In this Chaotic World, I Am Doing Fine - Chapter 11

“……”

Gale glared at those in front of him. Unlike Acelia’s words to think of it as just answering some questions, the atmosphere in the interrogation room was chilly.

Although it was called an interrogation room, since Gale was a member of the imperial family, the questioning took place in a room similar to a reception room. However, the attitude of those present was extremely rude, as they had already determined Gale to be the culprit.

This was partly due to Gale’s usual dissolute behavior, but there was likely someone else’s influence as well.

Arnold Hash, who had personally brought Gale here, spoke in a stiff tone.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, this problem won’t be resolved by you being stubborn.”

“What stubbornness? I’m telling you I have nothing to say!”

“Such an uncooperative attitude could work against Your Highness the Prince later.”

“Are your ears clogged?”

Having reached his limit of patience, Gale slammed his fist on the table. Honestly, if he had followed his temperament, he would have turned everything upside down long ago, but he had been holding back because of what Acelia had said.

Gale sneered. Seeing that there had been no news so far, Acelia probably didn’t believe him either.

His youngest sister was very different from what he had thought.

Due to her weak constitution, she had been cooped up in her own palace for over twenty years, rarely coming out. Even when she occasionally appeared at official events, her complexion would turn pale, and she would soon return, making people think she was quite shy.

Although she possessed the dignity befitting a princess, her undeniable frailty made her appear like a glass flower that would break if touched.

Gale, who was physically incompatible with such a type, kept his distance from Acelia despite being family. It wasn’t particularly because she was a child from a different mother.

Gale’s interest in Acelia was coincidental.

That day, while leisurely spending time dozing off on a tree in a secluded area, Gale was awakened by an unfamiliar voice.

—Hah, they really don’t leave me alone for a moment. What, are they going to follow me to the bathroom too? I almost had an accident in my skirt because it was so burdensome.

‘What…? Who’s speaking so undignified in the imperial palace?’

As a rogue, Gale was used to speaking like that, but he didn’t know there was someone similar in the imperial palace where formality and etiquette were emphasized.

And a woman at that.

When Gale looked down slightly, an unexpected person was there.

Acelia Hedwig, the empire’s only princess and his sister.

As if unaware of the saying that even walls and ceilings have ears in the imperial palace, Acelia sat on the stairs, lifting her skirt up to her knees, and muttered to herself.

—To wear high heels all day in my palace, I’m dying of fatigue. Do all noble ladies live like this? This is abuse to the feet. The people of this world who don’t know the importance of foot health are pitiful!

—Pfft!

—…What? I just heard something.

Acelia, who had been complaining, looked around warily.

Although there was no way she could see him as he was above her line of sight, Gale, feeling mischievous, made a bird sound.

It was a method he usually used to secretly call his girlfriends at night, but he never thought he’d use it on his sister.

Hearing the bird sound, Acelia relaxed.

—What, it was just a bird. Damn bird. Scaring people like that. If it were usual, I would have caught it and made it pay the price in blood, but know that I’m letting you off because I’m too lazy right now.

‘What is she saying? Is she threatening a bird?’

Gale desperately held back his laughter that was about to burst.

He wanted to see a little more of what Acelia was doing.

Reassured, she soon began humming an unfamiliar song.

—Oh sexy you’re my girl~ Tonight your eyes shine like stars. Your moist lips are sweet. Just like ice cream~ We whisper love and fall asleep. This night, you and I, we’re young so we have nothing to lose~

‘What is that? Am I hearing this right? The princess who is forced to be modest is singing such a sensual song? Don’t tell me… did she compose it herself?’

Not knowing it was lyrics from her favorite idol song, Gale was greatly shocked.

Judging by her appearance, one would think her hobby was reading and her specialty was embroidery, but to think Acelia was indulging in such deviant behavior behind closed doors.

It felt like common sense was being destroyed.

—Your Highness the Princess! How could you leave us behind and be alone in a place like this!

—Tch, I’ve been caught.

As the maids appeared, Acelia quickly threw off her shoes onto the grass and fled barefoot.

Gale burst into the laughter he had been holding back as he watched the comical scene of the maids chasing after the fleeing princess.

—Hahaha! She’s such an interesting kid!

Gale took a liking to Acelia, who was internally strong despite her soft exterior.

And when he actually conversed with her, she was more honest, uninhibited, and surprisingly considerate than he thought.

The look in her eyes when she worried if he had been hurt by people’s whispers at the First Prince’s birthday banquet was kind.

It was a short but sufficient time to build a bond. That’s why Gale felt bitter.

As he refused to admit to the charges, Arnold Hash began to persuade him.

“If you admit to taking the treasure and return it to its place, His Majesty the Emperor will likely not make a big issue of this matter.”

“Fuck off. Why would I take something I don’t even know what it looks like? And do you think a quill or whatever suits me?”

A rogue?

Despite Gale’s sarcasm, Arnold Hash didn’t budge.

“You probably intended to sell it and use the money for entertainment.”

“Hah… Now I see, you had a scenario all planned out and were trying to fit me into it.”

“Based on witness testimonies and information, Your Highness the Third Prince is the most likely suspect…”

“That’s why I’m telling you it’s fucking wrong! Your stiff head is so typical of a knight.”

Arnold Hash’s eyebrow twitched.

“Then can you prove what you were doing that night?”

“That night?”

It was then.

“…! You can’t… You can’t come this way, Your Highness the Princess!”

“Who dares to block the way of Her Highness the Princess!”

The voice just heard belonged to Acelia’s nanny, Mrs. Meredith. Gale’s expression changed as he realized this.

At first, he was uncertain, but as the sound of multiple footsteps gradually drew closer, he became filled with expectation.

The door burst open, and a delicate woman who didn’t fit such a place entered.

Acelia swept the interior with a cold gaze, and when her eyes met Gale’s, she ran over dramatically.

“Oh my, Gale! What happened to you? Your face has become half its size in such a short time. Don’t tell me they conducted a forceful investigation? If you were threatened or suffered violence, tell me. I’ll assemble a team of lawyers and make sure that person eats prison food. I’ve seen a lot, so I know what to do in situations like this.”

Acelia pounded her chest with her fist, somehow confident.

Finding it both funny and touching, Gale opened his mouth without realizing.

“You really came?”

“Of course I came for real, did you think I’d come fake? How could I stay still when you’re suffering injustice?”

Acelia’s answer came out refreshingly.

After giving Gale a bright smile, she immediately turned around.

“Sir Arnold Hash of the Red Hawk Knight Order, you are conducting an unjust investigation. The Third Prince is not the one who took the treasure.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because three nights ago, on that night, Gale was with me setting off fireworks in the back garden of the Princess’s Palace!”

Fireworks? People’s eyes widened at the unexpected statement.

Acelia recalled that time. Late in the evening, Gale had suddenly barged in, saying he had brought something fun and wanted to do it together.

Tired, Acelia refused, but she was dragged out and ended up reluctantly participating in the fireworks.

Once they started, she quickly became engrossed due to how different they looked compared to modern fireworks, but the problem was that neither Gale nor Acelia knew the proper way to use fireworks.

They almost started a fire, causing all the servants in the Princess’s Palace to rush out in their nightclothes to handle the situation.

It was so absurd and she felt so sorry for the people that Acelia remembered the situation from that day very clearly.

“What? It was that day?”

“…Then when did you think it was? Don’t tell me you were just stupidly saying you didn’t do it?”

“No, I kept saying I didn’t steal it because they kept insisting I did…”

Gale, feeling wronged, hadn’t properly listened to Arnold Hash’s words. He was so simple-minded that when he focused on one thing, he couldn’t hear anything else.

Acelia put her hand to her forehead. Oh boy, this is why he keeps getting into trouble.

“Anyway, it was quite a scene then. If you look into it, there should be people who witnessed Gale being with me at that time.”

“Who would that be? Is there anyone besides Your Highness the Princess and the people of the Princess’s Palace who can prove that His Highness the Third Prince was there?”

“Why are you asking me that? You should find out. Isn’t that your job?”

As Acelia spoke as if dumbfounded, Arnold Hash’s expression hardened.

The criticism continued.

“And don’t you know about the presumption of innocence? It means treating the accused as innocent until proven guilty. If you conduct an investigation with a culprit already in mind, won’t innocent people suffer due to confirmation bias?”

That’s exactly what you’re doing right now.

Acelia fired off with random knowledge she had gained from social media. She approached Arnold Hash and raised her chin.

Their eyes met in mid-air.

“Who are these people who testified that Gale stole the treasure? I’d like to see their faces.”

Her long, white finger poked his chest.

“Let’s see just how truthful these people really are.”