I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

84 – Court (4)

“What? You got kicked out?”

“…Yes, that’s right. Since I was still working, the servants who were with me were strongly opposed, and in the end I couldn’t bring Jeanne out. Of course, I said that they were looking for me.”

“…”

After hearing the report from the minions, Ines lowered her head slightly and fell into silence.

If it had been the usual Ines, no matter what the circumstances, he would have immediately blamed the minion for not fulfilling the mission, but Ines now doesn’t have the energy to do so. It’s because of what just happened.

‘I have to endure it.’

It is a very big problem that it is not clear how far Leclerc grasps. If he does anything outstanding, it’s the end of it.

Now, if even one of his minions falls to Leclerc, an irreversible situation will be created for him, so it is time for him to buy himself as much as possible.

Kuck … He should have prevented the transfer of personnel rights somehow. Is it too late to regret it now?

“…Yeah, okay. You did your best and it’s not your fault that you got kicked out, so go in and get some rest.”

“Yes? Ah… Yes, I understand, Your Highness Ines.”

After hearing Ines’ words, the servant was surprised with an expression as if he had seen the sun rise in the west, and then lowered his head while trying to manage his expression.

There’s no way there’s no blame, so I managed to come in with a firm mind, but you didn’t ask for any responsibility. It’s as if people have changed.

…I never thought you would have this kind of side.

The servant of Ines is secretly moved by the unexpected side of his benevolent master, and instead of the loyalty due to fear that was completely discolored by Jeanne, loyalty based on grace slowly blooms in his heart. Of course, Ines wasn’t aiming for something like that at all.

“Really? Mmm… Well, I just wanted to tell you.”

While Ines’ minions are moving through the curtain, Chloe waves her hand at her minions, signaling them to leave.

Chloe doesn’t know what happened between Ines and Leclerc, but she doesn’t hold her servants accountable.

Unlike Ines, Chloe doesn’t apply such strict rules to her minions. Well, he’s already been brainwashed at the orphanage before entering the palace, so he doesn’t have to follow the rules.

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More than anything else, Chloe has compassion for her fellow orphans and does not punish her subordinates harshly unless it is a very serious matter. All of them are precious and limited human resources, but they cannot be consumed pointlessly.

Even when Chloe was furious with the false information that Claude and Jeanne had intermingled, her men rather made a fuss and tried to appease Chloe by committing suicide. It was only after Chloe managed to stop it that a few people were killed, and in the end, Chloe became a little reluctant to over-loyalize her men.

‘It’s not that urgent, and if you spend time in the palace, there will be an opportunity for the two of you to meet someday.’

Thinking of that, Chloe begins to meditate again as she watches her subordinates leave after receiving the order to celebrate the guests.

Chloe meditates while stroking her stomach carefully and gently, waiting for the day this child will come out.

…………

“ㅡSo, since I want to thank the recently entered court figures, I ask for your permission to work for them.”

“Uh… Well…”

I was preparing a briefing session for medical professors, but Leclerc suddenly entered the office and threw a bomb.

I wanted something because Leclerc, who had the right to appoint personnel at the court, said it was important, but it could be said to be serious, not just important.

In the documents Leclerc handed over, suspicious court figures were tightly organized, and even classified in detail, such as their tendencies, genders, and assigned occupations.

And most of them were people who had recently joined after Ines had the right to appoint personnel. Jeanne, who came in this morning, was not listed on the documents.

“There are too many of those with incorrect origins. If they are from Laurel, we should seriously consider the treatment of Ines.”

“…”

I know very well what Leclerc wants to say. I guess I’d have to think about the possibility that Ines couldn’t let go of her love for her father’s family, or, worst of all, that Ines approached me as Laurel’s spy from the start.

I’d like to say no way, but… The evidence is so open.

Personally, I want to believe in Ines. Because she simply lived like her princess, there is a good chance that she could see her practice untidy.

But as a king, you should be suspicious of Ines. If Ines really is a spy for the Principality of Laurel… I hate to think about the aftermath.

She won’t go through with the divorce, but the psychological pain of being betrayed will be too much for her without even calculating the cost.

“Permission, thank you all for sure and thoroughly.”

“I will, Your Majesty.”

There shouldn’t be any compromises like this. If Ines is innocent, he will be relieved by the proof that he is innocent, and if Ines is guilty, a clear solution can be established.

After receiving Claude’s permission, Leclerc bows his head and leaves the office to work, and Claude looks at Leclerc’s back with a sigh.

I hope Ines is innocent.

…………

“What did you do with your family?”

“I am Barr, and I was originally a farmer, but after the farmland was destroyed by the war, it was difficult to make a living, so I applied for a servant…”

“…Hmm.”

Barla, it’s suspicious that Laurel is right next to her, but there’s nothing to complain about, so hold off for now.

“You?”

“I grew up in an orphanage in Dijon, and when I reached the age of independence, the future was bleak, but I happened to see an announcement that the castle was recruiting servants.”

“Recruitment announcement? What was written there?”

“Uh… I don’t remember very well because I’m ignorant, but I do remember that I said it was a casual use of my body. In reality, all I do here is carry groceries and materials every day, or something like that.”

“Hmm… Yes.”

Those muscles are made only through labor. Looking at his shoulders, I can see traces of carrying a lot of luggage.

I’m rather suspicious because the excuse is so perfect, but this guy passed.

“That… I’m from Laurel, and I used to work at the Duke of Laurel’s palace…”

“Hmm. You should have already lived a satisfying life enough to work in the palace. Why did you come here?”

“It’s quite embarrassing to say it in front of others… But I have a one-on-one relationship with Her Majesty Ines. It seems that Her Majesty Ines needed limbs in order to know the news within the court more clearly, so she invited me, who is a weak acquaintance. It seems you did.”

This is ambiguous.

It cannot be seen as a crime for a noble lady to bring her limbs from her parents’ house. Because it happens so often.

It is said that a woman who has left the house changes her surname, but only commoners do. Even if women of aristocratic families are married, they often still use their maiden names to show off their friendship with their parents in informal settings.

Of course, it is a format where the middle name is entered in the middle without using the last name completely. Compared to Her Highness Ines, it would be Ines Laurel de Bourgon.

Anyway, if Lee really is Laurel’s spy, there’s no way she can reveal everything so openly. Of course, I could have expected even that and made this move, but my eyes, which have been trained through countless people, tell me that this person is not that suspicious.

Hmm… Should I put this guy on hold for now?

“Okay, everyone can leave.”

“That… Goodbye. Please take good care of me.”

Leclerc, who spent the whole day in gratitude, received the order for the celebration and left with one hand as they greeted each other with one hand after the last interrogation was over, and at the same time sat down on a chair.

After that, Leclerc held his forehead and cheeks with his index finger and thumb, and with his other hand held the papers in which the general flow was arranged, lost in thought.

‘Let’s see… About 20% of the newly recruited people are from Laurel, and the rest are all recruited from Rotaring in Korea.’

20% Is a number that can be seen as a lot if you say a lot, but there is no problem even if you look at it less. Even if you look at it as a constant rather than a ratio, there are less than 20 people. There was no reason to make an issue of that, since Her Majesty Ines could hand over the servants and servants she brought with her when she was getting married to the court.

Besides, since Laurel speaks the same language as here in Dijon, he should have had no problem working at court.

Of course, even if you use the same words, it is highly reprehensible that you carelessly hired a foreign person into the court. Even if that foreign country was the queen’s family home.

‘Should we focus on whether or not His Highness Ines hired those Laurel figures on purpose… Recruitment announcement… Hmm…’

There are about 5 people who claimed to have been called by Ines, and all but them said that they had applied for the position of court servant after seeing the recruitment notice in Dijon.

It wouldn’t have been a big problem for Laurel people who were fed up with the imperial civil war to move to Dijon and live in Dijon, since they spoke the same language… And the only thing the person who moved like that could do was poke at everything. In fact, some of them during the interrogation said so.

“There is a suspicion, but not enough to cause much trouble.”

After pondering for a long time, Leclerc comes to that conclusion at the end.

Although it is said that 20% of them were Laurel personalities, as a result of direct interrogation, there was not a single person who showed such suspicious behavior. Most of them were very nervous about the creation of these positions and worried about losing their jobs. It’s a very human reaction.

Of course, from Leclerc’s point of view, who is very reluctant to allow those of unknown or unqualified origins to enter the court, it is clear that more than half of them will lose their jobs, but Ines will not be accused of that.

If you dare to ask for a crime, there is only a simple lack of work, but you can’t accuse the queen of that.

“His Majesty will be very pleased that the charges against Ines have been cleared.”

While Leclerc said that, he started writing down a report to give to Claude.

Thanks to Jeanne’s prayer, fear, resulting loyalty, and education close to brainwashing were all removed, and they perfectly deceived Leclerc’s eyes, which had been trained while watching all kinds of people, into their unconsciousness, which led to Leclerc’s misjudgment.

In reality, 40% of the people, not 20%, were from Laurel, and all of them were servants of Chloe and Ines, but Jeanne’s prayers made Leclerc unable to discern the lies they were telling.

Of course, whether it was a misjudgment or not, there was no change in the fact that most of them would be fired, and in the end, most of them would be kicked out of the court by more than 80% under Leclerc’s harsh standards.

Chloe and Ines can no longer exert their influence in the court as they used to.