Chapter 36: Trust

"... here is?"

"You woke up, huh"

"——–!"

　Don woke up on the bed and tried to jump up in surprise, but he felt pain and fell back down on the bed.

　It was not a mansion, but a room in a private house on the outskirts of the city, and it was just the two of us.

"Don't push yourself, you could have died."

"D-ie?"

　Enduring the pain, he stares at me with a furrowed brow.

"Don't you remember?　you were under surveillance the whole time. I'll tell you if you don't remember."

"... Ah".

　He seemed to remember.

"Yes, after you reported that you had eliminated the witness, you were cut off by your contact. Well, I guess they cut you off for screwing up, too."

"Is that so ...."

　Don was lying on the bed, but he was clearly disappointed.

"I thought it might be the case that you had me followed, but I didn't think you'd be the one to be silenced."

　I sighed.

　My older brother is really ....

"People are treasures."

....

　Don turned his face sideways on the bed and stared at me.

"You mean to tell me you've been expecting me to be cut down?"

"Yeah."

"You're as good as they say, Wise Prince. ..."

　Don laughed and looked impressed as if he had given up on everything.

"If I was on your side from the start,..."

　Don mumbled, a hint of self-mockery in his words.

"You can start now."

"Eh?"

"You mean, if things had gone differently, you'd be my subordinate, right?　Start from now. Then it's not too late."

"Are you serious about ...?"

"In return, I'm very strict about betrayal. Once you're under my command, you're not allowed to leave until you die."

"Thank you very much ...."

　Perhaps his wounds hurt, but he propped himself up on his elbows on the bed and bowed his head to me on the bed.

――――――――――――

Name: Lucas Ararat

Title: Minister of Justice

Gender: Male

Level: 3 / ∞

HP: E+F

MP: F+F

Strength: E+E

Stamina: F+F

Intelligence: F+E

Spirit: F+F

Speed: F+F

Dexterity: F+F

Luck: F+F

Fire: F+B

Water: E+S

Wind: F+F

Earth: F+F

Light: F

Darkness: F

―――――――――――

　Unlike when he came to me as a spy, this time, my status has increased. [His wind went from F to F+F]

　It's a sign that deep down, he has decided to be my subordinate.

"Good. Then concentrate on healing your wounds. Tomorrow, I will find a fallen nobleman and adopt you. A new identity and name. You'll have to change your appearance a bit."

"Y-yes, ...."

"I suggest you stay away from the Ministry of the Imperial Household, or rather the capital, for a while. I will find you an alternative position in Almeria and you can cool off there."

"T-thank you very much, ...."

"That will do for now. After that, we'll decide what to do when the time comes."

"..."

"What is it?"

"I don't know if it would even be considered as a repayment of Your Highness's kindness, but ... the Phoenix liquor that Prince Gilbert presented to His Majesty should be discontinued immediately.

"... What do you mean?"

　When I asked back, Don told me the secret in a stifled voice, so that only I could hear.

　I left the house on the outskirts of the city where I had laid Don to rest, and once I returned to the Ministry of Justice, I ran to the Royal Palace.

　Once inside the palace, I applied for a meeting with His Majesty and waited.

　After waiting for about an hour, I was ushered into a library-like study.

"Oh, what's the matter, Lucas?"

"Your Majesty, I have a secret to tell you. Please send everyone away."

"Fumu...?"

　His Majesty looked at me as if he were observing me.

"You can talk like this. Everyone except Cruz is deaf."

　I looked at the young eunuch beside him, who was doing some chores.

　He acted as if he hadn't heard a thing while I was talking to him.

　I see, so it is the deaf people who have always been placed in the study to maintain secrecy.

"I understand. Your Majesty, please stop drinking Phoenix liquor right now."

"Phoenix liquor ... produced in Prince Gilbert's estate and presented to the Royal Court this year, correct?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong with it?"

"Combination (with other foods)."

　I told him what Don had told me.

"Phoenix liquor is a good tonic on its own, but when eaten with certain foods, it turns into a deadly poison."

"What is it?　What is that particular thing?"

"It's called dragon's claw."

"Dragon's claw. ... Fumu, that's what the Crown Prince and I consume once a year when we worship our ancestors."

"Yes."

　I took a deep breath and continued.

　And continued with what Don had told me, fleshing out my speculations.

"The scary thing about this combination is that the effects of the Phoenix liquor stay in your body for a week, not just the day you drink it. And since it's been less than a year since it was presented to you, and you drink it on a regular basis, you yourself have proven that it is not poisonous. So, no one will suspect that when it comes time to eat the dragon's claws, no one will suspect that Phoenix liquor is poisonous."

"So you are saying that the alibi will be confirmed.:

"Yes."

"But that's assuming the combination is real."

"I have conducted tests. I let the death row inmate try both on the condition that he would be released if he was safe. And the result was there."

"Oh, so you're saying it worked."

"Yes."

　And very effectively too.

　One prisoner on death row drank only Phoenix liquor.

　Another one who took the dragon's claw.

　And the one who took both.

　Of the three, the two who ate only one were still alive and well, but the one who ate both died almost instantly.

"I see. In other words, if this continues, both I and the Crown Prince will die during the ceremony. The Phoenix liquor was also presented to the crown prince, and the dragon's claw is only for me and the crown prince to eat." "Yes"

"Well done, Lucas. I am glad you were able to uncover it. Cruz."

"Yes"

"Get Henry. Send out the troops and have them surround the First Prince's residence. He'll tell us what we need to know."

"Yes."

　The confidant eunuch, Cruz, moved after receiving His Majesty's order.

　That's it.

　I'm sorry Brother Gilbert, but I can't let something like this go unnoticed.

"Lucas, you can go now. The reward will follow later."

"Yes!"

　I gave a final bow and turned to leave the study.

　I may be asked for my opinion as Minister of Justice later, but for now, this is it.

　Just as I was about to turn myself around and walk out of the room.

　Something crossed my mind.

　My feet stopped.

　I felt a great sense of discomfort.

　I desperately wondered what that strange feeling was.

　Eventually, I remembered.

　I've been reminded of it many times.

　The incident in Dosso's village, and the things that happened after that.

　His Majesty's attention is so intrusive that he knows almost everything I'm doing.

His Majesty told me something that only Don knew.

　It feels strange that he acted as if he had just found out about it.

　... No way?

　I turned around and looked at his Majesty hesitantly.

　My eyes met his, and he chuckled.

"You're very clever, Lucas."

"——!"

　With that one word, I knew that His Majesty had noticed what I had noticed.

"Y-You had realized that already?"

"Yes. More importantly, I haven't been drinking Phoenix liquor."

"..."

"I've been emperor for too long, and it seems some cannot wait any longer."

"..."

"You ... don't seem to have any of that."

"Not at all."

　I answered immediately.

　To be honest, I was reincarnated and was born into the royal family.

　His Majesty never really felt like a 'father' to me.

I don't have much affection for him as a father and son.

　Even so, I don't think I'll kill him to take the throne.

"I see. Lucas Ararat."

"...Yes"

"I hereby appoint you Vice Minister of Military Affairs, to serve concurrently with the current Minister of Justice."

"Ye ...?"

"And you will also be the Commander of the First Army, also known as the Imperial Guard."

"As you wish."

　Well, I agreed, but I couldn't quite grasp His Majesty's intentions.

"I have no intention of going down without a fight. I will be laughing stock for generations if my son kills me. However, if the worst should happen, you will take control of the Imperial Capital with Emperor's Guard and appoint a suitable person as emperor."

"—-!"

　I gulped.

　This was the utmost trust that His Majesty had placed in me.