Redian passed by the lit dining hall without stopping. He planned to change clothes in the west building and head straight to the training ground. But then.
“What you just said.”
Redian’s steps halted abruptly in the hallway. There was no way he didn’t know that voice.
“Say it again, in front of me.”
It was Siani.
“…”
In her red dress and pinned-up golden hair, she stood out even among the many well-dressed people. Of course, it was inevitable. She always shone the brightest and was the most beautiful, no matter where she was.
“T-Those beggars, Princess picked them up from the trash can, parentless beggars…”
“Beggars?”
Siani slightly frowned. Those gathered around, expecting a spectacle, had their pupils darting in the air.
It’s scary.
Looking at that scene, Redian chuckled. Those round eyes that used to reach out to him while hanging on a swing…
“Not beggars, but the direct knights of the Princess Felicite.”
Siani seemed to correct the boy in front of her. But the boy, dressed in finery, only rolled his eyes in hurt pride.
“Repeat it. You were so talkative earlier. What’s wrong now?”
“I… I don’t want to! Why should I!”
From afar, Redian watched the entire scene.
“Those beggars were abandoned by their parents, weren’t they!”
Abandoned by their parents…
“I can’t agree with these beggars representing Felicite. It’s nothing but a disgrace!”
However, Redian didn’t care what the boy said or how others reacted. His eyes were only drawn to Siani’s softly curved lips.
This is serious.
Even her scornful look was pretty.
“Kid, you’re mistaken. I don’t need your approval for my decisions.”
“…!”
Siani smiled kindly and locked eyes with the boy. “Because I’m Felicite itself.” Her tone implied no one should dare discuss Felicite in her presence.
Redian knew. Siani was the sole entity even among the many gathered under Felicite’s name. Her presence was undeniable.
“Princess, are you really reproaching my son, who has become the cousin of your cousin’s cousin, just because of those Norma b*stards?”
Then a man, presumably the boy’s father, stepped forward, chin lifted.
“The duchy is abuzz with the recent ointment incident. If the truth comes to light, the duke will judge your crimes, Princess.”
“…”
Siani looked at the man as if he was talking nonsense. On the other hand, Redian’s eyes grew cold, trying to remember the man’s face.
“So, Princess, please restrain yourself until the judgment is clear. Many nobles are watching.” He talks a lot for a mere spectator.
In fact, Redian was watching this scene because he had spotted Siani. But his displeasure was growing.
“This always happens here.”
He wondered why she accepted it so naturally despite the unfairness… The world he thought was remarkable and the woman in it felt different today. Even the cryptic things she occasionally said to me.
“…Judgment?”
Siani slowly lifted her head, her red eyes serene. “Sir Deive, did you just mention judgment to me?”
Redian clicked his tongue softly, noticing the slight change in her expression.
“Since everyone is gathered here, we don’t need to move to the main hall.”
Her ever-kind and gentle master…
“Then, shall we start a real judgment right now?”
She seemed genuinely angry.
* * *
“Honestly, isn’t it suspicious that symptoms appeared simultaneously among the servants after using that ointment?”
With the duke absent, Deive saw this as an opportunity. His eyes were arrogant as if he couldn’t fail to deal with a mere young girl.
But what to do? I’ve lived over a hundred years combined in all my reincarnations.
“I gave that ointment to Sir Rubel and the butler, and they were fine. You know that, don’t you? How do you explain that?”
“That’s because you must have given them something different.”
As I stared at him silently, Deive continued. “It’s also suspicious that only Lady Luna’s maids had severe symptoms.”
“…”
Right. Keep talking before you go to hell.
“Honestly, is there anyone else in the duchy who would hate Lady Luna other than Princess?” He sneered, stretching his lips.
Deive is the duke’s nephew and a relative who was once removed. I remembered even such a minor character because… Forgery of documents, embezzlement, assault. Such a vile character is even mentioned in the original story. One of the culprits that being beheaded after Redian became emperor.
Because he was stuck in the countryside, probably only drinking alcohol, he seemed to have no idea how the current affairs of the main mansion. He probably remembered Siani Felicite from five years ago.
“Let me ask again. Why would I harm Luna and her maids?” I looked at him as if he was crude and low-level.
“No way… Do you think that Luan and I are competing? What on earth do you think of me, a direct descendant of Felicite?”
Using expression 3 for belittlement worked well.
“You’re too delusional. Last year alone, about twenty anonymous petitions reported your crimes.”
“…!”
“Busy with your foolishness, you must be having such low-level thoughts.”
“W-what did you say?” Stammering at my sharp words, Deive blinked like he’d been slapped.
Fools aren’t worth hitting. You pass, next person.
“Anyone else with something to say, say it here.”
No one dared step forward after watching Deive falter.
This isn’t going as planned.
Those who realized I had changed refrained from stepping up. But then.
“I actually used the ointment Princess gave to the servants.”
Another clueless fool rolled up his sleeve, stepping forward. Seeing his face, my mind clicked into place.
Teindel, I knew you’d show up. Truly, this was unprecedented. Fraud, embezzlement, molestation, theft, gambling.
“Oh my gosh.”
“Similar blisters to the servants, indeed.”
He showed his arm, covered in tiny blisters.
“I got this after using the ointment immediately upon arriving at the capital yesterday.”
“Ugh, that’s terrible.”
The clear evidence stirred the crowd.
“Isn’t this definitely the ointment made by Princess?”
He slammed down the ointment on the table, looking triumphant as if he had saved a country. It seemed like a desperate attempt to gain favor with the senior vassals.
“Yes, it’s definitely what I made.” Seizing the opportunity, I promptly admitted. “So you used this ointment and ended up like this?”
“Exactly. Everyone sharing the west building would be affected if it were the food or something else. So, the cause is this ointment.”
His clear answer silenced the surroundings. Clicking tongues, giggles, and whispers all merged into a cacophony.
“What’s with the commotion?”
“I was going to tell this at the council meeting, but since this has come to an end, I will ask you here.”
As senior vassals approached, Teindel grew more triumphant.
“Please explain, Princess.”
“Well, let’s see.” I smiled lightly. “But this is not the ointment I gave to the servants.”
“Yes? W-what…”
“This is what I gave to Sir Rubel, not the servants.”
His brows furrowed, puzzled.
Caught you, scammer.
“T-the butler assured me it was ointment collected from the servants who showed symptoms!”
“I was passing by and came in because there seemed to be a commotion.”
The butler, who had been waiting for the moment to come in, appeared at that moment.
“What is the fuss about? Ah, I see you’re here! Sir Teindel!”
“Butler, didn’t you give me the ointment that the servants used yesterday!”
“Yes. I collected all the problematic ointments for safekeeping.” The butler admitted smoothly, feigning realization. “Sir Teindel needed it for investigation, so I gave him what Susan used.” His acting of innocent confusion was excellent.
“Look! Susan is Lady Luna’s maid, but you say it’s what Sir Rubel used!”
Teindel jumped at the butler’s testimony.
“Because I marked each one so only I could recognize… Uh.” The butler, holding the ointment, suddenly sounded perplexed. “Oh no, this isn’t what Susan used!”
“W-what is this nonsense out of the blue?”
When the butler turned the container, some scribbles were visible.
“It may be hard to recognize because of my unique handwriting for confidential documents, but it clearly says Rubel.”
“This, what’s this…”
“It must be because of my presbyopia, haha! I must’ve mistaken and given Rubel’s ointment. Oh dear!”
Confused, Teindel glanced at the senior vassals, but they avoided his gaze, unable to offer help.
I had reason to bring this to light here, not at the council meeting.
The nobles were ready to frame me at the upcoming meeting. Teindel was one of their planted pieces of evidence. But my preemptive move caught them off guard.
“That’s strange. Sir Rubel used the same ointment for over three months with no issue.”
Time to end this farce with the scammer.
“Why did you end up like this using the same ointment?”
“…”
Now…
“Answer me. Who put you up to this?”
It was my turn.
