Chapter 143
It's already been about a week since the White Gull Alliance was formed.
Early one morning.
I was standing outside Father's room.
"Your Highness. His Majesty is still asleep."
The guard told me I couldn't see him because he was sleeping, but frankly, that didn't matter.
"It's an urgent matter. Let me through."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"I'm being dragged into trouble because of Father. The least he can do is get up early once in a while."
Saying that, I brushed past the knight trying to stop me and opened the door.
Inside, Father was sitting up in bed.
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
"It's all right. Leave us. I'll hear what Arnold has to say."
With that, Father dismissed the knight.
Then he looked at me and sighed.
"Do you occasionally forget that I am the Emperor?"
"Please forgive my rudeness. I had an urgent matter to discuss."
Father looked somewhat bewildered that I had bowed my head and apologized so readily.
Normally, I would have replied to Father's words with a flippant remark.
Well, that attitude wouldn't really be a problem, but it was better to be polite. It might come in handy in an emergency.
"I can hardly afford to be brazen after disturbing Your Majesty's sleep."
"I see. So? What is it?"
"I have come to ask permission to inspect the Imperial capital."
"An inspection? Why not just go whenever you please, as usual?"
"I need Your Majesty's permission."
Realizing what I meant, Father sighed and tossed me one of the rings lying beside the bed.
An eagle of gold was engraved on it. It was one of the ornaments worn by the Emperor, and possessing it meant that I had the Emperor's approval.
"Use it as you see fit."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, is it? You're being unusually well-mannered today."
"I'll be returning to my usual rudeness shortly..."
With that, I bowed and left Father's room.
On the way back, Sebas appeared behind me.
"Are we being watched?"
"No."
"What fools."
"If they had the awareness to be that cautious, they wouldn't have done something foolish enough to pick a fight with the imperial family."
"True enough. Well... this time, I'm going all the way."
"Yes, sir."
What did it mean to pick a fight with the imperial family?
I supposed it was time to teach people who couldn't think for themselves.
■■■
"Lord Al, where are we headed today?"
"A few places. I'm going to look around the capital. Since Leo isn't here, I'll be taking his place."
I explained this to Fiene in the carriage.
Officially, this was an inspection in Leo's place. The White Gull Alliance had surely already heard about it. After all, I had deliberately leaked the information several days in advance.
They would try to harass me in order to drive me out. They couldn't get close to Fiene unless they got rid of me, and that was the very reason the organization had been formed.
They would not tolerate anyone they didn't approve of staying by Fiene's side. Extreme as it was, that was what they believed.
Fiene's own thoughts and feelings did not enter into it.
It was ridiculous. And I would answer ridiculous behavior with methods just as ridiculous.
"Are we here?"
With that, I confirmed that the carriage had stopped and got out.
My first target was a fairly well-known luxury inn. As Fiene and I tried to enter while admiring the impressive building, the owner came out and addressed us with a smirk.
"Well, Your Highness. What can I do for you?"
"I'm here for an inspection. How are things?"
"So-so, I suppose."
"I see. May I take a look inside?"
As though he had been waiting for me to ask, the owner bowed.
Well, his reaction was just as I expected.
"My apologies. We've recently changed to a women-only establishment... Even if it is Your Highness, allowing you inside would damage our reputation..."
"You're saying you can't let me in?"
"No, that's not what I mean... Someone as renowned as Lord Leonart wouldn't draw any complaints from the others, but... No, no, I'm not saying Your Highness has no reputation!"
The owner continued making excuses with a glib smile.
He went on and on, but in the end, it meant that letting me—a man with a bad reputation—inside would tarnish the name of his establishment. That was all.
"Since when did this become a women-only establishment?"
"Just recently. Ah, the timing is unfortunate. How about this? Your Highness can wait here while Lady Fiene looks around inside?"
The owner made that suggestion.
He intended to keep harassing me like this until being at my side became too painful for Fiene.
Honestly... he was so shallow it was exasperating.
"Innkeeper... I want to confirm one thing. This really is a women-only establishment, isn't it?"
"Yes, of course."
"I see. Then can you see this?"
Saying that, I showed him the ring.
No one in the Imperial capital could fail to know the meaning of the golden eagle engraved on it. The golden eagle was the symbol of the Empire. Only the Emperor was allowed to use that crest.
"Th-that's...?!"
"I came here to conduct an inspection with His Majesty the Emperor's permission. Refusing me means refusing His Majesty the Emperor... Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Th-that's not what I meant!"
"But you said you couldn't let me in, didn't you?"
"Th-that's not what I meant! I didn't mean it that way!"
I placed a hand on the innkeeper's shoulder as he desperately tried to explain himself.
Then I murmured so that only the innkeeper could hear me.
"Did you think I wouldn't know that you suddenly started advertising this as a women-only establishment three days ago?"
"Eek... Y-Your Highness..."
"If this is a women-only establishment, there aren't any male guests inside, are there, Innkeeper?"
I stared intently at the innkeeper.
His body began to tremble, and sweat broke out all over him.
Whoever had planned this harassment would surely want to watch it from the best seat in the house. Perhaps from one of the inn's guest rooms.
"Search the premises. If you find any male guests, bring them to me regardless of their rank. I suspect they intended to harm Fiene."
"Yes, sir!"
The knights who had accompanied me as my guards charged into the inn.
The innkeeper seemed to have lost the ability to speak.
Leaving him where he stood, I entered the inn.
Inside, the female employees watched the knights and me with frightened expressions.
After we waited for a while, the knights brought a man before me.
"Count Farner. What are you doing here?"
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this? Even for a prince, this is outrageous!"
Count Farner was a large blond man in his mid-twenties. He was one of the nobles who regularly complained about me.
With the knights gripping his arms, Count Farner furrowed his brows in displeasure.
Apparently, he had no idea what situation he was in.
"Outrageous? Be careful how you use that word. I merely searched the inn under my legitimate authority."
Saying that, I showed Count Farner the ring. His complexion changed.
The expression that had previously held some composure turned into one that plainly said he was in trouble.
"Now then, Count Farner. Answer my question. What were you doing in a women-only establishment?"
"Th-that is..."
"Even I, a prince, was refused entry to this inn. There was no way you could have gotten in through legitimate means. Isn't that right?"
"Y-Your Highness... This is some kind of misunderstanding..."
"The owner barred me from entering and tried to let only Fiene inside... Were you planning to do something to Fiene?"
"N-no!"
Count Farner denied it and struggled, but the burly knights forced him to his knees on the spot.
I continued speaking in front of Count Farner.
"Then what reason did you have for being here?"
"...I was trying to harass Your Highness."
He must have feared that if he lied and they suspected him of trying to do something to Fiene, he would be in even worse trouble.
Count Farner confessed honestly. But that was still the wrong move.
"Oh? So you're saying that you tried to interfere with my inspection, which I came to conduct with the Emperor's official permission?"
"Th-that's not it!"
"What part of it isn't?"
"I-I didn't know you had His Majesty's permission..."
I snorted at Count Farner's excuse.
Count Farner hung his head, but I grabbed his hair and forced him to raise his face. Then...
"People always make fun of me because I fail to fulfill my duties as a member of the imperial family. But this time, even without His Majesty's permission, I am fulfilling my duty as a member of the imperial family by inspecting the capital. You are guilty of a grave crime simply for trying to interfere with me."
"Th-that's not fair!"
"You are free to mock me as an individual. But you should have used your imagination to consider what would happen if you mocked me as a member of the imperial family and tried to do something to me."
Saying that, I released Count Farner's hair. Count Farner then squeezed out a whisper.
"P-please forgive me... I apologize for my rudeness until now..."
"Forgive you? The time for forgiveness has already passed. You people crossed the line that must never be crossed!"
With that, I struck Count Farner across the face with a backhand.
The blow made Count Farner's mouth bleed, but I paid it no mind and continued issuing orders.
"Keep Count Farner detained. Once everything is settled, he'll be imprisoned."
"Yes, sir!"
With that, I turned on my heel. If I started a dispute here and wasted time, the others might not reveal themselves.
Sebas had neutralized the watchers they had likely placed around us, and as long as I didn't make too much of a commotion, there was no danger of being discovered.
As I was thinking this, the innkeeper clung to my leg.
"Y-Your Highness! Please forgive me! I was in debt!"
Saying that, the innkeeper pressed his forehead to the floor.
But I merely shrugged at the innkeeper's excuse.
"You let money blind you?"
"Yes! I'm sorry!"
"And your debt? Did you pay it off?"
"Yes! I paid it off right away!"
Fools always told lies that were easy to see through.
I placed a hand on the shoulder of the bowing innkeeper.
And then...
"I've paid off all your debts for you. That means I'm the one lending you money now. The startup capital for this establishment, right? If you'd paid it back, I should be able to tell immediately, shouldn't I?"
"Huh...?"
"First, you refused to let me, a member of the imperial family, into your establishment. Second, you refused to accept an inspection authorized by the Emperor. Third, you refused to welcome the person who lent you money. Those alone would be more than enough to call you discourteous, but the fourth and final offense is the worst. You lied."
"A-ah... Ahh... P-please forgive me..."
"Arrest everyone working here. The owner, of course, as well as every employee and associate."
"Your Highness... If you do that, the inn's reputation..."
Utz, who had been quietly observing my actions, spoke up.
It was true that there was no point in arresting the innkeeper and the others here.
It would only make the problem bigger. But that was fine.
"Do you really think I care about my reputation at this point? Or do you think these people are innocent?"
"That's not what I mean, but even if you arrest them, this is only a minor offense."
"A minor offense is still an offense. Arrest them. And as for you, innkeeper, I'm shutting this establishment down, of course. Your downfall was misunderstanding the power relationship between the imperial family and the nobility—something even a child would understand."
The innkeeper seemed unable to utter another word.
Leaving him behind, I went outside.
Fiene was waiting there, looking as though she might cry.
"Lord Al..."
"Bear with it a little longer."
"...Yes."
After saying just that, Fiene bowed her head to me.
Then we boarded the carriage and headed for our next destination.
To capture even more insolent offenders.
Eek... Y-Your Highness...