episode_0100

“What exactly happened?”

“That is…”

What Nigel told me about my actions was quite shocking.

While I was relaxing alone on the balcony, Viscount Gilbert Bernstein headed towards me… and a little while later, I heard him yelling.

It is said that until then, everyone thought that Viscount Bernstein, who was very drunk, had a little argument with someone.

“It is presumed that he came to protest the injury of his son, Kenneth.”

“Son? Why are you questioning me about that? Who is Kenneth in the first place?”

“He…He is a magician whom Hashal seriously injured and forced him to drop out of school. Don’t you remember?”

From what I heard, it seemed like there was a guy like that…

I vaguely remembered it.

Isn’t that the guy who almost broke his head while calling me a barbarian?

“Ah, that guy. I remembered. The treatment must have been completed, but now you’re coming to pick on me. Was there really a reason to do that?”

“From what I heard, he has become a ruined person. They say they run away screaming when they see a woman…”

“……”

It was worth coming to complain. Although it was self-employed.

Nigel continued speaking.

The balcony window was closed and the inside of the banquet hall was also full of chatter, but it seemed like there were people who overheard the argument between Viscount Bernstein and me.

According to their testimony, Viscount Bernstein insulted my mother, Hershela, to be exact, and shortly thereafter, his body, with its head turned, fell down the balcony.

Thanks to the imperial family’s efforts to clean up the matter, it was declared a death by accident, but this was only an external announcement. Everyone will know who did it. I just don’t need to say it.

Nigel said, if it weren’t for me who did it, it wouldn’t have been surprising if I had been caught and executed immediately for daring to commit murder in the imperial palace.

…I should be grateful to the imperial family for taking care of things.

They said they did it not for me, but for their own honor, which they praised by awarding me a medal.

It is said that while the banquet was suspended for a moment, Prince Leopold, who had roughly taken care of the situation, sent me, who had fallen asleep, into the care of Friede.

I couldn’t help but sigh. It was a story that gave me a headache just listening to it.

No, how can you cause such an accident with just one glass of wine? ?I can’t believe it. As expected, I shouldn’t even touch alcohol.

—-

“So, what about this duel arena?”

asked Nigel as he put down the letter from the Bernstein family.

To be honest, it was a declaration of duel that I was reluctant to accept.

No matter how much he earned from his own business, it still pricked his conscience to not only turn his child into a wreck but also kill the father who had protested against it.

“You can ignore it. It’s a duel that can’t actually happen anyway.”

Nigel said something incomprehensible.

A duel that will never actually happen?

No way. Just by looking at the handwriting, resentment is evident.

“What does that mean?”

“In order to establish a duel with Hashal, a person of at least a master level would be needed… It would be difficult for the Bernstein family to find such a person, and even if they could obtain one, a duel would be impossible.”

“Why?”

“The Empire, in principle, prohibits duels between masters. No matter which of the two wins, humanity will lose one of its precious resources called masters.”

After hearing it, it was definitely a story that made sense.

You would want to avoid losing the only about 50 masters in the Imperial Knights and the electors’ private army to private disputes as much as possible.

Especially when the world is in turmoil like these days.

“The fact that the imperial family used the announcement of the death of the royal family as justification is in itself a direct violation of the imperial family’s decision… Rather, it is right for them to cancel the duel application as soon as possible and deliver an apology. ”

” Looking at the letter, it seems like you are no longer in a state where you can make a rational decision. What happens if I don’t cancel?”

Nigel hesitated to answer for a moment.

As if it wasn’t a very pleasant ending.

“Several Royal Guards will be secretly dispatched to the Bernstein Estate. Soon, news would come that the Bernstein family, unable to endure the misfortune that had befallen their family, burned down the mansion and committed suicide.”

It was a bit of a creepy story.

Moreover, it was a decisive tone, as if speaking of a prophecy that would definitely come true.

okay. Maybe it will work out as Nigel said.

It was a common occurrence everywhere for someone who acted against the will of those in power to commit suicide.

It is said that the imperial family’s position is weaker than before…but it is still nothing compared to the viscount.

The President of his home country, the Republic of Korea, also did the same.

The same was true for the Red League and the Unified European Empire.

“…Is that the right thing to do?”

I think that’s a bit excessive punishment.

I don’t remember what the viscount did, so I don’t know, but in the end, he was unilaterally beaten and then exterminated.

“Okay. Correctness is determined according to each individual’s standards. There is no such thing as a grand principle. At least from the imperial family’s point of view, it would be considered the right thing to do.”

“How is it by your standards?”

“I don’t think it was the right thing to do. However, it is the right thing to do. If the authority of the imperial family is lowered to the point where even a single viscountess ignores the royal family’s wishes, it will only bring about chaos in the empire.”

It was a sharp answer.

As expected, he is a knight. In many ways.

—-

Viscount Bernstein was not the only one who received letters.

Marquis Ludwig gave a light reprimand, saying, ‘I asked you not to cause a major accident, but you took things to a level that was barely manageable.’

Prince Leopold must have been mistaken, so he sent a letter detailing the empire’s official dueling methods and procedures.

There was also a letter from Empress Isabella.

He said that it was unfortunate that the uproar caused by this miscarriage incident occurred, and whether the alcohol at the banquet was to his taste, and it was difficult to tell whether he was being sarcastic or not.

And Friede came.

“Isn’t there something you have to say to me?”

Friede crossed her arms and frowned.

“Hmm…you must have had a hard time?”

“Apologise, apologize…! Haaa…”

Friede, who was upset, let out a deep sigh.

Of course, Friede must have had a hard time too.

Because someone who attended the banquet with him got into a serious accident and was blown up.

“I was trying to avoid annoying guys, but what a shame this is… Don’t even touch alcohol in your mouth from now on.”

“Well, I think so too. I don’t remember any of this. Anyway, I have to thank you for taking me there.”

“Of course you should be thankful, I almost died.”

Friede continued speaking in disgust.

“Hmm? What does that mean? Did someone attack you?”

“You attacked. I don’t know if you know, but you have a habit of hugging the person next to you when you sleep.”

…I didn’t know you had that habit.

Whether in this world or the other, I always fell asleep alone.

“If I had been just a moment late in pulling out, my spine would have been shattered.”

“Oh my god.”

In general, this would probably be a cute sleeping habit.

If I do it with this body, it will become a terrible murder attempt.

“I guess you really have to live alone. Unless killing your lover is your hobby.”

“…That’s right.”

Is it fortunate…? I don’t know.

—-

As a result, Nigel’s prediction came true.

Four days later, a new letter from the Bernsteins arrived.

It was an apology for blaming me for the death of the head of the family who died by falling and asking for forgiveness for my rudeness.

In the end, did he choose reality over resentment and decide to protect his remaining family?

Feeling a little bitter, I folded the letter and placed it on the desk.

“In the end, Nigel, it turned out as you said. What reply should I send? Expressing my condolences on the death of Viscount Gilbert?”

“Are you serious…?”

Nigel was shocked.

No, why?

“Of course you are serious, right? The Viscount may not know, but he feels sorry for that wife.”

Kenneth is self-employed, and so is Gilbert…probably so, but not a viscountess.

Nigel’s eyes were colored with embarrassment, as if my answer was unexpected.

“Ah, is that you? Sorry, I think I misunderstood.”

“Misunderstanding?”

Nigel nodded.

“Well, if Hashal said he was expressing his condolences, wouldn’t the Bernstein family take it as a terrible mockery?”

“…Is that how it works?”

When I thought about it, it seemed like a natural thing to say.

In a situation where you can’t even protest to your enemy due to power issues, if that enemy sends a letter expressing condolences…

Even if it were me, my eyes would roll over.

It was my mistake.

I can’t remember anything at all, so I feel like it’s someone else’s business and not mine.

“Then what should I send…?”

“If you really need to send a reply, I don’t mind since it was a misunderstanding – that would be best.”

I followed Nigel’s words.

—-

Afterwards, the Bernstein family virtually disbanded.

I sent a letter to Leopold and expressed my intention that I would like to conclude the matter at this point and move on since I had received an apology, but unfortunately my opinion was rejected in a form that was close to being ignored.

Even though the duel application was canceled, sending the duel itself was a move against the imperial family’s will, so it was impossible to just leave it as if nothing had happened.

Leopold tried to respect my will, but in the end, it was the Emperor and Empress who had the power to make decisions, so Leopold could not go against the wishes of them both.

Thus, the disposition of the Bernstein family was ultimately handled according to Isabella’s wishes, regardless of my will.

The widowed Viscountess quickly remarried one of the nobles of the Third Prince faction. As soon as my husband’s funeral was over.

Whether her intention was reflected in the remarriage…only those involved will know.

Kenneth Bernstein’s mental illness worsened, and he eventually committed suicide after a seizure. Officially.

As a result, all of the Bernstein family’s property and estates were transferred to the Viscountess’s new husband.

As for his sister, who was left alone, Isabella ‘mercifully’ accepted her as her maid.

From start to finish, everything went according to Isabella’s plan.

Not only did he devour an entire noble family that was vaguely walking a tightrope, and hint that the power of the imperial family was still strong… he also acquired a tool to throw away.

It could be said that it was a cruel ending considering that he had behaved wrong three times.