I was accused of attempted assassination for helping my younger brother who collapsed from an allergic reaction.
Moreover, it seems there are people trying to punish me for this suspicion.
Goddammit.
Since I didn't do it, there's no evidence, but apparently they're trying to force a conviction using only circumstantial evidence that I made Fer vomit.
Also, the false accusation that I'm aiming for the imperial throne seems to have become established fact as the motive.
I firmly refuse such dishonor as being accused of trying to kill my younger brother, so I have to secure a verdict of innocence.
With such thoughts, I arrived at the great hall of the palace's main building.
It's my first time setting foot here.
And this place is spacious with high ceilings, pointlessly covered in gold leaf on the wall and pillar carvings.
"Source of the poison?"
"Unknown."
"Who leaked when the tea party would be held there?"
"Unknown."
"Truth of the curse?"
"Unknown."
"Testimony leaking that the First Prince has ambitions for the imperial throne?"
"None exists."
My father the Emperor sat beneath the most magnificent canopy in the hall, watching the questioning conducted by his subordinates.
This farce began when Duke Lukaios brought forth accusations against me.
It was a gathering to clarify that point from the beginning, and I merely kneeled before my father listening.
Because I'm a child without the right to speak.
This is just a farce to unilaterally condemn me when I can't even argue back, but the opponent is a heavyweight of the current regime who cannot be ignored.
So Father said to make it into documents, and now he's providing counter-evidence on my behalf.
And he denied the conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence from Duke Lukaios's side.
"However, Your Majesty, the First Prince fled the scene. If he had nothing to hide, he should have remained."
Duke Lukaios interjected there.
Father didn't bother hiding his displeasure, muttering to no one in particular.
"It was three years ago, wasn't it? Terry—when multiple guards of the Second Prince put their hands on their sword hilts."
I have a precedent of nearly being attacked by Terry's guards once, so running away is only natural.
And I only learned this time that it was Duke Lukaios who appointed those guards.
"Furthermore, it was the First Prince's guard who blew the whistle to signal emergency to the palace guards. Don't you think there would be no need to do that if he were plotting an assassination?"
"What are you saying? It was the Second Prince's guard who blew it, was it not?"
Oops—here it was revealed that Duke Lukaios and his circle were mistaken about the facts.
The one to confirm the facts there was Marquis Strateg, the superior of the palace guards.
Somehow making eye contact with His Majesty, he probably knew about Duke Lukaios's misconception but didn't point it out until today.
"Having heard from both officers, both state that the one who blew it was Ikuto Totos, and the one who ordered people to be called was His Highness the First Prince."
Murmuring spread through the hall.
Apparently Duke Lukaios knew that the whistle blew and people gathered, but hadn't investigated who blew it.
Perhaps he missed it because he was fixated on suspecting me.
"Also, Duke Lukaios. I conducted hearings with the Second Prince and Fourth Prince who were present, but it seems the First Prince made him vomit but did not force him to eat anything."
"That was probably overlooked because they are children."
"To you, does my child there not look like a child? Strange indeed. While saying the crude outcome was due to him being a child when speaking of assassination, you claim he employed tricks that children would overlook?"
Father pointed out the double standard.
"Even those who carefully plan operations may get cold feet when the time comes. It happens often, does it not?"
Duke Lukaios wouldn't back down—or rather, there's no point in backing down, and since there's no suspect other than me, his goal is nothing but eliminating me.
He probably desires power too.
At the same time, I heard he came to the palace without even properly dressing himself, worried about Fer.
Hearing only the story of him personally delivering get-well gifts to the consort lamenting her sickly son, he seemed like a deeply emotional person.
(I think leaving me alone would be the most peaceful option, though.)
(With the master's talent, abdication of the imperial throne from your younger brother is possible, so I harbor concerns.)
"You don't need to do that. I'm going to stay inconspicuous."
(That goal has already collapsed.)
Sephira is merciless.
But I have no intention of pursuing the imperial throne.
The reason I appear superior now is because my mind is more worn than Terry, who is truly a child.
Surely when I become age-appropriate, I will degenerate into an ordinary person.
Terry, who has the foundation to cultivate good education, environment, and connections from a young age, will definitely achieve far greater things as Emperor.
"Now, I have prepared one document here."
When Father called out, retainers—including one with a bob cut—walked around distributing documents.
That is a copy of the report I wrote.
Hearing about it, it seems all of Father's clerks copied it out in full force.
"This is a report regarding the Fourth Prince's condition, submitted by Asha, the First Prince."
I've never written a thesis, but thanks to Diora, there were academic papers sent from Lukiusaria, and with Warell's guidance, it was finished into something resembling one.
How to put it—it's like adding a short essay and university presentation materials together and dividing by two.
In my previous life, I found typing on a keyboard at work bothersome, but I realized it was a far more civilized tool than handwriting.
"As a supplement from me: the sweets were prepared by the Second Prince's own hands. And this was done under the supervision of the consort as well. Also, according to the testimony of both the Third Prince and Fourth Prince, the First Prince certainly did not enter the arbor, and they say he chose the sweets himself."
Father spoke while the people who received the documents were reading.
After that, he brought up the eastern old tale called the "Crab's Curse" regarding allergies and denied the curse.
It seems the source of the claim that I cursed him came from the guard who was standing with Terry's guard and Levan.
So he explained that what I said was the old tale called the Crab's Curse.
"Your Majesty can believe such a contrived story? You are excessively partial."
Duke Lukaios maintained a policy of disbelief.
Some of the murmuring nobles followed suit.
The nobles who were neither my enemies nor allies, merely surprised by the content, also had suspicious gazes turned on them.
"Stories that haven't even been verified are out of the question."
"In other words, Duke Lukaios, are you telling us to feed Werner poisoned food as well?"
"I am not saying such a thing."
"It's written there, is it not? The twins have exactly the same constitution, and from the statements, there is already medical history. If we are to verify this matter, we must observe Werner, as Fer is already in too much danger to his life. However, that is something that cannot be done, weighing on ethics and conscience."
Of course I can't make my younger brother consume allergenic substances.
If I knew the safe range from hospital tests it would be different, but I'm an amateur—I'm scared and can't do it.
Also, Duke Lukaios, it's fine that you read fast, but please don't skip the important parts.
I haven't verified it and don't intend to, but I properly wrote the reasons, you know.
"Just to be safe, I'll mention that there are also proposals for Fer's future health improvement."
When Father spoke, Duke Lukaios glanced down at the documents.
He immediately raised his face as if there was no room for consideration.
What kind of feat is it to pick up only the points to blame me?
"Werner showed rejection. Even with the same constitution, taste is determined by likes and dislikes tied to emotions. If we avoid the items that Fer ate continuously with pleasure while Werner refused to eat them, Fer will no longer collapse. First, while avoiding as much as possible the ingredients used in the sweets eaten that day, we can assume that those used in the sweets Werner ate are safe."
Father also skimmed through what I wrote and spoke.
Is this perhaps an essential ability for becoming great?
I wrote it, but it's not so simple that you can just skim and pick out the necessary parts like that.
Thinking such things, I just remained still without saying a word.
Because I don't have the right to speak!
Apparently if I speak arbitrarily here, I'll be thrown out.
Why was I called, I wonder?
Huh? Wasn't my job finished when I handed the documents to His Majesty?
"If life-saving measures are punished, we would also be troubled."
Marquis Strateg made his stance clear here that he cannot follow Duke Lukaios.
If a crime is attached to what I did, the palace guards won't be able to operate.
"I pulled the young prince's arm to keep him from falling—dislocation. Yes, guilty!"
They can't do something like that.
"Isn't this too cautious? I've never heard of such an illness. It's nothing but a forced interpretation, is it not?"
"No one could diagnose Fer's condition. It's natural that you haven't heard of it. Duke Lukaios, how about it? This time, it shouldn't be too late to properly verify the credibility of Asha's discovery."
When Father pressed to wrap up while appeasing the Marquis's negative opinion, the floating votes seemed to move.
The momentum to paint me black at this place had weakened.
Regular Update
Next Time: The Disease Name: Crab's Curse 3