Tearmoon Empire Story

Episode 121: Theon's Decision 1: The Inquisition to Eshar

Eschar, I will bring you to justice.

Eshar raised his face to that voice. Looking straight at the face, Theon said.

"What you did... you poisoned the king is never forgiven. But the Duchess of Yellow Moon proved it. I was wondering if you had no intention of killing. I wonder if they didn't know it was poison. I... I want to hear it directly from your mouth. Eschar, is that true?

In a pointy question, Eshal... shakes his head small.

"Nothing to say... from my mouth"

He just shuts his mouth.

That's young... immature cowardice.

Speaking the truth on this occasion is an excuse for "saving yourself”. The situation shuts his mouth.

Eshar... wanted to be tried.

He wanted to be judged as a prince of a nation that values justice. For the first time in my life, I even thought that I would be recognized as a prince of Sankland.

In order to save myself, there must not be anything in the sanctity of Sankland that leaves a stain on immutable justice... and such a person is not a prince of Sankland... that's what I thought.

It was certainly an eshar's cowardice... ego.

Theon won't forgive it.

"If there is one who has poisoned you and abetted you, what you say is that he will flee. The result could be further sacrifices. Still, do you defend that cowardice? That... cannot be said to be the cowardice of those who become kings."

The word cast on Eshar, it was a word that Zion himself, who had once been challenged to fail, faced.

He failed in the Kingdom of Lemno.

When Sion found himself in a situation where it was shame not to be judged, Sion wanted to be judged.

Theon thought it would be easier for Abel to slay him with a sword on the spot... and that's what he deserved to be responsible for talking about justice.

However, the empire's wisdom meer did not make it good, but carved the failure into his heart and lived in shame, and shocked Zion's emotions.

And then he pointed out what to do.

Theon is still ashamed.

I am not qualified to speak of "justice" or "justice". All I'm ashamed of is how I can say things.

Still, he had to tell Eschar.

Just being silent and doing nothing is also not justice...

Keep your mouth shut and run for nothing.

Then it's not for Eschar. That's not the way Meer showed me.

You have to do what you have to do. But the right thing to do... what is the right thing to do now...?

What is a king...?

While asking himself, Theon spins words.

"Oniisama..."

After Sion's words, Eshar... looked like she was about to cry. He lay face down... and started talking.

"Thank you very much. I don't know if you believe me... but I did get that medicine from a stranger in the open market. It was taught to cause mild abdominal pain."

Eshar's voice trembles and scatters... In the face of an ageless boy whose prince's mask fell off, he said.

"It was a rough thing... now I think. Brother Theon... Without checking the effect, I tried to make Cyon drink it... I... don't really know. Why on earth did you do such a thing..."

As confused as he was, Eshar snapped.

"I... I've always felt sorry for myself, like Brother Theon. That's... I can't remember... That's when the medicine came into my eyes. That's a whisper. It's okay, so let me drink it... If you show him a little painful eyes, he'll refresh himself... I lost the temptation."

So Eshar lowered his head.

"I'll take care of all the rest. Fair judgment so as not to impinge on the justice of Saint Krander....."

After that, after showing you a little trouble...

"Besides, the person who gave me the poison looked like a horseback rider... somewhere different. That was the impression. I didn't feel like I was just dressed up... a little different from the horseback rider I know..."

After tilting his neck a little, Eschar said.

"I don't know what to say....."

"I wonder if it smells...

Suddenly, I heard a voice from the side. I saw Raffina staring with serious eyes.

"Is that a smell?

"Yes. I've heard horsemen in the Kingdom wear special fragrance oils to keep their horses safe from (...) seed (...) meat (...) food (...) beasts (...). I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't noticed, but maybe the man wasn't following it."

According to Raffina, Eshal leans her neck.

"Yes... Yeah, maybe so..."

Seeing Eshar nodding small, Theon opened his mouth.

"Eshar... I've been very honest with you."

Eshar corrects his attitude to the words.

"As you said, what you have done is never forgiven. A felony causing confusion in the country, and if my father had died, he would not have escaped capital punishment. Even if you're saved, leaving it unpunished can undermine fairness."

The fairness of Sankland is pure white.

It doesn't even tolerate a single spot. It is not acceptable to leave sin as it is, because it is even white and pure. The judgment must be given.

"But I heard Raffina's thoughts, and I heard Meer's words. Having heard all of this I think that Meer is right to grant you a respite from punishment."

It was a complete agreement with Meer's opinion.

"Grace... but, Brother Theon..."

"It's just a respite. It does not absolve me of sin."

Theon made a promise.

"And until that grace period is over, the information that Eschar was involved in this affair will lie down."

"But is that going to convince everyone?

Theon laughed at the anxious prime minister.

"The culprit is one of those who took the raven by hand. That way, you can secretly surround the party hall and mix the poison."

Theon identifies the killer as a serpent of chaos. Rather, that's how I'm going to handle this.

And that's all I can do about it.

Because Theon can't imitate unrelated humans as scapegoats.

"But...."

And here, Theon had a difficult face.

"We can't let Eschar stay in Sankland like this. Therefore, I will let you out of the country."

In the unlikely event that a snake makes contact, it is difficult to maintain a "respite" in Sankland. If there is a call for a rigorous trial, we will have to listen to it.

It is also very difficult to "earn merit and buy sin" in Japan. Although he is a prince, it is not difficult to achieve merit in Japan.

But I'm probably not convinced of Eschar either.

What Theon wants is Eshar's growth. To do that, he thought it would be better to let him go far away.

Of course, if there is a country that can be trusted, it is a big premise.

If you succeed, take Eshar to another country, which could be a weakness of Sankland. Corresponding danger is natural. Under Raffina in the Principality of Verga, or...

"Then my Green Moon family will take on that role."

So I heard a voice from an unexpected direction.

Emeralda Etois Green Moon finally said his turn had come.

"No, but...."

And for a moment, Emeralda smiled as if she had won.

"Oh, Lord Theon. I'm Lord Eshar's fiancée, right? I think you deserve it, but....."

"No, Miss Emeralda, I don't want to talk about this relationship anymore..."

It was Rampron who summarized this conversation to show how he panicked. In contrast, Emeralda shook her head with a smile on her face.

"Oh? Uncle Lampron, are you ashamed of me? Is that all you can do to make a big announcement in front of everybody, but there's no way you can do something that hasn't happened yet?

That's not what I was told. Originally, Emeralda was bothered by Sankland's negligence, and there was nothing to complain about.

"Fortunately, my Green Moon family has a foreign helper. The nobles of Sankland are as close to each other as Count Rampron."

Emeralda looks at the queen and smiles gently.

"It's easy to visit your family and it's a great environment to spread your knowledge."

"Well... Mr. Emeralda"

When I saw the queen showing her impressive appearance, she said, "Emeralda-san, you're doing quite well..."

Besides, Theon remembered what happened in summer.

I went out to the Gallerian Sea on a ship owned by House Green Moon.... That experience was certainly valuable. Perhaps it would be better for Eschar to look at the world and widen his horizons.

Theon set eyes on his father and mother, and turned his face toward Emeralda.

"Well... please. Say hello to my brother."

Then, seeing Cyon lowering her head, Meer sighed with relief.

--Phew, this is going to work. Even here, I hope Emeralda-san gets his good-looking fiancée and can take him home... However, the wedding may be difficult because we have to make a name for coming to the Empire and we have to tell the Duke of Green Moon the real situation...

And... and Meer turned to Eshar.

― ― Eshar's feelings toward Zion have not been resolved. Rather, this kind of warmth is driving him away more and more...

Though I thought so... nonetheless... Meer thought so.

Problem solved! and.

This is the end of your turn! and....

I was alarmed. I was totally out of my mind.

But....

"Ah, let's do one thing... There was something I had to keep in mind... Can you bring Prince Abel here?

Theon said unexpectedly.

- What are you doing? Why did you call Abel?

Theon laughed in front of Meer tilting her neck.

Eschar, there's something I want to show you.