IDMH - Chapter 188

A chance to stand next to me.

That means you want more than a knight escort relationship.

For example, lovers.

“...”

To think that I and Sir Aldor would become lovers.

It was something I had never thought about before, so I couldn't imagine what it would look like.

Although I married Sir Aldor in my second life, it was a means of survival.

So, there was no affection like what usually exists between a married couple.

At least that was the case for me.

Sir Aldor... I don’t know.

Until now, I thought he felt the same way as I did, but what happened that night shook my thoughts.

Besides, if I were given another chance, I would never let it go, no way...

“Duke Leopold.”

I was suddenly awakened from my thoughts by a voice piercing into my ears and I looked to the side.

The person who called me was the Duke of Lucien.

The other nobles were also looking at me.

Come to think of it, it was during Aletheia.

That night, I kept thinking about what Sir Aldor had said.

I was so bored with the same story over and over again that I found myself lost in thought.

The Duke of Lucien asked, tilting his head.

“What are you thinking so deeply about that you can’t hear me no matter how many times I call you?”

“What were I thinking about? Of course, I was thinking about how to solve the problem of counterfeit gold coins.”

The reason Aletheia was called on a non-regular meeting day was because of the counterfeit gold coin incident.

It wasn't just a few pennies, but a large amount of gold coins that were released into the market to the point of shaking the economy.

Even though the Empire's economy was in danger because only its gold coins were counterfeited, the Allied Powers actually benefited.

That's why there was talk that the Allied Powers were counterfeiting gold to shake up the Empire.

The nobles of Aletheia also told that story.

'Seriously, it's fun.'

It was quite funny to see him stabbing someone in the eye and not being able to find the culprit right in front of him.

“So, have you come up with a good idea?”

"No."

I shook my head in response to the Duke of Lucien's question and spoke in a tone that seemed quite regretful.

“I can’t think of a good way. How can I catch this heinous criminal...”

“It seems that Your Excellency the Duke also thinks that the culprit must be caught first.”

“Haha, I thought you’d think the same way as us.”

The anti-imperial nobles smiled and nodded with satisfaction after hearing my answer.

On the other hand, the imperialist nobles looked at me with a frown as if they had chewed on something dirty.

The opinions that emerged from the meeting that lasted about two hours were largely summarized into two: one was that the criminals who made counterfeit gold coins must be caught, and the other was that the economy must be fixed first.

The former was an opinion expressed by the anti-imperial faction, and the latter was an opinion expressed by the imperial faction, and they fought fiercely, insisting that their opinions were correct.

But when I made a statement supporting the opinions of the anti-imperial nobles, the pro-imperial nobles looked slightly angry and asked questions.

“Your Excellency, do you really think that we should catch the culprit first?”

“And if the economy completely collapses, what will happen after that?”

“Your Majesty, aren’t you worried about the people of the empire who are suffering because of this?”

You're not worried about the people of the empire, you're worried about your property.

“We need to revive the economy first. It won’t be too late to catch the culprits then.”

“No. It’s too late. While we’re focusing all our energy on saving the economy, the criminal will escape. So we have to catch the criminal first.”

“Are you saying you’ll burn down the whole house just to catch one rat?”

“Oh, you should speak correctly. The culprit of this incident is not a rat, but a bunch of monsters. If we don’t get rid of them first, the aftermath will be even bigger.”

A fierce battle without an inch of concession has begun again.

Rather than spending time chattering like this, it would have been more helpful to go outside and move around.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and looked at the Marquis of Prasis.

Unlike the pro-Emperor nobles who were fighting against the anti-Emperor nobles with their blood vessels in their throats, Marquis Prasis stuck his neck out and looked around.

“...!”

Then, when our eyes met, he flinched and turned his head.

It looks like he's worried that he'll get involved in this counterfeit gold coin incident because of what happened in the past, so he's keeping himself safe.

Rather, the sight was more noticeable and suspicious.

“Your Excellency the Marquis of Prasis, are you feeling uneasy?”

Look, everyone's looking at you with suspicious eyes.

“Oh, ah. I’m just a little under the weather, so don’t worry.”

“That’s true. His Excellency the Marquis must have been very distressed by this matter...”

“They say that the empire’s upper echelons were hit hard by the drop in gold value.”

“That’s right. Even though it’s an empire, some places accept Mora instead of Gold, so it says it all.”

“In the past, Mora and Gold were worth the same, but now 1 Mora is worth 3 Gold...”

The nobles, regardless of faction, sighed deeply as they realized once again that the value of gold had fallen.

After about an hour of heated discussion, it was decided to do as the Emperor wished.

The pro-Emperor faction, who assumed that the Emperor would naturally take their side, laughed triumphantly, while the anti-Emperor faction left the conference room with faces crumpled like rotten fish.

I too left the conference room, and Sir Aaron, who had been following me as my escort, approached me and handed me my coat.

Normally, I would have brought only Sir Aldor as my escort, but because of what happened that night, I felt awkward being alone with him, so I brought Sir Aaron as well.

But I don't see Sir Aldor.

I looked around, but Aldor was nowhere to be seen.

“Where did Sir Aldor go?”

“The Vice-Captain has left for a while due to an unexpected visit from an acquaintance.”

“An acquaintance?”

“Yes. You said you’d be back soon before the captain came out... It seems like the story is getting long.”

He is an acquaintance of Sir Aldor.

Many of the knights of the palace were alumni of Sir Aldor's academy, so it was not unusual for an acquaintance to come visit.

But it was quite unusual for Sir Aldor to leave without my permission.

So he's such an important acquaintance... Who is he?

I was a little curious.

“I will go find the manager right away.”

Sir Aaron waved his hand as if he was about to run out at any moment.

“Let’s not bother him, let’s go to where Sir Aldor is. Which way did he go?”

“I made sure he crossed the hallway and went to the building next door.”

“Then let’s go to the building next door first.”

It was when I left the conference building and was walking down a long corridor.

“Your Excellency the Duke.”

The Marquis of Prasis, who had been chasing me, called me in an anxious tone.

Even the face that looked around and around was filled with anxiety.

“What's going on?”

Now that I have a higher position, it's okay to speak more openly, but I speak more politely out of consideration for my elders.

“Your Excellency, I have something I really want to tell you... Do you have a moment?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“That is...”

Instead of speaking directly, Marquis Prasis glanced at Sir Aaron.

It was an implicit signal to step aside for a moment.

But Sir Aaron did not leave and stood firm.

Since he followed me as my escort, it was his intention not to move without my orders.

“Sir Aaron, step back for a moment.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Only then did Sir Aaron take a few steps back.

Marquis Prasis glared at Sir Aaron with disapproval, then spoke in a voice so small that only I could hear.

“I’m telling you this in advance just in case Your Excellency misunderstands... I’m not.”

“What is it not?”

I knew what he meant right away, but I tilted my head as if I didn't know and asked.

“That, the counterfeit gold coin incident.”

"Ah."

As soon as I realized it, I let out a gasp, and Marquis Prasis added with a more pale face.

“As you know, Your Excellency, I have no reason to do such a thing. If I had, I would have counterfeited Mora. Forging gold would only empty my treasury, so why would I have done such a thing? So please believe in my innocence, Your Excellency.”

“Don’t worry, Marquis Prasis.”

It's not that I trust him, but I believe what he says because I know who the real culprit is.

“Then, even if I get implicated later, will you prove my innocence?”

Aha, so that was the goal.

“Yes, I will.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

We need to pretend to take the side of the Marquis of Prasis and confuse the investigation.

“Thank you. Thank you very much, Your Excellency!”

The Marquis of Prasis, who still did not know my dark intentions, bowed with joy and expressed his gratitude.

And after telling me to ask again, he disappeared with light steps.

Seriously, I'm telling you, he's such a stupid guy.

I thought I knew whose genes Chernosser's stupidity was.

As I watched the Marquis of Prasis moving further and further away, a long shadow fell over my head.

I naturally assumed it would be Sir Aaron.

“What did you talk about with the Marquis of Prasis?”

"...Duke Lucien.”

Why did this man appear?

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