Why, Exactly?
Why, Exactly?
Sitting in the lodging, I looked outside and saw a carriage approaching from afar.
Judging by the familiar shape, it was our carriage.
Sicarian and Sonia had returned.
"Hm?"
But there were quite a few people getting out of the carriage.
Leaving those two aside, the person getting out behind them was some middle-aged man and...
"That's that woman I saw earlier."
It was Louise Zahel, who I'd had trouble with a little while ago.
She had clearly said she'd handle it well, so did something go wrong?
But soon, I could hear the reason from Sonia, who came to find me.
"An apology?"
"Yes. Count Zahel-nim said he wanted to offer an apology in person, so he came with Louise."
The middle-aged man I saw earlier was Count Zahel-nim.
Looking at the situation, it seemed Sonia had told the Count about Louise's mistake, and the Count had come with his daughter to apologize.
If that were the case, Count Zahel-nim would know who I am now...
"Hmm~ By the way, Sonia. Did you tell them I'm Viscount Silberg?"
"Yes, I did... Was I not supposed to?"
"No. It's fine."
Sonia's handling of it was a bit regrettable, but it couldn't be helped.
Since they hadn't treated the noble who came to their territory well, and the situation had escalated to insulting and attacking the family, she must have thought it was polite to visit in person.
I would have done the same in that situation.
But... Count Zahel-nim coming in person was a bit burdensome.
It seemed he stepped up for his daughter's education, but it would have been better if he'd considered the position of the lower-ranking noble.
Since I had even entered their mansion while disguised, if the Zahel family decided to nitpick about that, I wouldn't be receiving an apology; I'd be in a position where I'd have to beg with folded hands.
Uh... wait a second.
Is this a buildup to meet me and scold me under the guise of an apology?
That's possible.
It would start with an apology.
But the rest would be different.
'I'm sorry my daughter made a slip of the tongue.'
'But isn't that because you were disguised?'
'And why did you sneak into the Count's mansion?'
'I'm going to make an issue of this.'
...Wouldn't it lead to a flow like that?
If that happened, I'd be the one getting scolded.
It would be lucky if I just got scolded; if they demanded compensation or officially reported it to the Imperial Family to create troublesome work...!
Oh shit.
I had to prevent that at all costs.
"Do I really have to meet them?"
"...Yes?"
"Can't the Lugner Earldom just handle it?"
"Can we... do that?"
Fortunately, I had Sonia.
Anyway, since they said they came to apologize, if Sonia acted as a shield, I could probably get away with it in a reasonable manner.
"Yeah. Please do. We're both nobles of the South and will see each other often, so I don't want to have an uncomfortable relationship."
"Ah...! Ah... I see. I understand what you mean."
"Yeah. Then please do~"
Sonia, who agreed to take care of my request.
After she left, I watched the situation outside the window.
Fortunately, it seemed the conversation went well, as it wasn't long before I saw the Zahel family people leaving.
Having confirmed that much, I laid my body down on the bed.
It was fun, but it was an strangely exhausting day.
It definitely felt like I had paid the price fortedly joining someone else's event.
"I shouldn't do this in the future."
Thus, I finished my outing, having learned one more thing.
The Emperor's secret office.
At the news about Silberg that had arrived once again, the Emperor ruffled her hair.
Standing before her were the Knight Commander 'Wolfram Johannes' and the Chancellor 'Zeon Rodriguer'.
Both were loyal subjects of the Emperor who didn't spare their advice, and usually, they would have been chatting about this and that with the Emperor, but today, they couldn't easily open their mouths.
The reason was simple.
"No! They stayed quiet for the last 10 years! They stayed still! But why are they causing a ruckus now? Or was the last 10 years just for this? What on earth are they planning? Silberg-uuugh!!"
It was because of the news that had flown in from the South.
"Wolfram, is it true? Did Silberg really bring down the Zahel Earldom? Why? How? What's the reason?"
"Your Majesty..."
"No, there's no reason for that, is there? It's not like their territories are adjacent, and it's not like it helps with economic power. And... the Zahel Earldom's military power has been weakened since their dispute with the Lugner Earldom. It's a force that could be sliced through by a single Silberg knight, so why bother? And the family head did it himself? Why?"
The rumor that the Zahel Earldom was brought down by Silberg.
At first, the Emperor thought it was a false rumor, but because of the new news that arrived shortly after, she was on the verge of losing her mind.
"Is it really true? That the Lugner Earldom decided to absorb the Zahel Earldom?"
The integration of two Earldoms that were famous as bitter enemies within the Empire.
The Emperor had dispatched an investigation team due to the news delivered to the Imperial Capital through official channels, and in that process, she learned of Silberg's intervention.
The news that the family head himself had even disguised himself as a butler to step in.
On top of that, since the actual damage was just a few of the Zahel family's knights having their arms cut off, they had effectively destroyed a family without shedding blood.
And they did it in just one day.
"Yes, that is correct. A document stamped with the seals of both families was submitted to the Administration Bureau a little while ago, and the contract was concluded in a way where the Lugner Count's niece and the Zahel Count's second son get married. They will use the name Lugner, but the successor will be the second son..."
"No! Not the content! Ha... What on earth is it? What is Silberg's goal? Why did they integrate the South? No, this is weird too. Why merge Lugner and Zahel? If they wanted to, Silberg could have absorbed them easily, right?"
The Emperor found it hard to accept the situation, which was beyond common sense.
"Could they be trying to build a new kingdom in the South?"
The Chancellor, Zeon, cautiously offered an opinion, but,
"Why do such a troublesome thing? If they just bring a Silberg Coin, they could eat the whole Empire, so why bother? There are over 100 coins the Imperial Family has given to Silberg. If they bring even one of them, abdication is possible, so is there a reason to build a kingdom in the South?"
"Th... that may be true, but due to legitimacy and various other issues, it is unknown whether abdication is actually possible..."
"Chancellor, grab any noble kid walking by and ask them. Do you think the Emperor can refuse if the Silberg Viscounty demands abdication with a Silberg Coin? It's written in the Imperial Law, specifically the founding constitution, so there isn't a noble who doesn't know this! And you're saying such nonsense?"
"...I apologize, Your Majesty."
Emperor Reina Roswell shouted in frustration.
After shouting for a long time, the Emperor sighed, as if exhausted.
And after steadying her breath, she opened her mouth again.
"Sorry, I spoke too harshly."
"It is fine, Your Majesty. It is alright."
"Because of things from the past, I can't help but get emotional whenever Silberg-related stories come up... I shouldn't be like this... Phew~"
She steadied her heightened emotions.
Trauma from the past.
She felt pathetic, thinking that the memory of that day, which tormented her even after rising to the position of Emperor, still wouldn't let her go.
"Anyway, please continue to investigate Silberg. Even if it seems trivial, like this tea party of Lady Sonia's, make sure to deploy investigation personnel."
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."
Reina finished the meeting like that and sent the two out.
And in the office left alone.
She brought up memories of the past.
"Phew..."
Though she didn't want to face it,
It was her painful recollection of the past
To imprint the name Silberg.
That day, ten years ago.
I was holed up in the Princess's Palace reading a book, as usual.
A suffocating imperial palace life.
It was a period where I spent my days doing nothing in a corner of my room, unable to endure the tyranny of my greedy Crown Prince brother.
Back then, that was comfortable.
Because it was a time when I considered doing nothing to be the right answer, since whenever I tried to do volunteer work or facility maintenance for the system as a member of the Imperial Family, the Crown Prince would always nitpick, causing people around me to get hurt or have their money taken.
So I intended to do nothing.
It was a period when I had even envisioned a future where I would just remain an ordinary Princess, get into a political marriage at an appropriate time, give birth to children, and live until I died.
I thought that was the fate I was destined to live and die by.
"Princess-nim, they say someone has come from the Silberg Viscounty."
"Silberg Viscounty? Why from there?"
But a change occurred in my life.
A visit from one person.
And it was the Silberg family, which I had only considered to be an existence within books.
Curiosity arose.
People of the Imperial Family were taught about Silberg from a young age.
It was instilled by pressing only facts into us, not public rumors.
But even so, their achievements were beyond what the Imperial Family had accomplished, so the fact that a person from the Silberg family had come to visit first was a fresh shock to me.
"Leon Silberg has requested an audience, saying he wishes to see the Princess-nim."
"...Leon Silberg? The only child of the Silberg family, are you talking about him?"
"Even if you call him a child, the Princess-nim is younger..."
"Forget it, why is he here?"
But I didn't think much of it.
Most of the people who approached me were either wicked adults trying to use me or people trying to get a crumb from me.
And since even children were usually just following adults' orders to win my favor, I thought this visit from Silberg was just one of those things.
"..."
"Haa~ Alright. Just let him in."
So I intended to send him back.
But unlike other nobles.
That was impossible for Silberg.
A family greater than the Emperor in the Empire.
Because they kept themselves low, others accepted them just as loyal subjects of the Imperial Family, or colleagues to be kept in check, but... at least the Imperial Family feared Silberg.
Giving them a Silberg Coin was the start.
It was an expression of fear and gratitude toward them.
Therefore, it was etiquette for the Imperial Family to grant Silberg's requests if possible.
I had been taught that way, too.
And I had to act that way.
"Hello. I am Leon Silberg."
"Nice to meet you. Leon Silberg. I am Princess Reina Roswell."
That day, like that.
I had to have an unexpected meeting.
A twelve-year-old boy.
He was older than me, but the atmosphere he exuded felt more like he was the same age or younger.
He, who looked more innocent than anyone I had met so far, smiled when he saw me.
"I heard you were pretty, so I came to see your face."
"...What?"
"But you're not as good as I thought. It seems like it's because you're holed up in a room like this... Do you intend to stay in a place like this forever?"
"How rude. Even if you are Silberg, how dare you to a Princess...!"
Leon Silberg, who spouted mocking words.
Even though he was older than me, he spoke harshly as if he hadn't received any education regarding etiquette.
I felt bad.
But I couldn't get angry.
"Princess-nim."
"Tch. Fine."
It was because the attendant by my side gave me a look.
I knew.
Unlike other nobles.
That I shouldn't get angry at Silberg.
Perhaps Leon Silberg in front of me knew that fact, which is why he was speaking to me so recklessly.
I was angry, but I had to endure it.
"Hmm~ You're not saying anything. How boring... You're just like a doll."
"What...?"
"Forget it, it seems like I came too suddenly, so I hope we can have a proper conversation next time. Let's speak comfortably to each other then. Well then."
"W-what is this? Hey!"
But Leon Silberg just said his piece and left again.
I felt dumbfounded by him, as he hadn't even stated a proper purpose and just left behind his impressions of me.
No, right now.
What just happened?
It was a humiliation I had never felt once while living as a Princess.
And a few days later.
I met him again.
"Aaaaaah!! Save me!! It's hot!! Save meeee!"
"Let me go!! I don't want to die!! Save me!!"
"Mom! Mom! Mom! Uwaaaaang!! It's hot! Kuaaaack!"
In front of the burning mansion.
He was there, where the screams of young children rang out.
Leon Silberg.
He, with his hands in his pockets.
Asked me, who had barely escaped the mansion and was sitting down, like this.
"Do you want to die too?"
His eyes... were clearly smiling.