CH 14

The Count's Trump Card

Translated by KaiesV

Edited by KaiesV

「In the name of the Lady of the Sea, a large quantity of a dubious liquid called medicinal alcohol is being sold.」

「It is a medicine to prevent the wounds from worsening, which have increased as a result of starting to use large, unfamiliar iron farm implements. We heard that in some regions, strong alcohol is used to heal wounds, so we developed this product with the cooperation of alcohol brewers.」

Nearly three hours after the start of the hearing, the red sunset began to shine through the halls of the venue. Catching a glimpse of the palace servants preparing lights for the night, Edmond, a large dark-haired man who wants to somehow convince Clanetta of her rebellious intentions, refutes the accusation as I had prepared it while listening to the opinions of my chief advisors. Because of this, the hearing was going in Clanetta’s favor.

「Quickly rinsing the wound with this medicated alcohol and wrapping it in a cloth washed in boiling water will prevent most outbreaks of disease from the wound, which until now we have had to pray to heaven for. This has made it possible for almost no one in the rural areas of our Clanetta territory to suffer from arm and leg injuries due to wound diseases.」

As I looked over from the witness stand at the audience, I saw small and medium-sized lords from all over the country leaning forward from their chairs, listening intently, trying not to miss a single word. Farmers are a valuable source of income for these small commercial enterprises. The physical damage caused by the constant injury of the farmers is the very reason for the decline in their income. The senior aristocrat also seems to be keeping a level head, but with his ears pointed firmly in the right direction. Although he is inwardly disgusted with the peasants, who can only see him that way, he implicitly tells them which side they should take to gain the advantage. Among the nobles listening were some who appeared to be sympathizers of Edmond. Despite the lengthy inquisition, few people got up from their seats.

Here, Edmond finally seemed to realize that I was taking in other nobles in this place. In an attempt to somehow regain control of the scene, he interrupts my answer by raising his voice from his seat and begins to appeal to the nobles in the audience.

「Everyone, do not listen to her sweet words! Do you intend to jump into this witch’s cauldron yourself!」

「Coung Jungk! You must be careful what you say. Even though she is under trial, Miss Elisabeth is the eldest child of the ducal family. It is against the law of the nobility to denigrate her as a witch when she is not in violation of Pastia’s teachings!」

「…No, Prime Minister. It is true. I will show you the proof.」

Before he could refute the accusation that I was a witch, a person of foreign law who did not observe the precepts of the Pastian religion, which is also the state religion, a reprimand against Edmond flew from Prime Minister Roger at the altar of law. But he was frightened for a moment, but after smirking at us and giving us a disgusted smile, he said a few words back to the Prime Minister. He then had his valet, who was standing by his side, bring a wooden box and took out a cylindrical object with a thin string at the end. It looked very similar to something I had seen before.

「Please take a look. This is the cursed instrument that the witch prepared to overthrow the kingdom! It is the gunpowder that brings about the fire of karma!」

「It looks like just a tube made of cloth, but how can it be a karmic fire?」

「I would like to show you now, but it is too dangerous here. May I borrow the courtyard and a candelabra?」

The vizier asks the king of the upper chamber for permission, and Edmond sends the valet, who has just arrived, with a tube and a lit candlestick to go from the terrace to the courtyard. So he lit the end cord, the fuse, and threw it high into the sky to prevent damage to the garden.

Immediately after, a thunderous flash and explosion shook the courtyard of the royal castle. The windows of the hall and the glass terrace made a violent banging sound from the impact, and some of them were cracked. But more disturbed were the nobles in attendance.

Some fell from their chairs, some screamed, and others tried to escape through the doors, all with expressions of horror on their faces.

——It’s a little bit poor.

The presence of gunpowder was not concealed. Although there were others in the territory who knew about it besides the vassals, because it was a dangerous product, the Clanetta family did everything to keep the manufacturing process secret and the actual product under our control. Therefore, although we anticipated that we would be accused of making false accusations as material for their accusations, we thought that it would be difficult to prepare the real thing. But whether he made it or stole it, he was actually shown that many explosions.

A few minutes after the chaos had finally subsided. As I continued to stand on the witness stand, I felt an unprecedented sense of caution from the nobles. The only ones who were not upset were His Majesty and the Prime Minister at the podium, and Edmond, who was smiling triumphantly in his own seat. The tide had turned again, and the hearts of the nobles in the audience were at once inclined to Edmond.

「This gunpowder, once ignited, scatters fire in all directions and burns up everything nearby. Now, why did you make this horror! If you can give a reason, do it!」

「Yes, we demand an explanation!」

「If this is not the work of witches, then what is!」

「Answer!」

「Answer us!」

Edmond pointed a finger at me. The denunciation was undignified and vehement, but to the aristocrats, horrified by the power of gunpowder, it seemed to be the only way out of their fear. Hysterical agreement is heard from everywhere.

——I see, so this is his trump card?

It didn’t seem like a thoughtful thing to do, but Edmond did a good job of stoking the fears of the nobles. Under these circumstances, if I had given a speech introducing the use of gunpowder to repel animals and blast rock formations, as I had originally planned, I would have been punished as a witch and a pirate without removing their fear. But even though I was in such a situation, my heart was beginning to quiet down.

——What we should have are thoughtful vassals.

I myself thought it unlikely, but there were those who were concerned about this eventuality. One was Bernard, a company commander of the Knights of Clanetta. And the other was my first vassal.

I looked at the seat to the right of the witness stand, on Clanetta’s side, and I saw that the figure that had been standing in my shadow just a moment before was gone. But I felt his understanding and trust in the fact that he had begun to move without saying anything, and that pushed me to open my mouth again.

「Let me explain. It was built to vanquish a certain monster.」

「………Hahah! Don’t be a fool! You think you can get away with such nonsense!」

Edmond laughs dryly, then becomes deliberately agitated. The nobles in the audience were distracted by me as I began my defense in a matter-of-fact manner, but they began to tune in to Edmond’s cries.

「You little blonde girl! You dare to use the prestige of the dukedom to taunt us venerable aristocrats!」

「Monsters and the like, or witches and the craziest of all!」

Yes, that’s right, the nobles gained momentum and even started cursing. Then, just as if declaring victory, Edmond stood between the podium and the witness stand, spreading his hands wide to the left and right, and raised his voice again.

「If you have vanquished a monster to the point of needing that gunpowder, then show us the proof! Then I admit that it was a mistake for me to accuse you!」

「If so, let me show you.」

There was no way he could do it. He had been so complacent, and his expression, which had begun to loosen, twitched. Then I felt the familiar presence of my partner behind me, behind the hall entrance door, and called out from the pit of my stomach.

「Emily! We, Clanetta, have conquered the monster, and here is the proof of our military prowess!」

「Hah!!」

The door is opened with a word of warning, and Emily, the maid, enters at the head of the line. And as soon as the nobles saw what the ten strong men who followed them, the knights led by Captain Gregory, brought in, the cursing that had been swirling in the hall instantly stopped.

From the witness stand in the quiet hall, I turn my biggest smile of the day on my enemy, who is stiffening with his hands outstretched in front of him.

「Now, let me tell you a story.」