Matthias walked leisurely, then picked up the paternity test kit.

“Now, both of you, explain precisely how this paternity test kit works.”

If the priest had proven it, it would have been established as a perfect ‘paternity test kit’ without any flaws. However, due to Matthias’s interference, the hard-to-get priest failed to prove the validity of the paternity test kit.

Count Yoter, who knew nothing, bit his lip tightly.

“Th-that’s.”

“Count Yoter, didn’t you boast about personally participating in the production process?”

He did. It was part of the promotion to sell more kits.

This trial was also set up to gain the reputation of Yoter Trading Company as the one who identified the ‘fake daughter’ of the Mirmode family.

But he…

“I, well…”

Count Yoter’s complexion turned pale in an instant.

Seeing this, the jurors began to click their tongues and whisper. It was effectively over. Matthias continued, as if driving in the final nail.

“Even the supposed kit maker doesn’t know exactly what the kit is.”

“That’s, well…”

Soon after, he lifted the paternity test kit with a sneer.

“Then, how about the others who claimed to be the ‘real’ makers?”

The people from Sheraf Trading Company quickly explained the manufacturing principles of the paternity test kit. They earnestly spoke about how long they had been making the kit and what the production principles were.

The Crown Prince rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache from their sincere and passionate voices.

“So, you’re saying your rights were stolen by Count Yoter?”

“Yes. At first, he pretended to collaborate, but then he just took our technology…”

“Fortunately, it was incomplete technology.”

The Crown Prince’s lips pressed tightly together. Seeing his expression turn cold, Count Yoter flinched.

And then…

The Crown Prince turned his chilly gaze towards Count Yoter. Count Yoter began to tremble convulsively as if he had received a death sentence.

‘Looks like he’s trying to cut his losses.’

Whether he did or not, it didn’t matter.

There was still work to be done.

Ignoring the exchange of glances between the Crown Prince and Count Yoter, Matthias gestured towards the people from Sheraf Trading Company.

“I’d like to test that technology here and now.”

As if they had been waiting for those words, they said,

“Yes, we can proceed with the paternity test for Lady Sien and Sir Matthias right away. Just give us your hands for a moment!”

Sien also came trotting towards Matthias as if she had been waiting. No guard could stop Sien’s movement.

Matthias looked at Sien with a gentle smile, then took her hand and said,

“Hand over the kit.”

Momentarily taken aback by the completely different attitude compared to how he treated Sien.

“Y-yes, sir!”

The merchant hastily held out the kit. At the same time, Sien and Matthias’s hands moved towards the paternity test kit.

“It works by reading the energy of each person. See the single line? That means they’re parent and child.”

Sien giggled softly.

“As expected, you’re my dad!”

But the jurors’ expressions were puzzled.

After all, where was the guarantee that their paternity test kit was telling the truth?

Of course, Matthias knew an effective way to prove that this paternity test kit was real.

And that was…

“Priest Eduard, ‘appraise’ the validity of the kit.”

He briefly set Sien down on the floor, then handed the kit to the trembling Priest Eduard as if throwing it.

Priest Eduard rolled his eyes as if checking the mood, then shook his head.

‘It seems you still find me ridiculous.’

Well, he had been acting quite gentlemanly for Sien’s sake until now.

It had been a long time since he had cleared away his past of acting like an unleashed dog, so it was natural for them to have forgotten all about the past.

Matthias confirmed that Sien was at a distance, then whispered quietly into Priest Eduard’s ear so that only he could hear.

“Do you think our family only has this sacred object for killing people?”

“Hee, heek.”

Priest Eduard made a sound like he was about to choke in surprise, but Matthias just stared at him silently.

“Swear it.”

The corners of his mouth turned up in a sneer. In a very small voice, he whispered.

“If you don’t want to die.”

Priest Eduard nodded very weakly with a tearful expression. Matthias smiled with satisfaction and brought the swan sculpture up to his eyes.

“I swear to use the ability of appraisal given by God righteously.”

“What?”

The Crown Prince banged on the desk with an incredulous expression, but he couldn’t stop Priest Eduard’s mouth.

The Crown Prince roughly ran his fingers through his hair as he saw the piercing gazes of the jurors. Even as the Crown Prince of the Empire, he couldn’t forcibly silence public opinion unless he had gained the Emperor’s complete trust.

At that moment, Matthias whispered briefly while shaking the swan sculpture.

“…It has begun.”

As soon as his words ended, a pure white light flowed from the swan sculpture. The light that began to brighten the entire courtroom started to bring peace to everyone’s hearts.

A power that brings peace to all who were tense from the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the Mirmode family. This was undoubtedly the power of God.

Seeing this, the jurors whispered and marveled.

“Th-this kit…”

Priest Eduard’s lips quivered as he clutched the kit.

“It’s real. It’s a magical tool with the ability to truly identify parent-child relationships… it is.”

Perhaps judging that everything was finally over.

Count Yoter collapsed to the floor with a loud cry.

The girl who had been claiming to be ‘Matthias’s daughter’ also bit her lip nervously.

But no one paid attention to them.

Instead, Sien ran as if about to jump into Matthias’s arms, who was standing near Eduard, and shouted loudly.

“Matthias Mirmode is my dad!”

Her voice, speaking as if for everyone to hear, was so affectionate, her smile so warm… it made one want to do anything to protect this tiny child.

Even if it meant getting blood on one’s hands.

He whispered while tightly embracing Sien who was coming into his arms.

“Yes, I am Sien Mirmode’s father.”

“Yes!”

He removed his gentle gaze from Sien and turned a cold gaze forward as he whispered.

“Then, for more detailed matters…”

Matthias’s gaze turned towards the Crown Prince who was wiping cold sweat next to the courtroom. He continued his next words without even giving the Crown Prince a chance to move his lips.

“…I will discuss with His Majesty the Emperor.”

I left the courtroom tightly held in my dad’s arms.

“Dad, you were totally like a villain today!”

“Was I?”

“Yes!”

“…Daddy…”

“Hmm?”

Dad made a tearful face and continued.

“I was really scared, you know. My liver shrank to the size of a bean. Thanks to Sien protecting daddy, daddy survived.”

I tilted my head, carefully examining dad’s face.

Unlike his usual pushover self, he looked like a villain. He seemed really suited to being a villain…

“…I don’t think so.”

Dad noticeably flinched and gently put me down on the imperial palace floor.

“Sien, are you doubting daddy right now?”

“Yes.”

I thought to myself.

‘I am doubting you.’

At those words, dad drooped his shoulders like a coat hanger and muttered.

“…Alright, Sien. Stay in the reception room with the maid sisters. This time, if you go out anywhere alone, daddy will get angry.”

“Daddy gets angry?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I understand…”

Dad probably thought that curious me might get into trouble exploring the palace secretly and running into strange people. Understanding his feelings, I nodded vigorously and answered.

“Okay, daddy! Take care!”

I waved my hand gently to see dad off, then flopped down on the reception room sofa. There were snacks and cute dolls, so it seemed like I could kill some time here.

Contrary to dad’s expectations, I had no intention of going outside this luxurious reception room in the palace.

I knew well enough that someone was scheduled to visit me beyond the small reception room that dad had just left.

And the person coming to see me wasn’t the Crown Prince who must be in a panic by now, nor the priest whose theft of the paternity test kit had been revealed, but…

“Lady Mirmode, actually I… want to offer my shameless apologies.”

I knew very well that it was Ambassador Heinrich.

I looked at the ambassador quietly and gestured.

“Please sit here. I think we have a lot to talk about!”

“Ambassador, do you know what a patent is?”

Heinrich was quite unfamiliar with the term patent.

“What’s a patent?”

“It means giving special permission! In other words, it’s like a law made to protect people with certain technologies!”

This world didn’t have patents yet.

So even if you developed a lot of technology, it was easily stolen by nobles or people from other empires.

Right now, we’ve somehow prevented it with our family’s power, but we don’t know if those from the principality will have their technology stolen again in the future.

So we just needed to create a legal system that would become the common standard for the entire empire.

“…Pardon? How does someone so young know such a concept…”

I smiled softly, showing my small front teeth. Then I grasped Ambassador Heinrich’s hand tightly and said,

“Sien is smart, so she knows everything!”

Actually it’s a lie, but let’s just gloss over it. After wrapping up this situation with a cute and playful smile, I casually pulled out a crumpled document from my pocket and unfolded it.

“Here, I have a paper explaining the concept of patents!”

I had written it down diligently yesterday in crooked handwriting. This should be enough for people in this world without the concept of intellectual property rights to understand.

I handed him the papers that were over twelve pages long with a big smile.

“If we use this method, maybe there will be fewer unfair situations in the future!”

Of course, it’s a patent right that can only be used in the principality, but if Ambassador Heinrich and the Grand Duke work harder in the future, maybe the concept of patents will spread throughout the continent.

Then I’ll work hard to manage the trading company and apply for patents too!

I winked at Ambassador Heinrich and stepped back.

And right then. He urgently grabbed my sleeve and said.

“…Is this truly pure help?”

I smiled playfully at him.

“No, it’s not.”

Then, I whispered softly to him.

“I helped because of the Mikel mine!”

‘Wait, was I too honest?’