I'll Borrow the Second-in-Command (5)

"First of all, the paint job was way overcharged. There was no need to use such expensive paint, and the work period was stretched out way too long. Even being generous, it should've cost a quarter of this—no, way less than that."

"That was... for the convenience of the citizens passing by..."

"That part's weird too. Where exactly does your private road start and end? Looking at the range written here, it looks like you're encroaching far beyond the legally designated public road. Are you illegally occupying it?"

"N-No... nothing of the sort..."

"And the building repairs were written up like you tore the whole thing down and built a new one. Plus, a building in the capital has tighter regulations than anywhere else. Done right, wouldn't this end up taller than His Majesty the King's palace?"

"W-What kind of nonsense..."

"Oh, and none of the units match either. Looks like you deliberately used outdated measurements to inflate the size. Nobody would take a job with an estimate like that these days. Did you know that when you wrote it?"

Point by point.

Threats.

And lectures.

Every time I pointed out something wrong, my voice climbed higher without me noticing, and the count's shoulders shrank in perfect time with it. The man who had been threatening Ru just moments ago, calling her a wench, was nowhere to be found.

But what could he do? If you don't know better, you get scolded. Back when I was cluelessly painting building walls myself, the site workers chewed me out plenty. I never dreamed the knowledge I'd piled up in Beimesher would get used like this.

"So to sum it up, this whole thing is wrong from start to finish. Did you seriously write this with a straight face?"

"Th-That... White Knight. I understand, so let me get a word in..."

"Huh, looking at the seal, this is an official document. And the blue color means you stamped it yourself, right? How about I take this to court? It could serve as evidence of the road you illegally occupied."

"What? W-Wait! Just wait a moment. Hm? Looks like there was some misunderstanding on my part!"

The moment I casually jabbed at his weak spot, the count flailed his hands in panic. He could strut and preen all he wanted in front of Ru, who knew nothing, but he was no match for a real site worker.

Well, he never imagined he'd run into a maniac who'd leveled entire cities more than once, right there in a noble's mansion. Still, his attitude grated on me enough that I decided to keep pressing to the end.

"So where does your road start and end, then? Let's hear it. Exactly as written here?"

"Well, th-that's... correct, but strictly speaking there's a bit of a discrepancy. So..."

"A discrepancy? You're in deep trouble. This is still an official document. And you're playing games with it?"

"Why... why are you like this today, White Knight? Not like you at all. Is the amount too high? I'll reduce it a little, so just like usual..."

"...Like usual?"

The count tried to soothe me with a familiar tone, but the word he tossed out without thinking scraped a nerve. Forgetting the situation entirely, I whipped my head toward Ru.

"Like usual? Meaning this has been going on before..."

"Claus...!"

"Ah, right. You've come by like this a few times before. Looking at it now, every invoice you've sent so far might have been complete garbage."

"...."

"I think we'd better review them all again."

When I turned my gaze back to the count, he faced me with a face as pale as Ru's. Even so, he still had one last scrap of leverage left and dragged out a final excuse.

"But you already authorized all of those previous matters yourself. Your own seals remain on them. Even if there were minor errors, they can't be undone, can they?"

"Well, true enough, but there might still be evidence of more tricks on your end. You have all the documents, right?"

"L-Lord Everdeen."

"Then I'll review the ones on this side first and pay you a visit in the near future."

"C-Come visit? But that is...!"

"We'll see how it goes. More importantly—are you really going to collect on this one?"

I made my irritation plain, rapping the desk again and again. The count's high-handed attitude vanished; he answered while thoroughly shriveled.

"H-How could I? It was all for the citizens' safety. I've never said it aloud, but I've always been grateful for the hard work you do for the kingdom."

"Of course you should be. More than that—if I start pointing out everything listed here, things will get very annoying for you. Should I go through each item the way you do and pick fights? How about I head straight to your house right now and check the documents?"

"Do we really need to go that far? You're busy yourself, surely. Why not just handle it the usual way..."

"The usual way?"

"No, what I mean is... ugh."

The count must have bitten his tongue without thinking; a pathetic groan slipped out. Then, face thick with pain, he lowered his voice into something almost servile.

"H-How can I make this just go away?"

"Claus. You didn't have to go that far."

"What are you talking about, Ru? You have to properly thrash scammers like him once so they never come back. Looking at it, he's been fleecing you pretty thoroughly."

"Even so, it's only a few coins. I've never been hard up for money."

"Just take it for now. Nobody knows how life will turn out."

Once the matter was settled, Claus handed the gold and goods he'd extracted from the count into Ru's hands. He had originally meant to take a written pledge, but she talked him down from the sidelines, so he settled for something like compensation.

Even that Ru flatly refused, stuffing it back into Claus's pocket. An unexpectedly clear smile sat on her lips.

"I don't need it, so you keep it. It's wealth you earned with your own hands, after all."

"If you put it that way, I won't refuse. I'll buy the kids some gifts on the way home."

"In any case, thank you truly, Claus. I knew you had a way with words, but I never imagined you were versed in architecture and kingdom law as well."

"Well... just some odds and ends I picked up somehow."

"Thanks to you I got a good show. Honestly, it was even a little... satisfying."

It was pure sincerity, without a scrap of pretense. Ever since she had set foot in noble society, Count Gramont had been a mosquito that never stopped hounding her. Yet that sly man hadn't been able to lift his head once and had been thoroughly cornered.

She wanted nothing more than to run to her father and chatter all day about today's events. But she knew that answering evil with evil was nothing to be proud of, so she soothed her heart with a small, dry cough.

"Ahem. In any case, on behalf of the Everdeen family I offer you official thanks. Young Claus."

"So I can send letters home now, right? There are more than one or two people worrying about me."

"Of course. Still, let me review the contents first. I won't touch anything personal, but dangerous materials could be enclosed..."

"And undo this too."

"Hm?"

Only then did Ru remember there was one more promise she had forgotten. Looking at Claus shamelessly thrusting out his cuffed wrists, she wondered if she was being played by him.

But a promise was a promise, even one made with a villain. Overpowered by her own rigid nature, Ru finally drew out the key. And she did not drop her suspicious gaze until he had freely shaken out his wrists.

"Whew. Feels like I can live again. Thanks to that greedy noble uncle, I got a little freedom back."

"Greedy noble uncle? He is still a high-ranking aristocrat. Not someone to take lightly."

"Even a guy like that was shaking over one kingdom law, so the laws of this country must really be terrifying. He looked like the type who wouldn't blink at breaking a couple of laws."

"True. You have a point. Ordinarily he is the sort who would simply steamroll over such minor offenses. Why was he so sensitive this time?"

Could he be hiding something? Come to think of it, when Claus mentioned visiting his house he had seemed especially startled.

Perhaps it would be necessary to search his residence sometime. It would not be easy, of course, but if she began gathering evidence now, someday...

"...More importantly, Ru. Is this all the stationery you have? It's all stiff and the quality is lousy."

"Stationery is stationery. Besides, all I have is for official use, so it can't be helped."

"Then I'll have to go buy some. Lucky I just came into some money. I'll be right back, Ru."

"You're going out? Wait, wait!"

Going outside, of all things. Thinking she had to stop him, Ru rose at once. At the same time, gratitude for what Claus had done today tangled her heart.

He had punished her loathsome enemy; she owed him a debt of sorts. Because of that faint sense of obligation, she could not quite say no. Meanwhile Claus was staring at her with a sullen face.

"I can't even go to the nearby shopping street? Then what do I have to do this time?"

"It's not that... You simply can't go outside bare-faced. As I said before, there are circumstances on this side."

"Wearing a helmet like last time is stuffy."

"Wear a mask instead. There are many monks sworn to secrecy here, so wearing a mask is not so unusual."

There would still be some suspicion, but it was better than going bare-faced. When Ru handed over the mask, Claus put it on without much resistance. He still bounced off in unexpected directions now and then, but she was simply glad he was cooperating this much.

"This one's open around the mouth, so it's not too stifling. Good enough?"

"Not yet. I said I would remove the cuffs, not that I was permitting free movement."

"What? You're not going to say I can't leave after all this, are you?"

"Rather than that... well..."

After a brief hesitation, Ru suddenly seized Claus's wrist. The action had not been in her plans either, so she failed to control her strength and gripped a little too hard.

"Ow."

"Sorry. Did that hurt?"

"I'm not going to run off."

"I'll... hold more gently. But we stick close like this either way. All right?"

Even as she asked, Ru's gaze stayed on Claus's wrist. Not from anxiety, but because this was the first man whose bones had not broken no matter how hard she squeezed.

It was only natural for the Black Lady's closest aide to be this sturdy, yet she could not help feeling regret that such talent had gone to her. Whether or not he knew her thoughts, Claus immediately started toward the door.

"Then let's hurry. I have more than one or two letters to write."

"Understood. I know a place that sells stationery, so I'll guide you."

"I'd appreciate that. More importantly, Ru—don't you need to cover your face? It feels weird that only I'm wearing a mask."

"I'll be fine. Because..."

For her, not wearing a mask would actually make it easier to hide her identity. Of course that did not mean she felt any less exposed. This was the first time she had stepped onto the capital's streets bare-faced.

The moment she opened the large parasol and headed into the street, Ru held her breath without meaning to. The gazes of people coming and going felt as scorching as the sun beyond the parasol.

"Hup..."

"What's wrong? Is it the sunlight?"

"No, nothing like that. Just... the feeling of being watched."

"Well, with a parasol that big, people are bound to stare. Your skin must be really weak, Ru. Can't even go outside without something like this."

"..."

Right. Who would ever imagine that such a woman was the White Knight? Ru steadied herself with the words she had repeated many times, then finally managed to set her feet toward the shopping street again.

"The shop that sells stationery should be that way. It caters to nobles, so the prices will be steep, but you should be fine."

"Since I'm in the capital, might as well try some luxury goods. I'm curious what you noble lords actually use."

"I can still feel the hostility. Are all of you people like that?"

"I can't say a word, can I, Ru. Keep grilling me and I'll tell everyone what you did at the cake shop."

"Th-That ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was a misunderstanding. So the reason I acted that way back then..."

At Claus's words Ru's face flushed crimson in an instant and she scrambled to continue her excuses. Then an old woman's voice from somewhere snagged her ear.

"Ex... Excuse me..."

"..."

"White Knight...?"

It felt as if her heart had frozen solid. Breathing stopped and an unpleasant numbness raced through her whole body. When she turned her head she saw a girl surrounded by several burly men.

The girl whose eyes met Ru's sprang up and ran toward them. But the person her urgent steps reached was not Ru.

"Please help me! White Knight!"

"Uh... what?"

"Don't you remember last time? You saved me on the street... I know it's shameless, but please, just help me one more time!"

"Me? You're talking to me right now?"

Flustered Claus kept pointing at himself and voicing his doubt, but the girl nodded with absolute certainty. Even though his face was covered, that was exactly why she had recognized him at a glance.

Moreover, the people who gathered in a flash only added weight to the suspicion. The White Knight himself had appeared in the flesh; the rumor would already be spreading everywhere.

"That's him, right? The White Knight. Matches exactly what people said back then."

"Yeah. Skin tone, height, build... perfect match. It's him."

"First time seeing him this close. I figured, but he really is a man."

"Wonder what he looks like under the mask..."

While speculation piled on speculation, the men surrounding the girl approached looking flustered. Beyond their shoulders Ru caught sight of a trembling old woman and several overturned baskets.

"Wh-What. It's really the White Knight. But why is someone like that here..."

"Damn it, knight or not, none of our business. This is our matter, so stay out of it and go on your way. It's nothing."

"Yes. Just us lowly folk sorting things out among ourselves. So pretend you didn't see and move along."

"K-Knight..."

Rough-looking men and a ruined stall. That alone was enough for Ru to grasp roughly what was happening. Claus, still clueless, tilted his head toward her.

"Ru. What is this? What should I do?"

"A common street turf war. The girl and the old woman are probably scraping by with small odd jobs. Those men are villains who make money by squeezing the weak."

"What? That's bad stuff then."

"But the girl isn't operating in the official shopping district, so she has no protection. They're using that to force her out of business. Unless we witness them taking money, there's nothing we can..."

Ru cut herself off and gritted her teeth. Scenes like this were the everyday evils she always saw and always walked past. She wanted to beat them all senseless, yet she was the White Knight who moved only by the kingdom's law.

Even a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠villain could not be punished if he had not broken the law. That rigidity had bound her since childhood. How many times had she wanted to thrash herself because of it?

She wanted to break the taboo and act even now. But the chains that had long constrained her forced the same choice once more.

"Regrettably, the best we can do is tidy the situation and leave. First get those men to clear out, then give the girl a simple warning..."

"What? Then nothing actually gets solved. Tomorrow that grandma and the girl will have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to sell again, and the thugs will come back to smash the place."

"As a noble I have a duty to uphold the law, Claus. It may sound frustrating, but it can't be helped."

"Mm... well, if the law says so, then that's that."

"If it's hard for you, I'll step forward..."

Ru took a step to keep her word, but Claus reached the thugs first. Then, just as she had ordered, he waved a hand vaguely.

"All right, so just go on your way... no, ahem. Disperse, if you please. I'll handle the rest."

"Is that so, Knight? But what about this? Those people over there still owe us money."

"Don't know about that, just disperse. Disperse. Don't make this a hassle."

"You're pretty high-handed. Fine then. Just as the Knight says..."

"Ow."

"...What?"

"Ow."

At that moment Claus let out a dry, half-hearted groan. Then he suddenly pointed a finger at the thugs and tilted his head.

"Did you just hit me?"

"Wh-What are you talking about? I didn't even twitch a finger."

"What do you mean? Are you saying I'm lying right now?"

"I'm not saying you're lying, the fact is..."

"Ru. You saw this guy hit me too, right? Right?"

Under Claus's grilling Ru nodded before she could think. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠And the gathered crowd began murmuring, spreading Claus's words exactly as he had said them.

Soon the lie became rumor, and before long it became truth. With his pretext secured, Claus freely displayed his displeasure.

"This won't do. Hitting someone without a shred of fear."

"Uh..."

"You started this."

"Any objections?"