17
"Do you admit it, Prince Mathias?" Queen Olivia unfavorably looked at Mathias. Princess Stacy and Butler Edward felt everything was unfair.
Although Prince Mathias's importance doesn't matter, he had already been beaten and taught a lesson by Prince Lance. It's probably enough.
The Queen still knew that Mathias was being picked on by his siblings anyway.
It wasn't worth punishing him more when Princess Stacy, who was a bit important, was involved and on Mathias's side.
It would be troublesome to deal with Stacy when she felt injustice and that would turn her opinion of the royal family in a bad way, leading to conflict in the future.
It simply wasn't worth it, so she just wanted Mathias to admit his mistakes and seemingly show mercy by letting this matter slide, as if he was the one at fault, while Prince Lance got off scot-free without punishment for beating a prince.
Her reputation for being merciful would also increase her image as a good queen among both commoners and nobles, albeit only a little bit.
"Admit what, beautiful queen?" Mathias asked, pretending not to know, but his voice had a flirting tone.
Simp points 0.70 +
Wow... I received more than usual? Mathias ignored the changing atmosphere and thought in surprise.
[Host, you will receive more points by simping despite the unfavorable situation or without caring for a beauty's opinion.]
Mathias learned more and more about his system from the current events.
Has his mind turned to mush from the beating? Prince Lance thought schadenfreudly.
Queen Olivia frowned at Mathias but let it go, as Mathias had said she was beautiful, which was true.
Queen Olivia ignored Mathias's disrespect this time and asked again, "Do you admit to their accusation?"
"What accusation?" Mathias asked, turning to his siblings and pretending to be dumb.
Prince Lance was speechless and repeated his accusation from earlier.
"Did I molest her?" Mathias glanced at Princess Stella with a questioning look.
"That's what everyone has witnessed, Prince," Queen Olivia disregarded Princess Stacy and Butler Edward's opinions and said indifferently.
"Oh... If you say so," Mathias nodded innocently, as if he had just learned everything now and said in a tone as if he had forgotten what happened earlier and was reluctantly agreeing to their accusation towards him.
Everyone was speechless.
They didn't know if Mathias was really dumb or pretending to be dumb, but if he was pretending, it worked, as Prince Lance, Princess Stella, Prince Ren, and the Queen all felt their conscience being challenged by Mathias right now.
Although Mathias was acting innocent, which embarrassed the Queen for a while, she insisted on continuing.
"Since you have admitted your sins, it is only right for you to be punished by Prince Lance," Queen Olivia nodded and felt quite satisfied with Mathias' admission.
She glanced at Mathias' bruised face before adding, "Now that you have been punished, I will let this matter go as long as you apologize to Princess Stella and she has forgiven you."
Princess Stella felt awkward.
In her mind, Mathias had not really done anything wrong or gone too far, such as molesting her.
What Mathias had done to her so far was just revealing an embarrassing thing to her and constantly admiring and praising her earlier, which she said was lustful, but was not completely true.
Although Mathias may have had a perverted intent in his words earlier, it was nothing lustful, but only admiring or praising her beauty.
That's why she felt embarrassed, as even she felt that Mathias was being wronged.
However, no matter how embarrassed she was, she would not back down either, as she also looked down at Mathias and only felt a bit of pity for him.
"Despicable!" Princess Stacy thought as she saw the success and mocking look on Prince Lance's face.
Although she felt it was unfair, the current situation was not as serious as she thought it would be, as she first thought that Mathias would never give in or admit it, given what he had shown earlier when he didn't give in despite Prince Lance's beatings.
She also felt relieved, not only because she pitied Mathias and felt a connection to him due to both of them having lost their mothers, but also because she still wanted to ask questions about the mysterious magic that Mathias had used.
She may not be able to learn it if she didn't have an affinity for darkness or if Mathias wouldn't teach her, but she still wanted to know or at least glimpse a bit of its mysteries that might enlighten her.
"I apologize, mademoiselle, for my actions earlier," Mathias gently said and bowed elegantly, despite his bruised face. He acted like a gentleman.
(+0.80 Simp point)
Princess Stella blushed, despite trying to stop herself.
This guy still had the guts to act and talk like this despite lying about the whole situation and framing him...
She blushed not only because of Mathias' gentlemanly actions, but also because of guilt and shame.
"This guy is unbelievable!!!" Princess Stacy thought irritably, for all she had done just to defend him and he would act like this.
Although she was relieved that Mathias was not pursuing the matter and would only bring harm to himself, it was annoying and disappointing for him to act like this when he was being wronged.
"It's... It's alright! I, I forgive you..." Princess Stella, despite her indifferent attitude in the past, stuttered and bowed her head.
Anyone could see who was really right or wrong here by looking at Princess Stella's guilty actions.
The Queen, who saw this, shook her head, but that was it.
She didn't care about a mere Mathias; she only intervened because if Prince Lance or Prince Ren were to ever injure or potentially kill Prince Mathias in their beatings, even if the King didn't care about Mathias, he was still his son and they would surely be punished, and that was something she didn't want to see, as these two princes were still good, important pieces or pawns for her youngest son to support him in becoming the crown.
After all, the youngest prince was her only child, and she would do whatever it takes for him to inherit the throne.