Banished Villainess

135 : Yello Keith Coloflare 15 ~ The Crown Prince's Resolve.

On that day where my brother went to the sacred church to meet Lady Momo, first thing in the morning, I was kneeling in front of the throne. My mother, who sensed my unusual ambiance, furrowed her eyebrows.

‘What do ask of me, son?’

‘I seek the truth, father.’

Still kneeling, I paused for a moment of breath, then continued talking.

‘I need the true history of the Coloflare Kingdom, father; what is the Sacred Church?; the saintesses?; the witches? I want to know the whole truth behind this country.’

‘Yello, you must be aware then, as to what knowing that shall mean?’

‘Of course, father.’

Slowly standing up, I turned my gaze to my father— Flareon, the Coloflare Kingdom King.

‘Your majesty, please appoint me as the crown prince.’

Hearing my words, my father paused for a moment to think, then exchanged looks with the queen.

‘We cannot afford to be overheard. Follow me.’

The curtain behind the throne was rolled up, revealing a door whose keyhole was a magic stone. My father took off his choker and placed its jewel to the magic stone where the key should be placed, then the door opened on its own.

‘This is a room that is only available to the crown princes for generations. Right now, it can only be accessed through my choker.’

So that was the meaning behind the selection of national treasures. On the other side of the door is a stair that leads to the underground. Another door awaits on the furthest end and what lay behind it was a confined room with a magic circle drawn on the ground.

‘Father, isn’t this magic circle…!?’

‘Perfect for a confidential conversation, is it not? Sit down, son…, this will be a long talk.’

Father dragged a table and two single-seater sofas inside the magic circle. The room had a cupboard, refrigerator, and a magic stove, all complete, which made me guess that perhaps, the room is often used for complicated talks. As I sat down on the sofa nervous, my father was grinding something in the sink. This burnt-smelling aroma…

‘Coffee, father?’

‘So you knew. The capital is not accustomed to the taste yet, but it’s something the visitors from the south brought with them. It is helpful whenever I need to stay up late in my work. I do not know whether it will suit your taste but… you can put milk and sugar if you like.’

‘I am no longer a child, father… Uergh.’

I’ve heard of its bitterness from Lady Chloe through the observation conference of my brother. I drank it straight thinking that showing a childish palate would deprive me of the credibility for the succeeding conversation but…, what the hell is this? Dirt? After turning my eyes towards my father, he was barely holding back his laughter.

‘Do not push yourself. It takes time to get used to. Now then— before I talk about the secrets of the royal family, I need to ask you first. Yello, just how far do you know?’

Having been called by my first name, I straightened my posture and spoke of the recent events while obscuring the game elements.

‘When I heard of the empire’s movements within the Corundum Kingdom from my fiancée, I felt as though, they are inconspicuously making a move in our kingdom too. The sacred church seems to have complete confidence in the saintess’ capability to maintain stability, but sacred magic is not perfect. The danger that our kingdom faces is no longer limited to the miasma and monsters alone.
I thoroughly examined whether the Saintess truly has the strength to protect our kingdom for eternity. That was when I got information from the house that has made the highest contribution to the church, House Moonlight, that the empire has made contact with them. As well as how the sacred church changed the purchase of magic robes from domestic production, to the empire’s cheaper alternatives.
Finding their relationship with the church odd, I got curious as to why such a house, in spite of having the highest contribution to the sacred church, has produced neither a queen nor an ‘interim-saintess.’ I thought that perhaps, they were the descendants of the ancient witch. That led me to the hypothesis that the unfair treatment they continue to receive could possibly make them turn over towards the empire against us, instead.’