Abduction 2. Crown Controversy (3)

Marion, Theodora, and Charlotte.

Michelle’s eyes were shining as she looked at the three women sitting side by side at the table. Not knowing what it was, Charlotte looked around the first princess’s bedroom, confused.

“First, report it.”

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Now puzzled, Charlotte nodded slowly.

“Yes, Your Highness… . There was an order from Count Agon to report directly regarding the palace security.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t increase the security?”

Michelle frowned, and Charlotte hurriedly waved her hand.

“no. Please be assured that Shin only patrolled the entire palace alone, and there was no noticeable movement. All the soldiers standing guard were properly guarding the area. Dennis has gone to report to Count Agon, and Maxim and Christine are on duty to guard the vault.”

Michelle looked back at Charlotte with pity.

“… Sirs put a lot of effort into it. It seems like you got involved in something useless.”

“No, Your Highness. How can you dismiss the theft of the palace crown as a futile thing?”

Michelle’s face frowned slightly as she listened to Charlotte’s answer. Charlotte waited anxiously, wondering if she might have offended Michelle, but Michelle soon returned with a smile and continued talking.

“I get it. Thanks for reporting.”

“I am just doing my duty.”

Charlotte looked at Marion beside her. Marion was munching and making a face that wanted to say something. Marion’s eyes were on Theodora on the other side. Charlotte followed her gaze and turned to Theodora. Theodora was more uncomfortable than ever, anxious and nervous.

‘… It’s like seeing something like that for the first time.’

It just felt so fresh. He didn’t know the knight named Theodora well, but at least the knight Charlotte had seen didn’t change much in his expression, was very strong and even mentally strong. That she’s making that face

‘Could the disappearance of the crown have something to do with Captain Theodora?’

Slightly forgetting where she was sitting, Charlotte immersed herself in her own reasoning. Several times he glanced at Theodora’s expression, then looked at Marion’s expression again. Michelle, who seemed to have finally put her thoughts together, put her palm down on the table.

bang.

Charlotte shrugged and turned her gaze to Michelle, much to Theodora and Marion’s astonishment. Gathering the attention of the three, Michelle cleared her throat and turned her gaze to Charlotte.

“Come on, Sir Charlotte. It may sound very out of the blue, but there are a few things I want to talk to you about about the two of you. Could you please listen to me?”

consulting? Work?

The hypotheses Charlotte had built up in her head came crashing down. With a confused look on her face, Charlotte asked Michelle back.

“consulting… Am I talking to you two?”

“As you know, the husband of these two is one. You don’t have to tell me who that one is, do you know?”

Oh, was it like that?

Maxim’s face appeared in Charlotte’s mind. At first, the handsome man with black hair and a big scar on his face changed to the current look with blonde hair and a normal face.

“What’s going on with Maxim?”

“So it is. It’s just amazing to me that something is still going on. I don’t have a lover or a husband, so I guess I can’t understand the feelings of those two.”

Michelle gave Charlotte a coy look.

“Wouldn’t Sir soon be married to Sir Dennis?”

Charlotte blushed and nodded slowly. Dennis and I had known each other before joining the 1st escort. Getting closer while working in the guards was the natural order of things, and it didn’t take long for the feelings that developed to lead to love. Of course, it was after this civil war that I really decided to get married.

As an aside, the two thought it was a secret relationship, but no one was surprised when they announced their engagement and engagement. Even Maxim and Christine were blunt, as if they were finally announcing it. It must have already been known, but tolerated it.

“It’s embarrassing, but that’s right, Your Highness.”

Michelle looked at Charlotte’s flushed face and smiled in satisfaction as if she had caught the target well. Charlotte now looked like a bride-to-be, in love without fail. Michelle put Charlotte’s hands together and held them. Then he looked back at Theodora and Marion with a grin.

“As a bride-to-be, I felt like I had something to say to these two.”

The missing crown… Aside from the matters related to , it seemed that he had to obey the order of the princess – more precisely, the order of the king. It was absolutely not that he was excited about his relationship with Dennis being recognized by the first princess. And I never wanted to brag about it to others-

“of course. I will do my best to consult with you as best as God can.”

“Good. Then, can I ask you a question first?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel like I was falling into a trap, but Charlotte nodded. Michelle let go of Charlotte’s hand and leaned back in her chair.

“I’m sorry, but the person who will be your husband… How would you feel if Sir Dennis took another woman as his concubine?”

Charlotte’s expression darkened at Michelle’s question. It seemed like something she couldn’t even imagine.

“well… I do not know. I don’t think I would tolerate him. Sharing Dennis with anyone is inconceivable.”

“Even if the situation is the same as them?”

Michelle pointed in the direction of Theodora and Marion with her chin.

“… You will have to decide for sure. If I have no intention of giving up Dennis, neither he nor my concubine, and if Dennis refuses to let go of either of them, then there is no reason to fight. Even if we can’t get close, we should acknowledge each other’s existence.”

Charlotte looked at the two women and said that.

“What are you two still struggling with?”

Theodora kept her mouth shut at Charlotte’s question. Marion across the street was equally speechless. Maxim’s heart. Who is the deepest in the heart. The two of them were doing such a subtle, invisible height measurement.

“It wasn’t like that that mattered.”

Marion was the first to speak. Theodora smiled bitterly.

“I could have been content with just being by Maxim’s side in the first place.”

How did you get to be so greedy? When Theodora spoke self-help, Marion shook her head.

“I am… I didn’t meet you like Mr. Theodora, but I was forced to meet Maxime.”

The two of them said something one by one, then met their eyes and burst into small smiles.

“Something seems silly. To quarrel over something like this.”

“So. Maxim must have been standing guard without even knowing we were doing this.”

And, the smiles on Theodora and Marion’s lips hardened. Charlotte and Michelle stared blankly at the two people who suddenly became serious without knowing why. And, Theodora’s mouth opened slowly.

“… Who did you say Maxim was standing guard with?”

—

“really… Senpai Dennis, why don’t you be a bit more alert?”

Christine puffed up her cheeks and glared at Dennis’ back of the head. Beside him, Maxim walked side by side with Christine, with a somewhat uncomfortable gait. Dennis turned his head back, frowning at Christine’s words.

“No, what did I do wrong? I heard the Count say that you two were probably locked up, so I ran to rescue you. If the two of you weren’t me, we would have had to be stuck in there together, unable to eat until the next shift came… .”

Then, Dennis realized what he was talking about and fell silent. Dennis’s gaze moved from Christine’s reddened face to Maxim, who was walking slowly.

“… What is it, old man?”

Maxim asked in a gruff voice that jumped out of him involuntarily. Dennis looked at Christine again, and then at Maxim. A smirk, the smile of an old man who was making something unpleasant appeared on Dennis’ lips.

“No, no. Like Christine said, I did something ignorant.”

Maxim squeezed his brow and sighed. His appearance, which he could not make excuses for, was quite pitiful. Dennis smiled even thicker at Maxim, who seemed to have no intention of making excuses.

“Well, it’s okay, Maxim. There are times when everything is like that. Even just me, Charlotte and… No, let’s stop here.”

“That, really, if you say it out of your mouth, senior Charlotte won’t stay still.”

yes, yes Dennis nodded and knocked on the door of Count Agon’s office.

“Come in.”

The count’s office was uncharacteristically messy. No, I would rather say that he is buried in work without time to tidy up. Earl Ray Argon pushed aside the stack of papers piled in front of him as if it were a curtain, revealing his face. For a person who was buried in work, he had a surprisingly normal face.

“You always work hard.”

At Maxim and Christine’s greetings, the count let out a big laugh and waved his hand.

“At this point, it’s not even something that can be called hard work. I don’t work alone, and the secretary’s office and the treasurer help me a lot.”

Saying that, the file folder the Count held up and showed was so thick that just looking at it made me sick to my stomach. Dennis frowned in disgust.

“What if you guys want to help? It’s good if I have a lot of hands.”

“… sorry. Count.”

Count Agon smiled like an old man and put down the papers.

“You didn’t leave the safe empty, did you?”

“I have stationed members of the escort knights. It’s okay if you don’t mind.”

yes. The Count gave a short answer, took off his glasses and raised his head, which had dropped along with the papers.

“So, Maxim. I have something to report to you.”

The count’s eyes changed. Christine glanced at Maxim, who nodded and stepped forward.

“Yes. There are a few facts that I found out while standing on duty, so I would like to report it.”

“Tell me without hesitation.”

Maxim and Christine shared a look again. Dennis looked at the two suspiciously, wondering if there was something. It’s not like I’m bragging about dating in front of Count Agon.

“There is a high probability that the disappearance of the crown is not the work of outside intruders.”

“The reason is that?”

The Count looked at Maxim with interested eyes.

“This is what I thought when I first entered the safe, but there was no sign of looking for anything in the safe. As if the culprit knew where the stuff was from the start.”

“Isn’t there a possibility that he has neatly arranged his tracks?”

“If so, Christine and I would have managed to find the remaining traces somehow.”

The Count raised his eyebrows. The three lines of wrinkles on the count’s forehead were dug deeper.

“And?”

“It is inefficient.”

“What do you mean by inefficient?”

“If I had the skill to secretly infiltrate the palace’s safe with the highest security magic, I wouldn’t have known my whereabouts while stealing the crown. If I were a warlock dreaming of revenge, I’d rather try to assassinate a factor. Of course, it is questionable whether they had such a strong bond with Leon Benning that they dreamed of revenge.”

“Right.”

Is there anything further to say? Seeing the count’s questioning expression, Maxim let out a short sigh.

“In the end, it would be reasonable to assume that the loss of the crown was the work of an insider. Above all, it would be absurd to say that the Count did not know what I was able to find out while staying in the safe. But the Count doesn’t seem very urgent.”

The Count did not even try to deny that. However, I just look at it as if I’m curious how far Maxim’s reasoning will lead.

“There are two conclusions. Either the Count already knows who stole the crown and is taking his time to weed out all the disloyal ones… .”

Maxim narrowed his eyes.

“Either this is all a play by the Count and His Highness for something.”

“Which side are your intentions on?”

The Count asked as if to test Maxim. Maxim shrugged his shoulders as if it was not difficult.

“Of course, the latter.”

In the former situation, Maxim would have been surprised. The fact that there are still people in the palace who can’t figure out the situation.

Maxim’s voice full of conviction. Count Agon shook his head as if he couldn’t win.

“Hey, do you have any plans to come into the secretary’s office and help run state affairs? It seems that your insight and ability to execute from before were befitting an administrator rather than a knight.”

“… It’s an honor beyond measure, but I’ll decline.”

“yes. It is far more wasteful to rot your might than your insight.”

Count Agon laughed bitterly and tapped the pile of papers.

“… Why did you do that?”

At Maxim’s question, Count Agon turned his back and looked at the scenery outside the window. The palace was full of life. From the gardener who used his eyes to the court aristocrats who were leaving work, it was a completely opposite feeling from the atmosphere of the past days when tension flowed due to factional fights.

“At least for the time being, all power in this country needs to be concentrated in one person.”

“Even by sacrificing your own prestige… you mean?”

“I am not Leon Bening. I think it’s different from other bastards named nobles. but… .”

Count Agon closed his eyes and tilted his head upward.

“I can’t believe myself. It makes me very happy that His Highness trusts me… As a result, the eyes, people, and money that will be focused on me. And the territory is much more prosperous than before. Wouldn’t I be really greedy after suddenly having increased power? Maxim, I am afraid of that.”

“Is that why you are trying to lower the expectations and interest that are being rushed to you?”

“It’s a big deal, so I don’t want it to be wrapped up. If you are truly loyal and capable, you may be able to use the power that comes to you for the sake of the kingship. But I’m not the bowl for that. The only thing I can do is to save myself like this.”

Looking at Maxim again, Count Agon had a bitter smile on his face.

“If a person who can replace me appears, I will make sure I can return to the territory, but at least until then, shouldn’t the old man’s greed arise?”

“Count… .”

“Getting older doesn’t mean you lose your greed, Maxim. I don’t know if I’m impatient.”

“It is called loyalists in the world, Count.”

An intrusive voice came from the entrance of the office. Maxim had already read the sign, so he turned around and said yes without being surprised, but Count Agon looked at the first princess standing in front of his office with a surprised expression.

“majesty. how… .”

“Count, I don’t think anyone will appear to replace you for at least another ten years. I don’t think in the slightest that the count will betray me just because he has power.”

“Your Highness, how many times have I told you about trusting and evaluating people?”

“So the Count is underestimating me.”

1 The princess, no, the woman who should now be called the queen said so. Ray Agon let out a small exclamation from his lips and looked at Michel Loire’s confident expression. He seemed resolute and benevolent, but he had an aura that overwhelmed the crowd. Over the past few months, the princess has become a completely different person.

“The count is not the only one helping me. I personally met many of the royal palace’s equipment and made them into my own person. The amount of work assigned to the count is also gradually decreasing.”

Count Agon’s eyes widened. On the other hand, the eyes of Maxim’s party looking at Count Agon seemed to say, ‘Is this a reduced quantity?’

“… Somehow, I wanted to reduce the heavy workload recently. This is all mercy from Your Highness.”

“Do you know why I joined the Count’s plan anyway?”

Michelle smiled at Count Agon, who was speechless.

“I thought it would make you feel at ease. The power was a burden for Solly, and I thought that if I joined the plan that I came up with as a way to relieve it, I would be able to leave the count in the palace for a little longer.”

“majesty… .”

“No matter how many people I have gained, the kingdom still needs you. Count Ray Agorn, who will put all your thoughts aside and focus solely on the development of the kingdom.”

Ray Agon raised his fist above his chest. The significance of serving the king. This is my lord, and this is what the lord’s trust is like. Tears welled up in Count Agon’s tear ducts when he realized him for the first time. The princess you taught has grown into a great queen.

“I’m willing to participate until this play, but from now on, I hope you don’t worry about anything else and do your best in the work of the palace.”

Count Agon got up from his seat, came out in front of the desk in the office, knelt down and bowed.

“… God Ray Agorn. I will obey the king’s command.”

—

The pious atmosphere passed, and when Ray Agon, lost in thought, left the office, only Maxim and the three women were left. This time, it was Theodora and Marion putting pressure on Christine. I tried to lighten the atmosphere at best, but to think it ended up like this.

“… No, Mr. Theodora is still… .”

“Still, it’s disgusting to secretly take over Maxim. Right, Marion?”

“I agree, Theodora.”

Still, it looks much nicer if it’s not stiff.

Michelle shrugged her shoulders and turned her head toward Maxime, who had a troubled expression on her face. Michelle smiled happily at Maxim, who looked at him as if asking for help.

Well, from now on, you’re on your own.

Michelle said that with her eyes, then turned around and quickly walked down the aisle, leaving Charlotte as her escort. There was a constant murmur of voices behind her.

Fortunately, the palace was peaceful today as well.