Even if the tiny elements that make up a nation, the individual individuals, are powerless, the power of the masses, who comprise the majority of society, cannot be ignored. They are society itself, and power is maintained by the masses. Those in power do not want irrational consensus to become the majority's public opinion. It is difficult to coerce public opinion into being controlled. To do so would lead to dictatorship and tyranny, and the flames of revolution and struggle would rage uncontrollably throughout the country.
I put strength into my voice.
"She was constantly assaulted, insulted, and not paid properly. Her working conditions were also worse than those of other palace maids. Since she might be imprisoned, I must personally verify her current condition using my rights as a guardian. Even royalty doesn't have the right to imprison and persecute someone without a guilty verdict."
The eyes of the two maids in knightly uniforms and Erita opened wide at the same time. Her face immediately flushed bright red, and she abruptly stood up, growling.
"You're saying I imprisoned her for assault? Are you saying this without knowing that you're committing a crime of blasphemy?"
"I didn't say the Princess was imprisoned here. I only mentioned the possibility of imprisonment. How was that disrespectful?"
There was no subject to my words. Erita's face twisted into an ugly grimace as she saw the corners of my lips lift. Her manicured fingernails scratched anxiously at the velvet sofa seat. Her thumbnail was unusually short. Perhaps she was biting it like a child.
"It is blasphemous to speak of ungratefulness without evidence. Sir Cedric, Sir Devon. Have you ever witnessed such injustice?"
In response to Erita's question, the two maids dressed in knightly uniforms remained silent for a moment before shaking their heads.
"No."
After hearing her loyal answer, Erita asked me with a slightly more relaxed expression.
“Then there’s no evidence or witnesses. It’s just your claim.”
“Yes, if you have finished speaking, I will take my leave now.”
"Even if you tell Her Majesty, nothing will change. It's useless. She's no easy opponent. You'll end up in prison for framing the royal family."
Erita seemed determined to prevent my meeting with the Queen. I brushed my hair back with a dispirited expression.
"It is the right of Medea's citizens to petition the Queen, and it is unlawful to detain or oppress them for petitioning. This is one of the provisions of Medea's Bill of Rights. It means that petitioning for relief for a poor person will not lead to imprisonment."
“...Don’t you have any pride? You’re taking the side of a woman who has your husband’s child.”
“You said there had to be evidence, Princess.”
As I smiled leisurely, a shadow of worry fell over Erita's face, and her leisure gradually disappeared.
"What?"
"Isn't that precisely what there's no testimony or evidence for? The false claim that she has his child? I witnessed evidence of abuse on Ayla Delson, and I've secured a witness who can testify separately. I won't substantially side with a woman who claims to be carrying my husband's child, so that will bolster my argument."
"Do you think people will take your side? I'm a Princess, the sole heir to the throne. I mean, some people will support me."
I smiled leisurely and took a step closer to her.
“Why don’t you just try?”
"What?"
"As Ayla Delson's representative, I will respond through independent law enforcement. Assault, abuse, confinement, nonpayment of wages, death threats, and..."
As each charge was added, Erita's face reddened and then turned white, and eventually turned pale.
“You know, right?”
My words were brief, but she must have been quite shocked, as she asked with a pale face that looked as if she might faint at any moment.
“What does that mean?”
“Is it okay if I say it here?”
I glanced at the two maids, standing there, as inconspicuous as a breathing screen, and asked back. She gritted her teeth and flung her shoes toward me. As I effortlessly dodged the flying shoes, her eyes, devoid of reason, blazed red with madness.
"I should just kill you along with that lowly creature. They're useless now. How dare a filthy mongrel, just like that filthy government, insult the legitimate royal family?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, suppressing my anger, then opened them wide again. The unabating heat burned my eyeballs, almost burning them. It wouldn't have been strange if I'd burst out in anger, but the voice coming out of me was calm and composed.
"Princess. The reason I have two eyes is to observe myself and those around me."
“How dare you try to teach me so presumptuously?”
“Why do I have two hands?”
At her words, which I ignored, Erita closed her mouth, frowned, and tilted her head wryly.
“One is to help myself and others.”
I raised both hands and smiled as I continued speaking.
"One is to punish others. I have more expertise in this area."
I left Erita's room and met Renier, who had been waiting. She had become haggard for a moment, and with anxious eyes, she asked me.
“Were you threatening her?”
“Yes, I think they’re planning to kill Ayla and frame the Count Reuben family for the murder.”
"That..."
Erita's temper, which had been trying to drive a wedge between the couple by spreading unpleasant rumors, intensified the moment I actively participated, and the fight turned into a muddy, sticky fight.
Queen Grace, whom we had waited a long time to meet, smiled kindly at Renier and me, but I could feel her cold gaze sharply passing over Renier.
"You've been waiting long, haven't you? I had a meeting. Why did you two come to see me together?"
I bowed and paid my respects.
"Medea's Eternal Sun, may God bless Your Majesty the Queen. I have come to you with a request."
“Let me hear you.”
"Count and Lady Reuben have adopted Ayla Delson, a palace maid. I have delegated my guardianship and have come to fetch her myself, but the Princess has not given me permission, so I am requesting this from Your Majesty."
“I see. I’ll give you permission, so you can take her with you.”
The Queen's abrupt and brief conclusion made me momentarily forget the countless words I had prepared. She smiled beautifully at me, who remained silent.
“Do you have anything else to say, Countess Rotsilt?”
"We've confirmed that she has been repeatedly assaulted and has not been paid her wages. She is currently incarcerated. I believe this matter warrants investigation."
“After investigation, we will punish those involved.”
My shoulders slumped, unable to find anything more to say as the superficial answers continued. I expected her to retort, denying it or even threatening me. Even if that didn't happen, I assumed a more in-depth conversation would ensue. The Queen, leaning back in her armchair, seemed bored, as if listening to a dull and uninteresting story. What followed was a complete departure from the topic at hand.
"I heard that Count Rotsilt came in second place in the shooting competition. I don't know if it was due to his lack of skill or if he deliberately gave in. What do you think, Madam?"
“...I don’t know what his intentions are because I didn’t ask my husband specifically.”
"Everyone will judge him differently. I think I made a concession. He was a brilliant military figure, a hero on the front lines who fought brilliantly during the war. I'm so glad he came to this country. He refused the offer to join the military, so I didn't encourage him any further."
But it's different if it's an order.
I immediately grasped the Queen's inner intentions. She intended to use Noah in the war effort. Before I could even answer, she gently called out to Renier.
“Dear Sir Rainier Elliot.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you want freedom?”
At the Queen's question, Renier remained silent, her face a sad smile. After a brief silence, her eyes shone with a stern gleam.
"I will break free from eternal bondage and move toward the freedom of rest. This is my choice."
Soon, a clear, beautiful laughter, as clear as a bell, was heard. The Queen, who had been smiling elegantly with her mouth covered, spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yes, it's been tough for you so far, hasn't it? You're more kind and affectionate than cool and rational. Thank you for your hard work. I want to express my gratitude once again for your hard work for the royal family. I fully understand your determination to go this far. I appreciate your noble attitude. I won't let you feel any regrets later."
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I couldn't understand the entire conversation, especially the part about making sure you didn't feel regret. But I knew it was a personnel decision based on the judgment that her emotional nature made her unfit for the job and that she was no longer useful.
Renier, her face expressionless, bowed and saluted with a knightly sternness. If things continued this way, she would be banished from the country, and only those below her, excluding Erita, would be punished.
"Your Majesty, this is a matter involving the Princess. Do you intend to leave it as it is?"
I spoke loudly to the Queen. I said it because Renier had risked her life to leave the country to be a witness, but she simply sat there, resting her chin on her hand, and snickered.
“Yes. I will hold them severely accountable.”
It was a half-hearted response befitting a servant girl of such low value to the most powerful woman in the country.
It's always been like this. Giving the other person what they want and reassuring them, but not providing a fundamental solution.
“You’d better go get her quickly, Countess Rotsilt.”
The Queen, who had been silent for a while, turned her head to look at the clock on the wall and spoke softly. I stood there stiffly, hesitating. I couldn't bring myself to resort to the idea of inciting the public and public opinion. It was because of the implicit warning that Noah, a knight with a royal title and bound to obey the Queen's orders, might be imprisoned in the military and sent to the front lines.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I took a step back and bowed. Inside, I shuddered at the sight of her ceremonial smile, unwavering from beginning to end, no matter what she said. The image of this place, called Motherland, was a pretense, a facade of perfection.
Erita was right when she said it would be useless. Queen Grace II was no ordinary person. She was at the top of the food chain, preying on her fellow predators and claiming vast territories around the world.
The steps back to the Princess's room were heavy. The only sound was the click-click of two shoes as they walked down the marble-floored hallway. After a long silence, Renier spoke first.
“I’m afraid. It might all be useless.”
“No. I could save Ayla and take her back.”
“I think we're late.”
Her eyes were growing bloodshot. I felt my heart sink, and a chill ran down my spine, making my spine ache. The Queen's words, telling me to hurry and get her, suddenly came to mind.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I took Renier's hand, clutching her skirt with one hand, and hurried my steps. I saw the royal guards and two doctors in white gowns standing in front of the Princess's chambers.
“Countess Rotsilt.”
Before I could properly examine the chaos, Renier, standing there, called out to me in a calm voice. As Erita had said, what awaited us was ultimately failure and despair.
I put strength into my voice.
"She was constantly assaulted, insulted, and not paid properly. Her working conditions were also worse than those of other palace maids. Since she might be imprisoned, I must personally verify her current condition using my rights as a guardian. Even royalty doesn't have the right to imprison and persecute someone without a guilty verdict."
The eyes of the two maids in knightly uniforms and Erita opened wide at the same time. Her face immediately flushed bright red, and she abruptly stood up, growling.
"You're saying I imprisoned her for assault? Are you saying this without knowing that you're committing a crime of blasphemy?"
"I didn't say the Princess was imprisoned here. I only mentioned the possibility of imprisonment. How was that disrespectful?"
There was no subject to my words. Erita's face twisted into an ugly grimace as she saw the corners of my lips lift. Her manicured fingernails scratched anxiously at the velvet sofa seat. Her thumbnail was unusually short. Perhaps she was biting it like a child.
"It is blasphemous to speak of ungratefulness without evidence. Sir Cedric, Sir Devon. Have you ever witnessed such injustice?"
In response to Erita's question, the two maids dressed in knightly uniforms remained silent for a moment before shaking their heads.
"No."
After hearing her loyal answer, Erita asked me with a slightly more relaxed expression.
“Then there’s no evidence or witnesses. It’s just your claim.”
“Yes, if you have finished speaking, I will take my leave now.”
"Even if you tell Her Majesty, nothing will change. It's useless. She's no easy opponent. You'll end up in prison for framing the royal family."
Erita seemed determined to prevent my meeting with the Queen. I brushed my hair back with a dispirited expression.
"It is the right of Medea's citizens to petition the Queen, and it is unlawful to detain or oppress them for petitioning. This is one of the provisions of Medea's Bill of Rights. It means that petitioning for relief for a poor person will not lead to imprisonment."
“...Don’t you have any pride? You’re taking the side of a woman who has your husband’s child.”
“You said there had to be evidence, Princess.”
As I smiled leisurely, a shadow of worry fell over Erita's face, and her leisure gradually disappeared.
"What?"
"Isn't that precisely what there's no testimony or evidence for? The false claim that she has his child? I witnessed evidence of abuse on Ayla Delson, and I've secured a witness who can testify separately. I won't substantially side with a woman who claims to be carrying my husband's child, so that will bolster my argument."
"Do you think people will take your side? I'm a Princess, the sole heir to the throne. I mean, some people will support me."
I smiled leisurely and took a step closer to her.
“Why don’t you just try?”
"What?"
"As Ayla Delson's representative, I will respond through independent law enforcement. Assault, abuse, confinement, nonpayment of wages, death threats, and..."
As each charge was added, Erita's face reddened and then turned white, and eventually turned pale.
“You know, right?”
My words were brief, but she must have been quite shocked, as she asked with a pale face that looked as if she might faint at any moment.
“What does that mean?”
“Is it okay if I say it here?”
I glanced at the two maids, standing there, as inconspicuous as a breathing screen, and asked back. She gritted her teeth and flung her shoes toward me. As I effortlessly dodged the flying shoes, her eyes, devoid of reason, blazed red with madness.
"I should just kill you along with that lowly creature. They're useless now. How dare a filthy mongrel, just like that filthy government, insult the legitimate royal family?"
I closed my eyes for a moment, suppressing my anger, then opened them wide again. The unabating heat burned my eyeballs, almost burning them. It wouldn't have been strange if I'd burst out in anger, but the voice coming out of me was calm and composed.
"Princess. The reason I have two eyes is to observe myself and those around me."
“How dare you try to teach me so presumptuously?”
“Why do I have two hands?”
At her words, which I ignored, Erita closed her mouth, frowned, and tilted her head wryly.
“One is to help myself and others.”
I raised both hands and smiled as I continued speaking.
"One is to punish others. I have more expertise in this area."
***
I left Erita's room and met Renier, who had been waiting. She had become haggard for a moment, and with anxious eyes, she asked me.
“Were you threatening her?”
“Yes, I think they’re planning to kill Ayla and frame the Count Reuben family for the murder.”
"That..."
Erita's temper, which had been trying to drive a wedge between the couple by spreading unpleasant rumors, intensified the moment I actively participated, and the fight turned into a muddy, sticky fight.
Queen Grace, whom we had waited a long time to meet, smiled kindly at Renier and me, but I could feel her cold gaze sharply passing over Renier.
"You've been waiting long, haven't you? I had a meeting. Why did you two come to see me together?"
I bowed and paid my respects.
"Medea's Eternal Sun, may God bless Your Majesty the Queen. I have come to you with a request."
“Let me hear you.”
"Count and Lady Reuben have adopted Ayla Delson, a palace maid. I have delegated my guardianship and have come to fetch her myself, but the Princess has not given me permission, so I am requesting this from Your Majesty."
“I see. I’ll give you permission, so you can take her with you.”
The Queen's abrupt and brief conclusion made me momentarily forget the countless words I had prepared. She smiled beautifully at me, who remained silent.
“Do you have anything else to say, Countess Rotsilt?”
"We've confirmed that she has been repeatedly assaulted and has not been paid her wages. She is currently incarcerated. I believe this matter warrants investigation."
“After investigation, we will punish those involved.”
My shoulders slumped, unable to find anything more to say as the superficial answers continued. I expected her to retort, denying it or even threatening me. Even if that didn't happen, I assumed a more in-depth conversation would ensue. The Queen, leaning back in her armchair, seemed bored, as if listening to a dull and uninteresting story. What followed was a complete departure from the topic at hand.
"I heard that Count Rotsilt came in second place in the shooting competition. I don't know if it was due to his lack of skill or if he deliberately gave in. What do you think, Madam?"
“...I don’t know what his intentions are because I didn’t ask my husband specifically.”
"Everyone will judge him differently. I think I made a concession. He was a brilliant military figure, a hero on the front lines who fought brilliantly during the war. I'm so glad he came to this country. He refused the offer to join the military, so I didn't encourage him any further."
But it's different if it's an order.
I immediately grasped the Queen's inner intentions. She intended to use Noah in the war effort. Before I could even answer, she gently called out to Renier.
“Dear Sir Rainier Elliot.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Do you want freedom?”
At the Queen's question, Renier remained silent, her face a sad smile. After a brief silence, her eyes shone with a stern gleam.
"I will break free from eternal bondage and move toward the freedom of rest. This is my choice."
Soon, a clear, beautiful laughter, as clear as a bell, was heard. The Queen, who had been smiling elegantly with her mouth covered, spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yes, it's been tough for you so far, hasn't it? You're more kind and affectionate than cool and rational. Thank you for your hard work. I want to express my gratitude once again for your hard work for the royal family. I fully understand your determination to go this far. I appreciate your noble attitude. I won't let you feel any regrets later."
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I couldn't understand the entire conversation, especially the part about making sure you didn't feel regret. But I knew it was a personnel decision based on the judgment that her emotional nature made her unfit for the job and that she was no longer useful.
Renier, her face expressionless, bowed and saluted with a knightly sternness. If things continued this way, she would be banished from the country, and only those below her, excluding Erita, would be punished.
"Your Majesty, this is a matter involving the Princess. Do you intend to leave it as it is?"
I spoke loudly to the Queen. I said it because Renier had risked her life to leave the country to be a witness, but she simply sat there, resting her chin on her hand, and snickered.
“Yes. I will hold them severely accountable.”
It was a half-hearted response befitting a servant girl of such low value to the most powerful woman in the country.
It's always been like this. Giving the other person what they want and reassuring them, but not providing a fundamental solution.
“You’d better go get her quickly, Countess Rotsilt.”
The Queen, who had been silent for a while, turned her head to look at the clock on the wall and spoke softly. I stood there stiffly, hesitating. I couldn't bring myself to resort to the idea of inciting the public and public opinion. It was because of the implicit warning that Noah, a knight with a royal title and bound to obey the Queen's orders, might be imprisoned in the military and sent to the front lines.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I took a step back and bowed. Inside, I shuddered at the sight of her ceremonial smile, unwavering from beginning to end, no matter what she said. The image of this place, called Motherland, was a pretense, a facade of perfection.
Erita was right when she said it would be useless. Queen Grace II was no ordinary person. She was at the top of the food chain, preying on her fellow predators and claiming vast territories around the world.
***
The steps back to the Princess's room were heavy. The only sound was the click-click of two shoes as they walked down the marble-floored hallway. After a long silence, Renier spoke first.
“I’m afraid. It might all be useless.”
“No. I could save Ayla and take her back.”
“I think we're late.”
Her eyes were growing bloodshot. I felt my heart sink, and a chill ran down my spine, making my spine ache. The Queen's words, telling me to hurry and get her, suddenly came to mind.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I took Renier's hand, clutching her skirt with one hand, and hurried my steps. I saw the royal guards and two doctors in white gowns standing in front of the Princess's chambers.
“Countess Rotsilt.”
Before I could properly examine the chaos, Renier, standing there, called out to me in a calm voice. As Erita had said, what awaited us was ultimately failure and despair.
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