The Duchess of the Attic

57. Inquisition

Those who were sitting back at the same time as the door was opened - the Opals stood up.

Then Alessandro lowers his hips to the throne on the stage and keeps his head down until he has a signal.

"I don't care if you all take it easy."

I can hear you exhale in that one word.

So much so that this occasion was surrounded by tension.

That was a lie.

Alessandro, who usually feels familiar, was now even intimidating to get close.

This is the king's style and I can't help but be afraid.

"We shall now begin the interrogation concerning this treason against His Majesty the King. Please take your seats."

As Lord Barba's voice, the chairman of the House of Lords, lowered his back to the signal, Opal turned his attention to the Tullies.

Neither Teuri nor Marquis Bapot remain unchanging and they don't think anything about the confusion they caused frightened people.

Opal was annoyed by that.

When Opal and his men returned to the king's capital, their faces were full of darkness and anxiety as they lived unchanged lives.

That's Claude's - I looked at the carriage with the family crest of the Marquis Roussel's house and it glistened all the time, and I waved through the window and I cheered.

Claude said it was just a decoration, even if it was considered a hero in the civil unrest ahead, but I can see from the reaction of the city folks that it's not.

(I don't know how far the rumors were spreading to the people in the city, but I need to get this done right here today and reassure them that it's okay now)

Though the rebel uprising ended in failure, the people of the king's capital actually see many soldiers.

I'm sure rumors were also circulated that Claude was murdered by a burglar, and there was no way he wouldn't be anxious.

I guess that's why everyone was so happy and even tearful.

"- Please wait. I have also heard of the insurgency's whereabouts, to which Sir Barba has been mentioned earlier. Excuse the late Duke of Botzeli. I am also very angry at those who have made the former Duke and, out of their thoughts, have again laid their swords upon His Majesty. And why is it that you're being held in such captivity until me and humiliated in front of everyone? I want you to start by explaining that."

As Sir Barba briefly explained how this was going, Marquis Bapot suddenly raised his voice and blocked it.

Everyone is surprised by the Marquis' unscrupulous disrespect, and the blurring spreads.

"Marquis Bapot, you're being disrespectful to His Majesty."

"It must be because it is in front of His Majesty. This is a matter of honor to my - my Marquis family. Let's forgive the Kingsguards for suddenly pushing us into the mansion this morning and even detaining me and my son Tulli for something we don't remember. You're going to get an apology soon that it was a misunderstanding. But I cannot bear to be raised in front of everyone in this way for an unspeakable sin. I'd like to ask you first why me and Tulli are guilty of tremendous treason."

"If you'll excuse me, I've explained it properly...... Your Majesty, may I then answer the Marquis' question?

"- Forgive"

"Thank you"

Lord Barba blurred as blurred, but obtained permission from Alessandro.

As soon as possible, the hall is surrounded by silence.

Everyone has similar questions to the Marquis and wants to know the answer to them.

"It was the gold produced from the lead mine on the territory of the Duke of Botzeri that became the source of funding for this rebel movement. It was Cole who stood there managing that mine. Connally, who also served the former Duke of Botzeri and still presided over the administration of the Duke's territory, stands next door. In the last four years since the death of the former Duke, it was Marquis Bapot who was giving them instructions, wasn't it?

"I don't know. I've never seen them."

"No! Didn't you instruct me how to smuggle gold! You're cowardly!

"Who are you talking to?"

"Oh, yes, no..."

Marquis Bapot cast a chilling, harsh gaze at Cole, who happened to raise his voice.

Cole shrinks in fright.

Connally was unwilling to fight from the beginning or remained silent.

"That's crazy...... The Marquis was close to the former Duke of Botzelli, wasn't he? And he seemed to have taken to the Duke's land many times, but he said he'd never even seen Connally?

"I don't even remember the servant's face. Do you think I'm involved in this kind of felony because I was close to the former Duke? My son, Theuri, has sworn allegiance to His Majesty ever since the civil unrest ahead, and has fought with Lucell there, right?

Marquis Bapot seeped his anger at Sir Barba, who was in a clouded condition.

Tulli on the subject never sees Claude, neither speaks of anything.

Opal was also quietly watching what happened again.

"You can take as much as you want to testify, Marquis. Neither do they, but the people you're with have testified that the Marquis is the mastermind of this commotion. Most of the rebels who had recently marched around Wang Capital were private soldiers, but it seems the Marquis was spending the maintenance costs on the soldiers."

"Ridiculous. Did such testimony alone determine me as the mastermind? Such a thing, you'll be able to match your mouth as much as you want to impersonate sin!

The Marquis broadened his hands wide with an acting trick, staring and holding the nobles in captivity together.

The nobles turn away from the Marquis with a pale face, unchanged.

"Indeed, testimony alone does not forgive. So we were pretty distressed trying to get physical evidence. You are a very cautious man. In the civil unrest ahead, he never showed his tail while countering his majesty under the water, and on the contrary, he sent his son Viscount Amadi to his majesty. Either way, make sure it works."

"Rude! I wanted to help His Majesty on my own!

"That's splendid. So why did you want to be on your side, Your Majesty?

"Hey, why? Is there a reason for that?

Sir Barba's words were bitten by Tulli, who had remained silent until then.

But Sir Barba is responding pale.

I didn't know much about Sir Barba, but Opal was impressed that His Majesty had just appointed him Speaker.

"Where is the will of Viscount Amadi? It just seems to me that a bloody young man just wanted to adventure against his parents for a bit. It just seemed to be rolling well in my parents' palms again, too -"

"I won't allow you to fool my brother any more!

Erik broke into Sir Barba's words in an angry manner.

On the contrary, they are actually being held back by the Kingsguard knights in an attempt to pack it up.

Still, Sir Barba did not look like he had moved, and continued to question Tulli.

"Then Viscount Amadi. If you are supported by His Majesty, why, this time, call the Duke of Botzelli - in this context, the Marquis of Roussel. So, why did you let the Marquis Roussel attack the burglar and take his life?