‘How can a human being do that?’
Even after learning the whole truth, my mind remained tangled for days, as if caught in a spiderweb.
But after my conversation with Amber, the suffocating weight pressing down on me eased, if only a little.
Because the fact that the Victoria I knew was not a cruel psychopath down to her bones, and the fact that she had silently shouldered her share of the burden despite bearing that terrible misunderstanding and resentment all alone, gave me a small sense of relief amid my complicated feelings.
‘Work. Let’s work.’
Forcing myself to shake off my thoughts, I sat at the desk in my quarters and finished the report I had to submit the next day.
#
The next day, I completed the final report on the policy evaluation and feedback procedures that Crown Prince Maximilian had ordered and submitted it to the Crown Prince’s office.
“Ho……”
As Maximilian carefully examined my report, his eyes began to gleam with interest with every page he turned.
He quietly looked over the diagrams and performance indicator management system I had organized, then suddenly sprang up from his seat.
Then he came over to me and gripped my shoulder tightly with his hand.
“Ian. Your insight is truly astounding. This is a flawless system that dozens of officials in the imperial palace could not have produced even if they spent months on it. If we introduce this to the empire’s administration as is, the speed at which we can address blind spots in policy will be dramatically shortened.”
“You praise me too highly, Your Highness. I am glad it was of help.”
“There is no need for modesty. Having you come to the Crown Prince’s office is truly a tremendous stroke of fortune for me. You are a precious treasure of our empire.”
Maximilian gave me a pure and benevolent smile.
But soon, as he examined my face closely, worry gathered between his brows.
“…Your complexion has been dreadful for days now. The area beneath your eyes is sunken, and your face has grown gaunt. Are you eating your meals on time?”
“My apologies. I suppose it is because I have not been sleeping well lately.”
“Not sleeping well? I am sincerely worried that living in a foreign land has been difficult and lonely for you. If my most cherished retainer were to fall ill, it would be a great loss to the imperial family. This will not do.”
The Crown Prince clicked his tongue as if he were truly distressed.
“When today’s work is over, come to my detached palace. I will also reward you for this report, and I will personally prepare something with care to lift your spirits.”
By detached palace, he meant the place where he had dragged me not long ago and shown me his secret harem.
I was not exactly eager on the inside, but I could not openly refuse the goodwill of the empire’s second-in-command, so I politely nodded.
#
That evening.
Invited to the lavish dining room located inside the Crown Prince’s private detached palace, I was able to enjoy an unexpected banquet.
“Come, sit down. Today, let us eat something delicious and clear that complicated head of yours.”
When Maximilian gestured lightly, the waiting attendants began bringing in enormous silver platters one after another.
The dishes set upon the table were not the imperial cuisine I usually saw in the palace.
“This is……”
“Seafood from your homeland, the Kingdom of Sterling. My precious retainer seemed to have lost his appetite after being weighed down by worries for days, so I prepared it thinking that a taste of food from home might help.”
Sea bass steak rich with the scent of butter, large steamed snow crabs and lobsters packed full of meat, and even fresh oyster dishes.
Faced with seafood dishes that were difficult even to glimpse in the imperial palace located in the middle of the inland continent, the appetite that had completely vanished for some time responded honestly.
“In order to have ingredients from the far south brought here in such fresh condition, I specially dispatched imperial mages to fetch them. I sincerely hope they suit your taste.”
“……For Your Highness to show me such consideration, I am truly grateful for your deep thoughtfulness.”
The sincerity of going so far as to mobilize mages to procure rare ingredients for my sake was honestly impressive.
It was treatment so meticulous and kind that it was hard to believe a crown prince of a nation was bestowing it upon a mere hostage.
I offered my thanks with utmost courtesy and picked up my fork.
The butter-grilled sea bass melted softly in my mouth.
“So, how is it? Does it taste a little like home?”
The Crown Prince, putting his own meal aside, rested his chin on his hand and asked while warmly observing my reaction.
“Yes. It is excellent. Thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, I feel much better.”
“I am glad. Now, speak honestly to me. Tell me about the concern that has been troubling you these past few days.”
Maximilian personally poured wine for me and asked in a gentle yet solemn voice.
“From what I can see, it does not seem to be anything so simple as homesickness. What on earth is weighing so heavily on someone as wise as you? Tell me, and I will help you within my power.”
At his kind words, I paused my fork for a moment.
In any case, most rumors within the imperial palace and my movements would reach the Crown Prince’s ears.
If I tried to hide it clumsily here, it would instead be a rejection of his goodwill.
I lowered my head and spoke frankly.
“……In truth, a few days ago, by chance, I learned the whole story behind the deep conflict between Her Highness the First Imperial Princess and Her Highness the Second Imperial Princess.”
“Ah.”
Maximilian let out a small sigh and swirled his wineglass.
“So you found out in the end. You must be speaking of Princess Adrian of Hernand.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“And that is why you have worn that expression for days, not knowing how to conduct yourself between the two princesses? Haha, how very like you. Kind, but… still soft.”
Maximilian took hold of his knife with an elegant motion and smiled as if to reassure me.
“Ian. I cherish you. That is why I am giving you sincere advice. Just side with Chloe roughly enough. Sympathize with her appropriately according to what Chloe knows, and join her in blaming Victoria. That will be enough.”
“……By that, you mean.”
“As far as Chloe knows, it is a cruel incident in which Victoria arbitrarily drove her innocent friend to her death, is it not? You can simply know it that way and move on. The truth is far more complicated than that, but there is no reason for you to bother yourself with it.”
At the Crown Prince’s calm voice, I frowned inwardly.
Maintaining my composure on the outside, I asked carefully in return.
“If the truth is different…… then is Her Highness the First Imperial Princess not bearing an unjust stigma? She is also Your Highness’s younger sister. Does that not pain you?”
At my question, Maximilian answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Imperial Father hates Victoria and dotes on Chloe anyway. The First Imperial Princess’s reputation has already fallen to the very bottom in the imperial family. What difference would it make if one more stigma, that of having killed her younger sister’s friend, were added to it?”
“……”
“On the contrary, our lovely youngest can live on, preserving her purity without being wounded by the ugliness of the truth. One person bearing the burden in order to maintain the stability of the entire imperial family—how splendid a thing do you think that is?”
“……”
“As for Princess Adrian… it is truly a shame. I thought she was a clever and capable woman.”
“Sir White was certain that she was a spy. How does Your Highness see it?”
At my question, Maximilian lightly shrugged.
“Sir White is from the military, and he is Victoria’s loyal retainer, so he would believe that… but if I had to make a judgment, the probability is high that she was not.”
“……Pardon?”
“Think about it with common sense. Adrian was a woman who stuck close to our youngest Chloe all day long throughout her time in the imperial palace. But how did Imperial Father raise Chloe? He blocked any talk of politics or military affairs from reaching our pretty Chloe’s ears. From a child who knows absolutely nothing about the military, what secrets could she possibly have extracted and leaked to her homeland?”
Maximilian moistened his lips with the remaining wine.
“To be honest, I do not believe at all that she stole internal information. If one insists on naming a culprit, it is more likely that the Witch of the North stirred up trouble. If the empire is shaken, the only one to benefit is the North.”
“……Then are you saying that even though there was a high probability Princess Adrian was not a spy, you still deliberately killed her?”
My voice stiffened faintly, but Maximilian wiped the corner of his mouth with an expression cruelly serene.
“What does that matter? In any case, her homeland, Hernand, dared to raise a rebellion, and countless imperial soldiers shed blood. From the moment the rebellion broke out, she, as a hostage, was destined to die without exception under imperial law.”
He gave me a faint smile and continued in a low voice.
“Besides, you see, Imperial Father believes Victoria will lose her life on the battlefield before long anyway.”
“……Pardon?”
“Look at that child. Every time war breaks out, does she not take up her spear and charge madly into the enemy lines at the very front, as if she had already thrown away her life? Someday, she is bound to be struck by a stray blade or arrow and die a futile death in some foreign field. Once she dies like that, we need only build her a large marble tomb. If she is going to die anyway, then she should at least do that much before she goes.”
Maximilian met my eyes with a gaze that was far too warm and affectionate, and whispered in a benevolent voice.
“Having a tool remove as much of the imperial family’s filth as possible before it breaks—is that not a rational and efficient method from the standpoint of governing a nation, Ian? I trust that an administrator as brilliant as you will understand my meaning perfectly.”
I struggled to control the muscles of my face as they tried to stiffen and obediently nodded.
“……Yes. Your Highness’s words are absolutely correct.”
‘You crazy bastard. Still… she’s your family.’
Even as I felt a revulsion that sent a chill down my spine, I thoroughly played along with him.
Even if I expressed dissatisfaction to them right now, all that would come back to me was a dog’s death.
“Now, let us leave the gloomy talk at that. That excellent brain of yours should be used for more valuable and enjoyable things. Shall we now enjoy the highlight that I specially prepared for you this evening?”
With a satisfied expression, Maximilian gave an order toward the door.
“Bring it in.”
The large double doors of the dining room opened, and four attendants carefully walked in carrying on their shoulders a board like an enormous stretcher.
And the moment I confirmed what lay upon that stretcher, I doubted my eyes and drew in a breath.
“……!!”
On the stretcher lay none other than Princess Himiko, completely naked and utterly motionless.
Upon her pale, slender nude body, top-quality sushi and fresh slices of raw fish, shaped into suitable portions, were densely arranged as if they were clothing.