This time, it was me who took a deep breath.
'Half of it burned down?'
Even if I exaggerated, it was hard to believe. In my past life, I had seen about 300 people.
The fire that caused casualties ended with only burning down the public bathhouse building. So why is this life on a larger scale?
An explanation for this could be heard from Desmond II.
“Wasn't it bad enough that you built such a shoddy kiln and blew it up in the name of lowering the prices, you dared to smuggle coal into a neighboring warehouse and stack it there? Do you realize how much more damage you've caused by spreading the fire to two warehouses?”
'Half of it burned down?'
Even if I exaggerated, it was hard to believe. In my past life, I had seen about 300 people.
The fire that caused casualties ended with only burning down the public bathhouse building. So why is this life on a larger scale?
An explanation for this could be heard from Desmond II.
“Wasn't it bad enough that you built such a shoddy kiln and blew it up in the name of lowering the prices, you dared to smuggle coal into a neighboring warehouse and stack it there? Do you realize how much more damage you've caused by spreading the fire to two warehouses?”
The problem was the coal warehouse, which did not exist in the past life.
Brigitte's breathing became ragged.
“It's a good thing that one of the protocol officers reported the warehouse building to the guard a few days ago. Otherwise, there would have been five coal warehouses on fire instead of two, and all of District 13 would have been inferno instead of half! What the hell were you thinking, letting Chansley burn my capital and my people?! Huh?!”
Brigitte managed to utter a word with her face turned pale.
“It is, Father...”
“Shut up! That defense has only worked because I have covered for your faults all this time. You dare to lie in front of me?”
I didn't want to give Brigitte time to think, but I couldn't bear to ask Desmond II a question.
“How much have Father's subjects... been sacrificed? Please answer me, please.”
“Two hours ago, the reported death toll was 673. Bodies are still being recovered."
For a moment, my head spun.
“Your Highness the Princess!”
Michael and Sylvestian quickly tried to support me.
I raised my hand to stop them. I gritted my teeth and braced myself on my two legs.
By that time, Desmond II had removed his hand from pressing down on his eyeball. His eyes, cold as the heart of an ice dragon, stared back at us. His gaze was fixed on the crown of Brigitte's head.
“Third Princess, Brigitte Agnes Hadelamide.”
“Yes, Father. No, Your Majesty."
“Let me ask you. Is there anything you want to tell me first?”
Everyone in the audience felt that it was an unsatisfactory question.
"No."
“Really?”
That was when Brigitte blew her chance at confession.
“Don’t you know about prostitution?”
The shock struck every part of the audience room. I turned around to look at Brigitte.
My half-sister was wide-eyed and stiff, and I couldn't tell if she was genuinely surprised or surprised to be caught.
Bang!
Desmond II threw two drawings at Brigitte's feet.
Elijah picked it up instead and handed it to Brigitte, but she was still frozen stiff.
“The people in the basement were the last to be evacuated, as there were many small rooms of unknown purpose and the streets were strangely twisted. There were even rooms with doors locked from the outside. Do you know what this structure is for? You'd know best, Betty!”
Brigitte could not answer. Desmond II didn't even bite his tongue twice in disgust. Instead, he cried out with a lump in his throat.
The audience room shook with raw anger. Not only Brigitte, but everyone inside trembled.
At that moment, Brigitte barely opened her trembling lips.
“Your Majesty, I don't know... I don't know what happened. It was done by the Marquis of Chansley while I was away on a dispatch and out of sight!”
"Yes?"
Desmond II's voice, once as furious as fire, became quieter. But it was only anger in a different way.
“You don't know what a-handed person does? You're incompetent.”
I quietly lowered my eyes.
'But this time, Father will protect Brigitte too. He will punish Chansley alone and control as much as possible the media that reports the suspicions.'
A disaster that killed hundreds of civilians. It was clear that if the truth was revealed that a member of the imperial family, and a powerful candidate for the Crown Princess, was involved, public sentiment would become hostile toward the imperial family.
As the Emperor grew older and more conservative, he would try to make the choice that would result in the least loss of what he had.
I understood Desmond II's decision in my head, a head that was very far removed from my heart.
“Eve.”
Suddenly, Desmond II called my name.
“Please ask, Father.”
“It was Luciard who started the bath business. Everyone knows that there are four Luciards. And the last quarterly cashier's report shows that your personal wealth has increased dramatically in parallel with the bath business.”
“Is Luciard also involved in such dirty work?”
In the audience room, Anais was also taking her place as a member of the delegation. I took a deep breath without realizing it.
I, on the other hand, wasn't at all flustered.
“I swear that will never happen.”
“Is that true?”
“I trust my subject. If you find it, you may cut off my head.”
“How can you be so confident?”
I locked eyes with Desmond II as if declaring truth and honesty. And then I said.
“My fortune grew thanks to the success of my bathing business and the soap business. It was because I predicted that the business would flourish. And in fact, the soap business wasn’t the only business that Count Luciard predicted would see increased demand.”
“Did you predict prostitution?”
“Yeah. I was thinking of Anais Luciard.”
“So what happened?”
“At that time, Count Luciard was in a situation where the fate of his company and his family was in danger, but he coldly refused my hand.”
“Is it true?”
“There is no lie.”
Desmond II glanced at Anais to confirm. Anais bent her knees.
“I have unintentionally doubted the invitation of the 7th Princess. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty.”
What a contrast to Brigitte. Eve's uniqueness led to a relative devaluation of Brigitte. The disparity in expectations for the two children was stark.
“I hereby order the Third Princess Brigitte to remain in her quarters indefinitely. She is not to be seen by anyone other than her personal maids and her direct knights!”
The intention was to tie Brigitte's hands and feet until Chansley was ousted.
“...Yes, Your Majesty.”
Brigitte, who thought the word punishment would never appear in her life, clenched her fist.
“That’s enough. Step back.”
In a suffocating space, I was finally allowed a sunroom. A giant door slammed shut behind Eve and Brigitte as they stepped out of the alcove
As soon as the room was isolated, Brigitte revealed her face. She wore the same expression she hadn't been able to wear in the presence of Desmond II.
She couldn't contain her anger. Brigitte was furious that his shoddy handling of the job had caused her to suffer this indignity. Her eyes glared as if she would tear him to pieces if she were caught.
But it would be foolish to walk around the palace unable to control her emotions. Brigitte tried to control herself somehow.
Compared to the countless sacrifices made by her subjects, the direct blow to her was minimal.
That thought made her feel a little better. Desmond II was still protecting her, so she could always get back up.
'Yeah, it's okay for now. Just blame everything on Chansley.'
Finally, Brigitte's expression settled down. She regained her dignity as a candidate for the Crown Princess.
“Go back, Elijah.”
When she turned around with the order, Brigitte's eyebrows furrowed.
“What? Get out of the way.”
Three steps in front of her, Eve stood still. It was a clear distraction to Brigitte, who had always moved to the center of the hallway.
Eve wore the same face she'd worn when she'd worn the silver arachne in Yggdras. The light gathered above her smooth eyes cut like a sword.
“Sister.”
Eve didn't ask the “did you really not know” question. Eve had already been convinced of the final blackout when Brigitte refused to compare the drawings Desmond II had given her.
Brigitte, too, avoided unnecessary talk; she concentrated on her half-sister's life, which seemed to be on a sharper and sharper edge.
Brigitte pretended to be relaxed and smiled.
“Why? Isn’t it too late to kill me now? This is the palace. Remain calm.”
“Yeah, you should take a deep breath. That’s how you’re supposed to be a good little sister.”
By her tantrum, Brigette thought she had struck Eve with a punch. It was just then that she was trying to feel a little better.
“Huh, it’s too late to regret it.”
“I think I did a really good job.”
"What?"
Eve's face, which had been like a faded sheet of paper, took on an expression. Eve smiled brightly at Brigitte, who did not understand.
“It was good that I didn’t kill you. If I'd killed you, I'd have had to wrap you in a ritualistic honor like Derek, which is too much for you.”
Eve took a step closer to Brigitte. She met her gaze from a distance with unsmiling eyes.
“I promise on my name. I will make sure that you leave in endless disgrace, Sister. Then I’ll go first.”
Eve ignored the rules of the palace and left first. Brigitte was left behind.
She clenched her fists to hide her trembling fingertips.
“Why? Isn’t it too late to kill me now? This is the palace. Remain calm.”
“Yeah, you should take a deep breath. That’s how you’re supposed to be a good little sister.”
By her tantrum, Brigette thought she had struck Eve with a punch. It was just then that she was trying to feel a little better.
“Sister, you know I didn't kill you that day in Dandelion..."
“I think I did a really good job.”
"What?"
Eve's face, which had been like a faded sheet of paper, took on an expression. Eve smiled brightly at Brigitte, who did not understand.
“It was good that I didn’t kill you. If I'd killed you, I'd have had to wrap you in a ritualistic honor like Derek, which is too much for you.”
“I promise on my name. I will make sure that you leave in endless disgrace, Sister. Then I’ll go first.”
Eve ignored the rules of the palace and left first. Brigitte was left behind.
She clenched her fists to hide her trembling fingertips.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment