Volume 4 Chapter 33 Crown Prince Rouen, Questioning The Chou Family's Crimes Ii
"I'm sorry... Your Highness... I'm sorry..."
Chou Shoukatsu repeated the same words while bowing down.
His body was shaking slightly.
Crown Prince Rouen's words were too unexpected for Chou Shoukatsu.
He never thought that Crown Prince Rouen would talk about the issues of Toukaku of Eastern Town.
──Chou Shoukatsu, the captain of the defense of Toukaku, was connected to a band of bandits.
──He had been leaking information to them.
All of that was true.
But he never thought Crown Prince Rouen would find out.
Chou Shoukatsu had been very careful to keep the matters of Toukaku from reaching Crown Prince Rouen.
'Crown Prince should not associate with "ominous people."'
That was the Chou Family's policy.
Chou Shoukatsu had followed it with all his strength.
Yet──
"...Father."
He instinctively looked at his father beside him.
Chou Sekimei was stiff.
With his eyes wide open, he pressed his forehead against the floor.
Even when Chou Shoukatsu called out to him, he didn't respond.
"I'm sorry to say this!"
Realizing he couldn't rely on his father, Chou Shoukatsu raised his voice.
"May I... have permission to speak?"
"Granted. Raise your head."
"I did indeed have contact with the band of bandits known as the 'Hidden Five Gods'... But!!"
Chou Shoukatsu raised his head.
He shouted with a desperate expression.
"Everything is for the sake of Your Highness Crown Prince!!"
"...What did you say?"
"The reason I connected with the bandits was to ensure that nothing 'ominous' approaches Your Highness Crown Prince!"
Chou Shoukatsu's voice echoed in the audience chamber.
Crown Prince Rouen and Ryougen-kun were silent.
Feeling encouraged by their reaction, Chou Shoukatsu continued.
"I take pride in being the shield of Your Highness Crown Prince. I am the shield that absorbs the ominous and keeps it away from Your Highness Crown Prince. For that, I must embrace both good and bad!"
"You are not answering Rouen's question."
Crown Prince Rouen said.
"What I want to know is how you came to connect with the bandits and the reason behind it."
"No... I thought I was answering that."
"What?"
"I am the shield that protects against 'bad omens.' I don't know where 'bad omens' will appear from. It's not just the Jinkyo Tribe; even those from the underworld and dark world might target Your Highness. That's why I needed to gather information from the underworld!"
"Is that the reason you connected with the band of bandits?"
"Yes, it is."
"So you leaked the soldier deployment status and defense information of other towns?"
"It was temporary. To gain the trust of those from the underworld and control them, I needed to offer something in return."
"Control those from the underworld... you say?"
"That's right. My goal was to create a dark force that would dominate them and protect Your Highness Crown Prince."
"That's ridiculous! There's no way you can do that!"
"But His Highness the King's Brother is also supporting unknown individuals, isn't he?!"
Chou Shoukatsu glared at Ryougen-kun and raised his voice.
"Indeed, it is a crime for a vassal like me to act in the same way as His Highness the King's Brother."
He slammed his head against the floor.
"However, to protect Your Highness from all 'bad omens,' I couldn't afford to be picky about my methods! If I succeed in controlling the band of bandits, I can create an army to protect Your Highness. Just like His Highness the King's Brother, I could make them work as guests. If that happens──."
"Shoukatsu!!"
Crown Prince Rouen shouted.
Chou Shoukatsu's body trembled.
"You said you would create a dark force for me."
"Yes."
"You think that's necessary to prevent any 'bad omens' from getting close to me?"
"That's correct."
"But because of that, other town caravans have been attacked. There have been casualties. What do you think about that?"
"I will accept the blame. However, to protect Your Highness──"
"Then I will ask you this."
Crown Prince Rouen's expression did not change.
His tone was calm.
However, he was clenching his fists tightly.
He must have been putting too much strength into it. His fingertips were turning white.
His nails were digging into his palm, and a little blood was starting to seep out.
Even so, Crown Prince Rouen kept his emotions in check and said,
"Did you know that the 'Hidden Five Gods' and the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' are connected?"
"────!?"
Chou Shoukatsu looked up.
His eyes widened to their limit as he stared at Crown Prince Rouen.
From his throat came only meaningless sounds like "ah" and "uh."
His mouth moved as if it was gasping for air.
While keeping his gaze on Chou Shoukatsu, Crown Prince Rouen continued.
"'Golden Feather Syndicate' is an organization that preaches the doctrine that 'Aika Country will perish.' They are said to have infiltrated the Jinkyo Tribe and incited them to invade our country. The involvement of the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' in the Jinkyo Tribe's attempt to swallow the Bokou Tribe is also known. You should know this."
"...W-well, that is..."
"It has always been a mystery how the 'Golden Feather Syndicate' obtains information about Aika Country. However, we have learned something from this incident. If they know the security situation in Toukaku and the surrounding towns, it would be easy for them to infiltrate those towns. They must have been gathering information in that way."
"──There is also a possibility that information was flowing from the 'Hidden Five Gods' to the 'Golden Feather Syndicate'."
The one who continued Crown Prince Rouen's words was Ryougen-kun.
"When Zeng Taiga from the Jinkyo Tribe attacked Your Highness, it was probably──."
"That is not the main point."
"Your Highness?"
"The issue is that Chou Shoukatsu has disturbed the peace of our country and put the people in danger. As for the incident where this Rouen was attacked... there is no need to speak of it."
"I apologize, Your Highness."
Ryougen-kun bowed and stepped back.
Chou Shoukatsu's face was pale.
He stared blankly at Crown Prince Rouen, as if he had forgotten to even bow.
Next to him, Chou Sekimei was still.
He hunched over, silently curled up.
He looked as if he had aged all at once.
"Chou Shoukatsu,"
"...Y-Yes, Your Highness."
"You said you would control the dark forces. But it was you who was being controlled."
Crown Prince Rouen said in a voice without emotion.
"You wanted to be like my uncle... Ryougen-kun?"
"──!?"
"You told me, 'His Highness the King's Brother is also supporting unknown individuals.' You admired my uncle and tried to do the same thing. Am I wrong?"
Chou Shoukatsu did not answer.
Crown Prince Rouen slightly shook his head.
"But you cannot do it. Uncle carefully chooses his guests. Even if they are capable, he will not let those he cannot trust get close. That is only possible for someone who can see people well and understand their true nature. It is impossible for you and... this Rouen."
"...Your Highness."
"You misjudged your own abilities. As a result, you caused a lot of damage. I cannot forgive that."
"...I'm so sorry!!"
There was a loud sound as he hit the floor.
Chou Shoukatsu heard the sound of his forehead hitting the floor.
──Ryougen-kun would never let someone he can't trust get close.
──That's only possible because he has the power to see through a person's true nature.
──This is impossible for Rouen.
Those words pierced Chou Shoukatsu like a blade.
He realized that Crown Prince Rouen regretted giving Chou Shoukatsu power.
"I tell you, Chou Shoukatsu. You must explain how you connected with the 'Hidden Five Gods' and tell everything you shared with them. If you want to keep 'bad omen' away from Rouen, this is the best way."
"......Yes, Your Highness."
There was no way to escape anymore.
Chou Shoukatsu, still bowing down, began to speak in a trembling voice.
──As the captain of the defense in Toukaku, Chou Shoukatsu had failed to defeat the bandits.
──After that, many merchant caravans leaving Toukaku were attacked.
──He thought that if he kept failing, he would disgrace his father's name, who had recommended him as captain of the defense.
──He feared that the failures of the Chou Family, who were his relatives, would increase Crown Prince Rouen's 'bad omen.'
──For that reason, he contacted the bandit group 'Hidden Five Gods' and made an agreement with them.
Additionally, he shared information with the 'Hidden Five Gods.'
The money he gave them.
They created a path to invite them into Toukaku.
Chou Shoukatsu continued to speak in front of Crown Prince Rouen and Ryougen-kun.
During this time, Crown Prince Rouen remained silent.
He averted his gaze from Chou Shoukatsu, looking down.
The fists he had been clenching were now relaxed.
His hands gripped the arms of the chair tightly.
It was as if he was desperately trying to block out the sound with both hands.
"...That is all."
With that, Chou Shoukatsu finished speaking.
For a while, no one said a word.
Crown Prince Rouen, Ryougen-kun, Chou Shoukatsu, and his father, Chou Sekimei, all stayed quiet.
Even the two members of the 'Wolf Cavalry' who were standing guard remained silent.
"──I have also taken testimonies from the people of Toukaku."
It was Ryougen-kun who broke the silence.
"The only ones involved with the 'Hidden Five Gods' were Chou Shoukatsu-dono and a few of his direct soldiers. Chou Sekimei-dono has not come to Toukaku. From the testimonies of others, it is clear that Chou Sekimei-dono is not involved in this incident."
"...I see. Thank you, Uncle."
Crown Prince Rouen let out a long sigh.
He shook his head slightly, as if afraid of the words he was about to say.
Then──
"This Crown Prince Rouen will now speak to Chou Shoukatsu."
Crown Prince Rouen stared at the two members of the Chou Family and declared.
"What I am about to say is known to His Majesty the King and to Ryougen-kun, the Prime Minister. Keep that in mind."
"Y-yes, Your Highness!"
"Now, I will convey the message."
After a few seconds of silence, Crown Prince Rouen announced.
"You will return home and be under house arrest. Within a day or 2, a messenger will come to you with a sword."
"...Understood, Your Highness."
Chou Shoukatsu replied in a trembling voice.
There is a meaning when someone punished receives a sword from a member of the royal family.
It means, 'Use this sword to take your own life.'
──A person of high rank should not trouble the executioner.
──Before going to prison, they take their own life with a sword or poison.
That was the custom of Aika Country.
"I will obey Your Highness's command..."
"And, Chou Sekimei."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I know you are not involved in the incident at Toukaku. However, you recommended Chou Shoukatsu as the captain of the defense at Toukaku. You cannot be completely innocent. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
"Now, leave this Hokurin."
Crown Prince Rouen's words were brief.
"Hokurin and the towns around it will not allow you to live here. Go live quietly in a distant land. This is the last time I will meet you."
"...Your Highness."
"Thank you for everything up to now, Uncle Chou."
Crown Prince Rouen stood up.
That was the signal that the audience was over.
Chou Shoukatsu continued to bow deeply.
His forehead, pressed against the floor, was turning red.
Still, he couldn't lift his face.
Chou Sekimei stared blankly at the back of Crown Prince Rouen as he left.
Soon, the attendants came and urged the two from the Chou Family to exit.
Chou Sekimei moved unsteadily, while Chou Shoukatsu got up with the help of an attendant.
Towards the retreating back of Crown Prince Rouen, Chou Sekimei clasped his hands.
It was the last greeting from someone who was both a relative and a close aide.
"...If you all were just family..."
A faint voice reached Chou Sekimei's ears.
It was Crown Prince Rouen's voice.
That word faded away, mixed with the footsteps of those following Crown Prince Rouen.
Continuing to clasp his hands towards the now invisible Crown Prince Rouen, Chou Sekimei took the exhausted Chou Shoukatsu and left the audience room.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)