The Inquest

When I arrived at the inquest venue, I provocatively taunted Count Schönheite to my heart’s content, just like a proper villainess.

That is the good thing about being a villainess.

A champion of justice could never do something like this.

The path of evil is to do what you want, exactly how you want, driven by your desires.

Count Schönheite probably had not expected me to appear at the venue as though nothing had happened.

His shocked reaction felt wonderful.

It made all the effort worthwhile, continuing to hand-wash my filthy dress with tears in my eyes until I got there.

(Thank goodness I could use the “magic for gently washing clothes.”)

Precisely because I could only use household magic, I had trained so hard in that field that I would not lose to anyone in it.

As for the “magic for gently washing clothes” as well, I prided myself on having skill at a level comparable to a veteran washerwoman who had devoted her life to that one craft.

Meanwhile, what I was wary of was the person Count Schönheite had been speaking with.

He was disguised differently from when I had first met him, but I realized who was there.

(The dangerous stalker who took a liking to me and keeps sending relief supplies…!)

He was apparently the head of a merchant company in a neighboring country, and he was such a thoroughly insane man that he had taken a deep liking to me when I had pretended to be a racist in order to protect myself.

Surely he was the kind of lunatic whose withdrawal symptoms would kick in unless he danced an ethnic-cleansing dance eight times a day.

A moment ago too, he had been watching me provoke Count Schönheite with strangely sparkling eyes.

(I absolutely must not get involved with him…)

Renewing my resolve, I waited for the inquest to begin.

The venue where the inquest was being held was the same place where the Third Assembly held its regular meetings.

A structure typical of what this country’s assemblies used.

I, seated in the center, was surrounded by the nobles belonging to the Third Assembly.

Eyes turned toward me.

Tense air.

I eagerly put on a villainess-like display.

Sitting deep in my chair, I drank the tea I had brought with me.

Even though I normally put in lots of sugar, today I did not add any.

Because that would not be villainess-like.

They say beauty is pain, but becoming a villainess also requires endurance.

(Ugh… it’s bitter…)

At the edge of my vision as I grimaced, a venue staff member was speaking.

“My apologies. The magical ventilation device is acting up.”

Apparently, he was the one in charge of managing the facilities.

While repeatedly bowing his head and apologizing that the room temperature had become too high, he handed glasses of jasmine tea to the nobles.

There was no jasmine tea for me.

The nobles seemed to be feeling a slight sense of superiority.

(Grrr… just you wait.)

Suppressing my anger inwardly, I drank the tea I had brought with a cool expression. It was bitter.

Apparently, the meeting would be held behind closed doors without any observers.

They had likely decided that would let them crush me more reliably.

A decision befitting Count Schönheite, who was cautious and always chose the method with the highest odds.

“Then let us begin the meeting. The reason you have all been gathered here today is to determine punishment for the misgovernment that Mythia Lumiore has been carrying out in the land of Lineage.”

The chairman, one of Count Schönheite’s retainers, said.

Next, the one who stood on the platform and began the explanation was Count Alonso, Count Schönheite’s close aide.

“First, let me show you just how terrible the policies she has enacted are. Please look at the materials before you.”

And so began the denunciation against me.

“Forced and heavy-handed land development through the compulsory labor of the territory’s people. An absurd degree of tax reduction without regard for sustainability or stable funding. There are even rumors that she is distributing money to the poor of the surrounding regions using funds of dubious origin.”

Count Alonso continued in a ringing voice.

“Through these reckless policies, dissatisfaction among the territory’s people has increased. Public order has continued to worsen, and tax revenue has become clearly lower than before. Even if these are actions directed toward people who cannot use magic, we as one of the nation’s incorruptible patriots cannot overlook her tyranny any longer.”

“Thank you, Count Alonso.”

Nodding in satisfaction, the chairman said,

“Next, we will proceed to consider punishment—”

“Please wait.”

I raised my hand.

All eyes turned toward me.

The chairman lowered his gaze to the materials in front of him and continued.

“We will now proceed to consider her punishment.”

“In inquests within the magical kingdom, a response by the person under inquiry is permitted under Article 22 of the Administrative Code. You incorruptible patriots would not break the laws established by the nation, would you?”

The chairman pressed his lips together.

Silence spread through the assembly.

At length, he said,

“If you have any objection to the testimony given earlier, state it.”

“Thank you very much. First, please allow me to examine the facts. Count Alonso spoke of increased dissatisfaction among the territory’s people and worsening public order. Is there any objective and reliable data regarding that?”

“Count Schönheite and I conducted an investigation using our subordinates.”

“By what method was it conducted?”

“We went to the site and made inquiries—”

“Here I have the passage records for the checkpoint north of Lineage. There are no names here that appear to match the people in question.”

“The investigation was conducted discreetly in order to ensure reliability. Can you not even understand that?”

“Even so, there are no such people. It is not an area with much traffic to begin with, so any likely candidates should have been noticeable. It is rare for anyone connected to a noble house to visit land inhabited by people who cannot use magic.”

“…”

“To think that a reliable investigation could be conducted without even visiting the site—Count Alonso’s subordinates truly are impressive. Since I lack such ability, I conducted my investigation by actually interacting with the local people. These are signed survey responses from two thousand people of Lineage. If you combine ‘very satisfied’ and ‘mostly satisfied,’ it means 96 percent of them approve of my policies. Can it really be said that dissatisfaction is increasing?”

I said.

“The same applies to the claim of worsening public order. Here I have prepared a graph of the number of crimes committed in Lineage over the past twenty years. Compared to previous years, the number of crimes in Lineage has decreased markedly. I would very much like to hear on what basis you state that public order has worsened.”

“It cannot be accepted that data collected by someone currently under inquiry is trustworthy.”

“I think it is more trustworthy than an impression piece written by people who never even visited the site.”

“Order. Count Alonso’s investigation is reliable. Mythia Lumiore’s objection is overruled.”

“…Understood.”

At the chairman’s words, I fell silent.

Now it was clear.

The conclusion of this inquest had been decided from the start.

Including the chairman, all of them were in on it together, and no matter how reasonable an opinion I gave, the situation would never be overturned.

If that was the case, then resisting was nothing more than a waste of effort.

I crossed my legs, rested my cheek on my hand, and watched the progress of the meeting.

Unimportant people were saying unimportant things.

Insults toward me flew through the room, and contempt toward the people of Lineage flew through the room.

I was thoroughly reviled as a sly, foolish little girl.

Perhaps the opinion I had voiced earlier had grated on their feelings so badly that they had forgotten I was a daughter of House Lumiore.

Or perhaps Father had issued orders to “crush me.”

It did not matter.

I passed the time writing the settings for a delusional novel titled “If I Were Reincarnated into Another World” in the Crimson Book.

“Mythia Lumiore. As your first step toward rehabilitation, I would like you to begin by apologizing to everyone present here.”

At the chairman’s words, I said,

“I have done nothing whatsoever that requires an apology.”

“Even after all this, do you still refuse to admit your own wrongdoing?”

“Yes. Rather, I would like to demand an apology from all of you. I was summoned from far away, attacked by brigands arranged by someone, and then continuously insulted. The strain on me is beyond measure. If I do not receive an apology, I may accidentally exact revenge on all of you.”

“Revenge…?”

At my words, Count Alonso smiled sadistically.

“If you can do it, then by all means try. What can a powerless child like you possibly do in this situation?”

“There are things even a child can do.”

“That is interesting. I would like to see it. Though I am sure it will amount to nothing.”

Count Alonso looked utterly convinced of his victory.

The surrounding nobles were the same.

They looked at the cornered little girl with curiosity in their eyes.

I let out a deep breath and drank my tea.

Then I said,

“Did you not find it strange?”

My voice echoed through the conference chamber.

“Why, only today, is the ventilation device malfunctioning? Was the staff member who handed out glasses of chilled jasmine tea really the person all of you knew?”

“What are you—”

It was at that moment that a sound like an avalanche rang out.

The nobles seated in their places collapsed.

A bizarre sight, with more than twenty nobles losing consciousness.

“You, don’t tell me…”

Staggering, Count Alonso desperately struggled to hold on to his fading consciousness.

“I thought you all looked tired from the meeting, so I had a rather strong sleeping drug put in. By the time you wake up, you will be in a situation where you can never defy me again. So please, rest easy and sleep well.”

Count Alonso collapsed.

Silence filled the room.

It was as quiet as the bottom of the deep sea.

Like a cool villainess, I gracefully drank my tea and enjoyed that silence.