MLIIWTFL Chapter 232

 232

After a few seconds passed, Ariette reappeared in front of the video orb with a tense expression, as though she had finally gathered her resolve.

Finally, Ezkhiel, who had handed over the orb to Matthias, pushed aside the reports and pulled out a new sheet of paper to prepare for official correspondence.

—Your Highness the Crown Prince! I deeply apologize for the delay in receiving your message!

"You don't have to apologize so sincerely. I'm well aware of how fond your brothers are of you."

Ezkhiel, surprised by Matthias's unexpectedly gentle tone, looked up at him. It somehow sounded even kinder than the way Matthias spoke to Princess Judith, which was quite unexpected.

However, Matthias, seemingly unaware of Ezkhiel's curious gaze, focused intently on his conversation with Ariette.

"I heard from Sir Bright that you wanted to cancel your promotion. Is that truly what you wish?"

—Yes! I have plans for after retirement, and I've already made arrangements, so it would be difficult to cancel them.

"What kind of plans? You passed the civil service exam, and you even had the chance to become the Minister of Culture's aide. Are your plans really worth throwing all that away?"

—…There are many areas in which I'm lacking, so I wanted to study a bit more.

Hearing this, Matthias frowned.

"Is it a kind of study that would be hard to do alongside your civil servant duties? Or are you planning to study abroad?"

—No, I plan to stay in the capital and study. I just… want to focus solely on studying. I don't think I'll have the time or energy if I try to balance it with work.

"What kind of study is it that you feel you must dedicate yourself to it entirely? Is it really worth resigning from your position?"

—…From the beginning, I wasn't suited to be a civil servant. It wasn't a long time, but through working, I realized that.

At her somewhat somber response, Matthias's expression hardened. It was rare for him to show such emotion, and Ezkhiel, who noticed this, tried to hide his surprise as he continued observing him.

"That was only because you held a low-ranking post. Were you serving as the Minister of Culture's aide, a position worthy of your station, you would no longer need to bend yourself to others and could at last demonstrate your true abilities. In time, I am certain you would distinguish yourself as an exceptional talent."

—I really appreciate you seeing me that way… but still, I want to step down and follow through with what I've already planned.

"If it's because of your colleagues, I could have you transferred. You don't need to worry."

—No, please don't do that!

Ariette raised her voice in surprise. Ezkhiel almost gasped at her daring to speak so impolitely to royalty, but what shocked him even more was Matthias's reaction.

Normally, Matthias wouldn't tolerate anyone raising their voice in front of him. But this time, instead of reprimanding Ariette or giving her a cold look, he actually smiled gently, as if trying to comfort her.

"It's not because of you. When multiple people gang up on one person, it's natural to restore order. You don't need to feel guilty."

—Of course the others are upset; I'm receiving special treatment. But it's not like I've been bullied. They just… don't speak to me outside of work, that's all.

"Were you unaware that your colleagues were spreading bad rumors about you? If it were up to me, I'd fire them. Transferring them is lenient."

—But if you do that, Your Highness will be criticized! I don't want that!

Ezkhiel dropped his pen. If he had been holding a teacup, he probably would've dropped that too.

To speak so childishly to the Crown Prince, it wasn't just rude; it was enough to make one question her sanity.

'…Didn't Lady Averil use that same tone when trying to calm down her brothers before?'

Could it be… that in Ariette's mind, this was what "calming someone down" sounded like?

Ezkhiel felt a chill run down his spine.

As he tried to gauge Matthias's expression to somehow defend her, a quiet laugh echoed through the previously silent office.

"Now you're finally speaking comfortably."

—Huh? Ah…! I-I'm so sorry! That was terribly rude of me…

Realizing what she had said, Ariette gasped. But Matthias still looked relaxed and unaffected, even pleased.

'…Am I hallucinating? Have I been working too hard? Is this a dream?'

Watching the scene unfold, Ezkhiel secretly pinched his own thigh to check, hard enough to feel it. The pain was real. So this wasn't a dream.

"I told you to speak comfortably, so you don't need to worry. You care too much about how others see you."

—B-but… how could I speak so casually to the Crown Prince…?

"I'm giving you permission, so it's fine. Speak as you just did. That's an imperial order."

Ezkhiel was once again struck speechless.

He seriously began to wonder if there had been some kind of drug in the tea or snacks. The idea that Matthias, of all people, would tell a noblewoman to speak comfortably with him, it was something he could never have imagined, even if Matthias had gone mad.

And yet, this was undeniably real.

'D-don't tell me… is His Highness interested in Lady Averil?'

Telling her to speak casually, personally contacting her over such a small matter, even urging her not to quit her low-ranking job, none of it was normal behavior for Matthias.

Now that he thought about it, Matthias had given off a cold aura even when he merely mentioned that he had contacted Ariette…

'Could it be… did Letty expect this and ask me to get involved?'

A few moments earlier, Ezkhiel had recalled the question Lettycia asked, "Does Matthias have someone he likes?" That question now lingered heavily in his mind. Trying to clear his increasingly tangled thoughts, he closed his eyes briefly.

Fortunately, Matthias seemed too absorbed in his conversation with Ariette to notice Ezkhiel's distraction.

"I understand how you feel, so I'll cancel the promotion. I don't know exactly what it is you plan to do, but I hope it turns out well."

—Th-thank you, Your Highness.

"If you're grateful, don't forget the order I gave you the next time you visit the garden."

With that, the communication ended, and the orb returned to Ezkhiel.

As he moved to put the orb away and begin drafting the official letter to cancel the promotion order, Matthias suddenly spoke again.

"Investigate all those in the Ministry of Culture who were involved in ostracizing Lady Averil. I said I'd cancel the promotion, but not the punishment."

"But even if those lower-ranked officials did something wrong, their offenses wouldn't usually warrant dismissal or even demotion. On what grounds are you planning to punish them?"

Ezkhiel asked, flustered. Matthias responded with a cold smile.

"If we dig, we'll find something. How many officials truly maintain perfect decorum in their duties?"

"Even so, punishing only the Ministry of Culture staff seems unfair. Isn't that excessive?"

"It's meant to set an example. If you bully one person, this is what happens."

Ezkhiel suspected that the "one person" was Ariette Averil, but couldn't bring himself to say it aloud. Matthias's expression, tinged with a mix of fury and menace, when he spoke of bullying, made it clear how serious he was.

'Sure, bullying deserves punishment, but proving it will be difficult. How can I handle this…?'

Even Ezkhiel, who didn't condone ostracism, found himself overwhelmed. From a practical standpoint, carrying out such an order would be tricky, especially since Ariette's unique status could cause the offenders to claim they were the ones being treated unfairly.

And just when things were already complicated, Matthias added another task.

"And didn't Lady Sharon say she's friends with Lady Averil?"

"Yes, that's correct…"

"Then ask her what Lady Averil plans to do after resigning. Report back to me."

"Is there a particular reason we need to investigate that?"

This time, Ezkhiel couldn't help but question it. Punishing the bullies could at least be justified as setting an example, but probing into a resigned official's future plans? That was a different matter.

"Considering what Lady Averil and her brother did five years ago, it's wise to be informed. Knowing what she's up to may help us anticipate the movements of the House of Averil."

"…Understood."

Recalling that she came from a prestigious house and that her brother held high office, Ezkhiel tried to convince himself to accept the crown prince's order.

But the seed of doubt that had sprouted in his heart had already grown too much to be easily stamped out.

'Is that really the only reason he wants her investigated? Could it truly be nothing personal…?'

For the first time, cracks began to appear in Ezkhiel's faith in the crown prince's impartiality, a faith he had never once questioned before.

Even so, the trust he had built up over the years was enough to cover those cracks, at least for now. Ezkhiel shook his head, trying to cast off the unease, and wrote down the order he had been given.

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