Chapter 16 - Crown Prince Eirik's Fury
"What is the meaning of this?"
Crown Prince Eirik Nadar made no effort to hide his irritation.
He was not in a position where he would be reprimanded for expressing his mood, anyway.
"As I said, the Church—His Eminence the Archbishop, apparently..."
"I have already heard that.
I am asking why such a thing has happened."
"Well, that is..." the Minister of Justice, who had come to report, stammered.
"Why is the Church occupying the Marquess Mares's mansion as if they own the place?
Should you not have headed there to seize it at the same time as the announcement?
—Minister of Ceremonies? Was there some mistake?"
"No, sir," the Minister of Ceremonies replied, his complexion pale.
"At each city gate of the Royal Capital, the gates of the Royal Castle, the merchant houses, and Saint Rainia Cathedral among other major churches—as per custom, the official proclamation was made by posting notices at each location starting from sunrise.
Furthermore, fast horses have been dispatched for the proclamations to each territory."
"M-My subordinates also attempted to enter the Marquess Mares's mansion at the same time as sunrise, but—"
As the Minister of Justice tried to continue his explanation, the Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively as if it were a nuisance.
"The Church. What are those people saying?"
"Well, they are saying something nonsensical.
That since this is the 'Ariarein Memorial Royal Monastery,' entry without permission is not allowed, or something to that effect."
The Crown Prince's face twisted at the words uttered by the Minister of Justice.
"—What is the meaning of this?"
His voice and expression grew even more irritated.
He likely hadn't expected to hear the name of the young lady he had just exiled at this point.
However, the same could be said for all the high-ranking officials gathered there.
"—Ah."
Count Nord, Ludovico Foscar, had an idea of what was happening.
"What is it, Count Nord?"
"Your Highness, perhaps the daughter of Marquess Mares has donated the mansion to the Church?"
Those who are exiled are stripped of all human rights. From the ownership of goods and transactions to the freedom of life and limb, everything.
From the moment of exile, they can no longer buy or sell goods, accounts receivable and payable are treated as if they 'never existed,' taking anything from the exiled person is not a crime, and the law does not protect the exiled person whether they are injured or killed.
Since it starts from the moment of exile, it naturally follows that transactions are possible before the exile.
And a donation can be considered a type of transaction.
"Three days ago, a member of my household spotted that young lady at the Cathedral.
I thought it was preparation for her withdrawal from the world, but—"
If that wasn't the case.
—There is no way that young lady would do such a thing without a reason.
Had he not thought that at the time?
"Are you saying she went out of her way to negotiate a donation?
Absurd. What benefit would there be for the House of the Marquess in doing such a thing?"
"...I can only assume it was to keep it from falling into our hands."
"Is it not merely a spiteful harassment, then?"
"How loathsome," the Crown Prince spat out.
"If I were to venture a guess, it would be to put the Church in her debt," Ludovico added.
Even a mansion and grounds that would be worth a considerable amount if priced could not be sold in a few days.
Since the payment couldn't be produced all at once, it would normally be paid in annual installments. For a Marquess's daughter about to be exiled, that would be meaningless.
In that case, she would hand it over to the Church and either receive some kind of favor in return or put them in her debt.
Logically speaking, that was the conclusion.
"Wait, wait, Count Nord, you said your retainer saw her at the Cathedral three days ago?"
"Yes, Your Highness, that is correct."
"That was the afternoon following the declaration of exile.
For a mere girl of seventeen to go that far in less than a day—"
"It would require considerable courage and decisiveness, but looking at the facts, it can only be so."
The Crown Prince let out a groan-like sound and crossed his arms. Even for a Crown Prince, it was no easy matter to confront the Church head-on.
"Enough, the matter of the mansion cannot be helped.
In the end, it is nothing more than the desperate struggle of one who has been cornered.
Minister of Justice, confirm it. If there is no evidence of the donation, we will strike from there."
"Yes, I shall do so."
While listening to the exchange between the Crown Prince and the Minister of Justice, Ludovico thought that if it were that young lady, she would have likely prepared the documents perfectly. There wouldn't be any oversight one could see.
An awkward silence fell over the room when a chamberlain entered.
He approached Ludovico and whispered in his ear.
Ludovico was about to ask why he was being told, but then he understood.
Although his appointment as Lord Privy Seal had not been officially proclaimed, it was shared as a foregone fact within the palace.
He realized that everyone in the room was looking at him.
Feeling an indescribable discomfort, he walked up to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard requests an audience.
He says it is regarding the matter of the Mares Knight Corps."
"Something else again—very well."
The Crown Prince frowned for a moment and nodded.
"Let him in."
When Ludovico ordered the chamberlain, the chamberlain bowed and withdrew.
After a short while, a voice announced the entrance of the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard.
The Knight Commander, in informal dress, appeared, stepped forward before the Crown Prince, and knelt respectfully.
"Your Highness—"
"Spare me the formal greetings.
You went to seize the Mares Knight Corps, did you not?"
"Yes, Your Highness, just as you ordered."
"Had it already passed into someone else's hands, or were the Mares knights barricaded inside?"
"No, Your Highness, the Knight Corps was an empty shell.
Other than breaking down the doors, the seizure was carried out without incident."
"Hmm," the Crown Prince nodded.
"It seems they couldn't manage to get as far as the Knight Corps—so, Knight Commander, is that all you have to report?"
"No, Your Highness. This was left in the hall of the Knight Corps."
The Knight Commander held out a single dagger with both hands as if presenting it.
Both the hilt and the scabbard were adorned with lavish decorations.
"—That is..."
The Minister of Ceremonies couldn't help but speak up upon seeing the dagger.
"Is that not the King's Gifted Dagger?"
All those who are knighted receive a dagger from the King.
Forged by the best blacksmith in the Royal Capital and decorated by the Royal family's own craftsman, it was a proof of knightly status and pride itself.
Therefore, a knight would polish that dagger to every corner at all times and carry it with them constantly.
They would not part with it even after death—it was customary for it to be placed in the coffin and laid upon the chest of the deceased during the funeral.
The fact that it was left in the hall of the Knight Corps meant...
"Is it only that one?"
The Crown Prince asked with a grim expression.
"No, Your Highness, there were twenty-six—the same number as the knights who were staying at the Mares Knight Corps."
"—What is the meaning of this?"
The Crown Prince's words were muffled, as if indicating a suppressed rage.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I can only think of one reason."
Ludovico's voice was tinged with a tremble.
"Speak, Count Nord."
"Considering that everyone has left the Knight Corps and has not yet returned, and the abandoned daggers—"
He didn't want to say such a thing.
It was terrifying even to put into words. Ludovico felt that from the bottom of his heart.
Contrary to his will, Ludovico's tongue continued the words.
"It is an expression of their intent to dissolve their master-servant relationship with His Majesty—in other words, this is a rebellion by the Mares knights."
The Crown Prince glared at the presented dagger with a terrifying expression.
While everyone watched with bated breath, the Crown Prince picked up the dagger, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
He tapped the shoulder of the Knight Commander, who was still kneeling, and had him stand up.
"Good work. You may withdraw—oh, once you return to the Knight Corps, prepare so that you can move out at any time."
"Yes, sir," the Knight Commander of the Royal Guard replied, gave a knight's salute, and exited.
"Call the Minister of War. Immediately."
In the room where the high-ranking officials and chamberlains remained, the Crown Prince's voice sounded rather flat.
"—I must make those disloyal bastards realize their mistake."
The name of the monastery is a small bit of harassment from the Archbishop.
But look, it's not strange to name it after the person who donated it, right?