Chapter 43

After Alice finished her song, the customers didn't seem to want to leave the shop.

Most of them were intensely curious, watching the situation unfold.

This was because just outside the shop, the local magistrate was trembling violently and prostrating himself on the ground. The shop had its entrance permanently open, so this was clearly visible from inside.

The magistrate was quaking in fear as he prostrated himself. Such a rare scene, one that might only occur once a year—or perhaps even once in a lifetime—greatly stimulated the customers' curiosity.

I remained seated, slowly sipping my tea.

Because the entrance was left open, I could hear the conversation between the prostrating magistrate and a man who seemed to be his subordinate.

"Dammit... Oh, I can't take it anymore. Lawrence, do something!"

"It's no use, Master Will. Running away at this point will only incur more displeasure."

"But, but... it's the Thirteenth Prince!"

"Even so, if you don't go out, it will only make things worse. I'll back you up, so go ahead."

The voice I heard was that of the magistrate—probably a man named Will—shouting in fear, and the low, controlled voice of his subordinate—Lawrence. These were the two voices.

A person's true worth is tested in difficult situations. As I waited, thinking about this, Will and Lawrence entered the shop.

Will prostrated himself in front of me, his head touching the floor, while Lawrence stood three steps behind him, on his knees but with his head raised, looking at me.

"P-Pascal Will, I, I present myself before the Thirteenth Prince!"

"Pascal Will, are you the magistrate here?"

"Y-Yes!"

"I don't remember appointing you, but who did?"

"H-His Majesty appointed me directly."

"I see."

The magistrate, Pascal Will, was trembling so much that it was pitiful to watch. He crouched on the floor like a small animal and hadn't raised his head since he entered.

According to imperial law, Pascal's crime wasn't serious. Inviting someone like Alice to sing in a private place was a common occurrence. The only issue was that he had forced her to do so.

While it was a crime, the maximum punishment would be a month's reduction in salary or something similar.

So, there was no need for him to be so terrified.

"...Pascal, do you understand your crime?"

"Y-Yes! I know it's unforgivable!"

"..."

It wasn't that bad.

I sighed, and Pascal, still crouched, shuddered.

I sighed again at his reaction. Then, I noticed Lawrence standing behind him, calm and composed, unlike the trembling Pascal.

"Are you Lawrence?"

"Yes."

When I asked, Lawrence bowed for the first time. He then quickly raised his head and looked me straight in the eye as he answered.

"My name is Lawrence Barten. I serve as Master Will's secretary."

"Barten, are you from the west?"

"My father is."

"I see."

Lawrence answered without hesitation, yet without being disrespectful. I felt a sense of respect for him.

I remembered that he had given advice to Pascal earlier.

"...Pascal."

"Y-Yes!"

It sounded as if he was saying, "You're coming back again!"

"Write a document impeaching yourself."

"Yes! ...What?"

After answering reflexively, Pascal looked confused, not understanding the meaning. He cautiously raised his head for the first time to gauge my reaction.

"Impeach... yourself?"

"Yes. Explain what you did wrong and what punishment you think is appropriate. Bring it to me by this time tomorrow. We'll talk after that."

"..."

"Do you have a problem with that, or do you want me to judge you now?"

"T-That..."

"Thank you for your mercy."

Interrupting the still confused Pascal, Lawrence bowed, accepted the order, and led Pascal away.

After the magistrate left, the onlookers also left the shop, murmuring among themselves.

"Thank you."

After all the customers left and the shop owner closed the entrance, Alice, who had been standing at a distance, came over.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, thanks to the Prince. Thank you always."

"I see."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

A moment of silence passed. I broke the silence by asking Alice:

"Why don't you ask why I made him do that?"

"I will continue to sing."

Alice answered without hesitation.

"That is the best way to repay the Prince. I believe I shouldn't interfere in other matters."

"I like that about you."

"Does the Prince have some deeper intention?"

"Not really."

I prefaced my explanation to Alice.

"Technically, he was appointed by the Emperor, and his crime isn't serious. The impeachment—basically a reflection—is to understand what he did wrong. If he doesn't understand, he will be punished. If it's just excuses and flattery, he will be replaced."

"I see, as expected of the Prince."

"Rather, would you sing another song?"

"With pleasure!"

I listened to Alice's song, eagerly awaiting the response from that man.

☆

The next day, in the outer garden of the manor.

After taking possession of the fief, I had the manor renovated to clearly separate the inner and outer gardens, following the tradition of the royal family.

The inner garden was purely residential, accessible only to me, my wife Audrey, and the maids and eunuchs. It was designed like the Emperor's harem to maintain the purity of the royal bloodline, and no ordinary men were allowed to enter.

The outer garden, on the other hand, had a study and reception rooms for handling official duties and entertaining guests. Ordinary men were also allowed here.

In the study of the outer garden, I was facing Don Oats, who had been my subordinate since the incident three years ago.

I was deeply seated in a chair, while Don stood in front of me, reading two documents.

"As the Prince predicted."

"Yes."

Don was reading Pascal's "reflection."

There were two documents.

One stated that he had unknowingly been rude to the Thirteenth Prince and was willing to accept any punishment. The other expressed regret for forcing a commoner—Alice—and offered to accept a reduction in salary and demotion.

The official document was the latter, while the former was obtained secretly by me.

"I have seen many official documents from there. The one about being rude to the Prince is in Pascal's handwriting, while the one about forcing a commoner is written by Lawrence."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed, as expected of the Prince. The man Lawrence is quite sharp."

"Yes."

As expected.

From the reactions of Pascal and Lawrence yesterday, I had predicted that Pascal would either beg for his life or submit something irrelevant. As expected, that's what happened.

I hadn't revealed my identity at the time. If I hadn't, the rudeness to the Prince wouldn't have been a crime.

Probably, Pascal had first tried to submit the first document, but Lawrence had stopped him, leading to the second document.

This was consistent with my prediction based on their reactions yesterday.

"So, how will you handle it?"

"A reduction in salary is enough. It's a minor issue from the beginning."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, if he can listen to his subordinate's advice, that's not bad."

"Your magnanimity is truly admirable."

"Also, can you go to Lawrence?"

"Yes, what do you need?"

"Give him this."

I took a box from my desk, about the size of both hands, and handed it to Don.

"What is this?"

"A box made using parts of Fwawa and a ring. Once locked, only I can open it."

"Hmm...?"

Don tilted his head, wondering why such a thing was needed.

"Lawrence will definitely find it useful. I'm entrusting it to him as a tool to report to me in case of any issues."

"I see, for internal reporting."

"Exactly."

"Truly impressive!"

Don said this, looking at the box with admiration.

"What's wrong?"

"No, it's an honor to receive this."

"Honor?"

I chuckled.

"Is it not?"

"Look at this."

I took another box from my desk, identical to the one I had given Don, but it was in a terrible state.

"Was this... stolen by someone?"

"No, it was because the person who received it showed it off."

"Showed it off?"

Don repeated the words in a flat tone.

"Supposedly, Fwawa is monitoring it. If it's not used for its intended purpose and the person shows off that they received it and are trusted, it will self-destruct on the spot."

"---I see! What an amazing mechanism, no, an amazing concept."

"Such people are not worth using."

When I said this, Don agreed and left the study to deliver the box.

I put the box away. I could no longer remember the name or face of the person who had betrayed my trust.

Is Lawrence a trustworthy man? I was a bit hopeful.