I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 146

CHAPTER 146

“Ahem!”

“Hmm, hmm….”

Moments ago, the nobles were fiercely arguing and pointing fingers, but now they seemed to be weaving stories together, avoiding eye contact and chuckling nervously.

“Well.”

The Count at the back of the room was no different.

“Well… that’s good news.”

Eyes darted around nervously. 

Watching their expressions, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

And the Marquis.

‘He has a very pale complexion.’

Even getting Milia married into the Gotrel family for cooperation seemed promising at the time.

But now, it all fell through.

‘But this isn’t the end.’

It was, in fact, just the beginning.

“I thought it was just a baseless rumor.”

Clap, clap, clap!

The marquis swiftly changed his stance.

“I trusted Her Majesty, the Empress, who is also my younger sister!”

“……!!”

Some people stared at the marquis with eyes of disbelief.

“Why are you all looking like that?”

“Well, Marquis, last time…!!”

“What about last time?”

The marquis casually stroked his mustache.

“Did I ever confirm that my sister committed wrongdoing?”

“Ha!”

The laughter that followed was not amusement; it was astonishment.

Looking at these nobles, I bit my tongue.

‘It seems he didn’t confirm it outright, but they took a leap of faith anyway.’

He must have gambled with the cards he held.

Now, seeing the marquis abandon his losing hand and make a hasty retreat, all I could do was watch.

The Count who had been the most fervent just moments ago was no different.

Now it seemed he was grasping at straws in a different sense.

Well, being the first to act also meant being the most vulnerable when the tables turned.

Surely, a shark like the marquis wouldn’t risk someone he held dear or a trusted ally.

‘He played a losing hand from the start.’

“R-Right!”

Clap, clap! A man tried to change the atmosphere by clapping his hands.

“It was the shortest council, but! Wasn’t it the most meaningful?”

He had an impeccable face, devoid of any lingering doubts.

They were convinced no hand could beat Detmé even in their thoughts.

Hence the crisp demeanor.

But, no matter what hand they prepared, would Detmé just fold?

“Well then, we shall take our leave.”

<You… you…!>

‘Detmé is the best! Love you, Detmé!’

<I can’t believe a word from your mouth anymore!!!>

Now?

“May everyone have a day filled with divine grace.”

Detmé, finally convinced that I was untrustworthy, left the council chamber with the high priest, who smiled gently.

It’s going to be a long way back to the garden.

“Well then…”

As the High priest exited, some sneaky fellows discreetly slapped their backsides.

Just a short while ago, they were swinging wildly, and now some had even made it to the door.

The Marquis was no exception.

“Since you’ve all come from afar, it’s best to handle follow-up matters slowly.”

With that, the marquis rose from his seat. 

He must be planning to escape and seek alternative methods—perhaps requesting aid from the King of Gotrel.

I grinned mischievously and looked at the two attendants responsible for the door. 

Just as I had signaled earlier, with a thud, the door closed again.

“Huh?”

“What’s going on? Open the door! The council is over!”

“No.”

I cut them off.

“The council is not over. Everyone, please return to your seats.”

“??”

“What are they doing?”

The Emperor intervened.

“Don’t the words of Princess Lottie reach you? Or…”

His eyes glinted coldly.

“Do you think you can disregard the princess’ words?”

His voice was chilling enough to send shivers down their spines. 

Eek! The nobles scurried back to their places. 

Hooray, Father’s the best!

“Lottie.”

The emperor stopped, patting the crimson-eyed Empress Consort on the shoulder.

“Will you be able to do it well?”

I just smiled and nodded in response.

“Just wait, both of you.”

I will cleanly slit the enemy’s throat.

“The council isn’t over. Shouldn’t there be punishment?”

“What punishment do you mean, Your Highness?”

“Punishment for spreading the false rumor that Prince Leonard is not Her Majesty the Empress’ child.”

I chuckled, and the nobles fell silent.

“As you know, this rumor not only defames Prince Leonard but also insults Her Majesty the Empress. This is deceiving the royal family.”

The nobles’ faces hardened more as I spoke.

It was only natural.

Even if they weren’t the primary instigators, they played a significant role in spreading the rumor.

“There could be numerous charges, but… which is the most significant?”

I turned my head and pointed at a man.

“What do you think, Viscount Barven?”

The man known as Viscount Barven gasped.

“I’ve heard that you’re well-versed in legal matters. Could you share your knowledge with me?”

“I, um…”

Viscount Barven clenched his robes, his gaze already downcast.

“In this situation, the gravest charge would be lese-majesty. The offender faces execution, and their family is demoted to commoners…”

His voice trembled with reciting the charges.

Why wouldn’t it?

He was the original spreader of the rumor.

‘Can I just sit back and relax?’

I met Milia, I met that guy, and I encouraged Lionel to work hard to find information and rob Ringo.

Oh, if Pendrade was there, I could have gathered information more easily.

Anyway, after skillfully manipulating capable individuals.

In just a few days, I could get satisfying information.

Indeed, it’s best to manipulate people when you’re too lazy to move.

“…Thank you for sharing your knowledge.”

After Viscount Barven finally finished speaking, I grinned.

“May I ask one more thing?”

“W-What is it?”

“If the spreader of the rumor was exploited by someone.”

If that’s the case.

If that person was merely exploited without any fault.

“What punishment will that person receive?”

“……!!”

Viscount Barven’s face lit up instantly. 

Hope surged in his eyes just as quickly.

Of course. 

The moment I singled him out, he must have realized it himself—realized that he was the original spreader of the rumor. 

But now, I was giving him another chance. 

A glimmer of hope, however fragile it might be, seemed sturdier than a spider’s web to him. 

‘I’ve even seen with my own two eyes how Marquis Floyd betrayed one man after another.’

The noblemen had no reason to follow Marquis Floyd anymore. 

For his own survival.

“It depends on the circumstances, but typically, imprisonment or fines would be the outcome…”

See? His voice brimmed with hope. 

Though imprisonment could mean at least ten years, and the fine could exceed the revenue of an entire estate, hope still lingered. 

It’s better than dying and having your family all become commoners.

“Thank you.” 

I grinned. Then, I slowly walked back to the center of the council chamber. 

Clack. Inside the now-silent chamber, only the sound of my voice and footsteps echoed.

“Well, first, lese-majesty is established…”

Clack.

“What if we add attempted murder to that? Like the case of Lord Beaerus…?”

“What!?” 

Stella sharply reacted. 

“What did you just say? Who would dare touch him!!?” 

I couldn’t tell how angry she was, or where she was, or how out of control she was.

The chair armrests were breaking in her grip.

‘Sister, now’s not the time to act.’

I whispered, and Stella obediently sat down.

“What if we add one more charge?”

Clack.

“For instance, the old murder of… ” 

Clack. I halted, exactly in front of Marquis Floyd.

“Lord Clian.”

“……” 

Marquis Floyd’s face contorted fiercely. 

It seemed like he was about to spit out a curse, but he trembled and muttered his lips.

“He will face a severe punishment, Your Highness.” 

He glared at me with resolute eyes. 

If no one was watching, he would have torn me apart.

‘Though I would tear him first.’

Isn’t that right, Shu?

“Exactly, he must face a significant penalty.”

I smiled, hiding my disappointment. 

“Lese-majesty, attempted murder, murder…”

I continued to gaze at Marquis Floyd, eyes wide.

“Isn’t even a central aristocrat unable to escape execution? Right, Marquis Floyd?”

“…Are you trying to call me a criminal?”

“Yes!” 

Now you know! 

As I grinned, Marquis Floyd began to laugh hysterically. 

Nearby nobles recoiled in horror at Marquis Floyd’s insane laughter.

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Marquis Floyd straightened up from the railing

“If you capture someone without evidence, you will not escape great punishment, even if you say you are the Princess Lottie Pandelion!”

The Marquis’ eyes were brimming with confidence as he said this.

Yeah, that’s right.

‘Did he really hide it so meticulously?’

Ringo was practically raising both hands and feet in agreement.

The Marquis had thoroughly eliminated and concealed any clues or evidence related to his actions.

Indeed, if even a slight gap had been revealed, Her Majesty the Empress Consort would have been the first to expel that scoundrel.

But Marquis Floyd had been exceedingly careful, leaving not even the smallest blemish.

Thanks to that, he had managed to survive until now.

Up until ‘just’ now.

“There’s evidence.”

“What?”

“I said there’s evidence.”

I grinned.

“Undeniably strong evidence that even you cannot refute.”

As soon as those words left my mouth, I clapped. 

As if they had been waiting, the two guards promptly opened the door.

Walking in through the brightly opened door were…

“You… you all!!”

It was Milia and Eben.

Of course, it had to be them.

Avoiding the Marquis’ bewildered gaze, Eben shouted.

“We stand here to expose the heinous crimes of our father, Marquis Floyd!!”

“We have evidence right here!!”

Milia extended both hands tremblingly.

“……!!”

Before the Marquis could escape, he was intercepted, and the evidence was firmly in the Emperor’s hands.

As the Emperor examined the documents and pieces of evidence one by one, his expression darkened, and finally, the Empress Consort burst into tears.

‘It’s as if the Marquis, who dreams of the perfect crime, has collected each piece of evidence.’

As if this evidence were a trophy.

As if to demonstrate that the evidence everyone was searching for was in his hands.

He took pleasure in hiding a crucial piece of evidence and bringing it out, occasionally mocking those who sought evidence.

That’s why he had hidden it in the most critical place.

‘Perhaps he never expected his children to betray him.’

I looked at the Marquis.

Already disconcerted by nearby nobles, he stared at Milia and Eben in astonishment.

“How… how could you!!”

While the Marquis shouted, the siblings watched him with a calmer expression than expected.

“Father.”

Milia spoke up.

“We simply did as we were taught.”

Just as they learned from him.

For them, for them to survive.

“It’s all what you taught us.”

Isn’t it?