The Louboutin family once held considerable influence. As a marquess house, their status was second only to dukes, who were of royal blood themselves. Albert’s word had carried a certain weight. That was why in the novel, few people had dared question his account when he claimed to have witnessed the divine revelation.
But that was then, and now everyone knew Albert’s position had become tenuous at best.
One misstep in noble society could prove fatal. Just one failure and the ground could be ripped out from under you. How many of the nobles here actually believed that Gilles had received a divine revelation?
“You weren’t even present for the revelation yourself, yet you saw fit to bring all this before the court without evidence?” Siegfried asked coolly.
“No evidence? Your Majesty, surely that’s far too harsh! This is an insult to Gilles!”
I’d expected this because Siegfried had said the same thing in my story—he’d challenged the validity of the claim because of a lack of witnesses.
I’d written that Albert’s influence and Gilles’s angelic appearance had swayed the nobility. Siegfried had ultimately been forced to accept Gilles as the divine child, leading to tension between him and Claude.
Now the nobles’ eyes were filled with suspicion as they stared at Claude and Gilles.
Albert wasn’t here, probably because he knew the odds weren’t in his favor. Maybe their plan had fallen apart behind the scenes. Or maybe Claude and Gilles had acted without his knowledge. There was no way Albert, cunning as he was, would let something like this unfold unprepared.
“He adored Gilles so much he was willing to cast out Lord Kreis, the rightful heir. It wouldn’t surprise me if he lied for him too.”
“There were only two people present for something as important as a revelation? Don’t you think that sounds a bit too convenient?”
I overheard snippets of whispered conversations. So did Gilles, apparently, because his face flushed red and he began to shout.
“I did receive a revelation! God appeared before me and said, ‘Your body is absorbing the kingdom’s impurities! If you find and eliminate the source, you’ll be healed!’ That’s what he told me!”
No one made eye contact with him. That was Gilles’s flaw. He was cunning, but once someone looked down on him or pitied him, he cracked. He couldn’t take the loss of control.
“Gilles, that’s enough. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped out the window that night. That must’ve been hard on you. Is that why you’re doing this? Because you’re trying to get everyone’s attention?” I asked softly, my voice filled with feigned sympathy.
“No, that’s not it! I really—”
“You’re a good kid. It’s okay. Just apologize for the lie and let’s start over. I’ll listen to anything you have to say.”
The more earnestly I spoke, the more the nobles began to shift their sympathy toward Kreis. Gilles and Claude were now completely isolated. The room was full, but not a single person was on their side.
“It’s not a lie! It’s not!”
He looked like the boy who cried wolf. There were no gods involved. The danger came from people. They watched and they judged.
I gave Gilles a look full of pity. And then he exploded.
“Don’t look at me like that! I won’t let scum like you feel sorry for me!”
I had to commend myself for not bursting into laughter.
“Ohh!” Gilles clamped a hand over his mouth, realizing what he’d said all too late. He’d done it. He’d finally done it.
Now everyone here believed the revelation was a lie. After all, only those beloved by the gods could receive divine revelations. No one would believe a heart that twisted could ever be beloved by the gods.
The truth didn’t matter. I didn’t care what had really happened. All that mattered was that Gilles had just lost his trump card.
“Did you all just hear that?”
“What filthy language, coming from such an innocent face!”
“No wonder. He was born from a commoner, after all.”
The nobles all glared coldly at him.
“Gilles, you...” Claude looked stunned. The illusion had finally been broken. That pure, delicate Gilles he had clung to had never existed. You’ve seen nothing but a fabrication.
“Claude. Even after all this, do you still claim to believe him?” Siegfried asked, stepping forward.
“Your Majesty, I-I...”
“I’d hoped for so much from you. That one day, you’d stand beside me and protect this kingdom. Even if you were lost now, I believed you would find your way and become a pillar of strength and serve as my right-hand man.”
“Your Majesty...”
“But I see now that my hope was misplaced. You’ve lost your composure twice now. You’ve failed to assess the situation. You’ve listened to only one side, belittled others based on nothing but assumption, and forgotten your position. You’ve behaved with nothing but arrogance. And now you dare speak as if this kingdom is ‘impure’? You are no longer fit to bear the title of royalty. As of today, I hereby strip you of your title.”
“Please, Your Majesty! I only believed in him! That’s all I did!”
“Take them away. Falsely claiming to receive a divine revelation and attempting to incite public unrest is a grave offense. Hold them in solitary confinement until sentencing is decided.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The royal guards moved in swiftly at Siegfried’s command, surrounding Claude and Gilles.
“Please, Your Majesty! I beg you! Just give me one more chance!” Claude begged.
“I really did receive a revelation! I’m telling the truth! You’ll regret this!” Gilles shouted.
Siegfried didn’t even glance in their direction. Their voices faded down the corridor as they were dragged off. Then he turned to the gathered nobles. “I apologize for this commotion.” They all bowed and quietly filed out of the audience chamber until it was only Siegfried and me.
“Leave us,” he ordered the guards, who bowed and took position just outside the doors.
We did it. Kreis, I’ve avenged you.
In this kingdom, committing deception in the name of the gods was considered one of the highest offenses. If things continued as they were, Claude and Gilles would likely face execution.
“Kreis. I’m sorry for my brother’s words,” Siegfried said, his voice heavy.
“You don’t have to apologize. Prince Claude was only trying to protect someone he cared about.”
Too much, in fact. So much he took himself down with that boy he loved. Getting revenge on the prince had been no easy task. If Claude had come to his senses earlier and cut Gilles off, I would’ve had to expend far more time and effort to bring him down.
“I never thought it would come to this...condemning my own brother.” Siegfried rubbed his temple and shook his head slightly.
I only thought of Claude as someone I had to get revenge on, but he was Siegfried’s precious younger brother. And Siegfried didn’t know that Claude was plotting to usurp him. Family ties meant little to me, but I could understand how painful this must have been for Siegfried.