Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 403 The Queen's Judgment

"Justice and truth never exist in the courtroom; they only exist in the hands of those who control the courtroom."

"When truth is distorted by power, the trial becomes a drama with a doomed ending."

"If you want true justice, pray that power is not in the hands of your enemies."

—Excerpt from *The Throne and the Lies*, Volume Two, The Trial

Late at night, the lights inside Areston Palace were dim, and the hall shrouded in shadow seemed to be whispering some mysterious secrets.

On her throne, Queen Medusa reclined languidly and coldly on a chair covered in pure white velvet.

Her pale fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, creating a chilling rhythm.

“That guy, Si Ming… even though he’s not here, he’s still like a thorn stuck in my heart,”

Medici's voice was low and filled with undisguised displeasure, "His manipulation of public opinion almost ruined everything I had planned for years."

In the center of the hall, three cardinals bowed their heads, listening silently and devoutly to the Queen's anger.

They knew Medici's thoughts perfectly well and never dared to speak rashly.

The Queen looked up at the sky, and the patterns on the dome, interwoven with gold and scarlet, seemed to tremble under her gaze:

“He is currently far away in Dunhuang City. This is our only and best opportunity to eliminate that naive princess Liseria who has been hiding under the wings of Si Ming and inciting the common people to rebel.”

Standing in the center, Bishop Andrei spoke softly: "Your Majesty, your judgment is as accurate as ever."

Liseria, using Lion Keep as her base, has been uniting the common people through night classes and has also been secretly making contact with many nobles; she will inevitably become a real threat sooner or later.

Medici scoffed, her tone filled with deep disdain:
"A threat? A naive and arrogant little girl, a princess who has been protected by Si Ming for too long and is unaware of the wickedness of people's hearts?"

Did she really think those ignorant commoners could shield her from any hardship? Utterly foolish.

“But…” Andrei hesitated slightly.

"His Highness still enjoys an excellent image among the common people, and taking rash action might provoke a backlash. Perhaps we should handle this in a more gentle manner?"

Medici shook her head, her gaze sharp as an ice blade: "Merciful? Foolish! True rule is never built on mercy, but on fear."

I will make those commoners tear apart the image of the so-called 'pure princess' in their hearts with their own hands, and let their ignorance become my advantage.

"what do you mean?"

"The Reflection of the King Incident".

Medici's eyes flashed with a cold light, "The third prince Arthur and the second princess Victoria betrayed the royal family and colluded with the Reflection King, causing countless tragedies in Aleston."

Since we're going to use lies, the biggest lie will inevitably be the most easily accepted.

Andrei suddenly realized and whispered in agreement, "You mean to completely shift the blame for the third prince and the second princess onto Princess Liseria?"

Medici smiled, a hint of sarcasm playing at the corners of her lips:
“That’s right. The truth itself is irrelevant; the key is who controls it. Without the manipulation of public opinion by Si Ming’s tabloids, I will write the truth.”

Andrei bowed respectfully and whispered:
“Understood. Tomorrow morning, we will let all of Areston know that the real mastermind behind this disaster has been hiding among them all along.”

Medici slowly rose, her long, pure white silk robe cascading down like water. With her back to the bishops, she walked slowly towards the window.
His gaze was fixed on the dark night sky of Areston, as if he were looking at the chessboard of fate in his own hands.

“This time, I will not tolerate any surprises,” she whispered, as if warning an unseen adversary.
"Liseria, you and Si Ming wove a trap for me with lies, so now, you will repay me with the lies that have trapped you."

Medici turned to the silent cardinals and waved her hand authoritatively:

"Let's move out. From tonight onward, I will ensure that there is no second voice in Alleston."

The cardinals bowed deeply and responded in unison:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The candlelight in the hall trembled slightly, as if it too was trembling with fear of the impending storm.

The following day, before dawn had completely faded, a thick fog still shrouded the streets and squares of Areston.

The city, which should still be quiet at this time of day, is already faintly filled with a restless atmosphere. It's as if the entire city was awakened by some inexplicable force overnight.

As dawn broke through the mist, illuminating the city center square, the enormous notice was prominently displayed on the church doors, the words written in blood-red ink, a shocking sight:
"Dear Citizen of Alleston:"

Following a careful investigation by Her Majesty the Queen and the Church, the true culprit behind the recent tragedy caused by the Reflecting King is identified as Liseria Trean, a member of the Royal Family.

She had an affair with the evil Reflection Believer, the third prince Arthur, and the second princess Victoria, plotting to destroy the peace and prosperity of the capital…

The citizens who arrived earliest for worship that morning were instantly filled with incredulous whispers and exclamations.

“Princess Liseria… How could that be? She has always been helping us; she has been teaching our children!”

"But the announcement said she colluded with Prince Arthur and Princess Victoria... and it was written so clearly..."

From the crowd, an old woman's voice was both sorrowful and angry:
"If it's true, and my son died in the incident involving the Reflection King, then his death... was it also due to the princess's conspiracy?"

This single sentence was like a spark that quickly ignited anger and fear among the onlookers.

“No, this can’t be real!” another young woman vehemently retorted. “The princess is so kind, she would never do such a thing!”

But her voice was quickly drowned out by more excited and angry voices:

"Kindness? She's a princess! Who knows what these high-ranking nobles do behind the scenes?"

"Exactly! I think she was lying to us from the very beginning!"

At this moment, the Morning Star Times headquarters, which had originally been purchased by Si Ming, was also plunged into anxiety and chaos.

Before leaving Alleston, Si Ming had asked Liselia to recruit several reliable editors for the Morning Star to keep it running.

Now, in the editor-in-chief's office, several senior editors and assistants are anxiously gathered around the desk, unable to come up with a solution.

"Siming, the editor-in-chief, isn't here, so we have no idea how to refute this kind of public opinion..."

"Moreover, the church directly asserted the truth through a public announcement, leaving us no time to investigate, let alone refute it."

The assistant editor said dejectedly, "Moreover, the printing plant and distribution channels have also been secretly restricted by the church. We are afraid that we have no channels left to clarify the truth."

A heavy silence fell over the editorial office. Everyone understood that Medici's timing and method were perfect.

Without the leadership of the God of Destiny, this small newspaper, which once guided public opinion and suppressed royal power, has been completely paralyzed.

Meanwhile, small-scale marches and protests in the streets began to expand rapidly, with large groups of people taking to the streets.

Holding up copies of the church proclamation, they shouted accusations against Liseria, their emotions quickly shifting from doubt to anger.

"Liseria must pay for the lives of those who died!"

"We demand the truth! We demand justice! The princess is no longer our princess!"

Among the crowd, the figures of several cardinals could still be vaguely seen; they feigned urging people to calm down.

But in reality, they are constantly spreading more rumors and details that are detrimental to Liseria:
“I heard the palace maids say that the princess has been communicating frequently with the followers of the Reflection King recently.”

“Yes, my cousin is a guard at the palace, and he also said that the princess does indeed have secret gatherings.”

These words further agitated the public, and wild and absurd speculations quickly took over.

Reason gradually faded, and the princess in people's eyes was no longer the kind, elegant, and intellectual mentor, but a criminal who harbored conspiracies and schemes.

In the shadows, in an inconspicuous black carriage, Cardinal Andrea coldly watched the scene unfold.

He slightly raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a satisfied expression, and turned to whisper to the attendant beside him:

"It seems that His Majesty's judgment is extremely accurate. Without the Morning Star Times of the God of Fate, it is like a venomous snake whose fangs have been pulled out, powerless to resist."

The attendant bowed and replied, "Your Excellency is right. From now on, the opinion of this city belongs to the Church."

Andrei smiled and waved, signaling his attendants to drive away.

Dark clouds hung low over the city, and the fog grew thicker, a profound sense of despair and confusion creeping onto people's faces.

The truth has been suppressed, and the lie, as Medici said, has become Alleston's only truth now.

In the royal capital of Trelian, inside the noble council hall, heavy curtains shrouded the entire hall in darkness, while the firelight from the fireplace flickered on the walls, reflecting the uneasy and gloomy faces of the nobles.

Duke von Het stood in the center of the council hall, his full head of silver hair as dazzling as frost.

His expression was solemn as his gaze slowly swept over the dukes and noble councilors present. His deep, resolute voice broke the oppressive silence of the hall:

"Your Excellencies, Her Majesty the Queen has already made her move. Her actions are swift and ruthless, and Princess Liseria is currently in an unprecedented crisis."

Now, we should stand firmly on Her Highness's side and join forces to resist Medici's ambitions.

His words echoed in the hall, but seemed to fall into an endless abyss; no one responded.

The nobles exchanged ambiguous glances; some lowered their heads in thought, while others looked towards the gate with slightly uneasy eyes, as if they were ready to leave at any moment.

A sense of unease rose in von Het's heart. He turned to look at the person closest to him, Count Carlos, the young nobleman he had once trusted most.

"Carlos, what do you think?"

Count Carlos was pale. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke with difficulty:
“Your Grace, we all admire your loyalty to the royal family, but… the situation has changed. The Queen controls the church, the army, and public opinion, and Her Highness the Princess…”

His voice gradually lowered and became incoherent.

Fonte's gaze sharpened, and he said coldly, "Her Highness the Princess has done nothing wrong. Those accusations are complete lies. Can't you see that?"

Another nobleman stood up awkwardly: "But Lord von Hett, we have to consider our own families."

Her Majesty the Queen has never been lenient with those who oppose her; you have all seen the fate of Orion's eldest son and the three dukes.

They were stripped of their titles and exiled, and their families were even on the verge of collapse. We cannot repeat their mistakes!

These words struck the center of the hall like a heavy hammer, quickly shattering the last shred of remaining faith.

A desperate silence fell over the council chamber. Fear and cowardice were etched on the face of every nobleman.

von Het sighed, his voice filled with disappointment and pain: "Are oaths and honor so worthless in your eyes?"

“Your Grace,” an older nobleman rose and said in a low voice.

“Oaths and honor are important, but what is the point if the fate of the family is also lost? We must protect our bloodline and honor before we can talk about loyalty.”

A few scattered voices of agreement rose in the council hall, but these voices quickly coalesced into a tidal wave, as if they had found a rationale for betrayal.

von Het slowly closed his eyes; he knew that today's discussion was pointless.

Meanwhile, in the shadows outside the council chamber, a young nobleman was quietly talking to a cardinal. He whispered, "Please tell Bishop Andre that Duke von Hett is still trying his best to win the support of the nobles, but he has failed. The nobles will no longer support Liseria."

The cardinal nodded, a satisfied expression on his face: "Rest assured, Her Majesty the Queen will remember your family's loyalty."

"Thank you, Your Excellency," the young nobleman bowed.

"In addition, the Duke just said that he may meet with Princess Liseria alone to discuss the next steps, and asked the church to prepare in advance."

The cardinal nodded slightly, turned and quietly left, his steps composed and smug.

Inside the council chamber, Duke von Het took one last look at the faces filled with cowardice and betrayal, and said in a heavy voice:
"Today's discussion ends here. I understand your choices. But remember, you will inevitably pay the price for today's decisions in the future."

The nobles all lowered their heads in silence, none daring to meet the Duke's gaze. von Het shook his head, turned, and slowly left the council chamber.

As he left, he sighed softly, "I finally understand that the loyalty of nobles is always only to their own interests."

The fog outside the council chamber thickened, chilling the air. All of Areston seemed to be shrouded in an endless winter.

On the day of the trial, a thick fog enveloped the entire city of Areston, and the heavy clouds made it hard to breathe.

The brightly lit courtroom of Trean Palace exudes an indescribable eeriness and gloom.

Liseria stood quietly in the dock, her soft blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was pale, yet her head remained held high.

With what little pride and dignity she had left, she looked directly at those unfamiliar and cold faces ahead.

Earl Raymond, the chief judge, sat in the high seat of the courtroom. His gaze was somber, his face serious, yet a hint of coldness was subtly revealed in the shadows.

He waved his hand, his calm, emotionless voice echoing throughout the hall:

"Your Highness Lyseria Trean, you are accused of conspiring with Prince Arthur and Princess Victoria, the masterminds behind the Reflection King incident."

"You deliberately betrayed the Trelian Empire, resulting in the loss of numerous civilian lives. Do you acknowledge your crimes?"

Liseria looked at him, her voice clear and firm:
“I do not acknowledge that everything I have done was for the people of Trelian. I have never associated with any evil forces, much less betrayed my country.”

The chief referee smiled slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, before speaking in his still indifferent tone:
"Your Highness, we have ample evidence to prove your guilt. Perhaps you are unaware, but numerous eyewitnesses have already come forward."

Accusations have surfaced that you repeatedly met secretly with Prince Arthur and secretly supported the followers of the Reflecting King. How do you explain this?

Liseria glanced around; the people in the jury avoided her gaze, especially the civilian representatives she had once helped.

Those students who had once listened attentively to her lectures at the Door Mirror Academy all lowered their heads, not daring to look her in the eye.

The nobles, on the other hand, were indifferent, their eyes darting around, seemingly filled with fear and disgust towards Liseria.

In their eyes, Liseria no longer seemed to be the loving princess, but a heinous sinner.

Why won't you look at me?

Liseria's voice trembled slightly; she clenched her teeth, and tears welled in her eyes.
"You once said you were willing to believe me, willing to stand on the side of truth and justice, but now? Why have you all chosen to remain silent?"

The hall was completely silent; no one dared to answer her question.

Liseria lowered her head and wept, but at that moment, a cold and unfamiliar mockery rose in her heart:

“Look at these foolish and pathetic people. Do they think they can escape the cruel tricks of fate by betraying me?”

The more fearful you are, the more you try to protect yourself, the deeper you will sink into an abyss of sorrow and regret, and that is exactly what I want…

The chief referee broke the silence again, his tone tinged with impatience:

"Jury, please vote now to determine whether Liseria Trean is guilty or not."

The noble jurors raised their hands without hesitation, as if they had rehearsed it countless times.

Liseria appeared extremely disappointed, her eyes brimming with tears, but inwardly she remained remarkably calm:

"As expected, these selfish nobles are always predictable. Si Ming had warned me long ago that so-called loyalty is just an exchange of interests, and I have read the script for this play far too many times."

Liseria turned her gaze to the civilian jury, her eyes filled with a hint of expectation and pleading.

However, all she saw was fear and unease in their eyes. They hesitated, looked at each other, and finally slowly raised their hands.

“Very good,” Liseria felt a sudden surge of inexplicable excitement.

"The more you betray me, the more it proves that my judgment of human nature is correct. Ignorance, weakness, cowardice, betrayal..."
You perfectly captured the emotions I needed… Just as I expected.”

Liseria felt a sharp pain in her heart. She looked at the scene before her in disbelief. Those sincere and innocent faces had now turned into unfamiliar backs.

"You also... betrayed me?" Liseria asked softly, her voice so low that almost no one could hear her, but each word was like a sharp dagger piercing her own heart.

A flicker of shame crossed the faces of the civilians in the jury, but it was quickly replaced by fear and self-preservation. They avoided her gaze, as if fleeing from their own inner condemnation.

Liseria lowered her eyes, concealing the barely perceptible smile that flickered within them:

"Yes, that's it... The more fearful and ashamed one is, the more fertile the soil becomes for my elegy."

The judge gently tapped the gavel, his cold voice echoing in the hall: "By the unanimous decision of the jury, Liseria Trean is found guilty, and is guilty!"

Liseria closed her eyes, tears slowly sliding down her cheeks.

She had told herself countless times that as long as she treated everyone sincerely and stood on the side of fairness and kindness, there would always be someone who would understand and support her.

But now? The commoners she relied on and the nobles she once trusted have pushed her to the brink of the abyss.

The apparent pain and isolation were actually part of her script all along.

Lyseria calmly considered in her mind: "Meddes, do you really think I would wait for your persecution without any defense?"

Thank you for your cooperation. The more forceful you are, the more you can incite the tragedy and regret I desire. I am the true house in this gamble.

For the first time, she felt the fear of being isolated and helpless. For the first time, she began to doubt whether everything she had done was really worth it.

Did the goodwill and trust that we once firmly believed in ever truly exist?

The referee's voice rang out again, interrupting her thoughts: "Your Highness Liseria Trean, do you have anything else to say?"

Liseria slowly opened her eyes, raised her head, and her eyes were no longer filled with tears, but instead with a strange and cold light.

She glanced at the head referee, a heartbreaking smile playing on her lips:

"All I want to say is, thank you for teaching me how absurd this world can be."

“Thank you all,” she added coldly to herself, “for providing such a perfect prelude to my 'elegy'.”

The courtroom fell silent once more; no one responded to her words, and no one dared to look at her again.

After the trial ended, Liseria was escorted away from the courtroom by guards, leaving only a suffocating silence in the hall, like an invisible darkness that gradually devoured everyone's conscience and courage.

However, no one noticed the fleeting, cold smile that Liseria gave as she turned to leave.

"Now, everything is just beginning..."

Late at night, the inner palace of Aleston was dimly lit. Queen Medea sat alone on her throne, her long white hair cascading over her shoulders like flowing snow.

She stared at a white chess piece in her hand, a piece symbolizing the king, pale, fragile, and utterly defenseless.

The cardinal, dressed in a scarlet robe, stood bowing beside the Queen and said in a low voice:
"Your Majesty, everything is as you predicted. Princess Liseria has been successfully isolated."

The common people have abandoned her, and the nobles have submitted to us completely. Now, no one in Trelian can threaten your rule.

Medici smiled slightly, gently flicking the chess piece with her fingertips, and scoffed, "Liseria, you're still too naive after all."

She narrowed her eyes, her tone carrying undisguised contempt:
"She actually thought she could rely on the trust of the common people and the loyalty of the nobles to fight against me? Doesn't she know that?"
The so-called commoners are nothing more than easily manipulated ants, while those nobles are hypocrites who consider themselves superior but are actually more cowardly and timid than the villains of the marketplace.

Medici gently placed the chess piece in one corner of the board, as if sealing Liseria's fate forever:

"The wall she was relying on was nothing more than a pile of mud and sand, which would collapse at the slightest wind or rain."

Her shield was even more ridiculous; it was nothing more than cardboard plated with gold. She didn't even need swords; a few threatening words were enough to make them crumble.

The cardinal bowed his head in agreement: "Your Majesty is wise. Princess Liseria does indeed lack sufficient political wisdom."

However, this court hearing caused quite a stir, and there are still some dissatisfaction and doubts among the public. What do you think we should do next?

Medici snorted coldly, her eyes turning icy: "Don't rush her, let her struggle a little longer. The more she struggles, the more she'll realize just how foolish her past naivety was."

She gazed out the window, where Alleston was bathed in a blood-red moonlight.

She whispered, “Look, when the blood moon rises, people will only feel fear and pray to the gods for protection. And I will be their only god.”

Meanwhile, inside the Azure Lion Castle, Liseria sat at her desk in her bedroom, where only a faint candle struggled against the darkness.

Her gaze no longer held the vulnerability and sorrow she had shown during the daytime court hearing; instead, it had become calm, cold, and even carried a terrifying resolve.

She whispered, as if speaking to the darkness: "Meddes, do you think I don't know what you're thinking? Do you think I would willingly accept the fate you've ordained?"

Liseria recalled the words that Si Ming had once taught her, and she realized that she had been too naive.
She had placed too much faith in the empty promises of commoners and nobles. But from this day forward, she would never make that mistake again.

"You drove me to the brink with lies, so I will learn to fight back with lies."

Liseria gently raised her head, her face flickering in the candlelight. "If you want me to play this role, then I'll play it to the very end."

The wind outside the window suddenly picked up and became fierce, as if a storm was rapidly approaching.

On the streets of Areston, patrolling soldiers hurried along, the curfew bells rang throughout the city, and heavy iron gates slowly slammed shut, casting a suffocating shadow over the city.

The blood-red moon hung high in the sky, coldly overlooking the city that had fallen to the brink of bizarre and madness.

Everyone had a vague feeling that something was quietly approaching, but they didn't know where they were.

On the eve of this storm, lies, like a plague, have been silently devouring the truth and hope in everyone's hearts.

Liseria slowly stood up, her eyes cold and resolute: "Since lies have become your weapon, then I will use the same weapon to return the favor."

A storm is brewing; Alleston is about to undergo an unprecedented upheaval.

"Lies are the sharpest sword in the hands of rulers, but no one can guarantee that the person wielding this sword will not be wounded by their own blade."

"When everyone chooses to believe lies, the truth becomes the greatest evil."

"History never records the truth; history belongs only to the final victors."

—Excerpt from *The Throne and the Lies*, Volume Four, "The Eve of the Storm"

(End of this chapter)