“D-Duke Gregory, help me! You promised your assistance, didn’t you?!” Stewart shouted, seeking salvation from Duke Gregory.
“That was under the premise of Amakawa actually being a criminal. To think you’d tell so many lies to deceive me... I wish you never got me involved in this.” Duke Gregory discarded Stewart with an annoyed look, maintaining his uninvolvement.
“I will be questioning you afterward, Clement.”
“Naturally.”
Francois immediately kept Duke Gregory in check, to which Duke Gregory nodded calmly.
Hmph. Useless man, Duke Gregory thought as he looked down on Stewart.
“Ugh... Guh... Waaah!” Stewart started wailing.
“Oh my, he’s crying. Poor thing. When someone’s this foolish, they become more pitiful than comical,” Charlotte said, smiling charmingly in contrast to her words.
“Since he’s so grating on the ears, hand him to the knights outside and have them escort him to jail. Have him await his sentencing in fear. Does the Restoration have any objections?” Francois asked in confirmation.
“I do not,” Christina replied, shaking her head without hesitation.
“Stand up.”
Vanessa used the rope used for restraint that she always carried on her to tie Stewart’s arms behind his back and make him stand up.
“D-Damn it! Stop! Stop it!”
Stewart struggled with all his might, but he was dragged out of the room, helpless. Once the room became silent again...
“Now, Haruto. How do you wish for this incident to be resolved? Duke Huguenot’s actions were made before you became an Honorary Knight of our kingdom, and by our laws, we cannot retroactively punish him. It will have to be left to the Restoration’s judgment, but...”
To put it another way, there was plenty of potential to place pressure on them for a heavier punishment. Francois’s question to Rio had that meaning hinted implicitly.
“I’ve already told Queen Christina and Princess Flora my past. In doing so, I also told them I had no intention of bringing up the past again. I have no personal interest in what punishment is given, but what Latifa thinks is a different matter, as this incident has directly threatened her peace of mind.”
Rio stood up and moved before Latifa. She had been sitting on the chair with her head down and body curled up, but when Rio came up to her, she looked up.
“I’m sorry, Latifa. I didn’t protect you properly.”
“No, you protected me, Onii-chan. I’m sorry for losing my composure too.”
“What would you like to happen from here, Latifa? Can you forgive him or not? I will make sure whatever you say happens.” Rio crouched down to meet her eye level.
“As long as I never have to see him again, I don’t care. I’ll leave it to you, Onii-chan.”
Latifa made no attempt to look at Duke Huguenot. She probably didn’t even want to be in the same room as him and was just enduring it right now.
“You heard her. If you never come near Latifa or threaten her peace again, I will not ask for anything else.”
“And you’re sure about that?”
“Yes. I don’t want to waste anymore time bothering with this.”
“Heh. I see,” Francois said with a bemused chuckle. He then looked at Christina and Duke Huguenot. “Then that settles it. In regard to Duke Huguenot, we will yield to the Restoration’s judgment and not seek any punishment.”
“Thank you for the generous words. However, as a leader of the organization, Duke Huguenot must face some consequence for his actions. That is how severe his past is. You two may not care about the sentence, but I will be deciding one in the next few days.”
Christina bowed her head deeply to Rio and Latifa, expressing her intention to punish Duke Huguenot.
“I will accept whatever sentence you decide. I will not run or hide either. And I vow to never approach Sir Amakawa and his little sister Lady Suzune ever again.”
Duke Huguenot was already in a state of resignation, bowing his head calmly like Christina. There was a brief moment where he looked at Latifa with a complex expression that differed from anger, but that emotion promptly vanished.
“I shouldn’t allow him to remain before the two of you any longer. I will remove him from the room immediately, but please give me a chance to give my apologies and report on the resolution at a later date.”
Christina offered to leave the room, leading the Restoration to the exit before waiting for Rio’s reply. Duke Huguenot followed right after her.
Flora was looking at Rio and Latifa like she wanted to say something, but she probably thought it was best for her not to be the one to initiate conversation. She bowed once and made her way to the door, when...
“U-Um! Princess Flora...and Lady Roanna,” Latifa called out, having made up her mind.
The two paused in their steps.
“The sleepover promise. I really hope you’ll remember to come. You may hate me for being a werebeast, but...everyone else is looking forward to it too...” Latifa timidly invited the two of them.
“I-I don’t hate you at all, Suzune!” Flora burst into tears and hugged Latifa.
“Ah...” Having expected to be scorned or treated with disgust, Latifa looked surprised. “Thank you very much, Princess Flora,” Latifa said with tears in her eyes.
“I should be the one thanking you! I’m sorry, Suzune! Sir Haruto! I-If only I hadn’t almost fallen off the cliff...!” Flora sobbed, bawling at the top of her lungs. She must have been blaming herself in her heart, and those feelings had exploded.
“Flora...”
Christina had left the room with Duke Huguenot but returned when she realized her little sister was crying.
“P-Please don’t cry. If it wasn’t for that incident, I wouldn’t have met Onii-chan. If that had happened, I wouldn’t have been able to meet you, Princess Flora,” Latifa said, giving her thoughts while returning Flora’s hug.
“Suzune!”
Overcome with emotion, Flora started crying even harder. She was no longer in a state where she could move right away.
“I will bring Princess Flora to you later. Please return first, Queen Christina. You go too, Elise,” Roanna said, encouraging Christina to move. Thus, the uproar caused by Stewart more or less came to an end.
✦ ✦ ✦
