‘Fortunately, I went straight to see the Greykin Count’s daughter after the trial.’

If I hadn’t evacuated the Greykin Count’s daughter to the Cardia Duke’s residence yesterday, there was a very high possibility that she too would have been silenced by disguising it as an accidental death, like the Zimmer Count’s daughter.

‘Be wary of the Empress. If what the young lady is trying to do is what I think it is.’

Why is the Greykin Count’s daughter’s words coming to mind at this moment?

The Empress probably has no idea that the person behind this whole situation is Jieselgrante, that fool from Amaterasu.

And that the person at the center of it all is Princess Trinity.

When Jieselgrante visited Countess Tarel’s salon after a long time, the atmosphere was already heated.

It was because of those who were speaking passionately with veins popping on their necks, talking about the disappeared maids of Princess Trinity.

Instead of joining in and adding to their words, Jieselgrante sat far away.

And listened carefully to their voices.

It was to grasp how public opinion was beginning to flow.

“I think His Majesty the Emperor should personally step in and delve deeply into this matter.”

The young noble asserted, looking around at the gathered nobles.

Jieselgrante looked at his face.

The man making the passionate argument was the Zimmer Count’s son.

“That’s right! The reason for the recess during the trial was because of testimony completely different from before, wasn’t it?”

The one who agreed with the Zimmer Count’s son and spoke up was the Greykin Count’s son.

The two joined forces to appeal to the other nobles.

That the incident should be properly investigated.

This was to gain the agreement of other nobles and add strength to their claims.

Just like how Cabelased had previously urged nobles to submit petitions to pressure the Emperor.

Jieselgrante took in the expressions of the other nobles who were staring at the two young men who had lost precious family members on the same day.

‘Did they calculate this far? Or is this an unexpected situation?’

While somewhat curious about how far the Empress’s plans went.

At that moment, someone stepped up to refute the two.

“It seems like a very dangerous statement at a point where nothing has been revealed. How about refraining from excessive speculation in front of everyone?”

Jieselgrante’s gaze naturally turned to the man who had just spoken.

And the moment she saw the man’s face, Jieselgrante’s brows furrowed deeply.

‘… The Flarino Viscount’s son?’

His father, Viscount Flarino, had once been in charge of Trinity’s military education.

The Empress had said she had searched the empire to select the most excellent person to assign to her.

But thinking about it now, that was wrong.

The proof was Viscount Flarino’s current position.

Usually, the military education of the next emperor was handled by knights with abundant field experience.

But Viscount Flarino had never even participated in a war.

He was just the son of a count, and received the title of viscount as the second son of a count.

This means that the Empress intentionally assigned someone lacking in ability as her education supervisor.

If the Emperor were to take issue with this, she could avoid responsibility by saying she didn’t know better and would find a new teacher with just one word.

And the Emperor was a person who didn’t care much about the ability of his daughter’s education supervisor.

Viscount Flarino occasionally brought his son to the palace for various reasons, and because of that, she had to encounter the Viscount Flarino’s son several times, whether she wanted to or not.

She was too young to know back then, but now she could read Viscount Flarino’s all too transparent intentions.

Why he had brought his son to the palace with various excuses at his workplace.

‘He probably wanted his son to build a relationship with the princess who would become the next emperor, even if just a little, from a young age.’

If Viscount Flarino hadn’t become Trinity’s military education supervisor, if he hadn’t brought his son to the palace, Trinity and Viscount Flarino’s son likely wouldn’t have had the chance to exchange even a single word for their entire lives.

Well aware of this fact, Viscount Flarino had abused his position as military education supervisor.

At first, he may have just hoped for them to build a relationship, but as they grew older, changes occurred.

Viscount Flarino’s son would subtly ogle her body with those slanted eyes of his.

When she began to avoid being with Viscount Flarino’s son after recognizing those gazes, he started visiting the palace during sword training times.

It was an opportunity to freely see the lines of her legs revealed by tight clothing, or her slightly protruding chest…

Of course, after Viscount Flarino was dismissed from his position as military education supervisor, she no longer had to face him.

“…This is for the sake of you two. I think everyone gathered here knows well that the Sun of the Empire is also deeply concerned about this matter.”

Seeing the nobles seem to focus on his words, Viscount Flarino’s son began to lay out his argument in earnest.

Even while pretending to be considerate of Count Greykin’s son and Count Zimmer’s son.

“As such, claims of a separate mastermind as you two suggest could be seen as slander against the Sun of the Empire.”

At Viscount Flarino’s son’s remarks, the gathered nobles began to whisper among themselves.

If, as he said, Count Greykin’s son and Count Zimmer’s son intended to slander the Emperor, it could be dangerous just being here with them.

Because there was a possibility that they too could be falsely accused of agreeing with their opinions.

One statement from Viscount Flarino’s son led to a strange situation where two victims who had lost precious family members were suddenly turned into perpetrators.

Thinking that his eloquence seemed to have improved considerably, taking after his father Viscount Flarino, Jieselgrante raised a question.

“Something seems strange.”

Viscount Flarino’s son turned his head towards Jieselgrante, calmly replying.

“…Strange? What do you mean?”

But the moment he confirmed her face, a sardonic smile appeared on Viscount Flarino’s son’s lips.

He seemed to recall the rumors about her that were widespread in social circles.

“The… Amaterasu Duke’s daughter, I see.”

The fool of Amaterasu.

Even without saying the last part out loud, everyone knew it.

So Viscount Flarino’s son had quite cleverly insulted her. Just by pausing briefly after saying “Amaterasu’s”.

Sure enough.

Laughter from unknown sources began to be heard here and there.

Some giggled while covering their mouths with fans, while others turned their heads slightly and snickered.

In an instant, Jieselgrante became the laughingstock of the salon.

“Amaterasu Duke’s daughter. It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

Viscount Flarino’s son approached Jieselgrante and held out his hand to her.

It was a gesture meaning he would pay his respects by kissing the back of her hand.

Jieselgrante gave a small smile and slightly turned her body to pass by him.

Then, as she approached the gathered nobles, she said,

“I think what Count Greykin’s son and Count Zimmer’s son said is reasonable. Rather, wasn’t it Viscount Flarino’s son who was trying to slander the two by putting a strange frame on them?”

At her assertion, the nobles began to whisper again.

Jieselgrante, unfazed by this, continued speaking.

“And agreeing with that would be equivalent to secondary victimization of the victims’ families.”

“No. Not at all. How could I dare to do such a thing?”

Viscount Flarino’s son protested vehemently that it was absurd. Then he quickly added,

“I merely suggested being cautious about dangerous statements. I only presented one ‘hypothesis’ that it could harm the two young nobles and everyone here.”

Emphasizing certain words, Viscount Flarino’s son shrugged his shoulders.

Then he looked at the nobles with an expression that seemed to say he didn’t understand why they were getting so worked up when he had only made a ‘hypothesis’.

Jieselgrante didn’t respond immediately, but just slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

Glancing at her like that, Viscount Flarino’s son added one more thing.

“Seeing that you’re not refuting, I’ll take it that you also agree with my opinion, young lady.”

The moment a victorious smile appeared on his face, Jieselgrante opened her mouth.

“It still seems strange.”

“What is it now?”

Viscount Flarino’s son glared at her with an annoyed expression.

“Count Greykin’s son and Count Zimmer’s son. These two only appealed for help in revealing the mastermind while talking about their families’ victimization.”

“Young lady, you still don’t seem to understand what I said…”

Viscount Flarino’s son interrupted before she could finish speaking. With an expression that seemed quite frustrated by her inability to grasp his meaning.

But undeterred by Viscount Flarino’s son’s reaction, she said,

“The two didn’t say a single word. About this incident’s mastermind being related to the Sun of the Empire. Rather, it was Viscount Flarino’s son who brought that up. Am I wrong?”

Jieselgrante looked at the nobles and shrugged her shoulders.

Some nobles nodded in agreement.

Taking in the nobles’ reactions carefully, she quickly added,

“Why, instead of comforting the victims’ families’ pain, are you using a powerful figure to prevent them from even speaking? That intention seems highly suspicious, Viscount Flarino’s son.”