I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 13 - Where is the Truth?

With Louis’s help, I headed for the remote land of Utis.

That Queen Chalize was actually alive─no one seemed to even consider such a thing.

My blonde hair was a common color in Victoire, and so were my green eyes. Without the title of queen, I was just another twenty-year-old girl you could find anywhere.

After traveling by ship and horse for about half a month, we finally arrived in Utis─

“Lady Chalize…! You’re alive… I’m truly so glad…”

At the Victoire garrison base.

Waiting to greet us at the fortress was General McGregor, the one Louis had sent a letter to.

I had already heard that the long-standing skirmishes with the Arcana Empire had shifted in Victoire’s favor and that a temporary truce had been reached.

Behind that achievement, of course, was a great deal of his contribution.

He had been helping Noah.

With tears in his eyes, he embraced me tightly.

I could feel his joy radiating from his whole body, and I gently returned the embrace.

“I’m sorry it took so long to report… So, where is Noah?”

When I asked, General McGregor hesitated, seemingly at a loss for words.

As I watched his unnatural reaction with suspicion, he furrowed his brow and began to speak slowly, bit by bit.

“Prince Noah… believes that Her Majesty the Queen has passed away.”

“…Why?”

Hadn’t he read Louis’s letter?

That’s why General McGregor hadn’t been surprised when I showed up.

Louis’s letter was written in a sort of riddle, something like: “It hasn’t been confirmed that Queen Chalize is dead.”

Anyone reading it would realize there was more to the story. Like General McGregor clearly had…

(Could it be…)

Just as I arrived at one possibility, he spoke the truth aloud—at nearly the same moment.

“We have not told Prince Noah.”

“Why!? The letter clearly said to tell Noah! Why didn’t you tell him!?”

“Prince Noah is needed right now! That man… he is essential to Victoire at this moment! Lady Chalize, you must understand this better than anyone.”

“…I can’t read your intentions like this. Just say it clearly.”

When I asked plainly, General McGregor stumbled back and bumped into the desk behind him.

He let out a deep sigh, removed his monocle, and rubbed his eyes as if suddenly tired—then answered quietly.

“Prince Noah has become a key figure. He will be the new king… Right now, Prince Noah believes you were executed, and that has fueled his anger toward the king.”

“─”

I gasped.

It was predictable that Noah, hearing of my death, would begin to resent the king.

That’s exactly why I had Louis send that letter.

With a trembling voice, I asked him again.

“So… you couldn’t tell him the truth? If Noah finds out I’m alive, he might lose his resolve. That hesitation could cause the revolution to fail. So you kept my existence a secret from him… Is that it?”

General McGregor did not deny my words.

“Ugh…!”

I instinctively walked right up to him.

Because I moved suddenly and my body still hadn’t fully recovered, I swayed unsteadily.

“Lady Chalize!”

I heard Louis call out behind me, but I grabbed General McGregor firmly by the chest.

“You’re saying… you want to use Noah’s desire for revenge… Is that what you’re telling me, General McGregor? I sent that letter specifically to prevent this!”

“Then shall we have Prince Noah abandon the country, Lady Chalize? Just like you, who fled after losing in the political game?”

“─”

My eyes widened.

I was speechless, unable to form words.

“You bastard…!!”

I could feel Louis about to draw his sword in fury.

I held up my hand to stop him and let out a slow breath.

Then, I released General McGregor’s chest from my grip.

“…You’re right. Noah is a proud royal of Victoire. For someone born into royalty to abandon their nation… That would require immense resolve and determination.”

“…………”

General McGregor looked at me with a tense expression.

But it wasn’t a condemning look—it was the face of someone suffering deeply.

He must have thought long and hard before making this decision.

His reasoning was sound.

But I didn’t want to ignore someone’s feelings in the name of logic.

“Still, whether he abandons the country or becomes a traitor—that choice belongs to Noah. His future should be decided by him, not by me, not by you… no one else.”

“…If Prince Noah disappears, Victoire will be stained with bl00d. Many citizens will die.”

“…Even so. Using that as a reason to manipulate Noah however you like—what about how he feels? That boy is not your puppet.”

Noah also has the right to know.

Then, whatever he decides—

That decision should be made by Noah himself, not forced by me or General McGregor.

He must have understood that too.

When I said “puppet,” his face twisted in pain.