Akuyaku Reijo Ni Koi Wo Shite

Maria notices Prince Arnold's eyes and approaches. Alone without asking Lancelot to accompany him.

Even though she is Lancelot's wife, Maria himself is in dignity. It's rude to be alone before the royal family, but he doesn't seem to care at all. She is smiling so happy.

Prince Arnold says nothing, because Mary's disrespect is not new. And I know it's rude and it's possible that I'm doing it on purpose. Prince Arnold has no intention of riding the provocation.

"It's been a long time. Your Crown Prince."

This wording is not that of the former Maria.

"Oh, when I meet for the first time in a long time, the wording will change a lot."

Prince Arnold pointed it straight out.

"I'm still a member of the Hou. I learned the etiquette from scratch."

In other words, it appeared on purpose alone. Maria's malice was clear. However, whether or not Mary is malicious, Prince Arnold's enmity remains the same.

"It looks like he's been active. I've heard a lot of rumors."

This is disgusting. Rumors from Lancelot's territory are all bad rumors. Many are attributed to Mary.

"I've finally helped. It's a shame that it wasn't for the Crown Prince."

Maria has nothing to worry about, including the dislike of Prince Arnold. I am not unaware. Maria's reply is a bit of a hate. I'm ironic that I didn't put my side.

"It's good to be overwhelmed, but what about forcing the lords?"

"I'm not overdoing it. All the nations benefit from the richness of their territory."

"Isn't one suffering in the shadow of the beneficiaries?"

"... I wonder if it's doing slavery? If so, the Crown Prince is so kind. I'm as much as I can think of the folk and I'm not very much a slave."

Slaves are not recognized as lords. In that sense, what Maria is saying is correct. The abuse of slaves has certainly made the nation easier.

"What can I say to slaves?"

"... I'm just saying, Your Crown Prince. What I'm doing is imitating those who have a close relationship with the Crown Prince."

Maria's tone changes to something crude. He was frustrated by Prince Arnold's criticism.

"Imitation?"

"Rion, wouldn't it be better to call him Frey? Isn't he also working with bandits as slaves?"

"I don't think it's any different. Rion didn't slave thieves in the first place. Forced labor was a punishment and he was free after the punishment."

The bandits were sinners, but were treated as lords by Rion. The territory is a criminal, whether it is a criminal. If you atone for it, you're done. This idea must have been influenced by the idea of a different world, but Maria does not seem to think the same way.

"Similar. Anyway, I make the people happy. This is true."

"At the expense of many. Is happiness at the expense of others really happy?"

"... A sweet idea. Well, that's good. Mr. Charlotte?"

"Charlotte doesn't appear in such places."

"Well? 正 Isn't it time to be a princess in the future, but to be a queen in the future?"

Maria knew information that should not have been made public. I dare say it to show off my power. It should be the power of Axmia, not Maria's personal power.

"... I'm not determined to be a Princess."

With a little hesitation, Prince Arnold spoke of the facts. He thought he knew that Charlotte had refused.

"So what is that Queen's seat going to do?"

"What to do?"

"It can't be ruled that we won't have a princess all the time, but not everyone is good. Queens of great powers should have the beauty and talent they deserve."

In other words, Maria says she is suitable. That's why I didn't come here with Lancelot.

"... I don't think we can judge whether appearance or abilities are justified, but it is clear that married people are not."

"... Ah, yes, that's a shame."

There is a slight, but disappointing color on Mary's face.

Prince Arnold denied the possibility of Mary becoming a princess, but convinced Prince Arnold that her reaction was not her misunderstanding.

"Are you serious? ..."

"I'm kidding, but I don't think Charlotte's queen is heavy."

"Charlotte doesn't want a queen's seat."

"Well, why did you get married? Or do you really want Charlotte to be the princess, but can't forgive the Crown Prince still not forgetting his thoughts as a student?"

"What did you say!?"

Prince Arnold was riding on Maria's provocation.

"Isn't it possible that bad rumors are flowing to the Crown Prince? て い る It's in my ears. His prince trapped his brother's wife in the Royal Palace ... and hurts!"

"Now?"

Prince Arnold was unable to endure Maria's insult and stood aside, but did nothing, but she shook her shin.

You can see at a glance why this happened. A small knight, short enough to reach Prince Arnold's waist, was standing in front of Mary, again holding a short imitation sword.

"... what are you doing!"

"Ohiki (punishment)"

Insufficient words are inaudible to Maria.

"... I heard you hit my shin!"

"Well, yachi, bad (bad guy, defeat)"

"I don't know what you're saying! Who is the parent of this child !? Apologize!"

If she complained about her child and it wasn't worthwhile, she shouted out to her parents. But no one answers Maria's question.

"... I can find it out even if I'm silent !? Give yourself fast !?"

"I am"

The answer finally came from a stranger to Maria. Prince Arnold crouches and strokes the child's head.

"Huh? Even if the child born was a princess?"

"Yes, Frau is a princess."

"……Lie?"

No wonder Maria is surprised. Frau is dressed as a child's outfit of the black knight uniform that Rion wore, and is not very visible to girls.

From the bottom of the straight bangs, with darkened black hair, a thick eyebrow is looking. A small nose and a mouth under the cheeky eyes that seem to be strong. The red cheeks are plump and always seem to be bulging.

This is a charming face, but I don't think she's a child between the very beautiful Prince Arnold and Charlotte. Real parents will have the same feelings even if they know Rion and Eriel.

If you feel the connection of blood, it's about crimson eyes. If you push hard, the shape of your eyes is like adding Rion and Eriel and dividing by two, but few people will notice this.

"Frau. Wouldn't it be nice to come out of this place?"

Prince Arnold speaks to Frau in a fatherly atmosphere. He has been acting as a parent for more than three years. My father is on the board.

"Garbage"

"I'm sorry. I don't omit the apology."

"Hmm"

Frau hated to apologize. This area is similar to Airiel when he was a child.

"Apologize to her. Even with play, it's not good to hit someone's shin with a sword."

“………”

Even so, the fluff is dissatisfied, further expanding the plump cheeks.

"Apologize properly"

"……garbage"

Prince Arnold was told twice, and Frau finally apologized to Maria ... maybe.

"I don't feel apologized."

"The words are still poor. Now I have to take the Frau to the back. Bad, I will raise it here. Oh, Keel. I want to hear more about the territory. Wait in the office, Lambert. A guide to the keel

"Hah"

On the excuse of Frau, Prince Arnold decided to drop from the ball. Things to be confirmed have been confirmed. There is no more use here. Rather, I wanted to talk about territory and other domestic situations, including keel. Especially, I want to tell Maria exactly.

With Afrau holding him, Prince Arnold left the venue. But the ball continues. Not a feast, but a plot.

◇◇◇

Frau was to be deposited at Eriel, just outside the venue. Prince Arnold thought that would happen. The young Frau alone cannot come out to the venue. I knew either Charlotte or Eriel were together. So, in either case, the answer lies in Frau's actions. Charlotte isn't his real mother, so he takes care of Frau too much and doesn't do that.

Certainly, the thought of what the girl, and the princess would do with such a toddler, also exists in Prince Arnold, but I did not say anything in this case because it was a bit of a disturbing event.

Frau's presence was a salvation as the country became nervous every day. Honestly Prince Prince Arnold does not want to leave Frau.

However, if you are swept away by such a personality, you may regret it later. That's how a sense of crisis was raised among Prince Arnold.

"I kept you waiting"

Not long after getting down from the ballroom. In fact, Keel and Lumbard have just arrived in the room. Nevertheless, Prince Arnold said that there was someone else waiting.

"No, I've just finished."

Charlotte was not at the venue.

"Now, tell me what you know."

"Yeah. It's almost as expected. All the rumors have disappeared from socializing. I've talked with a few people who have personal contacts, but they've lost contact. Saying "

Although not at the venue, Charlotte met some acquaintances. Because I had to investigate secretly.

"I see ... Did you get any specific testimony?"

"Unfortunately, I tried to contact a suspicious person but was declined. I don't know if I was willing or threatened."

"... not just situational evidence"

Prince Arnold, described by Charlotte, looks frustrated. The information you were looking for was not enough.

"The Crown Prince. What is this story?"

Even if it turns out to be disturbing, the keel has no idea.

"Continuing what I was talking about at the venue. One of the disturbing rumors about Mary."

"What did she do?"

Kiel is not completely unaware of Mary. But the keel's impression is selfish and conspicuous, but not dark. Maria and disturbing rumors are not yet tied in the keel.

"Imitation of Kamark, which is said to be the best red-light district in the east.

"Vile ..."

"Is it possible to call it a prostitute? There are rumors that a noble family's daughter who can no longer return debt makes a prostitute to make money."

"that is……"

That's a common story. There is also a noble whore of the fallen noble in Kamark, but Kiel has heard that it was also for debt repayment. Regardless of whether they are nobles or not, they become prostitutes because they are in trouble with their lives.

"I wouldn't be a problem if that was the case. Apparently, the debt was from Lancelot, and he was actively lending from Lancelot."

"Are you going to be a prostitute from the beginning?"

"Probably. The triggers are various. Among them, the worst thing, apart from the amount of money, is selling jewelry and dresses."

"To such a business?"

"It's in the form of introducing a merchant, but she's marketing Maria. That woman looks good. When she goes out to socializing with a rare dress and jewelry, she imitates it. Many women seem to want to do that. ''

There must have been a time when he was involved in his appearance, but Prince Arnold talked like another person. What I don't want to remember is that I'm killing me from memory.

"Do you borrow it?"

"Each one is unusually expensive. Let them buy it, saying it's okay to pay it later, and recommend the next product before the payment is over. This is the stack."

"It seems like there is a problem for the buyer ..."

That's exactly what Kiel says. There are problems for the buyer. But what Maria is doing is worse than Prince Arnold's story. They are driving their opponents into a situation where they have to buy one. At this stage Prince Arnold doesn't even know.

"I agree, but if you're intentionally debt-bearing to force a prostitute from the beginning, that's not acceptable."

"surely"

"And it seems likely that Maria's move isn't a personal matter. I don't know how she will be linked, but there are rumors that the Axmia princes are secretly preparing for war."

Prince Arnold's topic is getting bigger and bigger.

"... is such a thing allowed?"

"I can't forgive me, but there are rumors that I haven't got any solid evidence. I can't look it up because the intelligence is so thorough. There are rumors that quite a few former intelligence agents have flown."

"Is that so……"

Keel's reaction to Prince Arnold's eager explanation is slow. Even though he is a good commander, he is not good at politics or tactics. Of course, Prince Arnold knows this too. I called this place because I wanted to hear something else.

"I have something to ask there"

"what?"

"I want to know the power that Rion had.

This is the primary reason for calling Keel here.

"Is it the power that Lion had?"

"Rion would have had a power other than Bandeau. I don't know what it was. All he knew was that it was now the most lacking intelligence force in the kingdom."

Asking Kiel about this means that Eriel has not told Prince Arnold anything about the resist. It is the same for Sol and Venus. For Ariel, resist is the last resort. For Prince Arnold's betrayal of the King.

"... I don't know. There was a dubious person coming and going at Leon, but I heard he was a merchant."

Unfortunately for Prince Arnold, Keel is unaware of the existence of the resist.

"Where is the merchant?"

"One person is at Kamark. The current Kamark is something that the merchant created."

"Kamak ... Would you like to hear me when I return to Bandeau? And if the merchant is like ours, tell me you want to talk directly."

"I understand"

Prince Arnold's request has failed from the outset. The resist cannot reveal its identity without permission from Rion. And if you're against Prince Arnold, there's no chance. There are a lot of dark places behind the resist. It's a sneaky group of criminals no better than Maria.

◇◇◇

Maria, now completely enemies of Prince Arnold, has lifted the ball and is on her way home. The carriage also carries Countess Simon and Shelley, the daughter of Viscount Oakley, who were together at the ball. However, the atmosphere in the carriage is very different from that of the ballroom.

"Let me stop now"

Countess Simon is staring at Maria with a steep expression. This is completely different from the expression she had shown at the ball just before.

"What do you do to stop?"

There is no sign of being scared by Mary, even if she is stared.

"Praise vulgar things that have no value."

"Oh ?? But everyone who bought it is happy."

"It's because I believe in my lies!"

Speaking of connoisseurs and countless Countess Simon is a good thing, few people doubt it. In fact, if you're right, Countess Simon's reputation is too high to be confident in his eyes.

"Even so, it's bad for you. To deceive everyone."

"... because you threaten me"

"Don't say that people are bad. Hey, Sherry?"

"... I don't like it anymore. I don't want to fit people anymore."

Another Sherry is one threatened by Maria. The role of Sherry is Sakura. It's a way to encourage others to buy products recommended by Maria.

"Don't say it to me? I want to do terrible things to me."

Sherry is a classmate during her institution. And she is one of the schoolgirls who oppressed Mary. But threatened by this, Sherry is not following Mary.

"I apologized already."

"Yes. I apologized. But Sherry. It's not me, but your father."

"that is……"

"I won't return what I borrowed. Just ask me a little and I'm waiting for my repayment so I need to thank you."

Sherry follows Mary because she has so much debt that she can't return to her father. The same is true for Countess Simon. Maria had lent her money here and there in Lancelot to fund her recovery from monster damage and other debt repayments. In this way, those who are likely to be available are obeyed.

"... it's something my father managed to do"

"I've heard that line many times, but I'm okay. Sherry can quit."

"……Really?"

"Yeah, because I'll never see you anymore. Come on, get off the carriage."

If you notice, the carriage is stopped. In front of Sherry's house in a dark alley that is nothing.

"……What do you mean?"

Sherry's face is pale, feeling a disturbing atmosphere.

"I'm here to pick you up. I'll tell you that this is what your father knows. Poorly. She's sold to her real father."

"... u, lie"

Half is true and half is a lie. It is true that she offered her daughter to the House of Axmia for a new debt rather than debt repayment, but she does not expect it to be sold off. You may actually know, but you won't be doing that.

"go in!"

The door of the carriage opens shortly after Maria's voice. Standing there were ill-mannered men in a very mood. The men quickly arrest Sherry, who is stunned by the shock. When Sherry returned to her, her mouth was blocked and her entire body was shackled and unable to move.

"Every time"

"... Isn't it as skillful as ever?"

"Because it's work, and if you have the opportunity,"

The man tries to leave Sherry with no waste. As usual. But today, Maria did not allow it.

"Hey, what are you going to meet your boss this time?"

"Are you a general? I'm far away now for another job, so I think it's impossible."

"I'm fine when I come back. I want to talk once."

"... I tell you, but don't expect too much because you're a busy person, and I hate meeting people."

"I want to do it. I want to work with you more and more."

The man's organization is an independent organization that is neither owned by Maria nor by the Axmia lords. The relationship began with human trafficking, but Maria does not want to be a villain in the back society because she has a solid job performance and a lot of other work that she has asked for, so she wants to get involved with her thinking.

Maria strongly feels that there may be a need for a person who can do such dark work.

"... So we're done. That's where you'll be in trouble when you're in the eye."

"Eh, yeah"

After all, the man left without making any explicit promises. Although Maria is a bit dissatisfied, this caution is one of the reasons for buying men.

"... Maria, you"

"Countess of Simon. I'm still close with you. For each other."

"... yeah"

I was accompanied by Countess Simon to threaten me. The influence of the Countess, not Simon Simon's individual, is also valuable. It cannot be easily let go.

"I hope that guy just listens to me. Well, it's good. It's interesting to have that high pride man crawl on the floor and ask for forgiveness. I'll almost fulfill my wish. "

Forgetting that Countess Simon is right next to her, Maria is muttering disturbing lines. For four years since the end of the destruction of the demon, Maria was humiliated.

The grudge will soon clear. Preparations for that are steadily progressing.