Volume 01; Act 03

Act 03: The Prince’s Uncontested Position
“Irene Parcas, and your father, Viscount Parcas. He was arrested on charges of injuring and attempting to assassinate Miss Elianna Bernstein. ――― Guards!”

Miss Irene screamed. The Viscount had already been restrained, so they were able to restrain her too.

“That’s impossible, Your Highness. There must be some mistake. I am the one who was harassed by Miss Elianna. Please open your eyes. Please…! The person who spent time with me is you. Please go back to the intelligent you!”

My heart sank painfully, but His Highness reacted to the vivid accusations clearly and honestly, “These are words that are worthy of lese majeste, but it’s my job to correct you if you’re under any misconceptions. ――― Miss Irene. Let me explain your point in a fair and just way.”

Then he said in a clear voice without muttering as if to let others hear him, “First, the incident at the inner palace. ――― Right now, Elianna doesn’t have the official authority to order those in the inner palace. The person who manages the inner palace right now is the present Queen, my mother. Young ladies who come to the inner palace to learn mannerism through apprenticeship are also her responsibility, and they are under her command. If you had been harassed like you had stated, then that problem would be attributed to Her Majesty the Queen’s management, and I will investigate this in the name of the Crown Prince.

But… if this is a false accusation, then it would be lese majeste against the royal family… and would be treason for undermining their authority. Miss Irene. Is it true that you were harassed at the inner palace?”

“Wh-! Th-that’s…”

Miss Irene’s momentum from before flew off somewhere, she became flustered, and her eyes swam.

She was pinning a crime on me, but I never imagined that it would develop into her questioning the Queen… and even committing treason.

“There’s a witness…”

Miss Irene looked at the young man as if relying on him, but she already knew the answer, and there wasn’t much hope. An inappropriate sweet smile was given to her in return.

“Yeah, sorry? I can testify to all the damage you’ve done. Oh, by the way, we know who all the maids and soldiers are that you’ve bribed, so you can’t expect anything else.”

“Alan, you betrayed me…!”

“Umm, I’ll tell you this, so you don’t misunderstand. ――― I am His Highness’s hidden pawn for times like this. I am here to see if anyone is harming Miss Elianna at tea parties or evening parties. So, I thought that your movements were suspicious this time and observed you.”

“No way,” the voice that muttered this was full of despair. I frowned a little.

If you’re going to convict me, shouldn’t you choose a better place? I sympathise with Miss Irene a little, and I also questioned whether her past actions would be mentioned since the hidden pawn had brought it up.

His Highness also seemed to have thought of this and sighed lightly, “Next, Miss Irene. About what you said before…”

Miss Irene was taken aback and energy restored in her eyes. She looked up at the reassuring Prince Christopher and I.

“Your Highness…! My statements were because I seem to have misunderstood Miss Elianna. But please believe me! I have never plotted to assassinate Miss Elianna!”

She put off her apology and asserted her innocence. She made a stunning fast recovery and took the offensive. She didn’t look like a feeble lady. This is probably her true nature. She must be snorting at my sympathies.

His Highness replied coldly, “We have all the evidence for that… But, I can’t ignore what you said earlier. You said it yourself. The incident with the water hose at the rose garden. The incident involving the ladder in the palace archives. And the incident when a foreign item was mixed into your refreshments.”

The Viscount, who was near Miss Irene, was also quivering in surprise. He couldn’t stay calm, and his gaze was wandering around everywhere.

“The other day, the pipes in the rose garden were damaged and water sprayed everywhere. At that time, there was an unfortunate incident where an unidentified intruder entered the royal palace. ――― Do you know anything about this incident, Viscount Parcas?”

“I, I don’t know anything! Nothing at all!”

“I see. The intruder was fortunately captured by the guards, as well as Glenn. It turns out that his purpose was to assassinate Elianna.”

The witnesses raised their voice noisily in surprise. My eyes also flickered with astonishment and summarised that Sir Glenn must have acted that way at that time because of this.

“Also, the damage on the ladder and the poison found on the books in the archives. The contamination of foreign items mixed in the tea leaves. ――― All these were aimed at Elianna, and Uncle Theodore reported that these incidents happened right after you entered the palace archives, Miss Irene.”

Furthermore, I learnt the reason why I was barred from the palace archives. Prince Theodore was also probably busy because of this. It seems like the chip in the ladder wasn’t caused by ageing.

“That’s a false accusation! Aren’t those just circumstantial evidence? Someone… suspicious, like a witch, set all this up. I didn’t do anything like that!”

For the first time, Miss Irene glared at me with disgust and hatred.

“Isn’t it strange for Princess Bibliophile to continue sitting in a position beyond her means?! People are even saying that she used a suspicious drug on His Highness. Do you think such a person is worthy of being Queen of this kingdom?! Prince Chris, you’re being deceived by Princess Bibliophile…!” Miss Irene vividly accused me, trying to appeal to those around her.

The witnesses became bewildered. Even I knew that this wasn’t the result that she had wished for.

“――― I see.”

A chill ran down my spine. I wanted to distance myself from His Highness, but I somehow managed to bear with it because I thought it would be rude.

His Highness Christopher was smiling, but he alluded cold anger.

“I understand that your motives are different from those of your father’s.”

“What motive…?”

His Highness paid no attention to the bewildered Miss Irene and turned his sky-blue eyes at the witnesses downstairs. “I don’t want to brag about my fiancée’s achievements and worth. I will allow you to speak. Answer if you know what they are.”

Everyone, who were gathered here, seemed puzzled as they looked at each other.

I was as puzzled as Miss Irene. This may be a situation where one might be overshadowed by His Highness. I am 『Princess Bibliophile』. Not all of Miss Irene’s remarks are wrong.

“Excuse me…” A man, who looked like a civil official timidly asked to speak. He was encouraged by His Highness’s gaze and turned towards Miss Irene.

“Women might not know much about this… But, Miss Elianna was the one who discovered the collusive relationship, corruption and embezzlement of the Weimar feudal lord and consul. Since then, the seafood from Weimar’s fishing harbour has livened up the market.”

“Speaking of Weimar…” The person who babbled looked like he worked in the kitchen. He looked frightened by his own remark but spoke when prompted by His Highness’s gaze.

“The cookbooks from that fief containing seafood recipes are ground-breaking… Um, we chefs have learnt a lot from them.”

A female court lady agreed, “A book published around the same time depicting the daily lives of housewives in Weimar has become extremely popular. The Queen also loves reading it. It is said that housewives and the Queen face similar hardships and worries. ――― I heard that Miss Elianna had published this through her family-owned publishing company.”

“Speaking of books…” an old man, who was one of the court doctors, began as he rushed to the front. He happily stroked his beard.

“A new type of medicinal herb was discovered from the eastern information document that Miss Elianna had ordered. This herb is effective in diseases aimed at woman, and Your Highness, it shouldn’t work on men, but… Oh, I wonder how this got distorted.”

“Please forgive me for speaking,” a middle-aged man, who seemed like a squad leader, honestly requested.

“I heard that Miss Elianna was the first to anticipate last year’s cold wave in Maldura Kingdom and advised them to double their reserves. Thanks to that, we were able to gain the militant kingdom, Maldura’s gratitude by providing them with food and giving them aid supplies. Their people probably won’t allow it if they try to start a war with our kingdom in the future.”

“Oh my ―――.” A few ladies raised their voices. They probably came here with their husbands.

“The Hololeion weaves from the fief bordering Maldura… It was Miss Elianna who brought back the weaves with a special technique that had become obsolete, and that weave is now popular in high society.”

“Yes. It’s trendy, and I’m troubled because it’s hard to obtain. I have to reserve the weaves half a year in advance.”

“But thanks to that, the fief which didn’t have any prominent specialities is now crowded with weavers.”

“Oh, come to think of it, it was Miss Elianna who made the eastern writing tools, which gentlemen like to give as gifts, popular.”

“That is popular among women,” and “You don’t need to use that much pressure like with feather pens,” the ladies giggled together.

The conversations leapt everywhere: “The meteorology field has begun attracting attention,” “Miss Elianna endorsed inventions that could revolutionize the weaving industry,” “I hear that the ancient text deciphering researchers and the Head of the Medical Department are trying to poach Miss Elianna,” and “A feudal lord in a fief with no specialities wants her advice,” etc. ―――

I was getting more and more frightened.

Rather than remembering those events, the Elianna that they were talking about was like a different person from 『Princess Bibliophile』.

Aren’t they mistaken…?

When I couldn’t bear this anymore, my waist was suddenly pulled by a strong hand. When I looked up, I saw His Highness Christopher’s blue eyes which looked like they would swallow me up.

… I wonder why I feel like he’s saying, “I won’t let you go,” even though he’s smiling.

“――― I think everyone understands my fiancée’s achievements and influences,” he said with a vivid look and the voice of a King. The gazes of admiration from downstairs gathered at His Highness and (even) me.

Amongst them, Miss Irene was the only one who was dumbfounded and looked down.

“It seems like some of you don’t know about these things. Which is exactly why I was about to tell you to know your place―――. It seems like you’ve barely reduced one of your charges. Miss Irene.”

“What are you talking about?” She muttered under her breath, no longer malicious. His Highness’s gaze was sharp and directed at the man behind him.

I heard a voice that took my breath away, “A month ago, a ceramic piece that was recognised as the royal family’s treasure, Zelga, from the age of the Hero King was discovered. Earl Casull presented this to the royal family. The appraiser also determined that it was the genuine article… Miss Elianna detected that it was a fake. ――― So, was Earl Casull and the appraiser trying to deceive the royal family? The appraiser aside, but Earl Casull who is from a House famous for their loyalty to the royal family for generations?”

Rather than asking, he was telling everyone. His line of sight stayed on Viscount Parcas.

“And when we went to examine this in detail, we found that there was a constant commotion over the fakes in the art collections and exhibitions which are popular amongst nobles and merchants in the royal capital lately. There only seemed to be one mastermind, but he concealed himself well. At that time, the appraiser, who we let go, died mysteriously, and a disturbing presence appeared around Miss Elianna.

――― You must have shown contempt at Earl Casull for presenting a Zelga counterfeit, but did you also resent Miss Elianna for detecting that it was a fake? Or did you think that you could make your daughter Queen if she weren’t around? Which is it, Viscount Parcas?”

The man, who was spoken to, still detained by the guards, jumped up skilfully.

“I, I don’t know anything! What kind of evidence do you have to state such things…?!”

“Indeed. Getting the evidence really troubled me. When your daughter approached me, I thought that you had instigated her, but it seemed like she didn’t know anything about your crimes. Well… but you were both involved in the incident involving the intruder in the rose garden and the poisoning.

――― Miss Irene told me a lot. She requested that I showed compassion to the main Earl Casull House when I was at odds with them and that Viscount Parcus’s House was originally from the Western Isles before they were incorporated into the branch family. She also told me that you employ artisans who are good at woodcarving using the techniques obtained from back then…”

The shivering Viscount was now as white as paper.

His Highness laughed maliciously while reminiscing.

“I couldn’t help but raise my voice and laugh when I heard that. We couldn’t find any evidence no matter how hard we looked into your fief and the merchants you’re connected to. I couldn’t believe you’d hide it in the timber… That you would hide the fakes in the timber which were floating on the banks of the Neville River.”

At the end of His Highness’s gaze, Sir Glenn and a respectable-looking man appeared promptly.

The man was old, seemed honest, ――― and credible. He kneeled down at the bottom of the stairs. Sir Glenn quickly dashed up the stairs in place of him. He took the books off His Highness and gave him another bundle of paper in exchange.

His Highness quickly looked through the papers and pointed his sharp blue eyes downstairs.

“I’ve got the evidence. Several art pieces, which are seen as fakes, and items which are seen as the replicas of Zelga were seized from the timber supplies owned by Viscount Parcas. The nobles of this kingdom are seriously aware that replicating Zelga goods is the same as treason against the royal family.

Also, we have seized the same kind of poison that was used against Marquis Bernstein’s daughter from a merchant you’re close with. We’ve also collected evidence that the intruder in the royal palace is connected with that merchant. ――― That’s everything. Do you have anything else to say? Viscount Parcas.”

The Viscount became dejected, and his knees folded. His Highness had been nonchalantly questioning the Viscount up until now, but it seems like he was waiting for the evidence that the Viscount had been using as an excuse.

The Viscount was no longer motivated to say any excuse, and he looked as if only an empty shell of him remained.

Next, His Highness looked at the old nobleman who was kneeling down.

“Earl Casull. You were also a victim of this counterfeit disturbance, but I have to say that you hold a heavy responsibility as the head of the main house for not being able to prevent your branch family from working behind the scenes.”

*GASP* A low and honest voice replied from where the old man was bowing his head.

“Our entire Casull family is well aware of our grave responsibility in this incident. Please deal with us in any way.”

The old noble’s voice was passionate again, “The shame of failing to see through the counterfeit of Zelga, the royal treasure, will remain in the Casull House forever. I express my sincere gratitude to Miss Bernstein for discovering this, and preventing disgrace to the royal family! ――― This is presumptuous of me, but our Casull House will back Miss Elianna Bernstein as Her Royal Highness.”

…… Excuse me?

I staggered a little. I don’t think we talked about this at all, though.

The witnesses started getting noisy with excitement when they heard what Earl Casull had said.

Prince Christopher gave his bundle of papers to Sir Glenn, took the rest of the books from my arms and once again, firmly pulled my waist towards him.

His smile had changed after he’d finished acting as the arbiter and was shining brilliantly. I didn’t even have time to say anything as he directed this smile at those downstairs.

“Thank you, Earl Casull. I am grateful for your offer.”

No, Your Highness. This is where my lines come in.

“I think it’s important for me to make it public here, but I have already heard everyone’s honest assessment of Elianna in this incident. Therefore, I will ask. ――― Speak now if you object to Miss Elianna Bernstein becoming my Queen.”

No one could oppose this. Even Miss Irene seemed stunned and speechless. People from all walks of life have raised my reputation, and her own biased opinion of me has been presented to her. On top of that, even her father’s evil deeds have been exposed.

My mind was also a complete mess, but I finally noticed that there was a meaning behind His Highness’s shining smile four years later.

People started clapping one after another, and it quickly became a unanimous agreement, and a roar of cheers could be heard.

It was like being in the finale of a theatre production.

His Highness smiled and received their cheers, “I will make an official announcement later,” he informed them to dismiss (falling of the curtain after an act) them.

Even though I was one of the main leads on the stage that was suddenly drawn, I realised too late that I left the stage without saying any lines.