Bibliophile Princess: Volume 1 Page 4

  “However,” he said, “keep in mind that if your allegations are found to be false, they will be taken as a crime—as treason—for harming the authority of the royal family. Now then, Lady Irene, is it true that you were harassed in the inner palace?”

  “Uh! W-Well...” She was flustered; her gaze swam back and forth, all of the vim and vigor from moments ago now lost. Lady Irene must never have imagined that the crime she was trying to pin on me might instead end up as an accusation against the queen. One that could amount to treason.

  “I-I have a witness...” Her eyes turned entreatingly to Lord Alan, whom she must have known was a dim hope at this point.

  He offered her a sweet smile, one that seemed completely out of place here. “Hm, yes, I am sorry, but...all I can do is give testimony that you’re a victim who staged everything yourself. Oh, I should also add, we already know all the maids and soldiers you bought off, so you won’t be able to rely on them either.”

  “So you’ve betrayed me...!”

  “Mmm, just to make sure there are no misunderstandings here, allow me to explain. I’m the prince’s hidden trump card, one used for situations like this. I watch out at tea parties and evening parties to make sure there’s no one there looking to harm Lady Elianna. My current task was to keep my eyes on you since your movements were a bit suspicious.”

  “No...” she gasped, her voice filled with despair.

  I furrowed my brow a bit as well. My dismay was in part because I sympathized with her and felt they should’ve chosen a more appropriate place to carry out a hearing, but also because I found it questionable for a “hidden trump card” to out themselves so publicly. Wouldn’t this affect his ability to operate in the future?

  The prince must have thought the same thing because he sighed exasperatedly. “Next, I’d like to address what you said a moment ago.”

  Lady Irene suddenly snapped to attention, the strength returning to her eyes as she gazed up at the two of us. “Your Highness! My claims against Lady Elianna seem to have been a misunderstanding. But please believe me! I never planned anything like an assassination against her!”

  The way she forsook an apology in favor of proclaiming her own innocence was an incredible display of both defiance and composure. No longer did she look the part of the delicate noble lady. This was her true nature. I had no doubt she’d laugh off my sympathy as being beneath her.

  The prince replied coolly, “I already have evidence secured, but I can’t overlook what you said a moment ago. You mentioned it yourself. The watering incident in the rose garden. The damaged ladder in the archives. The poisoned gift.”

  Both Lady Irene and the viscount standing beside her flinched. But it was the viscount in particular who seemed restless, his gaze wandering.

  His Highness continued. “The other day there was a fuss over some pipe failure in the rose garden and the resulting drainage. At the same time, something disastrous happened—an unidentified intruder broke into the palace. Would you happen to know anything about this incident, Viscount Palcas?”

  “I-I know nothing! Nothing!”

  “No? Well, fortunately this intruder was apprehended by Glen and the rest of the imperial guard, and we were able to ascertain that he was after Elianna’s life.”

  The voices of those gathered erupted in surprise. Even I was left blinking in shock. It made sense now why Glen had appeared so shaken back then.

  “In addition, we discovered damage to the ladders in the archives and a poisonous substance smeared across the books. And a foreign substance mixed in with tea leaves. All of these incidents targeting Elianna occurred immediately after Lady Irene was in the area, according to the report from Prince Theodore, my uncle.”

  Now I understood why I had been barred from entering the archives. The reason why Prince Theodore was always so busy must have had something to do with this as well. Apparently the recent damage to the ladders I’d noticed hadn’t been natural deterioration either.

  “Those are false accusations! All of that is circumstantial evidence. Someone else must have...someone suspicious—like a witch—must have done those things. I haven’t done anything of the like!” Lady Irene glowered daggers at me, revealing her hate and contempt for the first time.

  “Besides, don’t you find it strange that someone as unworthy as the Bibliophile Princess has been occupying such an important position?! I’ve heard about her administering suspicious drugs to His Highness and the royal family. Do you really think someone like that deserves to be the queen of this country?! You’re just being deceived by her!” she appealed convincingly to the audience.

  An air of confusion settled over the murmuring crowd. But even I could understand it wasn’t the reaction Lady Irene had hoped to provoke.

  “...I see now,” said the prince.

  A shiver ran down my spine. Immediately I felt the urge to run from His Highness, but knowing it would be disrespectful, I managed to resist the temptation.

  Although Prince Christopher wore a smile on his face, it emanated a cold, chilling anger. “Now I understand what the difference is between your motivations and your father’s.”

  “What...?”

  His Highness ignored her confusion and turned to the crowd with his sunny blue eyes, as if turning the spotlight toward them. “I am not so conceited that I would personally boast about my betrothed’s accomplishments and worth. I’ll allow the rest of you to speak. Someone who knows what Eli has done, answer Lady Irene.”

  Those gathered exchanged bewildered looks. I was just as confused as Lady Irene. This could cast a poor light on His Highness, given his position. There was some truth to what Lady Irene had said after all; I was the Bibliophile Princess.

  “Um...” A man who looked like a civil official timidly spoke up, seeking permission to continue. Emboldened after the prince glanced at him approvingly, he turned toward Lady Irene. “My lady, you may not be aware of this, but it was Lady Elianna who uncovered those crimes in the Weimar Region—crimes including embezzlement, corruption, and collusion between the consul and the lord of the region. Since then, the fish carried in from Weimar Harbor have livened up the marketplace.”

  “The Weimar Region? That’s where...” Another man, who appeared to be a servant from the kitchens, suddenly mumbled. He flinched as he realized what he was saying but continued the story once His Highness gave a prompting look. “The seafood cookbook that came from that region was utterly groundbreaking and...well, um, has been a great resource for us cooks.”

  Another court lady agreed with him. “There was another book published at that same time, one depicting the daily life of a housewife in the Weimar Region, which became hugely popular. The queen even enjoyed reading it. She commented about how similar the struggles and anxieties of common housewives were to her own as queen. I heard it was all thanks to Lady Elianna acting as an intermediary with a relative’s publishing company.”

  “Oh, speaking of books,” began one of the royal court doctors that was first summoned to the scene, pleasantly stroking his beard as he spoke. “From the book Lady Elianna requested, titled The Travels of Parco Molo, we discovered a new medicinal herb and its benefits. It’s effective in treating internal imbalances in women. It should have no effect on men, but... Hm. Word of it must’ve gotten distorted somewhere down the line.”

  “Please allow me to speak,” a man requested politely. He was middle-aged and looked to be a divisional officer of the imperial guard. “I’ve heard it was also Lady Elianna who was the first to predict the widespread damage that would result from an enormous cold wave in the country of Maldura last year, and she was also the one who proposed we buy double the supplies in anticipation of it. Thanks to her, the warmongering Maldurans are in our debt after we provided them provisions and aid. Now if they try to start a war with us, their own people will be against them.”

  “Oh my,” came the voices of several noble women. They must’ve accompanied their husbands here.

  On
e elaborated, “The same goes for the Suiran weave, a type of weaving from the marquess’s territory that borders Maldura. That specific technique for weaving fabric was falling out of use, but Lady Elianna brought it back, and it’s now in fashion with the nobles.”

  “Yes,” continued another. “So popular, in fact, that I’ve been having a rough time getting my hands on it. There’s a six month waiting list!”

  “There weren’t really any specialties of note from the marquess’s territory before, but thanks to that, they’re now booming with weavers.”

  “Dear me, now that I think about it, there’s a pen that’s been a popular gift for noblemen for the past four years, imported from the east. Lady Elianna was the one who called attention to it.”

  “It’s famous among women as well, since it doesn’t require as much force to use as a quill pen,” another added, the ladies laughing amongst themselves.

  Talk spread like wildfire. Things such as, “People have had their attention on meteorologists ever since,” and, “Lady Elianna put in a recommendation for a new, improved loom,” and, “Both the researchers deciphering ancient history and the chief herbalist are doggedly chasing Lady Elianna around for her input,” and, “Now other regional lords whose domains lack stand-out specialties are looking to Lady Elianna for advice.”

  The more I listened, the more dread consumed me. It was less because of the familiar stories they told and more so that the woman of whom they spoke was not Elianna the Bibliophile Princess but someone else altogether. This had to be some kind of mistake, I was sure.

  Almost as soon as I got the urge to flee, I felt a sudden arm wrap tight around my waist, pulling me close. I looked up to find Prince Christopher’s eyes, blue as a vast ocean, threatening to swallow me up.

  Why was it, I wondered. He was smiling at me, yet his face seemed to say, “I won’t let you get away.”

  “It appears you are all well aware of my betrothed’s accomplishments and influence.” His gaze was brilliant, his voice commanding and kingly as it boomed through the hall. The admiring eyes of the audience down below immediately gathered on him (and by extension, me). Lady Irene was the only one at the base of the steps who was in a daze, and it was to her that His Highness turned his attention. “But it appears there is one amongst you who didn’t even try to understand. Ordinarily I would tell you to learn your place, but it’s thanks to that faux pas you just narrowly reduced one of the charges levied against you, Lady Irene.”

  “What in the world are you talking about...?” she muttered, her malice completely deflated by this point.

  The prince’s eyes were sharp as they turned to the man behind her. An audible gulp could be heard. “One month ago, Earl Casull came to the royal family saying he had discovered Zelger, a piece of porcelain from the Age of the Hero King, recognized as the royal family’s hidden treasure. The inspector appraised it as authentic, but Elianna recognized it as a fake. So, does that mean that Earl Casull and the inspector were trying to deceive the royal family? The inspector is one thing, but the Casull family is renowned for generations of loyal nobles. Could the earl of that kind of family really do such a thing?”

  His tone made it clear that the question—one directed at those present—was rhetorical. He kept his gaze locked on Viscount Palcas. “Once I started looking into it closer, I found a trend had begun lately among nobles and merchants of gathering artworks and exhibiting them. But there was also frequent fuss about counterfeits. There seemed to be only one person pulling the strings on that operation, but they were being too discreet for us to catch. The inspector, who we’d allowed to remain loose, suddenly died under suspicious circumstances, and an ominous shadow began to loom around Elianna.

  “Did they hold a grudge against her for unveiling the counterfeit, one that would have caused the downfall of Earl Casull had it not been detected so early? Or did they want to get rid of her so their own daughter could take her place? Well, which was it, Viscount Palcas?”

  The man, still bound by the soldiers, elegantly leapt to his feet once called. “I-I don’t know anything! Just what proof do you have of any of this?!”

  “Indeed,” the prince replied thoughtfully. “You gave me the run around in that regard. When your daughter approached me, I figured it was under your suggestion, but it seems she wasn’t privy to all of your evil deeds. Well...I do still consider her an accomplice in the rose garden incident with the intruder as well as the poison attempt.

  “Lady Irene told me much. She appealed for my compassion, citing the discord between the main Casull family and yours, telling me how your family was once long ago from a western archipelago prior to being incorporated as a branch family. And how even now you employ a craftsman skilled at wood carving using techniques passed down from your ancient homeland.”

  The viscount trembled, his face as white as paper.

  His Highness smiled maliciously as he recalled the past. “When I heard, I almost forgot myself and nearly laughed. No wonder I couldn’t find anything even after searching your territory and related merchant families. I never dreamed you’d hide the counterfeits with the forestry goods—right there with the lumber on the edge of the Neville River.”

  The prince lifted his gaze at the perfect moment, right as Lord Glen and a respectably dressed gentleman appeared. A wealthy air seemed to permeate around the upright-looking older man, who took a knee below us. Meanwhile, Lord Glen dashed up the steps and relieved the prince of his burden, trading the books for a stack of documents.

  His Highness took a cursory glance through them, then turned his vibrant blue eyes sharply to the base of the stairs. “Evidence has been secured. Among wood materials in Viscount Palcas’s possession, we’ve seized a number of counterfeit artworks as well as what appears to be Zelger replicas. As a noble of this kingdom, you should be well aware that replicating Zelger is a crime akin to treason against the royal family. We have seized poison from a merchant family with intimate ties to the viscount, one of the same variety used to try to harm Marquess Bernstein’s daughter. We also have proof the viscount is connected with the intruder who broke into the palace. Have you any defense for yourself, Viscount Palcas?”

  Crestfallen, the viscount crumpled to his knees. The prince had been hounding him for answers before, but apparently he was only waiting for the actual proof to be delivered. Now the viscount looked like an empty husk with no willpower to spout any more excuses.

  His Highness next turned his attention to the older gentleman still kneeling. “Earl Casull, while you are one of the victims in this counterfeit scandal, I must also tell you that as the main family, you’re deeply responsible for not preventing the secret maneuvering of your branch family.”

  “Yes, Your Highness,” came the rumbling, earnest voice of the kneeling earl, head lowered. “We of the Casull family are painfully aware of the weight of our responsibility in this affair. We ask that you deal with us however you deem fit.” His voice swelled with emotion. “It brings shame on our family that we could not see the counterfeit of the royal family’s hidden treasure, Zelger, for what it was. I would like to thank the young lady of the Bernstein house for preventing any dishonor from befalling the royal family. Presumptuous though it may be, we of the Casull family would like to extend our support for Lady Elianna Bernstein to be crowned Her Royal Highness.”

  ...Pardon?

  I almost lost my footing. I was under the impression that there’d been no official talks of our marriage.

  Earl Casull’s words lit a fuse with those at the base of the stairs; they erupted into murmurs, excitement spreading.

  Prince Christopher returned the stack of papers back to Lord Glen and relieved me of the last few books still held in my arms. Then once again he wrapped his arm firmly around my waist, pulling me close. It was a complete change from the arbitrator of justice that he’d been moments ago. His smile, now dazzling and bright, turned to shine down on those below before I even had the opportunity to say anything.
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  “I appreciate that, Earl Casull. We will happily accept your blessing.”

  No, Your Highness, I’m quite certain I’m the one who should be responding here.

  “While I realize it’s indiscreet to do this here publicly, thanks to this incident, I have had the opportunity to hear your unreserved opinions about Elianna. Thus, I shall now ask. If there are any amongst you that would disapprove of me taking Lady Elianna Bernstein as my princess, I bid you step forward.”

  There was no way anyone would oppose. Even Lady Irene was in a daze and unable to speak. Her biased claims had all been debunked by the people of various noble standings that had vouched for me. On top of all that, her father’s wrongdoings had been revealed as well.

  I could sympathize; my head was also in an unmeasured state of disarray. After four entire years, I’d only just realized there was something else looming beneath the prince’s dazzling smile.

  One or two people began to clap, and soon the entire room joined in with boisterous cheers. It was almost as if we really were on stage, at the end of the grand finale. The prince took it in with a wide grin, promising an official announcement before the curtain (metaphorically) fell and the crowd dispersed.

  As for me, not only had I suddenly had a script thrust upon me, I’d somehow been given a star role. And yet it wasn’t until it was all over that I realized I’d never even said a single line the entire time.

  Act 4: After the Curtain Closes

  I remained in a daze even as His Highness wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me down the hallway to his office. On the way, an exhausted-looking Lord Glen shared his report on what they found by the river, and then the prince began giving him further orders. But before we could make it to our destination, we ran into Prince Theodore and Lord Alexei, who were lying in wait.