Chapter 22: The Investigation
"Are you asking me to go out?"
"......"
"It was a joke, so don't look at me like that... ..."
Dante then shivered and grumbled. You can really tell she lived with Eric; that
sharp gaze is something else. Anyway, that wasn't the important part.
"You're saying you'll investigate it yourself?"
"It was a job I or you should have taken over anyway."
"That's true, but......"
"Besides, practically speaking, it's my fault they couldn't form an
investigation team, so of course I should be the one to resolve it."
"That's also true, but......"
Dante's voice trailed off, his face troubled. It was true that leaving the
recent incident buried like that was a very unsettling feeling. He had agreed to
close the case because there were no clues, but if Elisha were to investigate
herself, wouldn't things change? The Covenant also stated that "Elisha will not
leave the old Renard family residence without Dante Renard's permission," so if
he gave his permission, she would be able to go out.
By now, the people who know Elisha's face should all be in the Imperial Palace
for the allied nations conference, but......
But there was always that one-in-a-million chance.
"Renard."
Elisha called Dante's name as if she were hurrying him. Dante let out a groan
and continued thinking. The annulment would happen soon, but they had to be
careful until a definite reason for it was decided.
The plan is to say they had to annul the engagement because Elisha disappeared,
but if she herself were to be seen near the capital......
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
"No, it's too difficult right now. The engagement hasn't been annulled yet."
"I can go without being seen."
"If that were true, you wouldn't have been caught by me."
At Dante's words, Elisha's brow furrowed slightly. Dante then let out a small
sigh and continued.
"Please just wait until Eric officially announces the annulment and takes a new
Empress."
By then, even if someone saw Elisha, there wouldn't be much they could do. At
most, they’d say something like, "The missing High Mage has appeared, so we must
take this opportunity to bring her back to the Imperial Palace," wouldn't they?
That would be great for me. Although it’s not like Elisha would actually return
to the Imperial Palace.
"But there's no guarantee when that will be."
While Dante was deep in thought, Elisha grumbled stubbornly. Dante finally
cleared his mind and smiled brightly.
"Not necessarily. Knox has already started working behind the scenes."
"Behind the scenes?"
"They sent their second Princess as the head of the delegation to attend the
allied nations conference. It seems they’ve noticed you and Eric have fallen
out."
He continued in a smooth, sing-song tone, as if he were singing. At the same
time, Elisha’s hand, which was turning a book page, froze.
"......Already?"
"I was a bit surprised myself."
Though it doesn't seem like they're making any particular moves yet. Dante
laughed, and another smile touched his lips. In any case, starting with Knox,
things will be hectic for a while with the issue of choosing the next Empress.
For other nations, that issue might be more important than the allied nations
conference itself.
Eric will suffer, though. My misery is my joy!
"Anyway, if something happens, I’ll really ask for your help then. So for now,
act as if you're on vacation and rest."
There won't be any documents I can bring to the palace for a while anyway.
"Well then, I'm off."
After saying his piece, Dante stretched and stood up. Until that moment, Elisha
was staring in daze into space, then,
"Uh, Renard."
She looked up only after Dante's mana flooded the room. But all Elisha was met
with was the residual light left by Dante's fading mana. Elisha blinked in
bewilderment and shook her head. Anyway, it was no longer her concern. Now was
the time to focus on other things. Like how to get permission from Dante to go
out.
* * *
The wind touching his cheek was very warm. Walking with brisk steps in the
hallway, Eric turned his gaze in the direction the wind had come from. In the
small garden beside the hallway, the white flowers were now in full bloom. The
previous Emperor had passed away between late winter and early spring, and it
seemed spring had arrived in full force in the meantime.
When I was young, I loved reading books in the Imperial Palace garden on days
like this. Both of them, him and Elisha. As the memory naturally surfaced, Eric
slowly blinked his eyes.
"I like reading outside. It feels as if the wind is whispering the contents of
the book to me."
It was a habit born from a simple, passing remark Elisha had made. Since then,
she would take a book she had picked from the library in the early morning and
wander around, and if she found a spot she liked, she would sit down immediately
and read. Her silver hair, fluttering in the occasional breeze. Her blue eyes,
settling like a deep sea when she read. Yet, if she heard nearby footsteps, she
would be the first to notice, clutching her staff...
"Greetings to the Emperor of Cardion."
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice drifted into Eric's ears. Eric finally
regained his senses and looked forward again. Dark black hair, and the distinct
strange pink eyes of royalty. It was the second Princess of Knox.
"My name is Primavera Knox."
She then offered a greeting with a gentle smile. In response, Eric spoke coldly,
his face expressionless.
"I see no reason for the Princess to be in the main palace hallway."
"I was looking around the Imperial Palace to familiarize myself with the way to
the main conference hall. It seems I’ve lost my way," Primavera replied in a
soft, melodic voice. Eric spoke again, his tone still dry.
"The main conference hall is on the other side of the main palace. You should
have been given directions upon your arrival."
"I must have mixed up my directions while looking at other places. And I am a
bit shy, so I couldn't bring myself to stop a lady-in-waiting to ask......"
Primavera's voice trailed off skillfully, her demeanor not embarrassed in the
least. Eric let out an internal laugh. No matter if he was a young, newly
crowned Emperor, her current behavior was overstepping. Acting this boldly must
be her true nature.
If that weren't her personality, she wouldn't be wandering boldly in the main
palace in front of everyone.
The way she answers without even a blink somehow reminds him of Elisha. Though
there's a clear difference in that Elisha only tells the truth, not lies.
"......Again."
The moment he relaxes his guard, his thoughts always drift to Elisha. Even
though it was too late to think about her. The moment he realized this, Eric
smiled bitterly. At this, Primavera's eyes widened, and she blinked in
bewilderment. Why is he suddenly smiling?
"Escort the Princess to the conference hall."
By that time, Eric had pulled himself together and ordered in a cold voice. His
face was so indifferent that his previous smile felt like an illusion.
"Your Majesty."
Regardless, Primavera began to speak, still wearing an elegant smile.
"If it's not too much of an imposition, might I ask Your Majesty to personally
guide me?"
"......"
"Did I make too bold a request?"
Her pink eyes, like flower petals, curved into crescents. Eric found himself
frowning slightly. It’s rare to see someone bolder than Dante Renard.
"There are many watching eyes in the Imperial Palace," he replied after a short
while, his tone flat. In short, it was a warning not to act more familiar with
him.
"It's for that very reason that rumors spread quickly in the palace," but
Primavera retorted without a shred of embarrassment.
"There's no one who doesn't know the purpose of my visit."
After she finished speaking, she smiled brightly again. Eric, unable to find a
proper response, narrowed his eyes. To reveal her goal this honestly.
"Now that Cardion's High Mage has disappeared, shouldn't you at least secure a
political advantage?"
"......"
"Honestly, I was half-forced into this, but seeing Your Majesty now, I feel it
was good that I came."
Primavera's eyes wandered for a moment before settling on Eric. Eric met her
gaze with a cold stare. How weak must he look for her to say such things so
freely? It was natural, of course—a green youth who ascended the throne with no
clear special talents, and a vacuum appeared in the state's main military force.
Maybe Elisha's departure itself played a role, too.
In the end, it meant he couldn't even protect his own fiancée. After finishing
his thought, Eric let out a soft breath and spoke.
"Princess of Knox."
"Please call me Primavera. You can also call me Rera."
"It seems the Princess is under some kind of misunderstanding."
His distinct blue eyes glinted with a cold light. For a moment, Primavera
swallowed hard. If his gaze was just lack of interest before, this time...
"First, Cardion is not a nation that will collapse from the absence of one
person. If it were, we would never have been able to declare ourselves an empire
in the first place."
Of course, the military asset known as "Elisha" was tempting enough for anyone
to covet, but Eric still had other cards up his sleeve. A card he had kept
hidden until now, a card that even Elisha wouldn't surpass.
"I am well aware that I am still an Emperor who cannot be trusted. That must be
why you're treating me with such familiarity."
"Your Majesty, I......"
"I will overlook today's impudence. After all, you are currently a delegate from
an allied nation, and we stand on equal footing. However—"
Eric then continued, his eyes empty even as he smiled, the corners of his eyes
crinkling slightly.
"Do not think today's courtesy will continue."
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