Chapter 41. Truth or Lie (6)

"Making a conclusion based on hearsay? Even I wouldn't go that far. Isn't that a bit of a hasty judgment?"

"No, this is enough."

As I seethed, trying to control my anger, the Emperor cautiously questioned me. He was right, in a way. Objectively, the information and evidence I had gathered so far were somewhat insufficient to draw a definite conclusion.

The story I heard from the Emperor was, in essence, a detailed, extended version of Commander Leclerc's Testimony, and it didn't reveal any new facts.

It wasn't entirely impossible that Louis XVI and his subjects were colluding to deceive us.

Nevertheless, I could judge what the truth was without hesitation, thanks to two pieces of circumstantial evidence I had witnessed and experienced.

"There's no reason for you to deceive me by tarnishing your own child's honor."

First. This War started because the Crown Prince tried to rape the Imperial Princess, enraging the Monarch.

It was a ridiculous yet understandable Justification for war, but there was one crucial flaw.

It would tarnish the Second Princess's public image as 'the princess who was violated.'

This world was a medieval fantasy setting. It was closer to the early modern period in terms of technology and political culture, but still. People's morals and common sense were relics of the past.

What do you think would happen to her future if she were labeled with such a title?

'Her life as Royalty would be practically over.'

Externally, they seemed to have described it as 'disrespectful behavior' or 'diplomatic outrage' to avoid using the term 'rape.' But with witnesses, the Testimony was bound to spread somehow.

There were probably quite a few nobles in the Empire who had secretly heard about the truth of that day. Even if they couldn't openly talk about it due to fear of the Imperial family, they would have definitely spread rumors and gossiped.

In that case, it didn't matter if she wasn't actually raped. The way people viewed her would be no different. They would definitely consider her a defiled woman, unfit for anything.

'She wouldn't be able to have a political marriage or participate in social circles. She would have to spend the rest of her life in a monastery.'

No matter how much her father, the Emperor, cherished her, she would have to give up on finding a good marriage partner. Whispers would follow her wherever she went, and potential husbands wouldn't consider her a suitable candidate to bear their heirs.

For an upper-class woman in a feudal society, losing her virginity was a terrible curse.

Of course, there were plenty of people who pretended to be chaste while secretly engaging in promiscuous behavior...but at least they hadn't been publicly exposed.

Appearance and reputation, regardless of the reality. Those two were key.

And since the "non-virgin" title had been officially attached to her at the national level, the Second Princess could never regain her original honor.

"I've met and talked with the Empire's commoners on my way here. They all seem to have heard something about what happened in the Imperial Palace."

"....That's right. We used it as Propaganda to encourage participation in the War."

"Although this is our first meeting, I don't think Your Majesty is the kind of person who would intentionally ruin his own child's future and use it as Justification for war. You wouldn't fabricate something that didn't happen, would you?"

Moreover, the Empire had spread this news throughout the country to boost Morale. It was so widespread that almost everyone, even in remote rural villages, had heard about it.

I could understand that it was necessary for the War, but it completely ruined the future of an innocent member of Royalty.

Louis XVI wasn't the kind of person to orchestrate such a thing. He had the ruthlessness to exploit an existing incident, but he wasn't cold-blooded enough to fabricate one himself.

"If it were fake, someone would have tried to expose it."

Besides, if it were a fabricated Justification, someone would have tried to reveal the truth sometime during the past 10 years.

Even if it was a meticulously planned scheme by the Emperor, there would have been internal opposition to ruining an innocent person's life.

The Kingdom had captured thousands of high-ranking Prisoners of War. It was highly likely that they would have noticed and used it for Propaganda.

"And..."

"Hmm?"

"The Royalty of our Kingdom is stupid enough to commit such a crazy act openly. The father sacrificed an entire Front Line for a mere piece of headwear, so it wouldn't be surprising if the son assaulted foreign Royalty for sexual desire."

"....That's a strangely persuasive argument."

Second. It was hard to believe in the Crown Prince's self-control and morality, considering the Monarch's appalling track record.

What kind of nonsense had Charles VII been up to? Since the outbreak of the War, he had been constantly swayed by the Nobility and squeezing the commoners dry.

While soldiers were dying on the Front Line, he spent his days in banquets and drinking parties. Instead of being the center of the nation, he had become a burden.

Not only that, but he was the one who ordered the abandonment of the Northern Front and the Full Retreat so the Queen could buy expensive jewelry for social gatherings. That's what drove our Northern Army to become the Revolutionary Army.

Even after that, he hadn't learned his lesson and tried to regain power by making deals with the Clergy, only to be caught by me and reduced to a Figurehead.

He had never shown any competence as a King. Not rarely, not occasionally, but never.

'Like father, like son. The seed is rotten, so the fruit can't be good.'

In this world, the influence of heredity was even stronger than on Earth. Due to the presence of mana in the body, the parents' traits were easily expressed in their children.

Inherited characteristics had a more pronounced effect on both mind and body.

But the father was an idiot who seemed to live without a brain, and the mother was a selfish bitch who didn't care about the country as long as she had her luxury.

I didn't expect their child to be normal. He might look decent, but there was bound to be something wrong with him internally.

'Come to think of it, didn't the Young Lady of Arshakh complain that the Crown Prince kept neglecting his wife and courting her?'

Thinking back, he already had a history. At this point, it could be considered field-tested and proven.

"Thank you for the detailed explanation, Your Majesty. It has been very helpful."

Having organized my thoughts, I rose from the sofa and bowed politely. Expressing my gratitude for giving me certainty.

"I will make good use of the information you've provided. In a way that will benefit your country as well."

"If you're going to Purge the Crown Prince, could you send him to us instead of killing him? I'd like to personally retaliate for the insult to my daughter."

"I'll try my best to be lenient. But don't expect him to arrive in one piece."

Unfortunately, I couldn't give a definite answer. I had a feeling that a limb or two, and maybe an eyeball, would be missing by the time the punishment was over.

Frankly, when I returned to the Kingdom, when I faced those who had ruined my life and the lives of my comrades, I didn't know if I could maintain my composure.

* * * * *

Meanwhile, at the Kingdom negotiation team's accommodations.

"Damn it. We've finally arrived here."

"We should have turned back somehow... I should have caused a carriage accident or something."

"There was no opportunity. Too many eyes watching us. Now we're in a precarious situation."

The members of the negotiation team dispatched by the Noble Faction were gathered together, exuding a funereal atmosphere.

They had finally arrived. In the land that no Kingdom citizen wished to set foot on before the War ended. In the country where the Kingdom's rulers desperately tried to hide their forbidden shame.

Overwhelmed by the thought that the very thing they had to prevent at all costs had come to pass, they couldn't shake off their gloom.

"Has Deputy Speaker Roytel returned yet?"

"Didn't the Emperor call for a private audience with him? He'll be a while."

The meeting between the Kingdom's de facto ruler and the Empire's highest authority. No one was unaware of its implications.

Especially since they knew what Carolus von Roytel and his associates had been interested in recently.

"They won't just be discussing the truce. As the conversation progresses, surely..."

"That topic will come up. The reason why the War started."

Those selected to come here were influential and competent members within their Faction.

They all knew the secret that the Blue Bloods had been hiding. And the repercussions and the price they would have to pay if it was revealed.

They would be lucky to just lose their power and property. It wouldn't be surprising if the Royalty and high-ranking Nobility were completely eradicated from the Kingdom.

"We have to stop it. We have to prevent the information from spreading to the Kingdom, by any means necessary."

"How? Roytel will spread the story everywhere as soon as he returns."

"We have no choice but to resort to drastic measures. Overcoming this immediate crisis is our top priority."

Therefore, desperate to survive, they decided to stop at nothing.

"If we ignore the future consequences, there's a lot we can do."

Even if it meant ruining the Kingdom's future.