She’s so Cheeky for a Commoner! - Chapter 71

We were at an office within the palace granted to us for use during our investigation. I looked at the various pieces of information sprawled across the walls and our blackboard while reflecting on recent events. Even as rumors of Mount Sassal’s impending eruption and the truth surrounding Sein-sama’s birth spread like wildfire, our investigation was proceeding well.

―At least until now.

We had exposed more than ten nobles at this point. As we went on, the social standing of each of our targets increased. First to medium ranking nobles, and then even some high ranking nobles. However, the higher their social standing, the better they covered their tracks. Until now, we managed to seize enough evidence to force our way through, but we had yet to find any direct evidence against the two key suspects―Salas-sama and my father.

Amidst all that, suspicions of Marquis Achard―Clement-sama― were reaching a boiling point.

(… That said, this is a huge scandal.)

While patting Relaire on her head, I talked to myself. It had been discovered that more than ten nobles were involved in the human trafficking ring that Clément-sama was operating, and among that was Pipi’s own House Barlier. The investigation on those participating nobles was effectively complete. All that was left was to find decisive evidence that Clément-sama wouldn’t be able to slither out of.

“Claire-sama, what do you think we should do? With how things are now, I think we’d be able to corner him to a certain extent but…”

When Rei, who sat by my side, said that. I shook my head in response.

“‘To some extent’, is not enough. If we can’t arrest him with absolute certainty, it’s only a matter of time until these crimes repeat.”

“B-But… Won’t it be rather difficult to find even more evidence than we have now…?”

What Cardinal Lily said was also true. We had the financial records that Rodd-sama provided, testimonies and letters we obtained from negotiations with the guilty parties, financial statements, and various other miscellaneous evidence. It was very possible that we had already gathered all the information that was available to us. If we hoped for more, we may need to be more resolute in our approach.

“Let’s proceed to House Barlier’s manor.”

Cardinal Lily asked that after hearing Rei’s explanation.

“No, we won’t be arresting Baron Patrice.”

“Why not?”

“Baron Patrice is too closely connected to Clément-sama. If we were to arrest him now, Clément-sama would put all the blame on him and simply get away.”

“H-How troublesome.”

Clément-sama was a very careful individual. He had likely prepared plenty of ways to frame one of his cooperators should the need arise.

“In that case, why are we headed to the Barlier manor?”

“We won’t be arresting him, but we can ask him to cooperate with our investigation in secret. We will negotiate a plea bargain as Rei has done before.”

“O-, Oh that makes sense!”

As I just stated, Patrice-sama was a noble who held very close connections to Clément-sama. The fact that the trades had occurred within his territory also meant it was likely he was privy to sensitive information. Using the evidence we had obtained so far, we would offer him a chance to reduce his sentence in exchange for evidence that directly incriminated Clément-sama. If we succeed in our negotiations, we may just be able to secure the evidence we needed to close the case.

“But… Are you sure about this, Claire-sama?”

“Just what wouldn’t I be sure about?”

Put simply, Rei was asking if I would pursue justice even at the cost of losing one of my dearest friends.

“Did you really think I was unaware of that?”

“… I see, so you had already considered the consequences.”

“It is certainly true that I may fall out of Pipi’s graces. However, Pipi too is a Bauan noble. So long as I have not misjudged her character, I believe that she will accept her fate.”

She could of course come to bear a grudge against me. Even so, this was my duty, and one that I believed I must carry out. If I were to back out over something like this, it would be impossible for me to investigate my own father later on.

“… C-Claire-sama, why…?”

“Cardinal Lily?”

“C-Claire-sama why? Why―even when faced with your friend’s potential ruin―are you able to pursue justice?”

At first, I wasn’t quite able to grasp what Cardinal Lily was asking me. After all, from my perspective, my choice here was but an obvious one.

“I believe what Lily-sama is trying to say is… With your level of influence, if you wanted to, you could show lenience to whoever you’d like, so…”

“If I were to do something like that, then I would be no different from the corrupt nobles that we’ve been convicting. As a person that upholds justice, I have a duty to practice that justice myself. Yes, regardless of who the suspect is and my relationship with them.”

After a moment’s hesitation, I responded to Cardinal Lily’s question.

Based on our findings throughout our investigation so far, Salas-sama and my father were unmistakably guilty of something. Perhaps Cardinal Lily felt hesitant about whether or not exposing her own father’s wrongdoings should be considered justice.

“Cardinal Lily, if it’s too difficult to bear, we understand if you choose to remove yourself from the investigation.”

“…”

“You’ve already contributed more than enough. No one would blame you if you were to leave the rest to Rei and I.”

“…”

Cardinal Lily’s expression made her hesitation clear. For a moment I thought that she may actually withdraw from the investigation. However,

“… L-Lily thinks… That she wants to see things through with the both of you after all.”

After vigorously shaking her head as though to shake off her own doubts, Cardinal Lily spoke with determination.

“Are you sure? You yourself are not nobility. You don’t hold the same obligations―”

“L-Lily has decided to live by her faith.”

Before I could finish, Lily respectfully interjected.

“L-Lily thinks that faith is something that should represent justice and morality. Just like nobles need to hold themselves to high standards, believers must also hold themselves to a standard that exemplifies their faith. That’s what Lily thinks.”

Cardinal Lily asserted that to an extent, nobles and the believers of the Great Spirit were the same.

“A-And, even if Lily is not, father is a Bauan Noble. S-So father has an obligation to be just. If Lily’s father is committing a sin, then Lily herself should be the one to correct him, isn’t that right?”

“Cardinal Lily…”

Even with her sadness clear, Cardinal Lily declared her resolve. As she did, Relaire rubbed against her palm as though to comfort her. When Cardinal Lily noticed that, her expression softened before she continued to speak.

“S-Sins must be judged. T-The Great Spirit sees all, so Lily thinks that this chance to investigate father’s crimes herself must be a trial entrusted to her by the Great Spirit.”

Her expression no longer held the hesitation I saw moments ago. It was clear to me that Cardinal Lily did not possess a strong will. However, at her core she was surprisingly earnest and pure of heart. Even though she was one of my rivals who also held feelings for Rei, I felt a certain rapport between us over the way she conducted herself.

“Very well. In that case, let’s make sure to see this through together.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Rei, get all of our evidence together. After that, we’ll be on our way to House Barlier.”

I would be lying if I said that this wasn’t difficult for me. If it could be avoided, then I would rather not do this myself. However, so long as I, Claire François, was a noble, there was no turning back.

(Pipi, I won’t ask that you forgive me. But even so, I can’t allow myself to live any other way.)

To be a noble that embodies one’s ideals―mulling over my mother’s teachings, I was only just coming to understand how painful it could be to live by those words.