52 修羅場 (2/2)

”What do you think you're doing with the nation's wealth? ......!

”Your Majesty. Your Majesty, you are right to be angry, but now we must check the national treasure.

Kai gives a short whistle.

”You're a good actor, Mr. Alford.

”You're a good actor, Mr. Alford. I can see that you are a friend of my brother's.

The king and Alford are the only ones talking now. The only national treasures kept in the palace are the queen's tiara, necklace and bracelet. So the national treasure vault itself is probably not a very large room.

I heard the sound of a lock turning with a click and the sound of a box opening with a click. It is strange that I feel a strange sense of guilt when I can hear even such a small sound.

I can't say that I was eavesdropping...

Where were you eavesdropping in the first place?

That's true.

I guess I'll just have to cut it out.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that ...... has a great selection of national treasures.

The bracelets, necklaces and ...... the tiara?

Oh. It is a venerable treasure that can only be worn by the queen of this country. ...... What's wrong?

”...... No.

What's the matter, Alford? What is it that's bothering you?

Even without looking at his face, I could tell from his voice alone that Alford could not believe his eyes. --It's not an act.

This tiara, although ...... finely crafted, is not the same as the national treasure that has been handed down in this country for generations.

It's not the same as a national treasure that has been passed down from generation to generation.

I'm sure you're right.

You're sure about that, Alford?　You're sure about that, Alford? It looks real to me.

I can't make such a statement without proof. It is indeed incredibly well made. It would have taken an extraordinary amount of money and effort to make such a replica...

So how do you know it's a fake?

I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm not sure what to do. A good engineer has crafted the scratches so that they shine through, so they are not generally known to the public.

Even from the hidden room, where only sound could be heard, I could see that the king stared at the tiara in silence. Kai made a surprising sound.

”Mr. Alford, you know a lot about strange things, don't you?

”Master Al's family is a great historical researcher. Al's family is a great historical researcher, and there's no one better in the kingdom to talk about this kind of knowledge.

You sound like you're really surprised. You really are a good actor, aren't you?

No, I don't think it's an act. I didn't tell Master Al that the empress is messing with the national treasure.

...... Is that so?

They say that to deceive your enemy, you must first deceive your friend. To tell you the truth, I also know that the matriarch has been messing with the national treasure, but I don't know the details yet.

With a hand on her cheek, Diana sighed.

With a hand to her cheek, Diana sighed, ”But stealing the crown? I don't know,” she said, ”but it's possible that she got greedy when she heard that His Majesty had ascended to the throne and was not going to choose a queen right away. I wonder how she planned to cover up the fact that she would not have a queen for a long time, and that her coronation would take place. She should have just contented herself with the ornaments in front of her.

”You shouldn't have messed with the front either. I mean, you put a lot of effort into making the fake tiara, didn't you at least plan to hide it?

”Well, I don't know about that.

In the event that you have any questions concerning where and how to use the internet, you can call us at the web site. I'm not sure what to say.

I'm not sure what to make of this, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

”What can I do for you, Your Majesty? This is too ...... much to be kept private.

I'm not going to keep this to myself. --Where is the High Septon?

I've asked my aide Hi-Zet to keep an eye on her after we take her into custody.

I have a message from my aide. He said he's keeping her in his office.

All right, let's go.

Oh, sister-in-law, you've been waiting all this time, haven't you?

When I hear your voice like this, you sound like a normal person, Chris-san.

”Mimicry is my specialty, sister-in-law. She can even become a lady-in-waiting if she wants to.

”Can we conclude that everyone who is close to the Cresta family is strange?

I'm sure Alford would have a big objection to Kai's line, but Deanna smiled and nodded, searching for signs of life below. The sound of several people's footsteps echoed, and the National Treasure vault regained its previous quietness.

「……予想したほどの修羅場でもなかったわね」

「どの程度の修羅場を想定してたワケ. これでも結構な修羅場だったと思うけど」

「陛下が暴れて手を付けられなくなるとか、ティアラを偽物だと見抜いたアル様を陛下が信じず泥沼になるとか、女官長が乗り込んできて言い訳大会開催とか？」

「……ちょっとは王様側のことも信用してあげなよ」

「別に信用していないわけじゃないわ. ただ、最悪の事態を念頭に置く癖がついているだけ」

「厳しいねぇ」

くすくす笑ったカイが立ち上がる.

「修羅場見学も終わったことだし、話を聞こうか？」

紫紺の瞳が煌めく. 『修羅場見学』よりもディアナの話をカイが重要視していることは、その目が十二分に物語っていた.