Chapter 32

"Stay right there, Leonhardt. I will arrest you as a criminal caught in the act of treason."

Zaid appeared with a smug look on his face. While Leonhardt, wounded by an arrow, crouched on the ground, Cordelia stepped forward to defend him, raising her voice in protest.

"Prince Zaid, what are you talking about all of a sudden? What crime has Prince Leonhardt committed?!"

"Hmph, fool. Do you not know where you are?"

"Here is..."

"Are you trying to play dumb? Let me tell you then. This is a crucial part of the aqueduct that supplies water to the new canal, a national project. And that mansion over there is a building planned to be used as accommodation for the aqueduct's management staff."

Cordelia had thought it was convenient that there was an unoccupied mansion in the forest, but it was for this reason.

"Cordelia, and Leonhardt. The two of you must have tried to destroy the aqueduct to prevent the new canal from being used, right? Otherwise, there would be no reason for the two of you to come out here into the forest together."

"That's a false accusation. Why would we need to destroy the aqueduct?"

"If water flows through the aqueduct and the new canal becomes operational, the dukes who support me will prosper. The two of you must have started this despicable sabotage to weaken my power, right? That is treason, a clear betrayal of the state."

Soldiers aimed their spears at them, protecting Zaid as he pronounced the judgment. Then, a familiar figure appeared from behind the soldiers.

"Toupack...!!"

"I saw it with my own eyes. I saw Prince Leonhardt and Cordelia setting up a sigil device, which would cause an explosion, on the aqueduct..."

The object Toupack held was a sigil device, a tool that allows even non-mages to use magic. It was a common type, a large iron plate that could be held with both hands, but Cordelia had never seen it before.

"That's a false testimony. Toupack has been incited by Prince Zaid and is lying."

"The liar is you. This Toupack suspected your suspicious movements, followed you, and informed me. He is a meritorious person."

"That's right, Cordelia!! It's better to confess your crimes now, or your punishment will be harsher."

"......I knew you were a despicable man, but you've sunk even lower."

Lowering her head, Cordelia then raised her face.

"Is Toupack the only witness? Do you really think you can defame Prince Leonhardt, a prince, without concrete evidence?"

Some of the soldiers murmured at Cordelia's question.

"Prince Zaid, perhaps the woman has a point...?"

"Are you defying me, the crown prince?"

"N-no, that's not my intention!!"

"Then be quiet. ...And as for evidence, the woman herself is the best proof, isn't she?"

"Me?"

Zaid's eyes twisted with a cruel light.

"Why do you think a mere countess, not a beauty like your sister, was chosen by my brother?"

"That's..."

Because of the scent. The reason was the catnip treatment, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"The answer is simple. Your brother deceived you with false love to make you a co-conspirator in the sabotage."

"That's not true! It's a baseless accusation."

"Then how do you explain it? Why did you, who were abandoned by four fiancés, catch the eye of my brother, a prince?"

The soldiers began to murmur at Zaid's mocking tone.

"So, she was abandoned by four fiancés..."

"She's pretty, but she seems strong-willed."

"Indeed, Prince Leonhardt wouldn't choose such a woman without a reason..."

"The prince must have deceived her easily because he's so handsome."

Cordelia bit her lip at the vulgar gazes.

(How could the cancellations of my engagements by Priscilla have such an impact...!!)

She wanted to protest, but with Leonhardt's secret of his lion form, she couldn't come up with a convincing response.

"Hmph, it seems you've finally given up. The royal capital's guards should arrive soon. Until then, stay in one of the rooms of that mansion quietly."

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Cordelia was thrown back into the mansion she had just escaped from, her hands and feet bound.

"Your Highness, are you conscious...?"

Leonhardt was also bound, but the soldiers, perhaps out of respect for his status as a prince, had laid him on a bed.

"...Ah, my vision is finally clearing. It seems the arrow was coated with a drug."

"Is your wound okay?"

"I managed to avoid hitting any important tendons or arteries. I heal faster than most people, but... I won't be able to use my dominant arm properly for a while."

"...Can you still produce and control flames in human form?"

"I can, but not as effectively as in lion form. However..."

Leonhardt gave a weak smile.

"I don't intend to escape from here."

"But if we stay, we'll be framed for a crime we didn't commit."

"My brother hates me the most. I'll try to convince him to spare you from punishment."

"But that will make you a criminal...!"

"......We can't escape from here. If we do, my brother will openly accuse us of treason and try to seize your count's estate. At worst, he might even start a civil war with the country...—"

Leonhardt fell silent. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed, and the key turned in the door.

"How does it feel to be a criminal, brother?"

"Zaid...!!"

Cordelia called him by his first name. She no longer felt the need to show him the respect due to a prince.

"Hmph, calling me by my first name. So, the mask has finally fallen, has it?"

"You're the one deceiving everyone. You seem to think you've won, but do you really believe such a ridiculous story will be accepted by the king and the others?"

"It will be accepted. You two are about to destroy the aqueduct, after all."

"...What?"

"I, being wise, detected your treason, but I was a bit too late. The sigil device you set up on the aqueduct's pillar, when removed, would cause the spell to go haywire, destroying the aqueduct to pieces."

"Are you serious? You know how much manpower and tax money went into building that aqueduct, don't you?"

"If it means getting rid of my annoying brother and cutting off the root of future problems, it's a small price to pay. If the aqueduct is destroyed, the opening of the new canal will be significantly delayed, or even abandoned. The dukes who were supposed to benefit from the new canal will be furious. If they demand a scapegoat, even Father will hand over my brother."

"......To deceive and harm even your own supporters, the dukes, you're insane."

"If my brother is gone, I won't have to cater to the nobles anymore. It's a win-win, isn't it?"

"My brother...—"

Leonhardt opened his lips expressionlessly.

"Did you really want to get rid of me to this extent...?"

"The core of the nation, the royal family's seat, cannot be dominated by a thief like you."

"Don't be ridiculous!!"

Cordelia shouted. She couldn't bear to see Leonhardt hurt by his heartless half-brother's words any longer.

"All of this is just a tantrum! You're just resentful because I chose Prince Leonhardt over you, and you're trying to get rid of me as well, right?!"

"Get rid of you, huh? You're tougher than I thought. ...Originally, the plan was that you and Priscilla, incited by my brother, would try to destroy the aqueduct. Katharina, who was suspicious of you two, would detect your plan and try to stop you, killing you in the process. This would officially end Katharina's house arrest and earn her father, the duke, a favor. Then, a letter of secret correspondence with my brother would be found on your corpse, making my brother a criminal...— But the plan has gone awry, hasn't it?"

But thanks to this, I might have a chance to personally condemn my brother as a criminal, Zaid whispered with a laugh.

"Behave like a defeated dog and cower there. When the royal capital's guards arrive, I'll make the sigil device explode in front of you, leaving you no room for denial."

With that, Zaid locked the door and left. Left behind, Cordelia heard Leonhardt's whisper.

"My brother...— The brother I admired is long gone."

"Your Highness...—"

"......Perhaps I was just pretending to respect my brother to preserve the admiration I had for him as a child. ...This situation is the result of my naivety."

Despite the pain, Leonhardt's eyes shone with a determination to atone for his mistakes.

"Cordelia, you were right. My brother has no qualifications to be the next king. As a royal, I can't forgive him. ...I finally understand and have made my decision. We must escape from here, stop my brother's tyranny, and expose the lies."

For the sake of the country and its people. The young prince, who had severed his childish sentiment for his brother, now possessed the dignity of a true ruler.

"......Do you wish for the throne, Your Highness?"

"Yes, that's my intention. If I wear the crown, it will increase your burden as the queen, but—"

"I would be honored."

Cordelia smiled strongly.

There are worries and fears. But more than that, she couldn't stand to see Zaid become king.

(—If Your Highness has decided to seize the crown...)

Supporting him with all her might was both her duty as a noble and her personal desire.

"Your Highness, I have an idea. If it works, we can turn everything around."