Criminals Have No Rights in the Kingdom

The soldiers seemed surprised by the guards Princess Tianis had summoned, yet they stood their ground and glared at the guards rather than leaving.

"What do you mean you don't trust us? We work hard every day to maintain order in the Royal Capital's market, exactly as our duty requires."

"I hear your reputation is terrible, though?"

Princess Tianis looked at the soldier who had tried to extort money from Ann, and the soldier quickly averted his gaze.

He was clearly aware of his own wrongdoing.

"… It seems there are some in my unit with poor conduct. I'll discipline them later, but that's a separate issue. The rule is that criminals caught in the Royal Capital's market are to be handled by us, is it not? Isn't this the guards interfering with our rights?"

"You seem to be misunderstanding something… This is an order. And what's the point of arguing about such things between fellow members of the Kingdom's military? Don't speak based on your own self-serving assumptions as people on the ground. That's exactly why I said I don't trust you."

The soldier fell silent.

This was different from a clash between people on the ground.

No matter how much he tried to sound righteous, a mere soldier could never win against a princess.

The difference in status was so great that she could turn black into white if she wished.

If Princess Tianis had clear wrongdoing on her part, that would be one thing, but she hadn't said anything incorrect.

"Is that all you have to say? Guards, take them to prison. I forbid any visitors except me. Also, once this matter is settled, I'll be conducting a formal investigation into your unit. I won't tolerate using your position to line your pockets. If you want money, earn it through your own abilities."

Princess Tianis turned her back on the soldiers and took a step forward.

The few people who had remained without fleeing applauded as they saw the princess off.

Those soldiers must have been quite hated.

There were probably many people who had been forced to pay money after being threatened that they wouldn't be able to do business in the market if they refused.

And from tomorrow, that might end thanks to Princess Tianis catching wind of it.

I could understand why they were applauding.

"Just because you're royalty, you damn brat!"

One of the soldiers lost his temper and drew his sword.

He was one of the soldiers who had tried to collect the location fee.

He was clearly seeing red.

The guards hurried to stand in front of the princess to protect her, but the sword never reached that far.

Before it could, Alexia's battle-axe struck the soldier's abdomen, and he was subdued with the sound of bones shattering.

That had to hurt. Must have been hellish agony.

"Thanks. Guards, take him along too. Treason."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"What about the rest of you? Going to point your swords at me?"

"Absolutely not! That was entirely his own doing!"

"Good. I was about to have to recruit a lot of new soldiers."

The soldiers paled as the princess laughed.

"Oh, that's right. You lot."

"Y-Yes. What is it, Your Highness?"

"Deliver these supplies to the soup kitchen locations. By today."

"By today!?"

The cart was loaded with a considerable amount of food.

The soup kitchen locations were split across several places too.

It would take quite a while for just a few soldiers.

"Can you not follow my orders? If your loyalty is so low that you can't even obey a princess's orders, I'll have to reconsider how you're treated going forward."

"We'll deliver them right away. Leave it to us!"

They hurriedly pulled on the horse's bridle and moved the cart out of the market.

Quite ruthless.

Perhaps royalty really does know how to make people move.

"Is that going to lessen their punishment?"

"Of course not. They were all in on it, collecting those fees so openly in the market. Though I'll give them a chance to reform. Except for the one who drew his sword on me."

"Specifically?"

"They'll be spending some years serving the Kingdom at the royal mines."

Sent to the mines, huh. The labor would be harsh, but at least they wouldn't lose their lives.

Had the commotion finally settled down?

Though we were still drawing attention, the market was gradually returning to normal.

"Well then, shall we go question today's culprits? I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out."

"Personally, I've been having to witness one unpleasant thing after another, and it's getting exhausting."

"Give it up. That's what it means to be by my side."

I sighed where the princess couldn't see.

Alexia patted my shoulder sympathetically.

Then shook her head.

We moved to the detention center along with the guards and Princess Tianis.

This was where criminals from the Royal Capital were temporarily held before serious offenders were sent to prison.

On Princess Tianis's orders, we took over the room at the very back and confined the embezzlers there in restraints.

They hadn't said a word since being captured, keeping their faces downcast.

"Now then."

Princess Tianis alone sat down in a chair, crossed her legs, placed her right arm on the armrest, and rested her face against her clenched fist.

Her imperious posture suited her well.

"As I said, you're suspected of stealing supplies from the soup kitchen. Though I say suspected, it's already been confirmed. So, would you mind telling me the specifics? If you're cooperative, there may be room for leniency."

"… I have nothing to say."

"Hmm. Yohane, hand me that bucket."

"Here you go."

"And Alexia, was it? You're a mage, so can you produce water? Fill this bucket."

"Understood."

When Alexia held out her palm, the bucket filled with water.

Princess Tianis gave a quick jerk of her chin to signal the guards.

As I wondered what she was going to do, one of the guards beside the princess deliberately grabbed one of the culprits by the head and shoved it into the bucket.

The grabbed culprit struggled with his whole body due to the suffocation, but there was nothing he could do while restrained.

"Mm."

With a single word from the princess, he was pulled up from the bucket.

In the process, water droplets splashed onto the princess's stockings.

"How dirty. Again."

"S-sto—"

Before he could finish speaking, his face was plunged into the bucket again.

Air bubbles surged violently from the water.

When he was pulled up again, the culprit was weakened from oxygen deprivation.

… This was too frightening. I had been thrown in a cell before, but I was never tortured like this.

What was I being made to witness?

I couldn't help wondering whether there had really been any need for us to come along.