Esmeralda slowly waved the hand holding the envelope.
"This is a photo of Medea secretly meeting with an officer who entered the country disguised as a soldier. Later, Janet Evergreen, a former Frogen, disappeared. Mrs. Rotsilt also submitted a petition on her behalf that day. All three were said to have been closely connected in Belford."
“Yes, I’m not lying when I say that the officer and Diana had a close relationship when we were in Belford.”
Erita, who had resisted being dragged away, added to her argument and looked at Noah with a triumphant expression. More disconcerting and confusing than the suspicion of being a spy or agent was the revelation that I had met with Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendaal. It wasn't like we had been meeting secretly, but at least we had kept our chance encounter a secret. I managed to pull my head up to look at Noah. His expressionless, clouded blue eyes stared straight at me with an eerie glow. A chill ran down my spine.
“Honey, I know it’s not true. It’s okay.”
He artificially raised the corners of his lips and whispered softly, as if sighing.
“I was waiting for you to tell me first.”
Did he already know I'd met the lieutenant colonel? I desperately searched for words, giving up on any sort of substantive rebuttal.
"Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendael and I are just brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Janet Evergreen was just an ordinary nanny. We just happened to run into each other on the way back from a visit after submitting the petition."
My gaze was fixed on Esmeralda, but I answered Noah as if explaining something. She covered her mouth and snickered.
"On your way back from visiting Janet Evergreen, you met Officer Belford, who had entered the country illegally, and a few days later, she disappeared. Is this all a coincidence? That's incredible."
It's such a coincidence, what can I do? Even I'm baffled by how perfectly it fits together. What kind of resentment does that woman have against me to do something like that? It's so unfair. I might lose Noah's trust just because I didn't tell him. It's bad to have that trust broken at such a crucial time.
"Before Admiral Claire turned himself in, your older sister, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's wife, died. Was this also a coincidence? Didn't you conspire with Janet Evergreen to kill her? You showed no signs of sadness or remorse over the deaths of your father and sister."
The petty pretexts eventually gave way to speculation. Countess Reuben, her expression absurd, finally rose to her feet and attempted to stop Esmeralda.
"I said stop! This isn't Mrs. Rotsilt's trial. Your Honor, why aren't you stopping it?"
“What happens after the trial is not my concern, Countess Reuben.”
The judge's arrogant attitude furrowed Countess Reuben's brow. Despite the courtroom being empty after the trial, no one left, remaining seated. Esmeralda seemed to have taken advantage of this situation. It was a gathering place for influential figures, a place where she could use personal assertions and insults to pressure others and shape public opinion.
"Aunt Maria, she was born of sinful parents. She was a flawed person from the very beginning. I don't understand why the investigative authorities aren't investigating her. Isn't it unfair that Count Rotsilt, a talented man, is being treated unfairly? He just happened to be with the wrong woman."
Noah, who had been sitting there with his chin resting on his hand, snickered. In contrast, Countess Reuben's face, staring at Esmeralda, turned pale.
“Don’t open your mouth without knowing anything.”
Her husband, Count Reuben, a Supreme Court Justice who had been sitting quietly, raised his hand to express his opinion. The Supreme Court Justice, though not present at the trial, was reportedly involved, at least to the extent of expressing his opinion in the court documents.
"Judge Chester, this situation could be detrimental to the individual. Why are you acting as a bystander, a departure from neutrality?"
"Your Honor, I believe we will decide whether to indict based on the arguments of Ms. Esmeralda Harrison."
"That's something you should submit to the investigative authorities and testify about separately. You shouldn't insult the other person in a public place like this."
“Interesting. Continue, Esmeralda Harrison.”
A soft, gentle, yet powerful voice cut through the chaotic atmosphere. All eyes in the courtroom were drawn to the Queen. Esmeralda, empowered by the Queen's approval, smiled with a flushed expression. It was a delight to find fault with someone you usually dislike and bring them down.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I've been suspicious of her for some time and have been investigating her. Although she claims to have been deprived of material and educational benefits due to her biological father, Admiral Claire, and to have lived a life no better than a kitchen maid, her daily actions and demeanor belie this. While she readily masters social etiquette, she excels at horseback riding, golf, and art, making it difficult to believe she acquired them in such a short period of time."
“So you’re saying that the story about her hardships in Belford is a lie?”
"Yes. Moreover, the Admiral is a father with such deep paternal love that he values his first daughter like his life, so it's impossible that he wouldn't love his second daughter. While his exact motives remain unclear, I suspect he sacrificed himself for her. It was to further her goal of dethroning the real Princess by branding her a mentally ill impostor."
“It’s a sacrifice for his daughter.”
The Queen's green eyes curved beautifully. It was a perfect smile, born from a life lived as a flawless royal.
“Esmeralda Harrison, anyone can guess and doubt that.”
"Yes. I just wonder why no one is coming forward, even though there are reasonable doubts."
“Haven’t you ever thought there might be a reason why no one is stepping forward?”
The voice, which was gradually becoming colder, sent a chill down the back of my neck. A look of surprise crossed Esmeralda's normally relaxed face. The Queen continued calmly.
Prime Minister Belford's son, Jeffrey Groenendael, has renounced his citizenship and is currently serving as a soldier in the Allied Forces. His older brother, Jayce Groenendael, also resides in the Federal Republic of Kappel, helping to maximize the circulation of reserve currency for military supplies and oil imports.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal had joined the Allied forces. I lowered my head and clasped my hands tightly on my knees. If Medea, a maritime power, were to demand an investigation and proper punishment from Belford, it was clear the Groenendaal family would not be safe. The lieutenant colonel must have stepped forward to protect his father, the Prime Minister. The Queen, knowing the truth, decided to use him militarily rather than kill him, and likely struck a deal with him. Since this also aligns with the conclusion that the rumors were false, she likely facilitated Janet's escape by offering a bargaining chip. Whether she escaped or was murdered remains uncertain. Ultimately, fate led him to the fierce battlefield.
Esmeralda looked cowed, not answering. One corner of the Queen's mouth twitched upward.
"I guess you didn't investigate that. That wasn't the purpose of sending people in the first place."
“Your Majesty, what do you mean by that...?”
Esmeralda's blue eyes wandered here and there, her spirit gradually fading, and she finally became discouraged.
"The person you've been keeping tabs on is Count Noah Rotsilt. For personal satisfaction, isn't that right?"
Noah, who had been resting his chin on his hand and making a displeased expression at the Queen's sharp question, opened his eyes wide.
“Oh my god. Are you spying on me while I change clothes or something?”
Esmeralda's face grew increasingly red. She, who had maintained a look of impenetrability, erupted with a furious expression I'd never seen before.
“That’s not it!”
“To spy on someone’s private life, take secret photos, and keep them? What a shady person.”
"You're a weirdo too! Is it normal for two men to meet in a neutral country and hang out in hotel rooms?"
"Jace Groenendaal? We're close enough to meet now. It's been a while since we last saw each other because of the war."
What on earth could that man possibly be saying in this dire situation? It doesn't seem like Esmeralda has been spying and following him for political reasons, as the Queen claims. I've heard before about her usual jealous gaze toward me, and the fact that she repeatedly sent letters expressing her admiration for Noah and asking to be his secretary. So, I suspect it might be akin to stalking.
“Please, for the sake of your father, Count Harrison, stop now.”
Countess Ruben pleaded with what seemed to be desperate attempts to stop her. Nevertheless, Esmeralda stared at me with a haughty expression, her nose raised.
"Auntie, I never consider that lowly creature family."
“Esmeralda! Madame Rotsilt is...”
It was the Supreme Court Justice, Count Reuben, who silenced Countess Reuben's screams. Quietly taking her hand, his face paled like his wife's. I remembered the Countess's subtly complex gaze, her overly formal demeanor, and her use of honorifics, and realized something. They seemed to know my identity. For a minister-level justice to know wouldn't that mean something had already been decided? The fact that the Prime Minister and ministers remained silent, without a word, must also be proof that a small group within the court knew my identity. I stared blankly ahead and tugged at Noah's sleeve.
“Noah, I guess...”
“Yeah. I think it’s decided.”
Amidst the silence, a woman let out a soft laugh. Everyone followed the Queen, who straightened her slender upper body.
"I hereby decree, by Her Majesty's authority, that the final verdict on the defendant, to be held four days after the investigation, be referred to the public trial of the Supreme Court."
Erita stared at her toes with a pale face. Her eyes, filled with the futility of living a life destined for her as a Princess n, had endured countless hardships.
After leaving the courthouse, we ate at a nearby restaurant and walked toward the riverside along the Rembrandt River. It was already evening. Lights began to leak out from the houses at the end of the quiet, dark alley, and a chimney sweep, covered in ash, was seen walking among them. A man in overalls was lighting the gas lamps on the streetlights, illuminating the path for those heading home.
I watched a young couple passing by, carrying a child, and felt a pang of melancholy. We could have been that ordinary. Raised a family, had children. Just like everyone else. I knew I was about to call in the reporters, confirm Erita's death sentence, and proclaim myself the true Princess. So, I just walked in silence, my face sullen.
“It’s cool in the evening, isn’t it?”
Noah shook the hand he was holding weakly.
Suddenly, I remembered that I had hidden the fact that I had met Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, and I immediately apologized to him with a shameless face.
“I’m sorry for keeping it a secret and not telling you."
"Yes."
“The reason I didn’t tell you was...”
Even if I tried to explain the complex and nuanced feelings I felt at that time, I knew he wouldn't be understood. I stared up at the countless stars in the pitch-black sky, struggling to figure out how to express them. It took quite a while to organize my thoughts and express them aloud.
"I happened to run into him and spoke with him because I wanted to hear his intentions for coming here. I kept it a secret because I was worried it would estrange us."
"All right."
It was a concise answer.
Despite the explanation that came out after much anguish and worry, Noah appeared unfazed.
“And now is not the time to worry about that, Diana.”
"Yes?"
“There are 4 days left.”
Four days. The days left until the end of the routine of being together, when perhaps it was taken for granted.
I stood there, staring up at him in silence. His silver-white hair swayed slowly as he tilted his head toward me. The summer night sky and the streetlights radiated a beautiful color, resembling rippling waves. With his back to the nightscape of the city beyond the river, he smiled beautifully.
“Is there anything you want to do?”
"This is a photo of Medea secretly meeting with an officer who entered the country disguised as a soldier. Later, Janet Evergreen, a former Frogen, disappeared. Mrs. Rotsilt also submitted a petition on her behalf that day. All three were said to have been closely connected in Belford."
“Yes, I’m not lying when I say that the officer and Diana had a close relationship when we were in Belford.”
Erita, who had resisted being dragged away, added to her argument and looked at Noah with a triumphant expression. More disconcerting and confusing than the suspicion of being a spy or agent was the revelation that I had met with Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendaal. It wasn't like we had been meeting secretly, but at least we had kept our chance encounter a secret. I managed to pull my head up to look at Noah. His expressionless, clouded blue eyes stared straight at me with an eerie glow. A chill ran down my spine.
“Honey, I know it’s not true. It’s okay.”
He artificially raised the corners of his lips and whispered softly, as if sighing.
“I was waiting for you to tell me first.”
Did he already know I'd met the lieutenant colonel? I desperately searched for words, giving up on any sort of substantive rebuttal.
"Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Groenendael and I are just brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Janet Evergreen was just an ordinary nanny. We just happened to run into each other on the way back from a visit after submitting the petition."
My gaze was fixed on Esmeralda, but I answered Noah as if explaining something. She covered her mouth and snickered.
"On your way back from visiting Janet Evergreen, you met Officer Belford, who had entered the country illegally, and a few days later, she disappeared. Is this all a coincidence? That's incredible."
It's such a coincidence, what can I do? Even I'm baffled by how perfectly it fits together. What kind of resentment does that woman have against me to do something like that? It's so unfair. I might lose Noah's trust just because I didn't tell him. It's bad to have that trust broken at such a crucial time.
"Before Admiral Claire turned himself in, your older sister, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's wife, died. Was this also a coincidence? Didn't you conspire with Janet Evergreen to kill her? You showed no signs of sadness or remorse over the deaths of your father and sister."
The petty pretexts eventually gave way to speculation. Countess Reuben, her expression absurd, finally rose to her feet and attempted to stop Esmeralda.
"I said stop! This isn't Mrs. Rotsilt's trial. Your Honor, why aren't you stopping it?"
“What happens after the trial is not my concern, Countess Reuben.”
The judge's arrogant attitude furrowed Countess Reuben's brow. Despite the courtroom being empty after the trial, no one left, remaining seated. Esmeralda seemed to have taken advantage of this situation. It was a gathering place for influential figures, a place where she could use personal assertions and insults to pressure others and shape public opinion.
"Aunt Maria, she was born of sinful parents. She was a flawed person from the very beginning. I don't understand why the investigative authorities aren't investigating her. Isn't it unfair that Count Rotsilt, a talented man, is being treated unfairly? He just happened to be with the wrong woman."
Noah, who had been sitting there with his chin resting on his hand, snickered. In contrast, Countess Reuben's face, staring at Esmeralda, turned pale.
“Don’t open your mouth without knowing anything.”
Her husband, Count Reuben, a Supreme Court Justice who had been sitting quietly, raised his hand to express his opinion. The Supreme Court Justice, though not present at the trial, was reportedly involved, at least to the extent of expressing his opinion in the court documents.
"Judge Chester, this situation could be detrimental to the individual. Why are you acting as a bystander, a departure from neutrality?"
"Your Honor, I believe we will decide whether to indict based on the arguments of Ms. Esmeralda Harrison."
"That's something you should submit to the investigative authorities and testify about separately. You shouldn't insult the other person in a public place like this."
“Interesting. Continue, Esmeralda Harrison.”
A soft, gentle, yet powerful voice cut through the chaotic atmosphere. All eyes in the courtroom were drawn to the Queen. Esmeralda, empowered by the Queen's approval, smiled with a flushed expression. It was a delight to find fault with someone you usually dislike and bring them down.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I've been suspicious of her for some time and have been investigating her. Although she claims to have been deprived of material and educational benefits due to her biological father, Admiral Claire, and to have lived a life no better than a kitchen maid, her daily actions and demeanor belie this. While she readily masters social etiquette, she excels at horseback riding, golf, and art, making it difficult to believe she acquired them in such a short period of time."
“So you’re saying that the story about her hardships in Belford is a lie?”
"Yes. Moreover, the Admiral is a father with such deep paternal love that he values his first daughter like his life, so it's impossible that he wouldn't love his second daughter. While his exact motives remain unclear, I suspect he sacrificed himself for her. It was to further her goal of dethroning the real Princess by branding her a mentally ill impostor."
“It’s a sacrifice for his daughter.”
The Queen's green eyes curved beautifully. It was a perfect smile, born from a life lived as a flawless royal.
“Esmeralda Harrison, anyone can guess and doubt that.”
"Yes. I just wonder why no one is coming forward, even though there are reasonable doubts."
“Haven’t you ever thought there might be a reason why no one is stepping forward?”
The voice, which was gradually becoming colder, sent a chill down the back of my neck. A look of surprise crossed Esmeralda's normally relaxed face. The Queen continued calmly.
Prime Minister Belford's son, Jeffrey Groenendael, has renounced his citizenship and is currently serving as a soldier in the Allied Forces. His older brother, Jayce Groenendael, also resides in the Federal Republic of Kappel, helping to maximize the circulation of reserve currency for military supplies and oil imports.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal had joined the Allied forces. I lowered my head and clasped my hands tightly on my knees. If Medea, a maritime power, were to demand an investigation and proper punishment from Belford, it was clear the Groenendaal family would not be safe. The lieutenant colonel must have stepped forward to protect his father, the Prime Minister. The Queen, knowing the truth, decided to use him militarily rather than kill him, and likely struck a deal with him. Since this also aligns with the conclusion that the rumors were false, she likely facilitated Janet's escape by offering a bargaining chip. Whether she escaped or was murdered remains uncertain. Ultimately, fate led him to the fierce battlefield.
Esmeralda looked cowed, not answering. One corner of the Queen's mouth twitched upward.
"I guess you didn't investigate that. That wasn't the purpose of sending people in the first place."
“Your Majesty, what do you mean by that...?”
Esmeralda's blue eyes wandered here and there, her spirit gradually fading, and she finally became discouraged.
"The person you've been keeping tabs on is Count Noah Rotsilt. For personal satisfaction, isn't that right?"
Noah, who had been resting his chin on his hand and making a displeased expression at the Queen's sharp question, opened his eyes wide.
“Oh my god. Are you spying on me while I change clothes or something?”
Esmeralda's face grew increasingly red. She, who had maintained a look of impenetrability, erupted with a furious expression I'd never seen before.
“That’s not it!”
“To spy on someone’s private life, take secret photos, and keep them? What a shady person.”
"You're a weirdo too! Is it normal for two men to meet in a neutral country and hang out in hotel rooms?"
"Jace Groenendaal? We're close enough to meet now. It's been a while since we last saw each other because of the war."
What on earth could that man possibly be saying in this dire situation? It doesn't seem like Esmeralda has been spying and following him for political reasons, as the Queen claims. I've heard before about her usual jealous gaze toward me, and the fact that she repeatedly sent letters expressing her admiration for Noah and asking to be his secretary. So, I suspect it might be akin to stalking.
“Please, for the sake of your father, Count Harrison, stop now.”
Countess Ruben pleaded with what seemed to be desperate attempts to stop her. Nevertheless, Esmeralda stared at me with a haughty expression, her nose raised.
"Auntie, I never consider that lowly creature family."
“Esmeralda! Madame Rotsilt is...”
It was the Supreme Court Justice, Count Reuben, who silenced Countess Reuben's screams. Quietly taking her hand, his face paled like his wife's. I remembered the Countess's subtly complex gaze, her overly formal demeanor, and her use of honorifics, and realized something. They seemed to know my identity. For a minister-level justice to know wouldn't that mean something had already been decided? The fact that the Prime Minister and ministers remained silent, without a word, must also be proof that a small group within the court knew my identity. I stared blankly ahead and tugged at Noah's sleeve.
“Noah, I guess...”
“Yeah. I think it’s decided.”
Amidst the silence, a woman let out a soft laugh. Everyone followed the Queen, who straightened her slender upper body.
"I hereby decree, by Her Majesty's authority, that the final verdict on the defendant, to be held four days after the investigation, be referred to the public trial of the Supreme Court."
Erita stared at her toes with a pale face. Her eyes, filled with the futility of living a life destined for her as a Princess n, had endured countless hardships.
***
After leaving the courthouse, we ate at a nearby restaurant and walked toward the riverside along the Rembrandt River. It was already evening. Lights began to leak out from the houses at the end of the quiet, dark alley, and a chimney sweep, covered in ash, was seen walking among them. A man in overalls was lighting the gas lamps on the streetlights, illuminating the path for those heading home.
I watched a young couple passing by, carrying a child, and felt a pang of melancholy. We could have been that ordinary. Raised a family, had children. Just like everyone else. I knew I was about to call in the reporters, confirm Erita's death sentence, and proclaim myself the true Princess. So, I just walked in silence, my face sullen.
“It’s cool in the evening, isn’t it?”
Noah shook the hand he was holding weakly.
Suddenly, I remembered that I had hidden the fact that I had met Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, and I immediately apologized to him with a shameless face.
“I’m sorry for keeping it a secret and not telling you."
"Yes."
“The reason I didn’t tell you was...”
Even if I tried to explain the complex and nuanced feelings I felt at that time, I knew he wouldn't be understood. I stared up at the countless stars in the pitch-black sky, struggling to figure out how to express them. It took quite a while to organize my thoughts and express them aloud.
"I happened to run into him and spoke with him because I wanted to hear his intentions for coming here. I kept it a secret because I was worried it would estrange us."
"All right."
It was a concise answer.
Despite the explanation that came out after much anguish and worry, Noah appeared unfazed.
“And now is not the time to worry about that, Diana.”
"Yes?"
“There are 4 days left.”
Four days. The days left until the end of the routine of being together, when perhaps it was taken for granted.
I stood there, staring up at him in silence. His silver-white hair swayed slowly as he tilted his head toward me. The summer night sky and the streetlights radiated a beautiful color, resembling rippling waves. With his back to the nightscape of the city beyond the river, he smiled beautifully.
“Is there anything you want to do?”
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