"What is the meaning of this, Ganelon?" an elder said, their face red with anger. Out of all currently present, they were the ones perhaps the most confused by the situation. Ganelon was by their side leading them but a short moment ago; yet here he was now, sticking close to Ruggiero and treating him as if the two were jolly good compatriots.

Ruggiero, to say the least, was very conflicted by this. Roland and Bradamante were similarly cautious.

"Oh, come now. What's with those faces?" Ganelon said with a great big guffaw. "I just think that we might be treating our friend here a bit too harshly."

Ruggiero turned his head and stared at Ganelon with an incredulous expression. "Were you not the one who advocated for my jailing?"

"Oh-hoh, still holding a grudge, hm?" Ganelon solemnly nodded his head and made a sad face like a child being scolded. "Forget about all that, Ruggiero. The past is the past. What matters now is what I can do for you. Surely you won't deny my help, right? Yes?"

Ruggiero didn't have a chance to reply before Ganelon grabbed his shoulder and pulled him in for a dramatic pose as if the two were about to set off on a grand adventure. "I knew you'd listen to reason! Do forgive me for all of that 'traitor' and 'imprisonment' business from before—no hard feelings. It's just politics. We are all children of the Lord; I'm simply doing what I think is best for the sake of the faith."

To that, Sir Roland gave Ganelon a doubtful look and tried to peel him away from Ruggiero. It didn't work. "What is your objective here, uncle? Do not attempt to spit excuses. I know full well what kind of man you are."

Ganelon gasped in mock pain and placed his hand over heart. "Your words wound me, Roland. No schemes here—none! And must I remind you that I am technically your foster father; I expect to be treated as such."

"Respect must be earned. After all these years you've spent attempting to undermine my position, you should be thankful that I only deign to speak with a curt tone."

Ganelon clicked his tongue and wagged his finger. "Undermine? Nonsense, I've only ever provided my counsel. It is your choice whether you wish to listen or disregard it, my lovely stubborn nephew."

Ganelon had a very peculiar ability to both infuriate and sway those around him. Sometimes they didn't even realize it. The paladins and priests were both dancing along to his cunning tune, unaware that he was leading them exactly where he wanted.

>[Sinister Interdimensional Bureaucrat says that Ganelon reminds them of a certain someone]<

>[Number 1 Rated Salesman 1997 suggests you should stick next to the man. It's not everyday you find a competent swindler]<

After a moment, the elders of the conservative faction finally lost their patience and cried out towards Ganelon with an irate indictment. "Do you truly dare to go against us, Ganelon? High Tribunal you may be, but the voices of us, the Lord's most faithful, shall never be silenced. We motion for punishment! Even if you are to pardon Ruggiero now, we will hold as many retrials as needed to deliver the righteous verdict of God."

Ganelon's jovial demeanor broke for just a split second—a flash unnoticed by all except for Lucius… and Roland. His smile disappeared, the light in his eyes dimmed, and he regarded the priests as if they were worth no more than dirt.

But he quickly assumed his mask once more and waltzed out before them with open arms. "Now, now, my fellows, it was not my intention to dismiss the court. But know that God has also assigned me a duty, and that is to provide a fair and impartial judgement."

The priests stammered amongst themselves and did their best to come up with a rebuttal. "What else is there to decide? Ruggiero's negligence led to the slaughter of our heroes."

"It was not negligence. An unfortunate tragedy, really, but he fought to aid Ogier. He rushed to a comrade in need and prevented further casualties of our people: such is a shining example of the Chivalry our Lord cherishes. I see no wrong here."

"He committed the sin of slaying his own. His blade personally skewered the heart of Ogier."

"Ogier had committed the sin first. The moment his mind was consumed by madness, he was already excommunicated in the eyes of God. Ruggiero was defending himself. I see no wrong here."

"He… he…" The elders cursed under their breaths. It was no use; Ganelon's silver tongue proved too mighty a foe. It was a wonder why such a man was defending Roland's faction, but they would be fools to deny his support now - no matter the agenda that laid underneath.

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"Nothing else to say?" he said with a wry leer. "Lest we not forget, Ruggiero has also accomplished an impressive feat: he slew a Great Evil. None have managed to do so ever since his late Holiness - Pepin the Incorrigible Destroyer of Peace and Harmony - perished five years ago whilst in battle against the now dwindled Twelve Great Evils. Long have we allowed the four surviving demons to roam free, but with his triumph, there is one less to worry about. Surely that deserves some praise?"

It was done. There was nothing else the elders could say, no ruse upon which they could latch onto. The players watched on in awe as Ganelon systematically dismantled their spirits and crushed their dissents with nothing else than his roguish voice.

But the moment Ruggiero believed himself to be free, Ganelon turned around, and the air around him stilled—deeper, menacing.

"However…" he began. "Good intentions do not necessarily rid you of consequence."

The elders noticed his sudden shift and immediately rallied by his side again. It was a rather pathetic display, if not for the danger Ganelon now expressed.

"I tire of these verbal games, Ganelon," Ruggiero muttered. "Speak plainly."

Ganelon obliged and slowly paced around the courtyard, addressing not just the officials, but the paladins and servants as well: gathering them all into one big audience. "It is true you have accomplished much, and no one here can deny you did all you could given the precarious circumstances. But the results are grim nonetheless. A Peer is dead, Roncevaux Fortress has been lost, and many of our honorable heroes have joined the Mother in the sky. Good intentions are not enough to excuse your failings."

Ruggiero's face contorted in shame, his lips pursed and eyes tired. This was no slander anymore; it was the uncomfortable reality. Ganelon left no room for him to resist.

"So after all that bluster, you would still seek my expulsion."

Ganelon, however, replied rather surprisingly. He shook his head and lowered onto his knee, speaking to the man with a somewhat sincere expression—kind of. "Heavens no, that is not my intention at all. We need people like you in this empire more than ever, Ruggiero. It's just that… well, we have to administer some kind of punishment. What kind of example would we set if we were to allow you full pardon?"

"Then what exactly do you intend to do?"

"Simple." Ganelon stood back up and beckoned out toward the city beyond the castle. "You have a charming little cottage in the affluent district, correct? Why don't you spend some time there for a month. Reflect a bit."

"You would imprison me in my own home?"

"Imprisonment?" Ganelon laughed. "What a dull word. I prefer to think of it as an unavoidable vacation. Don't you wish to get some peace and fresh air? And maybe…"

He leaned in close and whispered into Ruggiero's ear. No one could make out the two's discussion, save for Lucius who read their lips.

"... have a certain lady friend keep you company."

Ruggiero's face paled, and his voice trembled as he spoke to Ganelon with a new, growing terror. "How did you…?"

Ganelon glanced over to Bradamante and then back to Ruggiero. "Oh? Was it a secret? I didn't know! Good thing you told me, or else I would've likely spread it by the morrow. You don't want me to do that now, do you? It might be presumptuous of me to say this, but I suspect a tryst between a Frankish woman and a Moorish man would not be received well."

Ruggiero gritted his teeth and reluctantly nodded.

"Good, then stay in your house like an obedient little sinner and wait. I am doing this for your sake, Ruggiero."

Ganelon stood up tall and brushed off Ruggiero's shoulder with a friendly gesture, before turning to face the confused crowd. "I do believe we've settled this assembly here. Are there any other dissents? No? Then let us be off. The day is yet young, and I wouldn't want to keep our poor, pitiful heroes away from their much needed rest."

With that, Ganelon rejoined the elderly priests, much to their bewilderment, and made their way back to the castle. The other paladins begin to disperse as well, until all that was left was Sir Roland's faction.

Bradamante rushed up to Ruggiero and helped him up. "You're okay, beloved. Damn it… what did that vile man say that's got you so shaken up?"

He looked up to her, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest.

"He knows about us," Ruggiero whispered. "I… what are we to do now?"

Bradamante hesitated, and her eyes wavered for a moment; but nonetheless she remained hopeful and caressed Ruggiero's cheek. "We will persevere together, as we've always done."

The lady lifted him up and supported him with her shoulder, before bidding Sir Roland an acknowledging look and departing with Ruggiero.

"What a mess." The Peer's friend, Olivier, moved beside him and looked out to the busy courtyard. "I know not why Ganelon put on this show, but it cannot be good. He plots something behind our backs."

Roland sighed and crossed his arms, his mind deep in thought. "Be that as it may, this outcome is not a bad one. Ruggiero is spared of the gaol and we succeeded in preventing his excommunication. It still uneases me that my uncle would purposely relent his authority; nonetheless, we must treasure these blessings and prepare for his next scheme."

Roland exchanged a resolute shake of the hand with Olivier and then proceeded to guide the players out of the train. The show here had demonstrated that Francia wasn't so harmonious as they seemed, but the players were too exhausted to care at the current moment.

All they wished for was to take a long rest and recover themselves, for another trial no doubt awaited them in the future.

That was how this game operated. The players could never let their guard down.

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