In the heavy air, Douglas Hamilton slowly moves his feet forward with a gloomy expression on his face.
His posture is powerlessly turned over and his back is rounded.
　It resembles a criminal walking towards the death row.
　There was not an ounce of the arrogance that had been on display the other day.
　The only sound in the stone corridor was the sound of shoes, which was extremely loud.
(It should be the same as usual... but something is definitely different...)
　Lights are lit on either side.
　The same is true of the armed guards standing at equal intervals.
　It was a view I had seen every day for more than a decade as one of the bailiffs, as a member of the bailiffs, as a member of the Earl of Hamilton's family, who was to serve in the House of Lords.
　But there are some things that are decidedly different.
(Is this the view that the prisoners I've transported up to now have seen...?)
　Something gloomy and heavy tightens in Douglas' mind.
　Until now, he had walked this corridor from the position of a prisoner transporter, but now he was in the position of being transported.
　It's not just the same scene, but also the same impression, just by changing the position, Douglas was truly surprised to see how different the impression was.
　As a relative of the Earl of Hamilton, the Earl of Hamilton, who was in charge of the House of Lords' operational forces, Douglas should have been a highly respected figure in the surroundings.
　At least, until about an hour ago.
　Naturally, there is a good reason why that has changed.
(Why.... why is this happening? I was just following my master... and even the people around me should know that. So why...........
Douglas stepped forward as he followed the bailiff who was his colleague walking in front of him.
　He knew that no matter what he said now, the situation would not change.
　If it could be managed by saying it, he wouldn't have fallen into this situation in the first place.
　After all, Douglas is a relative of the Earl of Hamilton, the second most powerful person in this House of Lords after the rector, the Marquis of Halcyon.
　Of course, Douglas is a relative of the Earl of Hamilton's family, but he is not a member of the original family.
　He has the right of succession, but it's safe to say that his chances of succeeding to the title are zero.
　However, just because they are related by blood, Douglas Hamilton has received various considerations from many people who serve this House of Lords.
　Of course, there is a limit to that consideration.
　It doesn't mean that he can't do anything.
　However, unlike his colleagues in the same bailiff's office, Douglas was assigned a relatively low level of difficulty, meek suspects and prisoners, and it was unlikely that any unforeseen circumstances would arise, and there were certainly a large number of guards and knights to accompany him.
　And even when he tried to bribe the accused, he was tolerated by those around him.
　Douglas himself, though greedy, is a good worker, and the fact that he only targets people in weak positions, even in the case of bribes, is probably one of the reasons why he wasn't considered such a big problem, even if people around him frowned upon it.
　It's truly the spring of my life.
　It's just that he has relatives in power, but that alone makes him a true winner in the earth world.
　However, such a spring in Douglas seems to have passed before you know it, and summer and autumn seemed to have passed in an instant.
　Soon, the group arrives in front of a room set up in a corner of the House of Lords.
''Excuse me. By order of the President of the House of Lords, I have brought that man here.
　The bailiff knocked lightly on the door and politely asked to enter in a polite tone.
　To the bailiff's words, the answer came back immediately.
　Perhaps the people inside were now waiting for him late.
'Thank you for your help. Please come in.
　With a beautiful voice that sounded like the ringing of a bell, a girl in a maid's outfit with silver hair growing to her waist beckoned the bailiffs in.
　The moment he looked at the girl's face, Douglas realized that his prediction had come true in the worst possible way.
(I knew it was as I thought... but... but why, how could this happen?
　No, even on the way to be taken to this room, I had vaguely expected this development.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect.
　Except for the fact that I went to the Count Salzberg residence to pick up Baron Mikoshiba.
Well, I guess I'll just have to...
　The bailiff handed Douglas over to the silver-haired maid, then bowed and left the room.
　His demeanor exuded an unwillingness to stay in this room for even a second longer.
　In fact, for him, it would be like throwing his colleague Douglas into the lion's cage.
　Considering the tragedy that would unfold afterwards, he might feel crushed with guilt.
　This is no matter how bad Douglas is.......
　Of course, it's not impossible that he may be dancing on the inside.
　This is all dependent on Douglas' past actions and human nature.

　After being welcomed into the room, Douglas, as if led by a maid, advanced in front of the man sitting on the sofa.
　In front of the master of this room, Baron Mikoshiba.
''Ryoma-sama........the man in question.......''
　The blonde maid standing at the side of the room was heard by Douglas' eyes as she tapped her ear.
　At those words, Ryoma gave a small nod and gradually got up from the sofa and smiled cheerfully at Douglas.　
''It's good to see you again. Bailiff Hamilton-san........oops, I thought you weren't a bailiff now. If I call you by your surname, you'll get mixed up with Earl Hamilton.......If you don't mind, may I call you Mr. Douglas?
　As he said that, Ryoma urged Douglas to sit down on the sofa.
There was neither hostility towards Douglas nor a sense of superiority for the fact that the position was reversed from the other day.
　It's a very ordinary greeting.
　But because it's normal, it's like being made to sit on a bed of needles for Douglas.
　If you were to yell at me or threaten me, Douglas would have a reason to be angry, but in the current situation, that is also difficult.
　Douglas sits down on the sofa with a frightened expression on his face.
　It's a good idea to have a drink for such a Douglas.
''If you're going to entertain guests, I suppose it would be better to have a drink, but unfortunately I don't have any preparations here...''
　With those words, a cup is placed in front of Douglas.
　What is inside is a clear liquid.
　If we are to believe Ryouma's words, then it must be just water.
　Well, it can't be helped.
　It's not Baron Mikoshiba's house, and it's not Count Salzberg's villa.
　This is the House of Lords.
　This is the House of Lords, which governs and controls the nobles of the Roserian Kingdom.
　I'm sure it's not a bad idea to ask Mikoshiba Liang to prepare to entertain guests who have come to receive an inquisition.
　However, the problem was not there.
(Ice?　(And in such large quantities...)
　In the land world where there are no electrical appliances such as freezers, ice is valuable.
　Of course, it's not something you can't get your hands on, but it's not something you can easily get your hands on either.
　The most common ways to obtain it are to store it in ice chambers during the winter, or to go deep into the mountains covered in perpetual snow.
　The only thing left to do would be to ask a surgeon who can use the grammar technique to make it with a legal technique in exchange for money.
　However, methods such as storing in ice chambers and harvesting fountainhead snow take time and manpower to transport.
　And since both of these methods would take you to the mountains, far away from human habitation, you would have to expect attacks from monsters.
　Naturally, you'll need to have enough firepower to fight off the monsters, and deep in the mountains, where ice can be collected, the roads are usually poor and you won't be able to use carts or other means of transportation.
　It is common to leave the wagons at the foot of the mountain and haul the ice up the mountain roads by hand.
　Because of this, labor costs are absurdly high.
　Naturally, the price would skyrocket.
　Some adventurers even specialize in carrying the ice.　
　Still, many wealthy people buy it in the summer to keep cool.
　But that's a class of wealthy people who have money but no power.
　The real wealthy ask for a grammarian.
　Well, for such a class of people, rather than requesting it through the guild, it's a quicker way to ask a grammarian hired as an escort or teacher for a bit of help.
　Most importantly, the ice made by the grammar technique is basically free of impurities.
　The amount is also quite flexible, from a small amount to a large amount, depending on the ability of the surgeon.
　On top of that, it's usually the surgeon himself who activates the jutsu in front of the Lord. This is the reason why the possibility of poisoning, which is common among the privileged classes, can be reduced by one.
　Well, even so, it is not a perfect countermeasure, since assassinations are done when they are done, but most people would still want to build up an eye for the possibility, I suppose.
　However, the only problem now is the fact that such icy water was served to Douglas.
(What do you mean ... is there a story behind this?)
　Honestly, Douglas doesn't think he is liked by Mikoshiba Ryojin.
　No, he doesn't think that they don't like him, but rather that they hate him.
　After all, he's just given me an under-sleeve, but instead of paying no attention to me, he's left me in that small, windowless room for the night.
　Of course, Douglas did not lead it.
　Douglas only obeyed a direct order from the head of the Hamilton family to do so.
　However, Douglas understood that this did not absolve him of anything.
(First of all, wasn't this man the one who kidnapped my family?)
　That thought continued to cast a dark shadow over Douglas' mind.
　Of course, there was no evidence of Mikoshiba Ryoma's involvement.
　However, considering the circumstances, there was a high possibility that he harbored a grudge against Douglas and did it in retaliation.
　At the very least, it was hard to believe that they were completely unrelated.
　It was true that the ornamental letter stated that they would not lay a finger on the family if they followed their instructions.
　But Douglas is not so congratulatory as to believe the verbal promises of criminals.
　In the first place, those instructions still haven't come in the first place.
　There's no way to obey them.　
　But looking at the current situation alone, Douglas felt that such an expectation was wrong.
'Well, go ahead. For now, please take a breath.''
　Again recommended, Douglas reluctantly took the glass in front of him.
　Then he sips lightly, as if he is ready.
　But Douglas's prediction is betrayed.
　In a good way, of course.
''Is this........fruit water.......?''
　Refreshing fruit aromas.
　The subtle acidity of citrus and the sweetness of the apple relaxes Douglas, who had been nervous.
　Most of all, the aroma of herbs that passed through his nose was pleasant.
　Does it taste like something that makes you want to sigh in relief?
　While looking at Douglas' situation, Ryoma slowly opened his mouth.