Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 347

"You've ruined yourself with your own actions. You specially brought good cooks. And for what? If you hadn't been acting foolishly you might have had a chance, but you reap what you sow."
"What you reap what you sow? You… You stole everything from me, so what do you know!?"

From Wire's point of view, Brother is nothing but his hated enemy. Wire's expression was ghastly, but Brother didn't mind at all.

"Understand. You are hated by everyone in town. From hereafter, you're banned from entering the Royal Capital."
"There's no way I'll leave! I won't recognize a loss in such a fraudulent match!"

Wire barked at Brother. Brother theatrically clapped his hands.

"Oh, that's right. I forgot. Let me tell you just in case, you could be imprisoned for lèse majesté."
"… Lèse majesté?"

Wire frowned wondering what Brother was saying. Putting on airs, Brother prefaced with, "You seem not to know, but."

"The Crown Prince of Wilhelm - of our country finally married recently. She's his partner. In other words, you've been spewing out abuse at the current Crown Princess."
"… Ha? The Crown Princess?"

Wired looked me in shock. His face said, "Such a lass?"
As expected. I thought he'd react like that.

"You are? This country's… His Highness Friedrich's princess consort?"
"We are the preeminent ducal house, no? If you considered our standing, it's perfectly natural."

Brother gave a carefree answered. To verify that claim, Wire looked at people around. I was unveiled at the parade, so naturally, everybody knows that I'm the Crown Princess.
Nobody denied. Perhaps as he finally realized it's the truth, Wire's body began to tremble on a completely different level than before.

"T-The Crown Princess? No, that can't be…"
"You don't know when to give up."

Brother said so in exasperation. Then he said, "I thought it might turn out like this," with a satisfied smile.
I could tell he wasn't thinking anything good from a glance at his obviously mischievous face.

"Older Brother…"
"I don't expect you to believe my explanation, so I called her husband. Say, you wanted to meet him, right? If I remember correctly, you wanted to teach him how things are."
"Ha?"

Wire's eyes widened at Brother's words, and Brother cheerfully said.

"Didn't you say that? Freed too wants to hear it. However, he was incredibly angry. To Freed, looking down at Lidi is the same as offending him. You won't get out of it by saying you were unaware. ―― Right, Freed?"
"Yeah."
"Eh…"

I suddenly heard Freed's voice. Not only Wire but everyone around began looking all around. Even I unconsciously looked around for Freed, whom I had just spent the morning with.

"Lidi, here."
"Wah!"

Suddenly my waist was pulled. I was so surprised I thought my breathing would stop.
When I looked next to me in panic, the usual Freed was there.
His hair wasn't dyed. He had his usual appearance from the castle.

"F-Freed? H-How are you here…?"
"We came here in the morning, right? I made sure I could use the return magical art at that time. Then I'd been working in the office until Alex called me via telepathic communication."
"I-I see…"

I thought the morning walk was a coincidence, but he seems to have planned it.

"Lidi, step back a little. I'll deal with him."
"… Got it."

Freed's hand let go of my waist. I obediently followed his words and took several steps back. My turn is over. I understand it's Freed's turn now.

"Y-Your Highness Friedrich… I-It's real…"

Eek. I heard a voice trembling in fear. Realizing it was Wire's, I looked at him. He was staring at Freed with a ghastly pale face.
Even Wire can't treat Freed as a fake. After all, Freed is an extraordinary person. He has the natural aura of royalty that's obvious at a glance. The brilliance he gives off draws the eye of everyone. Wire became completely overpowered by all that. Now that he knows, he won't explain how things are. Their presences are simply too different.
Freed turned his eyes to Wire and calmly said.

"You're Wire, huh. Do you have some complaints with my consort?"
"I-I have absolutely none…!"

Under Freed's gaze, Wire prostrated himself in panic.
I forgot since he was so arrogant to Brother and me, but he's the type of person to butter up to authority. It's natural that he'd take the current attitude towards Freed, who's almost the most important person in the country.
Freed spoke to Wire, who was groveling on the ground.

"I've already received the report. As a husband, I can't overlook the numerous abusive remarks towards my consort. Prepare yourself."

A soundless shriek escaped Wire. Then he desperately pleaded.

"I-I didn't know! P-Please, forgive me!"
"Moreover, you accused her of cheating after losing the match. My Lidi committing a fraud? I was looking at her all through the match, but unlike you, Lidi was preparing ingredients together with cooks until late at night every day, and she worked hard to improve the store. It's unpleasant when she's compared to the incompetent you, who only found fault with others."
"Yes, yes yes."

Wire couldn't answer back anymore. He was just subserviently nodding to Freed in fear. He looked much too unsightly.

"… I knew he was weak to authority, but…"

As I sighed, Brother came here, having left Wire to Freed.

"It's terrible, right? That's why I and the old man hate him. I thought it'd be fastest to have Freed show up, but… I shouldn't have. I feel sick just watching."
"Yup… He won't reflect at this rate…"

He was just nodding to agree with Freed's words. While I was starting to feel complicated, unconvinced by his behavior, Brother told me.

"Well, he won't. But Lidi, remember. There are many scum like Wire in the world. There's no point asking them to reflect. It's hopeless to expect somebody rotten to the core to reform."
"Yup…"

It's a great shame, but I understand Brother is right.
When I looked at Freed, he was handing down a verdict on Wire.

"I have no reason to forgive you for showing contempt for Lidi, but it's unpleasant to see your face anymore. You had a match with Lidi and lost. Keep your word. Leave the Royal Capital as you promised to Lidi. If you do, you won't be accused of lèse majesté."
"… N-No way…"

Wire was shocked by Freed's clear order.
It's not just a promise with a town girl or a noble daughter. He has to fulfill the royal order that came from Freed, the Crown Prince. The guards of the Royal Capital outer gates will be also notified about Wire, so he won't be able to enter.
If he boasts that he doesn't care about the promise, he'll be thrown into prison.

"P-Please wait…"
"If you don't like it, should I apply lèse majesté? It's not just me, my father and mother also cherish Lidi, so your crimes will be quite heavy. Wire, if you obediently leave, I'll deem you've kept your word and turn a blind eye to your other crimes. But, if you don't leave, it won't only be lèse majesté, you'll be accused of numerous crimes you committed since coming back to this country that Alex investigated. It's doubtful whether you'll be able to leave prison alive, but… the choice is yours."
"I-I will leave!"

It seems Freed's last words were the final blow. He must not want to leave the Royal Capital but finds being locked in prison until death even worse.
Everybody who was listening naturally made way for him. The path opened like a receding tide.
Wire scuttled from the plaza. Freed sent a glance to the soldiers. They nodded to it and followed Wire, probably to confirm he leaves the Royal Capital.
Everybody's eyes naturally turned to Freed.
"Alex," Freed called Brother's name.

Chapter end