Two-Faced Princess

“You picked a very good person. Gunter Berton is organizing this matter fairly and accurately,”  said Sid admiringly.

“He’s been like that for a long time. He’s been faithful to principles, adherent to justice, flexible in his own way, and worthy of your acknowledgment.”

“I just said that each of them has their own advantages. I mentioned countless other knights, but Your Highness is the one who picked Gunter Berton.”

Apollonia smiled at Sid’s praise.

“Since when have you had him in mind, Your Highness?”

“Well, it always seemed remarkable to me that someone from a humble family resisted going to my father’s side for such a long time even when he was passed up for promotions because of that. The more I observed, the more I felt it was a waste to let him go, but I didn’t really think about what I should do with him.”

“You must have been delighted to see him on your escort list.”

“I just thought there was one more decent person aside from Sid and Uriel. I didn’t expect things to be this convenient like this, though.” Apollonia sounded nonchalant, but inwardly she was quite satisfied.

A few days passed since Gunter Berton was assigned to deal with the Viscount’s disposition.

The viscount’s tyranny was great, but the investigation ended quickly because Lishan had a small budget from the start and a small number of servants. Viscount Diamann confessed everything to Gunter in a daze, and the rest of people failed to deny their crimes, making it less time-consuming.

On the day Apollonia interrogated them in the reception room, all the soldiers and servants in the room were the viscount’s close people, in other words, accomplices to the crime.

“The viscount and the butler will be executed, the rest of the people should be banished from the country, considering they only followed orders.”

On the day the investigation ended, Gunter wrote a long report and organized his opinions and findings neatly. Apollonia actually reviewed the report very meticulously and took note of it, but in front of Gunter, she approved his proposal while pretending to be a girl who was afraid of execution but good at listening to adults.

Only about 20 days after Apollonia arrived in Lishan, the execution of Viscount Diamann, who had exploited and harassed the residents for decades, was decided. The residents cheered with teary eyes.

The princess distributed the properties amassed by the viscount to the residents, then removed the unreasonable regulations he had set. The most valuable jewel in his treasury, a necklace made of platinum string and a large ruby, was awarded to Gunter.

“I-I can’t receive such precious things.” Gunter knew that receiving excessive gifts would become a burden later on. However, due to Apollonia’s tearful persuasion and the fact that Veronica had never received a jewel gift in her life, he eventually rescinded his refusal..

He had to admit that he felt happy at the princess’ admiration. Before long, Ryan spread an exaggerated account of Gunter’s achievements.

According to the story, Gunter Berton took it upon himself to expose the viscount’s evil deeds and punish him to help the princess who couldn’t manage the estate nor judge the sinners.

The ruby necklace was nothing compared to how smoothly things proceeded thanks to his work. In addition, a friendship with Gunter Berton was priceless, capable of swaying his neutrality with appreciation.

She was going to give so much credit and reward to this ordinary-yet-precious person, much more than what Petra could ever give him.

Yes, he might not have realized it, but the neutrality he had been protecting was already beginning to crumble, and it wasn’t because he thought the jewelry was that precious.

The most precious thing for a kind but modest person? A sense of accomplishment that comes from being a hero to the helpless. That was the real reward Apollonia gave to Gunter.

***

On the day before the executions, Apollonia took a walk alone in the woods next to the mansion. It was a quiet space that the viscount used as a personal walking trail, and the weather was perfect to walk around in a robe.

She received two letters that morning.

One was from Adrian. There was nothing special in the capital city, and the Emperor received the news about Lishan, including Gunter Berton’s accomplishment. However, he paid no heed to it and moved on. Other miscellaneous news about the servants in the palace was also in the letter.