The Punishment Delivered to the Spanberg House
So, what does the Chancellor want with me...?
To think my first visit to the Royal Capital in this life would happen like this.
The ropes binding us had been removed, and we were placed in a proper carriage as we made our way to the Royal Capital. Well, the carriage was still surrounded by knights, so the oppressive atmosphere hadn’t changed much.
Still, it was currently nighttime.
The capital had streetlamps, but there were barely any people out on the roads.
“Do you think they’re being considerate of us?”
“Yes, probably. If we arrived during the day, people would surely stare at us with curiosity.”
Inside the carriage, both Zeke and Tiffany were fast asleep. They’d even lent us warm blankets, and I could feel the division commander’s thoughtfulness.
Just like that, we entered the castle grounds, and we were told to spend the night in a detached building in one corner of the royal palace.
But then, only I was summoned elsewhere.
Escorted by a knight, I headed toward the Chancellor’s office.
W-What could the Chancellor possibly want with me...?
Sitting behind the desk in the office was an elderly man around his sixties. But his sharp features made him seem very much active and capable.
“You must be tired from the long journey. My apologies for calling you here so late at night.”
His voice was deep, carrying the pressure of long years of experience.
And yet, somehow, it didn’t sound unpleasant.
“No. I was allowed to ride in an extremely comfortable carriage, so I don’t feel that tired. I’m grateful for the division commander-sama’s consideration.”
That was a slight lie. Just sitting for long periods still made me tired.
But my gratitude was genuine.
“Grateful, hmm. Heh. Considering your current position, I would not expect words like gratitude to come out.”
“My position? I haven’t done anything wrong, so there’s no need for me to worry about my position.”
“Hoh.. F-Fufu. Hahahahaha!”
H-He laughed at me?
W-What is with this old man?
“Phew, forgive me, forgive me. You are quite a composed young man. No... perhaps I should say well-brought-up. Otherwise, this would be a problem.”
“U-Umm... what do you mean by that?”
“That is our own matter. Pay it no mind.”
Even if you say that...
“Now then, Dermont. I hear you were born with magic.”
“Y-Yes...”
And now we’re talking about alchemy magic.
The other party is the Chancellor of this kingdom.
N-No way... in exchange for smoothing over this incident, he wants to use my alchemy magic for some evil scheme… no, that’s not it.
Yeah. I’ve been influenced too much by weird dramas and manga.
This Chancellor doesn’t give off evil magistrate vibes at all.
If anything, he’s more like a Mito Komon type who absolutely cannot tolerate corruption.
“That magic of yours is alchemy, correct?”
“... Yes.”
Right? He’s not an evil magistrate, right?
“You can only perform alchemy on wood, is that correct?”
“Yes. Only wood.”
Mito Komon. Please be Mito Komon.
“Truly, only wood?”
Ghk. Is he actually an evil magistrate?
Silence lingered between us. I needed to answer quickly or I’d only look more suspicious.
But under that piercing gaze, I felt like any lie would instantly be seen through, and I couldn’t answer.
“Hm. I suppose that is your answer.”
“C-Chancellor-sama! Um…”
“You can only perform alchemy on wood. Correct?”
“... Eh?”
I thought the Chancellor smiled ever so slightly.
Not a nasty smile. It somehow looked gentle.
“U-Um... what do you mean by that? Chancellor-sama, do you know about alchemy magic…”
“I asked, ‘Only wood?’ And you answered, ‘Yes.’ That is all, is it not?”
Well, yes, but... huh? This person probes for information, then pretends not to know anything?
“You may return now. Tomorrow will likely be a busy day, so get some proper rest tonight.”
“Umm... what will happen to us?”
The words slipped out before I realized it.
But somehow, it felt like this was someone I could ask.
“Hmm... the fact remains that the necklace belonging to Hohenberg Marquis’s wife was found in your room. Therefore, no matter what testimony exists, it will be difficult to pursue the true culprit.”
H-He said true culprit. So he knows there’s another culprit!?
At the same time, I realized again just how difficult it would be to prove I wasn’t the culprit.
“Well, do not worry so much. I shall prepare a place where you can make full use of that magic of yours.”
“Eh...? M-My alchemy magic?”
H-Huh? Wait, am I actually getting used by an evil magistrate after all?
The next day arrived with me still full of anxiety.
Our entire family was escorted into the audience chamber.
And naturally, the person seated there was the king of the Olfonse Kingdom himself.
“Dermont Spanberg. You stole the emerald necklace belonging to the Marchioness of House Hohenberg. Is that correct?”
“No. I did not steal the Marchioness’s necklace.”
It was already decided that I’d be saddled with a false accusation.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll admit to it!
“I see. Then…”
“How disgraceful! Even at this stage, you still persist in your lies before His Majesty!”
The one who shouted was my bastard uncle.
He was probably afraid that if they questioned me too deeply, Landfas’s name would come up.
“Your Majesty. Though he is an insolent nephew, he is still beloved family. Please, I beg of you, leave the punishment of my younger brother’s family to m…”
DONG.
A heavy sound echoed through the audience chamber.
The king had slammed the staff in his hand against the floor.
“Silence!”
“Eek!”
“The Hohenberg Marquis has personally reported this matter directly to me! Judging from the circumstances, it is premature to conclude that Baron Dermont’s son is the culprit!”
“B-But the necklace…!”
“I said silence, Count Spanberg. Or is there perhaps some reason why your nephew must be the culprit?”
“T-That... there is n-none...”
Could it be His Majesty knows Landfas is the culprit?
He knows, but because the physical evidence ended up pointing at me, he has no choice but to proceed like this.
There were many nobles gathered in the audience chamber, which meant this matter had already spread throughout society.
Our baron house was generally well-liked, but not by everyone.
Some nobles envied us because we’d discovered a gold mine.
Those sorts of houses had probably spread this incident around gleefully.
“It is premature to conclude that Baron Dermont’s son is the culprit. However, since physical evidence has been found, we have no choice for the time being but to regard Dermont as the culprit.”
Hearing that, a twisted grin spread across my bastard uncle’s face. Beside him, the elderly woman, my step-grandmother, smirked as well.
Seriously, what a rotten parent and child pair.
And hey, Landfas. Stop making faces and celebrating. You’re still under suspicion too, you know.
“We have also received a plea for leniency from House Hohenberg.”
The audience chamber stirred noisily.
Well, naturally. The victim was asking for mercy toward the accused.
The marquis believed Landfas was the culprit, not me, and he’d also been told that my bastard uncle had visited the day before the knights came barging in.
He must’ve realized the necklace had been hidden in my room at that time. Of course he’d ask for leniency.
“Taking all of this into account, I shall now deliver the punishment for this incident upon House Spanberg. Baron Spanberg.”
“Y-Yes.”
“You and your family shall head to the southern frontier region of Zenas.”
“Yes, we humbly accept the puni… eh?”
T-To the frontier...? Go there?
W-Wait, what does that mean?
What do you think about this chapter?
