉
〈…〉
〈You’re about to cry again…〉
〈It’s your fault, idiot…〉
Fighting back tears, Claude chuckled softly.
〈What others think of me doesn’t matter to me, Rose.〉
〈……〉
〈If you’re doing this because you feel sorry for me, just this once, do as I wish.〉
“Witness, please take your seat in the witness stand.”
One of the judges spoke solemnly.
I took my place in the witness stand.
I tried to appear unaffected, but my body trembled with tension.
The prosecutor approached and began the questioning.
“Witness, you requested the match rate test yourself. Is that correct?”
“…Yes.”
It wasn’t me but Azir who had requested the test and protection, but I couldn’t bring myself to reveal that truth.
He might have contributed to escalating the situation, but he was only trying to help me. I didn’t want him to suffer again because of me and Claude.
“Witness, right after the test results came out, the defendant took you away. Is that correct?”
“……”
“Answer the question, witness.”
“…Yes.”
“Witness, was the imprinting on the night it happened forced by the defendant?”
Anxiously, my gaze involuntarily turned to Claude.
I wanted to reveal everything at that moment. That there was no imprinting. That we hadn’t committed any crime.
The Espers who had intervened between Claude and me were displeasing, but I was also afraid of how many more unpleasant things would happen if we disclosed that we hadn’t imprinted.
However, it was a different matter for Claude to become a criminal for something he hadn’t done.
I can’t do it. I really can’t do it.
I was on the verge of tears, and Claude looked back at me with unwavering eyes.
It’s okay, he seemed to say. Say what you need to say.
Maybe now was the time to do what he wanted. After all, the situation had escalated because I had impulsively acted without trusting him.
But…
〈I can handle it.〉
Without blaming me or demanding anything from me, willingly adjusting himself to suit me.
Now, he was even trying to take on my share of the blame.
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