I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 7

The two of them answered my question with silence.
So—they’ve finally run out of lies to hide behind.

“…Filia, calm down. What’s the point of dragging this out?”

With shallow breaths, Erik placed a hand on my shoulder, brushing his fingers through my hair.
Even as a cold shiver ran down my spine, he whispered sweetly.

“I love you. That much is real… So please, believe me.”

“……”

“I’ve done nothing improper. My heart truly belongs to you, my crown princess—I want you to understand that.”

Such pleading words.
But love, you say?
That’s something I threw away a long time ago.

“Filia, you shouldn’t direct such suspicion at the daughter of a duke. You understand, don’t you? Let’s clear up this misunderstanding with the merchant guild members and end this here.”

“Be quiet, Erik.”

“Why are you so angry? Just listen to me––”

“Sir Knight, would you summon the Chancellor, please?”

“Y-Yes! At once, my lady!”
“Filia, what are you—please, just listen to me!”

Erik’s pupils widened, the blue of his irises spreading as his eyes opened in alarm.
But I had no intention of listening to him any longer.

Let’s move things along quickly.
First, I need to bring in someone with authority close to Erik’s father—the king.
The chancellor must be informed of this matter.

“I won’t waste time on meaningless discussion.

I’ll tell Chancellor Dalton everything… as a princess of the Sylvan royal family.”

By subtly invoking the possibility of international repercussions, I made my true intentions clear.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Erik and Rosaline fell silent, scrambling for words to excuse themselves.
But then, in response to the knight I had dispatched—
Chancellor Dalton arrived more swiftly than I expected.

“…I was told this was an urgent matter. What’s going on here?”

Dalton was the very man who once helped end the war with my homeland.
One of the architects of today’s peace, he is deeply patriotic and unwavering in his loyalty to the royal family.
And yet, as he took in the room’s tense atmosphere, his eyes immediately settled on me.

“I understand this concerns Lady Filia. May I ask what this is about?”

Observing the presence of the merchant guild, Erik’s unease, and the charged mood of the room, he instantly grasped that something serious was unfolding.

I spoke—laying out everything.
The evidence, the eyewitnesses, the strand of Rosaline’s hair retrieved from the room.
Every piece of the truth.

When I finished, Dalton fixed his sharp gaze on Erik and Rosaline, his eyes narrow and unyielding.

“May I ask for the truth of the matter, Prince Erik?”

“I-It’s all a misunderstanding. Rosaline and I have done nothing improper. That’s the truth.”

Dalton said nothing in reply.
But surrounded by the merchant witnesses, and with the proof laid before him—including Rosaline’s distinctive hair from another restricted room—
his eyes did not waver.
“Dalton, you’ve known me since I was a child—surely you believe my word. As your crown prince, you are bound to trust the testimony of your liege…”

“Your Highness, silence, please. When one analyzes the facts objectively, it becomes clear whom we ought to believe.”

With those firm words, Chancellor Dalton straightened his posture—and then, before the gathered crowd, bowed deeply to me.
Even I was taken aback by such a gesture from the chancellor himself, shown publicly.

“Lady Filia… This is a grave failure on our part. I offer my sincerest apologies.
We have betrayed the trust of one who is the very symbol of peace between our two nations.
I deeply regret this shameful outcome.”

“D-Dalton! Why… Why would you take Filia’s word over mine?!”

“Prince Erik, I must ask you to mind your tone.
She is a princess of the Sylvan royal family—a guest of honor in our kingdom, and one who must be treated as such.”

“The full truth will, of course, be thoroughly investigated.
But even before that—the very fact that suspicion of this nature has arisen at all is already a failure on our part.
One that must be acknowledged, and for which we owe her an apology.”

“!!”

This full bow of apology was only natural.

The way I’d been treated until now would be unthinkable for a princess sent in marriage.
I had endured it because of the guilt of not bearing a child…
But truly, such treatment should have sparked protest long ago—and in some cases, could even have escalated to war.

“Lady Filia. I will report this matter to His Majesty at once, and arrangements will be made to conduct a full investigation. As for this disgraceful incident… I don’t know how we can ever apologize enough.”

“There is no need to worry. However, I must ask that word be sent to the Sylvan royal family immediately.”

“But of course. You came to our kingdom in the name of peace and goodwill, and for us to repay that with such disrespect… We must act with sincerity and express our deepest regret on behalf of the crown.”

As I had hoped, Chancellor Dalton had not been in league with Erik and Rosaline.
His deep patriotism and commitment to justice had given me faith that, once he knew the truth, he would act accordingly.

“Prince Erik and Lady Rosaline will be placed under watch for the time being. Is that acceptable?”

With matters reaching this point, not even Erik could conjure another excuse.
Panic written across their faces, the two of them were escorted out by knights.
Chancellor Dalton apologized to me repeatedly before rushing to inform the king.

“I’m terribly sorry for dragging the merchant guild into such a scandal.”

“No, not at all, Lady Filia. On the contrary—we intend to deliver this truth to the people without reserve.
If we were to remain silent about the crown prince’s misconduct, we would no longer deserve to call ourselves handlers of information.”

I was grateful.
The merchants had chosen to stand by me.
Shrewd as ever, they had quickly calculated which side would benefit them most—and acted accordingly.

“Well then… That’s one step forward.”

Now, word would soon reach my homeland—my father.
And if I know my father, he will surely send someone on my behalf.

“But I can’t stop here. I need to make sure the proof of Erik’s and Rosaline’s affair is undeniable.”

Now that Chancellor Dalton and other key figures were beginning to move,
I had to ensure that even more advantageous information was set in motion.

　
Fortune smiled upon me that very evening.
Rosaline’s father—Duke Telmond, head of the powerful Telmond family—arrived at the palace, demanding to protest the accusations made against his daughter.

“Let me confront Crown Princess Filia, who has leveled these unjust claims against my daughter!”

The Duke of Telmond was one of the top power holders in the Harvin Kingdom—second to none.
He could not be refused lightly.
And so, I was summoned into the receiving room.

Thankfully, Chancellor Dalton accompanied me, concerned for my safety.
As expected, both Erik and Rosaline were present.

“Crown Princess Filia. We haven’t spoken since the wedding, have we?”

The duke glared at me.
His eyes radiated pure hostility.
“These baseless accusations against my daughter… are something I cannot overlook. Depending on your response, you may be held responsible—”

“Please calm yourself, Duke Telmond. Before we speak further, there is something I would like to show you.”

I interrupted his pompous declaration and clapped my hands.
Everyone in the room looked momentarily stunned, but at my signal, a certain figure stepped into the room.

“W-What!? The head lady-in-waiting!? Why is she here…?”

Erik and Rosaline both shouted in surprise.
Their eyes darted in panic the moment she entered.
As they should.

This was the same head maid to whom I had offered a cup of muddy tea this very morning.
She was their accomplice—in other words…

“Speak, Head Maid. You know what must be said.”

“Y-Yes, my lady.”

After the incident earlier today, I visited her in her quarters where she was still trembling with fear.
To her—who was terrified of facing execution—I offered a deal:
Testify to the truth, and her punishment would be reduced to imprisonment. I gave her my word in writing.

To someone who had been staring death in the face, that offer must have looked like a silken thread dangling from above.
She clung to it without hesitation. And now—that thread would tighten around their necks.

“I… I was ordered by Prince Erik… to escort Lady Rosaline into the palace and clear the area of staff so they could be alone.”

The room fell into a frozen silence.

That testimony—plain, irrefutable truth—seized control of the conversation in an instant.
From this moment forward, I held the reins.

Now then… shall I begin unveiling the rest of the cards I’ve prepared?

Right here, in front of the chancellor—and the duke.