Chapter 330
“Madam, the situation is becoming serious. Please leave while we hold them back.”
“Wait just a moment.”
“His Grace strictly ordered us to protect your safety thoroughly. You must move.”
“Just a moment. If it seems dangerous, I’ll withdraw on my own, so please wait just a moment.”
This was no time for this.
At the words of the knights, who were staying alert to their surroundings with sharp tension, Nina signaled to Catherine with her eyes.
Catherine nodded, then signaled somewhere.
“…Stop! Stop! Everyone, stop!”
Then, from within the chaos, a booming voice burst out as though someone had turned on a loudspeaker.
“Have you all gone mad? Before whom do you think you’re fighting like this!”
Perhaps startled by the thunderous shout, the people briefly lost their momentum.
In that opening, those mixed in with the crowd pulled apart the people who had been tangled together and fighting.
“Now, now, everyone, don’t fight, and calm down for a moment.”
Then the people who had been throwing punches huffed angrily.
“Do we look like we can calm down right now? That bastard cut in line!”
“I have three dependents! My children’s livelihood is at stake, so if my family starves to death, will you take responsibility? Huh?”
When the commotion showed signs of starting again, the loud-voiced ones each chimed in like plants in the crowd.
“Common sense says, does it make any sense to hand out fields or cows?”
“That’s right! Dividing land among this many people, is that even possible?”
“But didn’t a rumor spread that the Duchess was giving out money?”
“Who did you hear that from?”
“Come to think of it, who first brought up that story?”
“…W-Well?”
As the commotion gradually died down, Nina let out a sigh of relief.
‘As expected, it was a good thing I used loud-voiced people as plants.’
The ones who broke up the fight and acted as plants were reporters from the Barrington Newspaper and the people they had hired.
When the situation seemed to settle to some extent, Nina asked the knights to relay her words to the people.
Her throat, which had been overworked until morning, wasn’t in good condition for her to speak directly.
“Duchess Bayern says that the rumors circulating in society are not true, but she has prepared something so that you may become self-sufficient, so do not make a disturbance and keep order!”
The guard knight announced Nina’s words exactly in a loud voice.
“Madam, I did as you said, but have you truly prepared something?”
The guard knight asked with a worried expression.
He knew that all Nina had done was talk with Catherine every day.
Looking around at the gradually settling surroundings, Nina smiled meaningfully.
“Surely you don’t think I said that for no reason?”
Nina turned her head at the metallic sound coming from afar.
Soldiers who had received an ‘Imperial command’ were approaching.
“W-What is this? Are we in big trouble?”
When the frightened people turned toward the other side at the soldiers’ appearance, several knights suddenly drew their swords and blocked their path.
‘Rebecca?’
Nina furrowed her brow at the sudden intrusion of House Nord’s knights.
It looked as though they were trying to stop them from fleeing.
When she glanced aside, the faces of the poor had turned blue.
Behind them were Imperial soldiers, and in front of them were the knights of House Nord, blocking them with drawn swords.
While the poor were trapped with nowhere to go.
Rebecca, who was standing behind a guard knight, shouted loudly as if for the soldiers to hear.
“How dare you try to flee after ruining an Imperial event and starting a riot. All of you, kneel!”
“A-A riot? How would we dare…!”
“You threatened honored guests who came here carrying out His Majesty’s will, and yet you shamelessly deny it. Do you not fear the Imperial Family?”
Nina let out a hollow laugh as she looked at Rebecca, who had barged in as if this were her chance.
She seemed to understand what Rebecca was aiming for.
“Duchess Nord, a riot? These are merely uninformed and pitiful people who came seeking the Imperial Family’s warmth, so please withdraw your suspicion.”
To accuse them of being rioters.
If one started a riot in the capital, they would receive punishment equivalent to treason.
Execution.
That was how grave the crime was.
Rebecca was surely planning to turn them into rioters and receive praise for her achievement from His Majesty the Emperor.
