55 When the bells are finished ringing (1/2)

”Nonsense!

The matriarch screams, forgetting how to act. Her pale cheeks reflect her shocked eyes, and her open mouth lets out a ragged breath.

The king also stood up, not quite as surprised as the matriarch, but still unable to hide his surprise.

What is the meaning of this? Why all of a sudden?

”Excuse me.

In the hurried room, a calm voice echoed out of place. After the knight of the King's Kingsguard who rushed into the room, Mia, the lady of the Red Rose Room, bowed her head in front of the door.

”Who are you?

This is Mia, the lady in charge of this room. --Mia, what's wrong?

Yes, Master Red Rose. The national treasure that was found was reported by the people of the castle. He's in the custody of the outer court. That's what my brother ...... told me.

Keith nodded, seemingly satisfied.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

”...... I see. I'm sure the outer court is full of talented people.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do it.

If it's possible, why don't we interrogate the people who reported it to us?

Is this ...... the room?

Yes. Fortunately, this room is full of people who are involved in this case. Wouldn't it be more discreet to bring the people here?

Although men other than the king were not allowed to enter the palace, it was a different story in an emergency. After all, they are currently in the midst of exposing the wrongdoings of the head of the women's court. As most of the injustice had been committed in the inner palace, it was inevitable that men would come and go to investigate.

The suspicion against me has not been completely cleared. If Madame Maris and I were to be absent from the palace, it would be like letting them know something was wrong. It is better to invite one of the people into the palace in secret, so as to cause less trouble.

That's ...... true, but... Are you willing to let a commoner into your room?

What is important now is not my pride, but to reveal the truth. I do not have the pride to be hurt by such a thing, of course.

Deanna has been out and about in the city since she was a child, interacting closely with the people. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that if I were you. There is no law that forbids commoners from entering the royal palace, and now that the ban on men in the inner palace has been established, she should take the pragmatic approach.

Even if Deanna didn't tell him in detail, Juke knew that it was the quickest way. He turned and looked back at Alford.

He turned to Alford and said, ”Bring the people who claimed to have delivered the national treasure here so they won't be seen.

”Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, Your Majesty. ...... Commander Gracie, may I trust you to guide me through the palace?

Yes, Your Majesty. If possible, I think it would be best if you bring along those from the outer court who have taken custody of the people.

”Yes, do that.

After receiving the king's affirmation, the two commanders left the room without a sound. The chief lady, who could only watch the whole thing in silence, was trembling, looking as if she should be worried about fainting.

--Perhaps it was natural. For her, finding the real thing outside the palace would never be possible.

I instructed her to make a fresh pot of tea, and asked her to bring some food for tea and snacks. When the table was newly set, I heard a rustling from outside the room. The main gate of the palace is a straight line from the inner palace, so it doesn't take long to get there even if you avoid being seen.

The door to the main room was opened in an instant without a word of intercession.

”Thank you for your patience, Your Majesty.

I'm not waiting that long. ...... And the man in question?

He's waiting right here.

Alford stepped out of the way and saw a small man dressed as modestly as a commoner could be. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Diagonally behind him, there was a young man in a government uniform. That is probably Mia's younger brother, Claude.

As soon as she saw the unknown people, the matriarch's eyes widened, and for a brief moment, she pierced him with a gaze full of hatred and anger.

”Are you the one who delivered the national treasure?

You're the one who delivered the national treasure. ...... Haha!

The man bowed his head as if he were crawling on the floor. Juke smiled, perhaps unconsciously, a moderately friendly smile.

”Don't be so frightened. No one is going to eat you alive. Give me the ...... name.

”Yes, ....... My name is Hans!

”Well, ...... Hans. You're from King's Landing?

Yes. I'm a locksmith for three generations.

Oh, I see.

In this land where agriculture has been the mainstay for a relatively long time, locks were one of the first technologies to be established and developed. It is the natural order of things that when you settle down, you need a house, and when you build a house, you need to save money, and when you save money, you need to steal, and when you steal, you need to be aware of crime prevention. The history of locks, the easiest way to prevent intruders, is much longer than the history of kingdoms, to be honest.

If you're a locksmith in the royal capital, you'll be responsible for the security of noblemen's residences. Without thorough information management and trust, it would be very difficult to do business. The title of being the owner of a locksmith store that has been in existence for three generations is perfect for lowering the guard of the royal court.

Juke's eyes softened as he looked at him, and he asked Hans a question that made him feel ashamed.

”So, Hans. Explain to me how the national treasure ended up in your hands.

”Very well, sir. ”Well...

Hans, the locksmith, explained that the situation was about this.

Hans is a locksmith and occasionally receives strange requests. If you are an expert in locks, you are probably an expert in opening locks, and he would like you to use your skills to break into places and get these items for him.

As a good citizen, of course he would not accept such a request. ...... However, there were rare occasions when he had no choice but to accept. When the other party is of a very high status and has an attitude of great importance, and if he refuses the request, he will accept the request in tears in order to protect his store and family. --That's what happened a few days ago.

”Sneak into the designated house, switch the contents of this package with the ones in the house, and bring me the one in the house.

It is not uncommon for the thief to be given a forgery so that the thief will not notice the theft. The other party was a high-flying aristocrat, and it was rather strange that such a person had come to me in person.

Feeling that he could not refuse the offer, he reluctantly accepted the package and entered the mansion he was told to go to, found a room where he thought the treasure might be, and went inside. .......

He was surprised to see a sparkling piece of jewelry that he recognized.

If I remember correctly, it was a piece of jewelry that had been worn by the previous queen. If I remember correctly, it was worn by the previous queen. I happened to see her up close and personal once. I couldn't believe my eyes, but I knew that ...... it wasn't supposed to be there.

He hesitated, but in the end he took the item without replacing it, and gave the client the item he had originally been given for replacement, pretending it was from the house. It seems that the item given to the client was a well-made forgery, and the client left satisfied without being able to distinguish the authenticity.

I was troubled for the last few days. I thought that I had done something unnecessary, that it was just a misunderstanding and that this was an item that any nobleman would have. ....... I thought that if by any chance it was a real treasure, I shouldn't be allowed to keep it forever.

He concluded his explanation by saying that he had decided to come forward in the face of punishment.

Juke, who had fallen silent with a difficult look on his face, was replaced by Keith, who was always and everywhere calm and collected.

”Thank you for your conscience and courage. Can I ask you one more question while I'm at ......?

”Of course. Anything you want.

Is the person who made the request to you in this room right now?

When he was asked this question, he looked around the room, but with trepidation.

The lady over there is .......

He pointed to the head mistress, who was busily changing her expression.

All eyes were on her, and she stepped forward, her body trembling with anger.

Don't you dare lie to me!

I'm not lying!　I have a very good memory!

Shut up!　That's what I call a thief. I would never do such a thing!

But I can assure you that our guest was a noble lady!

But I am certain that the guest was a noble lady!

You see, that's the least of what you know. There are plenty of noblewomen in the capital.

But you have the voice and the looks of a ......!

Then she must have sounded like me and looked like me. --”Then it must have been a woman with a voice and stature similar to mine.” - ”You'd be a fool to try to testify without having seen her face.

--I was speechless.

Behind her expressionless mask, Diana smiled. I'm sure you thought you could get away with it with the prestige of a nobleman, but that was your mistake in the first place.

”...... How did you know?

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

She sat down on the sofa and shot straight at the headmistress.

”What are you talking about?

”Mr. Hans said he didn't see my client's face. How can you be so sure?

The Chief's eyes were clearly agitated. I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

It's definitely ...... strange.

It is!　That's because the guy only talked about his height and voice. ......

”That doesn't mean he didn't see your face. Maybe he just meant to add it later.

Deanna slid her gaze over to Hans, who was watching the proceedings with bated breath.

”Did you see my client's face?

”No. The woman who came to see me was wearing a ...... hood and a stole that completely hid her face.

Does anyone besides you know that she came to your store with her face covered?

I was the only one who answered the door. ...... If anyone else knew, it was...

Only you and the people around you.

As soon as Hans had finished, Juke stood up.

”Let's hear a convincing explanation, Mrs. Maris.

”Well, it's ......

”How did you know that the woman who came to Hans was hiding her face?