"Lord Noah."
As I sat waiting on a borrowed bench a short distance away, Shirley came over, bowed, and gave her report.
"That man has breathed his last."
"Understood."
"Also, several police officers have arrived. They likely came upon hearing the commotion, but knowing that you are here, Lord Noah, they seem to be watching nervously from a distance, unsure of what to do."
"I imagine so."
Police officers were colloquially called "patrolmen."
This came from their duty of patrolling the streets to keep the peace.
Naturally, the capital's police fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.
It was all well and good that they had come to maintain public order after hearing a disturbance, but when the person responsible was the Imperial Prince Minister of Justice—effectively their boss's boss's boss (or thereabouts)—it would be stranger if they weren't at a loss.
"Go call them over."
"Yes, My Lord."
Shirley bowed once more and went to convey my command.
A moment later, two young police officers came hurrying over.
Both were in such a panic that their legs tangled beneath them as they approached, tumbling forward into a kneeling position before me.
"W-We-We had no idea an imperial prince was present!"
"Please forgive our utter insolence!"
The two spoke in sheer terror.
Their manners were entirely atrocious, but I let it slide.
"Since there are two of you, that works out nicely. One of you—you over there—clean up that corpse. If he has family, have them claim the body; if not, have it cremated immediately."
"Y-Yes, My Lord!"
"You, go to the Imperial Household Ministry. Report and have it recorded that Darren, houseman to the First Imperial Prince, was punished under internal house law for committing disrespect toward the Thirteenth Imperial Prince."
"Understood!"
"Go."
The two bolted off in absolute jubilation.
They had undoubtedly feared they had offended me and were relieved that I hadn't vented my anger on them.
Shirley returned just as the two took their leave.
"What shall we do next, Lord Noah?"
"Go procure a pair of handcuffs."
"I can do that, but... whatever for?"
Shirley tilted her head in bewilderment.
She was the one who had carried out my orders and continued the flogging until Darren was dead.
Having personally executed the punishment and confirmed his death, it was only natural for her to wonder why handcuffs were needed now of all times.
"They're for me. A child-sized pair will do."
"Huh...?"
Shirley was even more stunned, her jaw dropping open in utter disbelief.
☆
Located along the outer perimeter of the imperial palace, just like my own estate, stood the First Imperial Prince Mansion.
I arrived there on foot rather than by carriage, bringing Shirley along with me.
Fastened around my wrists were the handcuffs Shirley had procured.
Wearing the handcuffs, I approached the gatekeeper.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Thirteenth Prince—eh?"
The gatekeeper, recognizing my face, began putting on a flattering smile, but lost his words the moment he saw the handcuffs on me.
"Um... What on earth is...?"
"I have come to apologize to my elder brother. Would you be so kind as to announce my visit?"
"Huh? Ah, yes! Please wait a moment!"
Though the situation far exceeded the processing capacity of a mere gatekeeper, he handled it about as well as he could.
Leaving me to wait on the spot, he hurried inside the mansion to deliver the message.
A short while later, an elderly man emerged from within the estate.
The man's name was Coil, a butler who had served at the First Imperial Prince Mansion for many years.
"It has been quite a while, Prince Noah."
"Pardon the sudden intrusion. Is my elder brother home?"
"Lord Gilbert is waiting inside. This way, please."
Unlike the gatekeeper, he truly lived up to his years as butler to the First Imperial Prince Mansion, remaining entirely unfazed even upon seeing me arrive in handcuffs.
Guided by Coil, and leading behind me Shirley—who was conversely still visibly uneasy—I entered the First Imperial Prince Mansion.
I was promptly shown into a room adorned with lavish furnishings.
It was immediately obvious that several of the items on display were imperial gifts—precious treasures bestowed by His Majesty—marking this as the highest-class reception room in the estate.
Gilbert was looking out the window inside, but turned around and walked over the moment I stepped into the room.
"Oh, welcome, Noah. Hm? What's with the handcuffs? Is that some kind of new game?"
Gilbert asked with a carefree smile as he looked at my restrained wrists.
"I have come to apologize to you, Brother."
"An apology? What brought this on all of a sudden?"
"A short while ago, I disposed of your houseman, Darren. I wish to apologize for doing so without consulting you first."
Saying that, I gave a brief explanation of what had transpired on Cobalt Street.
"Well, that is only natural. For a mere houseman to speak insolently to an imperial prince warrants ten thousand deaths. However..."
Gilbert pinched his chin and looked up at the ceiling with a contemplative expression.
"Darren... Darren... Hmm, I don't recall the name."
"Pardon the interruption, My Lord," spoke Coil, the butler who had guided us in. "That is the name of the man who was transferred from this mansion to the Imperial Household Ministry several years ago."
"Ah!"
Gilbert clapped his hands together.
"I remember now, that fellow! You needn't trouble yourself over him."
Gilbert offered a bright smile.
"His conduct was terrible, you see, so I fired him and cast him out. He hardly counts as a houseman anymore. You don't need to pay it any mind, Noah."
...I see. So that's how you want to play it.
"Thank you very much."
I bowed my head immediately.
"In fact, you did well, Noah. If we had left him running loose, he would have continued committing misdeeds under my name. If anything, I should thank you for protecting my honor."
Saying so, Gilbert gestured with his chin toward Coil, took the key from him, and personally unlocked my handcuffs.
"You really are remarkable. It makes sense why His Majesty appointed you as the Imperial Prince Minister of Justice—the guardian of the law. Normally, one wouldn't go so far as to execute someone on the spot like that."
"Thank you, Brother."
Playing along with the narrative Gilbert wanted to establish, I engaged in some light small talk before taking my leave of the First Imperial Prince Mansion.
☆
After leaving the estate, Shirley and I began walking along the perimeter of the imperial palace.
"Um... Lord Noah."
Having worn a completely bewildered look ever since I put the handcuffs on myself, Shirley finally worked up the courage to ask.
"What was that all about just now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like... um... well..."
Shirley tilted her head, desperately trying to find the words.
Unable to find them, she simply groaned in frustration.
"Did you think Brother's attitude was strange?"
"That's it! But I can't put my finger on what was strange about it..."
"Brother was utterly furious."
"What?! B-But he was acting so amiably..."
"He was furious, but he can't afford to cause an open rift with me over a single houseman. We are both imperial princes, and on top of that, I concurrently hold the post of Imperial Prince Minister of Justice. Right now, I hold more of the Emperor's favor than he does."
"I see..."
"Furthermore, I came to apologize in person. His young younger brother came forward first, claiming to have done something wrong. As the eldest son, he is obligated to display generosity. You understand that part, don't you?"
"Ah, yes! I understand! That makes sense—he can't very well get angry if you apologize first. I see... that's incredible."
Shirley marveled in pure admiration.
"And there's one more thing."
"What is it?"
"If we had left this matter unresolved, Brother would have harassed me down the road. We are essentially rivals, after all."
"Yes."
"However, because I came to apologize, Brother was forced to forgive me. And nobles have their pride; once they state something publicly, taking it back looks utterly disgraceful."
"To think that far ahead... Amazing..."
Seeing Shirley's genuine admiration, I let out a soft chuckle.
There was no strict need to go this far, but one can never be too careful.
☆
The following day, after finishing up my routine duties at the Ministry of Justice, I returned home shortly after noon. Dylan, the butler, uncharacteristically met me at the entrance.
"What is it, Dylan?"
"You have a guest, My Lord."
"A guest?"
"Yes, an official from the Imperial Household Ministry, it seems. I have shown him to the reception room."
"...Understood."
I headed straight for the reception room where the man was waiting.
As I entered, the seated man sprang up as if propelled by a spring, dropping to one knee in a swift bow before me.
"It is an honor to meet you for the first time, Thirteenth Prince. My name is Don Oates."
"Mm."
Giving a slight nod of my chin, I made my way over to the sofa and sat down first.
"You may have a seat."
"Thank you very much."
Don stood up and timidly reseated himself on the very edge of the sofa he had been occupying.
"So, what is your business?"
"I heard of what transpired yesterday."
"Oh?"
"I was deeply moved by the way Your Highness handled the situation! I have come in the ardent hope of being allowed to serve beneath Your Highness!"
"You want to align yourself with me?"
"Yes! I beg of you!"
"Very well. However, I am the Imperial Prince Minister of Justice; securing promotions for someone in the Imperial Household Ministry would be rather difficult."
"That is of no concern! It would be an honor simply to be of use whenever Your Highness requires it!"
"Understood. I will keep that in mind."
"Thank you very much!"
Don bowed his head in delight.
After watching through the window as Don departed the estate, I called Dylan into the room.
"How may I serve you, My Lord?"
"Look into that man. Discreetly."
"As you command."
Without asking for a reason, Dylan accepted my order and exited the room.
☆
The following day.
In the morning, while the maids were performing my daily routine of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and styling my hair, Dylan arrived.
"I have a report, My Lord. I have uncovered the details regarding the man named Don."
"Mm."
"Though it appears to have been cleverly concealed, both of his parents are servants to the First Prince."
"A diehard loyalist, then."
Nobles would occasionally arrange marriages between their servants.
The estates of nobility—especially those of imperial princes—had strict security. One could not simply quit on a whim, and because servants interacted with princes daily, their outside associations were restricted to protect state secrets.
For that reason, masters often arranged marriages between servants.
And, naturally, children born to those servants were also expected to swear fealty to the same master.
Such was the way of noble servants and housemen.
"In all likelihood, the First Prince sent him to act as a spy."
"Undoubtedly. Do not tell anyone that we know this. As long as we know he's a spy, there are ways to make use of him."
"Understood."
Dylan paused for a single breath before speaking in a tone different from his formal reporting voice.
"To discern that he was a spy at a single glance... your insight is truly remarkable, My Lord."
Insight, or rather... Well, calling it insight worked just fine.
In the corner of my vision, my status window was always visible.
Even after I had accepted Don, the numbers after the "+" hadn't increased in the slightest.
It was glaringly obvious that his heart had never truly submitted to me.