Vol 1 Chapter 34 – The Inquiry【Vol 1 – Spoiled Princess Arc】

“…The Hegstett domain is in quite a sorry state, isn’t it?”

“Ah, yes, well…”

The investigation, masquerading as an inspection, was over, and we were now in Biriel’s residence. The room was magnificent, hardly what you’d expect from the lord of a domain filled with starving, destitute townspeople.

I understand that a room for entertaining royalty must be splendid, but when every corner is this lavish, it’s hard to see it as anything other than him lining his own pockets. I just can’t forget the sight of those townspeople, their eyes pleading for salvation.

And yet, they never petitioned us directly. In a situation like that, the idea of not petitioning shouldn’t even cross their minds.

Which means, for some reason, they couldn’t. The possibility of them being threatened exists. …How envious!

If I had known of such a miserable state of affairs, I would have moved to the Hegstett domain immediately!

“…Lowest of the low.”

Miriam muttered under her breath. For a moment, I thought she was talking about me and my body trembled with delight, but her cold eyes were fixed on Biriel.

Miriam already has a tendency to despise corrupt men of power like him. First the royal family, and now it seems she’s adding nobles to her list…

“Still, this mansion is very impressive.”

“N-Not at all! It’s just this room, I assure you. I couldn’t possibly welcome Your Highness the Prince and Your Highness the Princess to a filthy place like my own private quarters!”

Biriel frantically shook his head. Suspicious…

“Is that so? We’ve caused you unnecessary trouble. But you send a good deal of money to the Royal Capital, do you not? Did you never think to use that to provide relief for your subjects?”

“What…? N-No, taxes must be paid, after all…”

“I’m talking about what’s besides that. You’ve been giving money to bureaucrats and nobles in the capital, haven’t you?”

“…………!!”

Biriel’s face instantly paled. Wait… he was giving out bribes, too…?

“These illicit transactions were easy enough to find once we started looking. His Majesty the King may be lax in cracking down on this sort of thing, but you were careless.”

“Ugugugugu…h!!”

Well, if he wasn’t getting favors through bribery and the like, his self-indulgence would have been exposed eventually. The fact that it wasn’t means Biriel was covering it up on his end, and even if information managed to slip through to the capital, it was being squashed there as well.

I see, how thorough. But after so many years, he must have gotten complacent.

Since he was never exposed, he grew lazy about destroying the evidence, is that it…?

“I will report this matter to His Majesty the King in full.”

“W-Wai—”

“However, the reason we came here today was not to point out your unjust treatment of the townspeople.”

Cutting Biriel off, Prince Orace dangled the purpose of this inspection before him. Biriel’s face was no longer just pale; it had turned white.

If things go badly, he might just die.

“You were involved in the attempted assassination of Debora, were you not?”

Prince Orace stated the core of the issue. The air in the room froze solid.

Not a single person spoke. But with sweat pouring down Biriel’s face like a waterfall, it was obvious without him saying a word.

“…Whatever could you mean? I have no idea.”

And yet, the words that came from Biriel’s mouth were a blatant attempt to play dumb. Man… I think your emotions are a little too plain to see…

Prince Orace must have known it too; he wore an exasperated expression.

“…Sometime ago, Debora was attacked by bandits. We captured them and made their mastermind talk, and your name came up.”

“Impossible!! There is no way that I, who have sworn my loyalty to the royal family, would ever do such a thing!!”

Biriel denied it in a loud voice. If you shout that loudly, it just makes you seem all the more suspicious…

“Your Highness! Surely you do not mean to say you would believe the words of such a criminal over me, a noble!?”

I see, put that way, it is rather difficult to argue. A bandit and a noble have very different levels of credibility.

Even if he’s almost certainly guilty, one can’t exactly say they believe a bandit’s confession over a noble’s word. So, what will Prince Orace do?

“…Ah, you’re right. My apologies. But I had to at least confirm it.”

Oh? Prince Orace backed down quite easily.

Judging from his treatment of the townspeople and his bribery, Biriel is definitely guilty… but is he giving up?

“H-Heheheh. No, no, it is quite alright. This is part of your work as a Prince, after all.”

The color returned to Biriel’s face, which had been pale just moments before, and he began to smile pleasantly. He must think the situation has turned in his favor.

Well, well…

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Now, let us put this gloomy talk behind us! It is modest, but we have also prepared a feast. I hope the royals and their attendants will enjoy themselves to the fullest—”

“—By the way.”

A voice stopped Biriel as he was about to stand up. Cutting off his words, Prince Orace spoke.

An unusual atmosphere emanated from him, and Biriel swallowed hard.

“Do you recognize this?”

Prince Orace took something out from his breast pocket. It looked like a jewel of some kind, and it had something like a crest embedded in it.

What a fine-looking thing… Seeing it, Biriel’s face paled once more.

This person is going to die of stress.

“Th-That is…”

“Don’t you think the mark on this looks similar to the Hegstett family crest?”

I’ve heard that some nobles try to maintain bonds with their subordinates by bestowing upon them jewels or weapons bearing their crest. Is Biriel one of them?

“This belonged to the man who tried to attack Debora.”

…There’s no talking his way out of this one. But did a bandit have this?

As I was wondering about that, Princess Debora secretly whispered in my ear.

“You know, on the way back after we were attacked by the bandits, there was that guy I blew up, right? The knight I sent to confirm the body found that jewel with the crest.”

“Is that what happened?”

At the time, she suddenly blew up a place for no reason, so I thought she was just having a tantrum… And I had wished she would direct that tantrum at me, but Princess Debora was actually blowing up an enemy.

“As expected of you, Princess Debora. The situation has taken a sharp turn for the better.”

“Hmph! Well, of course.”

Princess Debora showed off a smug face. How cute… Miriam is scowling, but since the princess actually accomplished something this time, she isn’t saying anything.

…Though, her willingness to bad-mouth a royal to their face in this kingdom is pretty incredible in its own way.

“This is the ultimate proof, Biriel Hegstett! Do you admit your involvement in the attempted assassination of the Princess?”

“Guh, guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh!!”

Biriel groaned, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. With this, the matter is settled.

Prince Orace stood up and spoke.

“Your punishment for this crime will be decided in due course. Prepare yourself, lest you tarnish the end of your days.”

With those final words, Prince Orace left with Walter-san, his knight of fealty. The escorting knights followed after them.

“Erik—! We’re going too.”

“Yes. Shall we go, Miriam?”

“…Yeah.”

Princess Debora followed, and we began to walk as well. Just before leaving the room, I glanced back at Biriel.

“…my… can’t let it happen… no other… way…”

Biriel continued to mutter something over and over. His eyes were bloodshot, and it was clear he was not in his right mind.

Seeing this, I offered a faint smile. Yes, that’s right.

When a person is cornered this thoroughly, this is what they become. And what’s more, Biriel has held a high position and wielded his power to do as he pleased until now.

What happens when he’s faced with losing all of that in an instant? What happens when he’s in a situation where he could lose not just his power and status, but his very life?

“Heheheh…”

In my opinion, Prince Orace went a little too far. He cornered Biriel too much.

Well now, what will happen next? I tore my eyes away from Biriel, who was muttering to himself as he was being cornered, and began to walk.