novelBertia (17 Years Old) [2]
| ← Ch.11 | Ch.13 → |
Translated by LynneSuzuran & Senhiro
"Bertia, you look very beautiful. The dress that I gave you really matches you well."
"T, thank you very much, Cecil-sama."
On the day of the graduation party.
From what her maids told me, she seemed to be severely worried, but she eventually wore the dress I gifted her and attended the party.
Looking at Bertia who was dressed in the present I gave her, my heart was filled with a feeling of satisfaction.
As I reflexively smiled, Bertia also gave her smile, albeit awkwardly. However, there was a complicated feeling floating around somewhere in her expression.
Thinking that it wasn't a good idea to let Bertia choose, the dress that I chose and gifted for her was a navy blue and golden dress with the image of the moon floating in the night sky.
A deep blue silk fabric covering her mid-chest to waist perfectly emphasized the strong points of her figure.
The necklace that I gave her today was shining brightly on her bosom, but not to the extent that it looked unpleasant.
The deep blue silk cloth that was the same color as my eyes, which resembles the night, had the same golden embroidery as the deep crimson red jacket I'm wearing.
The portion of the fluffy and spread skirt was stacked up repeatedly with golden lace that had the same color as my hair on top of the same navy blue color cloth as the upper half part, and there were several parts covered by the same golden-colored small gems mounted on it.
The dress that concealed an adult's grace in its gorgeousness gave off just a bit of the adult-like feeling to Bertia's image, who was always hopping around energetically. Still, it suited her very well.
...Well, since it's a design that I devised to suit her, obviously it would suit her very well.
"U-uhm, Cecil-sama, today..."
"Ssh, be quiet. The entrance will soon begin. Just a while after the entrance, the student council members need to be on the stage of the party, so I might make you feel a bit lonely, but please wait together with Lady Silica and the others, okay?"
Her eyes quivered, and her slightly parted lips that seemed like she wanted to say something resembled cherries that I couldn't help but gently touch them with my fingertips.
Her eyes opened slightly wider as if she was surprised by my action, and I smiled at those eyes.
...I won't allow any denial, rebuttal, or objection, okay?
I don't want to listen to words saying that you are trying to keep some distance from me.
It's all right. Everything will surely turn out well.
Since I will surely destroy everything today, be it the future that would make you sad, or the future that would snatch away my enjoyment.
That's why, can you not shake me up with any more incomprehensible feelings?
...Because I feel like something unpleasant has begun to awaken inside of me.
Just in time, music began to be heard from within the hall.
No. To be more precise, I adjusted the timing so that I won't have to talk excessively with Bertia until this party ends.
"It's time for the entrance."
The student who acted as a host greeted the graduates and their partners who were led by us, the student council officers.
I held out my hand to Bertia as a signal. Despite her being perplexed, she still placed her small hand on top of mine.
"Cecil-sama..."
I faced forward to indicate that I considered our conversation over, and her palm grasped my hand tightly as she called out to me with her small voice, as if wanting me to face her.
My mind was actually flooded with how I wanted to ignore her, but sensing that her voice was filled with an imploring tone, I couldn't stand it and turned towards her.
If it was just anyone, I would be able to ignore them whether they cried, raised their voice in anger or smiled. But only her voice—I somehow couldn't leave it alone, and I felt like I must not ignore her at all.
After I turned my gaze, I tilted my head and asked her, "What's wrong?" She swallowed her saliva and gripped my palm harder as if she was readying herself, and then she opened her mouth.
"...Ce-Cecil-sama, w-what... do you think... about me?"
Her resilient eyes were staring at me as if she was trying to probe into my true feelings. I spontaneously widened my eyes at her words that she asked with her trembling voice.
By no means had I ever anticipated that I would be hearing those words at a time like this.
"Tia?"
When I tried to examine her expressions in order to confirm what kind of intentions she had in mind when she asked that question, her body slightly jumped as if she was frightened of something.
"..."
When I gazed at her amber eyes, there were tears slightly welling up.
Looking at her tightly pursed lips, I somehow felt like [I had to quickly answer her].
"I think that Tia is very adorable. You're so adorable and..."
"Graduates, enter!!"
[You're so adorable and my precious fiancée].
The voice announcing the entrance of the graduates resounded within the hall as if it interrupted my voice which wanted to tell her that.
At the same time, the huge door to the hall was loudly opened with a heavy sound.
...Time limit.
While those words floated in my mind, I put my lips near Bertia's ears and told her, "I will tell you the rest later on, " and turned my face to the front.
Just before entering the assembly hall, I glanced at her for a peek at her expression, and... for some reason, she was looking my way with an empty and lonesome smile on her face.
I was desperately worried about that expression, but time didn't wait for me and just like that, I didn't have any other choice than to begin walking in silence.
As royalty and as the current Student Council President of Halm Academy, I have to be a model for the other students and need to behave myself confidently in public places.
Seeing that it is a duty imposed on me, no matter how much I care about Bertia, it's not allowed for me to make her a priority.
Therefore, I regretted a bit that I cut off the time I was able to speak with Bertia before the entrance began for a reason like [I don't want to talk about any unpleasant things].
The announcement of the party's opening.
The congratulatory words from my father, the king, towards all the graduates.
My greetings as the representative of the graduates.
The medal conferment given as the commemoration of the graduation.
Due to my position as the president of the student council, I have to assume the role as the graduates' representative, paying attention to the whole condition of the assembly hall from the stage and issuing detailed instructions so that the party could advance safely.
From my peripheral, I always kept an eye on the figures of Bertia and Baroness Heronia, but since Bertia's friends were gathering together around her vicinity, it didn't seem like there would be any problems.
Baroness Heronia, who was wearing a yellow dress, was served by the men around her as usual.
Since it would also be troublesome if every male student surrounding her turned into an invalid, I requested through Bertia for Kuro to neutralize the light particles. Even though I had already made Zeno do it, people attracted to the lights still kept appearing.
These kinds of people were mostly hedonists who only wanted things for their own desires, so because they were drawn in by Baroness Heronia herself unrelated to the spirit's powers, I've just left some of them alone recently.
In relation to this matter, I paid attention to her spirit through Zeno, but it didn't seem like it would stop.
Putting into consideration that she wasn't using that much of power towards the people who intentionally approached her, perhaps it understood that [she, who had to use force, is isolated], so it probably couldn't stop.
Whether it was a good or a bad thing was another story, but it wanted to protect her because it felt that she was important, surely... Right?
The graduation party approached its midway point, and regarding the program, the only thing remaining that had to be prepared was only the succession of student council positions.
Once this program is finished, as the Student Council President, once I begin the first dance, everyone else will be able to enjoy themselves afterwards.
I think that would be the time when Baroness Heronia will begin her movements.
That's why, I think I'll inform everyone else of my intentions a little bit before that.
Thereupon, if her plan stops, that would be [excellent], but if that isn't the case, then... there will be yet another troublesome thing for us.
Although the possibility of her saying rude things to Bertia couldn't be ruled out, Bertia was originally prepared for that kind of situation.
Rather than settling everything without having her see anything and telling her that [everything is fine], I'm sure that she would be more satisfied if she could make sure of everything by herself.
...Even if, for example, she could get hurt from that.
If something is supposed to occur but time passes with nothing actually happening, one would be filled with anxiety about, "When will it happen?"
It would be better to settle everything decisively for our sake from now on.
When I turned my gaze towards my father and Marquis Noches, my father was slightly astonished and showed his strained laugh, while Marquis Noches sullenly pouted.
I have talked about the speech and conduct of Baroness Heronia up to this point and my plan after this to these two people.
Of course, I didn't tell them everything, but no matter what, I need to have their permission on what I'm going to do after this, so I roughly informed them of my plans and received their permission.
On top of that, I asked them to keep silent because [I want to surprise Lady Bertia].
Marquis Noches showed his dissatisfaction, but I somehow managed to persuade him.
As for my father... he didn't really complain about anything in particular, but he nodded while looking at me with the kind of gaze that seemed to resign himself in some respects.
"In this place, we will be transferring the authority of the student council to the new generation's student council!!"
I received the flower bouquet from Kulgan, who would be the next Student Council President through my nomination, and faced forward and made the declaration so all students would be able to hear me.
Although it was customary for the declaration of the succession of student council positions to be held at the graduation party, the transfer of control was already completed beforehand. The tasks related to the graduation party were done by the members of the new generation's student council, so it was only a declaration without any particular changes happening.
It was only a declaration simply made for the sake of [distinction].
The sound of hands clapping reverberated in the hall.
I faintly smile while listening to the applause and slowly looked around the hall.
Then, I turned my gaze towards Bertia at the very end.
Because Bertia was also looking at me, our eyes met properly.
Her lips were tightly closed.
Her eyes appeared to be slightly glaring, and I wonder if it was so she wouldn't cry. In addition, she had a bitter smile on her face.
I endured it and kept my gaze firmly on hers, while waiting for the clapping to stop.
One by one, the number of the applauding people started to decrease, and the sound dwindled.
And then, at the end, silence descended once again.
Feeling that Bertia's face stiffened even further from tension, I once again turned my gaze towards the whole venue.
"There is another declaration that I want to tell everyone here."
I put more power in my diaphragm so that my voice would resound throughout the whole venue.
Going along with the flow of the graduation party, the students and the guardians who weren't aware of the circumstances all tilted their heads while wondering what was going to happen.
Baroness Heronia's figure was reflected from the corner of my eyes, and I completely ignored her sparkling eyes and broad smile.
"Lady Bertia Ibil Noches, will you please come to the front?"
When I turned my gaze to Bertia again, she gulped her saliva down.
The other students who followed my line of sight made way for Bertia.
Bertia put her hand on her bosom and after taking a deep breath once, she straightened her posture and showed a resolute expression, walking straight to where I was.
...It was really Bertia-like to be able to be befuddled at this timing with how [It seems like she's about to fall from stepping on the hem of her dress].
I covered my mouth with one of my hands to prevent myself from laughing, and I put on a serious face.
"Your Highness, Ce-ce-ce-cecil. Bertia Ibil Noches has come forward."
...
Bertia, you're way too nervous.
Even if you tried to put on perfect lady-like manners to behave like a first-class villainess, it would be meaningless if you stuttered and faltered with your words like that.
The atmosphere, which had tensed up from my unforeseen actions, loosened all at once.
Properly speaking, I should be furrowing my brows, but when one looked at Bertia whose face turned red with her teary eyes despite frantically trying so hard to behave herself resolutely, everyone would surely feel like wanting to watch over her with warm eyes, right?
There seemed to be some people who didn't think so, but the great majority of people in this assembly hall were turning their favorable looks towards her.
"Your Highness, Ce-cecil?"
Because I was too focused on observing Bertia's condition and the hall's status, Bertia lightly called out to me as I hadn't spoken.
Bertia was looking at me with her upturned eyes and docile expression that revealed her feelings such as, "Still not yet? Still not yet?! If you're going to do it, then do it without dragging on!" or "Now, come at me with a bang!"
She was extremely adorable with how she shivered just like some small animal.
Even though I don't have a preference of getting delighted for scaring others, I feel like a new inclination is going to awaken unintentionally.
...Zeno, I know that you're watching me with cold eyes while leaning against the wall, okay?
It's okay. Nothing like that will happen... eh? "Have you finally noticed your inclination, Master?" you said?
...You seem like you don't understand your master that well yet.
It can't be helped, I will make some time to have a [conversation] with you later on, slowly. I hope you will prepare yourself... I'll be looking forward to it.
"Your Highness, Cecil~"
After speaking with Zeno with our gazes, Bertia called out to me once again with her small voice that sounded like she was about to cry.
Sorry, sorry. It's not like I'm particularly ignoring you, okay?
I'll apologize, so can you not make that kind of expression that seems like you're about to cry?
Well then, let's keep the jest to this amount. It's about time I earnestly face you, who is so fired up.
This is one of the critical moments of my life that can counted on just the fingers of two hands.
For some reason, I feel strangely nervous.
"Lady Bertia Ibil Noches. You have committed a great crime."
"W-what are you talking about? I haven't committed even a single crime!!"
Bertia, I'm begging you, can you stop jumping the gun and cutting in before I've finished speaking?
Moreover, I wonder if it's because she's flustered, but her line was so awfully monotone.
Since Bertia's reaction is interesting, I instinctively wanted to continue observing her reaction as it was, but in that case, this conversation wouldn't advance.
Besides, this is also a critical moment for me, so I want to properly settle it.
While regretting it a bit, I touched her adorably chirping lips with my fingertips and urged her to keep silent for a short while.
She blinked several times with her blank expression, but she closed her mouth as soon as she guessed my intention.
"No. You have committed such a great crime....It's the crime of being born two years behind me."
The vibration under my fingers told me that Bertia reflexively muttered, "Eh?!" as a response.
As if not understanding the meaning of it, she tilted her head with a confused expression as I smiled profoundly at her.
The slight bewilderment also spread among the students in the assembly hall.
Even if I don't feel like seeing it, but surely Baroness Heronia was making the same expression as her reaction, right?
Since the situation didn't turn out like she'd guessed before.
Feeling satisfied with the situation, I retrieved a small, rectangular, velvet box from my breast pocket.
With just that, a high-pitched cheer arose even though there were only a few female students with good intuition.
However, it seemed like the main character, Bertia, couldn't comprehend what was going on, as she lowered her brows and gave a bewildered expression.
I knelt down on one knee and opened the box in front of her.
"Because you were born two years late, I have to wait two more years for your graduation, and also be separated from and can't live with you in this time. This is a very grave crime. That's why, to make up for it, two years later, right after your graduation, I will have to cancel our current engagement and have you become my wife, okay? ...This is the proof of that promise."
"What?! Eh?! Why, this?! Eh?! Eeeeh?! Y-your Highness, the downfall..."
"Now, give me your hand. Look, there's no need to be shy."
I grabbed Bertia's left hand as she was looking around at her surroundings, all flustered without any comprehension of the meaning behind my words. While she was still unable to grasp the unexpected flow of events, and I put the ring on her ring finger quickly.
She seemed to be so confused that she didn't even notice that the ring was already on her finger, let alone the meaning behind the ring, but I deliberately didn't mind it.
From the very beginning, I'd planned to take advantage of the confusion and push my way through.
If I could make it with this, then that'd be great. If it didn't work... or if a hindrance appears, then I'd have to take measures against that next.
"The d-downfall is... I have to receive the downfall... Downfall..."
I tightly grasped her left hand as she continued to mutter meaninglessly about, [the downfall, the downfall] with her teary eyes, and the two of us faced forward.
...I've told her that I would bring about her [downfall] at the very end, and I've said it more than enough times already, but is carrying it out like this not good enough?
For one, since she wished for a downfall at this graduation party, I had things prepared in advance so I could deliver the downfall, but... leaving aside the place, had Baroness Heronia behaved herself, I'd planned to inconspicuously deal with her later on instead of deliberately aggravating this celebratory situation.
"We've passed our precious school days together, and I declare to all of you, who have come to watch over us here: Two years later, after waiting for her graduation, we will become a married couple, and we will show you that we can build a better country than it currently is, as the crown prince and the crown princess!!"
I declared with an imposing tone that resounded throughout the whole venue, as if I was making my dignity as royalty apparent.
The surroundings fell silent for an instant, as if they were lost in my voice that resounded through the whole venue.
And then, the next moment, all of the students in the assembly hall broke into smiles. There was the sound of everyone taking a breath, and soon they brought their hands together in applause, and at the moment when the atmosphere turned to the one of a [Come and clap your hands]...
"Objection!!"
At last, Baroness Heronia finally made her move.
Leaving her male student followers behind at her spot, she raised her hand and walked forward.
...Ah, just now, did she take a glance behind her? From the looks of her dissatisfied expression, it wasn't that she intentionally left her male followers behind, but that she thought they'd follow behind her? Instead, she was left alone after the male students got cold feet and remained on the spot?
"...What do you mean by your objection?"
I tilted my head and smiled at Baroness Heronia who was standing right in front of us as she scowled at Bertia who was trembling next to me with an uneasy expression.
In a sense, I feel like I'm going to receive the most upfront answer in the past 6 years from her.
Naturally, there would be no favorable sentiment at all, as I faced her with the feeling of, "Finally, you came. Then, I will confront you."
"Your Highness, you've been deceived by that woman—by Bertia-sama!!"
When Baroness Heronia pointed out her index finger at her, Bertia's shoulders jumped greatly in her surprise as a response.
I reflexively wrinkled my eyebrows at that scene.
Truly, Baroness Heronia really has no manners at all.
Even if she tried to correct herself, it was very problematic how she, as a mere baroness, dared to address a marquess whose social status was higher than herself as [that woman].
Moreover, she also pointed at Bertia resolutely and put on an expression as if to say that she was satisfied, which was totally absurd for a noble lady to do.
Not to mention Marquis Noches and my father, even the students and the parents of the graduates present were all frowning in displeasure.
Among them, there were some women who hid their faces with folding fans while knitting their brows and bluntly displayed their contempt.
"Your Highness, Bertia-sama isn't worthy of becoming Your Highness' wife, much less to be the future queen. That person2 has been cruelly tormenting many other people including me up until now. Discriminating others based on their social status, abusing me in front of great number of students. Yesterday, she pushed me off the stairs."
I crossed my arms in front of my chest and reflexively sighed at Baroness Heronia who looked up at me as if she was appealing to me.
"I haven't received any report on Lady Bertia doing such unjust things. Because of her status as my fiancée, she's in a state where she's constantly under the public eye all day. Logically speaking, it's impossible for her to move stealthily. Incidentally, in the period of time when there are comparatively fewer eyes on her starting from yesterday evening, she was spending time together with me, and after the dinner, I sent her off to her room as she wasn't feeling well. Thereafter, she was still in her room when the get-well flowers were delivered. When I informed the housemaster and asked sincerely to look after her, the housemaster seemed worried and frequently checked in on Bertia's condition. From what she told me, Lady Bertia hadn't taken a single step out of her room and seemed to be resting."
"T-that, she asked someone else to..."
"If she had gone and asked someone else to do it, we don't know who she could have asked, right? We will investigate that matter, so could you tell us who carried out the deeds in her stead? Since it's something concerning Bertia's honor, I will thoroughly investigate it and carry out appropriate punishment."
"I-I still don't know who it is..."
"Then it won't get us anywhere. How will you explain your accusation of her bullying others? Where's the evidence?"
"There were other people who suffered the same treatment as me! Everyone, now's your chance!!"
...
Baroness Heronia's gaze darted around her surroundings and extended both of her arms as she said, "Now!!" as if she was requesting for her comrades to follow her, but the assembly hall was completely silent with no reaction from anyone.
"There seems to be no one, though?"
"There's no way that's true! Everyone has always talked to me about a lot of things. Now, everyone, there's no need for you to restrain yourself! Why don't we use this opportunity to let His Highness hear about the bitterness you have tasted so far? His Highness will surely listen to each and every story, so..."
...
She turned her gaze towards the assembly hall and appealed with her utmost effort, but nobody stepped forward.
That's a given.
If one were to assist her here in censuring the woman who'd be married to the crown prince two years later, it would have a great impact on their own position from here on.
Unless there's something greatly wrong, nobody would be willing to cooperate in such a thing, and because it's Bertia we're talking about, she wouldn't have done anything that could make her be hated to such an extent.
Several people individually turned their sight towards Baroness Heronia, and since there were some noble women who averted their eyes suddenly as if they were being uneasy, Baroness Heronia thought that those women would surely cooperate with her, but the reality was disappointing.
Judging from the situation, it was likely that they were fellow noble ladies involved in idle talk discussing about their complaints towards Bertia or that they were only accompanying Baroness Heronia's idle complaints, something along those lines.
However, they are not foolish enough to waste their own future just because of [commonplace chatter].
That's why, no matter how much Baroness Heronia requested, there won't be any of her so-called comrades to show up.
"W-why?! Everyone, you had to experience such bitter situations every time..."
Baroness Heronia's sight loitered around as she was bewildered, trying to find someone who was willing to help her. But, as a matter of course, no matter how long she waited, that kind of person would never appear.
"Ojou-san, then there was no [objection] coming from you at all... would it be all right to consider it like that?"
I gently pulled Bertia closer to me by the waist as she was standing next to me while muttering with her small voice, "A, a, d-downfall, " as she was still in the midst of her confusion. Then, I dropped my lips to her head, tilted my head and showed my smile which contained the meaning of, "Just give it up."
"N-no, not yet!! I was thinking to present this report that was made inside my circle, but..."
She quietly crouched down and put her hand in her own dress' skirt to take out an envelope which was quite thick.
...Baroness Heronia, the inside of your skirt isn't a proper place to put something, okay?
Even though the lady's dresses don't have any place to store things away, but to put something in that kind of place, then turning over your skirt in front of other people to take things out of there, there is no conduct more shameful.
Look, the people around us also got surprised twice now, see?
"Your Highness, please take a look at this..."
I was troubled on whether I should receive it or not the instant I looked at the envelope presented to me.
Naturally, my reason for being troubled was, [Now, what would others think if I were to touch something that was just taken out from under her skirt. ]
If it was something that was taken out from the skirts of my own lover or fiancée is one thing, but in any case one would be against touching something that was retrieved from a complete stranger's skirt.
Well, even if I were to receive it, I wouldn't go down the stage or to call Baroness Heronia up to personally receive it.
After staring at the thing presented to me while thinking that we'd get nowhere like this, my gaze incidentally landed on Zeno and I issued instructions to him.
Perhaps he had already predicted that things would end up like this, as before I even noticed, Zeno had already moved to my side from the wall, where the servants were waiting. He quickly took the envelope from Baroness Heronia's hand and presented the stack of papers inside the envelope to me.
"...I see."
When I flipped through the stack of papers and scanned its content, just as I expected, it was the written report of a thorough investigation on Marquis Noches.
Since I have received intel beforehand about how Baroness Heronia hired someone to investigate Marquis Noches, it wasn't something particularly surprising.
"And then?"
Despite being flustered, perhaps since she was worried about the content of the stack of papers that Baroness Heronia submitted, Bertia peered at the report that I held in my hands as she gulped a little, "Hii!"
Looking at how her complexion worsened even further, I removed the stack of papers from within her field of vision and gave instructions to Zeno so he could bring the report to my father.
Then, Bertia silently hung her head down and began to mutter, "As I thought, the compelling force...". In order to reassure her, I brushed her hair and softly whispered to her ear, "It's all right."
She has always wanted things to turn out this way.
However, as expected, to part with something that she had until now, even if she had expected it, it's still scary, right?
Bertia who was within my arms tried her best to behave herself resolutely to the end, but she was slightly shivering as she clung to and grasped my clothes tightly.
...for her to be this frightened, how pitiful.
So I thought.
However, at the same time that I sensed how she actually didn't want this kind of future, I felt a little bit pleased.
I wonder, since when had my personality degenerated like this?
"That's what I have investigated independently. As you can see, it is the proof of Marquis Noches' crime!! For the daughter of a criminal to be Your Highness' wife... to be the future queen, it can't be tolerated!!"
"Fu~n, then you want to punish Marquis Noches and break off my engagement with Lady Bertia?"
At the edge of my vision, I saw how my father and Marquis Noches narrowed their eyes as they scanned the stack of papers they received from Zeno.
There was ridicule in my father's eyes and anger in Marquis Noches', but since they had positions where they'd ran the country for many years, their expressions didn't change.
In contrast to that, many students, parents, and teachers who were present in the assembly hall seemed to be unable to conceal their bewilderment at the prosecution towards one of the country's authorities.
Everyone's sight was directed towards Bertia and me, my father and Marquis Noches, and then Baroness Heronia.
"Hey, you. I think that the document just now was certainly well-examined and could serve as evidence of undeniable crime."
I smiled and caressed Bertia's head gently as if I was trying to console her as I announced that, and a triumphal smile floated on Baroness Heronia's face.
The moment I saw it, something within myself experienced a sudden drop in temperature, reaching below the freezing point.
Perhaps Bertia who was next to me noticed my change, as her body and face stiffened while she stared fixedly at my face with a fearful expression.
I circled my arm around her waist as she tried to take a step backward in fear and told her with a small voice so that she wouldn't run away me, "I'm not mad at you." However, her stiffened body didn't relax at all.
"...However, this is not the evidence of Marquis Noches' crime at all. Instead, this is the proof of crimes done by Viscount Conservatier, Earl Conmorno, and Baron Sagil, right?"
In reaction to my statement, Earl Conmorno and Baron Sagil who were present in this assembly hall as guardians, and then their daughters and sons leaped up in surprise.
Simultaneously, the people near them moved away in a fluster, as if they were afraid of being involved as well.
By the time they noticed, their surroundings neatly formed a circle with nobody standing near them.
Father, who was overlooking this situation, made an indiscreet signal with his eyes and they were soon restrained by the knights who were present in this assembly hall as security, so that they couldn't escape.
"That's right. It's the evidence of their crimes, and also... there's evidence of their connections to Marquis Noches submitted."
Baroness Heronia turned her provocative gaze towards Bertia and Marquis Noches.
Bertia gazed at Marquis Noches and Baroness Heronia alternately with an expression that seemed like she was about to cry. Meanwhile, Marquis Noches smiled and turned his cold gaze towards Baroness Heronia.
He still hadn't uttered anything to her, but that wasn't because he can't refute anything, it was none other than because he wanted to leave the matter to me.
His gaze that occasionally fell onto me contained hints that urged me like this, "Your Highness, my beloved daughter looks so pitiful, so please end this farce immediately."
"Hey, isn't it too much to declare a person as a criminal just because he has some connection to criminals?"
"That is... However, Kulgan-sama surely knows of Marquis Noches' crimes!! After all, he has always been tormented by Marquis Noches who was his relative."
Baroness Heronia hesitated for a moment, but then she stared at Kulgan, who was near me, as if trying to say, "Now is the time, go and say your resentment for years!!" as she put her power into her gaze and nodded.
The surrounding gazes were directed to Kulgan, and Kulgan, who was suddenly brought into the matter, furrowed his brows until deep wrinkles were carved.
"...I have never uttered any single word to you about that, and I have never thought of it at all. My relationship with Marquis Noches is quite satisfactory, though?"
Towards Kulgan, who said it straight out indifferently, Baroness Heronia's eyes widened.
"I-it can't be!! You have always talked to me about various things..."
"I have always ignored the discomfort I experienced when you talked about your speculations of Marquis Noches of your own accord, but I don't recall ever having affirmed it even once. Of course, I also don't recall telling you about Marquis Noches' crimes. In the first place, I have been helping Marquis Noches with his work, but in regards to Marquis' crimes, I wasn't aware of anything like that, so there's no way I could tell you about it."
Towards Kulgan's complete denial, Baroness Heronia's complexion changed.
"Don't lie!! You should have been tormented by Marquis Noches for many years!!"
"I'm telling you, there is no such thing. Please stop all of this at once."
Kulgan declared that bluntly with an expression that revealed his discomfort and as there was no need for him to say anything more, he averted his gaze away from Baroness Heronia.
...As expected, did she misunderstand everything?
I watched at the [scenario] I'd created unfolding before me without feeling any deep emotion.
Baroness Heronia was similar to Bertia.
Therefore, because there is a story that follows the [scenario] from the so-called [otome game], there was a tendency for them to proceed in a way convenient to them under that assumption.
If you deny it entirely, they'd question if the premise has already been broken or not, but if you let the misunderstanding continue without denying it, it's highly likely that the story would continue without them noticing that the premise has already failed.
It's unexpectedly difficult to realize on your own that you have the wrong assumption about something.
That's why, I previously told Kulgan to not confirm or deny anything regarding Marquis Noches' crime.
It resulted in this situation.
Precisely because they had this assumption, if this assumption was destroyed, their unshakeable reality wouldn't be anything but a misconception.
Her field of vision was extremely narrowed because she was swept along by the easily understood depiction of the future that is the [otome game scenario]. As a result, she wasn't able to notice a thing until she made a decisive mistake.
The last chance that was given to her was completely crushed by her very own hands.
...It was very unfortunate, wasn't it?
"Aah, that's right. Regarding Earl Conmorno, Baron Sagil, Viscount Conservatier, and while I'm at it, Earl Uradil, whose name hasn't been mentioned up until now, both I and His Majesty the King are already aware of their crimes and connections to Marquis Noches. We received an intel about their suspicious movements. We asked for Marquis Noches and Kulgan's cooperation to infiltrate them and investigate. In other words, Marquis Noches isn't a criminal, he only feigned association with these criminals in his investigation, which means that he was someone who was tasked to arrest the criminals."
As everyone's gaze turned towards Marquis Noches as if asking, 'Is it true?', my father and I bowed our heads to confirm it.
"Since the investigation's finished and things have turned out this way, I'll have to arrest Earl Conmorno and Baron Sagil in this place. Also, in regards to Viscount Conservatier and Earl Uradil... The knights have already headed towards them."
...Despite saying that, actually, we've already finished securing Viscount Conservatier and Earl Uradil who weren't present at the moment.
Since I had predicted this, I had already taken measures beforehand to ensure their arrests.
After all, there was a high possibility for them to run away if we didn't speedily arrest them.
We can't afford to make a mistake in such a matter.
"Well then, with this, your [objection] is dismissed as all just your own misunderstandings, but... what shall we do? You have tried to humiliate my fiancée and Marquis Noches in the presence of everyone like this, so it won't be finished with just this, but... In this case, it would be necessary to talk it out as fellow noble families, but first, you should cool your head a bit."
Baroness Heronia was astonished at my words, and the guard knight nearby seized her arm and stood her up from her previously seated position.
Although he seemed to be supporting her at first, his hands were using a lot of force and it'd be correct to say that he seized her in a way so that she wouldn't be able to escape.
"...This is weird."
Baroness Heronia murmured those words as she sat down again in resistance to the knight who was trying to pull her arm and lead her to exit from the room.
"Why can't you understand? I'm the heroine, and yet..."
Baroness Heronia, who had been looking down, raised her head and suddenly glared at me and Bertia.
"Why wasn't I chosen?! Didn't I act the way you wished for?!! Even today, I'm wearing a yellow dress!! Didn't I choose it for you?! Yet I'm still treated like this?!"
The knight hurriedly tried to subdue Baroness Heronia who was heading towards us like a demon shouting words whose meaning I didn't understand.
Watching her who acted violently even further, 2 other knights quickly came over.
"What a weird thing to say. I don't remember ever saying that I want to choose you, and I've never thought so, either."
"What?! Even though you're the android prince!! You, if you hadn't been chosen by me, then you would just become an intelligent doll without a heart, you know?!"
"...S-stop."
In response to Baroness Heronia who began to curse at me, Bertia tried to stop her by shaking her head with an expression that seemed like she was about to cry.
"I'm your [fated girl], right? You would immediately ascertain it if we kiss. After all, I am the heroine. The mark of the [fated girl] will rise to the surface of this body. Hey, Your Highness, you understand, don't you? If you don't obtain me, from now on, you're going to experience everything just like what you've experienced until now, a colorless world and boring days. Then, finally when you aren't unable to bear with that boredom... you're going to fall into ruin."
Although Baroness Heronia was seized by several knights, she still scowled at me with her burning eyes, desperately uttering her arguments.
However, I didn't understand the meaning of the words that she said.
She talked as if I knew about the [fated girl], but I do not know of such a thing.
I also have never heard about how a mark would rise to the surface with a kiss.
I turned my gaze towards my father, thinking that he might happen to know something, but despite his complicated expressions, he shook his head to indicate that he didn't know anything about her words.
When my gaze fell to Bertia who was in my arms, tears had already fallen on her face which turned from pale to white as a sheet, trembling as she lightly shook her head and muttering, "No, no."
Even while she looked like she was about to collapse, she still desperately spread her hands, trying to cover my ears to protect me from Baroness Heronia's verbal abuse.
I grasped her hands gently while telling her, "I'm all right."
At that time, I came to understand for the first time why she stubbornly didn't tell me anything concerning the [downfall].
She didn't want me to hear the numerous harsh words that Baroness Heronia uttered just now.
Because she thought that I would be deeply hurt by those words...
She is truly stupid.
So stupid and... really adorable.
"You have to have me, or it would all be useless!! Because I am here, you will be able to get your heart for the first time. If I'm not there, you won't be able to think of the people as humans, and would remain as the heartless you!! If I'm there, you'll be able to shine as the finest crown prince for the first time!! That woman, it's foolish to think that she'd be able to help you get your heart, she can't even attract your interest. After all, she's nothing but a third-rate villainess. That's why, stop these guys immediately and take my hand!!"
"...What are you doing? Just hurry and get her down."
I turned my cold gaze at her as she was ranting and raving around, and commanded the people, who were pressing her down, with a low voice that seemed to crawl along the ground.
I didn't really understand the meaning of the words that Baroness Heronia said, but it was certainly something that didn't give me a pleasant feeling upon hearing them.
I felt like there was a sensitive part somewhere deep inside my heart that I hadn't realized was there before, and it was now rudely clawed at by those words.
If not for Bertia who tried so hard to cover my ears while being pale-faced, I wouldn't have been able to keep my composure by this point.
"No! Stop it!! I'm His Highness the Crown Prince's [fated girl]!! A special existence that can't be replaced!! Understood? If you don't take my hand right now, you will definitely regret it. That's why... No! Stop!! Let me go!!"
The two knights dragged along Baroness Heronia who continued to shout even further.
Her hair had been disheveled and her face was in a mess due to her tears, yet I only looked at her indifferently while hugging Bertia.
At that time...
Gashaaaan!!
With a loud sound, the stained glass skylight which was right above our heads suddenly broke.
"Your Highness!!"
"Fushaaaaa!!"
I quickly covered Bertia's head to protect her from the raining glass shards.
Amidst the rising screams from the surroundings, Kuro and Zeno quickly moved.
Kuro raised a barrier around us while Zeno blew away the falling glass shards with his wind magic towards a direction where there were no people.
After checking the situation from the edge of my vision, I relaxed my arms and looked around to confirm the situation around our circumference. Then, I noticed that there was a ball of light that was flying overhead in our direction with great momentum.
As I narrowed my eyes to look at the dazzling object, I came to see that the object flying at such high speed was actually Baroness Heronia's bird—the light spirit.
"Shaaaa!!"
In no time, Kuro moved in front of us as she snarled at the light spirit that obviously held malicious intent towards us, trying to intimidate it as she strengthened the barrier's power to protect us.
The barrier which originally only had a thin membrane became thicker and it started to be clad in black lightning.
Nevertheless, the ball of light accelerated its speed even further instead of slowing down.
All of Kuro's fur was standing on end.
Zeno put up a defense to keep Kuro's unleashed powers from affecting the surroundings.
Seeing the knights who quickly ran towards us in order to protect us from the mysterious ball of light, I immediately gestured at them to stop.
They might not be able to see it, but right now, there was Kuro's barrier around us.
If they carelessly approached it, they might be at risk.
Bachi, bachi, bachi!!
Jarring noises could be heard as Kuro's barrier and the ball of light made contact.
Unable to move forward, the light spirit hurled its body at the barrier and still unable to advance, countless wounds accumulated on its body.
"...Pi-chan?"
Baroness Heronia stopped shouting and murmured dumbfoundedly as if she was surprised that her partner had suddenly appeared.
"Pii... Pii..."
The light spirit tried to chirp as it wanted to respond to its master even as it was gasping. As if it was mustering its last strength, the light spirit unwrapped its camouflage and shifted its body to a mass of light, heading towards us while strengthening its power.
Bachii.
"Kyaann!"
For an instant, a small white spark ran through Kuro's hands who was trying to maintain the barrier.
Aiming for the instant when Kuro reflexively withdrew her hand, the mass of light turned into a very thin beam and pushed its way through the barrier.
"Tia!!"
The spirit, on the verge of burning up its life, was finally about to reach us.
Even when I used Zeno's power that was inside of me to defend, I also embraced Bertia within my arms and used my own body as a shield.
"Ce-Cecil-sama!!"
Bertia's cry resounded within the assembly hall.
Close to my ear, I could hear the snap of the chain of the earring that Bertia gave me.
Pachii.
A faint pain to the degree of approximately a shock of static ran through my back.
It was the light spirit's last torch of life.
The moment I felt like the injury shouldn't have any power left to harm me, everything before my eyes was dyed white.
"Cecil-samaaaaaa!!"
I could hear Bertia's sorrowful scream close to my ear, but without being able to do anything, I lost consciousness.
| ← Ch. 11 | Ch. 13 → |