Henrietta, alone, disappeared into the theater. Agnes, having some other secret things to do, mounted her horse and rode off somewhere.
So… only two people, Saito and Louise, were left.
Louise pulled Saito’s sleeve, who watched Henrietta leave with a blush on his cheeks.
“Hey.”
“What?”
“What, what happened?”
“I was told this is a fox hunt.”
“I heard it was a rat hunt.”
“It’s the same, anyway.”
After that, they both stared blankly at each other.
“Somewhat, it is a duty…”
“Yeah.”
“Guess we both were just supporting role fillers.”
Saito nodded.
Louise noticed a certain smell and brought her nose close to Saito's body.
“Wh-what—”
With a dangerous expression on her face, *sniff sniff* Louise started sniffing Saito’s body smell with her nose.
“H-hey, what the—”
“This smell… It’s the smell of the Princess' perfume!”
“Eh?”
Saito was startled.
“You… you didn’t do anything strange to the Princess right?”
Louse stared at Saito menacingly. Saito turned pale. Surely… he could not tell her about the kiss. He could not betray Henrietta. For the honor of the Princess, he must not tell this. Besides, even if he told, Louise would not believe him anyways.
“Idiot! I didn't do anything!”
“Really?”
Louise kept staring at Saito.
“It must have attached from the escort a while ago.”
Louise grabbed Saito’s ear and pulled him closer. Then she buried her nose in the scruff of his neck.
“Sniff, sniff. Sniff, sniff. Then why does it smell in such place? Why there is perfume on the scruff of your neck just from being an escort? Hmm? What kind of perfume is that?!”
“No, that… that must be from turning in bed while sleeping. Faces must have gotten close. Nothing else.”
“It’s all right. I’ll hear everything from your body!”
Louise, still holding Saito’s ear, dragged him into the side alley.
Saito’s scream echoed in the empty lane.
The curtains rose… the play started.
Because the play was for women, the spectators were only young females. Surrounded by loud cheers, on the stage, gorgeously dressed actors started to play a story of sad love.
It was the play that Louise saw before… ‘Tristania's Holiday.’
Richmon puckered up his brows. But it wasn’t because of the actors laughter or posing, not because of impudent and jarring cheers of young women. It was because an expected visitor did not show up at a promised time.
In his head, various questions turned round and round.
Was the queen’s disappearance an Albion plot that I was not informed of? If so, what is the reason? If not, then maybe a third power exists inside Tristania that he was not aware of? Either way, it was troublesome - Richmon muttered to himself.
Then… a spectator sat next to him. Was it the expected visitor? He threw a side glance. That wasn’t him. It was a young woman with a hood on her head.
Richmon whispered.
“Excuse me. This seat is already taken. Please sit in another place.”
However, the woman did not try to stand up.
This young woman… With an angry expression Richmon turned to face her.
“Haven’t you heard me, Mademoiselle?”
“Spectators should watch the play, Richmon-dono.”
Richmon’s eyes popped out once he recognized the hooded face. It was a person he was sure to have disappeared… Henrietta.
Henrietta, looking straight at the stage, asked Richmon.
“This is the play for women. Are they having fun watching it?”
Richmon settled down, regained his composure and leaned back into the seat.
“I am looking over such a trivial play only because of work. Anyways, Your Majesty, there is a rumor that you have hidden yourself…Is it for safety reasons?”
“Indeed. I am discreet with my contacts. It’s a good place to secretly meet with my mistress, right?”
Richmon laughed. Yet, Henrietta did not laugh. She squinted like a hunter.
“If one can get everything, it is useless to wait. I was standing in the ticket line. You went watching a play without buying a ticket, such an act is a violation of the law. I would like a royal palace judge to follow the law.”
“Ho! When did ticket sales became the royal family's jurisdiction?”
Henrietta sighed, breaking the string of the tension.
“Now, let's stop with this nonsense. The secret messenger of Albion, whom you came to contact today, was arrested last night. He talked about everything. Right now he is in Chernobog Prison.”
Henrietta drove Richmon into a corner.
However, as if knowing everything would turn out this way, Richmon didn't loose his composure. He smiled broadly in a fearless manner.
“Hoho! My relation is well hidden, you can’t beat this strategy of mine!”
“That’s right, royal palace judge.”
“I won’t dance on Your Majesty’s palms!”
“I really did not want it to turn out… this way.”
Richmon never showed a malice behind his smile. He never showed a bad attitude, Henrietta remembered in a sore displeasure.
“Because of my disappearance, you decided to come into contact with the secret messenger. ‘The Queen was enticed by hands, other than ours.’ For you this was nothing more than just an affair. You are calm and did not panic. A careful fox, that doesn’t show his tail…”
“Well, since when did you start suspecting?”
“I was not sure. Besides you, there were many suspects. However, the person who was to inform about my disappearance that night, must have been the criminal. And that person was you.”
Henrietta continued in a sad, tired voice.
“I did not want to believe. You were such… Royal Palace Judge, who should defend the authority and the fineness of the kingdom, assisted a plot of such treason. During my childhood you were always the one who cherished me… and now sold me to the enemy.”
“Your Majesty, for me you are still a girl who doesn't know a thing. Being ruled by Albion is still better than by an ignorant girl on the throne.”
“Was your love for me a lie? You looked like such a gentle person. Was it a lie too?”
“Affability for lord’s daughter does not descend to vassal. You can’t understand that. Because you are such a child, that’s why I did it.”
Henrietta shut her eyes. Whom should I believe? Why it is so hard to be betrayed by a person whom you trusted? No… I was not betrayed. This man cheated me only for the sake of his career. I cannot understand such a thing, maybe I am, as Richmon says, still a child.
But, I cannot be a child any longer.
I should gain… eyes that see the truth.
To see the truth despite the heart.
Henrietta said in a decisive tone.
“In the name of the Queen, you are stripped of the title, Royal Palace Judge. Surrender yourself quietly.”
Richmon didn't move at all. Moreover, he pointed to the stage and declared in a tone as if Henrietta would be a little idiot.
“Do not say such inelegancy. Let the play continue. It just started. Leaving before the play is over is an impoliteness towards the actors.”
Henrietta shook her head.
“At this moment, outside, the Magic Guard has encircled the building. Now, show the nobles' bravery and hand me your cane.”
“Really… such an inexperienced lass… Whom do you think you are arresting?”
“What are you saying?”
“I am only saying that you are 100 years too early to set a trap on me, that’s all.”