episode_0170

Perhaps because my etiquette training was so effective, Persval hasn’t had any problems since.

On the contrary, I was satisfied with the fact that he seemed to be in high spirits like a new soldier who had just been assigned to the unit.

After all, lessons that come with pain are the only ones that are effective.

“You understand, Persval? That’s all advice given for you. I have just become a Royal Guard, so I understand that it takes a lot of stress on my shoulders, but… If you walk around stiffly holding your head like that without being able to see up or down, it’s easy for your head to get smashed without even a mouse or a bird knowing?”

Heading to the main palace where the court meeting would be held, he offered warm consolation to Persval, who was walking next to him.

“Yes… ! Thank you for the lesson… do… !”

“Thank you. As a senior, this is only natural. If it had been an enemy, I would have ripped off all my limbs… . You and I are partners in protecting His Highness the Prince, right? We’re going to be together for a while, so we shouldn’t make each other blush as much as possible. Isn’t that right?”

You understand me, right?

If you betray, you will part with those limbs. Remember it well.

“What you said is correct… !”

“Senior… ? Persval. Are you calling me ‘senior’ just now? How dare you?”

Persval pursed his lips as if embarrassed by my rapidly lowering voice.

“… yes? However, the senior himself-”

“No, Persval. Just because I said that, you shouldn’t try to call me that. Do I need to teach you again who the person standing next to you is?”

I can, but you can’t.

Is this that difficult to understand?

“Sorry! Princess Aishangior!”

“Hmm? What is the purpose of insisting on emphasizing the last name ‘Aishangior’? Oh, are you trying to mock me by saying that I am not a pure imperialist, but just a barbarian princess or something?”

“Oh, no!!”

Persval’s complexion turned blue.

… This is kind of fun.

I giggled and patted Persval’s back.

The breastplate, which had been smelted with a mixture of iron and steel, rang like an iron bell.

“I’m embarrassed because I was just joking. I don’t care, so call me Princess Aishangior. Or, you can call me Sir Median.”

Persval lowered his head.

The exposed back of my neck was trembling.

“There is no answer? Are you angry? Your senior told a joke, are you protesting now?”

“No! sorry! Lord Median!”

“Okay. Just do it like that.”

After nodding, I followed Prince Leopold again.

Behind my back, the pleasant sound of molars grinding rang out.

If you abuse your teeth like that, you will suffer quite a bit when you get older.

It’s none of my business.

—-

Walk through the hallways of the main palace.

Perhaps it was because I was less stressed than in the morning, so I didn’t have to worry about people walking around freaking out when they saw me.

Instead, I whispered a little bit.

Still, there was no one who openly said that he was crossing the line.

It’s natural. If you are tactless enough to say something darkly sarcastic when the imperial prince is in front of you… Because it would have been dealt with long ago.

“… Didn’t they persecute you a little too much?”

Suddenly, the prince whispered in a quiet voice, so loud that Persval, who was following him, could not hear.

I guess he was listening as expected. Since he didn’t say anything, I thought he didn’t care.

I also lowered my voice.

“He seems to have strong pride, so if you shake him up like this, he’ll probably get a reaction. I wanted to check that out.”

Yes.

Could it be that he was scratching Persvall’s insides just because he found it fun to tease him?

There’s no way I’m such a bad person.

I did it all with my mind in mind.

I did this to get a rough idea of how much I should be wary of that man.

… Honestly, it was fun.

If you’re wheezing by yourself, it’s a normal reaction, so ignore it.

After something like that happens, everyone will talk behind your back.

If you contact someone else to complain, you need to know who the other person is.

If I’m the type of person who criticizes me, I’m sure we have a close and trusting relationship.

If that person is related to the Ernst school, then Perswaal should also be seen as a spy for that group.

If you just tolerate it as if nothing happened… Actually, this is the most suspicious reaction.

Because it means that there is a reason to endure this kind of treatment.

Actually, he’s the empress’s henchman, so he’s desperately waiting for a chance to get revenge on me someday, or something like that.

“Then, wouldn’t it mean that just one decent knight would go over to the empress’s side?”

“His Royal Highness the Prince. Those who are going to betray are bound to betray anyway.”

If you are the kind of person who would betray a political enemy just because he persecuted you verbally, he was screwed from the start.

This means that even if I did not persecute someone, I can betray them as long as the other person offers better conditions.

“Just trust me. I know this kind of thing well.”

Leopold shook his head.

“I’d rather trust Isabella.”

“Do you want to die?”

As if he couldn’t think of anything to answer the question without a subject, Leopold just let out a deep sigh.

—-

The court meeting was a mess.

Instead of exchanging constructive opinions, they split into two groups, the Ernstists and the Leopoldists, and were busy criticizing each other.

The main issue was, of course, the death of Matthias.

“It has already been concluded that it was the work of a monster, so what is your intention in spreading such nonsense here!”

It was a Leopoldist aristocrat who opened the argument.

Starting with him yelling, the noise at the state meeting rapidly grew louder.

“Monster? Who would believe that! A monster suddenly appeared in the vicinity of the Islands, killed His Highness Matthias, and disappeared again without a trace? Even a five-year-old child would not be fooled. It would be more reliable to believe that it was done by the remnants of the beastmen!

A bald aristocrat belonging to the Ernst faction raised his eyebrows and refuted.

The chandelier light fell on the top of her shiny head, shining like a halo.

“Uh, huh? Isn’t that statement more plausible than you think? Could it really be the work of beastmen… .”

“Be careful, Lord Hanson. That’s not important now.”

What is that guy again?

I almost burst out laughing while listening to it.

“So, you say that was our doing?”

“If not you, then who would have done such a terrible thing!”

“Are you trying to frame His Highness the Prince without any evidence? Why would you do something like that when you know for sure that you will be under suspicion?”

As the conversation between the two became increasingly heated, another nobleman of the Ernst faction came forward and attempted to lighten the mood.

“Lord Baynum, calm down a little. Could it be possible that His wise Highness Leopold would have done that? We don’t think so either. But… Well, not all of those who follow you are as wise as you, right? Among them, there may be those who want to prove their loyalty by taking drastic actions. That’s what Lord Bald meant.”

… Is it true that you were trying to console him?

The tone is polite, but the content ultimately criticizes the Leopoldists, just like the bald nobleman Wald.

“So, now… . Are you saying this is something the foolish among us did on their own?”

“You are wise enough to understand right away, so I guess Lord Baynum is not the culprit.”

After that, it wasn’t just swearing, it was a feast of personal attacks.

Isabella, who was supposed to preside over the meeting, just sighed lightly and calmly watched the mess.

Ernst also remained silent with a dark expression, and Leonor did not even attend.

Isabella might not know, but her younger brother’s death must have been shocking to Ernst and Leonor.

Leopold also sat in an ornate chair next to the throne and listened quietly to the meeting.

Are you saying that you would rather remain silent than hastily speak up and be hit back?

If the topic of former escort driver Hector comes up, this side will be at a disadvantage.

I slowly approached Leopold and whispered in his ear.

“Is this what imperial court meetings are supposed to be like?”

Honestly, it seems like a miracle that the country is running like this.

Isn’t this the real Elfinel’s blessing?

“It wasn’t like this before… , things have gotten a bit worse these days… .”

Leopold, who was smiling as if to hide his embarrassment, responded quietly.

Contrary to his facial expression, he spoke in a low, suppressed voice full of his inner feelings of disgust.

“Everyone, just leave it at that. There are more than one agenda item that needs to be discussed, but can it really be said that it is honorable to delay the meeting by making a fuss over rumors, etc.? If you’re going to discuss this, at least postpone it until after solid evidence is discovered.”

In the end, the argument ended properly when the Duke of Vienne couldn’t stand it anymore and said something.

The nobles who were divided into two groups were still glaring at each other, but at least no one was yelling anymore.

“Her Majesty the Empress. If you don’t mind, I would like to move on to the next item. Do you have any differences?”

“No. It’s all right, Duke of Vienne. I’m just His Majesty’s wife, and I’m embarrassed to say that, but I don’t know much about government affairs… As for the conduct of the meeting, it would be right to leave it to the duke.”

Thanks to Isabella’s gentle nod, the subsequent meeting was able to proceed smoothly.

Judging from the fact that he obediently handed over the initiative to the duke, it seems that he didn’t show any signs of it, but he didn’t like the meeting.