Ch.28Assassination Suspicion

“—Therefore, Baron Bez and 12 others respectfully request His Grace the Duke to convene the Noble Assembly…”

…They’ve got some nerve.

I thought they’d keep quiet for a while since the rebellion just ended not too long ago.

Looking at the list of nobles here, not a single one of them is someone I’ve fed with a silver spoon.

I mainly distributed territories to the Bourgogne family, and divided confiscated assets among those with strong influence… which means the nobles listed here are all weaklings.

So I was planning to ignore them for now and deal with them later at my leisure, but for them to band together like this, really…

“Leclerc, when was the last time the Noble Assembly was convened?”

“Thirty-three years ago, I believe it was last held when Lord Philippe convened it to facilitate the war against Caroling.”

“Haaa…”

But why do they want it convened now?

The Noble Assembly is a very old tradition, dating back to the tribal duchy era. Wasn’t it called the tribal chieftain council back then?

In the Noble Assembly, all attending nobles, including the Duke, have one vote each, and laws can be enacted or abolished by majority vote.

In other words, for the Duke of Bourgogne who can freely enact or abolish laws as he pleases, the Noble Assembly offers absolutely nothing beneficial.

Of course, if I truly did whatever I wanted, the nobles would rise up immediately, so I need to consider their positions when making or abolishing laws. Still, unlike the Noble Assembly, the Duke’s authority doesn’t grant nobles any power.

“Thirteen of them, so they do meet the requirement…”

The Noble Assembly can be requested when thirteen or more territorial nobles from different houses gather. Of course, only when there’s a significant threat to the nation’s future.

And what they’ve designated as a significant threat is the diplomatic issue with the Holy Empire.

Obviously, diplomacy with the Holy Empire is already well underway, as evidenced by Ines being my fiancée.

However, since the details are being negotiated behind closed doors, the nobles have no information, so in their eyes, it might seem like I’m doing nothing with the Holy Empire. Or perhaps that’s just how they want to see it.

“I’ll just refuse. What nonsense are they trying to pull?”

If a proposal like “Request the Holy Empire to permanently renounce claims to territories conquered by your grandfather” passes, it would be catastrophic. They would never agree to it, and might even declare war claiming they’ve been insulted, and we couldn’t say a word.

The idea that such things could become a pretext for war would be unimaginable in the modern world, but this isn’t the modern world. Sigh.

“I share the same thought.”

Leclerc nods as if he expected my answer.

Normally, refusing a request to convene the Noble Assembly would be a heavy political burden, but Leclerc knows how much money, land, and titles I’ve distributed to the nobles, so he understands that refusing won’t cause major problems.

“And investigate all the relatives of everyone on this list.”

“Yes, understood.”

My words imply dealing with these people, but everyone here nods in agreement as if it’s only natural.

Even Ines sitting on the sofa watching me, and Chloe standing by my side.

Well… it’s not rebellion or embezzlement, so killing them just for this petty defiance seems a bit much. I’ll just keep them in check for now. Of course, if the investigation reveals any crimes, that’s a different story.

……….

“…What on earth is this?”

A week after I ordered the investigation of the nobles who requested the assembly, five of them are dead, three are seriously injured, and one has disappeared.

The four nobles who are still alive and well are raising their voices, claiming that all of this is a conspiracy perpetrated by the Duke of Bourgogne, and appealing to other nobles for support.

“Causes of death include… falling accidents, food poisoning, poisoning, being hit by a carriage, attack by a knife-wielding lunatic, being struck by a flowerpot falling from a window, heart attack…”

…That’s quite a variety, isn’t it? Most of them are commonly used assassination methods.

If such things happened specifically to those nobles in just a week… well, I can see why they might suspect me…

But I’m truly wronged here. I only ordered an investigation, not killings.

And besides, I can understand the other incidents, but how am I being blamed for causing someone’s heart attack through conspiracy?

“Your Highness, it’s true that other nobles are becoming agitated.”

“Haaaaaaaa…”

Why is this happening when I have so much to attend to with Ines’s birthday coming up?

“If I claim my innocence, will they believe me?”

“…That would be difficult.”

“Yes, I thought so too.”

Leclerc, as the head butler, knows everything that happens in Dijon Castle, so he must know very well that I’m innocent.

If someone like him is so definitive about this… tsk, this is really serious.

“First, I should express condolences for the deceased and assert that I have nothing to do with this. The basis for that would be…”

How should I explain this?

They weren’t killed by me? I didn’t orchestrate this? I had no reason to kill them just for requesting an assembly? Or—

“—If it had been my master, he wouldn’t have killed them using such petty methods.”

“Chloe?”

Chloe’s chilling voice comes from behind me.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Ah, well… I mean… That’s right, didn’t you declare that you would only use the guillotine for executions, master?”

“That’s true, but…”

After the mass execution using the guillotine, I declared to everyone that I would only use the guillotine for future executions.

But…

“Chloe, this is assassination, and that was execution. Will the nobles believe that distinction?”

“Hmm… but there’s a possibility.”

“Is that so?”

Leclerc clears his throat and joins Chloe’s opinion.

Wait, you too?

“Most nobles have either witnessed or heard about the mass execution in the square.”

“And?”

“If you mention that while claiming ‘I don’t kill by assassination,’ it could be somewhat persuasive.”

“…”

…What’s wrong with everyone? Did they eat something bad?

“Moreover, Your Highness went to the front lines during the war with Caroling, so nobles likely think of you as someone with a hot-blooded personality who values honor. And such people generally don’t favor conspiracies.”

“…So, you’re saying I should claim that I’m the type to kill violently all at once, not someone who would dishonorably assassinate people one by one because it’s too petty? Is that it?”

“Exactly.”

“Will that really work?”

Would nobles really accept such an explanation?

I think they’d tell me to stop talking nonsense or accuse me of making low-quality threats and get even angrier—

“Your Highness possesses great knowledge and wisdom, but you have a slight blind spot regarding how nobles think.”

“Huh?”

As I tilt my head in confusion, Leclerc speaks with a determined expression.

“Nobles value honor and conviction more than life itself, and prefer direct confrontation over petty tactics. They favor bold answers over drawn-out excuses, and as long as loyalty is maintained, they don’t care what their subordinates do. Recent nobles have become more corrupt before power or unnecessarily roundabout in their speech, but… that’s the essence of nobility.”

Leclerc, who started with a serious face, ends with a slight smile.

…Is that so?

The nobles in my memory—that is, those I’ve seen in books and movies on Earth—are mostly post-Renaissance nobles with extremely developed etiquette. Nobles from France’s absolute monarchy period or modern Europe.

But this world I’m in now, compared to Earth, has stronger medieval characteristics than post-Renaissance. Traditions from the tribal duchy era have been modified and maintained.

Hmm… Medieval European nobility brings to mind… chivalry, duels, crusades?

…All of those involve fighting over matters of honor, conviction, or faith.

“…Very well, I’ll trust your judgment.”

If not only Chloe but also Leclerc thinks this way, then this approach must be right for the people of this era.

Even if things go wrong, it seems like I could still salvage the situation… let’s give it a try.

……….

“His Grace the Duke has issued a statement about the nobles’ deaths?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The servant hands me a letter bearing the seal of the Duke of Bourgogne.

Hmph, we all know what happened, so why bother with this—

“—Huh?”

I tear open the letter and find contents completely different from what I expected.

[Their deaths have nothing to do with me. I had neither reason nor value in killing them. Even if I truly wanted them dead, I would have arrested them and put their heads in the guillotine. I do not favor assassination, which is a petty and trivial method.

Of course, as their lord, I express my condolences for the deaths of my vassals, but I, Claude de Bourgogne, as the ruler of Bourgogne, condemn those who tarnish my honor by falsely accusing me of assassination.]

“…Haha.”

…He has a point. Chillingly so.

What does it mean that the Duke only distributed money, land, and titles to the Bourgogne family and those with strong influence? It means he doesn’t need to concern himself with the barking of small dogs.

And the dead men belonged to those small dogs. Literally, there was no reason or value in killing them.

Moreover, the Duke is hot-blooded and values honor, having gone to battle against Caroling at a young age, and he enjoys slaughtering people like cattle with that cruel machine. For someone like him, assassination would naturally be unsatisfying.

Above all, as stated in the letter, there’s no need for assassination. Since the rebellion ended not long ago, he could fabricate charges connecting them to it, arrest them, and execute them.

Nobles who have received the Duke’s favor wouldn’t care about the arrest of these small fry, and he could use that cruel machine to send a terrifying warning to everyone. This would be a much better choice than assassination, without damaging his reputation.

“…Having received my lord’s personal letter, I should send a reply.”

If the Duke truly did order the assassinations, he would have done so as a warning to other nobles not to act foolishly. Well, whether he did it or not, what I need to do remains unchanged.

I’m surely not the only one who received this letter. For all nobles who received the Duke’s personal letter, there is only one path to choose.

To apologize for tarnishing our lord’s honor with assassination allegations and to ignore those who raise such accusations.