Chapter 41

“You’re drawing conclusions just from hearing words? Well, it’s not my place to say, but isn’t that a bit hasty?”

“No, this is enough.”

As I tried to suppress my anger, my face turning red and blue, the Emperor cautiously asked.

To be honest, he was right. Objectively speaking, the information and arguments I had gathered so far were somewhat insufficient to be certain.

Even the story I heard during my private audience with the Emperor was just a more detailed version of Commander Leclerc’s testimony, and it didn’t reveal anything new.

Even if Louis XVI and his ministers were conspiring to deceive us, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

Yet, I could judge what the truth was without hesitation. Thanks to two circumstantial pieces of evidence I had witnessed so far.

“There’s no reason for you to tarnish your own child’s honor just to deceive me, is there?”

First of all, this war was started by a monarch enraged because the Crown Prince attempted to assault the Imperial Princess.

While it’s a ridiculous yet somewhat understandable casus belli, there’s a critical flaw in this reasoning.

This would tarnish the Second Imperial Princess’s reputation as ‘a princess who was violated.’

This world is a medieval fantasy world. Technologically and politically, it’s closer to the early modern era, but still. People’s moral compass and common sense are stuck in the past.

But if such a title were attached to her, what do you think would happen to her life?

‘Her life as a royal would essentially be over.’

They probably explained it as an ‘impolite act’ or ‘diplomatic violence’ to avoid using the term ‘assault,’ but with witnesses, the testimony would inevitably spread.

Many among the Empire’s nobility likely already know the truth of that day. Even if they don’t openly talk about it due to fear of the royal family, they would have spread rumors among themselves.

Even if she wasn’t actually assaulted, it wouldn’t matter. The way people see her would be no different from someone who was violated. She’d be seen as a tainted woman, unfit for anything.

‘She wouldn’t be able to marry strategically or attend social gatherings. She’d have to spend the rest of her life quietly in a convent.’

No matter how much the Emperor favors her, finding a good marriage would be forever out of the question.

Wherever she goes, whispers would follow, and potential suitors wouldn’t see her as a suitable partner to bear heirs.

In a class-based society, losing one’s purity is a curse of the highest order for upper-class women.

Of course, there are plenty of women who pretend to be pure while secretly fooling around… but they at least haven’t been publicly exposed.

What matters is the outward impression and reputation.

And once the title of ‘non-virgin’ is officially stamped on her by the state, the Second Imperial Princess could never reclaim her former honor.

“I met and spoke with the Empire’s commoners on my way here. It seems they’ve all heard about what happened in the palace, at least vaguely.”

“…..Indeed. We used it as propaganda to encourage active participation in the war.”

“Though we’ve just met, it doesn’t seem to me that Your Majesty would deliberately ruin your child’s future just to create a casus belli for war. Surely you wouldn’t fabricate something that never happened.”

In fact, the Empire had spread this news nationwide to boost morale. Even in the most remote villages, there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of it.

While it’s understandable as a wartime necessity, it completely ruined the innocent royal’s future.

Louis XVI wasn’t the type to stage such a farce. He might exploit an existing event, but he wasn’t cold-blooded enough to fabricate one from scratch.

“If it were fake, someone would have come forward to expose it by now.”

Moreover, if it were truly a fabricated casus belli? Then at least once in the past ten years, someone should have tried to reveal the truth.

Even if the Emperor had meticulously prepared this scheme, there would have been internal backlash for ruining an innocent person’s life.

The Kingdom has captured thousands of high-ranking prisoners over the years. It’s highly likely they would have noticed and launched a massive propaganda campaign.

“And.”

“Hmm?”

“Your country’s royal family isn’t intelligent enough to brazenly commit such madness. If the father sacrificed an entire front for a mere head ornament, it’s not surprising that the son would assault a foreign royal out of lust.”

“…..That’s a strangely persuasive argument.”

Secondly, judging by the Crown Prince’s self-control and morality, our King’s track record was utterly abysmal.

What kind of nonsense has Karl VII been up to? Ever since the war started, he’s been manipulated by the nobility, squeezing the lifeblood out of the commoners.

While soldiers were dying on the front lines, he wasted his days with banquets and drinking parties. Far from being the nation’s pillar, he became its burden.

And that’s not all. He ordered the abandonment and full retreat of the Northern Front just so the Queen could buy expensive jewelry for a social event. That’s why our Northern Army got fed up and turned into the Revolutionary Army.

And even after that, he tried to reclaim power by making deals with the clergy, only to be caught by me and reduced to a puppet.

He’s never shown anything worthy of a king. Not rarely, but never.

‘Like father, like son. If the seed is rotten, the fruit can’t be healthy.’

In this world, genetics play a stronger role than on Earth. The presence of mana in the body makes it easier for parental traits to manifest in their offspring.

The inherited traits more clearly affect both the mind and body.

But if the father is a brainless idiot and the mother is a selfish bitch who doesn’t care about the country as long as she gets her luxuries?

It’s hard to believe that a child inheriting such traits would turn out fine. No matter how impressive the exterior, there’s bound to be something wrong inside.

‘Come to think of it, didn’t Lady Arshah complain that the Crown Prince kept neglecting his wife and pursuing her?’

Recalling it now, there’s already a track record. At this point, it’s safe to say he’s been field-tested.

“Thank you for the detailed explanation, Your Majesty. It was very helpful.”

Having organized my thoughts, I stood up from the sofa and bowed respectfully. I wanted to express my gratitude for giving me the confidence I had been lacking.

“The information you’ve provided will be put to good use when I return. It will certainly benefit our country as well.”

“If you’re going to purge the Crown Prince, why not send him to us instead of killing him? I’d like to personally avenge my daughter’s humiliation.”

“I’ll do my best to show leniency. But don’t expect him to arrive with all his limbs intact.”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t give a definitive answer. It’s likely he’ll lose a limb or two, maybe even an eye, during the punishment.

Honestly, when I return to the Kingdom and face those who ruined my life and the lives of my people…

I’m not sure if I can keep my cool.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, at the Kingdom’s negotiation delegation’s quarters.

“Damn it. We’ve finally arrived here.”

“We should have found a way to turn back midway… Maybe we should have caused a carriage accident or something.”

“There was no opportunity. There were too many eyes watching. Now our fate hangs by a thread.”

The negotiation delegates sent by the Noble Faction gathered in a somber atmosphere.

They had finally arrived. To the land they hoped no citizen of the Kingdom would ever set foot in before the war ended. To the country where the shameful secrets the Kingdom’s rulers desperately tried to hide were buried.

The thought that the very thing they had to prevent at all costs had happened left them in a state of gloom.

“Has Vice-Chairman Roytel not returned yet?”

“The Emperor personally summoned him for a private audience. It’ll be a while before he returns.”

The meeting between the Kingdom’s de facto powerholder and the Empire’s highest authority. No one was unaware of what that implied.

Especially since they had noticed what Karolus von Roytel and his close associates had been focusing on recently.

“They won’t just discuss the armistice. As the conversation continues, surely…”

“That topic will come up. Why did the war start in the first place?”

Those selected to come here were among the more capable and influential within their faction.

They all knew what secrets the Blue Bloods had been hiding. They also knew the repercussions and the price they would have to pay if those secrets were exposed.

Losing power and wealth would be the least of their worries. The royal family and high nobility of the Kingdom could very well be wiped out entirely.

“We have to stop it. By any means necessary, we must prevent this information from reaching the Kingdom.”

“How? Once Roytel returns, he’ll spread the story everywhere.”

“We have no choice but to resort to drastic measures. Surviving the immediate crisis is the top priority.”

And so.

Those desperate to survive decided to stop at nothing.

“There’s much we can do, if we ignore the consequences that will follow.”

Even if it means ruining the Kingdom’s future.