Chapter 213: White Explains in the Capital
Chapter 213: White Explains in the Capital
A person from the margrave’s territory was summoned from within the Royal Palace and arrived. Through that interpreter the hearing of White’s account began.As White’s story progressed, the people in the room gradually felt their hearts growing heavier. It was not something visible to the eye; somehow their spirits felt weighed down. The mood was heavy, and listening to White’s story was painful. And when White spoke of how Robby had taken an arrow in the leg, that weight increased another level.
White was only barely able to remain seated; he was sweating, pressing his chest to his thighs and holding his head with his hands. For some reason he could not shake the feeling that everything he said was being completely denied. Even though he was saying only the truth, it felt as if someone were placing weights upon him as though he were lying. Those weights seemed to keep increasing. The room was dark — had the lights been extinguished?
Looking sideways he saw that those who had been standing were now crouching, and the person who had been taking records at the desk was face-down on the desk.
"Y... Yo-Your... Ma-Majesty... p-please... stop..."
Richelieu finally managed to squeeze out a voice.
"Ah!"
The Queen behind the folding screen started. Without realizing it she had been using one of the mental magics — "Pressure Interview," or rather "Pressure." Listening to White’s story she had forgotten herself in anger. Even the maid beside her was crouching and sobbing.
The Queen said nothing and released the magic. Instantly it was as if the air in the room had changed. Those who had been crouching stood up, and the one who had been face-down on the desk shook his head and rose.
Richelieu muttered in a low voice,
"Honestly... this is more than one can take..."
After that the hearing proceeded smoothly. Along the way the name of the Empire appeared; no one was surprised, yet everyone was convinced.
White found it strange that the talk of the Empire was something he had not seen directly but only heard from Robby, yet not a single person reproached the content.
When White’s story ended, the secretary read the record aloud and White confirmed there were no errors. After that Richelieu finally allowed his face to relax into a smile and said,
"White, well done. Thanks to you the circumstances are well understood. With this you may return to the checkpoint. In this matter, being the first to locate Prince Robin is worthy of reward. Yes — I am thinking of raising your rank to baronet. What do you say?"