The Princess's Weakness
“If something goes out, something must come back in return. That’s just how the world works, isn’t it?”
The princess’s large eyes welled up with tears.
“I haven’t eaten anything for three whole days while crossing the border… Just one bite. Please? I’ll keep it a secret from everyone outside.”
“For free?”
“What else do you want from me? Ah, don’t tell me…!”
She jerked backward, clutching her chest and trying to pull away. The handcuffs kept her pinned to the table.
“If you lay a single hand on me, I won’t let it slide!”
“?”
“I’ve heard the rumors. They say all sorts of inhumane things happen at the checkpoints—things no one would dare speak of. You’re planning to disgrace me, aren’t you?”
Immigrants turned away at the border must have spread those stories. They probably cursed up a storm. But the Empire was a gentlemanly nation in its own way. It strictly adhered to international prisoner laws. Whatever else might be said, it kept its military discipline firmly in check.
—Aaaagh!
A scream echoed from far down the prison corridor. Another interrogator was apparently diligent about their work. The law is upheld. The law.
The princess’s face went deathly pale. The goosebumps on her arms were visible.
“I almost fell for it. No sane person would choose a job like interrogator. You enjoy tormenting people and inflicting pain, don’t you? You’re like a demon!”
Now even the prisoners were throwing insults my way. As if anyone did this job because they liked it.
I leaned forward and reached into my bag.
“W-what are you taking out? Torture tools? Don’t. I don’t want…!”
Thud. I placed the items on the table.
“?”
It wasn’t anything impressive. Just a notepad and a pen.
“What’s that?”
“Your memory must be poor. I already told you—this side is after information.”
[??? ? ???? / 21-year-old female / Human]
[Favorability □□□□□]
[She is confused.]
“Let’s start with your name.”
“……Is that all?”
I speared a piece of steak with my fork and waved it in front of her eyes.
“You’re saying you’ll give me that just for telling you my name?”
“If you don’t want it, don’t eat it.”
“……Sedna de Perlos.”
“What was your place in the line of succession?”
“First Princess……”
I jotted down the information the prisoner provided.
“Here.”
I brought the fork closer. Sedna stared at me blankly for a moment before snapping her mouth forward and snatching the meat.
“I-it’s delicious……”
She chewed with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. Gulp. The small piece of steak disappeared down her throat in an instant.
She was hooked.
“It melted away and vanished.”
“That’s the taste of imperial beef.”
“Give me one more.”
“Tell me your reason for entering the country. Why were you trying to cross into imperial territory?”
“That’s……”
Sedna hesitated. But having taken one bite, she couldn’t stop now.
“Meals will be provided in proportion to the information you give.”
“What does that mean?”
“If you cooperate sincerely, I might bring you an entire plate.”
“R-really?”
A drop of drool trickled from the corner of Sedna’s mouth. Deals should always be made with goods on the table. At my signal, a guard entered carrying a fresh plate—identical to the steak I had been eating.
Sedna couldn’t take her eyes off the dish on the table.
“Your reason for entering the country?”
“Ugh, uuuu……”
“Reason for entering.”
“Uuu.”
A former royal was gradually losing her ability to speak. Finally, she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted.
“……My retainers! I was supposed to meet my retainers. They said the citizens who evacuated to the south have rebuilt a village. They told me the king was needed and asked me to come.”
“By retainers, do you mean high-ranking officials like a chancellor?”
“Not exactly from our kingdom…… I received a letter from an allied nation.”
“Where is the letter?”
“That’s…… In my pocket.”
The guards must have searched her thoroughly. Had they missed it?
“Take it out.”
“Uuu……”
After hesitating, Sedna reached toward her chest. Her hand slipped deep into her cleavage, and when she withdrew it, a small slip of paper was clutched between her fingers.
“How did you do that? Magic?”
“Seriously? You’re making a lady talk about something so sensitive?”
I’d need to search female prisoners with large chests more thoroughly from now on. Lesson learned.
“The seal is definitely stamped on it.”
The small note was densely written. It roughly stated that allied immigrants who had fled into imperial territory were preparing to rebuild and asked her to join them.
‘The western continent has long been locked in civil war between the northern coalition and the southern alliance.’
Countless kingdoms rose and fell overnight. Sedna’s Perlos Kingdom was one of those that had vanished in the chaos.
“Hmm.”
I held the seal up to the light. There was no trace of the usual sealing magic. It was likely a forgery. In other words, this princess had been tricked into crossing the border.
As far as I knew, there were no cases of immigrants establishing a nation within imperial territory. That would be rebellion in itself. Even if a kingdom fell, its royalty remained a thorn in the Empire’s side. They would need to be expelled.
If it was just baseless nonsense, there was no need to worry further. But what if a real rebel faction had taken root inside the Empire?
It could become dangerous. I’d need to discuss it with General Rommel later. I had no particular loyalty to the Emperor, but the Empire itself mattered. I’d been born in a decent country; I couldn’t let it collapse because of some uprising. At the very least, the Empire needed to remain prosperous until I could enjoy my retirement.
“I’ve answered all your questions, so can I eat now?”
“Very well. Permission granted.”
Clink. The handcuffs came loose from her wrists.
“Could you take these off too……?”
“Prisoners aren’t allowed to hold utensils themselves. They could be used as weapons.”
“Then what am I supposed to do? Are you telling me to bury my face in the plate like a dog?”
“That wouldn’t be so bad, but cleanup would be troublesome.”
If she made a mess on the floor, I’d have to clean it up.
Slice, slice. I cut the steak and fed it to her.
“It’s so good……”
One piece, two pieces. Sedna accepted every bite I offered.
“Give me some vegetables too. Eating only meat is getting greasy.”
“Only if you keep cooperating from now on.”
“I only cooperated a little—I haven’t surrendered! Don’t order me around. Mmph.”
Sedna’s cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s.
“Not meat—vegetables.”
“Vegetables.”
“Vegetables!”
“Fine. I’ll listen!”
Good. I fed her the vegetables.
Crunch, crunch.
“I’ll be expecting your continued cooperation. It seems we have a lot to discuss, Your Highness.”
As a gesture of approval, I patted her head. Sedna looked slightly more docile than before, though she still pouted and glared at me.
Time passed. Sedna licked her plate clean down to the very bottom.
“……Will you interrogate me again tomorrow?”
“For the time being, yes.”
“I don’t want anything painful……”
“Hmm.”
She’d cooperated well so far, so a small concession was in order. Trust was essential if I wanted to keep extracting information.
“I promise. I won’t harm your body or inflict pain on you from now on.”
Sedna blinked her large eyes.
“Really……? Can I believe that?”
“The Empire adheres to international prisoner law. I hope you’ll accept this as the minimum courtesy extended to royalty.”
I wasn’t a psychopath. What use was there in actually torturing someone? Hearing screams and seeing blood would drive even a normal person insane. My mental health was precious.
“Then let’s continue tomorrow.”
I stood up with the empty plate.
“Um, Interrogator.”
“Is there something else?”
She turned to look at me, fidgeting before slowly opening her mouth.
“……What’s your name?”
“Special Interrogator Phillion. Fifth-grade official.”
“Phillion…… Got it.”
[Sedna de Perlos / 21-year-old female / Human]
[Favorability ■□□□□]
[She is calming down.]
What had I done to raise her favorability?
“Is there anything else you wish to say?”
“That…… No, never mind.”
***
“To think you’d uncover a letter of this importance. Remarkable work.”
That night, General Rommel expressed his admiration. Judging the matter urgent, I had delivered it immediately.
“This will serve as solid evidence that rebel elements have infiltrated the Empire. It’ll give us justification to mobilize the knight order.”
“We don’t have confirmation, do we?”
“What matters isn’t the truth, but the justification.”
He was gnawing on a chicken leg as a late-night snack. The savory smell of grease spread through the air.
“And what justification does the general have for eating chicken right now?”
“I didn’t eat much for lunch.”
“You mentioned a rather large turkey sandwich earlier……”
“That was dinner.”
He’d already eaten a hearty dinner, so what did skipping lunch have to do with a midnight snack? Only someone at his level could carry off that kind of logic. I decided not to comment further.
“I’ll report the contents of the letter to His Majesty right away.”
“Understood. Then have a good night.”
As I turned to leave, he called me back.
“Come to think of it, are the preparations for tomorrow’s public interrogation complete?”
“You mean that insane show where we sit the prisoner on a platform and twist their joints? Was that under my jurisdiction?”
“I assumed you would be participating. Most interrogators look forward to that day.”
It was a performance meant to boost morale. A bit of propaganda: Thanks to your efforts, soldiers, the Empire is this secure! At the same time, it served to intimidate other prisoners. It was held regularly, apparently. This would be my first time participating.
“I’ll be counting on you.”
“Yes.”
After a casual salute, I left. As if I’d actually torture someone in front of hundreds of onlookers. In times like this, one should make use of a company’s long-standing corporate culture.
“I’m calling in sick.”