Chapter 47

Of course, since the day I met the twins in the garden, things have been in an uproar.

It's been a day since Fehr collapsed, but the commotion has only intensified.

"It's already been heard that it was an attempted assassination."

Herkov's red-haired, bear-like face had turned fierce, or rather, it now resembled a wild beast.

"Yeah, I can't tell how old he is, but Herkov has a rich range of expressions, doesn't he?"

"We don't get the information we need due to the information restrictions, so we don't know what Asha-sama wants to know."

Wearrel, whose animal ears on top of his head seemed to droop, also had a listless tail.

Since then, I haven't been able to learn about the condition of my younger brothers.

"Asha, Her Highness, I have brought the Marquis Stratego."

Ikt, who had knocked and entered, announced the arrival of a guest.

In fact, today, the Marquis Stratego had requested a meeting through Ikt, and the purpose was to conduct an interview.

Since it was an incident in the palace, the Marquis Stratego, who oversees security, was in charge of the investigation.

Seeing the seriousness of the matter, the Marquis himself had come.

He had brought along the familiar Levan.

"It's been a while, Marquis Stratego."

As the princess of Luciusaria, Asha-sama and Levan were pen pals, and since Levan was always wandering around, I had always felt the presence of the Marquis Stratego.

However, this was the first time we had met face-to-face since the engagement talks.

"This time, it's a simple interview, but please be honest."

The marquis with purple hair, who had been flustered last time, now appeared strict.

No, this is probably his usual demeanor.

"Of course, there's no way I could lie."

"You seem quite calm. Are you aware that you are suspected of attempted assassination?"

"Yes, but if it's called an attempt, then Fehr is safe, right? If that's the case, it's fine. I have nothing to be ashamed of."

My response made the Marquis Stratego look troubled.

Still, he moved on to the interview and began to confirm the facts matter-of-factly.

The location was the Blue Room.

Since there are few pieces of furniture, the room with chairs and a table is limited, so this room, where Herkov and others usually wait, was chosen.

Levan seemed to be taking notes.

"In other words, you touched the Fourth Prince twice. Once when you held his hand to guide him, and another time when you roughly handled him to make him vomit the poison."

Hmm, that sounds malicious.

"The method may have seemed rough, but I did not intend to harm him."

Levan raised an eyebrow at my response.

After spending time with him for years, I can tell a bit.

When he makes this kind of expression, he's testing something.

So, the correction just now was a test, right?

Both master and servant have bad personalities.

"What was the reason you suspected it was poison? It seemed like you knew what to do."

"Was it from the guards who were holding me down?"

"It's the result of the interview."

I tried to play it off, but it seems the guards were calm enough to make such an assessment at that moment.

"I ate the sweets as I said, and then I collapsed. There was no other explanation. Also, my lips were swollen, so I inferred that something bad had been put in my mouth."

I knew from my past life's memory that it was an allergy.

But in this world, it doesn't exist, or rather, it's not known.

Even from Sefira, who had taken up the hobby of peeping and stealing books, I hadn't heard of such a term.

So, to explain, I decided to talk about it as if it were a poison, even though it wasn't.

Fehr's body had an excessive reaction to what it perceived as poison, but explaining that wouldn't be convincing.

"Did you use magic on the Fourth Prince?"

"I only generated water to rinse his mouth and to prevent any remaining poison."

The malicious questions continued.

Moreover, he asked with a pressure that made me feel like I was the bad guy, which was unpleasant.

Each time, a coldness seemed to lower the temperature in the room.

Probably, the attendants behind me were quietly brimming with determination.

But I know that even in my past life, detectives used such intimidating interrogations.

"......There are also kind people, you know."

"Pardon?"

Oops, it slipped out.

"It's nothing."

"No, if you have something to say, please speak."

"Really, it's not related to the interview."

I tried to smooth it over, but the Marquis Stratego was persistent, and Levan joined in, so I had to tell them what I was thinking.

"If you're going to apply pressure, it would be more effective to have someone to soften the approach. You know, like the North Wind and the Sun."

After I answered, he persistently asked about the North Wind and the Sun.

So I told him it was a fable I had seen and explained the famous Aesop's fable rich in moral lessons.

"......So, have I become so dull that I can be seen through so easily?"

"Please, Marquis, this Highness is special."

The Marquis Stratego, who seemed to be feeling down, was being made to look bad by Levan.

"Then, let me get straight to the point. What did you say......?"

A noisy voice came from the stairs.

The Marquis Stratego also looked at the door.

That door leads to the only staircase connecting to the upper floor where my father meets people.

The Blue Room and the Gold Room each have a door leading to it.

"The guards are also raising their voices. I will go and see."

Ikt excused himself and moved.

It seems there were guards outside the door that the Marquis Stratego had brought.

"Are you going to touch me? You insolent man!"

"But, Your Highness, the Empress!"

"I am only questioning the true nature of the poison that harmed my own son!"

"But, that is already being handled by the Marquis Stratego!"

"I have also heard about the curse! Then, I must question it myself!"

"Please wait! Please wait!"

Ikt opened the door slightly and then closed it quietly.

Yes, I heard the Empress.

If that door opens, there will definitely be trouble.

But it seems Fehr is now in a state where he can be left alone.

With that, I silently took out a key and handed it to Wearrel.

Wearrel, who understood, locked the door the moment the noisy voices grew louder.

"Are you too experienced?"

I ignored the insolent Levan.

"Marquis Stratego, what's going on? Who spread the rumor that I poisoned the Empress?"

"No, that's not the case......"

"Hey, if the Emperor finds out, it will be a big problem. Talking about poison and curses towards the Emperor's son doesn't sound good."

Herkov, with an aggressive voice tinged with anger, made a snide remark.

During this time, Wearrel went to lock the other door leading to the Gold Room.

"Of course, I understand that the Empress is acting out of distress. But right now, we are in the middle of an interview in your name, right?"

"Who would be the highest-ranking person responsible if something happens to the Empress or the Highness?"

When Herkov threatened, the Marquis Stratego pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up.

"Why are you starting to practice the North Wind and the Sun on the Marquis now?"

"Levan, I don't want you to speculate. I am genuinely surprised and worried. This is someone who connects me to an important friend."

When I said this, the Marquis Stratego groaned and his face became terribly frightening.

But don't worry.

I am keeping the line with my pen pal, and Levan knows this.

"......This time, I will have to reschedule. Could you show me another exit besides this one?"

I smiled and showed him the stairs leading to the lower floor in the Blue Room.

However, there is only one staircase in the main building that leads to the upper floor.

As a result, the Marquis Stratego had to go outside and take a roundabout way back to his office.

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Next: The Crab's Curse 1