Hehehe. As expected, the butler smiled kindly and tried to back out. His hearty laugh was so convincing that if I hadn't talked to Devi, I might have been fooled. I glanced at Lady Deverill's expression over the butler's shoulder.
'What should I do?'
Confessing to the butler's misdeeds was actually a gamble. Even if I told her that the butler had been abusing Devi, there was no evidence to back it up. Even if I revealed that I could talk to animals, which was a seed of divinity, it was doubtful that she would believe it. And revealing that would also be risky.
'But no matter the risk, Devi is suffering.'
I couldn't let Devi continue to suffer just because I didn't want to take the risk.
'Let's just go for it.'
With that resolve, I stood in front of Devi, blocking the butler.
"Lady, I have something to tell you, so I would like everyone else to leave."
"Why?"
"I know it's hard to believe, but I know who has been hurting Devi. I will tell you who the culprit is."
"……!"
As expected, Lady Deverill looked shocked.
"Do you mean someone has been intentionally hurting Devi?"
"Yes."
"And you know who it is…?"
"Yes."
My firm answer made Lady Deverill's eyes, which had been calm like a lake, waver.
"So, please have everyone leave."
At that, the waiting maids began to murmur. I could see Lady Deverill was hesitating.
'Even so, it's hard for her to ignore the words of an emperor. Besides, I just improved Devi's condition.'
After a moment's hesitation, Lady Deverill looked around.
"Everyone, leave. Don't come near until I call you."
"Yes, Lady."
The maids bowed and began to leave the courtyard. I smiled at the butler, who was standing there blankly.
"Butler, why aren't you leaving?"
"Even if everyone leaves, it's for the safety of Your Majesty and Lady—"
As the butler started to ramble, I smiled broadly and took a step closer.
"Why? Feeling guilty?"
And conveniently, Devi growled, warning the butler.
"That's not it. I'm really concerned about your safety, both of you."
At the mention of safety, Eidan stepped forward, standing protectively in front of me. The sight of Eidan, who could destroy thousands of enemies alone, being concerned about safety was quite amusing. I smiled at the butler, who was sweating despite his calm appearance.
"If you had just left quietly, you could have avoided the situation of being exposed as the abuser in front of Lady."
"Your Majesty, what do you mean…?"
I turned to Lady Deverill, who was hesitating, and spoke clearly.
"That's right. The butler is the one who has been abusing Devi and causing her pain all along!"
At my shout, the butler tried to back out.
"Hehe… What do you mean by that?"
"Even if you laugh awkwardly, it won't help. Devi knows everything."
"Devi knows? Devi can't even speak, hehe. Your Majesty is still young, after all."
"The butler, you don't deny that Devi has been abused, do you?"
My sharp words made the butler look taken aback. Although he was usually very good at managing his expressions, it was only for a moment, but Lady Deverill saw it. I confirmed the faint suspicion in her eyes and turned to Devi.
'Devi, it might be hard to recall, but can you describe in detail the day that man hit you?'
Devi blinked her clear eyes in response. In that short time, the cornered butler started to panic.
"That's a lie, Lady. Don't you trust me? I have served this family for over ten years and have always been loyal—!"
"On a very hot day during a major cleaning, you tied Devi up in the scorching sun without giving him a drop of water, didn't you?"
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
"Just yesterday… you said, 'You're so old and still won't die, you annoying bastard,' and kicked him several times with your foot."
"False accusation! How could I have been so attentive to Devi!"
"In the winter when Devi went missing for a day… Goodness. You even abandoned him outside the villa, didn't you?"
As my testimony piled up, the butler's expression became paler. My anger deepened as well. The abuse Devi had suffered was worse than I had imagined.
'I didn't think it would be this bad.'
I glared at the butler.
[And in the old days, with the cane…]
"Devi, that's enough."
[With the cane…]
"You can stop talking now."
[Really? …Is it over?]
"Yes. It's okay now."
I didn't want Devi to recall any more painful memories. Seeing me trying to reassure Devi, the butler burst out laughing, as if he couldn't believe it.
"Your Majesty seems to be very unwell, Lady."
Seeing the butler trying to label me as crazy, I smiled brightly.
"I'm not crazy, butler. I'm perfectly sane."
"No, Your Majesty. You should see a doctor—"
Just as the butler was about to reach out to me,
"Take your hand off."
A cold voice like a winter wind stopped the butler in his tracks. He turned to the side in disbelief. There, Lady Deverill stood with the coldest expression I had ever seen.
"Lady, surely you don't believe the Emperor's absurd claims?"
"You've been working here for over ten years, as you say. I thought it was just the Emperor's childish imagination."
"Of course, Lady—!"
"At first, that is."
The butler's hopeful expression turned pale in an instant.
"The incident in the winter four years ago when Devi disappeared from the villa is known only to you and me. How could the Emperor know all the details?"
"That, that—!"
The butler, who had been so brazen until now, was now at a loss for words.
"I was puzzled by why the gentle Devi was particularly aggressive towards you. Was it because you were abusing him?"
"Th-That—!"
"…So, the Emperor's words must be the truth."
At Lady Deverill's verdict, the butler's eyes widened and he shook his head. But before he could protest, Eidan knocked him out. With the most talkative person unconscious, a deep silence fell over Devi's courtyard. Lady Deverill broke the silence.
"I apologize for asking, but can Your Majesty… hear Devi's voice?"
"Yes."
"Devi, our Devi… What did he say?"
I glanced at Devi. I realized his gaze had been fixed on Lady Deverill the whole time. I relayed the words Devi must have said to his mother every day.
"He says he really loves you. And he's sorry he can't protect you anymore."
"Oh, Devi…!"
Tears welled up in Lady Deverill's eyes. I turned to see her collapse and embrace Devi.
***
After the commotion, the Emperor returned to the palace. Lady Deverill stroked Devi's head, lost in thought.
"I was too indifferent, Devi. I didn't try to understand why you were in pain."
As if in response, Devi nuzzled her hand, whimpering. Only then did I realize that Devi had been trying to warn her about the butler.
"The divine power I have can't stop aging."
"…Is that so?"
"Yes. I made him less painful, but when his time comes, Devi will leave you."
Lady Deverill understood the Emperor's words. Realizing that the time left with Devi was short, she felt only sadness. The butler, who had mocked the Emperor, was taken to the palace unconscious, charged with the crime of abusing Devi. As soon as he was gone, she received reports from the maids that they had witnessed the butler abusing Devi.
'The ability to communicate with animals.'
To Lady Deverill, the only known ability of the Emperor was the immense divine power to heal wounds. He must have revealed this hidden ability for Devi's sake.
"Why did you reveal your ability, knowing I might use it against you?"
"Lady, you wouldn't do that."
"…."
"And even if you did, I wanted Devi to be happy more… I would reveal it even if I could go back in time."
Lady Deverill smiled, uncharacteristically.
"You will be a good Emperor."
Despite being too honest and too kind for an emperor, she could see a future where he would lead the empire well. She covered Devi with a blanket and sat at her desk, picking up a quill. The scratching sound filled the quiet room.
***
It started with the first letter Lady Deverill sent, and we exchanged letters for about a month.
-And today's letter.
[This morning, Devi passed away. I felt as if I could read his last look at me.]
"Goodbye, Devi…"
[He didn't suffer much, so that's enough.]
"…"
[If the Emperor hadn't helped, Devi wouldn't have been happy. If you have any wishes, please let me know. I will do anything I can.]
Perhaps a gift from Devi. I unexpectedly gained a valuable treasure. I pressed my reddened eyes and wiped them firmly. I didn't have time