The two things I wished for

 ☆

 The day after I returned home.

 I came to the castle with my father again.

 This was our third consecutive day of visiting/staying at the castle.

 “Seriously, I didn’t think yesterday that we’d be granted an audience today.”

 I said so while as we were being led down the castle’s corridor by the chamberlain, and my father chuckled.

 “Hubert’s prediction hit the mark, huh.”

 Right.

 Yesterday when we were in the carriage, after I discussed with them about the 『two desires』 that His Majesty mentioned.

 Having returned home, I immediately sent a letter of application for an audience to the royal castle.

 At that time, Hugh-nii-sama laughed that 『I think the reply will be fast, you know』, but——— to my surprise, the next morning, in our words this morning, a messenger from the castle came, telling us the time of the audience.

 My father and I couldn’t believe our ears when hearing this.

 With the Oswell Duke’s trial concluded, the investigation of the Royalist Faction nobles, including the queen, would begin in earnest from today onwards.

 His Majesty should be very busy, yet even so, he opted to spare of that time for me.

 Hugh-nii-sama’s view that 『His Majesty doesn’t want me escaping to another country』 may be true after all.

 “『Whatever you desire』 he said, but my heart’s still pounding after all. I hope I’m not being disrespectful, but…”

 When I said so, Otou-sama smiled wryly.

 “Don’t worry. If it’s those details, then it won’t be rude.”

 “But still, I get nervous for things I get nervous for.”

 Hmph, I puffed up my cheeks.

 My father snickered, and then patted me on the head like that while going “there there”.

 “In any case, it’s an opportunity His Majesty properly gave us. Chuck your thoughts at him frankly. No matter what you do, that man will accept it.”

 “Got it. I’ll do my best!”

 With a puff, I clenched both fists.

 My father nodded, smiling.

 “But even so, Otou-sama trusts His Majesty even more so than before, don’t you?”

 “Yeah. This past month, I’ve had the honour of kneeling before and consulting him countless times. I’ve found him to be a person of impressive character. Both as a king, and as a father.”^[1]

 It’s true that for this past month, Otou-sama has been visiting the royal castle at a pace of once every five days.

 This was to report and consult with His Majesty and His Highness Gerald.

 Though perhaps, it’s maybe not just my father who’s come to trust the other party.

 On the day of that assault.

 My father was the very first to rush to protect His Majesty, and my brother continued protecting His Highness. And then there’s me who tried protecting everyone.

 Through our actions, our neutral Ainsworth Family won the trust of His Majesty and His Highness.

 ———that’s what I think.^[2]

 ☆

 Several minutes later.

 My father and I were in His Majesty the King’s office.

 Not the audience room.

 His office.

 Of the people able to enter this room, there ought to be only a few within this entire country.

 From the sofa of that room, I sat facing the ruler of this country, a smile plastered on my face and laughing on the inside.

 (Hahahahahahahahaha…)

 “You’ve written in your letter that you’ve decided on your wishes, but is it really fine having done so so close on yesterday, Lady Leticia?”

 His Majesty politely confirmed with me.

 I straightened my posture again, looked His Majesty straight in the eye, and nodded.

 “Yes. After receiving His Majesty’s words yesterday, I carefully thought about it and decided. I have neither changes nor regrets for what I am about to say.”

 “——— I see. Then let’s hear it. What is it that you desire from me?”

 When His Majesty asked me that question, I took a huge breath, and silently let it out.

 “The first wish, is that you 『give assistance so that me and my family do not get dragged into political strifes』.”

 “Political strifes?”

 Perhaps it was unexpected, as His Majesty looked at me with his eyes wide open.

 “Yes. Be it factions, or be it political marriages. So that us Ainsworths can devote ourselves to this kingdom from a neutral position, when Your Majesty thinks it is necessary, to give assistance that Your Majesty thinks is necessary, is what I was considering.”

 His Majesty carefully ruminated over my words.

 “Hm. So if I^[3] don’t think it’s necessary, it’s fine for me to do nothing, is what you’re saying?”

 “Of course. It’s just, with the current state of the Royalist Faction losing power and the balance of power amongst nobility changing dramatically, I think Your Majesty will find more and more opportunities to lend Your assistance. ——— to put it more clearly, I’m thinking there’ll be more of those trying to get closer to my father and brothers, as well as myself.”

 “I see. So you want to put some distance with those fellows, is what you mean.”

 His Majesty’s expression turned to one of comprehension.

 “Yes. I’d like to have you protect us from political pressure from factions, pressure of political marriages and such.”

 His Majesty looked at me emphasising this, unblinkingly.

 And soon———

 (“Pfft”)

 His Majesty wholeheartedly erupted, making some sort of soundless sound.

 “Your Majesty?”

 “——— I know, I know. I’ll be plenty careful that no pressure from factions, nor talks of political marriages 『including the royal family』, goes through.”

 Saying so, His Majesty stifled a laugh by pressing the palm of his hand to his face.

 I unconsciously pouted.

 For my Family, this is an extremely important matter.

 Seeing me like that, His Majesty tapped me on the shoulder, pat, pat.^[4]

 “Sorry. I will respect Lady Leticia’s feelings. ——— and so, what would your second wish be?”

 Regaining my composure, I told him about my second wish.

 “Secondly, including the punishment for this time’s incident, I’d like to have the rule of law enforced even further, is what it is.”

 “Rule of law?”

 With my words, His Majesty’s expression did a complete reversal to a serious one.

 “Yes. So that those who possess power, and those who don’t, are both treated equally before the law, is what I’m saying. And then, that only the person themselves who’s answerable for the crime, not their dependents nor staff, be implicated, is what I mean.”

 Floating in my mind, I see the image of Anna and the servants’ execution.

 That thing should absolutely never happen.

 Even if they were involved with the Duke.

 His Majesty ruminated over my words and then opened his mouth.

 “Hm. I understand regarding the punishment this time. But as was the case in the trial the other day, Our country already operates under the rule of law. The kingdom’s laws also prohibit implication, but is that not enough?”

 What His Majesty said was correct.

 This country certainly does operate by rule of law.

 However ——— then, if that’s the case, why, before the rewind, was a summary trial held, and why was my father and I convicted.

 And then, why was Hubert-nii-sama, and even the servants, who were in the territory, all implicated.

 “With this trial, I’ve also skimmed over the kingdom’s laws again. I think that in addition, I must say that, though there are no major problems with the individual laws, when appointing the judge and prosecutor, it seems there’s room for arbitrary manipulation by persons with a certain amount of status.”

 “Arbitrary manipulation?”

 His Majesty’s eyes became sharp at my words.

 “Yes. The appointment of judges is under Your Majesty’s authority, but the nomination of candidates is ultimately done through the prime minister’s hand. And the prosecutor’s appointment as well, is practically done by the prime minister. In such a situation———”

 I looked at His Majesty.

 “If Duke Oswell’s plot succeeded, and the prime minister became the new king’s advisor, what would have happened?”

 His Majesty looked at me with a startled expression.

 “Judges and prosecutors under the prime minister’s patronage would be appointed, and via made-up evidence from this incident, the opposition would be purged, is what I think.”

 In fact, that did get implemented before the rewind.

 The Senate Faction rapidly lost power, and the Senate was reduced to an organisation that made and changed laws however Duke Oswell said.

 “Put the other way around, it was probably because the Duke held such prospects, that he resorted to such barbarism. If the system had been designed to protect against such intervention, perhaps the Duke would not have gone ahead with the crime.”

 His Majesty looked at me with wide eyes after hearing my explanation.

 “Then, what kind of system do you say would have prevented the Duke from running amok?”

 Those eyes, they were no longer the gentle eyes of an uncle.

 They were the eyes of a king leading his country.

 I looked straight back at those eyes, and quietly answered.

 “The judicial, legislative and executive authority are to be clearly divided, and mutually monitored. The Senate elects, and dismisses the prime minister. The prime minister appoints the judges. The Senate, they have the function of judging the judges. And the judges, they have the authority to judge the Senate and prime minister of illegal actions. ——— If there was such a system, then wouldn’t it perhaps have prevented the Duke from running amok?”

 His Majesty considered my words for a bit, then lifted his head after a while.

 That sharp gaze, pierced right through me.

 “Leticia Ainsworth. ——— Who the 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 are you?”