In addition to the official rooms open to the public, there are many rooms in Grand Meryl=Anne that require permission to enter. One of them was this【Star Room】, which was once used to oppress the nobility.
The room on the top floor of the palace was covered with the same lapis lazuli wallpaper from the walls to the ceiling. The room has no windows, so it gives the illusion that night has really come. If you look closely, you can see that the gold leaf in the shape of small stars is stamped regularly, and it shines faintly, reflecting the flames of the candlestick.
In the back is a statue of the blindfolded Goddess holding a sword in her right hand and scales in her left hand.
In the center of the room was a solid mahogany round table. Surrounding it are six armchairs and saloon chairs upholstered in navy blue velvet. Four seats were already filled.
Deborah Dalkian, who was sitting in front of her, turned her bright red lips up upon noticing that Connie was standing frozen in front of her door.
[Welcome, Constance Grail. ―――it seems that your head is still attached to your body.]
=====
[I think you know this already, but what happened here will stay in this room. Still, do you mind?]
Connie was led to a seat facing Deborah. She sat down and was exposed to eight eyes full of curiosity, including Deborah. It was a bit like the eyes of an innocent child, who’d pick bugs without any sense of guilt, play around with them, and stomp them when bored of them. A chill ran down Connie’s spine, and she almost averted her gaze, but she held back and looked ahead.
『Those three are the faces I recognize. Deborah’s entourages. All of which is Earl or above』
Scarlet said as she carefully looked at the faces of the three ladies sitting on both sides of Deborah. Connie nodded slightly.
[I do not mind.]
[Then, your blood seal.]
Deborah told Connie with a little boredom, giving her a gorgeous dagger with jewelery and a pledge paper. Scarlet frowned in disgust.
『Blood seal…..just what age does she think this is, anyway?』
Connie signed with her quill and wordlessly pressed her thumb to the edge of her blade. A red globule swelled up.
[―――there.]
When Connie handed over the pledge paper with her blood seal and signature, Deborah smiled with satisfaction.
[By the way, do you know why you were called here?]
Seeing the silence as a denial, Deborah spun more words in a sing-song voice.
[I received a letter, you see. From your friend—Pamela Francis.]
[Pamela…..?]
[Do you have any idea what she’s going through? Poor girl, it seems that the platinum hair she is proud of has turned white. After you mercilessly abandoned her. Hey, Constance Grail. Wouldn’t a simple denunciation be enough if you want to punish her? Something like that would have been enough to keep her away from society for a while. Even so, when she went to ask forgiveness, you cast her aside―――ah, yes. Here is the medical certificate from her checkup.]
『Which sham doctor is this―――it’s not even the Dalkian family’s private physician. What a farce.』
Pamela. Connie was quietly upset. She never thought she would hear her name again now.
[But well, despite that, your action cannot be considered a crime. A truly awful ending, don’t you think? As the daughter of the honest Grail family, certainly, you know this, yes? Therefore―――]
Deborah’s grey eyes distorted slightly.
[If the law is unable to judge you, then we here shall pass judgment instead.]
Perhaps that is Deborah Dalkian’s true intention.
[During the time of the ancient dynasty, there seemed to be a custom called the ‘law of retaliation’. For example, if someone had their eye put out by another, then this someone has the right to do the same to those who hurt them. In other words, if you hurt someone else, then you must be punished accordingly. A truly wonderful law, isn’t it?]
『―――or so she said. But even that old law prohibited excessive retaliation. She really ought to learn the classics more properly before she ends up strangling herself to death with her own words. What a fool.』
Scarlet laughed sarcastically. Of course, that voice didn’t reach Deborah, but the situation wouldn’t have changed even if it did. That’s not the point for Deborah Dalkian.
[I promised poor Pamela that I would definitely give her the hair of Constance Grail.]
Connie involuntarily looked at Deborah.
[…assault, that would be a crime.]
[Assault? We are not going to hold you down forcefully and put our hands on your mud-rinsed hair. I suppose it’s normal for such a lowly noble to think something so barbaric. So cease that thought. You are going to cut your own hair, of your own volition. Yes, just like that.]
Saying that Deborah looked terribly happy and thrust the previously mentioned pledge paper in front of Connie.
[Here, take a look at the pledge paper you have signed with your blood―――it says that you’ll comply with any order the inquest laid out. Simply put, you are obliged to receive any punishment that we deemed fit for you. If you don’t, well, let’s just say we can call the private soldiers standing guard outside to assist you in receiving the punishment. Of course, it won’t be a crime. Since we are just following the rules after all.]
Connie felt nauseated by those selfish arguments. It’s different alright. Randolph’s warning reemerged in her mind. Deborah Dalkian is nothing like Scarlet Castiel.
[Come on, let’s take a vote. Unfortunately, Susanna is absent today due to illness, but there’s no problem with the number. So depending on the outcome, you may be acquitted. See, it’s very fair, isn’t it?]
Since most of the people present here were Deborah’s entourages, there’s no way it would be fair. But Deborah seemingly ignored that.
I see, Connie noticed. She was mistaken. Connie thought that this was the same thing as the previous soiree. Just by changing the place and the opponent, it’s a search between humans with something in their bellies. So she thought it would be okay to participate. Humans have ears and hearts, which Connie’s voice may also reach. She thought so. However, it was different. It probably wouldn’t have made sense for Connie to refuse. She must have been forced to participate for some reason. Because this is―――
This is just lynching.
『―――let’s see them try』
A chilling air comes from next door.
『As if I will let them do something like that』
Along with the words, several small static electricity bursts. Deborah frowned slightly, but that was it. Then, as if she recalled something, she narrowed her eyes in a good mood.
[Ah well, because you are such a clueless kid―――I’m willing to consider it all as Pamela’s misunderstanding, if only you become a good, obedient girl and kneel before me.]
In other words, if Connie pledges allegiance to Deborah, she’ll be let go.
[Do you have anything to say?]
It was as if she was convinced that Connie would do what she said.
『―――there’s no need to break your knees for a woman like her, Connie』
Scarlett muttered slowly. Looking at that belligerent face, Connie thought it was unusual.
Yes, unusual―――both of them actually think alike this time.
Then, the problem is how to get through it. Connie takes a deep breath and opens her mouth. Deborah’s smile deepened. It was at that time…
[Excuse me for a minute.]
The door opened with a simple voice.
[I was told about this proceeding a bit too late, so excuse me for my tardiness!]
A woman with bright blond hair entered the room while raising a cheerful voice that felt out of place in the situation. Deborah looked up at her and frowned at the sight of the intruder as if she had taken a very bitter decoction. But soon she smiled again, and she spat out in a strong tone.
[―――It’s rude to come in without an invitation. Don’t you know the social rules? Unfortunately, there’s no chair for you here. Please go home.]
At those words, the woman’s blue eyes widened in surprise. Then she glanced at the round table and she tilted her head blankly.
[No chairs? That’s funny because there’s a perfectly empty seat there.]
[That is―――]
[Suzanna Neville’s seat, yes? There is no problem then―――I am here on her behalf.]
[…..what in the world?]
Deborah’s eyebrows jump up. The woman took out a piece of paper from her pocket.
[She gave me the full power of attorney, in fact. So if you insist that your little gathering here is truly an ‘Inquest’, then legally speaking I have the full right to sit in that seat, correct?]
The paper states that the proxy authority for this inquest will be transferred, and at the end is signed by Suzanna Neville and stamped with the seal of the Neville family.
For some reason, it wasn’t Deborah who lost her complexion, but her three entourages.
The place suddenly froze. The newly arriving woman picked up the dagger from the round table, not minding the surrounding air, and quickly stamped her pledge paper with her blood. And then, she just quietly took Suzanna Neville’s seat.
Deborah smiled cruelly.
[…those useless fools. I told them not to allow anyone from getting in.]
[Oho, you can’t really blame them though? I don’t think those poor ones at the front door are aware that one of the four Great Nobles will suddenly give this place a visit.]
Four Great Nobles. It refers to the four authoritative dukes who have supported the Royal family from the time of its founding to the present day. Castiel, Reuchelieuwer, Dalkian, and―――
[Most of you here should be familiar with who I am already, but for those of you who aren’t, I am Abigail, Abigail O’brian.]
and―――O’brian.
She’s probably a little younger than Deborah but is at least over thirty. Her face reminded Connie of a frog. She is by no means beautiful, but there is a friendly charm to her cheerful smile.
[Th, the inquest summary―――]
Looking terribly shaken, one of Deborah’s entourage raised his voice. When she tried to explain the details of what happened.
[Inquest summary? Ah, pardon me. I have no interest in the content of the Inquest. I have only one word: Estelle, Janine, Caroline. Follow my lead if you don’t want me to crush you like bugs.]
Abigail’s words were simple. She was brief and straightforward for an aristocrat with a taste for euphemisms. The three ladies whose names were mentioned all held their breath.
[You lot should be able to do that much, right? Consider this. O’brian or Dalkian. Which one do you think is the better side to back? If you come over to my side now, it’ll be a simple matter for me to protect you. But, if you choose the other side, I won’t let you off lightly. You surely know how it is with me. Still having trouble deciding? Then, let me make it more plainer for you.]
Blue eyes that resembled a clear summer sky, one after another, captured the cold-blooded ladies.
[―――no matter how you choose, do you really think Dalkian will protect you?]
Then, silence fell.
[…..enough, Abigail. I can only see that as intimidation. If you make any further threats to my dear friend, I will have to take legal action.]
The smile had completely disappeared from Deborah’s face. He glares at Abigail with obvious hatred.
[I don’t think you will, Debbie.]
However, what came back was a terribly kind voice that seemed to reprimand a child for playing pranks.
[Since whatever happens in this room, stays in this room, yes? Let’s be true to that rule until the end, shall we? After all, those are the rules you made.]
Abigail said so and pressed her index finger to her mouth, smiling mischievously.
=====
―――The inquest was over. In the end, no vote was taken, and Deborah Dalkian said she was not feeling well and left.―――As she left, she gave Connie a chilling glance that sent shivers down her spine.
The remaining three also left with an awkward look. Only Connie and Abigail O’Brien were there.
[You know, it’s not a good idea to jump into danger without a thought. You have to prepare yourself properly beforehand.]
Abigail gave Connie a word of advice like an elder reprimanding a youth.
[…yes.]
It’s exactly that. Constance Grail was rash, short-sighted, and ill-prepared―――naive. As she dropped his shoulders in disappointment, a voice called out to comfort him.
[Well, it’s not like I didn’t make mistakes when I was getting started either?]
Connie looked up at her and was met with her playful blue eyes.
[….umm, thank you very much.]
Connie didn’t know what Abigail’s intentions were, but she probably came to her aid. Thinking that she thanked the older woman, Abigail gave her a hinted look at Connie.
[If you are to thank anyone, it should be Randolph Ulster.]
[….His, Excellency?]
Confused by the sudden words, Connie asked back. Abigail chewed on her smile.
[Yes, that His Excellency. Just the other day. He said that his fiancée is about to poke her neck into a troublesome situation, so he came to my house to ask for my help. He was the one who persuaded Suzanna Neville to move her power of attorney to me.]
[His Excellency did…]
She knew he was worried. She knew, but somehow, hearing it now―――it tickled Connie somewhere.
[The family I was born in was actually a branch of Reuchelieuwer. Randolph used to be a lovely, angelic child. But now he has grown so big that I couldn’t even see a trace of his cuteness. Ah, but this time I felt like his cute side is re-emerging a bit.]
Having said so, Abigail laughed again.
[But I love cute girls more. So, Constance Grail. From now on―――I don’t mind if you call me onee-sama, okay?]
Scarlet muttered in the back.『Wouldn’t aunty be more appropriate, you cunning woman』.