“I know that you’re a fair ruler, Your Majesty.”
“Of course. Everything written there falls within the scope of our current initiatives.”
That was technically true, but only barely. Still, I wasn’t about to question it any further. I just bowed deeply and turned to leave.
That was when it happened.
“Your Majesty! There’s urgent news!”
The man who burst into the room without even knocking was none other than the prime minister. And his lack of decorum showed that he was clearly in a panic.
“What is it?”
“A divine child! A divine child has appeared in the kingdom!” he said.
I gasped. Divine child. That word alone was enough for me to grasp the situation. Gilles had received the revelation.
I’d known this moment would come, so my initial shock faded quickly. What mattered now was calmly anticipating what would follow.
Ordinarily, Gilles would be invited to the castle immediately and begin to live there under Claude’s protection. But now, his name was tarnished among the nobles. Whether people believed he’d received a divine revelation would likely be split down the middle. Whether the revelation was true or not didn’t matter. What did matter was that doubt had already taken root in the minds of the nobles.
In this world, the truth held little weight. If people didn’t believe it, then it became false—even if it were true.
Calling a revelation a lie might be sacrilegious. But so what? What use was an unhelpful god?
“And where is this divine child now?”
“It’s Gilles von Louboutin, the marquess’s second son, and he’s on his way here with Prince Claude now!”
“Gilles?” The flicker of doubt that flashed across Siegfried’s face was unmistakable.
“Apparently, Prince Claude gave a speech to the citizens in the capital square. A number of nobles heard about it and are already making their way here.”
So rallying the people was their plan. It was surprisingly clever for Claude. Actually, Gilles probably came up with it. Claude probably didn’t even realize he was being manipulated.
“Your Majesty, I suggest you hear them out,” the prime minister advised.
“Kreis, would you stay and observe as well?” Siegfried asked.
“Gilles will be furious when he sees me.”
“That’s exactly why I want you there.”
Ah, so he’s planning to rattle Gilles by keeping me close. That’s perfect for me.
“We have to hurry, Your Majesty!” the prime minister urged.
Siegfried turned his gaze to me, and I gave him a firm nod.
“Then let’s go.” He offered me his hand, and I instinctively placed my own in it. He squeezed it firmly as if to reassure me I’d be just fine, though having him fussing over me made me feel a bit bashful. But honestly, I was fine. After all, Kreis’s revenge was just about to begin.
The audience chamber was packed with nobles. Claude and Gilles stood at the center, separated from the crowd.
“Your Majesty!” Claude completely abandoned his manners the moment he spotted Siegfried, looking breathless and flustered. “This boy is a divine child who will save our kingdom!”
I stood behind Siegfried, watching Claude shout. But the moment he spotted me, his eyes narrowed into a glare.
“What are you doing here?”
“Kreis is here on official business regarding the orphanage. I asked him here, so if you have a problem with it, bring it to me.”
“It’s fine, Your Majesty. It’s only natural for Prince Claude to dislike me, since he thinks so highly of Gilles.” I made sure to put special emphasis on that last part. Predictably, Claude didn’t catch my hint and instead just stared smugly at me.
“I do think highly of him. More than I ever could for a hypocrite like you.”
“I know. Your Highness frequently visits Gilles even after everything that’s happened.”
Yes, please remember that, everyone.
The crown prince was very taken with Gilles, even before any supposed “divine revelation” had appeared. He’d been regularly visiting the boy at home.
I smiled at Claude faintly. Gilles had been lurking silently behind the prince, and now he stepped forward with a sad look on his face.
“Do you still hate me, Kreis? I know father didn’t pay much attention to you because I was sick... And I know that made things hard for you.”
“As I’ve told you before, Gilles, I don’t hate you. I truly hope you can be happy. That’s why I left the estate. I thought if I were gone, maybe you could live peacefully.”
Most of the nobles in this room already knew that Kreis had left the Louboutin estate. Rumors always had a way of growing more colorful with each retelling, though. Given what happened at the birthday party, those rumors likely weren’t so favorable to Gilles.
After all, for the heir to abandon his home was unthinkable. And the fact that Gilles hadn’t been kicked out, but Kreis had left, was even more outrageous. From the nobles’ perspectives, that could only mean something was very wrong with Gilles.
He was the younger brother who’d driven the heir away and then remained behind as if nothing had happened. Thanks to Albert’s coddling, Gilles had grown up with no concept of noble expectations or decorum—he had no idea how his actions looked from the outside.
Thanks for spoiling him so thoroughly, Albert. Even now, he has no idea about the position he’s in.
“Actually, the servants have reported you seem to be enjoying your life quite a bit more since I left. And Prince Claude stays over frequently and has become so close with father it’s like you’re practically family. I’m so grateful you have so many people who are worried about you, Gilles.”
“I don’t recall asking for your gratitude!”
“Mind your tongue, Claude,” Siegfried warned. “That kind of attitude is unacceptable, especially from a royal.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I apologize.”
Of course, Claude’s apology was for Siegfried alone. The glare he shot at me was still sharp enough to kill. Honestly, I had to admire just how completely Gilles had wrapped him around his finger.
“So I’ve heard there’s been a revelation. Something about a divine child?” Siegfried asked, turning toward Claude, whose face brightened instantly, thinking he finally had his chance.
“Yes, Your Majesty! Gilles has received a divine revelation! He was told his frail health was because he’s absorbing all the impurities from this kingdom, and all this time he’s been protecting us with his body!”
The nobles in the audience chamber began to murmur among themselves. Siegfried raised a hand to silence everyone. “What do you mean by impurities?”
“W-Well, um, we’re not entirely sure yet... But if he received a revelation, then he must be the divine child!”
“And were you present when this revelation was received?” Siegfried asked.
“N-No, not personally, but Marquess Louboutin was there!”
That was how it had gone in the story I wrote too. Albert had claimed to witness Gilles receiving a divine revelation. The same Albert who had abused Kreis, the rightful heir, and whose reputation had now completely gone down the toilet.
“So the only people present at this so-called revelation were Gilles and his father?”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty.”