Chapter 13: The Criminal Treatment
Ruri and the spirits had started their search for the missing pup, but several days had passed, and they’d found neither hide nor hair of it. Kotaro couldn’t hide his frustration and slapped his tail harshly across the floor. Rin was also at her wit’s end.
“If Kotaro can’t find them, they’re either using Spirit Slayer or the Spirit of Light’s power,” Rin proposed.
“The Spirit of Light?” Ruri asked.
“The Spirit of Light’s barriers are stronger than any other spirit’s. It has the power to isolate those within its boundaries from the outside world. And if they felt so inclined, they could also kidnap a sacred beast under the nose of Trees, like with our current case...”
“But the Spirit of Light is back at the Nation of the Dragon King’s castle, isn’t she?” Ruri asked, positive that she’d seen the supreme-level spirit back at the harbor waving goodbye.
“Indeed,” Kotaro confirmed. “Light had crossed my mind as well, so I checked, but she’s back at the Nation of the Dragon King as we left her. She said that she didn’t know anything about what happened to the sacred beast.”
Spirits had their own unique way of communicating, so they could contact one another even if they were far away—a very handy power to have for times like this.
“Then...you don’t think that whoever did it is using Spirit Slayer, do you?”
They had made Yadacain, a nation of witches, stop using Spirit Slayer magic, and the Spirit of Darkness was there keeping tabs to ensure that no one tried. Still, if it wasn’t Spirit Slayer...
“No, it’s not,” Rin asserted. “Trees has been keeping an eye on that forest for some time now. There’s no way that he wouldn’t have noticed Spirit Slayer in use.”
“Hmm, that raises even more questions, then,” Ruri pondered.
“I am at a loss myself,” Kotaro replied.
“Well, like they say, seeing is believing, and you never leave any stone unturned at the scene of the crime. Want to go to the forest and actually see if we can find anything?”
“I suppose it’s better than sitting around here,” Kotaro commented.
“Yes, let’s check it out,” Rin agreed.
Ruri then went to Awain to ask for permission. Fearing that something else might happen or that Ruri might be blamed for something she didn’t do again, Awain sent Lapis and some of the Nation of the Spirit King’s soldiers to accompany her for this venture.
Once they reached the forest, Ruri noticed that the relaxed atmosphere from last time was gone. The sacred beasts were seething with rage. The nation was going to have a different set of problems on its hands if they didn’t find that pup soon.
“A child of the sacred beasts was killed in the past,” Lapis explained. “While we don’t know whether this pup is alive, this marks the second time that their young has been taken from them.”
The child that had been killed was the original owner of the body Kotaro was currently using. Admittedly, Kotaro had been given the deceased body, but the point stood.
“The pup that owned Kotaro’s body was killed?” Ruri asked in surprise, unaware of that fact.
“Yeah, its caretaker at the time poisoned its food. The unsuspecting child consumed it and died. The perpetrator has already been apprehended, but there are a lot of points that raise suspicions.”
“Like what?”
“Don’t know. My father is in charge of the nation’s affairs. It’s not good for a Beloved to know too much.”
“Didn’t you brag about how you could get any info you wanted if you felt so inclined before?”
“That’s one matter, and this is another.” In other words, Lapis wasn’t really interested. “My dad is working on those issues as we speak, so don’t worry about it.”
“But if there was an issue involving the sacred beasts in the past, there might be some sort of connection,” Ruri suggested.
“I’m sure my dad is looking into that as well. What you can do right now is search for the pup, Ruri. You’ll naturally learn who the culprit is that way as well, right?”
“Grk, it’s frustrating to hear you make a sound argument...”
Lapis was a problematic character who fell in love at first sight at the drop of a hat, but he was right about this. The spirits were so cross at the fact that Ruri was being labeled a criminal that she had no choice but to accompany them on the search. Normally, however, since Ruri was another nation’s Beloved, she wouldn’t be at liberty to stick her nose into this nation’s affairs.
After seeing that the eager spirits had spread out through the forest, Ruri had nothing much else to do, so she patiently waited. Sadly, even after several hours of searching, they were unable to find anything. The group had no choice but to return to the castle empty-handed.
As soon as Ruri stepped through the doors, Celestine stormed up to her. “What is the meaning of this, Lady Ruri?!”
Ruri wanted to ask the same question since the first thing that came out of Celestine’s mouth was an angry tirade.
“The meaning of what, per se?” Ruri ventured.
“‘Meaning of what,’ indeed! The whole castle is ablaze with rumors of you killing the sacred beast pup.”
“Pardon?!” Ruri asked. She was so shocked that her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Where did that rumor come from?!”
“That is what I would like to hear. My caretaker told me that word is quickly spreading through the castle. Are you sticking your neck into danger again? You always seem to have issues hanging around you.”
“I mean, it’s not my fault that tends to happen...” Ruri muttered.
“At any rate, come this way, please,” Celestine said, grabbing Ruri’s arm and dragging Ruri with her.
Before she could even ask where Celestine was taking her, she found herself in a room with the top brass of the four nations already assembled.
“Oh, everyone is here. Did I come at a good time?” asked Ruri.
“Yes, we were just talking about you,” Jade replied.
“About me?” she asked, taking the seat next to Jade as Celestine took the one on Jade’s other side—a seating arrangement that seemed almost set in stone at this point.
Once Lapis also sat down, everyone started discussing the rumors that Celestine had mentioned earlier.
“Apparently, some rather unsavory rumors about you are spreading, Ruri,” Jade told her.
“Yes, it sure seems so,” Ruri remarked in a carefree tone.
Jade smiled wryly. “Ruri, you ought to show a little concern.”
“Why? They’re just rumors, aren’t they?” Ruri asked, confident that the spirits would refute any claim that she’d committed the crime.
Jade, however, saw danger imminent. “Never underestimate the power rumors hold. You never know when they might pull the rug out from under you. And that could result in...” Jade trailed off, peeking at Kotaro and Rin.
Ruri glanced that way as well and understood what he meant. She wouldn’t be the one exploding with anger if anything happened to a Beloved. It would be the spirits.
“So, where are these rumors coming from?” Ruri asked.
“We’re currently investigating that,” Awain answered, pressing his temples. “The rumors seem to be circulating around the nobles who can’t see spirits—a handful of those who aren’t dedicated to worshipping spirits or Beloveds, you see. It’s headache-inducing, but some only pay their respects to Lapis because he is my son. They doubt his status as a Beloved. That very handful of people who can’t see spirits are the ones buying into the rumors.”
There were rumors spreading everywhere about Ruri, a woman who was not only another nation’s Beloved, but the contract-bearer to several supreme-level spirits. Along with the sacred beast’s disappearance, Awain’s stomach was in trouble. Stomach medicine was certainly in his future.
“Those who can see spirits know very well how fearsome they can be,” Jade said.
Everyone present nodded in agreement. Accusing a Beloved without any proof was essentially picking a fight with the spirits themselves.
“Ruri, we’re currently investigating the source of the rumors. We’re also working toward quashing them. So, please, if you can...” Awain started.
“Yes, I’ll be fine, so please don’t worry,” Ruri replied, finishing Awain’s sentence and assuring him that she would be all right.
Relief washed over Awain’s face. Ruri didn’t want to exacerbate his worries any more, but then Kotaro interrupted.
“Ruri.”
“What is it, Kotaro?”
“Can we exterminate that bratty girl after all?”
“Wait, who are you talking about?!” Ruri asked.
“The same brat that’s been trying to accuse you of things you haven’t done.”
“Oh, are you talking about that ‘Spinel’ girl?”
“Indeed, I am. It looks like she is the source of the rumors. She is even making disparaging remarks about you in the castle as we speak. Saying that you killed the sacred beast.”
“Aww, come on. She is?”
Unlike Ruri, who simply looked annoyed, Awain looked as if he saw a ghost. “That idiot! Someone! Is someone out there?!” Awain screamed toward the corridor.
A soldier standing at attention outside quickly entered. “You called, sire?”
“Bring me Spinel, wherever she is in the castle, this instant. And bring me the head of the House of Morga. He should be in the castle as well!”
“Yes! At once, sire!”
As soon as the soldier left the room, the Spirit King clutched his head, ready to pull his hair out—literally. The other three rulers looked at him sympathetically.
After a while, Spinel was brought into the room along with a plump middle-aged man with a tiny mustache. This man was the head of the House of Morga. He was sweating and panting, probably because he’d run here. Spinel, on the other hand, looked cool and composed, performing an exquisite bow in front of all of the leaders.
Though Spinel seemed to be well-raised and properly educated on the surface, her ignorance became apparent once the spirits were involved. She had most likely been instilled with some very biased ideologies. Then again, perhaps it was inevitable that she wouldn’t believe in the spirits since she couldn’t see them. But it made her ill-equipped to be the head noble’s daughter in the Nation of the Spirit King—a nation that housed a Beloved.
There was a huge difference between the head of the House of Morga and his daughter. He cowered under the sharp gaze of the leaders in attendance, whereas Spinel stood looking at Jade with flushed cheeks.
“Morga,” called Away.
“Sire!” the head of the House of Morga answered back.
“You are aware of the rumors circulating through the castle about the Nation of the Dragon King’s Beloved, correct?”
“I am. As the head noble, I am appalled that such rumors debasing the Lady Beloved are being spread in the castle of the Nation of the Spirit King.”
“Do you believe those words to be enough when you hear that your daughter is the source of said rumors?”
“I beg your pardon?!” he exclaimed in surprise, staring at his daughter. “Spinel, is this true?!”
“Whatever are you talking about?” Spinel hummed, blatantly playing dumb.
Awain shot her an icy look and declared, “The supreme-level Spirit of Wind has seen and heard everything. You will not talk your way out of this.”
Spinel then furrowed her brow. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, a spirit’s word is not trustworthy. Spirits are mere idols. They do not actually exist.”
“You heard the girl, Morga. What are you teaching this daughter of yours? She not only lives in the Nation of the Spirit King, but she is the daughter of a head noble. Yet here she is delivering this nonsense.”
“A-A thousand apologies! Her mother is from a foreign land and lacks mana of her own. Spinel believes not in spirits and has been greatly influenced by her mother’s ways. By the time I took notice and tried to reeducate her, her stereotypes were already too deeply ingrained, and there was no convincing her. That is why I am in the midst of arranging for her to be wed in another nation that isn’t as spirit-religious, as I suspect it would be hard for her to continue living here in the Nation of the Spirit King.”
“I see. You do have a point. She is so entrenched in her ways that it’s doubtful she’d change. So, when are you going to marry her off?” Awain asked with a tone that was practically demanding that he do it now.
“Sire! Just as soon as preparations are set!”
“Wait just a second! Send me off to be married? What do you mean?!” Spinel asked, evidently not privy to this plan.
“Do you know how much trouble you’ve caused the Lady Beloved in the past few days? I can’t allow someone with such dangerous ideologies to remain as the daughter of this nation’s head nobles. The least I can do as your father is find you a good family to marry into. If you are opposed to that, then you will have to live on your own as a commoner.”
“B-But I’m going to be Master Jade’s wife!”
Ruri met eyes with Jade and smiled awkwardly, realizing that Spinel still was not over that matter.
“Dragonkin can only love one spouse. His Majesty the Dragon King is already married. You can’t be His Majesty’s wife,” the head noble replied.
“I don’t know anything about that. Also, I was told that I would be Master Jade’s wife when I became of age,” Spinel proclaimed.
“Who in blazes told you something so preposterous? His Majesty made no such promise to you,” the head argued.
“It was mother. Mother told me that Master Jade would one day come to take my hand in marriage!”
As the father and daughter continued to argue, the true circumstances behind Jade’s supposed cheating finally came to light. The head of the House of Morga was also starting to develop a headache.
“That...imbecile...” the head noble hissed as he became yet another person who needed stomach medicine to cure what ailed him.
“I see. So your mother said that I would come to get you when you were of age, then?” Jade asked.
“Yes, indeed she did!” Spinel happily replied.
“Oh, I see,” Ruri remarked. “Well, I’m glad to know that you didn’t try to put your hands on a child, Jade-sama. Otherwise, people would have continued to suspect you were some sort of pedophile.”
“Ruri...” Jade groaned, sullenly staring at her. She turned her head in response.
Spinel’s mother was also trying to get her daughter hitched to Lapis, so she likely was an extremely power-hungry individual. Ruri wanted to ask Spinel’s mother if she thought she had any shot of marrying her daughter off to Jade after making her think that spirits weren’t real. Spinel seemed the type to have some pretty radical preconceptions, so maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Spinel’s mother definitely wasn’t a woman you’d want to get heavily involved with.
“I’ll leave you to deal with those matters, Morga,” Awain concluded.
“Very well, sire. I will begin preparations for my daughter’s wedding at once.”
“Father?!” Spinel exclaimed in a criticizing tone.
Nevertheless, the head of the House of Morga gave it no mind and continued, “I will have these rumors extinguished immediately as well.”
“Please do so. You may go now.”
“I offer my humble apologies for any inconvenience she may have caused all of you,” the head of the House of Morgan said before leaving the room, dragging Spinel with him. Spinel was saying something to Jade as her father carted her out, but no one paid it any attention.
Once the two of them were completely out of the room, everyone left heaved a sigh.
“It seems that even a kingdom as old as the Nation of the Spirit King has its fair share of headaches,” noted the emperor of the Imperial Nation, Adularia. She was sympathetic as she herself had to deal with troublesome nobles.
Awain could do nothing but agree and nod his head. “You can say that again. It’s times like these when I just feel like giving up the throne.” Awain had been king of his nation since its inception, which meant the weight on his shoulders was in a different league.
“Anyway, I think it’s fair to say this case is closed,” Arman finished.
“Yes, she probably won’t be bothering you anymore if she is being married off to another nation,” Celestine added.
Ruri listened to Arman’s and Celestine’s quips with some confusion. “Is it common for parents to decide on their children’s marriages in this world?”
“Depends on the nation, race, and other factors,” Jade explained. “Some marriages are born out of love like you and me, while others are politically driven to strengthen the ties between families. The latter is especially common among nobles in the Imperial Nation and the Nation of the Spirit King.”
“Oh wow. That means it’s less common in the Nation of the Dragon King?”
“That it does. We have no aristocrats in the Nation of the Dragon King, and dragonkin themselves advocate for romantic marriages. That doesn’t mean that other types of marriages don’t exist at all, though. There are places where it’s common for the family to decide on marriages, depending on the race of the family.”
Ruri had felt awkward because she’d married out of mutual love, but after hearing Jade’s elaboration, she thought it was actually pretty similar to how it worked in her world.
Just when everyone thought things were settled...
“Oh my, do you mean we can’t punish that girl?” asked Rin.
“Grrr...” growled Kotaro.
“Aww~!”
“We can’t give her just one punch?”
“Even just a li’l bit?”
All of the spirits started to grumble in discontent, but Awain somehow managed to smooth things over with them.
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