IHRS 17

Chapter – 17

“What, then, was your reason for suspecting me? There is clear evidence that I did not do it.”

The mouths that had been moving so energetically just moments ago were now sealed shut, as if by magic.

As I met their gaze one by one, they busily turned their heads away.

Yet, remaining silent here would only put them at a disadvantage. They stammered, trying to offer some explanation.

“W-we were going by the testimony we heard…”

“Yes, nothing inappropriate should happen in the royal hall, after all.”

“Above all, Your Highness the princess testified.”

Thus, their brief rationale was revealed.

“Really? Princess, am I the one who left these marks on your feet?”

The bruises on Princess Marien’s feet were deliberate.

Malicious intent, combined with enough weight to stomp down, was needed to leave such clear marks.

“Ah, w-well, I-I don’t really… remember clearly…”

Marien tried to escape by citing her hazy memory.

This was effectively a surrender.

The others murmured among themselves, reacting in a different way.

“What? So they tried to accuse an innocent person based on uncertainty?”

Esha raised her voice, riding the momentum.

I could have let her take charge of the situation here, but I had another card to play.

Feigning mercy, I gave a bitter smile.

“Oh, don’t push the princess too hard.”

The tone sounded considerate, unlike my usual personality, but in a dramatic situation, acting was necessary.

“I suppose the princess also had her reasons. Traveling all the way from a foreign land… you seemed to be mentally and physically drained.”

Next, I presented the evidence.

“Shirin!”

The foundation of my confidence lay in summoning a spirit.

Whooshing—

The wind took the shape of a bird, materializing between Marien and me like a judge.

Spreading its wings wide and fluffing its feathers, the posture and the stiffly raised head made it clear this situation excited it greatly.

Allow me to introduce myself: the essence of catharsis that delivers a blow when one’s throat is blocked, the fairy of endings, guardian of truth and solver of mysteries! I am Shirin.

“Just get to the point, get to the point.”

Shirin’s lengthy self-introduction hinted at excitement for the upcoming events.

‘What’s the point of such an explanation?’

These people didn’t even know what “catharsis” meant.

The contractor is too rigid.

Shirin muttered briefly.

Then, puffing up almost to transparency, it opened its beak wide and released something.

Wind?

No, it was a sound.

[If we’re talking about the Leweiz young lady, I’ve heard rumors in the kingdom. She apparently has a rather unique personality.]

[His Highness was considerate, but I was concerned whether the young lady had a partner for this ball.]

The voice was blatant, yet familiar.

“This… sounds like the princess’s voice?”

Yes, it was Marien’s voice, the one that had criticized me.

Shirin was fair.

First, it delivered the whispers behind my back.

[The nobles of the empire all seem very busy. At first, they welcomed me warmly, but eventually, they kept their distance and vacated their seats.]

[Personally, I was concerned. The empire is vast and diverse, so it was said to be difficult to approach people with such strong personalities.]

Then, it presented the nobles’ gossip.

The atmosphere grew heavy, and no one dared speak.

How could they? Their whispers had been exposed in front of the person themselves—an unprecedented event.

“….”

Amid the silence, Shirin flapped its wings alone.

It had created the calm. For a spirit that loved attention, this must have been the most thrilling moment.

After observing everyone’s gaze for a while, Shirin spoke:

Justice prevails, cause and effect!

And just like a true ending fairy, it vanished.

“What… what is this?”

“Princess?”

The previously stiff crowd began whispering and staring at Marien.

No one cared to look for the empty space Shirin had occupied or wonder where the wind-bird went.

Naturally. The focus was not Shirin but Marien—the cause of this entire incident.

“I-I was just… explaining the cultural differences between the kingdom and the empire! I had no other intention…”

But it was no use. The atmosphere only grew colder.

I clicked my tongue lowly.

‘She’s in big trouble now.’

No one would believe Marien now.

Marien stood awkwardly for a while.

But what could she say now that her lies had been exposed?

She only repeated vague phrases like, ‘I don’t remember,’ or, ‘I’m not certain what I said.’

Finally, seeing no other option, she retreated.

“M-My legs hurt…”

The injury was real.

Those who had supported Marien looked ridiculous. The commander had fled, so responsibility for the loss had to be shared—but no one wanted it.

They held a long debate about ‘who started this first.’ When no conclusion came, the matter fizzled out, and they also chose to leave.

The hall gradually emptied.

Only those who stayed back to watch were happy.

By doing nothing, they had managed to stay neutral.

“I knew the young lady’s height looked different today.”

“Thinking about it, it’s funny. The two of you are so close, why would she even care about the princess?”

They praised me while pulling Esha into the conversation.

It was more dramatic and entertaining that way.

“You’re harsh, princess. You accepted a gift from Marceline young lady, yet spoke ill of her behind her back.”

“If her mistake comes from lack of learning, she should feel embarrassed about it.”

Esha looked slightly awkward and tried to slip away, but I wouldn’t let her.

“I’ve been observing Marceline young lady all along.”

I linked arms with Esha to direct everyone’s attention toward her.

“Uh… okay?”

“Although her trading guild is small, the quality isn’t bad.”

“Ah…”

Esha blushed.

At decisive moments, she was assertive, but when it came to direct praise, she didn’t know what to do—one of her endearing traits.

“Even today, she attended this ball to open trade between the kingdom and our empire, right? Her conversation with Princess Marien must have been for that reason. This is the guild she manages—no wonder the quality is good.”

Esha had taken charge of the guild because Marceline’s territory faced chronic shortages.

While the region had plenty of farmland and farmers, acquiring everyday goods besides food was difficult.

During harvest season, crop prices often crashed.

Changing the guild or introducing competition didn’t help.

Cunning merchants pretended to listen while buying food cheaply and selling it elsewhere at higher prices. Some even colluded.

It was maddening.

Eventually, Esha, the guild master’s daughter, intervened herself.

The territory didn’t become extremely wealthy, but the situation improved noticeably.

Most of the guild’s products came from Marceline’s farmland, so there were natural limits.

‘Helping a friend who works hard is only natural.’

There was also a personal reason.

‘I shouldn’t take all the credit for this.’

For now, everyone focused on Marien’s mistakes. But later, people might say different things.

‘If I involve Esha, what then?’

Emphasizing Esha’s keen insight and linking her to this event would allow Marceline’s guild to gain publicity.

Criticizing Marien while letting others talk about Esha meant even those who disliked me could join the conversation.

Sure enough, someone approached Esha just as I expected.