Chapter 53: Eduart Aurelia’s Investigation Record
■ Historia Electrum
Classification type : Black
Class number : 0004
Date : 1880/07/01
Place : Karkinos · Ignitia’s territory 〈City of Reconquest〉, Margrave Ode-Ignitia’s residence, Sanctuary Tower
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The room made of stone was divided into two by iron bars.
The interior was dim, and couldn’t be determined whether it was day or night.
The surface of the floor was sandy and the air was dry.
There were two people in the room.
On the other side of the iron bars, Louis Ode-Ignitia was sitting on a simple chair.
On this side, a secretary wearing the emblem of the Ignitia royal family headed to the desk with a pen in hand and observed Louis.
The heavy iron door opened.
Three people consisted of Eduart Aurelia, Elric Actorius, and Klaus Harvan entered the room.
Louis gave a sidelong glance and confirmed the appearances of the people who just entered.
The secretary stood up and left the room passing by the three people.
Eduart put the chair where the secretary sat before in front of Louis and sat down.
Elric and Klaus were standing at the right rear and left rear, respectively, of Eduart.
Elric pressed a handkerchief on his sweaty forehead, and Klaus was also wiping the sweats that were dripping down his chin unpleasantly with his sleeve.
However, Eduart and Louis kept a calm expression without sweating.
“Hm, so today is you, huh. Eduart Aurelia.
I will tell you, even if you asked me many times, my argument will stay the same.”
“I’m sorry for betraying your expectations.
But today I’m not here to ask you about the crime you have committed.”
“What did you say?”
The expression of Louis became steep hearing the words of Eduart.
Klaus stared at Eduart with his eyebrows furrowed.
“Oi, Eduart—”
“Klaus-kun, you don’t need to worry.
You ought to do it as we have discussed.
It’s just that the content of the interrogation will change just a bit.”
Eduart handed one piece of amber with the size of a bean to Klaus.
Klaus swallowed the words he wanted to speak and started to cast a spell.
Spell cards were deployed throughout the room, and a magical light similar to the moonlight shone.
As the magic circle was completed, Historia Electrum was established.
After this, several types of magic observation results including Glam Sight were added to the record information.
Elric also prepared a staff and spell cards.
After preparing so he would be able to cast at any time, Elric made eye contact with Eduart.
“Today is awfully grandiose. What are you going to do to me?”
“It’s just a little chat. Please be at ease.
That’s right, for example……have you gotten used to your new life?”
“What, have you come to ridicule me? You sure have a lot of free time, Eduart.”
Louis glared at Eduart as he reclined on the shabby chair.
“Hm. How could I get used to this. This is the worst.
This room has a poor ventilation, it’s dusty, and it’s hot.
The meal is also unpleasant. And the bed is hard.
Who the heck do you think I am. In the first place, you guys are supposed to be charged for lese majeste.”
“Unfortunately, your ‘Kingdom’ is only limited to the inside of that iron bars.
Stop forcing your delusion into this side.”
Listening to Eduart’s response, Louis clicked his tongue.
“Delusion? What you see is the reality, Eduart.”
“Reality, huh…… Apparently, there seems to be a discrepancy between mine and your reality.
Can you explain about the ‘reality’ you think of?”
“That’s fine. Listen carefully.
And think carefully. Together with the hanger-on behind you.
It’s better for you to sit, I will explain it so that even fools can also understand it.”
Louis leaned forward in his chair and lowered his voice.
“Listen, I am the legitimate successor to the Ignitia’s throne.”
Eduart shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m tired of hearing that claim.”
“Because you don’t understand, it is getting repeated many times.
I feel a little sorry for you.
Today there is no that abominable foolish older brother of mine, and the secretary that Henry had handed over was taken away by you.
……I will add special, important judgment materials.”
“I see. I hope that this will not be a boring conversation.”
“Far from boring, it will shock you to the core.
What I’m going to do is to talk about the dark side of Ignitia.”
As Louis finished his words, he raised his lips in a form of a smile.
“I have a higher opinion of you, Eduart, than any of the other foolish people.
You are not as good as I am, but you are an excellent guy.
That’s why, after you listen to this story, you would want to get to this side.”
Eduart silently urged him to continue.
“My argument that the current King, Henry, is an usurper has a firm basis.
It is impossible to say these things in front of the people who have only breathed the present government.
Of course, there’s no need to say anything about what I said here.”
“Alright. I swear to God, that what you said here won’t leave this room.”
“You are someone who doesn’t believe a thing about something like God, do not spout oaths to God carelessly.
Swear to the most important thing to you.”
Then, Eduart was contemplating it for several seconds.
Eduart raised one hand and declared.
“I swear to my beloved sister, Erica Aurelia.”
“Yosh. The other two also have to do it.”
“Oi, us too?”
“Klaus-kun, Elric, I’m begging you. Please go along with me.”
Klaus and Elric, while being reluctant and shy respectively, were raising their hands.
“Then me too……no, I decided to swear to my sister. Is this OK?”
“I can swear to God normally, right?
I swear to never speak anything I’ve heard here.”
“Alright. I will talk. Be grateful.”
After he said that arrogantly, Louis leaned his body forward once again.
“The First Prince who was the Crown Prince died in a mysterious death in the period when the previous King was in his sickbed.
As you can expect, my father who was the Second Prince should have inherited the throne.
However, in fact it was Henry who was the Third Prince that had inherited the throne.
Don’t you think it is strange?”
Eduart didn’t answer.
Louis kept going without regard.
“This is the first fact. The First Prince was not the only one who died a mysterious death.
His twin sister, the First Princess was also dead at the same time.
Officially, the First Princess was supposed to have died a week earlier, but it was clearly a falsehood.
The First Prince was not present at the funeral of the First Princess due to some ‘illness’.
Also, there was no one who saw the inside of the coffin at the funeral of the First Prince.”
“At that time, you shouldn’t have been born yet.”
“It is the information I gained from reliable sources. The same testimony can be picked up from several other people.”
Louis kept going after a while.
“This is the second fact.
Just before the death of the First Princess was announced, a Count was invited to the Island of Messenger.
The Count was ordered to be the instructor of the newly constructed ground dragon unit and was given a mansion owned by the royal family.
Strangely, although the mansion was prepared the same day, it was only a few days after his arrival that the decree was issued.
Moreover, although the Countess said that she just gave birth to her son, she accompanied her husband to the Island of Messenger.”
“……What are you trying to say?”
“I want to say that the purpose of this sudden imperial command was his wife. Do you understand now?”
Louis glared at Eduart.
Eduart kept smiling and took Louis’ glare head on.
“Do not be stupid. You realized it by now, right?”
“I wonder.”
“The First Princess gave birth before she died.
Or, her child was taken from her womb right after she died.
The invited Countess secretly played the role of a nanny.”
“What did you—”
Klaus suddenly raised his voice.
Eduart looked back and held his forefinger in front of his lips.
Klaus held his mouth with the palm of his hand and retreated one step back.
“If we go by Ignitia’s custom, the firstborn inheritance is the principle.
Let’s assume that my father abandoned his inheritance right unwillingly.
However, if the firstborn of the First Princess had reached adulthood, Henry should return the throne to him.”
“If the child hasn’t abandoned his succession right to the throne, that’s correct.”
“I thought you would say so, Eduart.”
Louis stood up in a dramatic manner.
Looking down at Eduart who was sitting on the chair, Louis continued.
“This is the last piece, Eduart.
Before I was born, my father had abandoned the right to inherit because he didn’t have a child for so many years.
However, despite my father’s abandonment of his succession, I am still ranked third in the succession for the throne.
Have you understood it yet?
I am the First Princess’ child, the True King.”
Louis declared it loudly.
Eduart opened his mouth after being silent for a while.
“Is that your argument?”
“What?”
“I have listened to your story until the end.
If you have nothing more to say, please sit down.
If it’s true that the throne is behind you.”
“Wha……you bastard……”
Louis’ face flushed in anger at the assertion, but sat down according to Eduart’s words.
“By the way, Louis Ode-Ignitia, how old will you be this year?”
“Why so sudden? How is this concern you?”
“I want to hear a clear answer from your mouth. Humor me.”
“I’m 14 years old. I will be 15 when October comes.”
“So, how many years has passed since His Majesty Henry enthroned?”
“Nineteen……no, it was about 20 years?”
“According to your survey, how many years ago was this incident—the death of the First Prince and the First Princess, happened?”
“It was……twenty years ago……, w-wait, wait a minute……
Eduart, wait, wait please……, I want to take a deep breath.”
Louis’ face was pale.
Eduart shrugged his shoulders and waited for Louis to compose himself.
For two minutes from this point on, only Louis’ breathing sounds were recorded.
“That’s weird. Why is it……I am……, I am supposed to be the First Princess’ secret child……”
“I also thought that it was strange.
You were talking with a smug air about something that was unlikely to have any connection with your legitimacy.”
“W-what did you say?”
“The secret son of the First Princess—I already know who it is.
As long as the person himself doesn’t come forward, I will carry the secret to my grave.
Perhaps, considering his character, he will not claim his position and birthright.”
Eduart turned his gaze to Elric for a moment.
Elric nodded in a miniscule way.
“I’m sure, no matter who asked him, he will never come forward.”
Louis raised his face.
On his forehead, sweats were forming densely.
“Now then, have you calmed down?
Don’t worry, Louis Ode-Ignitia.
Because there is no doubt that you have the blood of the royal family flowed within you.”
“That’s right. I am a legitimate prince of Ignitia……
I can ride a dragon better than anyone.
My dragons are stronger than any other dragons.
I’m different from that swindling bastard Auguste.”
“The swindling bastard here is you, traitor.”
“Klaus-kun?”
“Nothing. It’s just your imagination. There may have been precedent that chant sounds like a slight curse.”
Klaus shrugged his shoulders, averted his eyes unnaturally, and flipped through his spell cards.
“Well, that’s right. I cannot believe that the ability of His Highness Auguste is fake.
I also used a variety of sensing magic at that time to observe it.”
“Guh……”
“But, suppose that in the unlikely event he was faking it, then he had to have done that with unknown means of deceiving all existing sensing magic.
And, although it is an unlikely story, suppose that he had been removed from inheritance due to his lack of riding ability.
Still, there is the Second Prince, His Highness Jules.”
“Jules is only three years old. He is too young to carry the heavy responsibility as a King.”
“His Majesty Henry is still youthful and healthy. As the day when His Highness Jules enthroned came, don’t you think that he would still be young at that time?”
“Wha……”
Louis’ breathing became unstable again.
He fell off the chair as if he collapsed and kneeled on the floor.
“That looks painful. Shall I call a doctor?”
“Haah……haah, leave me, alone…… You’re going to……poison me, right……?”
“I don’t care about you, but if you die, Sir Charles would grief.
No, in fact, I do not care about Sir Charles.
To put it the other way, there is no inconvenience even if you are alive. You should live with a peace of mind.”
“Fuguguh……, fuuh……, fuuh……”
Eduart looked back and made a sign to Klaus during the gap when Lois hung his head down.
After Klaus confirmed the numerical values that composed the magic circle, he shook his head slightly towards Eduart.
Eduart’s expression clouded for a moment.
However, Eduart immediately put on a mask of a calm smile and turned towards Louis.
“I, I am the only one who is thinking for the sake of the Kingdom.
Whether the war mania of Henry is enough to bring peace to Ignitia or not.
Charles’ fanaticism is the worst.
He is convinced that the people of the royal family are gods or something.
His tendency to find faults in me, and not once ever deem me acceptable.
His favorite phrase is, ‘By the way, those dirty Gigantia ought to be burned down to the ground by the Holy Flame’, and other careless remarks.”
“That sounds like what Sir Charles would say.
I will agree that he is crazy.
But, his severity for you is probably his expression of love towards you.”
“How foolish. What do you bastards know about that foolish older brother of mine!”
“When we entered Leandez, Charles Ode-Ignitia was the prefect.”
Louis who was beginning to become hysterical calmed down.
With a quiet tone of voice, Elric followed up Eduart’s words.
“Eduart was particularly indebted to Charles-senpai.”
How nostalgic. ‘Dirty Gigantia’—that’s still his favorite phrase, huh.”
“Elric too, you should meet him again.
If you wait in the chapel, you should be able to see his face three times a day.”
“Ahaha, I think I should hold back.”
Elric made a troubled expression while making excuses with a smile on his face.
Louis’ eyes swum between Eduart and Elric.
“You misunderstood a man named Charles Ode-Ignitia.
Ever since he received a report that you were caught, he went to the chapel everyday and prayed for your rehabilitation.
He also cut off alcohol and meat during the festival, and cut down his sleeping hours.
He’s a clumsy man.
Probably not in the form of the kind of favor you want.”
Louis kept kneeling and looked up to the air dazedly.
A wave of intense emotions had left, and a deep, quiet regret arose in his expression.
“Aah……why, why did I……
Eduart, please, tell me.
My dragons are……how are Camellia and Silvetica doing now?
Are they still alive?”
“They are still alive.
They can neither fly nor crawl, but they are alive.”
“It’s because of me……because of me, they are—!”
Camellia, Silvetica, I must apologize to them!
I have done something irreparable……!”
“That’s difficult.
They are on the Ichthyes continent.
For the current you, you will not get the permission to travel or visit them.”
“I see……that’s right……
Why……why, did it end up like this.
They are the dragons that my father had chosen for me……
They are my precious dragons……nevertheless……”
Tears overflowed from Louis’ eyes.
He was quietly crying at the beginning, but gradually his sobs changed into a wail.
“My father was telling me to be an able knight who could assist the King.
Even my stepbrother, he said that he would be the one who governs this land, while I would be the one who protect it.
Why did I……say that I would be the King? Said that I would steal the throne?
To leave this southern land, abandoned my job……
And struck Cursed Nails on my precious dragons……!
Impossible……it can’t be! Why, why!?”
Louis struck both of his fists against the stone floor.
After several times, his skin was torn, blood was bleeding out from his fists, but he didn’t stop.
“Louis Ode-Ignitia, now, can you hear my voice?”
“What, what more……are you going to ask of me……?”
For the first time on that day, Louis gazed straight at Eduart’s eyes.
Eduart also stared right back at Louis’ teary eyes.
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