I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 6

“You certainly seemed to be enjoying yourself just a moment ago. The room is thick with a lascivious scent.”

Even so… to think that Erik could be such a vulgar man… Any feelings of love I had have long since frozen over.

Because…

“Erik. This civil archive is, in essence, a place that handles the kingdom’s classified information.”

“T-That’s not… Filia… this is—”

“This is a sacred space where the knowledge of wise men who have supported the kingdom throughout history is gathered. To defile such a place with mere lust—how disgraceful.”

At my words, the members of the merchant guild began taking notes, not missing a single word.

This moment—this disgraceful scene before our eyes—
All of it would become a powerful piece of information in their publication, meant to stir public outrage and incite the people.

“Filia, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought so many people to this place…?”

“My question comes first. After all… do you truly intend to show us such a scene and then claim you have no responsibility to explain yourself?”
Erik hurriedly pulled his hand away from Rosaline’s chest, and she, too, withdrew her hand from between his legs.
Even though they’d been caught in a situation from which no excuse could save them, they shamelessly put distance between each other and stood up.

“I-It’s a misunderstanding. Everyone watching is severely mistaken—we are not in that kind of relationship.”

“Oh? And what kind of relationship would that be?”

“That is… I simply mean it’s not an illicit affair. What you just saw—it was all just a coincidence. Yes, a coincidence!”

A misunderstanding.
Clinging to that pathetic excuse, Erik desperately kept talking to those around him.

“Ro-Rosaline sometimes… suffers from a condition that affects her breathing. She wanted to learn about our kingdom’s history and expand her knowledge, so I brought her to the archive, but the dust triggered her condition.”

“And so, the scene we just witnessed came about because of that?”

“Yes! I was pressing on her chest to help stabilize her breathing. I swear it’s true.”

It was absurd. Pitiful, even.
Everyone presents wore the same expression—none of them believed a word of it.
The excuse was so poorly thought out, it was almost laughable—but I bit my lip to suppress my reaction.

“I-It’s true, everything Lord Erik said is true.”

Rosaline spoke up in support.
Just moments ago, her chest was fully exposed, and even now, her cheeks were still flushed with unmistakable heat.
And so, her defense began.
“I only came to the archive with Erik in pursuit of knowledge, for the good of the kingdom. When I began struggling with my condition, he kindly attended to me—nothing more.”

“I see. Then may I ask—why was your hand inside Erik’s trousers?”

“That was… my hand slipped.”

Pfft!

Oh dear. One of the merchants couldn’t hold in their laughter.
Not that I blame them—the excuse was so childish, it bordered on comedy.
To think they’d be so ill-prepared… how disappointing.

If they’re so desperate to make excuses, then perhaps it’s time I reveal what I’ve prepared.

“Very well then, Miss Rosaline. Let me ask you this—if I’m not mistaken, you never submitted an entry request to the castle today, did you? You are obligated to declare exactly whom you intend to meet and where you plan to go within the grounds.”

That was confirmed beforehand with the civil officials.
And as I brought it to light, both Rosaline’s and Erik’s expressions twisted in unison.

After a few silent seconds, Erik answered.

“I-It was just chance… I happened to run into Rosaline at the castle gate. She must’ve simply forgotten to file the request.”

“So again, you claim it was mere coincidence?”

“It’s the truth, Filia. I haven’t done anything that should make you suspicious—please believe me.”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. I admit, I forgot the entry request, and I’m sorry for that. But it was just one time. Surely a single mistake can be forgiven.”

Ah—there it was. A lovely slip of the tongue.
And I wasn’t about to let it go unnoticed.

“Rosaline… Just now, you said this was your first time forgetting to submit an entry request.”

“What? Yes, of course. It’s my first time, so to be questioned this harshly is a bit much, don’t you think?”

Once, I had nearly been cast off the board—but now, I’d returned to play.
From here on, the outcome would be decided by the difference in how well we’d prepared.
As you can see, they’re fools—but not so foolish as to carry on an illicit affair without a hint of forethought.
Rotten though they may be, they’re still nobles. They understand the weight of their positions, which is why they must have prepared several lies, cards to play when the time came.

Rosaline’s earlier statement—clumsy though it was—was exactly one such card.

“You said it was your first time. That much, you made very clear.”

And I? I’ve spent this entire year preparing cards of my own evidence, not excuses.
Five years, ruined by their schemes.
But this year is mine.
To reclaim what was stolen from me, I’ll lay their lies bear with cold, hard proof—and show everyone the truth.

“The meeting room on the second floor of the castle. The disused servants’ changing room within the royal wing.”

“W-Why are you suddenly—”

“The third-floor archive. The second consort’s chamber. The civil officials’ document vault on the first floor.”

“You recognize those places, don’t you?”

Rosaline and Erik turned pale, their gazes dropping, desperate to look anywhere but at me.
Of course they did.

Each of those rooms was a place they’d secretly met during the past year.
The result of long, meticulous investigation on my part.

“W-What about those rooms? What are you implying?”

“You should have done a better job hiding the evidence, Rosaline.
Your azure hair—it’s quite rare among Harvin nobility, you know.
It stands out very clearly.”

I gave a discreet nod to the knight who had accompanied me.

“Of all the rooms I mentioned, I believe the third-floor archive is the closest.
Sir Knight… I’m sorry to trouble you, but would you mind checking if any strands of azure hair have been left behind?”

“U-Understood.”

As the knight dashed off, I signaled the merchant guild members as well—several of them followed after him.
This way, there’d be no chance of tampering with the evidence.

“W-Wait, stop!”

“Step back. This is an official investigation authorized by Lady Filia.”

Rosaline reached out to stop them, but the merchants quickly stood in her way.
How fortunate I am to have their support…

After a short while, the clanking of armor echoed through the hall as the knight returned.

“Lady Filia! W-We found it! Strands of azure hair… inside the room. I can’t believe His Highness would do such a thing within the royal castle…”

The evidence proving Rosaline had been in the room was found.
Now even the knight’s voice carried a tinge of anger as he turned his glare on Erik and Rosaline.
Naturally—after all, the one he swore to protect had defiled the sanctity of the realm.

“Well, Rosaline? How do you plan to explain this?”

“There’s no record of you requesting access to the third-floor archive.
And yet, your hair was found there. Which means you’ve entered the royal castle multiple times without permission.”

“This is proof you were there.
And if we search the other rooms, I’m sure we’ll find more.”

Rosaline’s eyes flickered, her parched lips trembled.
Her gaze turned to Erik, silently begging for rescue—and I followed her line of sight, directing my words at him.

“Are we done with the childish excuses now?”

“Well, Erik? You can answer, can’t you?”

The flimsy lies they had so carelessly prepared—
I crushed them with the weight of the truth I had gathered over a year of relentless pursuit.