Chapter 21: CH 19

“First, regarding Miss Lemone’s accusation, I would have to deny all charge since I do not remember myself doing any of it at all.”

“What is that! This is still too thick-skinned even for you!”

“Miss Lemone, do you mind quieting down a little? I am talking to Olivia right now.”

After the King calmly cautioned Tiana, Olivia immediately continued.

“Please allow me to explain the matter step by step. The town Prince Edward mentioned that is having problems with its tax revenues is the town of Winbal——, and Deborah, the town on our side of the border. In regards to these two towns in question, we have checked the reports from the past decade and did not find any major changes in their climate nor were there any abnormalities such as worsening water quality or damage from insects in their vicinity. In fact, there have been no major changes in Deborah’s agricultural production while the town in our neighboring country, Winbal, which is supposed to share the same climate, geology, and water quality, is significantly suffering in its tax revenues. Because of such disparity, I and His Highness Cyrus went to Deborah to investigate this matter.”

“Wha—-”

The King silences Count Lemone who tried to open his mouth with his eyes.

“Continue.”

Prompted by the King, Olivia nodded before continuing.

“We did not discover any particular change in agricultural production in our investigation. However, there was one thing that the submitted data to the national tax revenue report failed to mention.”

“Count Lemone?”

The King turned his gaze to Count Lemone who is the one in charge of managing the area where the town of Deborah is situated. Following the King’s gaze, the ministers as well as Prince Alan and the Queen direct their eyes at him as well. The only exception is Tiana, who perhaps still doesn’t understand the situation and has a stunned expression on her face.

“I, it’s not true! This is a false accusation, Your Majesty!”

Count Lemone screamed with saliva flying out of his mouth.

Then, Cyrus ordered Colin to bring in the documents he had prepared.

When Colin handed the documents to Prime Minister Atoir, he immediately presented them to the King.

“As Your Majesty can see, there is a gold processing factory located just a little distance away from Deborah. Its outer appearance may look like a private house but there’s no doubt about it.”

“Hou……”

“However, there was no report of any discovery of gold deposits in Deborah or anywhere within Count Lemone’s territory. We could not find any from our investigation either.”

“I see, that is certainly strange.”

The King finished reading the report and silently returned it to Prime Minister Atoir.

Seeing that, Olivia nodded to Colin to signal him to hand Duke Atoir another set of documents.

“Even so, with a gold processing factory there, there must also be a source where the gold came from. Regarding this, let us look at Winbal, the town where Prince Edward said that its tax revenues have fallen over the last few years.”

“That’s the report?”

The King flipped over the next report once he received it from the Prime Minister and immediately frowned.

“……..is this true?”

Olivia nodded.

The faint smile that was on the King’s face until now was replaced with a severe expression.

“Yes, it is all true, Your Majesty. A gold deposit was discovered in the mountains near Winbal but it was never reported to Philarush. Even the lord who is governing Winbal is not aware of its existence. The gold mined from there has been brought across the border into Deborah. We have actually spoken to a person who has been secretly mining gold from Winbal. He said that the job was offered to him a few years ago. He was also told that if he digs the gold in Winbal and delivers it to Deborah, he would be able to earn three times as much as he did working in the field.”

“……..gold smuggling, huh.”

“Yes. This is the reason tax revenues have been suffering in Winbal. The farmers can not sell the gold they mined there. They would have to go through the local lord first and when they get the money, 50 percent would be taken as national taxes. That’s why the farmers stopped working in the field and chose to dig gold. After all, their pockets wouldn’t be so full otherwise. Rather, if they go through the proper channel then farming might actually be more profitable for them in some cases. However, that is a completely different story if they bring the gold to Deborah. It’s natural that the farmers would stop their farmwork to mine gold with such a clear cut in benefit. They wouldn’t have to worry about the taxes since they will be paid in secret if they sell the gold in Deborah after all.”

The King was silent for a while before slowly turning to Count Lemone.

“Is it true?”

Count Lemone’s face immediately paled as he desperately shook his head.

“I, I don’t know anything about this! I didn’t do anything! This is just a false accusation born of spite! Miss Atoir is trying to destroy me as retaliation because my daughter took her place as His Highness Alan’s fiancee!”

“What? Did you hear that Your Highness Alan? Olivia-sama is——-”

Perhaps still unable to understand the situation, Tiana immediately accepted her father’s words and started pleading to Prince Alan who’s standing next to her. However, Alan’s response was a tired sigh.

“…….you, you really don’t understand the situation do you.”

Hearing Alan muttering that in a small voice, Tiana cocked her head.

However, before Tiana could say anything more, Olivia continued.

“Count, we’ve already got the evidence to back this up. Despite the fact that there hasn’t been any significant change in tax revenues of your territory, a large amount of money has been circulating there over the last few years. For example, your purchase of multiple new villas, and the different dresses and jewelry that your wife and your daughter wear at each party as though they simply throw the old ones away after they wore them once. Moreover, your territory is not that large and the tax revenues it produces are not very high. From what I can see in the reports, it doesn’t seem likely that you would have that much money to throw around. Count, you have sold the processed gold to Levanor haven’t you?”

“So you found out that much huh.”

The King’s eyes open wide.

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Then, Olivia shifted her gaze up to the King.

“Yes. There’s nothing strange when residents of neighboring towns interact with each other but when it comes to exports, no matter how much you try to hide it, there would still be a trace. We have talked to the merchants from Levanor and examined their transaction documents. They said that they did not aware that they were smuggling gold but I believe that the Levanor side will look into this more themselves.”

As though to suppress a headache, the King shut his eyes and tightly held his temples.

“…….Lemone, do you have any excuse?”

Perhaps knowing from the King’s tone that he can’t get out of this anymore, Count Lemone hangs his head.

The King then orders the guards to detain Count Lemone and shifts his gaze to Tiana.

“That’s how it is. Miss Lemone, I’m sorry but the engagement between you and the Crown Prince will have to be annulled. You should return to your home and refrain from doing anything until the sentence is decided.”

Tiana was puzzled.

“Why! Why is my father being taken away? Olivia-sama, what did you do! This is too much of a harassment, you know!”

“Tiana, you really still don’t understand huh? Or are you only pretending?”

“Your Highness Alan, what are you saying!”

“…….to put it simply, the royal family cannot afford to associate with your house. I can’t marry you.”

Tiana stopped breathing for a moment before glaring at Olivia.

As though she was shot by an arrow, Olivia’s shoulders stiffen and she put more strength into her hand which is still holding onto Cyrus’s. Cyrus and Olivia’s hands were linked through the whole ordeal.

And feeling the warmth of his hand, Olivia exhales.

“Your Highness! You chose me as your fiancee because I am worthy enough to be queen right? Then, why……don’t tell me, you intend to get engaged with Olivia-sama again? If you take a fool like Olivia-sama to be the queen of this country, it will be a disaster, you know.”

Tiana spoke in a high-pitch voice.

Hearing her voice, one has to wonder how many sighed at its content.

One of the ministers who had been silently listening until now finally opened his mouth out of frustration.

“Your Majesty, permission to speak?”

“Permission granted.”

With the King’s reply, the minister steps forward.

“Lady Lemone, I originally did not want to say this here but I can not bear to listen anymore. It appears that you have misunderstood something. Miss Olivia—–no, Lady Olivia of house Atoir is not a fool like you say.”

“Wh, what are you talking about.”

“If I have to explain this in a manner that you would be able to understand then let us talk about the documents we entrusted to you and Olivia-sama. The ones that we received back from Olivia-sama were impeccably done.”

“I’ve done the same right!”

“I see. Certainly, you have signed the documents. Yes, you sent them all back to us with every single one [Approved].”

“What’s wrong with that.”

“So you still do not understand. Allow me to paint a picture for you then. Let’s say, you have 10 gold coins. You need to buy something based on that budget but the total cost of the thing you need to buy is 20 gold coins. What would you do in such a situation?”

“Can’t I just prepare the missing amount then? If I ask Father then he will surely prepare the money right away.”

Hearing her reply, the minister sighed.

“A country doesn’t work like that. If you don’t have enough budget, you have to adjust it so the cost stays within it. For example, you can set priority on what to buy and make a list of what you need and what you actually don’t. Do you understand me now?”

“I don’t!”

“Exactly. This is why you do not deserve to be our Crown Princess.”

Tiana’s face turned bright red. She still tried to say something more but the King ordered the guard to take her out of here.

“What is the meaning of this! Your Highness, please say something! Did you not say that I am a splendid lady!?”

Tiana shouted as she was dragged away by the guards but Alan simply shut his eyes and didn’t say anything. He probably has his own opinions about all this but right now there’s nothing he can do that can protect Tiana.

With Tiana gone, the King cleared his throat and deliberately spoke in a brighter tone.

“I’m sorry for the abrupt meeting, gentlemen. Regarding this case, I would like to discuss it in more detail at another meeting. This has turned out to be an international matter after all.”

As the King says, this matter must be discussed and investigated thoroughly as it does not only concern Brior alone.

For the time being, the King concluded the meeting and the ministers left their seats. However, when Olivia was about to leave as well, she was stopped by the King.

“Olivia. Alan and Cyrus too, I want you to stay with me a little longer. Of course, you too, Queen.”

Hearing that, the Queen who had been silently watching everything unfold showed a light smile.

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