Chapter One Hundred and Four: Soap Turmoil 2
Waltride protested to Leonie.
“Taking Karen to your camp, which sides with this Isaac person, to prove her innocence is essentially setting a trap. Karen, you don’t need to go. I’ll handle things with Lady Benedicta.”
“My, Your Highness, please don’t be so wary. His Majesty the King will also be present that day.”
“His Majesty too, you say?”
“Yes, surely no wrongdoing would occur in His Majesty’s presence? Please rest assured.”
Waltride lost her momentum and glanced at Karen with anxious eyes.
“True, there may be no foul play… but if she is deemed to have lied before His Majesty, Karen would…”
This seemed to spell trouble.
As Waltride hesitated, Leonie smiled gently:
“So, in the end, is she truly the kind of person who would steal someone else’s recipe?”
“That’s not it! But if your people are determined to frame her, they must have already made perfect preparations! Compared to them, Karen is practically defenseless!”
“If you say you cannot prove it, then there’s no help for it. I shall have to inform His Majesty thus: the alchemist who assists Her Highness Waltride with her social affairs apparently has no intention of proving she didn’t steal recipes from a trading company that has long supported the Kingdom of Earthfill, and Her Highness Waltride seems to condone this.”
“Wh…!?”
Waltride looked on the verge of tears.
Though abandoned by her family, Waltride had always said her father was kind to her. She was aware this was probably because he admired her beautiful appearance, but she still smiled happily about it. Now her eyes trembled with undisguised anxiety at the thought of even her father turning his back on her.
It seemed Karen had been mistaken in thinking she’d dragged Waltride into this dispute. Benedicta was precisely targeting Waltride’s weakness.
“It will be alright, Lady Waltride.”
“Karen…”
Karen stepped in front of Waltride and asked Leonie:
“How will this proof be conducted?”
“You and Isaac will each be given half a bell’s time. During your allotted time, you will prove your innocence in whatever way you see fit.”
“Are there any restrictions on how it must be done?”
“You are free to use any means.”
“And Lady Benedicta and His Majesty will judge whether we’re innocent based on what they see?”
“That is correct.”
Hearing this, Karen couldn’t shake the feeling they might shift the rules as much as needed to label her a liar.
“Lady Waltride, what kind of person is His Majesty?”
“…He is fair. That’s why I became… as I am.”
Karen interpreted it as: “He may adore his daughter, but he’s also cold-hearted enough not to use valuable magic tools just because he finds her cute." In other words, even though the King favored Benedicta, he wouldn’t demean someone speaking the truth for her sake.
Of course, the King might still be deceived by clever schemes. Either way, thanks to Leonie, too much attention was now focused on Karen and Waltride.
“It seems we have no choice but to accept this proposal. However, I would like time to prepare for this proof, Countess Schiele.”
“Yes, I understand. It may take time to gather materials. How much time should I give you?”
“…I’d like enough time to recall an adventurer from the lowest level of the dungeon.”
“The lowest level of the dungeon? Do you need materials from there… or are you planning to call for help?”
Leonie chuckled sympathetically before saying:
“A week should be sufficient. Someone capable of reaching the lowest level would have a teleportation stone. That’s plenty of time to recall them.”
Karen thought for a moment before nodding.
“Then I request that much time.”
“I will accompany Karen, so keep that in mind!”
“Of course, please do come, Your Highness. Lady Benedicta always welcomes your visits.”
Leonie smiled as if truly welcoming the idea.
“Your Highness is His Majesty’s beloved daughter. Lady Benedicta is sincerely pondering how she might support you, who returned to the capital after overcoming hardship.”
“…And this is how she shows it?”
“If Your Highness has fallen victim to a fraudulent alchemist’s schemes, Lady Benedicta wishes to help out of deep compassion. His Majesty surely feels the same.”
Karen shuddered, frightened by how genuinely sincere Leonie appeared.
This unfathomable woman served Benedicta. Karen had imagined the woman who enjoyed the king’s unwavering favor to be some young, flashy mistress-secretary type—but it seemed her assumption was way off the mark.
“Um, may I ask one thing?”
“Yes?”
Leonie smiled at Karen’s question.
“Is this Isaac of Isaac Trading Company related to the Gubert Trading Company?”
“So you do have some knowledge of this. The person who reported the theft and sought our help is Isaac Gubert. He’s the eldest son of the Gubert family, who runs a trading company that branched off from the Gubert Trading Company—which has long contributed to the kingdom by developing products mainly for adventurers—and now deals in products for nobles.”
“I thought as much.”
Ever since being accused of recipe theft, Marian’s face had been flashing through Karen’s mind. It appeared to be the work of Marian’s brother.
“Is the recipe Mr. Isaac claims was stolen the one for soap?”
“If you’re aware of something, it might be better to resolve this privately before presenting it to His Majesty… Why not consult Lady Benedicta? Alchemist Karen. Lady Benedicta only wishes to help Her Highness and is very generous. Even if a commoner has committed a crime, she would forgive them with an open heart and intercede on their behalf.”
With those words, Leonie moved away from Karen’s group.
After that, customers didn’t return. Karen’s potions had become potions that might soon be condemned by the King. Everyone was keeping their distance.
“…Looks like business is done for today. Shall we head back?”
“Then first, we must ask Julius for help.”
“Why Mr. Julius?!”
Waltride looked confused at Karen’s startled reaction.
“What’s with that response?! Didn’t you just say you wanted enough time to recall an adventurer from the lowest level of the dungeon?”
“I did, but I never said I’d actually bring him back, did I?”
With a puzzled Waltride blinking in confusion, Karen slipped out of the salon. Once they were in Waltride’s carriage, she said:
“Lady Waltride, could you convey this message to His Majesty? That for the sake of my honor, I cannot accept such false accusations. That I will fight resolutely. And please ask him to ensure the accusing party cannot escape, so that my honor may be restored.”
“Is it safe to convey such a message?”
“At the very least, you will be safe, Lady Waltride. I believe this is just a trial run to gauge your influence. Perhaps His Majesty is testing you.”
“…You mean His Majesty isn’t going along with Lady Benedicta’s scheme, but testing me?”
“That’s what I think. It has the same scent as when my master tested me.”
Benedicta and Leonie might harbor ill intentions toward Waltride. Yet their blade had only reached Karen. If someone had diverted that point away from Waltride, it must have been the King.
“To meet His Majesty’s expectations, please stand your ground, Lady Waltride.”
“I don’t mind, but this means you can’t escape either, Karen.”
“I think it will be fine… I’d like you to negotiate with His Majesty and push for something like ‘Banishment from the royal capital if they flee!’ to ensure the other party can’t disappear.”
“So you’re confident, Karen?”
“That’s why I accepted Countess Schiele’s proposal.”
“Then say so sooner! It’s bad for my heart!”
“Sorr-ry.”
After apologizing lightly to the half-crying Waltride, Karen turned away and gazed out the carriage window. Watching children running through the noble district streets, she pressed her lips together firmly.
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