[The Truth]
After recovering the bodies, we pass through the inhabitants who begin overflowing the streets, surprised by the loud explosion sound, and come to the front of the frontier count family’s mansion in the noble district.
“Frick-dono!? What on earth was that big explosion sound earlier!? And is that an Abyss Walker!?”
The knight who is guarding mansion solidifies with his eyes wide open seeing what I’m carrying.
To the people in the royal capital, it is a dangerous existence that is more frightening than the dragon species; no wonder he’s surprised.
“I’m sorry. Some things happened, and we have no choice but to borrow the help of the frontier count family. Would you please ask if Cassandra-sama could——” (Frick)
“We will open the gate immediately, so please come inside! Cassandra-sama has ordered us to immediately let Frick-dono and co through when you return.”
The knight signals his men, and the gates of the tightly closed frontier count family’s mansion is opened.
We thank the knight and go into the mansion along with the golems, who are carrying the victims.
After we entered the mansion, Cassandra and Samantha rush out of the entry hall— looks like they have already been contacted.
“What on earth happened? King Frederick!? And there’s Gile, too!? What happened to Linus’s rescue?” (Cassandra)
“Grandmother…… When we were rescuing Linus-shi and the others, who were made out to be traitors, various sudden situations occurred; King Frederick was shot dead, and we couldn’t save Linus-shi and Frick-sama’s foster parents, either. I got myself disowned from the Henestrosa family to be there and yet, having no other place to rely on, though ashamed, I return here.” (Noelia)
Seeing Cassandra who came out of the entry way, Noelia, beside me, bows her head deeply.
“There is no need for the modest act. As I am sure you understood the meaning behind me disowning you. That being said, it seems to have brought about a slightly different ending than what I saw in Future Vision. To think, King Frederick would die…” (Cassandra)
Cassandra turns pale, looking at the bodies of King Frederick and Gile alternatingly.
Cassandra herself said that Future Vision is a ‘hit or miss’ thing, so she might not have predicted the current situation.
“Grandmother, let’s postpone the detailed talk for later; now what should we do with the bodies?” (Noelia)
“Line up the Royal Guard knights in the courtyard. I will have their families be contacted to pick them. As for King Frederick, Danton, and Philia— I believe you want to give them farewell, so bring them inside. Samantha, see to the preparations.” (Cassandra)
After Cassandra gave her instructions, the maids simultaneously start to move.
Cinzia, controlling the golems, arranges the bodies of Royal Guard knights that has become victims in the courtyard following Samantha and the others’ directions.
Meanwhile, we bring King Frederick, Director Danton, and Philia-sensei into a private room.
A private room is also prepared for Gile and the Abyss Walker, and we place their bodies there.
After transporting the body, Noelia and I, as well as Alfine and Cinzia are summoned to Cassandra’s room.
In the courtyard, the bodies of the Royal Guard knights have already begun to be picked up by their families that has been contacted, and their mourning voice reaches the room.
“Now then, would you properly explain to me what happened when you went to rescue Linus and the others?” (Cassandra)
Cassandra, who had been receiving the nobles who came to pick up the bodies of the Royal Guard knights, shows a slightly tired face.
“The noble family who came to pick up the body is one thing, but even representatives of the noble families of the royal capital who heard the rumors have been flooding the mansion, seeking detailed explanations. My family might end up being viewed as a rebel family, at this rate.” (Cassandra)
As expected, even Cassandra had not anticipated the death of King Frederick; she places a bunch of letters she has received from Samantha in front of us.
Even if she asked for a detailed explanation, I myself still couldn’t wrap my head around the situation, so I can only tell her the truth of what happened back in the plaza as I try to sort it out.
“I myself haven’t wrap my head around it, but…… What I can say for sure is that while we were rescuing Linus-shi and the others, the monstrosities, that are Abyss Walkers and Genocider, suddenly appeared and went on a rampage, and during that, Vigo shot and killed King Frederick with a foreign weapon.” (Frick)
Remembering the situation of when King Frederick died, I explain to Cassandra in the simplest possible way.
“Wait a minute. I can’t follow your explanation. Let me sort it out for a bit.” (Cassandra)
“Yes, I myself want to sort it out by talking to Cassandra-sama, too.” (Frick)
Still the matriarch of the Henestrosa family, Cassandra is a well-informed person who has been receiving various information about the kingdom’s nobles from her vassal, Samantha’s spy clan, so I’d like her to help sort out this chaotic situation.
“Up to the point where you went to rescue Linus and the others who were convicted by Gile for trying to overthrow the kingdom by manufacturing artificial human being through the ‘Superhuman Project’, I still follow, as I was the one who was pushing you, however…” (Cassandra)
“In the plaza where we went to help Linus-shi and the others, various things happened at the same time. Gile and King Frederick were present to witness the execution, the Abyss Walkers Vigo had brought and the Genocider that was protecting Gile went on a rampage, attacking even the Royal Guard knights, and Cinzia-sama and Al appeared riding on Dimol. Truly, a lot of things happened.” (Frick)
Even just remembering it now, there sure were quite a lot of things happened all at once back then.
“Hold on a second. There’s more information that I didn’t know, it seems. Let me confirm it one by one. First, was King Frederick at the execution site built in that plaza?” (Cassandra)
Cassandra puts her hand on her temple and makes a thoughtful gesture, before asking to confirm things one by one.
“Yes, he appeared with Gile in a carriage with the crest of the royal family. He didn’t seem to have been threatened to come, and he kept looking at Linus-shi, who had been silent with his eyes closed.” (Frick)
“If he came without even telling his attendants or grand chamberlain, he might have been intending to give Linus, who was silent about the crime, with the last opportunity to make an excuse as a friend. Looking from that brat Gile’s perspective, he might have thought that he could push through the execution even if Linus made an excuse since he already got the evidence, and show King Frederick the end of his political opponent and consolidate his position. However, no one knows the truth of the matter anymore.” (Cassandra)
Cassandra closes her eyes and heaves a deep sigh.