Chapter 7: Whereabouts of Fiction
A little while before Christina and the others were summoned by Francois.
Rio and the others left the Rikka Company store and were riding in a carriage back to the royal castle. Meanwhile, Steward and Duke Gregory were also heading to the castle from the Rikka Company store in the carriage they had arrived in.
Thus, both parties moved to the office of King Francois on foot, as the situation had spiraled out of control.
—Why are you here!?
—What is the meaning of this!?
—That girl is our family's slave!?
Rio attempted to deny Latifa's true identity, but Steward stubbornly refused to acknowledge it. Rather, he was too excited to listen properly.
Determining that the matter could no longer be resolved between the parties involved, Liselotte suggested they seek an impartial ruling from King Francois as they made their way to the castle.
Duke Gregory agreed with Liselotte's suggestion. Initially, he had intended to confirm Rio's face and leave right away, but why had Steward caused such a commotion? He decided to use the time on the carriage ride to inquire about the situation.
While Francois was reviewing documents in his office, he summoned those present at the scene as soon as he heard that a disturbance had occurred. Thus, they once again faced each other in the office of King Francois.
Currently, the room contained Francois, Rio, Latifa, Liselotte, Miharu, Aki, and both Duke Gregory and Steward. Rio and Liselotte sat side by side on the sofa, while Steward and Duke Gregory sat opposite them, positioned in such a way that King Francois could compare the two groups.
As for Latifa, she sat in a chair placed behind Rio and Liselotte, leaning against Miharu and Aki on either side for support.
Once the situation was set for discussion—
"What is all this commotion about?"
Francois immediately inquired about the circumstances.
"We were shopping at the Rikka Company store in the royal capital when Duke Gregory brought along Duke Huguenot's son and approached Haruto-sama," Liselotte began to explain the situation as a witness standing next to Rio. Liselotte had been informed of the circumstances during the carriage ride as well. Based on that, it seemed she had decided to defend both Rio and Latifa, believing they were not at fault.
It was truly rare for Liselotte to display such anger toward Steward and Duke Gregory, as her tone reflected her indignation—
"And then, Lord Steward claimed that Lady Suzune, ir Haruto’s sister, is a slave owned by the Duke Huguenot's family. Seeing how angry he was, I thought it would be difficult to settle the matter on-site, so I came to seek Your Majesty's judgment."
As she succinctly reported the situation, Liselotte shot a sharp glance at Steward, filled with protest.
"Of course, it's natural to be angry. A beastkin owned by our family was unlawfully freed without permission!"
Steward flinched for a moment but quickly countered with indignation. Even if the situation was unexpected, having already accused Rio, he could no longer back down.
"I have never actually seen a beastkin, but I have heard they are a species that possesses animal ears and tails while still being human. I see no such features in Haruto's sister, Suzune. So, you must have some basis for your claims, right?"
Was she truly the same person as the slave owned by the Duke Huguenot? Francois questioned Steward while casting a glance at Latifa.
"Isn't the fact that she is so terrified of me the best evidence? She has illegally escaped her status as a slave. She must be terrified that this will come to light."
Steward spoke with a sense of triumph. At first glance, it seemed he had made a compelling argument, but he was merely expressing his subjective viewpoint without presenting any objective evidence.
It seems that he believes he has defeated his opponent in debate, but this is not a mere verbal quarrel. Such baseless accusations will not convince Francois—
"...I trust you understand, Haruto is a noble of our country. To tarnish the honor of his sister is tantamount to tarnishing his own honor. I will ask you again. Your statement must be based on appropriate evidence, correct? You are clearly defaming Haruto and his sister."
Francois implied the consequences of lying: he knew what would happen if it turned out that Steward was the one lying.
"Me? Are you saying I'm lying?"
Steward recoiled, seemingly indignant.
"I'm saying that without evidence, we cannot establish the truth."
"If evidence is what you want, then I am a witness!"
"However, Suzune does not have any physical characteristics of a beastkin, does she? Did you not say that she was a beastkin slave?"
"W-well, she indeed lacks the characteristics of a beastkin, but she has other features that are quite similar. They resemble each other enough that I could believe they are the same person."
"Even so, I think you are merely operating on assumption."
"If so, then I would like Your Majesty to confirm this with Amakawa. The person there, Suzune, was once a slave owned by the Duke Huguenot's family, wasn't she?"
Steward pressed on. Encountering Latifa had unexpectedly caused a commotion, but there was no turning back now. At this point, there was no choice but to press forward. Moreover—
(Hmph, if you can lie, go ahead and try. The moment you lie to His Majesty, your crime will only deepen. And when you lose His Majesty's trust, I will expose your past. A two-pronged approach.)
Steward was confident. He was convinced that Latifa's existence was a weakness that could bring Rio down.
"If this is true, it's a situation that our country cannot overlook. I think it would be unwise to disregard it completely, Your Majesty," Duke Gregory finally spoke up to support Steward.
"...Is that so? But is it true, Haruto?"
Francois sighed before turning to Rio with a question.
"...Before I answer your question, may I take a moment?"
Rio spoke up suddenly.
"Very well."
"If this matter escalates, it will undoubtedly affect the Restoration in some way. However, I do not wish for that to happen. Of course, I will explain everything to Your Majesty without holding back, so could we resolve this situation that way?"
"...So, you mean to ask that Steward and Clement be dismissed?"
"Yes."
When Rio nodded—
"D-don't be ridiculous! What do you think you're doing? This is a dispute concerning my family's slave! What on earth are you trying to pull with such nonsense!?"
Steward thought Rio would lie and cover things up, but instead, he attempted to push him out of the discussion entirely. Steward was furious at this presumption.
"If you withdraw now, I can at least ensure that Restoration will not be affected. That's what I'm saying."
Rio spoke calmly, directing his gaze toward Steward. He appeared extremely composed, but his eyes were chillingly steady. It was clear he was suppressing a deep-seated anger toward Steward while still behaving rationally.
"...!"
Steward thought it wasn't his place to decide that, but the intensity of Rio's gaze left him momentarily breathless. Then—
"...Steward-kun, isn't it time to go ahead and say what needs to be said? If necessary, I can explain the situation to His Majesty," Duke Gregory interjected from the side.
"...Y-yes, that's right. Would you mind doing that?"
Steward regained a measure of composure and nodded while taking a deep breath.
"What do you mean, Clement?"
Francois cast a perplexed look at Duke Gregory.
"This ties back to why we appeared before Amakawa in the first place, Your Majesty. When the attack happened yesterday, there were people who referred to Amakawa as Rio. When I happened to mention this to Steward-kun, he claimed it was a name he recognized."
As Duke Gregory explained the circumstances, he watched for Rio's reaction. Steward openly mocked him, wearing a triumphant expression as he looked at Rio.
(…So, it was Sora-chan.)
Rio realized the cause but didn't blame Sora at all. Since the rules of transcendental reset memories, he had communicated that it was fine to call names as they pleased, and even if he hadn't, there was no room to worry about such things during battle.
"Upon hearing the details, it seems that this Rio was once a serious criminal who nearly killed Princess Flora in the Beltrum Kingdom and went into hiding to escape punishment."
"..."
Duke Gregory continued his explanation, but Rio maintained a poker face.
"Already, Amakawa's past is shrouded in many uncertainties. If someone chosen as an Honorary Knight were a serious criminal hiding their true identity, it would be an issue that our country cannot overlook. Moreover, there was no confirmation that Amakawa and this Rio are the same person. Therefore, I sought Steward-kun's cooperation to investigate the situation."
As Duke Gregory revealed the circumstances—
"There is no doubt now. Amakawa is the Rio who committed crimes in our country and went into hiding. If I recall, right after this guy went missing, the slave owned by my Huguenot family also disappeared. And for some reason, Professor Celia, who was once Rio's instructor, is now by Amakawa's side. Isn't that the best proof that they are the same person?"
Steward stood up from the sofa, pointing at Rio as he accused him with confidence.
"..."
Rio remained silent, his face seeming to suppress his emotions.
(Hmph, you have no retort.)
Steward smirked, thinking he must be feeling anxious. And then—
"If you claim that one witness is insufficient, there are others who know this individual aside from me. Lady Christina, Princess Flora, Roana-senpai from the Fontine family, and Senior Elise from the Brant family. I also wish to hear Professor Celia’s account. If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to summon them all and obtain their testimonies to confirm whether Amakawa is indeed the same as that criminal. What do you think?"
Steward spoke eloquently, asserting only the facts that were convenient for him while intertwining fabrications to connect the dots in a troublesome manner.
"..."
Rio closed his eyes, furrowing his brow unusually.
He was thinking.
Why was Steward doing this? How could he so easily irritate others? Even if he didn't know that Latifa had been raised as an assassin under the duke's orders, didn't he find it odd that she was acting alongside Rio? Being someone who typically tries to listen to others' claims and arguments, Rio couldn't help but pay attention to Steward's words.
However, no matter how much he thought, he could not understand Steward's reasoning at all. Was he only thinking of himself? Was he unable to recognize any facts that weren't advantageous to him? Didn't he consider what kind of impact it would have on the Restoration if his claims did not hold up?
If that were the case, he could only be seen as incredibly foolish. No, it was worse than just being foolish. With malice added into the mix, there was no way to defend his actions.
"Onii-chan..."
Latifa's anxious whisper reached him from behind. At that moment, Rio made his resolve.
"...It's alright."
Rio turned to Latifa and showed her a gentle smile, solidifying his determination.
That was enough.
He could do as he pleased.
Why should he be the one to stop Steward, who was recklessly hurtling toward destruction without considering the consequences for those around him?
If he wished for ruin, he could fall as far as he liked.
Maintaining his composure was beginning to reach its limits. If it were only himself who had to endure, he might have managed, but with Latifa involved, the threshold for Rio's patience had lowered.
Steward had foolishly managed to provoke Rio's anger. He had touched the ire of the man who had become the Dragon King.
Given how foolish Steward had been up to this point, it would now be difficult to resolve the situation without involving the Restoration. It had become a situation where punishing Steward alone would be challenging.
"…What shall we do, Haruto? Would it be alright to call the mentioned individuals?"
Francois sighed and turned to Rio.
And indeed—
"Please feel free."
Rio had stopped considering the impact on those around him.
◇ ◇ ◇
A little over ten minutes later.
Celia was the first to arrive at Francois's office from the mansion. Perhaps sensing something was wrong, Charlotte accompanied her, with Gouki acting as a guard.
Shortly after, Christina, Flora, Roana, Elise, and Duke Huguenot arrived. Vanessa was also with them as a guard.
"…"
As soon as he entered, Duke Huguenot's expression froze.
There was too much information for him to process. Why was Steward sitting opposite Rio? Why was Duke Gregory seated beside him? Moreover, why was Steward wearing the knight's uniform of the Galarc Kingdom?
"…I apologize, Lord Amakawa."
Christina was equally stiff, but she seemed to have sensed that things were taking a turn for the worse. Even without having heard any details, she quickly bowed her head to Rio with an anxious look.
It was unimaginable for a princess of a nation, especially a provisional queen who had just declared her ascension, to bow her head to a noble from another country before receiving any explanation.
"…I'm sorry as well."
Rio stood up; his expression clouded as he returned her apology.
"W-Wait! Why are you apologizing to someone like him!"
Steward also jumped to his feet, flustered and shouting. Then—
"Silence."
Duke Huguenot spoke.
"F-Father…"
Steward shrank back but attempted to explain—
"I told you to be quiet. Why are you sitting there? What is that uniform? What have you done?"
Duke Huguenot, consumed by anger, walked toward Steward as if about to grab him, but before he could—
"Wait. First, let me explain the situation. We will discuss things afterward."
Francois restrained him with his words.
"…"
Duke Huguenot barely held his ground but glared at Steward with a look as if he were about to curse him to death.
"Clement, Steward, you both stand up. Instead, Princess Christina and Princess Flora will take your seats. Huguenot, you may sit as well. Charlotte, take a seat next to Haruto. The rest of you, remain standing."
Francois instructed, and those called moved to their designated positions. Rio sat between Liselotte and Charlotte, while Flora, Christina, and Duke Huguenot sat across from him.
"Now, Liselotte. Please summarize the situation and the points of contention."
"Understood."
Liselotte nodded respectfully and began to explain the situation in a logical manner—
"…From the above circumstances, I have summoned all of you here as witnesses. The immediate points of contention appear to be two: First, whether the student named Rio who attended the Royal Academy in the Beltrum Kingdom is the same person as Sir Haruto Second, whether Lady Suzune is the same person as the beast girl who was a slave owned by the Huguenot family."
She organized the points of contention and concluded her explanation. Reactions from those affiliated with the Restoration varied.
"…"
Christina looked as if she had given up on everything, gazing at Rio with a deep sense of apology. Flora, perhaps eager to defend Rio, looked unusually displeased. As for Roana, she didn't seem too surprised. Whether she had an inkling that Haruto was indeed Rio or not, she bore a bitter expression.
On the other hand, Elise Brant was stunned, her eyes darting in shock. It was a profound surprise for her to see a former classmate, mistreated for being an orphan during their academy days, now rising to prominence in another country and becoming a superior figure. Her face was pale.
However, amid all this, the one most cornered by the situation was—
(This idiot…)
It was Duke Huguenot. Just when he had made the decision to admit his own guilt and was resolved to confess everything to Christina, this happened.
He had intended to formally apologize to Rio, but everything was being ruined by Steward in a way he had not anticipated. For some reason, Latifa, who he had sent out as an assassin, was also involved, making this a shocking turn of events.
Could it be that this foolish son harbored some resentment toward him? Duke Huguenot glanced back and glared at Steward with the intensity of someone ready to curse him to death. Steward let out a small whimper.
However, now was not the time to waste attention on such a fool. Duke Huguenot was about to open his mouth to apologize to Rio when—
"First, we will hear the accounts of both parties involved."
Francois spoke up first.
"Well then, in that case, I would like to request permission to speak first!"
Since his father, whom he feared, had come, Steward must have been keenly aware that the atmosphere was different from what he had anticipated. He hurriedly sought an opportunity to explain himself.
"W-Wait! Not that fool, please grant me the permission to explain!"
Duke Huguenot interjected in a panic. But—
"That's perfectly fine. Let that fool speak first."
Charlotte chimed in with a smile.
"Wha…?"
Steward was dumbfounded to be called a fool so openly.
"If you miss this opportunity, you may never get to speak again, right? I believe it's only fair to grant you some time for your futile struggle as a parting gift."
Despite no judgment being delivered yet, Charlotte had already spoken as if it was a foregone conclusion that Steward would be defeated.
"…Do you have anything to say, Steward?"
Francois sighed and urged Steward to speak.
"T-That person is a great criminal who pushed me and Princess Flora off a cliff in the past! Moreover, he has unlawfully freed and taken my family's slave! There's no reason not to punish him, is there!?"
Not understanding why, he felt so cornered, Steward pointed at Rio in a panic.
"If everything is true, then…"
"It is true!"
"Well then, let's hear Haruto's side of the story."
Francois looked at Rio with a remarkably calm demeanor. Then—
"First of all, I did indeed attend the Royal Academy in the Beltrum Kingdom in the past. My name is Rio. Furthermore, it is also true that my sister's name is Latifa. I had her use a false name out of fear that such a situation might arise."
Rio had casually revealed his identity without needing his former classmates to testify. Since Rio himself had acknowledged it—
"…"
Roana and Elise both gasped, realizing it was indeed true.
"Unfortunately, my hair color has changed, and this is now my natural hair. I used to have black hair. Those of you in the same class should remember well. As for the beast traits that Latifa possesses, she is disguised with a magic item."
"S-See! I told you!"
Steward, who had been holding his breath, suddenly rejoiced. However, he should have found it strange that Rio was so readily admitting his identity. Was this truly a favorable development for him?
"However, I have various objections regarding other facts. I have no memory of pushing Princess Flora off a cliff, and there were valid reasons for freeing Latifa from slavery."
With that, Rio claimed his innocence.
"Y-You're lying! This man is lying!"
Steward shouted without pause.
"It is true that the only means to prove the facts is through human memory."
"Exactly! That's why you can't prove your innocence! I'm the one who was actually pushed! There were other male students who testified that they witnessed the situation. That's why you were found guilty. There's no way to overturn that guilt now…"
Steward smirked, thinking he had the upper hand, but—
"No, Lord Amakawa is innocent."
Christina raised her voice in disagreement.
"Yes, Haruto-sama… No, Sir Rio did not push me at all!"
Flora immediately defended Rio as well.
"W-What!? What is happening…!"
Steward stared in disbelief at the two princesses and exclaimed,
"But, at that time, didn't Christina-sama say she didn't see who pushed me? And Flora-sama also said she didn't know who pushed me!"
He called out, panicking intensely.
"Indeed, I did not witness it. However, I am saying that I believe Lord Amakawa, not your testimony."
"I also believe in Sir Rio," Flora added, echoing Christina's defense of Rio.
"This is absurd! That's not even eyewitness testimony, just nonsense…!"
Steward's face was filled with strong indignation, thinking it was nothing but an emotional argument. However—
"…No, there is indeed a witness."
Duke Huguenot interjected, as if he had resigned himself to the situation.
"What do you mean by that?"
Francois asked suspiciously.
"I had my own doubts about Lord Amakawa's identity as of yesterday. So, I looked into the events of that time again and discovered someone who provided testimony that differed from the established facts."
"What…?"
While Steward was left speechless—
"Elise, please state everything you witnessed at that time without holding anything back."
Duke Huguenot called upon Elise Brant for her testimony.
All eyes in the room turned to Elise.
"Eh? Ah…"
Suddenly put on the spot, Elise panicked greatly. However, she lacked the courage to refuse to testify in this situation—
"Um, it was not Lord Amakawa who pushed Steward."
"Then who on earth pushed Steward?"
Francois inquired.
"It was the male students who were trying to pin the blame on Lord Amakawa. There was a monster attack at the time, and everyone was in a panic. Among them, Steward seemed to have been injured and was trying to seek help from the male students, but he grabbed onto them. As a result of being pushed aside, it ended up causing Princess Flora to be pushed. Lord Amakawa was simply trying to save Flora-sama and ended up falling off the cliff instead…"
"…Why didn't you say anything?"
Roana, standing next to her, asked in shock.
"I-I'm so sorry! I couldn't go against Steward back then, and the male students who were the real culprits were going along with it, so I couldn't say anything!"
Elise bowed her head, her face turning pale.
"N-No, this is a lie, a lie…"
Steward's face turned ashen, as if he had been painted with white paint.
"So, the ones who should be punished are the male students who actually pushed her and Steward, who lied and tried to shift the blame."
As Francois's gaze slowly turned to Steward—
"Vanessa, capture that criminal."
Christina ordered Steward's arrest.
"Yes, my lady!" "Gah!?"
Vanessa responded while simultaneously pushing Steward to the ground. She then placed her full weight on him, pinning him down face-first.
"I'll help as well."
Gouki quickly approached and joined in restraining Steward. He had no intention of showing mercy to the man who had betrayed his lord, Rio, and twisted his arms behind his back, twisting his wrists.
"I-It hurts! It hurts! Ugh…"
Steward let out a cry of agony. And then—
"Damn it, what is this! Why me!? Who do you think I am!? I am the son of the Duke Huguenot's family!?"
He shouted, unable to contain his emotions. At that moment, Duke Huguenot stood up from the sofa and moved in front of the pinned Steward.
"Then, at this very moment, I hereby declare your disownment."
Disownment meant severing parental ties, a punishment even more severe than disinheritance, which stripped away the right to inherit the title.
"D-Disownment…!?"
Steward was left speechless—
"N-No, this can't be true! It's a lie, right!? F-Father!? Father!?"
He became greatly agitated.
"…You should never have been born," Duke Huguenot said, looking down at Steward and spitting the words out bitterly.
"Wha…?"
The blood drained from Steward's face. However, he knew that if things continued this way, it would all be over. He couldn't afford to be crushed right now—
"Is that what a parent says to his own child!? To listen to the lies of a woman like that and not believe your own son!"
Steward made an emotional appeal and then—
"I-I'm not lying!"
Elise shouted in a panic.
"You! How dare you speak, you daughter of a count…!"
Steward glared at Elise while restrained face-down, telling her to be quiet.
"Eep…"
Elise instinctively took a step back.
"Have you forgotten!? He has released a slave of the Duke Huguenot's family without permission! What do you intend to do about that crime!?"
Steward, desperate, tried to divert the topic and demean Rio.
"…"
In an instant, Duke Huguenot, furious, lifted his leg violently. He was about to stomp on Steward's face in anger but then hesitated, slowly lowering his raised leg back to the floor.
Then, Duke Huguenot turned to face Rio. And—
"Haruto-kun, no, Lord Amakawa… I am truly sorry!"
Duke Huguenot knelt on both hands and knees, pressing his forehead to the ground in a deep bow before Rio.
"What…?"
Steward was left speechless. He could never have imagined his father bowing like this, and he couldn't understand why he was apologizing.
"I have no excuse regarding the fact that you have that girl with you. I wish to acknowledge all faults."
With his forehead still on the floor, Duke Huguenot uttered words of apology to Rio.
"…Wait. What's going on?"
Christina asked with a puzzled expression. She knew the circumstances of the outdoor training from Rio, but she was unaware that Latifa had been sent to him as an assassin.
"…I will explain what happened. Duke Huguenot, please raise your head."
Rio sighed and spoke.
"No, I have no head to raise."
"Then we cannot speak."
Even as Rio said this, Duke Huguenot continued to rub his forehead against the floor—
"Lift your face, Huguenot."
Francois commanded, and only then did he finally stand up.
"When I learned that I was about to be framed for the outdoor training incident, I bid farewell only to Celia and fled the Beltrum Kingdom. I headed to my parents' hometown in the Yagumo region, but along the way, near Amande, I was attacked by an assassin. That was Latifa."
"Wha…!?"
Christina and the others froze in shock. Since Steward had already admitted that Latifa was a slave belonging to the Huguenot family, it was obvious who had orchestrated the attack.
"It was fine until I drove her off and restrained her, but at that time, Latifa was wearing a slave collar and unable to defy her master's orders. So, I removed the collar and liberated her from her status as a slave."
"Then how did she become Sir Haruto’s sister?"
Charlotte asked curiously.
"At that time, Latifa was only a nine-year-old child. While her physical abilities were superior to those of a trained knight due to being a beastkin, there was no land in the Strahl region where a beastkin child could settle. As we traveled together, we formed a bond as siblings."
"What a wonderful story. As expected of Sir Haruto."
Charlotte smiled brightly and offered her words of praise. Then—
"If that's the case, Haruto-sama was merely acting in self-defense. There's no reason to blame him for liberating Latifa-sama from slavery."
She defended Rio and Latifa.
"You ordered the assassination, Huguenot, am I correct?"
Francois asked.
"Yes, that is correct. It is the truth."
"Do you have any explanation?"
"I do not."
Duke Huguenot did not make excuses; he plainly acknowledged his guilt. It wasn't that he was being dismissive, but he seemed to understand there was no point in making excuses at this stage.
"Why did you give such orders? At least tell me that."
"…At that time, the faction rivalry with the Duke Arbor's side had started to intensify. I had my suspicions about my foolish son's testimony, but prioritizing the stability of the political situation, I made Lord Amakawa a scapegoat. I thought it would be troublesome if, by any chance, Lord Amakawa returned and made unnecessary statements, so I sent that girl as an assassin."
Prompted by Francois, Duke Huguenot began to recount the events of that time.
"Impossible…"
Flora was rendered speechless, shocked to learn such things had occurred.
"…"
Christina had a grim expression, as if she had bitten into something bitter.
"I-It's a lie…"
Steward shook his head vigorously, unable to accept the reality.
"It is not a lie. All of this is your fault…, no, I share the same guilt as my foolish son. I will accept any punishment."
Duke Huguenot directed his anger at Steward but quickly resigned, lowering his head.
"I won't accept it! No way! That's absurd! Yes! He must still be hiding a dark past!"
Steward tried to fight back.
"Be quiet! He has no dark past at all!"
Christina shouted. Her usual calm demeanor was replaced by rage. However—
"It's a lie! Senior Alphonse was certainly killed by him!"
Steward, on the brink of ruin, was no longer intimidated by such accusations.
"Alphonse? Why is that man's name coming up?"
"Don't you find it strange!? Shortly after he appeared before us, Senior Alphonse disappeared! Do you not think he foolishly harbored resentment against us and took action!?"
"What nonsense are you spouting…"
"It's not nonsense! If you think for a moment, it's obvious. Why are you trying to look away from the truth!? I see, I get it! You want to rely on this man's power so badly!"
Steward laughed derisively, as if he had seen through Christina's intentions.
"What are you saying?"
"You want to curry favor with this man now that he's achieved success, don't you? And just as my father once discarded him, you're trying to discard me now!? How despicable! Ugh!?"
While Steward hurled insults, Vanessa pressed against his back to silence him. He struggled to breathe, sobbing softly.
"I'm sorry. It was just too unbearable to listen to. That was an utterance that could be deemed treason."
Vanessa grimaced as she apologized.
"It seems it's about time. I don't think letting him talk any further will dig a hole for himself and reveal new crimes. We only need to pass judgment now…"
When Francois referred to Steward's punishment—
"An Honorary Knight is worthy of a noble rank equivalent to that of an earl. If that honor is unjustly tarnished, it could warrant the most severe punishment, including death, Father."
Charlotte spoke eloquently about the weight of the crime. Francois should have known this already, but she likely stated it to make Steward realize the gravity of his situation. If it were a light punishment, it wouldn't lead to a death sentence, and since it was a crime that required a complaint from the victim, Rio's accusation was necessary. However, she deliberately kept that information hidden. The effect was immediate—
"…"
Blood drained from Steward's face.
"Oh my, just a moment ago, he looked so healthy; I wonder if he's feeling unwell? Let's loosen the grip a bit."
Charlotte instructed, feigning concern, though it was clear she was insincere.
"…Hah."
Vanessa glanced at Christina for confirmation, and when she loosened her grip—
"D-Duke Gregory, please help me! Didn't you promise to cooperate with me!?"
Steward cried out for help from Duke Gregory.
"…That's only if Amakawa is truly a great criminal. I can hardly believe you've been weaving lies to deceive me to this extent… I'd prefer not to be involved."
Duke Gregory brushed aside Steward, looking annoyed.
"You will also be hearing from me afterward, Clément."
"Of course."
Francois immediately restrained him, and Duke Gregory nodded nonchalantly.
(Hmph, what a useless man.)
As Duke Gregory coldly looked down at Steward—
"Ugh, ugh, ugggghhh!"
Steward began to wail uncontrollably.
"Oh dear, he's crying. How unfortunate."
Charlotte spoke with a glossy smile that belied her words, saying, "It's so foolish that it transcends absurdity and has become pitiful."
"Since it's quite unpleasant, let's hand him over to the knights outside and have them take him to prison. For now, we'll engrave the fear of waiting for a decision into his body. Do you have any objections to this, the Restoration?"
When Francois confirmed—
"I have none."
Christina shook her head without hesitation.
"Stand."
Vanessa used the rope she had on hand to bind Steward's hands behind his back and forced him to stand.
"C-Curse it, stop! Please, stop!"
Steward thrashed about, but he was powerless as he was led out of the room. Once the room fell silent—
"So, Haruto. How do you wish to resolve this situation? Since Duke Huguenot's actions occurred before you became a knight of honor in our country, our laws cannot retroactively punish him. It will be left to the judgment of the Restoration…"
In other words, it was entirely possible to apply pressure for a severe punishment. Francois hinted at this without directly stating it, turning to Rio.
"I had originally informed Christina-sama and Flora-sama about my past. At that time, I made it clear that I had no intention of bringing up the past again. Personally, I have no interest in what kind of punishment is imposed, but Latifa's feelings are another matter. This incident has disturbed her peace of mind."
Rio stood up and moved in front of Latifa. She had been sitting in her chair, hunched over and downcast, but she looked up when Rio approached.
"I'm sorry, Latifa. I couldn't protect you properly."
"…No, Onii-chan protected me. I'm the one who should apologize for getting so upset."
"What do you want to do from here on out? Can you forgive him, or not? I'll do as you say."
Rio bent down to match Latifa's eye level, seeking her wishes.
"If he won't ever involve himself with us again, then I don't care anymore. I'll leave it to Onii-chan."
Latifa wouldn't even look at Duke Huguenot. She likely didn't want to be in the same room with him at all but was enduring it.
"That's what she said. If he will never interfere with Latifa again and won't threaten her peace, then I won't ask for anything."
"Is that alright?"
"Yes. It's just a waste of time to be bothered."
"Hmph, is that so?"
Francois let out a pleased laugh and then said to Christina and Duke Huguenot,
"That's what she said. Regarding Duke Huguenot, we won't seek any punishment from our side. We'll leave it to the judgment of the Restoration."
"…I appreciate your generous words. However, as the one governing the organization, I cannot leave Duke Huguenot unaccountable. He has committed actions of this magnitude in the past. While it may not matter to you two, I will determine some form of punishment in the near future."
Christina deeply bowed her head to Rio and Latifa, making her intentions to punish Duke Huguenot clear.
"I will accept any punishment. I will not run or hide. I swear that I will never again involve myself with Lord Amakawa or your sister, Suzune."
Duke Huguenot seemed to have reached a state of resignation, bowing his head calmly in line with Christina. For just a moment, a complex emotion distinct from anger flickered across his face as he glanced at Latifa, but he quickly suppressed it. Then—
"…I cannot allow him to remain before you any longer. I will take my leave immediately, and I would appreciate the opportunity to apologize and report back at a later time."
Christina offered to exit the room, and before waiting for Rio and the others' response, she said, "Let's go," and took the lead in leaving the room with the members of the Restoration. Duke Huguenot quickly followed suit.
Flora looked at Rio and Latifa with a face that seemed to want to say something, but she likely thought it inappropriate to speak up herself. She gave a slight bow as she was leaving the room, but then—
"Um…! Flora-sama. Roana-sama too…"
Latifa steeled herself and called out to Flora and Roana.
When the two of them stopped in their tracks—
"I'd be really happy if you remember our sleepover promise and come to play. You might dislike me because I'm a beastkin, but… everyone is looking forward to it…"
Latifa timidly invited the two. Then—
"I-I don't dislike you! Suzune-chan!"
Flora burst into tears and hugged Latifa.
"Ah…"
Thinking she might be scorned as a beastkin or seen as creepy, Latifa looked bewildered. After a moment, she said softly—
"Thank you, Flora-sama."
With tears welling up in her eyes, Latifa expressed her gratitude.
"I should be the one thanking you! I'm so sorry, Suzune-chan! Sir Haruto! If only I hadn't almost fallen off that cliff back, then…!"
Flora broke down, crying loudly. She must have felt that it was her fault, and it seemed like those feelings had exploded.
"Flora…"
Christina, who had already exited the room with Duke Huguenot, noticed her sister crying inside and peeked back in.
"P-Please don't cry. If that incident hadn't happened, I think I would never have met Onii-chan. If that had been the case, I wouldn't have been able to meet you, Flora-sama…"
While hugging Flora back, Latifa shared her feelings from the heart.
"Suzune-chan…!"
Overcome with emotion, Flora cried even harder. At this point, it was difficult for them to move immediately. So—
"...I will take Flora-sama with me later. Christina-sama, please feel free to return first. You should go ahead too, Elise."
Roana urged Christina to move along. Thus, the commotion stirred up by Steward came to a tentative conclusion.
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