CH 160

Prince's death

***---***

I went back to the boarding house, had dinner with Amanda-san, Meline-san, and Meisa-chan, took a bath, and just when I was about to go to sleep, Kirt suddenly appeared.

"Goshujin-sama, Fred wants you to come."

"Eh, did something happen?"

"The Prince is dead."

"Eeehhh ... Is the Prince, Alphonse? Diethelm?"

"Umm ... The older one."

"Okay, tell him I'll be there soon."

"Wafu, I understand."

I asked Kirt to give a message to Fred and got ready to leave in a hurry.

Luckily, Meisa-chan was already in her dreams, so I didn't need an excuse.

[ Really, Kent-sama gave him a warning ... ]

"As expected, he was poisoned by someone from Havre's minions?"

[ That's the only reason I can think of. ]

Together with Reinhardt, we moved using Fred as a landmark.

The place we moved to was the camp where the First Prince's faction had received news from the fast horse from Camilla and had a discussion.

THe flags of each aristocratic family fluttered, and numerous tents were lined up in the dry grassland.

Fred was in a particularly large tent built in the center of the camp.

"Fred, how is it?"

[ The First Prince ... was together with his mistress ... ]

"Eeehhh ... Even though they're in the middle of an expedition?"

[ His mistress, Magdalos is ... The commander of the Royal Knights ... ]

"Ah, they were always acting together. I mean, he was killed while the Royal Guard was with him?"

[ After one bout, Magdalos drank alcohol ... The Prince took a sip of water ... ]

"In other words, the water was poisoned?"

[ Probably ... ]

A few moments after the First Prince Alphonse drank the water in one breath, he started coughing up blood while scratching his chest, and continued to struggle and suffer for a while.

It was said that a healer was immediately summoned and healing magic was cast on him, but it seemed that he never recovered, and now he was laid on a bed, and his face was covered with a white cloth.

At present, Alphonse's tent was filled with the bloodshot-eyed Magdalos, Staff Officer Torvil, the faction's leading figures, Duke Dravis, Count Langhain, and Count Saruel, as well as the Fourth Prince, Diethelm, and an elderly knight.

A heavy silence drifted between the seven people on the floor along the perimeter of the circular tent.

"Fred, who is that old knight?"

[ Knight with Diethelm ... Jürgen Remmert ... ]

It was Jürgen who broke the heavy silence that ruled the tent with his aloof speech.

"Well, everyone, staying silent like this won't solve anything. As long as one of Alphonse-sama's servants has disappeared, it's reasonable to assume that that person was complicit."

"Saying such a thing, didn't you guys actually do it?"

It was Magdalos who interrupted Jürgen's words with a voice that, though not loud, sounded like it was coming from the depths of the earth.

In response, Jürgen let out a small sigh and tightened his expression.

"Magdalos, be careful with your words. Never again will I forgive such disrespectful words."

In a complete change from his easy-going tone until then, Jürgen's words seemed to carry a dignity and weight that made everyone who was there straighten their backs.

Even Magdalos, who spoke directly in front of him, couldn't hide her expression of pressure.

"After Alphonse-sama, Bernst-sama, and Christoph-sama passed away, the future of Resenburg rests on Diethelm-sama's shoulders."

Jürgen cut his words quietly and bowed his head slightly towards Diethelm.

Diethelm, who received it, stood up from the floor and walked towards the center of the tent.

"I was informed of the danger of being poisoned by my sister."

"What! Is that true!"

Apparently, the three heavyweights didn't know about Havre's plan, and among them, Count Saruel stood up with a bright red face.

The Count, whose expression changed and tried to approach him, was controlled by Diethelm by simply raising his left hand.

Diethelm looked like an idiot when he was talking to me, but when he looked serious like this, he gave off a royal aura.

"A warning letter should have been delivered to my half-brother as well. Isn't that right, Torvil?"

"Yes, it certainly arrived, but to believe a letter from an unknown person ..."

"You idiot! What are the drawbacks of being on guard against poisoning? In the first place, there are people who slip through the eyes of vigilance and deliver letters, so there is no reason not to be vigilant."

"I, I'm sorry ..."

In Torvil's case, Alphonse's death meant downfall, and he had no choice but to drop his shoulders with disappointment and bite the price of his negligence.

The one who broke the silence again was Count Langhain, who was looking into the distance as if it were someone else's business.

"May I have a moment, Your Highness Diethelm?"

"I don't mind."

"Yes, judging from the manner in which His Highness spoke earlier, it seems that you know the person who warned His Highness Alphonse ..."

"Umu, I really know."

Hearing Diethelm's calm tone, Torvil raised his drooping head and yelled out a question.

"Who is it, that person, aren't they the one who killed Alphonse-sama?"

"Do'nt be rude!"

"I, I'm sorry, but ..."

"Shut up! He saved the city of Lastock, the people of Resenburg, and the life of my sister! I won't allow you to speak rudely again!"

Uwaa ... I thought I'd show up at the right time, and if possible show him the video of Havre on the tablet, but he's raised the bar so much.

In a hurry, Torvil knelt and bowed his head to Diethelm, who didn't even try to hide his anger.

The one who interjected was the splendidly bearded Duke Dravis.

"Your Highness seems to have a very high opinion of that person, but have you actually met him face to face?"

"Umu, I've only met him in person once, but it's thanks to him that I'm able to live like this. It seems I've been poisoned for a long time."

"What is that, is that true."

"How do you see me now? Do I look sickly like I used to?"

At Diethelm's words, they noticed that he was regaining his health, and everyone other than Jürgen was surprised with their eyes wide open.

Duke Dravis asked as if representing everyone.

"Your Highness ... Is it because you were poisoned that Your Highness was not feeling well?"

"Right. No, that's what I was told."

"But, what if it was that person's self-made performance?"

"You fool! That person just came to Resenburg about three months ago. I wasn't feeling well for years. I thought I told you I won't allow you to speak rudely!"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Yup, Diethelm really had the qualities of an actor.

Or maybe it was the royal aura he was born with.

At that time, Magdalos, who had been silent until then, opened her mouth.

"Your Highness, who is that person you are talking about? I don't remember anyone like that."

"Do you want to know?"

"I do ..."

Diethelm took his eyes off Magdalos, looked around at the crowd, and spread his arms out wide.

"Maou, Kent Kokubu-sama."(TN:Weird to suddenly change the order of the name, but ok?)

"Maou ...?"

In response to Diethelm's confident statement, the gathered people were twisting their heads while exchanging glances with blank expressions.

Yeah, Diethelm, 

Hey, it's getting harder and harder to go ouuuut ...

"It's not unreasonable for you to be perplexed. But don't worry, from now on, I'll tell you about the splendor of my Maou Kent Kokubu-sama ..."

After that, Diethelm talked loudly about how I and my genus repelled the Minotaurs that were approaching Lastock, the fortification of the garrison, the subjugation of the Storm Cat, repelling the horde of Orcs, and furthermore, with an ecstatic expression he talked about how the invasion of Barshania was stopped.

Hey, your half-brother is dead behind you, is it okay for you to do that?

After finishing his speech, Diethelm puffed out his chest with a doya face, but it seemed that the people who were there were not sure how to react.

"Your Highness ..."

"What is it, Torvil, I won't allow you to speak rudely about the Maou."

"Yes, I understand. However, if the words of Your Highness that I just heard are true, isn't the purpose of that Maou to rule Resenburg?"

"Of course, if Maou-sama were to do so, there would be no trickery to conquer Resenburg." "For someone like that ..."

"Listen until the end!"

"I'm sorry."

"Maou-sama's wish is the peace of this country."

"Peace ... is it?"

Every time Diethelm spoke confidently, it felt like more and more question marks were appearing above the heads of the ones listening.

"Maou-sama is the kind of person who even forgives those who oppose him and stab him from behind with a sword, and is the kind of person who tells us to live in order to protect the people. However, in a conflict between intelligent humans, he considers even the enemy's position and is generous in finding a way to make the most of them without killing them."

Uwaa ... I felt like Diethelm's eyes were dying.

[ Completely, infatuated with Kent-sama ... no doubt he will join the harem ... ]

"I told you he can't enter. I don't have such a hobby. No, I'm not against people with that kind of hobby, but I'm different!"

[ Buhahaha ... That's right, Kent-sama, at this rate, the First Prince's faction could fall apart. ]

"Haa ... It can't be helped, I ask you for Magdalos and Jürgen, please."

[ Understood. ]

[ Leave it to me ... ]

I put out a large shield of darkness, went out with Reinhardt and the others, and slammed the back of Diethelm's head with the flat of my hand.

"You talk too much!"

"Ouch! M, Maou-sama!"

"You, who are you!"

Magdalos and Jürgen stood up to hold me down, but Reinhardt and the others stood in their way.

The atmosphere of the metallic skeleton and the carbon black skeleton made the people standing in line feel silent pressure and stop moving.

"Maou-sama, since when have you been here ..."

"I've been watching you since you stood up and started talking, but you talk too much, rather, talk about the important things first! Diethelm, you want to be King, right?"

At my words, the hostile gazes that were directed at me changed to ones filled with expectations adn hopes as they turned towards Diethelm.

"Yes, I want to be a King who cares about the people."

"Oooohhhh ..."

When Diethelm answered strongly, there was an uproar.

"As I promised before, I will help you become King ..."

"You ... As I thought, to Alphonse-sama ..."

Magdalos let out a groan like vomiting blood and looked at me as if to curse me to death, but she's knocking on the wrong door.

"Don't misunderstand. It was Florence Thalberg and Havre Calvine who ordered to have Alphonse killed."

"What is that, the Prime Minister and the Margrave ... Is there evidence?"

"I'll show you that in a moment ... This is a tool that captures and records the scene."

I gave a brief explanation while showing the tablet I took out of the shadow storage.

Of course, the performance of the tablet was not limited to that, but it was troublesome for now, so I omitted it.

I turned on the power and played the video file that Fred secretly shot.

"Wh, what is this ... A person is trapped inside ..."

"I'll give you a detailed explanation later, so for now just shut up and watch."

"What is that, you ..."

"Duke Dravis, talk later."

Ordered by a child like me, Duke Dravis turned red and tried to protest, but Diethelm scolded him and he reluctantly fell silent.

However, when the video was played and it became clear that Havre's plot and secret agreement with the Prime Minister were revealed, he began to stare intently at the screen.

Then, as soon as the video finished playing, Torvil yelled.

"What disrespect, what misdeeds, Your Highness, you can't hand over the future of Resenburg to such people!"

"Of course. I'm not going to call Havre or anyone like that my brother-in-law!"

When Diethelm said it clearly, Count Saruel immediately suggested.

"Your Highness, such tyranny, we can't allow such violence. The Margrave and the Prime Minister should be executed!"

"Like Liebert-dono said, this William Dravis will also be of some help."

"Your Highness, make a decision!"

Advised by Duke Dravis and Torvil, Diethelm nodded and declared.

"We shall exact vengeance on Margrave Havre Calvine, who wreaked havoc on the royal family, and Prime Minister Florence Thalberg! Nkya ... M, Maou-sama?"

"I apologize when you're all excited, but shouldn't you first mourn Alphonse-san?"

For some reason, I felt sorry for the First Prince, whose existence had been completely forgotten, so I interjected.

"Certainly, Havre and the Prime Minister are plotting to obtain Resenburg for personal gain, but the only ones who can complain about it are the two royal guards and Diethelm, aren't they?"

In the lively atmosphere of Havre should be defeated and the Prime Minister should be executed, I poured cold water on him as hard as I could.

Otherwise, I felt like they were going to charge at the opponent who was planning a strategy and crush it.

"The three leaders of the faction are also sloppy in their countermeasures against desertification. And, the main intention is to increase their own profits. Even with this dispatch, the main intention is to reduce the power of the opposing faction and increase their own profits, rather than supporting Lastock. I don't think you have the right to criticize Havre or the Prime Minister."

"What are you talking about, we're here to protect the country from a massive outbreak of monsters ..."

"William-dono, for someone who knows the internal affairs of the country to this extent, such an excuse is unseemly."

It was Count Langhain who stopped Duke Dravis from trying to argue against me.

"Just as you said, we have been too careless about the future of the country. I used to admonish Alphonse-sama, but I arbitrarily gave up on his indecisiveness and acted like a recluse. Anyway, I decided that I couldn't lead Resenburg in a good direction with the time I had left."

Talking that far, Count Langhain opened his eyes, which had narrowed sleepily, and strengthened his tone.

"But, that was a mistake. We nobles must show the right path for the sake of the people, walk together, and prosper together. What we should do is to honor Alphonse-sama with dignity, protect the people from the outbreak of monsters, and work together to overcome the national crisis of desertification, on top of that, under Diethelm-sama's instructions, the disloyal people should be punished."

I see, Count Langhain was upset because Alphonse didn't approve of his admonition.

What he was saying was quite correct, but rather than being an ambitious person, Count Saruel, who had a fast-moving household, had a dissatisfied expression on his face.

"If the country takes the lead in combating desertification, the income of your territory will also recover, won't it? In addition, I wonder who will get the rights to the mines in Calvine's territory if Havre loses his position ... Isn't it someone who has made a big achievement?"

When I guided him in an easy-to-understand manner, Count Saruel glanced at me, then lowered his gaze and began to think about something.

"For the time being, now that Alphonse-san has passed away, the First Prince faction will be taken over by Diethelm, and will work in cooperation with the former Second Prince faction led by Camilla ... Is it okay to assume that?"

When I turned my attention to it, the people gathered nodded, but Torvil was the only one who agreed, yet still had a worried look on his face.

"Diethelm, do you have someone who can support you as your right hand?"

"No, Jürgen is handling my personal protection, but ..."

"Is that so, then why don't you try using the person there?"

As I pointed with my chin, the gazes of the bystanders focused on Torvil, but they weren't all positive.

At his gaze, Torvil knelt at Diethelm's feet in a theatrical motion and bowed his head deeply.

"Your Highness Diethelm, please use me. I will definitely help you."

Diethelm, possibly unsure what to do, turned his gaze to me.

"Torvil-san's work is well known to all of you gathered here. My impression was that he was manipulating Alphonse-san and wielding power ..."

When I finished speaking, everyone nodded in unison, and cold sweat ran down Torvil's cheeks as he was kneeling.

"Honestly, I'm not impressed with the way you've done it so far, but I think your knowledge is fine. So, if you can vow to work selflessly, I think you will be useful, what do you think?"

"I'll throw away my selfishness and definitely help you. Please, please ..."

After thinking for a while, Diethelm exchanged glances with the people in line to confirm.

"Fine. Torvil, serve under me."

"Yes, thank you very much."

"However, if you run your selfish desires, I will mercilessly cut you down, so keep that in mind."

"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."

When I heard that Alphonse was poisoned, I thought he had been killed by Havre, but I was able to hand over the First Prince faction to Diethelm, so the result was good.

"Diethelm, I will leave a Kobold for communication, so keep in touch with Camilla and make sure there are no misunderstandings. There are no more trivial factional disputes in Resenburg."

"Yes, understood. Maou-sama, please continue to give us your help."

When Diethelm knelt down and bowed to me, Count Langhain immediately followed, and the others who saw it also knelt down.

Yup, it felt a little good, but if I thought about how it would be troublesome later one, I honestly couldn't be happy.

"Then, I'll go home, see you later."

After offering a silent prayer to the deceased Alphonse, I returned to Volzard through the shield of darkness.