“Hardly! Isn’t that rather cruel?” Gilbert interjected.
I made my way to the audience chamber while they squabbled behind me.
Let the show begin.
I could already see the path ahead. I just had to follow the script to ensure we stayed on course. In my mind, politics and theater were the same at their core. They were all about how to captivate people, suspending their disbelief and pulling them into your story.
And to do that, meticulous preparation had to be done before the opening night.
Unfortunately, this is anything but a dazzling stage. We’re in a comedy, yet it’s not funny in the least—there’s an uncomfortable gravity to it. But, well, we have quite an audience. I should do my best so they can enjoy the performance.
When I arrived at the audience chamber, the royal guards on either side opened the imposing doors. I then proceeded toward the throne.
Spotting me the moment I entered, Barbara stood up and curtsied on the spot. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
She had interrupted the queen’s entrance and spoken without my permission. Our hastily assembled noble audience was already chuckling.
I ignored her greeting and sat on the throne. “It has been a while, Barbara. Speak—what brings you here?”
“Uh…” Her eyes widened as she grappled with my change in tone.
I scrutinized her face so I wouldn’t miss a single change in her expression. “I said, what brings you here?”
“Um, I wanted to pay my respects to the queen…”
“Your respects? A viscount’s daughter summoned me just to pay her respects?” I studied her, and her eyes flitted around the room.
“My sincere apologies. To be honest, I just really wanted to know how Wilhelm is doing. Just where is he? I’m just so, so worried… I can’t even sleep at night,” said Barbara, tears already streaking down her face.
Her act was so convincing, I would’ve almost believed her if I hadn’t heard the conversation in the waiting room. It truly was a shame.
Shall I take her in now and make use of her talents? No, she’s already infamous.
Pushing the thought to the back of my mind, I kept my calm and said, “I’ve given Wilhelm strict punishment.”
“No way!” Barbara gasped, pretending to be surprised. “Just because you were in love with him? That’s too far! Don’t you want your beloved to be happy, Your Majesty?” Leaning into her tragic damsel act, she wavered on the spot as though she might faint.
I couldn’t help but snicker. “You speak as if I punished Wilhelm out of jealousy. Do not underestimate me. The good of the kingdom takes priority over my feelings. I punished Wilhelm because he was a direct descendant of Lord Radford, a traitor… Initially, you were also due for interrogation.”
“Wh-why me?! I knew it! You just think I’m an eyesore because Wilhelm is in love with me, don’t you?!” Jabbing her finger at me, Barbara stomped my way.
In my past life, there was a saying about how pointing a finger at someone meant you had three fingers pointing back at you. While I’d never heard that in this world, I knew this behavior was unacceptable toward the queen.
“How insolent! Who do you think you are?!” A royal guard yelled as he blocked her path. “I’ve stood by and let you say your piece long enough—how dare you speak with such disrespect toward Her Majesty?!”
I’d never seen him show so much emotion before; it proved just how angry he was.
“What? I-I…” Barbara shriveled beneath the royal guard’s glare, intimidated by his rage.
“Leave it,” I ordered.
“Your Majesty, I insist—”
“I appreciate your anger on my behalf, but it’s fine for now.”
The royal guard hesitated, then dipped his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.” He then returned to his original position.
I slid my gaze over to Barbara, who defiantly glared back at me.
“Barbara Dornetti, do you really not know that you are under suspicion of treason as well?”
“Huh?!”
“It’s natural to suspect someone who had a ‘deep’ relationship with Wilhelm, whose father was charged with treason. People will wonder if you conspired with Wilhelm or if he shared any information with you.”
Realizing the gravity of her situation, she grew flustered. “I-I don’t know anything! I swear I don’t!”
“Oh, you don’t? Weren’t you implying earlier that you had a ‘deep’ connection with Wilhelm? Despite that, you’re still certain you know nothing?”
“It’s true… Please believe me!”
“Should I?”
I observed Barbara, contemplating whether I could trust her. There was no reason to, but listening to her thoughts with Heart Realm proved her innocence:
She’s really not joking! He committed treason?! And here I thought I finally caught a good man… How did things turn out like this?!
I decided to let her go.
“Very well. Don’t take this as a show of trust—I merely doubt Wilhelm would’ve shared such vital information with you.”
She let out a sigh of relief, but the implication behind my words had her mouth twisting shortly after. Though I’d left it up to interpretation, she knew I didn’t think Wilhelm trusted her enough to confide in her—meaning I doubted the two of them were as close as she claimed. Glad as she was to be off the hook, Barbara had been publicly belittled by the queen. Just deserts for underestimating me, in my view.
I called out to the knight who had been standing by. “Guard, take her away.”
He gave a small nod of assent, then escorted Barbara out of the chamber.
“Are you sure about this?” Tommy whispered in my ear after she left the room.
“Yes. She’s innocent.”
“If you say so, it must be true.”
“But if you let Lady Barbara go with no repercussions, won’t others look down on you?” Gilbert asked.
“If I punished her, people would called me a ‘jealous harpy’ or some such. Either way, I’d still be criticized.”
“Ah. That’s probably true.”
“I suppose all of this is because I haven’t gained full control over the palace… Well, there’s no point in talking about it now. Tommy?”
“What is it?”
“Who said I won’t be punishing her?”
Tommy winced, clearly disturbed. “Oh, no, I…”
I laughed. “You don’t need to be so scared, do you?”
He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized I was joking. “Please spare me from jests like that. The real you is terrifying, Your Majesty.”
“You’re scared of a lady?”
“Excuse me? A lady doesn’t emit such an oppressive aura. Though I don’t deny that women are scary.”
“Are you speaking from experience?” I teased.
“Honestly, I think Barbara belongs in that category.”
“Ha ha! I suppose so. Now, Gilbert?”
“Yes?”
“Bring Lord Dornetti here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Lord Dornetti had been waiting in the room right next door, so he entered promptly after I summoned him. It was evident from his complexion that he had been drinking. Although he managed to mask the stench of alcohol, his eyes were glazed over. His clothes couldn’t quite conceal his belly, and they seemed to be on the verge of tearing if he bent forward any further.
Though he was called to the queen’s audience chamber on short notice, it was remarkable that he had the audacity to come in such a state. Many of the audience members wore looks of disapproval, much like their reactions to Barbara’s rudeness.
“Now then, Lord Dornetti. From this day forward, you will be demoted to the rank of a baron.”
“Wh-why?!”
“Everyone here—including you—witnessed the scene, right? Barbara’s disrespectful behavior was an insult to the royal family. Naturally, I’d hold her guardian responsible. Isn’t it fortunate that you got out of this with just a demotion?”
“I’ve severed all ties with that girl! She’s not a true noble—she has commoner’s blood! I merely took her in out of pity.” The ex-viscount was desperate, but it only irritated me further.
“Your response displeases me, Baron. Leave immediately, before I consider harsher punishments.”
“H-how can you—”
“First and foremost, you made the decision to take her in and raise her. It was also you who introduced her to noble society. Of course you shall take the blame. Even if you sever ties with her now, that accomplishes nothing.”
Reeling, he made to object. “But—”
“Oh, are you interrupting me as well?” I asked with a smile.
“What?”
“Interrupting me without permission… What are you thinking? Just like Barbara, you seem to lack a fundamental understanding of the rules governing the royalty and nobility. It appears that the problem lies not in her blood but in your influence.”
“No, Your Majesty, please listen to me!”
“No further explanation is necessary. Now, guards, remove this fool from the chamber.”
I heard Baron Dornetti shouting my name over and over, but I ignored him.
“Your punishment is just too cruel, Your Majesty,” Gilbert said.
“Cruel? I think demotion as a punishment for insulting the royal family is too kind,” Tommy countered.
Gilbert laughed dryly. “Look, everyone here knows about Barbara’s attitude toward Her Majesty.”
“Well, of course. We were all watching,” Tommy said.
“Her Majesty didn’t issue an order to be silent. News of his demotion for today’s gaffe will spread among the nobility. Once it becomes common knowledge, nobles overly concerned about their reputations may feel too embarrassed to participate in social gatherings. Furthermore, as Queen Luxeria’s influence grows, fewer people will be keen on being associated with such a family.”
“Oof. Sounds rough.”
I couldn’t help but smile—Tommy likewise seemed to believe it would increase my influence. “Your praise humbles me,” I said.
“I wasn’t praising you,” Gilbert replied.
“Ha ha, really? All right. I think we’ve fooled around long enough. Tommy, shouldn’t you be leaving soon?”
“You’re right… I’ll head out.”
I stood up after seeing him off. “I should return as well. Gilbert, there are a few matters I’d like to confirm with you.”
“Understood. I shall accompany you to the office.”
“Sounds good.”
With Gilbert in tow, I made my way back to my office.