Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

149 – Definite Proof

Before officially reporting my return to the academy,

I decided to drop by the dormitory first,

if only to unpack

the few belongings I had.

Passing the creaking

wooden floor that greeted me,

and opening the dormitory door

after so long,

a large quantity of

paper bundles fell to the floor,

having been wedged in

the doorframe.

All accompanied by elegant, high-quality envelopes.

“..Why has this become like this?”

I picked one from

the countless envelopes, opened it,

and immediately threw it away.

The first three characters

written on the top line of the

paper that revealed itself

as soon as the envelope opened,

“A Tea.”

The moment those three syllables met my eye,

I deemed the missive unworthy of further attention.

The sender, some young lady with whom I had

no acquaintance, suddenly extending such an invitation…

Was the ulterior motive not

glaringly obvious?

Clutching at a slender thread of hope that

not *all* the letters would contain such drivel,

I picked up another, and another.

Alas, each, though careful to avoid

direct mention, presented a litany

of excuses—to cultivate connections,

to foster friendly relations—all thinly veiling

the desire for my presence

within their family’s halls.

Nearly every single one

in this mountain of correspondence.

“Ah… I didn’t expect them to go this far…”

“Young Master, what shall we do with these?”

“….”

Of course, those were

not the only offerings.

Nobles, for all their reputation, wouldn’t rely on mere letters, surely.

I tilted my head, gazing upward.

Next to my dormitory,

a staggering collection of boxes.

They were of all sizes, carefully

wrapped, each bearing

a slip of parchment inscribed with

the name of a different household.

So blatantly transparent that I stood,

for a moment, transfixed,

before me.

And then, as if conjured,

she appeared at my side, moving toward

the looming fortress of boxes.

She offered a smile, subtly bewitching.

“Oh my, the Ertel family… and the Rhone family too, are they here?”

“You know these houses?”

“Vaguely? Their patriarch is

quite the opportunist, it seems.”

Considering Charlotte had even

mentioned the houses at all,

I’d hoped there might be some merit to them.

But it seemed she didn’t hold

them in particularly high regard.

“They attempted to, once,

make contact with our house.”

“…?”

“Out of the blue, strangers

pretending to be friendly, you see?”

“….”

“So I had them personally investigated.”

…That was rather surprising.

Even if they were merely

opportunistic individuals,

to think they’d attempt to cling

to the Ducal house of Charlotte.

Even to the point of exploiting their own children.

“Hmm, and the man himself

was rather… ill-mannered,

as I recall?”

“..Really?”

“Yes, a noisy old man who did nothing but shout.”

These were her very words,

so I wouldn’t imagine it strayed

too far from their true character.

Still, to dismiss the head of

an entire house as merely

a “noisy old man.”

I was beginning to wonder whether

to find this typical of her,

or if I ought to simply be

impressed by her conduct as

the Duke’s daughter.

“But to think they’d approach

you this quickly?”

“…?”

“Normally, they’re the sort

who never step forward

until they’re absolutely certain.”

“Is that so?”

Knowing so little

about them myself,

I wasn’t particularly impressed,

but she seemed to sense something amiss.

Judging by the way she’s

pouting her lips and

thinking so hard about something.

“Well…it’s got to be one of two things.”

“Two?”

“First, that you gave

them that much confidence?”

“I’ve done no such thing, though.”

“Second, that they thought

they could handle you as they pleased.”

“…?”

“They underestimated you, is all.”

As her second finger straightened,

the corners of her eyes

curved like a crescent moon.

As if she’d caught an intriguing scent from somewhere.

…Underestimated, huh.

Having never been

entangled with them before,

the former was practically

impossible,

which meant the latter was the more likely─

“Jeniceeee!!”

“Hm? Someone calling my name…guh-HUH!”

Lost in thought,

I turned around when I heard my name,

and before I knew it,

a shock of blue hair

was flailing right in front of me,

The realization struck me just as my body was tipping backwards.

“Long time no see!!”

“What’s all the commotion…Young Master?!”

“Heh heh, quite the heartthrob, aren’t we?”

*Thwack─*

Her laughter mingled with the sound as

my back connected with the wall, and

before I knew it,

a girl with hair the color of water had nestled into my arms.

Pressing that soft, fine hair

earnestly against my chest.

“L-Lianna, what is the mean…?”

“I’m so glad…you’re alright?!”

“…?”

“I was so worried something

might have happened to you!!”

“A-Ah! W-Wait, what’s going on?!”

“Y-Young Master? Just a moment, who is this…”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her small fists were

surprisingly sharp.

*

“So…what will everyone do?”

“””….”””

“I’ll say it beforehand, I won’t force anyone.”

“..Your Majesty, I have a question.”

At the Emperor’s single word,

all others remained enveloped in silence, but

breaking through that stifling air,

the only one to raise their hand was

Duke Iris, renowned as the Empire’s most

supreme merchant.

“Speak, Iris, I grant you leave.”

“..Does Your Majesty intend to cast out Reinhardt?”

“….”

The Empire’s Four Great Houses.

Their worth

was by no means small.

Rather, it was more valuable,

than the average person could imagine.

Even the Iris ducal house, at this very moment, stands as an example.

Of course, it’s true that the current head, with his

adroitness and groundbreaking business plans,

is what allowed the Iris Trading Company to exist as it does today.

However, in the end, it was because

he carried the name of Iris,

that he was able to

cultivate his trading company to where it is now.

Thanks to his name, and nothing else.

He, too, was keenly

aware of this fact,

which is why he couldn’t help but be more serious than anyone else present.

He understood the value of

the namesake reputation of the Four Great Houses

better than anyone,

all the more so because he was a merchant.

He had to constantly consider

what benefits and

losses would come to him

when the Four Great Houses became the Three Great Houses.

And in the first place, he wasn’t on bad terms with Duke Reinhardt.

If anything, they were on

good terms, one might say.

He was, in his own way, a

valued customer of his company.

Besides, the goods

he wore

were quite fashionable at one time…

One way or another, he

was in a position to defend Reinhardt.

Though, of course, the

others, save for him, didn’t

particularly feel that way.

“What is it you wish to say, Iris?”

“Without definitive proof,

I cannot

agree to cast him out.”

“….”

“In any case, he is…”

“Regardless, they do occupy a rather significant role within this empire.”

“..And so?”

“Without irrefutable proof,

we simply cannot afford to

cast suspicion upon the Duke’s House.”

But neither Rnuiel, nor Charlotte,

despite what churned within their hearts,

dared speak their minds so readily.

Just moments before, as he’d rightly stated,

the Emperor had yet to offer them

concrete evidence.

Hard proof that the Reinhardt family

was intertwined with demons.

‘..Indeed, if we intervened rashly, and it proved false…’

‘The repercussions are not something I relish.’

Besides, if one were to set aside

their personal feelings on the matter,

there existed no valid reason,

to enter into conflict with the Reinhardts,

thus, the only recourse available to them in this present circumstance was to stand aside.

For the sake of their family’s security and,

considering their future prospects,

they believed it was the wisest decision.

They had no intention of actively intervening

until incontrovertible evidence emerged,

indeed, none of the Dukes assembled here did.

“..So, you are saying concrete evidence is required?”

“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.. That is correct.”

“..To act against a ducal house based solely on conjecture

is certainly something I find troubling as well.”

“I concur, Your Majesty.”

“Then, if evidence were to surface?

Would you refuse to aid the Reinhardts then?”

“””….”””

“Would you be amenable to

banishing Reinhardt if

“This question of agreement, then.”

Every duke present

voiced their

negative opinions, each in turn,

yet the Emperor, unperturbed,

covered his lips with his own hand.

A contrived gesture,

as if concealing a smile.

Iris felt a nameless unease

creep in at that single movement,

but even so, she could not retreat now.

It was more crucial to stay

in the Emperor’s good graces

than to lose a vital client

forever.

“Yes, if the evidence is conclusive…Iris will abide by Your Majesty’s will.”

“..And are your opinions also aligned?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“There could be no other way.”

“Good, Reindel?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Bring it forth.”

“It shall be done, Your Majesty.”

And at that same instant,

Reindel’s hands, which had been clasped

behind his back the entire time, moved.

Hands holding a sack of

the deepest, most crimson red.

*

“Hahh… hahh…”

“Head Maid…!”

“You’ve returned alive?!”

“What did the Duke say?!”

“..Just to proceed with the

funeral, as planned.”

“Wh-What?!”

“Really…is that so?”

“..Yes, the Duke expressly

ordered it so.”

“That’s…cruel…”

“Shhh! Karen… quiet now, what if they hear you!”

“Bu… but…!”

“….”

“Lord Allen’s head is gone… and they’re proceeding with the funeral as is…!!”

*

“Well then, how about this?”

“”…!!””

“Al… Allen?”

“Oh my, it seems Duke Luenyel recognizes me after all.”

Allen Reinhardt.

Once, the brightest star among his peers.

Now, his head made its appearance in the hall.

Proving him to be a Main,

with its violet skin.

“…How does it look? Isn’t this proof enough?”