Chapter 333
âYour Majesty the Emperor, it is true that they caused a so-called âdisturbanceâ.â
A group action had occurred in the capital, which was under the Imperial Familyâs direct rule.
Moreover, they had swarmed in while targeting a noble, so it was an easy situation to frame as a riot.
Which meant Rebecca wasnât smiling triumphantly for no reason.
But Nina wasnât particularly nervous.
Rebecca must have been pleased, thinking she had found something to trip Nina up with, but pitifully enough, that was a trap Rebecca had set up for herself.
From the moment Marquis Belmore submitted the petition, His Majesty the Emperor must have had a rough idea that an incident would occur in the slums.
âBut they were not rioters to begin with, so there was no reason to suppress them.â
âExplain why you judged it so.â
âThey merely gathered because of an absurd rumor circulating in society. There was a brief commotion, but they were people who had come seeking help, just like those gathered in the square.â
âAn absurd rumor circulating in societyâŚ?â
âThey said they heard a rumor that I had promised to grant them any wish.â
Well⌠Fields, cows, money, and so on.
They had demanded donations at a ridiculous level, but in any case, it was true, wasnât it?
âThen are you saying they did not commit robbery?â
âYes, Your Majesty. They were simply people who came looking for me after believing the rumor. They were by no means people who moved to ruin the event.â
It had not been a riot to begin with.
They had not plotted an uprising and acted as a group, but had only gathered after hearing a rumor and thinking perhaps it might be true.
âHm.â
The Emperor fell silent for a moment, as if lost in thought.
At a glance, it seemed as though he was weighing which sideâs opinion was more persuasive, but that was only an act.
Whose side the Emperor would take had already been decided.
Putting aside the fact that the Emperor had guessed this sort of situation might occur, wasnât he already keeping the Minister of Finance and House Nord in check?
There was no way he would side with Rebecca while investigating the Minister of Financeâs relationship with Marquis Dunklin, and the corruption of House Nord.
âOf course, that isnât all Iâm relying on.â
Nina opened her mouth in an unwavering voice.
âYour Majesty the Emperor, how could those who bowed toward the Imperial Palace and praised Your Majestyâs benevolent and wise reign be called rioters?â
The Imperial command that had arrived just in time.
The praise for the Emperor had spread like a wave because of it.
There was no clearer evidence than that.
At the decisive blow that came at just the right moment, the Emperor sided with Nina, just as expected.
âIndeed, Duchess Bayern is right. How could those who praise and worship me be rioters?â
The people also nodded.
No matter how docile(?) she had become, there was no way âthatâ Duchess Bayern would release those who had threatened her, was there?
âNow that I have the advantage, itâs time to strike Rebecca down.â
Ninaâs cold gaze fixed on Rebecca, who was biting her lip with a stiff expression.
âI can hear the sound of you racking your brain all the way over here, trying to overturn His Majestyâs decision.â
But could she really overturn it?
No, more than that, she would be better off worrying about her own safety first.
âI would rather ask you this, Duchess Nord. What was your intention in threatening with swords those who were bowing toward the Imperial Family?â
She had pointed swords at those who praised the Imperial Family.
And she was none other than the Minister of Financeâs granddaughter.
This fact would become a powerful weapon that could pressure not only House Nord, but even the Minister of Finance.
And there was no way the Emperor would miss such a good opportunity.
When the messenger who had been present at the time testified that it was true, the Emperor spoke with eyes full of anger.
âTo threaten the people who speak of me in good light is no different from denying the dignity of the Imperial Family. This is a matter that deserves to be dealt with by severe punishment.â
Rebecca shouted as if in a fit, her face gone white.
âY-Your Majesty, there were more than a few people who witnessed them using violence and causing trouble!â
This was not a matter that would end with a light reprimand.
It was a problem that could shake not only her own position, but House Nord, and perhaps even her grandfatherâs position.
âYou must not exaggerate a petty quarrel that broke out in the middle of it into a riot. A riot on the land of His Majesty, who is renowned for his benevolent rule, how could such a thing make sense?â
Nina curved her eyes at Rebecca, who was glaring at her as if she wanted to kill her.
To refute that would be the same as pointing out that there was a flaw in the Emperorâs reign.
âYour Majesty, may I dare say something?â
At that moment, Marquis Crewe, unable to keep watching his foolish granddaughterâs conduct, stepped forward.
His expression was stiff as a stone statue, and his skin had turned dark red.
It was possible to intuitively tell just how furious Marquis Crewe was at this situation.
