Chapter 401 (2/2)
「Realize that sooner, stupid.」
「Haha, seriously.」
I stop Luna and Gido who were about to hold onto Ize's sides as he was leaving the room.
He's not going to run away anymore.
「Tonight is the last night.」
I open up a compartment in the desk, take out a bottle and toss it at Ize.
Contained inside is the pollen of alraune.
「Use it if you're going to sleep with your wife. If you're a man, show me you can at least leave a child behind on the final night.」
A grin appears on his face as he exits the room.
That should do it. It wasn't as bad of a development as I thought.
「Alright, next. Has she stopped crying by now?」
Celia brings in the aforementioned maid.
「Aauu…… it hurts…… hic.」
「Hey, don't grab her by the hair.」
Celia was dragging the maid by her neatly tied hair.
You're going to make her cry again after it took so long for her to stop.
「C'mon, don't be scared. I just want to listen to your story. I'll be happy if you can answer me without crying. You're Pinette, right?」
I guide the girl to the sofa and sit down beside her.
She can talk easier the closer we are together.
I gently take her hand in mine to comfort her further while my other arm wraps around her shoulder and brings her toward me.
「You were so cool before too……」
「A super lenient sentence is going to be given! I'm sure of it!」
Myla sighs and Celia gets angry, but I'm going to be a fair judge.
I glance down at Cheri's notes.
Pinette handed blueprints of the mansion and rough sketches of Rafen, detailing the locations of important facilities like the aqueduct, to South Yuguria. If that was all they wanted, they didn't have to particularly use her and could have learned that by disguising a spy as a peddler.
「You also told them how Adolph was in command, right?」
「Fueeh…… I'm sorry.」
This is the important part.
Adolph, a domestic affairs official with no experience in military matters, was in charge of defending Rafen.
Knowing this information, they could be bolder with their surprise attack on Rafen.
If Leopolt or Myla stayed behind to take command, we would have put up a better fight regardless of whether the attack was expected or not.
Unlike troop count, this information could not be obtained by a spy camouflaging into the city.
Only someone like her who works in the mansion could acquire such knowledge.
「That despicable South Yuguria. Using such a cute maid……」
I show my anger as I hug the sobbing maid.
「You called that man an idiot and a fool, right?」
What's Myla saying? No one will treat a middle-aged man and a young female equally.
「Now, tell me about your circ.u.mstances. You must have had something you couldn't do anything about, right?」
I rub Pinette's back to rea.s.sure her.
Compared to her childish features and gestures, her b.r.e.a.s.t.s are decently big.
「Sniff…… actually……」
Pinette starts to talk.
The reason why she acted as a spy was in fact very troubling.
「I…… recently found someone I like.」
I see.
「This person was addicted to gambling…… he borrowed money from loansharks…… and the amount really spiraled out of control.」
How terrible.
「I wanted to save the person I love…… except my wages and savings was nowhere near enough.」
Fumu fumu.
「After he told me, I went into the mansion's treasure room…… and took only a little―― hiiiiih!!」
Celia and Myla draw their swords.
「Hey, you're scaring her.」
What will you do if she cries again?
I pat her head and urge her to continue.
「Only a little, huh?」
「Yes…… I snuck the box on the trolley that looked the most gorgeous…… nooooo!!」
Celia and Myla raise their weapons above their heads, ready to swing.
「What do you mean little when you took the whole box!? I'm cutting her, I'm killing her!」
「The most luxurious box…… isn't that box the one given by the Emperor of the Federation? Adolph was going crazy when it went missing!」
Aah, that one?
Who would have guessed it was completely stolen.
「A maid shouldn't have been able to get in the treasure room whenever she wanted. It's not a lock that can be picked. Explain how you did it!」
「I saw that the treasure room happened to be open coincidentally when the master called the madam. They left to the bedroom without locking it……」
Celia and Myla s.h.i.+ft their attention to me.
As the saying goes, it doesn't matter how impenetrable a fortress is if the guards are slacking off.
「That's beside the point though. We aren't here to investigate a theft case.」
Pinette is urged to continue.
She timidly relates the crucial story.
「I took the box with me, although I later calmly thought about it and decided it was too luxurious after all…… so I kept it in my room and took out gold little by little.」
That makes sense.
If such a fancy box was carried by a maid, she would be the center of everyone's attention.
「When I finally paid back all of his debt…… he learned that I really stole from the mansion and that was when his att.i.tude instantly became cold. He wanted to leave Rafen with another woman……」
Pinette experienced the sad emotions again as she retold the story of being abandoned by the one she loved, except Myla simply put a hand on her shoulder.
「Get to the point quickly.」
Her back straightens fearfully despite me asking nicely.
「Hii, yes!! It was the next day when he disappeared. A young peddler called out to me saying ”I know about your theft”.」
We get to the important part at last.
「He told me to do as I'm told unless I want the master to find out…… I drew a map of the mansion and he persistently asked me about who the person in charge of the mansion currently was.」
「And you answered Adolph?」
The maid nods vigorously.
「The master and Leopolt-sama was away so by process of elimination, I thought it had to be Adolph-sama. I was asked to do more things after that…… and since I would be executed if the theft was discovered, I felt like I had to obey…… uuuuu, it was scary knowing my life wasn't in my own hands……」
The maid collapses in tears.
「I get it. That's enough.」
She didn't proactively betray me.
Her weakness was taken advantage of by a spy.
「I understand the situation now. Shall I line her up with that man for the execution tomorrow then?」
Myla begins to write up the doc.u.ments for the death sentence.
「Let's hang her family as well. I'll bring them.」
Celia prepares to head out into the city.
「Doooon't!!」
Pinette breaks down and cries.
「Why do you always a.s.sume execution?」
Poor Pinette wails as Celia and Myla close in on her.
「On top of laying hands on the money in the mansion, she's a war criminal who allowed the enemy to ambush us! In a way, her crimes are more serious than that other man's crimes!」
「Compared to her, the other deathrow convicts are like pi…… p-pee on the roadside!」
I understand where both of them are coming from.
What they don't understand is that I don't kill women, no matter what the situation may be.
Also, when that vulgar word left Celia's mouth, it impacted me a little.
「Can't we settle this by whipping her a.s.s?」
「No.」
Myla rejects the idea flatly.
「It's the same as the other man. The fact that she was arrested by the guards has likely spread throughout the city. Those families who suffered casualties from the attack will lynch you if you grant her a lenient sentence.」
「I don't want that…… mama……my sisters are young too……」
That would be bad.
「Then let us settle it with only her graciously dying like we did with that man.」
Celia nods in approval.
「I don't want that either!」
It won't happen.
Unlike that man, she's cute and has big b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Besides, I'm also gradually remembering all the hard work she did in the mansion.
She's clumsy and a bit of a ditz, but she doesn't have a twisted personality or anything.
She only stole money because she was led astray by a bad man and her timid nature was exploited by South Yuguria.
I want to save her somehow.
「Myla, what is the worst punishment you can think of? Excluding death, that is.」
「Stripping her family name and branding her as a disgrace, perhaps?」
That would apply specifically to a n.o.ble, so it wouldn't work in this case.
「Then…… killing her entire family…… I guess?」
The maid cries, hoping that was a joke. Of course, the suggestion is rejected.
「Then…… imprisonment in a dungeon?」
「A dungeon…… that's it?」
Myla nods.
「There's a difference between a man going to prison and a woman going to prison. If a woman, a young and beautiful one at that, goes to prison, all the jailers will no doubt turn her into their s.e.x toy. To make it worse, the prisoners might join in and she'll be brutally raped repeatedly in the filthy prison.」
Myla s.h.i.+vers when she imagines the possible scene.
「I see…… then let's go with that.」
「Hiiuu!」
Pinette shrieks and faints from the shock.
「It's the most that can be compromised. If the populace see her worn out with an inflated stomach, they should be satisfied―― piih.」
I give Myla's forehead a flick.
The surprise caused a cute little sound to escape her lips.
「How can I let a girl who is crying after reflecting on her sins go through something that horrible? Have this arranged right away.」
I swiftly write up a doc.u.ment.
「Ah, you made a mistake. Aegir-sama always gets that wrong.」
It's Celia this time? Fine, I admit I'm wrong, but keep quiet for now.
「Err, let's see…… renovating the dungeon? Cover the floor and walls with soft wood, place feather cus.h.i.+ons, install a room for toilet purposes, and also install a skylight with sunlight and ventilation in mind…… in the dungeon? This is the dungeon you're talking about, right?」
「That's correct. Once the improvements have been made, I'll hold the trial and sentence her to an indefinite imprisonment in the dungeon. Then, if she has a breakdown like before, she should be fine.」
I'll leave it as an indefinite time period for now and then let her out when things calm down.
After that, I'll let her live somewhere in the rural parts of Rafen and there won't be any problems.
「Hauu.」
Pinette opened her eyes before I realized.
I approach her and soothingly rub her shoulder.
「Everything will be fine if you leave it to me. You and your family are in good hands.」
「Uu…… thank you very much. Showing me such kindness after I stole and even betrayed you, master is truly a G.o.d-like person.」
「There's no point in condemning you for what's done. However, punishment is punishment. I won't let you leave the dungeon……」
I rub Pinette's b.r.e.a.s.t.s and a.s.s.
「By the time you come out of the dungeon, you'll probably be pregnant. Are you prepared?」
Pinette resigns herself and nods as her face flushes red.
「I don't know when things will cool down, but when you're about to give birth, I'll allow you special permission to visit your family.」
Which means, if she gets incessantly pumped with seed, she can go home in roughly half a year.
Then, when the excitement of the war dies down, she can live happily with a big family.
After the girl bows her head, she is taken away by Myla.
Well, that takes care of that.
There really isn't any point to giving such punishment in the first place.
Especially with the Gukuto family, we're essentially crus.h.i.+ng our allies and doing what the enemy wants us to do.
In terms of schemes, the enemy has complete advantage over us.
To win, we need to drag them into our ring.
I'll have Leopolt or Tristan think about something when they come back.
「Is it all over?」
「Not yet.」
Celia opens the door of the office, revealing Rita and Sebastian.
「The duty of managing the maids falls to me, the head maid……not being able to determine if someone stole and gave insider information is an unthinkable scandal. Please punish me harshly as well.」
「Managing the treasure storage is my responsibility. Strict reprimanding comes naturally when a robbery occurs under my watch.」
Rita and Sebastian bow almost as low as the floor.
It's such a ha.s.sle to think of a way to punish them and I want to pardon them, but I get the feeling they won't accept that decision.
I'll just give some kind of trivial and ridiculous punishment.
「For Rita――」
「……uu. That can't be considered punish…… no, I will do as you command.」
Fufufu, I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
I'll be a little more serious for Sebastian.
He would have nightmares if he does what Rita was told to do.
「Listen to the maid―― and servant―― gently and naturally.」
「Very well.」
The names I gave were listed in Cheri's report.
They were similarly suspected of being in contact with South Yuguria and might have possibly gotten threatened by them.
Nothing substantial has been done yet, so I'm sure everything will be solved once we get their side of the story.
I'm not very good at getting people to confess politely, plus my status as a feudal lord gets in the way.
Sebastian's sage-like wisdom will be used to great effect here.
I should be done now, right?
「……you guys too?」
I turn my eyes to Gido and Luna when they return.
「Are you going to take responsibility too?」
「Yes. Failing to hold Gukuto in check is the fault of the entire tribe. I will be the representative along with-」
「Me. I will also take the blame.」
After a moment to think, I open my mouth.
「Come.」
My voice sounded colder than usual.
<hr>
Protagonist: Aegir Hardlett. 25 years old. Summer.
Status: Goldonia Kingdom Margrave. Great Feudal Lord of Eastern Area. Mountain Legend. Friend of the Dwarves. Friend of the King of Aless. Dragon Slayer Hero.
Elf Mediator. s.e.x King of White City.
Family:
Nonna (legal wife), Carla (concubine), Mel (concubine), Miti (concubine), Maria (concubine), Catherine (concubine)
Brynhildr (gathering), Gretel (concubine), Melissa (fainted), Kuu (lover), Ruu (lover)
Mireille (lover), Pipi (aerial bombing), Casie (untraceable), Rita (disciplined), Yoguri (playwright), Leah (injured)
Marceline (lover), Daughters - Stephanie (lover), Bridget (lover), Felicie (lover)
Natia (wealthy person), Sofia (lover), Sekrit (off on her own)
Sebastian (disciplined), Dorothea (capital mansion supervisor), Claudia (volunteer soldier), Clara (resignation)
Celestina (weak), Monica (troubled), Adela (embarra.s.sed)
Subordinates:
Celia (adjutant), Myla (commander), Marta (attendant), Irijina (commander), Peticheri (intelligence), Luna (being punished), Ruby (around somewhere), Gido (being punished), Polte (dealing with aftermath)
Leopolt (staff officer), Tristan (staff officer)
Claire & Laurie (total exhaustion), Lilian (relaxing), Kroll (dealing with aftermath), Alma (dealing with aftermath)
Rafen Defense:
Adolph (dealing with aftermath), Jim (Rafen defense), Suzy (no-good staff officer A), Solana (no-good staff officer B)
Felteris (fis.h.i.+ng for men), Alice (relieving fatigue)
Non-humans:
Lammy (monster unit), Alraune (potted plant), Mirumi (monster unit), Balbano (meeting and farewell), harpy (equipping with bombs)
Pet:
Pochi (tactical bombing), Messerschmitt (aboard a flight), Schwartz (horse)
Citizens: 220,000 (uncertain in wartime)
Major Cities – Rafen: 40,000. Lintbloom: 7000. Special Cultivation District: 14,000.
Rafen Defense Force:
Security: 150 men
Guards: 500 men
Volunteer Soldiers/ Recruits: 16 000 men
Under Protagonist: 28 250
Escort Unit: 120
Infantry: 12 000
Cavalry: 1300
Archers: 1400
Cannoneers: 450
Bow Cavalry: 9000
Aless Soldiers: 3980
Cannons: 60, Large Cannons: 30, Dwarven Cannons: 16, Field Artillery: 20, Chariots: 50
On Their Own
Aless Soldiers: 10 000
a.s.sets: 159 500 gold (dungeon refurbishment -100), (found grant money +59 600)
s.e.xual Partners: 782, children who have been born: 68 + 565 + ???
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