Ch.95The Third Flower (4)

“…”

“”…””

Despite it clearly being spring, the room that should be cool is unbearably cold. It feels as if the cutting wind has been visualized, mercilessly slashing at me.

After Jeanne’s greeting several seconds ago, only the eerie sound of night wind hitting the window remains in the room.

Swish—

“Hehe…”

“You…!”

A moment later, Jeanne breaks the cold silence.

Jeanne smugly caresses her lower abdomen with a satisfied smile, and Chloe, recognizing the meaning behind this gesture, widens her eyes and tries to rush forward, but stops abruptly when our eyes meet.

Perhaps she doesn’t want to show me her fighting side?

“You… I told you I’d be nice to you! How dare you go after someone else’s brother—”

“Nice? No, Miss Chloe, you could never give me what I want. And speaking of ‘someone else’s,’ are you really the one to say that?”

“What? What did I do wrong?”

“…Well, Miss Chloe also came between Miss Ines and His Holiness, so if what I did was wrong, didn’t you commit the same mistake?”

“…?? What are you talking about? Ines came between us, not the other way around. Since I’ve been with him longer, isn’t Ines clearly the one at fault?”

“Hey, you.”

“What? It’s true.”

This is maddening. Why are they fighting among themselves?

The arrows of Chloe and Ines, which until just now were directed at Jeanne, are now pointed at each other.

“…Anyway, I have no reason to keep Miss Chloe’s promise. It was something you decided on your own in the first place.”

“…”

Promise? This is the first I’m hearing of it.

As soon as the word “promise” leaves Jeanne’s lips, Chloe suddenly stops and says nothing.

Chloe’s fierce eyes turn toward Jeanne.

“Wow… What was once completely muddy has cleared up somewhat to just murky water… but the essence remains the same, doesn’t it?”

“…You, be quiet.”

“Hmm.”

Chloe’s low voice mercilessly pressures Jeanne, but Jeanne exhales as if finding it ridiculous, pushing back against the pressure.

Ines and I are trying to follow the flow of the conversation while being cautious about this sudden situation, but with so little information, we can’t understand what the two are talking about.

“I told you clearly. Keep your mouth shut and—”

“Oh, was I not supposed to talk about it? Hmm… the promise, I’ll keep it now. Wow, birds of a feather really do flock together—Miss Ines has done quite a lot too, hasn’t she? Maybe I should just tell everything—”

“You, you…!”

Chloe, who had been still until now, lunges at Jeanne as if to tackle her.

Although Chloe completely wraps Claudia, who is in her arms, to protect her from injury, she won’t be able to completely eliminate the impact.

Of course, the problem isn’t just Claudia. If Chloe fights Jeanne with her fragile body, who knows what might happen.

I need to stop this.

“Chloe, stop!”

“Brother!”

“I don’t know why you’re angry, but stop for now. For your sake and Claudia’s. You’re both in danger.”

“But… but…! That woman is talking nonsense—”

“Nonsense? That’s harsh. Who was it that spoke nonsense in the first place?”

Seeing Chloe crying in my arms, Jeanne says this, then covers her mouth and chuckles.

She’s using her entire body to express her unpleasant feelings toward Chloe.

…Hmph.

“Now, Your Holiness. Listen carefully—”

“Jeanne.”

“—Ugh…”

Jeanne, who was about to say something triumphantly, flinches at my low voice and is rendered speechless when our eyes meet.

“I clearly said I would take responsibility for you. But that doesn’t mean I’ll take responsibility for your wrongdoings.”

“Ah… uh…”

“So… what are you doing right now?”

Jeanne’s true nature is kind, but… she just crossed the line too far. I simply cannot overlook this.

How dare she mock and insult my precious wives? Is this even remotely acceptable?

“Birds of a feather? The essence remains the same? Nonsense?”

“Ugh… ah…”

“Jeanne, you seem to have forgotten because I’ve been treating you well… but originally, you shouldn’t even be able to raise your head in front of these two. Do you understand?”

Jeanne lowers her head and trembles. Her legs are shaking so severely that she seems to be having great difficulty maintaining her balance.

The confident Jeanne from just moments ago has completely disappeared, leaving only a frightened girl who doesn’t know what to do.

“I’ll let it go this time. But if something like this happens again… you’ll be expelled from the palace. You don’t need to agree. I don’t need your consent.”

“Th-that… that’s…”

“…Jeanne, you seem very tired. Go inside and cool your head.”

“Y-yes…”

With her body still trembling, Jeanne bows her head and desperately tries to maintain her balance as she leaves the room. I shake my head briefly as I watch her back.

Tsk… Jeanne doing something like that, it’s so unexpected.

Everything Jeanne has done while working as a maid has been reported to me. In those reports, Jeanne was an impossibly kind, innocent girl who was recognized by those around her—like a character straight out of a picture book. But after what just happened, it’s impossible to believe she’s the same person.

While Jeanne usually acts in a manner befitting a saint, she becomes extremely emotional in certain situations—like when she killed all those corrupt clergy according to her emotions, and just now when she showed endless hostility toward my two wives.

I hope she learns from this incident and reduces such tendencies.

……….

“Haaaaah…”

“…It seems there was quite a commotion last evening.”

The next morning, Leclerc says this as he sees me sighing deeply. His tone is like that of a grandfather speaking to a grandson who has woman troubles because he couldn’t keep his lower half in check.

What’s with that? It’s annoying.

I didn’t do anything wrong; I’m the victim here.

[…Everyone must be tired. I’m sorry this happened. Chloe, let me support you. Ines, please wait in the room meanwhile.]

Last night, after Jeanne left, I don’t remember much.

My mind was dominated by the thought that I needed to reassure the two who were shocked, and that made my instincts act before my consciousness could.

I couldn’t ask what promise Chloe and Jeanne had made because everything was too chaotic. It’s already in the past, so going back to ask would be a bit awkward, and Chloe seemed reluctant to talk about it, so I decided to let it go unless a problem arises.

Sigh.

“Leclerc, isn’t managing the servants and attendants your job? Why didn’t anyone come to rescue me during that incident?”

“What? But Your Majesty—”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“That can’t be…”

Leclerc must feel very wronged.

He surely arranged an almost perfect security system, yet Jeanne managed to slip through and pounce on me—it’s simply inconceivable.

Leclerc probably thought I deliberately sent away the servants and attendants.

Since the servants and attendants answered as if they knew nothing, Leclerc could only conclude that I had silenced them.

But that happened because Jeanne manipulated their minds, not because of anything I did.

“Leclerc, be more careful from now on. What if it had been an assassin instead of Jeanne?”

Leclerc’s face, which had been colored with confusion, now turns pale with shock.

Of course he would react that way.

If I didn’t make the servants and attendants leave and silence them, then Jeanne’s attack on me is Leclerc’s fault.

Whether it’s an issue with the servants and attendants, or with how he arranged the security detail.

Above all, what I said seems to have hit home. If it had been an assassin instead of Jeanne, the outcome would have been obvious.

‘I do feel a bit guilty… but it can’t be helped.’

How would Leclerc react if I told him that all of this was Jeanne’s doing?

He would probably deny it with an expression of disbelief. It’s impossible to imagine that such a small girl would have the skill to divert servants and attendants and sneak in.

But what Jeanne has isn’t skill—it’s supernatural ability.

Even in a world with magic, there’s no magic powerful enough to interfere with people’s minds to that extent. If Leclerc knew, wouldn’t he try to expel Jeanne from the palace, saying such a dangerous person couldn’t be kept inside?

If that happens… Leclerc would be in great danger.

I don’t know why, but my instincts strongly warn me not to do that. For Leclerc’s protection, I shouldn’t reveal anything about Jeanne.

“…I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty. I’m going to address this issue right away—may I take my leave?”

“Granted.”

With my permission, Leclerc hurriedly leaves the office, and I sigh briefly as I watch his back.

I pray for the servants and attendants who will face Leclerc’s wrath.

“…Let’s get to work.”

My mind feels very uneasy, but that’s precisely why I need to work more. Work is an excellent tool for erasing distracting thoughts.

“Let’s see… Huh, time flies so fast.”

Although Leclerc has left, the documents he brought remain on my desk, and these documents have a much higher level of importance compared to other documents from the past few months.

The fruits of long preparation are finally seeing the light of day.

“The opening of the university…”

Students, professors, campus, tools, books—all preparations are complete.

Only one thing remains: time.