#fakecinderella

Still, there is a feeling of security that is somewhat strange but reliable. It's really puzzling that this person was also a scholar with the title "Vera."

Thin golden hair, which is believed to be of those from the north... Many people in the north have silver or light gold hair. The color of their eyes are mostly light blue - the count's is also light blue.  

(The stranger thing [t/n: pun not intended] is that such a person is the leader of my knight escorts)

"Your Royal Highness, it is the schedule for your return to the royal capital."

On his knees, he handed it over with both hands.  

I received it.

"Thank you. I will be in your care."

His eyes widened and he looked somewhat surprised; he stared but immediately went out. Because it was sudden, everyone is busy preparing for our return.

After waking up, I usually only interacted with the maids, but after the incident I began to look closely at the knight escorts. It seems a person has been on the escort mission so as not to be very noticeable until now, but after the "falling incident" and the "attempted poisoning," it seems he can no longer stay that way.  

(Don't run away)

That person did not run back to the Imperial Palace, which seems to be safer than here.

The killing intent directed at me... I was clearly aware of it.

So far, I have not completely acknowledged the murderous intent. Although I was told that I was being targeted, it didn't feel real.

However, now it's different.  

(My enemy)

An enemy who is aiming for my life.

The fact that you are aiming for my life, it may not yet be known for sure.  

But now, I am clearly aware that I am in danger everyday.

I used to go to work, then from work to my home; sometimes I went to hang out or rant to my friends. It was a routine far away from worrying about dangers to my life.  

(Retaliation)

I am not a saint.

I’m not a cutesy character that starts to cry when I get tired.  

When you hit my right cheek, I would hit back. I know it's unwise, but I'm the type to fight back.  

Being alive, that will be my best revenge.  

But that alone is not enough.

Because, Ellelucia is no longer here.  

(It does not matter if this is misplaced anger. It's fine even if it's an outburst of anger.)  

I will do it if I can do it.  

I remembered the terrorist attack that happened in the United States. The Great Powers fell into the mud. A vicious cycle in which retaliation calls for revenge... a toxic cycle.

But I can't keep doing nothing anymore.

(But I am still weak ... and these hands are still too small...)

That's why, I cannot pass down judgement with my own hands. To do the same things they do... I cannot kill people with these hands.  

I think it is impossible for anyone who has lived in the ordinary 21st Century Japan to carry it out, no matter how much you hate that person, no matter how much you want to kill.

What I can do... that is...

(To find the real mastermind)

He isn't the soup cook who was regarded as the perpetrator.

There was another criminal who did it... it wasn't that cook.  

The ones who carried out the orders, of course, would also be guilty.

But, the person who ordered to kill me.

That person is the real culprit.

(Put the mastermind in court)

That was what I thought of as revenge.

I can only do my best indirectly.  

That's how I'll move to my goal.

(For now, I'll just gather information)

I can't collect information directly by myself, and it's a shame I have no memory of the falling incident.  

Alterie may have seen the culprit.

If I had remembered, I might have solved the problem at once along with this case.

I wish I could go around hearing from all kinds of people like in detective stories, but if I do so, I'll stand out and I can't let the information spread to outsiders.

In fact, I suspected at first that the falling incident might have been Alterie's suicide.

(Because...)

It's because she felt somewhat empty deep inside her heart, which is probably why she was called Puppet Princess.

Even if you didn't exactly jump off yourself, you might have been aware that it was a dangerous place but still went anyway... and then perhaps you may have tried to do it.  

The balcony above the lake is windy. It's even more so at night. Alterie is so light that easy to lose balance there... a not-so unintentional accident.  

(But now I can say that was not the case)

As "Alterie" gradually comes back to me, it seemed to me that wasn't what happened.  

Still, it doesn't mean I understand everything that is in Alterie's heart. I only have this vague feeling.

But if I give it some thought, I can understand even if it's just a bit.  

The knowledge I have received from Alterie is what she studied and learned diligently.

(For what purpose...?)

I think it is a proof of her efforts to be worthy of being the crown princess.

If so, such a child would probably not go to a dangerous place by herself.

Because she was well aware of how important her position is to the kingdom.  

Now it's clear that the fall was not an accident.  

(That's why... I won't run away)

I won't run away and hide somewhere safe.

(It's just that, because this place is not my territory, I'm going back home)

Even though the enemy knows me, I do not know neither the shadow nor shape of the enemy.

So at least, I want a home advantage.

Even so, it's an overwhelming disadvantage.

(But I decided not to run away)

It's alright. I'm not going to jump into danger.

I will not waste the efforts of Alterie up until now.

I am the crown princess.

(I will just pay them back what I owe)

Self defense is essential.

Even if the defense is a little excessive, it will be within acceptable limits. Probably.  

The next day, after finishing all the arrangements, I received that the usual morning greetings from the duke.

At the side, maids aside from Lilia were busy carrying the luggage to the carriage. All the knight escorts were also ready, except for the two at the back.  

"There was a danger of poisoning. Normal escorts are not enough. We are returning on such a short notice... contact the Imperial Palace and receive instructions from the Crown Prince."

Duke Elsevert fiercely objected when I told him that I was going back to the palace.

I still have a lot to explain as to why I’m returning to the palace.  

Well, I understand how he feels. If I return as is without explaining, it would create a big fuss.  

"I'm going home."

Still, I clearly told him once more.

The duke was shocked as he stared at me.  

It's probably because it's the first time Alterie expressed her intentions like this.  

Perhaps, he hasn't heard her speak up before.  

"I am going back to the Palace."

I repeated while looking straight into the duke's blue eyes.  

His eyes looked blue even with the light.

(Oh...)

The color of my eyes, I knew I inherited it from this person.

"... Do you doubt Elsevert?"

The duke asked, as if squeezing out his voice.  

His eyes were turned away... For the first time, I thought that I was truly facing him.

I felt the weight with which he said those words.

He seemed exhausted.  

I believe he was a person who is very concerned about appearances.

His short beard is well kept and his platinum blond hair is shiny. There are no wrinkles in his thin and fashionable long coat.

Although he seemed younger than his age of forty-four, his eyes looked empty. He's like an old man in despair and resignation.

I answered, hoping that my words will reach him.

"No."

It was not clear if it was the duke, the ladies-in-waiting or the knight escort who inhaled sharply. Or maybe it was all of them.

But either way, I saw that they properly understood my answer.  

I dare not say why.

I do not want to do or say anything unnecessary while I still do not know where the true criminal's eyes are hidden.

So far, my only advantage while I am far away from home is while Alterie is a 12-year-old girl, she has the experiences from my 33 years of living.

At best, you're likely to think that I am still a twelve-year-old naive princess.

"Understood... at the very least, may you permit my son to escort you?"

The duke did not refer to anyone in particular. It's just that he said it in a beseeching tone.  

I tilt my head. The duke's son will be an escort?

"The sons of the duke, Lord Dior and Lord Rael, are both part of the Eastern Division."

Lilia explained.

The national army of Dardinia is roughly divided into six divisions. There's the central division and the divisions in the east, west, north and south; then there's the Imperial Guards. (t/n: Just guessed this since it literally translated to "Konoe Division") On the other hand, each aristocrat had a private army. It was not strange that Duke's sons were working in the Eastern Division, as Elsevert was chief for the east.

The Dardinian nobility are just ordinary people except for the legitimate heirs. The second son and so on only have the opportunity of becoming either a priest or a military man.

"I'll allow it."

I nodded and stood up.

The duke bowed with a somewhat relieved expression.

To be honest, no matter how many times we meet, I never recognize him to be my father. Still, I somehow felt that I was connected to this person.

"Thank you for helping me."

"It's no problem. I wish you good health as you go on your way, Your Royal Highness."

The duke says, and as he stands before me, he prays for my safety during the travel.

I nodded in response to that.  

It wasn't as if everything was resolved in that instance.  

I can never forget how my heart aches when I think of my mother.  

However, I felt like I was getting there.  

And perhaps, the duke as well.  

When it was time to leave, the duke came to send us off.  

The duke's figure remained on the drawbridge of the castle until my carriage was out of sight.  

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Really. That guy, he was dead.

He was there during the uproar about Ellelucia, but soon he was out of sight, and when he was found he was no longer breathing. 

They say it was the same poison as with Ellelucia.  

(The dead cannot speak...)

There was no definite evidence that he was the criminal, but according to this report which was handed to me, the Elsevelt justice officer had determined that it was suicide. And while the investigation will continue, there is a strong suspicion that he was the perpetrator.

We cannot prove his innocence, and it is easy to judge him as the criminal. Even if there is no solid evidence, the circumstantial evidence is sufficient.

With one word of the judiciary, he is considered as if he were the criminal already.

Like a lamb in a sacrifice.  

The dead cannot argue.  

After that, the people around him just piled up stories showing that he was suspicious.

Several testimonies from the people around him were included in the report.

It was poorly written.

He liked gambling.

He was in debt and needed money.

He always said that he wanted money.

He talked about having a profit... each and everyone of these stories are insufficient as evidence.  

These are often heard everywhere, and it's not particularly suspicious.

But when each of these stories comes together, it feels as if he were a criminal.

It is even more so because the judiciary has proclaimed it.

(The assumption is strong.)

Even if it was not the truth, it is considered the truth to those who believed it.

The weight of the real truth is automatically added there.

Whether the judicial officer really thinks he's the culprit or is trying to make himself think so, there's too little information to judge.

Another report was submitted by my escort.

As this is in Elsevert territory, this report is not an official document but only an informal one.

The name of the reporter is Count Najec = Rajé = Vera = Stasen (t/n: I just kept the name similar to the romanization).

He is the head of my escort and is a qualified judicial officer.

A judicial officer is a professional qualification who is given the authority of a judge and a police officer, and is called by the title "Vera", but "Judicial officer" does not strictly equal to "Vera".

"Vera" means a person who graduated from university, in a sense it's basically a "scholar."

Since all the people who graduated from university can become judicial officers, the judicial officers eventually became called "Vera."

Wherever you go in this continent, you can get a high-ranking official position if you have acquired the title "Vera." Really. Even if it is a former slave.

I hear that the prime minister of the Royal Roland Empire in the North is a "Vera" that was a former slave.

I was wondering why one could become an expert in law just after graduating from college, so I was determined to know how the mentioned university here works. Universities in this world are highly advanced and specialized academic institutions, it is difficult to enter and even more difficult to graduate.

Admission qualifications require that only those who have passed the entrance exam for under 30 years old, but the scope of entrance exams is quite diverse. The test subjects are three essential subjects: law, history, and language, but they must have knowledge in all fields because the history exam may ask about the zinc purification method of the unified empire era, and the language exam may ask about the economy of the second empire period.

Depending on the year, successful applicants may only total to a single digit.

Laws naturally vary from country to country. The basic law is the old Unified Imperial Law called the "Continental Law."  University students learn all the laws of the five major powers, including Dardinia. If you do not pass in the three essential subjects of law, history, and language, you can not advance to the specialized course nor graduate.

The Royal Academy exists as a senior educational institution, but in every country, it is regarded as belonging only to nobles. There are some famous private schools, but they are only recognized within their own countries.

An ivory tower with absolute authority, without swaying in status, position or power. That is the university here.

They are meritocratic, no matter how high your status, no matter how much money you accumulate, you will not be allowed to take a step in unless you pass the entrance examination on your own.

Incidentally, Prince Nadir has this "Vera."

At present, there is no other prince in the continent who has "Vera."  It is said that when he ascends to the throne, he would become the first king to have the title "Vera."

Let's get back to the report.

As a matter of course, the report of Count Stasen naturally differs in perspective from the Elsevert's judicial officer.  

So, even if the same fact is written, the impression is completely different.

The poor are all farmers in the villages, and it is common practice for the village men to play darts at the bar of the village, do dice betting and poker, and to lose at these games. Even if they lost three days in a row, it was possible to pay with the next month salary.  

People who want money, they're not uncommon for them, and the word profit can make you a little curious, but for instance, if you sell a new kind of sweet potatoes directly in the town rather than in the village market... it's a big profit for the farmers.

(There are two sides to things...)

Even if it is not the opposite of the two sides, just as the view changes depending on how the light is applied, the facts that come up from different perspectives are different.

(Even though there is one truth, what you see is different from person to person)

There is no more excuses from him.

There is no one to refute for him.

Now there is no evidence, but the suspicion of circumstantial evidence, and in time there may be a considerable sum of money, or some poison which he is said to have used, that will be discovered from his luggage.

Such a thing, I don't know if I can let it go afterwards.

(... or perhaps he was really involved)

Maybe I'm being too suspicious. It may be better to honestly believe in the circumstantial evidence.

If there is a lot of doubtful evidence, it's hard to say, because it was his turn to make the soup.  

That clam soup was a bit bad for acclaim. But I think it was technically okay.

The clam itself was deliciously processed. The thick, large clam was simmered without being too boiled. It didn't feel too firm and I didn't taste the rawness ... it was well cooked.

There is no gas. Nor do they have ranges or timers. I don't think he could have done anything but make soup on the open fire.

He should not have had the time of doing something unnecessary with the soup.  

(The soup is next to the oven, and the stove of the stir-fried dishes is beyond the bread-kiln...)

The report also describes the location of the kitchen seasoning shelves. The information attached to either report is quite detailed, but the information submitted by Elsevert's official is even more so - it includes the description of what is in the shelf. The name of the person who wrote it is blurred. (t/n: not sure about this, it was literally translated as “The character of the person I wrote is blurred.”)

If you were in the kitchen, you might think there are many chances to put poison in, but the corner where you made soup is far from the one where you made stir-fried dishes. Moreover, there is a bread kiln between them, and there are, of course, people in charge for that too.

There is no evidence that he approached the oven where the stir-fried dishes were being made.

It is almost impossible to put it after it is served. It is said that when he was done he soon served the soup, and there is no evidence of him approaching there.

There were more than ten people in the kitchen at that time. The chef, who oversaw all the work, testified that no one had done anything funny.

His skill may be inadequate, but his attitude to protect his men against a judicial officer who regarded him as the criminal is worthy of praise.

(I think I'm going to be confused...)

I had a lot to think about.

I don't think I've lived without thinking about anything, but I feel like I've been thinking a lot since I came here.

The position of the Duke of Elsevert is not very good, as the judicial officer considered him as partly the culprit... Rather, they are secretly regarded as the true masterminds.

(His family, for generations, was it a peasant of the Duke...)

The relationship between tenant farmers and feudal lords is similar to slaves and masters who follow voluntarily. Although peasants were not in the position of slaves, they could not oppose the order of their lords.

It is quite natural to regard it as having been done by the order of the duke.

The duke seems to have tried to come and explain many times, but my escort commander said that the excuse was useless, and it seems that even Lilia refused the offer.

(Well, he is naturally, suspected... in a sense, of course)

On the contrary, I doubt his involvement this time.

I don't think he'll use such an easy-to-understand method.

In the castle of Elsevert, poison is found in the dish made by the cook of Elsevert... The culprit deduced from this... it's too easy to understand.

(I don't think they'll use such a simple trick)

The Duke of Elsevert would come up with a situation in which he could prove that he was never the culprit, and a means in which he would never be doubted.  

That duke is paranoid and a perfectionist. That type should be very particular about details.

Of course, there are exceptions, but the duke is absolutely fine. Because, the list of seasoning shelves was probably written directly by the duke.

It was found in both reports that, as soon as Ellelucia fell, my bodyguards began to seize the kitchen of the castle to examine all the rest of the material which had remained for my breakfast.

The materials itself seemed to be perfectly normal. Seasonings too.

The poison was found only in the dish of 'fried green vegetables and soybean dishes' that was carried to my room.

The frying pan had been washed, so it was unclear if it was mixed during cooking or if it was mixed while being transported to my room after cooking.

It was Ellelucia who carried "green vegetables and stir-fried dishes" from the kitchen to my room. It seems that the lady has poisoned herself with what she carried.

(What is the form of the poison? ... Powder or ... Liquid? ...)

Is it possible to be mixed in the corridors or not?

The poison is still under investigation, but it is written that it is probably a poison of Rigis.

Rigis is is a medicinal herb that has analgesic effects in its flowers and a sedative effect in the leaves. It is widely used, and every home is planted with Rigis, and it is so common for girls to bring the potted plant as a bride's tool.

However, according to a book left by the famous alchemist, Trigias, about two centuries ago, it is possible to refine the root by a special refining method and produce a terrible poison. It is said that it can kill a dozen of adults with just one drop of liquid or with the powder amounting to only a tip of the finger.

The terrifying part of this poison is that it is not immediate. There is nothing for a while after taking it, and it is too late when you realize it. You can't vomit it anymore.

It dissolves in the internal organs and you die before long. It is said that the skin of the body is decayed and that purple spots appear over time.

(Well, all poisons that can not be identified are said to be Rigis poison.)

Indeed, this Rigis poison is a mystery poison. The 'special refinements' and the other information have not been recorded anywhere, only the efficacy of the poison and the observation that Trigius had conducted on death row prisoners.

The roots of the Rigus are edible when boiled. It tastes like a lily root, and I ate it a few days ago. By the way, it seems to be a medicine for bruises if you grind it.

It's a mystery how it becomes poisonous. Well, it's not that strange because medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin.

(...... Is there anything that Ellelucia aims at?)

Was there a reason for being targeted by Ellelucia? Now that I think of it.

She was a bright and pretty girl. It is said her swordsmanship skills were quite good. She was told to be my shield at an emergency.

However, it seemed to me that it had nothing to do with the fact that Ellelucia was my maid after all.

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