One strategy
By the time we arrived at the castle, the area was already dim.
Once the carriage had stopped, Shiori looked outside the window. There was the familiar large gate in front, which was slowly opening under the direction of the blonde knight.
When the gate was fully opened, the carriage started moving again. Shiori still grabbed the wooden window so she wouldn’t fall down due to the vibrations.
A torch was set up beside the gate, and the swaying flame brightly illuminated a person outside.
It was that gatekeeper who knows Shiori well. Tall, brown hair …
The moment she passed by the gate, he also noticed Shiori in the wagon, and his expression stiffened.
Shiori couldn’t afford to laugh at his surprised face. She didn’t call out to him from inside the carriage, they just crossed each other but,
“That…”
A few seconds later, she heard an impatient voice from outside. Although it was not visible for Shiori who had passed through the gate, the guard seemed to try to talk to the blonde knight.
However, his voice was drowned by the sound of the carriage moving, and did not seem to reach the blonde knight.
Leaving the gatekeeper behind, the carriage and the knights carried Shiori as they entered the castle grounds.
Has it been more than five minutes of the carriage swaying since then? Through a small gate that separates the premises, Shiori was unloaded from the carriage, at a distance from the castle.
In front of her was a stone building, which, unlike a beautiful and gorgeous castle, created a gloomy and cold atmosphere somewhat.
If possible, Shiori wanted to stay out of this building, but her hopes crumbled. She was pulled by the blonde knight and entered from a guarded doorway.
Is it because there are few windows? The interior was as dim as the outside, with only equally spaced lamps dully illuminating the hallway. The air was heavy and cold, and Shiori’s nape shivered.
She passed through the heavy iron door, by the stairs leading to the basement. Somehow, Shiori was relieved that she didn’t go to the underground, but the situation was still bad. Even though she imagined it, she still widened her eyes to the sight expanding beyond the corridor.
A prison…is it? Closed small rooms made of stone are lined up, each with a sturdy iron door with a viewing window. Just with Shiori’s confirmation, it seemed like there were six rooms.
Shiori’s expression froze, as if she could already see herself into this prison.
“Here…what? Jail?”
She asked, terrified, to the blonde knight who was leading.
He stopped in front of a room’s door nearby.
“Not exactly. The prison is underground. This is a place to keep people like you. You’re still not yet convicted, you’re a suspect.”
But I’m sure you are guilty. The tone of the knight was implicitly saying so.
When the heavy door of the detention room opened with a harsh noise, the blonde knight thrust Shiori’s body into it. And turning to the other knights,
“I’m going to report to the captain. I will return soon, so be prepared for the interrogation.” He gave these instructions and left.
Listening to his footsteps echoing in the hallway, Shiori looked around the room with a blue face.
The blonde knight said it’s different but isn’t this a normal prison? She thought.
There was only one simple bed in the room. A ventilation window was placed on the wall opposite to the door, but it was small and had a grate, so there was no sense of openness.
It’s cold, dark, heavy, and merciless. That was the impression of this place.
Once the iron door was closed, the fear that it would not be possible to get out in the sunshine again hit her chest, she was terrified.
Shiori thought she had become used to this world, but realized that it was still a “foreign country” for her. She was scared of being imprisoned in a foreign country. Surely she had no ally here.
She seemed to scream in heart,
KRUST…!
Involuntarily asking him for help.
However it may be difficult for Krust to save this situation. Although he was a hero, first he was a knight. She didn’t know what allegations have been raised against her but she didn’t think a knight was free to release her.
But she thought just with him by her side saying “it’s okay”, she will be reassured. Then she can stay calm in prison.
I want to meet Krust.
Shiori wished so much stronger than before, but at the same time ruled herself that it was not good.
As if I could call Krust here and see him…
Shiori imagined and closed her eyes painfully.
And if I can meet him—I will only be a bother.
His position may become difficult if it’s known that Krust, the country’s hero, is acquainted with a crime suspect.
The talk about his marriage to the princess may be cancelled.
If his brilliant future was to be destroyed …
Thinking so while frowning, Shiori tightly hugged herself.
I have to fight alone. Now, I can’t rely on Roche either.
What was the state of the judicial system in this country? Will they properly hear the suspect? Will she be tortured until she’ll plead guilty or be dropped into the spring while being bound, while they’ll say, “Leave it to God’s judgment?”
A voice came behind Shiori, who was shaking with anxiety.
“Hold your arms out”
One knight was entering the room. The door remained open, but there were no other knights in the hallway.
“l’ll cut the rope. In this room, as long as you don’t rampage, the restraints are to be removed.”
The knight said with a knife in one hand.
From his tone and expression, he seemed to see Shiori as a “suspect”. In other words, it looks like he thought she wasn’t guilty yet, and followed the presumption of innocence that seemed to exist——Unlike a blonde knight.
Shiori recalled the hateful face of the blonde knight while unwrapping her wrist. So proud and conceited…
But actually, he may be in a great position in the knight order. At least among the four knights at the store, his position might have been at the top.
Thinking up to that point, she held her head saying, “What should I do?”
What did I do to him?
I kicked his important place…with my knee——
Shiori covered her face with her hands.
What should I do?-What should I do? I may have done something outrageous! The impression he has of me must be the worst. That will surely have a bad influence on the interrogation later. When I met them at the store, I wish I had been more mature. Not fleeing or resisting, just like the blonde knight said, it would have been better to say “I do not know anything” calmly!
Shiori bit her lips.
Is it too late to apologize now? Would you please forgive me?
I apologize, even though I didn’t do anything bad, at least I think I didn’t—but honestly, I don’t think it was that bad to kick him——If my fate can be changed with the blond knight’s judgment, I want to recover a better image of me, even a little. To get out of here, it’s nothing to flirt with that bad knight.
Shiori was determined to do so, but deep in her heart, she was lamenting,
Why do I look like this? Why should I, who is being treated unjustly, care about that knight?
The tears came out of regret, anxiety and distress. (TLN: Literally it’s “her heart wearing thin”)
This was not Japan. She didn’t know how investigations and interrogations took place and how the rights are protected.
I’m absolutely weak right now. (TLN: It’s more on the “without ressources” side of the word.)
With that in mind, Shiori really wanted to cry.
Feeling the tears coming out, she held them back with a small sniff.
With a rattling noise, the knight entered the room with two wooden chairs without backrests. He placed it face-to-face and prompted Shiori to sit down.
She stopped blinking, carefully, so the teardrops accumulated on the outer corner of her eyes don’t fall and gently obeyed.
It is better not to disobey. Since I did not do anything, I have no choice but to be brave and plead innocence.
Shiori strongly gripped her trembling hands.
“Are you ready?”
The voice of the blonde knight echoed from the back of the hallway. It was easy to recognize since it was so pretentious. While listening to the knight in front of the room replying with a “yes”, Shiori stood around and thought things over.
The blond knight seemed to have a high pride, so it may be better to appear fragile and to appeal to his compassion.
Use even the tears that are about to overflow to plead your innocence.
“I will start the interrogation.”
The blonde knight who entered the detention room looked down at Shiori with an arrogant gaze while laughing somewhat. It feels like he’s ready for a tough interrogation——Shiori’s bullying that is.
Suppressing the urge to retort, Shiori raised her eyebrows gently. Looking up at him with tears moistened eyes.
“…!”
——At that moment, Shiori felt a reaction from the stunned knight. Even her dull self had something like “female intuition” that felt it.
Alright, let’s go with this strategy. Well, the other person has a simpler character than expected though.
One strategy
By the time we arrived at the castle, the area was already dim.
Once the carriage had stopped, Shiori looked outside the window. There was the familiar large gate in front, which was slowly opening under the direction of the blonde knight.
When the gate was fully opened, the carriage started moving again. Shiori still grabbed the wooden window so she wouldn’t fall down due to the vibrations.
A torch was set up beside the gate, and the swaying flame brightly illuminated a person outside.
It was that gatekeeper who knows Shiori well. Tall, brown hair …
The moment she passed by the gate, he also noticed Shiori in the wagon, and his expression stiffened.
Shiori couldn’t afford to laugh at his surprised face. She didn’t call out to him from inside the carriage, they just crossed each other but,
“That…”
A few seconds later, she heard an impatient voice from outside. Although it was not visible for Shiori who had passed through the gate, the guard seemed to try to talk to the blonde knight.
However, his voice was drowned by the sound of the carriage moving, and did not seem to reach the blonde knight.
Leaving the gatekeeper behind, the carriage and the knights carried Shiori as they entered the castle grounds.
Has it been more than five minutes of the carriage swaying since then? Through a small gate that separates the premises, Shiori was unloaded from the carriage, at a distance from the castle.
In front of her was a stone building, which, unlike a beautiful and gorgeous castle, created a gloomy and cold atmosphere somewhat.
If possible, Shiori wanted to stay out of this building, but her hopes crumbled. She was pulled by the blonde knight and entered from a guarded doorway.
Is it because there are few windows? The interior was as dim as the outside, with only equally spaced lamps dully illuminating the hallway. The air was heavy and cold, and Shiori’s nape shivered.
She passed through the heavy iron door, by the stairs leading to the basement. Somehow, Shiori was relieved that she didn’t go to the underground, but the situation was still bad. Even though she imagined it, she still widened her eyes to the sight expanding beyond the corridor.
A prison…is it? Closed small rooms made of stone are lined up, each with a sturdy iron door with a viewing window. Just with Shiori’s confirmation, it seemed like there were six rooms.
Shiori’s expression froze, as if she could already see herself into this prison.
“Here…what? Jail?”
She asked, terrified, to the blonde knight who was leading.
He stopped in front of a room’s door nearby.
“Not exactly. The prison is underground. This is a place to keep people like you. You’re still not yet convicted, you’re a suspect.”
But I’m sure you are guilty. The tone of the knight was implicitly saying so.
When the heavy door of the detention room opened with a harsh noise, the blonde knight thrust Shiori’s body into it. And turning to the other knights,
“I’m going to report to the captain. I will return soon, so be prepared for the interrogation.” He gave these instructions and left.
Listening to his footsteps echoing in the hallway, Shiori looked around the room with a blue face.
The blonde knight said it’s different but isn’t this a normal prison? She thought.
There was only one simple bed in the room. A ventilation window was placed on the wall opposite to the door, but it was small and had a grate, so there was no sense of openness.
It’s cold, dark, heavy, and merciless. That was the impression of this place.
Once the iron door was closed, the fear that it would not be possible to get out in the sunshine again hit her chest, she was terrified.
Shiori thought she had become used to this world, but realized that it was still a “foreign country” for her. She was scared of being imprisoned in a foreign country. Surely she had no ally here.
She seemed to scream in heart,
KRUST…!
Involuntarily asking him for help.
However it may be difficult for Krust to save this situation. Although he was a hero, first he was a knight. She didn’t know what allegations have been raised against her but she didn’t think a knight was free to release her.
But she thought just with him by her side saying “it’s okay”, she will be reassured. Then she can stay calm in prison.
I want to meet Krust.
Shiori wished so much stronger than before, but at the same time ruled herself that it was not good.
As if I could call Krust here and see him…
Shiori imagined and closed her eyes painfully.
And if I can meet him—I will only be a bother.
His position may become difficult if it’s known that Krust, the country’s hero, is acquainted with a crime suspect.
The talk about his marriage to the princess may be cancelled.
If his brilliant future was to be destroyed …
Thinking so while frowning, Shiori tightly hugged herself.
I have to fight alone. Now, I can’t rely on Roche either.
What was the state of the judicial system in this country? Will they properly hear the suspect? Will she be tortured until she’ll plead guilty or be dropped into the spring while being bound, while they’ll say, “Leave it to God’s judgment?”
A voice came behind Shiori, who was shaking with anxiety.
“Hold your arms out”
One knight was entering the room. The door remained open, but there were no other knights in the hallway.
“l’ll cut the rope. In this room, as long as you don’t rampage, the restraints are to be removed.”
The knight said with a knife in one hand.
From his tone and expression, he seemed to see Shiori as a “suspect”. In other words, it looks like he thought she wasn’t guilty yet, and followed the presumption of innocence that seemed to exist——Unlike a blonde knight.
Shiori recalled the hateful face of the blonde knight while unwrapping her wrist. So proud and conceited…
But actually, he may be in a great position in the knight order. At least among the four knights at the store, his position might have been at the top.
Thinking up to that point, she held her head saying, “What should I do?”
What did I do to him?
I kicked his important place…with my knee——
Shiori covered her face with her hands.
What should I do?-What should I do? I may have done something outrageous! The impression he has of me must be the worst. That will surely have a bad influence on the interrogation later. When I met them at the store, I wish I had been more mature. Not fleeing or resisting, just like the blonde knight said, it would have been better to say “I do not know anything” calmly!
Shiori bit her lips.
Is it too late to apologize now? Would you please forgive me?
I apologize, even though I didn’t do anything bad, at least I think I didn’t—but honestly, I don’t think it was that bad to kick him——If my fate can be changed with the blond knight’s judgment, I want to recover a better image of me, even a little. To get out of here, it’s nothing to flirt with that bad knight.
Shiori was determined to do so, but deep in her heart, she was lamenting,
Why do I look like this? Why should I, who is being treated unjustly, care about that knight?
The tears came out of regret, anxiety and distress. (TLN: Literally it’s “her heart wearing thin”)
This was not Japan. She didn’t know how investigations and interrogations took place and how the rights are protected.
I’m absolutely weak right now. (TLN: It’s more on the “without ressources” side of the word.)
With that in mind, Shiori really wanted to cry.
Feeling the tears coming out, she held them back with a small sniff.
With a rattling noise, the knight entered the room with two wooden chairs without backrests. He placed it face-to-face and prompted Shiori to sit down.
She stopped blinking, carefully, so the teardrops accumulated on the outer corner of her eyes don’t fall and gently obeyed.
It is better not to disobey. Since I did not do anything, I have no choice but to be brave and plead innocence.
Shiori strongly gripped her trembling hands.
“Are you ready?”
The voice of the blonde knight echoed from the back of the hallway. It was easy to recognize since it was so pretentious. While listening to the knight in front of the room replying with a “yes”, Shiori stood around and thought things over.
The blond knight seemed to have a high pride, so it may be better to appear fragile and to appeal to his compassion.
Use even the tears that are about to overflow to plead your innocence.
“I will start the interrogation.”
The blonde knight who entered the detention room looked down at Shiori with an arrogant gaze while laughing somewhat. It feels like he’s ready for a tough interrogation——Shiori’s bullying that is.
Suppressing the urge to retort, Shiori raised her eyebrows gently. Looking up at him with tears moistened eyes.
“…!”
——At that moment, Shiori felt a reaction from the stunned knight. Even her dull self had something like “female intuition” that felt it.
Alright, let’s go with this strategy. Well, the other person has a simpler character than expected though.
