episode_0165

Two days after that.

Contrary to my expectations, there were no rumors that Mathias was dead or missing.

Although he refused invitations or visits from others and stayed with the Empress all day, it is said that more than one person was seen wandering around with the Empress.

Among the nobles, the opinion was that this was justified since the prince was still a boy and had reunited with his mother after five years… .

“It is definitely suspicious that you even refused my request to meet you.”

Lacey declared, her expression hardening.

Well, even though Mathias is a priest of the rival Shaulithe Church, the two churches are not enemies.

It’s just a competition for power, but their attitude of not even meeting a candidate for sainthood from the other church is extremely suspicious.

“Then, what was it… Was it a secret martyrdom apostolate? Have you decided to contact them there?”

“For now, I plan to wait a little longer. There will be limits to unconditionally rejecting other people’s requests for meetings like you do now, so it won’t be long before you take a different course of action. I want to check that.”

—-

It only took two days for Lacey’s words to be proven.

The evening of the third day.

Matthias headed to the Rose Pavilion outside the island, saying he was going to see his sister Leonor.

On the morning of the fourth day, the body was found in pieces that had been dug up.

The system was turned upside down.

Following the disappearance of the 5th Prince Joseph, another tragedy occurred in the imperial family.

—-

… As expected, is he dead?

The smoke exhaled was bitter.

It was something I had already guessed, but I couldn’t completely get rid of the pervasive confusion.

That morning, I received an invitation from Leopold and headed to the First Prince’s palace.

How long has it been since this visit?

The office door was wide open.

Strangely enough, the Royal Guard I saw at that time… What was your name, Hector? Anyway, the gentleman was nowhere to be seen.

Leopold was sitting on a chair inside his office, tapping his fingers on the desk as if he couldn’t hide his nervousness.

The other hand was holding my forehead.

I knocked on the open door and pretended to be there.

Leopold must have noticed me then, and raised his head.

“Ah, you are a princess. Welcome back. Come on in.”

After taking a step inside the office, he placed one hand on his chest and bowed his head in greeting.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness Leopold. Was this the first time since the Battle of Einfeld that we had met again like this? Are the injuries you sustained back then fully healed?”

“If I was injured, I was cured in a short time thanks to the priests. It must have been a sudden invitation, but thank you for coming to visit me so quickly.”

When I saw Leopold up close, whom I met again after a long time, I saw that his complexion was extremely pale.

Her neat hair was a little disheveled, and there was even a trace of cold sweat on one cheek.

Even for him, it seems that Mathias’ death was unexpected.

“Because the matter is the matter. I heard that Prince Matthias was murdered. Is this true? What happened… .”

I knew from the beginning that he was dead, but I just played it off and asked questions.

I thought it would be good to know how it was known to the imperial family.

“Unfortunately, it’s true. In the middle of the road leading to Leonor’s villa, he was found in a miserable state, buried under a pile of wreckage from a shattered carriage, with only his lower body remaining. The paladin in charge of guard was also killed in the line of duty.”

“I’m sorry, is it? I thought it would be something that His Highness Leopold would not welcome.”

A word I uttered while sitting on the sofa in my office.

Perhaps it was a too blatant remark, but Prince Leopold rubbed his lower jaw as if he was embarrassed.

“The princess is a bit… , I think I need to learn the imperial language again. Just using honorifics isn’t enough… .”

what. It looks more serious than I thought.

Wouldn’t it be beneficial to Leopold if Matthias’s death ends the friendly relationship between the Ernstists and the church?

“Of course, if Isabella or Ernst had ended up like that, I would have raised a toast of joy too. But Matthias is not yet a child.”

“Didn’t you plan on getting rid of him after you ascended to the throne anyway? You don’t want to leave any regrets behind.”

Matthias, who lost his mother and brother, may have revenge on Leopold.

No, it’s usually natural to harbor a desire for revenge.

“Oh my god, they thought I was that cold-blooded… ? I didn’t mean to do that. I was planning to leave for the Holy Kingdom, live quietly, and leave it alone if I never return to the Empire again.”

“Is that so? Excuse me.”

I am indeed. What’s different?

Leaving you alone as long as you behave well means that you intend to deal with it right away even if it shows even the slightest suspicious movement.

Leopold nodded lightly as if he didn’t care.

“Good. There is no time to delay, so I will stop talking about mourning and get straight to the point.”

“The main point?”

Leopold let out a deep sigh.

“Things are getting very serious. That’s also to my disadvantage.”

—-

The investigation team that arrived at the scene of the incident is said to have concluded that the incident was an attack by a monster.

The evidence was based on the fact that the carriage was completely shattered, claw marks left in the wreckage, and more than half of the corpses missing as if they had been eaten.

It is said that there are also strange traces left around the site that are believed to be traces of weak magic or monsters.

First of all, when a paladin was killed, there was no possibility that it was the work of a simple monster or thief.

Of course, it was something no one would believe.

What is the actual probability that Isabella’s children will die two by one from a monster attack?

Since the traces of the monster can be manipulated, anyone will have no choice but to suspect a behind-the-scenes operation.

Actually it did.

People who heard about the results of the investigation began to pour out their own speculations as to what the truth of the incident was.

As if they were investigators.

It was a well-spoken guess, but it was no different from rumors.

And among them, there was also a rumor that Prince Leopold had his subordinates assassinate Matthias.

Since it was a conspiracy theory targeting a powerful heir to the throne, no one was stupid enough to claim it publicly.

“Isn’t it enough to just dismiss such nonsense as a slander?”

“It’s not that easy… . After all, it’s an inference mixed with half the truth… .”

what?

Truth mixed up?

I came to my senses.

… No, what does that mean?

“No, did you really assassinate him? You said you were sorry a little while ago?”

Wasn’t Isabella killed?

I didn’t think Leopold would do such a crazy thing.

“I never gave such an order. But, the thing that killed Mathias… My escort knight, Sir Hector.”

Leopold gritted his teeth.

It was as if he had completely let go of the dignity of the royal family.

“… You got hit. Was that why you couldn’t see the escort driver?”

“That’s right. He’s been missing since yesterday… . Probably not even alive.”

I had a rough guess as to what was happening.

I guess Isabella used Hector to pretend that she killed Matthias.

We don’t know if Hector was a traitor from the beginning, or if Isabella did something to him.

Because of “, we are in a very difficult situation.”

Leopold sighed.

======[Isabella]=======

“By the way, Her Majesty the Empress. Will people really believe that?”

Isabella’s bedroom.

Fainted boys were spread out under the bed, and two naked women were entangled with each other on the bed.

One was dark and the other was fresh.

Both of them showed signs of an affair and looked extremely licentious.

Isabella’s maid, Silvia, wrapped her arms around the Empress’s waist and rubbed her flushed cheeks.

A girl who was Kenneth Bernstein’s younger sister.

The pupils were half-open due to the drug and pleasure.

Isabella smiled as she stroked Sylvia’s hair.

“Silvia. If you give an absurd explanation, people will naturally be suspicious. There must be something hidden. What would happen if you subtly told them a more believable lie, as if the truth they were trying to hide was revealed by mistake? ?”

For that purpose, Hector’s traces were left to a dangerous degree on purpose.

If you ask questions and investigate, you may be lucky enough to discover it.

“There may be some who doubt even that. However, most people say, ‘Look! As expected, my suspicions were correct!’ And people who are satisfied don’t worry anymore. They don’t know that this is also a lie, and they believe it to be the truth.”

It wasn’t as simple as it sounds. It was a matter of intentionally leaving traces, but carefully figuring out the appropriate line.

If Hector’s traces are found too easily, they will think this was intentional and they will not be suspicious, but if they are made too difficult to find, they may not be noticed at all.

Just the level of difficulty that allows the opponent to feel a self-satisfied sense of accomplishment when they discover Hector’s traces.

It was a little clumsy during Josef’s time, but this time it was perfect, even in Isabella’s own opinion.

“Is that so… ?”

“That’s right. Now, stop talking about headaches and come here.”

Isabella cupped Sylvia’s face with a sweet smile and lifted it slightly.

“Yes… !”

Sylvia smiled and kissed the Empress.