AFTERWARD, thanks to the large volumes of evidence discovered in Anita’s quarters, the crimes Juliette had committed—at least in Emeroade—were exposed one by one. Before that, the only evidence against her had been circumstantial. The Second Division also contributed documents and reports they had compiled as a result of their investigations. However, just as Juliette was about to be sentenced to the maximum possible punishment, the “real” Count Peck arrived from Gwyllt with impeccable timing to negotiate.
The diplomat brazenly declared, “The man arrested with Lady Juliette was an impostor going by the name of Count Peck. In actuality, he’s also wanted in Gwyllt as a professional assassin and expert in black magic.”
“Do you truly believe that we’ll accept that claim?” Emeroade’s foreign minister, Lord Myron, said harshly. He was the negotiator for Emeroade.
The self-proclaimed real Count Peck regretfully shook his head. “Whether you accept it or not, I can only say it is the truth.” Then, sensing Lord Myron’s anger, the count briskly continued. “It is regrettable that Princess Juliette used her position to commit such deplorable crimes. However, Gwyllt knew about none of it. If we did, we would, of course, have stopped her,” he said. His incessant speech sounded as if he was making fun of Lord Myron.
“Count Peck,” Lord Myron said, furrowing his eyebrows and forming deep creases in his forehead, “I imagine you are aware this situation is not one that you can smooth over with such nonsense.”
Gwyllt’s persistent assertion was that Juliette had acted on her own. That included everything from her placing a spy like Anita in the castle to her sources of funding and her having run a large criminal organization on an international scale. There was no way that Emeroade would accept an excuse like that.
“Her plans to abduct three members of our royal family and even attempt to kill a prince are tantamount to a declaration of war against us. Gwyllt may not have had anything to do with it, but a princess of your country used her authority to do it. Don’t think you’ll be able to assert a complete lack of involvement here!” Lord Myron accused, raising his voice and trying to pressure the count.
Count Peck smoothly pulled out some documents. “Though Princess Juliette acted alone, she is royalty from our country and acted as the king’s representative on her visit. It greatly pained His Majesty to learn of all this.”
Lord Myron was there to stubbornly fight until he won compensation and an official apology from Gwyllt. Condolences from that scheming old fox that ruled Gwyllt meant nothing to Emeroade.
Prince Marcus’s recklessness was famous. He was incredibly resourceful but believed he shouldn’t involve himself in government, leaving everything in that department up to his older brother. Because of that, he tended to solve things without resorting to politics. Politics was not something with a clear line between right and wrong, like breaking up a fight, but Lord Myron wanted to teach that prince that, just as he behaved recklessly for the country and its citizens, he could also care for his beloved country through politics. He could still be a shield that protected the country.
“Very well,” Lord Myron said. “Then, let us move on to discuss compensation for the cancellation of the engagement between Princess Juliette and Prince Marcus.” He sat up straight, determined to squeeze out all that he could get.
✦ ✦ ✦
DAYS later, when Marcus heard the contents and the sum of the compensation due from Gwyllt, he doubled over laughing, clutching his stomach.
Picking up the documents the prince had dropped, Chris went pale when he saw the sum. “What an amount!” he exclaimed.
“It’s brutal!” Marcus said. “I knew Lord Myron would get it done. He’s always done a wonderful job.”
“Well, still, considering the danger Your Royal Highness and others were exposed to, it’s hardly something that can be made up for with money.”
They had also received an official apology from Gwyllt, but the gist of it was that they were sorry for letting Juliette act as freely as she had. By sacrificing her, they had maintained their dignity. Like Lord Myron, Chris stubbornly refused to accept Gwyllt’s claim that Juliette had acted of her own accord.
“Still, neither of us wants a war,” Marcus said. “Apologies to May and Ronald, but I have to consider my duty as royalty accomplished now that we’ve gotten rid of the diplomatic rot and put a stop to the crimes in the country.”
The citizens would suffer the most harm if they started a war. They had to avoid it as much as possible. On Gwyllt’s end, letting a single princess take the fall was the easiest option for them, too.
Chris was irritated by Marcus always putting his duty as royalty first above absolutely everything else. His master, who he loved and respected, had some problems with his conduct, but he only ever prioritized the public and had hardly any desires of his own. He had said that he was behaving as he liked, and that was correct, but his goals were all for the sake of the country. Chris wanted Marcus to put himself first, even just a little, but he couldn’t say anything because he knew it would be like denying Marcus’s entire existence if he did.
Marcus laughed for some time. Then, he stamped a document and pushed it into Chris’s hands. “Now, will I be free soon? Do I have any other plans?” he asked. Marcus had made all sorts of rash decisions this time, so there were nearly twice as many documents he had to deal with compared to normal. He’d had no time to frequent the Second Division. However, his main position at the Financial Audit Bureau was also going to get busy, considering the sum of the reparations from Gwyllt, so even if he could go, they wouldn’t have time to entertain him.
“Cesia requested an audience, so I approved it,” Chris said nonchalantly.
“Why did you approve it?!” Marcus exclaimed, surprised. “She’ll be angry at me; I just know it!”
“Your Royal Highness appeared to be avoiding her. Don’t you feel bad for her, sir?” Chris said. Go ahead, get angry at him, the butler thought, hiding his true intentions beneath his smile.