Avril, having finished her reminiscence, returned her attention to the three before her.

Dylan was laying bare his fury at the attempt to frame Avril. Alois’ gaze was shifting around in bewilderment, lost as to what had happened. Listeard’s sight remained fixed on what was to come.

Furthermore, the misunderstanding on her seemed to have been completely cleared up. Alois had completely stolen all the attention in the hall. Just moments ago, she had been the object of such attention, yet now no one looked at her. It was to the point that she even felt a sense of loneliness.

“Alois Herzfelt! You are under suspicion of misconduct during the national examination.”

“Ha…?! Y-Your Majesty the King, whatever in the world are you saying?”

“Even I find it painful to judge with my own hand one such as you, who could be called my right hand. Therefore, in accordance with our nation’s laws, I intend to have proper judgement passed.”

“Please wait. I beg of you, allow me to speak.”

Although Alois implored with a pale face, Listeard showed no mercy.

“That’s correct. While I was investigating this matter of misconduct, I noticed a strange fact. In the previous examination, and the one before it, there were examinees who had passed through misconduct.”

“?! Th-that’s… I, nothing.”

“Curiously, those said to have committed said misconduct came from houses opposed to you, and they seem to have scored excellent results.  Needless to say, having been judged for misconduct, they were imprisoned and had their eligibility to retake the exam stripped from them for life.”

“What are you saying?”

Alois stammered as he tried to change the subject, but there was no way Listeard would allow such. He continued in a loud voice.

“Did their misconduct not come to light due to a single sentence from you?”

“—!”

“In this case, our investigation found no evidence of misconduct by Avril Allingham. And it has been determined that this document was placed in her room by your own hand.”

The hall erupted into a stir.

“—Does that mean Lord Alois tried to frame her?!”

“—For what purpose?!”

“—Isn’t Lord Alois an extreme advocate for the exclusion of foreigners?! Did he lose control?”

“—What if the previous two exams’ accusations were also false charges fabricated by Lord Alois?!”

Amid all these voices, Alois raised his own voice.

“Please wait. I know nothing about the previous examination, not the one before it. As for that wicked woman there, I only sought to uphold the tradition of the time-honored national examination—”

As he spoke, a slender, white hand came down upon his shoulder.

“Father, please, cease this already.”

“Jeanne!?”

Jeanne, apparently unable to bear the disgraceful sight of her father, hurried over from the ceremonial row.  Her expression, worn with exhaustion and with tears gathered in her eyes, was one that made connecting her to the dignified figure from the day the results were announced difficult.

“Please, cease this already. No matter what evidence of misconduct you may bring forth, Father, I cannot believe that Lady Avril committed any misconduct.”

“What are you saying? Are you not my daughter?”

“Ironically, as per Father’s instruction, I closely observed Lady Avril during exam period. As a result, it’s clear to me that she’s intelligent and knowledgeable.”

“Haa…!?”

Jeanne spoke firmly to her father who was trembling with rage.

“Do you remember, on the day the results were announced, how many voices were raised seeking to help her, a person suspected of misconduct?”

She raised her hand, and a waiting maid swiftly appeared. Held in her hands was what appeared to be a large cloth bag.

Whatever could be inside?

As if responding to Avril’s inner voice, the maid turned over the contents of the bag.

From within came forth many letters, all of them familiar. It was the pile of invitations and thank-you notes she had received as thanks for her meddlesome deeds as a so-called villainess during the examination period.

They had been left behind in her room when she had been taken away under suspicion of misconduct, but apparently they had been carefully collected as evidence.

“These are items entrusted to me by Lady Avril’s maid. She said they should be used to prove Lady Avril’s innocence. Father, what have you done to a woman who both possesses the intellect to pass as the top exam taker and this much popularity…!?”

At last, Alois seemed unable to reply with anything, at least not against Jeanne’s grievous voice.  That was the moment Listeard’s cold words resounded.

“Alois, that you attempted to frame Avril Allingham is an unshakable fact. As for the past examination results, a full investigation shall be conducted here on.  Brace yourself.”

At that signal, the guards rushed in all at once and surrounded Alois.

“Wha…?! H-hey, don’t touch me! Who do you think I am?”

“Take him away.”

With that, Alois was led away. Watching him off, Avril gazed at Jeanne.

Lady Jeanne…

When she had entered the hall for this ceremony, Jeanne had not spoken to her. That was likely because she had foreseen that things would come to this.

To the gifted young lady of the Kingdom of Claughton, who could even denounce her own father’s misconduct, Avril could do nothing but offer praise.

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