Chapter 44: A nobleman laughs with medicine in one hand Part 1

An uncomfortable silence passed. The fact that the reply was highly likely to lead to death weighed heavily on the siblings', or rather Rick's, mouth.

But silence is certain death. Rick made up his mind to avoid that, and opened his mouth.

"... I am sorry. All of the Grand Duke's reprimands are justified. I, or rather let me, deeply apologize for the tremendous trouble I have caused you by my shallow thinking."

"I'm not asking you to apologize. I'm asking you to explain yourself."

"There is none."

"What?"

"... I have no excuse. Because I was wrong about everything."

"Rick!?"

Saying that, Rick deeply bows his head.

Right next to him, Natra is shrieking and screaming, but that was only natural.

Not making an excuse is nothing more than accepting death.

“…Does that mean that you will gracefully present your neck?”

“Yes, I will. But I ask a favor on top of that! I will redeem my folly with my life! So please spare my sister's life!"

“Rick!? What are you doing……!?”

"My sister only did what I asked her to do!　She knows very little about the other world!　The only processing knowledge she has  is about that metal match, and she doesn't even understand it well! It's impossible for her to spread my knowledge! So please! Please spare my sister's life!!"

Rick jumps out of Natra's chest and kneels on the floor begging.

His posture is the very knees down on the ground that men have always known. Abandoning his shame, his reputation, and even his own life, Rick desperately wanted his sister's life to be spared.

"Please! Please!"

"..."

Head down again and again. Over and over. Over and over. Hitting his head on the floor, he kept bowing earnestly without hesitation, even to the point of bleeding.

"...... Is that all you have to say?"

"...!!"

── Even that plea didn't reach Lute. Because an apology from someone without status or power has no value in reducing sin.

"If not, then we're done talking."

"Please wait!!"

"I said it's over"

Despair spreads. The scene had already been set. When Rick abandoned his defense, all the bases for judgment were lined up.

That's why──

『──Husband. May I have a word? 』

It was someone who wasn't present that cut off the fixed flow.

"Liselotte?"

A sudden knock echoed in the room. And the voice of my young fiancé came from the other side of the door.

These two elements bring a slight warmth to Lute's cold eyes..

"You should have sent someone. If it's not an important matter, leave it for later."

“I know that. But I have an urgent request. ……May I enter the room? 』

"……I give permission"

A slight hesitation. However, it is judged that there must be a suitable reason for visiting even beyond sending someone.

After quickly counteracting the demi-god-like supremacy, he urged Liselotte to enter the room.

"Excuse me. First of all, I would like to apologize for interrupting an important conversation."

"No need to apologize. Rather, just tell me what you want. It's important, isn't it?"

"That's right..."

Hesitantly. Lieselotte, with a somewhat troubled expression on her face, requested from Lute.

"I'm sorry, sir. I understand that this is an important matter, but if you could just calm your mind a little bit. Your demi-god pressure is interfering with our work on the upper floor....."

"Mm……"

Lute was at a loss for words because the words she threw were unexpected.

The high energy emitted by the demi-god is the very pressure that appeals to one's instincts. Yet, its range sometimes engulfs even the battlefield.

Although not as severe as in battle, the high energy that had just been released was for the purpose of intimidation. If just a person is exposed to such pressure without warning, it is almost impossible to carry out work properly.

Realizing that he had significantly interfered with work, Lute bowed his head with a look of remorse.

"I'm sorry. I guess I got a little overheated."

"It looks like it. I've even had a little frost in my office.… That said, I think it's only natural that there's a lot of heat."

"──Wait. How far did you hear?"

But it was only for a moment. Hearing Liselotte's disturbing words, he immediately returned to being harsh.

"It must have been around the time of 'The Book of the Genuine Sage~'? It looked pretty tight, so I was late to call out to you......"

"That’s almost the beginning...haa ......!"

It was discovered that she had been listening much earlier than anticipated, and Lute unintentionally held his head.

He speaks vividly that he did not think that there would be anyone who would eavesdrop on the secret conversations of the Grand Duke.

"Eavesdropping is bad manners...!"

"I am very aware of my disrespect. My apologies, Sir."

"... fine. It's also my fault for letting my guard down. But I'll use my magic after this to freeze the memory of what you heard. Then the eavesdropping will be exonerated.”

Lute accepts the apology with a big sigh.

Fortunately, Lute's magic can interfere with other people's memories. While it is not possible to falsify memories at will, such as implanting false memories, it is possible to virtually erase memories by partially freezing them.

It was just barely, but Lute and Rick's peculiarities had not leaked out. Judging this to be the case, the reprimand was reserved.

“If only you had listened to what I had to say. Liselotte, step back for now. From here on out, you are not allowed to be in view."

“Does that mean that you are going to deal with those two from now on?”

"That's right”

"...!!"

Lute's affirmation brings a sign of breathlessness from the sister and brother who had been silently refraining.

However, without reacting to it at all, Lute was only staring at Liselotte with an attitude that seemed to say that he no longer cared about the siblings.

"It's not for you to see, little one. Back off."

"Oh my goodness. It's true that I was raised, free from violence, especially death. But I am the head of the Duchesse de Gascoigne. I am prepared to make some ruthless decisions, you know?"

“Even if it were, it's not something worth going out of your way to see. Why are you so stubborn?”

“That is, of course, to dispute my husband’s judgment."

"What did you say?"

Once again, the coldness dwells in the presence of Lute. However, Liselotte didn't hesitate and continued with her words while smiling gracefully.

"I know it's absurd, but when I heard my husband talk about it, I thought it would be a pity to lose them."

"... you're not only interfering in this decision by eavesdropping, but you're spouting those words with an understanding of the dangers discussed in our conversation so far?"

“Yes. Since I have already done something immodest, I thought I would just completely reopen the situation.”

Liselotte is not intimidated even though she is pierced by the gaze of absolute zero. And, as she declared, she walks up to Lute's side with a dignified gait.

“It was a surprise, but there is no need to speak falsely in this way. Then it must all be true. On top of that, the concerns and dangers that my husband talks about are firm, and that is already firmly understood by me as well."

Liselotte then gives her opinion. Liselotte was also able to estimate Rick's knowledge from a different point of view than Lute.

“Even considering all these things, I would like to secure the『Genuine Book of Sages』that the siblings have. This is my judgment as the head of the Duchesse de Gascoigne and as a daughter who grew up watching the government of His Majesty the great Emperor Friedrich the Dragon."

From the perspective of someone who is linked to the emperor, Liselotte suggested that the powerful drug called Rick be swallowed up, along with all the risks involved.

"Sir. Please give me these two. We have just found chickens that lay golden eggs. It would be a shame to destroy them without raising them."

── On the blood-stained earth, she said with a smile that it is appropriate for us to carry the forbidden Book of the Sages

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