I want Wilhelm to taste true despair.

“……….My deepest apologies. I will take full responsibility for the issue this time around. Please, punish me as you may see fit.”

Returning back to my room late at night, Maya knelt before me as she said all that.

It was true, it was Maya who had recommended Anne to become our personal maid as well.

Then, it’s only natural that the responsibility would indeed lie on Maya’s shoulders, so she was right but……….

But, in that case, I would also need to take responsibility as the person who actually approved Anne’s appointment as well.

That’s why……….I don’t think Maya was at fault here.

“There is no punishment I wish to give you. If anything……….I should apologize. For making you go through something so painful.”

I matched Maya and knelt in front of her, and asked for her forgiveness.

Because I knew from the start that this was how things would end up.

And yet, I pushed the duty of finishing off Anne on to Maya………knowing full well that it would be all the more painful to Maya specifically.

“Seriously, Prince Rudolf you are so……….”

“Like I said……….if you are willing to forgive me, I want you to stand up and act as you always do with me.”

I made a deep bow, and pleaded to Maya yet again.

“…………Well, if you are willing to go that your highness, I suppose it cannot be helped. See? Am I not such  a truly brilliant maid that is always so overly considerate to her master?”

“A, ahahaha……..”

She stood back up, and returned to the usual, playful Maya that I knew.

Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but smile wryly as well.

But, the fact that Maya’s amethyst eyes seemed a little more wet than usual, was a secret that I intended to keep to myself.

.

.

.

“……..right now I assume she has been taken back to the Fahlcrantz house and is currently undergoing interrogation.”

Maya spoke of the details regarding Anne in a very matter of fact manner.

In truth, I doubt she wanted to talk about all this but, even so, it was info that was important to decided our next course of actions.

“I see………then, you think it’s only a matter of time before she reveals everything?”

“No, I doubt it’d be that easy. I don’t know why but, Anne seemed to have absolute loyalty towards that man. Enough to betray the very same Fahlcrantz family to whom she owes a debt of life.”

Saying that, Maya bit down on her lip in frustration.

Liz had been deceived, Christel had been tricked and now this. Just what was it that man had that allowed him to get away with such things.

I just don’t see how that man of all people could end up as the hero of the [War Records of Wilhelm], and I don’t see why anyone would ever be charmed or attracted by him either.

And yet……..

“………..anyway, we will leave Anne’s case in the hands of the Marquis……”

“Prince Rudolf. Us spies are directly under the command of the Madam of the house.”

“I-is that so?”

“It is.”

Well, so she says.

No but, when I met her during Liz’s birthday party, she seemed quite the gentle type, and not someone who’d be handling such stuff but………

“An-anyway, we can let Lady Fahlcrantz handle the matter with Anne, and in the meantime, we need to figure out a way to deal with Wilhelm. Maya, during your surveillance, did you confirm that Wilhelm did indeed directly meet Anne?”

“Yes. Last night, this morning, and also right after the classes ended. Three times total, those two contacted each other. Judging by the details of their conversation, she was mostly informing him of the movements of Prince Rudolf and Lady Lizbeth.”

“I see………..”

As I thought, Anne was acting as Wilhelm’s spy instead.

But, I’m glad I noticed it early on.

Thanks to that, he still doesn’t know that I have created my own faction, and nor does he know that me and Fredrik are even further united under the same cause…….ah.

“……….hey Maya, this might be a bit too late to be asking this but, was Anne…….well, a good spy?”

“Of course she was. Both my teacher and I myself taught her everything.”

“I-I see……..”

Upon hearing Maya’s words, I was fit with a sense of unease.

If Anne was truly talented enough for Maya to acknowledge her, then would a spy of that level really commit mistakes blatant enough for someone like me to catch her?

Could it be……..?

“Maya………we need to really give Wilhelm a taste of true despair. No matter what. Else, I won’t feel satisfied.”

“I wholeheartedly agree. The pain he caused to my sister, I will pay it back with full interest.”

Hearing my words, Maya nodded with vigour.

She too, must have realized the truth from the start as well.

——–Anne had, intentionally allowed us to notice that she was acting as Wilhelm’s spy.

“Prince Rudolf…….I feel, so frustrated……..!”

“Yeah………..”

Seeing Maya stand there, with her shoulders trembling, I could only nod quietly.

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