‘What would you prefer between benevolence and rationality?’
‘Rationality.’
‘Not even a shred of benevolence?’
It was a sly tone.
A smile that seemed like interest, like mockery, or perhaps just a perfunctory laugh hung on the corner of the man’s mouth. But there was no hesitation in Iris’s answer.
‘I unequivocally say rationality. Nothing else.’
That was the only correct answer.
The representative of House Alpenhauser replied without erasing his smile. His name was probably ‘Dalton,’ or something like that.
‘As expected, Your Highness suits well with House Alpenhauser.’
House Alpenhauser repaid that faith by faithfully carrying out their lord’s command.
The tragedy that befell House Haster was handled through a collusion of high noble houses centered on House Alpenhauser. Subsequent measures like providing relief were discussed afterward, but they were rejected on the grounds that they would seem unnatural.
House Alpenhauser had to be a house that plundered another’s gold mine out of greed for gold. Of course, it might be possible if another of the five great noble houses intervened, but then the situation would inevitably become…