Ch.282282. I Look Down on Most People Except His Majesty the Emperor?

“Ah, hello… I’m Everdin Belcatri.”

“Uh, sit down.”

After I nodded my chin while sitting in the reception room, Everdin Belcatri remained flustered for quite some time.

That’s understandable.

He holds the same title as Baron Byron, Selden Alphonse’s father, yet my attitude toward him is absurdly disrespectful.

Everdin Belcatri checks his attire and straightens his back.

“…I didn’t properly introduce myself. I am Baron Everdin Belcatri.”

“I already know that, so sit down.”

“Are you deliberately speaking down to me despite knowing who I am?”

“I speak down to pretty much everyone except His Imperial Majesty?”

At the words “His Imperial Majesty” from my mouth, Everdin Belcatri’s face turns ashen.

He probably doesn’t know that I’m going to marry one of the imperial princesses, but rumors about my connections to the imperial family have already spread widely, so he must be aware of that much.

I crossed my legs and nodded my chin again, and Everdin Belcatri gritted his molars as he sat down on the sofa across from me.

“…Even if you have connections with His Imperial Majesty, I never expected you would speak down to someone like this.”

“I’m just treating you according to your status?”

“What do you mean by that?”

He was visibly a large man.

His palm was twice the size of Madeline Belcatri’s face.

In the original story, Everdin Belcatri appeared only briefly as an extra in a scene where Madeline Belcatri recalled her past.

He was a truly despicable human who abused his only daughter for his own power.

Knock-knock!

Right on cue, Pedericks enters the reception room with a knock.

Without even glancing at Everdin Belcatri, he hands me a letter.

“A letter from His Imperial Majesty.”

“Wow, what perfect timing.”

Once again, at the mention of “His Imperial Majesty,” Everdin Belcatri turns pale.

Then, he stares at me with a subtle expression.

“It seems your relationship with Emperor Malius is as close as I’ve heard.”

“Closer than yours, at least.”

“…Is that so?”

He looks like he has a lot to say, but he seems to have decided to hold his tongue as I put down the letter and curl up the corners of my mouth.

“His Imperial Majesty wants to see you?”

At that, Everdin Belcatri points at himself with wide eyes.

“M-me? His Imperial Majesty does?”

“Yeah, I personally conducted the final interview for the Academy entrance exam. I saw Madeline Belcatri there, and she seemed to have grown up so well that I casually mentioned to His Imperial Majesty that an exceptional talent had emerged. Now he wants to meet you in person?”

Everdin Belcatri’s face trembles with an extremely bewildered expression.

“…Are you saying I… can have an audience with His Imperial Majesty directly?”

“That’s what I’m saying. But Madeline Belcatri can’t go with you. She needs to attend the opening ceremony that’s coming up soon.”

“Th-that’s fine!! I can certainly go to the Imperial Palace by myself.”

“Should I provide you with a carriage?”

“No! It’s already an honor that you’re allowing me to meet His Imperial Majesty. I couldn’t possibly impose further!”

For someone who was going on about proper etiquette earlier, his face is now beaming at the opportunity to meet the Emperor?

Well, even Everdin Belcatri’s abuse of his daughter ultimately stemmed from his blind ambition for power.

“Do you have any children besides Madeline Belcatri?”

“No, I don’t. I originally wanted a son, but somehow…”

“Ah, so Madeline Belcatri is your only child?”

“That’s right. I raised her with such determination, and finally, she’s bringing me recognition.”

You raised her with determination by beating her, that is.

That’s why Madeline Belcatri grew up to be so timid.

“Congratulations.”

“But why did you ask if I had other children?”

It was simple.

If there were other children, I would have brought them along too.

They might also be suffering abuse like Madeline Belcatri.

From my experience so far, even if I change the story of the novel, things still flow somewhat similarly.

Even if I succeeded in rehabilitating Madeline Belcatri, what if she had a sibling?

They might take up the baton.

Therefore.

Since I had already decided to take in Madeline Belcatri, I wanted to show some kindness.

One or two, it would make no difference to me.

“Anyway, you should leave from Lake Estate now and head to Lumestia Estate.”

“I-I will never forget this favor!”

With a voice full of gratitude, Everdin Belcatri rises and bows to me several times.

I wave my hand dismissively in the air.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

Everdin Belcatri bows once more and walks out of the reception room with vigorous steps.

After confirming that the door is closed, Pedericks slowly speaks.

“I sometimes think that you can be quite cruel, young master.”

“Why?”

“Baron Everdin Belcatri isn’t going to receive praise from His Imperial Majesty, is he?”

“So what? Is a father who abused his child not cruel then?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

I had sent a letter to Emperor Malius.

About the fact that Everdin Belcatri had abused his daughter, Madeline Belcatri.

By now, they would already be investigating the Belcatri estate.

It’s like picking your nose without using your hands.

“You haven’t seen Madeline Belcatri yet, but how could anyone hit such a small child!”

“By the way, what did His Imperial Majesty say in his letter?”

“He said he’s revoking his title and confiscating his property.”

“R-revoking his title? For abusing his child?”

For nobles, having their title revoked literally means the end of their family.

While abuse was indeed a crime in this world, confiscating property and revoking a title could be seen as excessive.

But.

If the person who directly issued that order was His Imperial Majesty?

Then nothing else matters.

Besides, the atmosphere must still be solemn due to the recent purge of the imperial princess’s inner circle.

I crossed my arms heavily and raised my head.

“I think it’s too harsh too.”

“…Pardon?”

“That’s why I’m going to ask for the title to be given back to Madeline Belcatri after she graduates from the Academy, and for the confiscated property to be returned as well.”

“You’re going to ask His Imperial Majesty to bestow a title…?”

“It might seem a bit presumptuous, so I’ll have to phrase it carefully when I ask. The child who was abused is innocent, after all.”

Pedericks nods as if it makes sense, but then tilts his head in confusion.

“But how did Madeline Belcatri student confide in you about being abused? Especially when you just met…”

As a reader of the original novel, I couldn’t exactly say I already knew, so I made something up.

“Maybe she just felt comfortable opening up to me?”

“…Pardon?”

“Or perhaps she saw something in me that made her believe I could protect her.”

“The latter has some credibility, at least.”

By the way.

His Imperial Majesty is much more reliable than I expected.

Normally, I would have had to go to the Belcatri estate myself, investigate the family, find evidence, and only then could I resolve the situation.

But now, it’s all been solved with just one letter?

I stroke my chin with a serious expression.

“It’s troublesome to be indebted to my future father-in-law so early.”

“But I think this isn’t a debt; you’re just helping to correct a wrong.”

“That’s true.”

“But what if Baron Everdin Belcatri denies the abuse allegations?”

“Ah! By now, the Imperial Knights are probably investigating the Belcatri family. They’ll quickly get confessions from the butlers and maids when pressed.”

“What if they all band together and refuse to confess?”

I detached my back from the sofa and grinned.

“Are you underestimating the Imperial Knights? They’ve probably already subdued everyone and are interrogating them one by one separately.”

“Ah… so that’s why you deliberately didn’t tell Baron Everdin Belcatri?”

“No, it wouldn’t have mattered even if he knew now; it’s too late.”

“Then why didn’t you tell him?”

“Well, if he knew, he obviously wouldn’t go, and then our knights would have to escort him. I couldn’t waste manpower on such trash.”

“…Your reasoning seems sound, young master.”

I yawn and stretch before continuing.

“It’s so easy to resolve that I can’t help but yawn.”

“Young master, shouldn’t you also explain the current situation to Madeline Belcatri?”

I suppose I should.

But what should I tell Madeline Belcatri?

She never confided in me about the abuse, yet I somehow know about it.

No matter how much I rack my brain, I can’t come up with a plausible excuse.

Slapping my palm on the table with an “Oh, whatever” attitude, I raise my head.

“Ha! Pedericks, bring Madeline Belcatri here first.”