「Why is that?」
Brace’s refusal to reveal her name appears to be an action that can only be seen as protecting the royal princess.
「I once wondered if the reason Raul didn’t break off his engagement with you was because of Royal Princess.」
「Eh, it’s a little late for that, isn’t it? It’s not the first time Raul has used me to stay close to the Princess.」
What are you talking about, Douglas-sama? Why else would he not break off his engagement with me? They are the people who, in their own embarrassing way, are enjoying themselves by overlapping themselves with the main character in『Tragic Lover.』
「No, I don’t mean that Raul is taking advantage of you, I mean that it’s not the Princess who are taking advantage of you.」
「…Hmm…?」
「You look like you’re not convinced.」
「No, it’s not like that, but…」
Raul and the Princess are one set of beings from my point of view. No matter which one of them uses me, the damage I suffer is the same in the end, so it doesn’t make any difference what they do.
I guess he could clearly see that I was thinking that way. It was as if Douglas-sama was searching for the right words to say to me.
「I’m just curious, did the 4th Unit not object to Countess Bauer’s hearing?」
But I ignored Douglas-sama and asked him. I don’t care which one of them is using me. What I want to know now is about this one thing.
My original guess was that Countess Bauer was a collaborator of the 4th Unit. I wonder if Raul has said anything about that.
Douglas-sama seemed to ponder for a moment, but then answered as if he had regained his composure.
「No. She was surprised at what you guys reported to me at the jewelry store. Especially your fiancée, who was overreacting.」
「Ehh…?」
If he was just overreacting and surprised and didn’t interject anything, does that mean that Raul and Countess Bauer have nothing to do with each other? Or did he cut her off because it became inconvenient?
Hmmm, for some reason, that doesn’t feel right either.
If the Princess was involved, she might at least cut off Countess Bauer to protect the Princess. But I wonder if that vain and incomprehensible sense of justice would do such a thing. And as a childhood friend, I know that he’s not a dexterous person who can do the kind of belly flops that deliberately show off in an exaggeratedly surprised manner. He can do self-indulgent theater, though. In a way, you could say he is dexterous.
「So you are giving up on Countess Bauer’s hearing?」
When I asked, Douglas-sama shook his head.
「We cannot force a hearing. But since there is a possibility that the lady is involved in some way, we can’t just leave it at that.」
Then he smirks.
「Countess Cierleifi Bauer is to be monitored as an object of observation.」
That is to say, make them swim.
「Will it work that easily?」
「Whether she’s involved or not, nine times out of ten, people will move around.」
Certainly at the point when it was a top-secret investigation, but now that it has become so important, I think the culprits have no choice but to move. The time when they can pretend to be ignorant of this case has long passed.
「Who has made a move around her now?」
「That was…」
Douglas-sama smiled at me with a meaningful smile. I thought, “Oh?!”
「A secret.」
There is.
「Eh…」
He puts his index finger on his mouth cutely and says something like『It’s a secret♡』but it’s not cute at all, and it’s not half as demeaning as it sounds. It is rather irritating. Where did the auspicious attitude he had earlier go?
「Don’t be so angry. All joking aside, you’re not completely cleared of all suspicion, and anything more would violate confidentiality.」
「That is true, but…」
I’m not sure I can explain it. If you’ve told me this much, I guess it’s the same if you’ve already kept it a secret now.
「Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you’re the suspect.」
「Of course.」
There is no reason for me to get involved in such nonsense.
「But I’m sure there’s someone out there who tried to set you up.」
It is not about Brace. He would have just been used to frame me.
「Not sure if the egg comes first or the chicken…」
When I looked at Douglas-sama at those words, he was making a sullen face.
「Does that mean that someone could have been done to trick me?」
Douglas-sama nodded.
「What on earth is that for?」
「That I don’t know. It’s just a possibility.」
Not only was I almost falsely accused, but I may have been the one who started the whole thing, which is a very troublesome development.
「That’s why it’s dangerous for you to make a move. We’ll take care of this.」
「But…」
「But, no shit. What you need to do now is to heal your injuries as soon as possible. You’d better behave yourself. Okay?」
Although the atmosphere was one of no holds barred, I was scratching my head. I know it won’t do any good for me to get involved here, but it’s just so emotionally uncomfortable.
But it is also true that there’s nothing I can do.
「…Haah, I understand. But if there is any involvement of royalty or nobility in this matter, you must swear to me that you won’t let it go unanswered.」
I reminded him not to cover up this incident with his power. I don’t think Douglas-sama would do such a thing willingly, but it is a scandal in the royal palace. You never know where or what kind of meddling is going to take place, especially if it involves the Princess.
「I promise.」
Douglas-sama nodded firmly, so I decided to accept it for the time being.
