Chapter 191 - 2-73
"Was that plan to weaken the Kingdom of Dutoit?"
Madam Banks's life was a harrowing tale that made my heart ache just imagining it. Yet, she told it with a detached composure, as if she had left her emotions behind long ago. Even when recounting her most painful experiences, she kept her back straight and her eyes forward. She nodded simply at my question.
"To be precise, it was a plan to utilize Dutoit to strengthen the Orta royal family."
"And for that purpose, you intended to make Katrina of the Higgins family—who has ties to Orta—my fiancée?"
"Yes, that was one part of the plan. Well, the Higgins family acted on their own too often, so it ended in failure."
It had been almost certain that the Higgins family was connected to Orta, but I never imagined they were linked directly to the King of Orta and Madam Banks.
"Was my mother also involved?"
At Louis-sama's words, Madam Banks, who hadn't changed her expression until now, turned visibly pale and panicked.
"N-No! Lady Aurelia knows nothing. As a member of the Orta royalty, she merely married into the allied Kingdom of Dutoit for the sake of peace. She simply wanted to help me, a woman who had lost her husband and her place in the world. She likely has no idea she is being used by His Majesty."
Madam Banks pressed a hand to her mouth, her face contorting with concern for Lady Aurelia.
"Are you saying my mother wasn't instructed by the King of Orta to leak information?"
"Yes. I can say that with absolute certainty."
"I find that hard to believe. As her mistress, my mother should be responsible for your actions, shouldn't she? She sat by while your secret maneuvers benefited her home country and undermined her new home. Or are you saying she is so dull-witted that she didn't notice her closest confidante's betrayal?"
"She might have had a faint suspicion. But my actions have nothing to do with Lady Aurelia."
"We will investigate that thoroughly. Though, if my mother did marry in with such intentions, my father might have already dealt with her."
"L-Lady Aurelia really has nothing to do with me or His Majesty! You cannot let her be dragged down because of me!"
Turning pale, Madam Banks stood abruptly from the sofa and dropped to her knees, bowing her head to the floor.
"I do not know the extent of the information you leaked to Orta, but depending on the circumstances, you may pay for it with your life."
"I am prepared for that."
"At the same time, my mother may also need to take responsibility. After all, you are her lady-in-waiting and confidante, and she is a former Princess of Orta."
"Lady Aurelia is Your Highness's mother!"
"And what of it?"
Madam Banks trembled at the sight of Louis-sama's cold eyes.
"Lady Aurelia... she was just an ordinary girl who dreamed of a happy family. When she was pregnant with Your Highness, she was so happy, talking to her belly every day. She was truly looking forward to being your mother."
"An 'ordinary girl' cannot be the mother of a nation. Don't you think I should judge this as the Crown Prince of a country, rather than as a son?"
Seeing that Louis-sama was unmoved, Madam Banks fell silent and looked down. Though I couldn't see her face, her trembling hands betrayed her worry and regret for Lady Aurelia.
"Joanna Banks. You are under arrest as of this moment. Tomorrow morning, you will depart for the Kingdom of Dutoit with my subordinates. I will speak with you again after my return."
"Yes. As you wish."
The conversation was over. Louis-sama signaled Theodore-sama and prepared to stand, but I stopped him with my hand. He looked at me with a puzzled expression, his harsh features softening slightly.
"Um, Louis-sama. May I also ask Madam Banks a question?"
"Of course."
Louis-sama settled back into the sofa and waited for me to speak. I walked over to Madam Banks and placed a hand on her shoulder as she sat on the floor. She slowly looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Why were you and His Majesty arguing earlier? If you had decided to dedicate your life to him, you shouldn't have said you could no longer cooperate."
I understood Madam Banks's upbringing and her relationship with the King. She must have known the risks from the moment she agreed to help him. Yet, she hadn't tried to stop being his pawn for her own safety, I knew that from overhearing their exchange. So why did she decide to defy the King she had pledged everything to? At my question, Madam Banks looked at me and then at Louis-sama.
"Watching the two of you... I began to feel that we shouldn't involve the next generation in our twisted love. It was easy to move blindly as he commanded, but at some point, I started to question disrupting a country out of nothing but a sense of revenge, without any real conviction. Moreover... hurting the Saint chosen by the Spirit King is an act that could invite divine wrath and destroy the country."
It is certainly easier to do as one is told without thought. If that becomes the norm, one stops questioning their own actions. Even so, Madam Banks had begun to resist, even knowing it would lead to her downfall.
"Do you regret it?"
"Regret... I don't know. This was the only way I knew how to live. Even if I were to live my life over again, I might still fall in love with him and decide to live for his sake."
"You and His Majesty were supposed to love each other, so why did it end up hurting people...?"
"We likely loved each other the wrong way. If I wanted to live for him, what should I have done back then? Perhaps I shouldn't have taken his hand."
Madam Banks smiled sadly, her brows lowered. Even in this situation, she struck me as a fragile and beautiful woman. Afterward, we watched Madam Banks leave the room with Theodore-sama and then sank into the sofa. The sudden release of tension made me feel as though a tightly wound string had snapped.
"Louis-sama, what will you do now?"
"I'll have to interrogate those involved as soon as we return. We need to verify Madam Banks's story. However, I don't want to make a scene until we're back in the country. If word gets out, those connected to her will surely try to destroy the evidence. I intend to move secretly until I return. And of course, I'll keep it a secret from my mother as well."
"Madam Banks is Lady Aurelia's lady-in-waiting. Can you really keep it a secret?"
"She is the head lady-in-waiting, but she's a busy woman who often represents my mother in social circles. I'll just say she returned early on business. Besides, despite what she said, I can't rule out my mother's involvement."
"So you still suspect her."
"Madam Banks is my mother's closest confidante. There's a high possibility she's protecting her. That's why I intend to arrange a proper time to talk."
Louis-sama remained calm and analytical. He seemed to have been taught the importance of judging based on facts rather than being swayed by emotion.
"I see. I think that's for the best."
"Rachel, will you join me?"
I couldn't help but smile at the slightly anxious look he gave me.
"Yes. Of course."
At my words, Louis-sama's expression brightened instantly. Despite showing the dignity of a future king moments ago, he suddenly looked his age, and my heart fluttered.