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What followed was a silence as cold as frost. Arpel, who had been blinking with an expressionless face, turned his gaze away completely, and Rohan just kept smiling quietly, showing no intention of opening his mouth.
In the end, Lexia, who had to endure that heavy silence all alone…
“Ahem, ahem. Come to think of it, I had something I was supposed to tell you two when you arrived. Is it alright if I deliver that answer first?”
He changed the subject while lightly clearing his throat. He skillfully brought up a different topic in response to the unusual atmosphere flowing between the two. Even so, the way he kept glancing at the ‘accessory’ on Arpel’s neck showed that he still seemed intent on figuring out its identity.
Lexia began speaking as if he hadn’t expected an answer.
“It’s a message Evelyn asked me to pass on. She said there was quite a troublesome incident at the imperial palace? It’s about the poison Arpel gave her…”
His hand pulled out a few sheets of neatly written documents from a pile of papers. Rohan, receiving them, narrowed his eyes and immediately began examining the contents. Arpel also glanced at the documents.
“Simply put, that poison was made in the imperial palace.”
At the voice that seemed to be trying to aid quick understanding, Rohan’s brow furrowed immediately. The breath that escaped between his tightly bitten lips was filled with explicit displeasure. To think they tried to use that poison on Arpel, of all people.
Perhaps due to the force in his hand gripping the paper, the ends were mercilessly crumpled. That damned imperial palace, imperial palace. Now, just thinking about that place made his blood boil.
Arpel couldn’t fail to notice that distorted expression, the hatred being transmitted to him. That’s why he quietly reached out and patted the back of Rohan’s hand. It was like a small whisper saying not to be upset, that he was fine.
Lexia kept his mouth shut for a moment, waiting for them to finish checking the documents. As Rohan’s hand, which had been moving for quite some time, turned the very last page, Lexia opened his mouth.
“Evelyn won’t be able to come out for a while.”
“What? What do you mean…”
His words were unexpected. Rohan asked back in surprise, and Arpel quietly met his gaze. It was his own way of expressing doubt.
“Seems she’s been confined. Got caught while digging around.”
“…”
Lexia, who had resolved Rohan’s doubt with a light smile, shrugged his shoulders. Judging by his mischievously curved eyes, he seemed to find the subtly guilt-ridden look in Rohan’s eyes amusing.
“But it’s not your fault, or rather, not you two’s fault, so don’t worry. Even if you hadn’t asked, that stubborn one would have stirred up trouble anyway.”
“Anyway,” he said, changing the atmosphere once again. He was trying to wrap up the conversation he had started.
“That’s all I had to tell you. Actually, this isn’t the first time she’s been confined for poking around the palace. You’ll probably be able to meet her again soon.”
Then Lexia put his hand under the table. As soon as he pulled out a large rolled-up paper, it was spread out at the top. It was a detailed map of the empire’s territory.
“So, I should now grant your request, shouldn’t I?”
“I’ll help plan your schedule while I’m at it.” With a brief laugh, his long finger began to carefully point out locations on the map.
***
The audience chamber, more splendid and vast than any other place, yet paradoxically feeling empty.
Mikhail, the man sitting languidly on the large imperial throne at the highest point of that place, was interestedly observing the person standing boldly before him with head held high.
“The plan failed.”
“Hmm.”
“Moreover, as we suspected, the poison you provided wouldn’t have worked on the one called Arpel. He already possesses the power of the Great One.”
“I see. Is that so.”
The Emperor, who had been quietly listening to the continuing words, smiled gently. His attitude of not blaming the man who was boldly admitting failure seemed not just kind, but even foolish. The man thought so too.
That is, until the Emperor slowly tilted his head and asked back.
“Is that all?”
“…!”
There was still a warm smile on his gentle face, but somehow it sent chills down the spine. For a moment, the body froze in an eerie feeling.
Even trying to move his lips to speak was of no use. Like being thrown into the middle of an icy north wind, his teeth just chattered, making a strange sound.
“Ah, I’m sorry for blaming you out of disappointment. I know very well that you all are making great efforts. I apologize.”
“…Y-Yes. I’m glad you understand…?”
It was the Emperor’s words that broke the extreme tension that didn’t even allow blinking. The inexplicable pressure that had constricted his body and made it hard to breathe disappeared like a lie. As if it had never existed in the first place.
Therefore, the man could only stupidly respond to the voice that sounded naive. The half-dislocated sound fully revealed his confusion.
…Was it an illusion?
The man swallowed dryly while taking in the Emperor’s soft, even somewhat delicate smile. An inexplicable sense of déjà vu kept bothering him like a thorn stuck in his throat.
“A-Ahem. I’ll come back if there’s any new information. I’ll take my leave now.”
Rather than trying to figure out what that uneasiness was, he chose to quickly withdraw from the place. In some ways, it might have been the wisest choice.
As soon as the man had completely left the audience chamber, the warm smile on the Emperor’s face evaporated like a lie. With an expressionless face, Mikhail looked at the tightly closed door and tapped the armrest irregularly, making a tok, tok sound.
“Your Majesty.”
It was then that someone appeared in the place where the Salvation Church believer had been just moments ago. Oscar, who had appeared in a perfect prostration, bowed his head even deeper and opened his mouth.
“I apologize for appearing without permission. But, Your Majesty. I dare to request, please allow me to use my sword privately just once.”
His glinting eyes were trying hard to hide his anger, but couldn’t conceal the traces of burning killing intent.
Perhaps that’s why it was clear without even looking who the ‘target of wanting to use the sword privately’ was. He wanted to personally cut down with his sword the one who had mocked the empire’s one and only sun.
The Emperor showed a subtle smile as he looked at Oscar, who seemed determined not to rise until given permission. It was a smile that seemed both interested in his attitude and gently reproaching him as if he had expected this.
“Don’t you blame me?”
“I do not.”
He didn’t attach any plausible reasons or half-hearted flattery. Because of this, Mikhail could nod with a satisfied smile. This was also the biggest reason why he kept Oscar by his side.
“Do as you please.”
“Thank you.”
It was amusing to see someone daring to hold their head high and stand tall before him after a long time, but that was as far as it went. Those full of vanity without any ability were among the types Mikhail despised the most.
Since Oscar also seemed to have built up frustration, it would be perfect to throw him as a toy. It was clearly treating him like a pet, but Mikhail didn’t care. He also knew that Oscar would consistently be happy with this treatment, despite it being like this.
“Oscar. Is everything going well?”
Mikhail, who had been quietly gauging future events, asked Oscar. The question was brief, but the answer was long. Realizing his intention to hear various reports, Oscar laid out in detail the plans currently in progress.
Mikhail just listened with his eyes closed. When the lengthy explanation finally reached its end, he slowly nodded as if satisfied. Then suddenly, he threw out a question as one of his small whims.
“Aren’t you curious about how I did it?”
“…There’s something I promised myself the moment I swore loyalty to Your Majesty.”
No matter what, if it’s something Your Majesty has done, I will never question it. Oscar’s voice saying this was firmer than anything else.
“Have you never regretted making that promise?”
Whether it was a test, a probe, or light teasing. Oscar, who had been bowing his head all along, slowly raised his gaze to Mikhail, who was asking while wearing just his usual smile.
“I have not. Because, Your Majesty, you are my…”
God.
His red eyes shone hazily and eerily. Blind and obsessive emotions were tangled in his eyes, as if truly looking at his one and only god. Meeting that blatant gaze, Mikhail raised the corners of his mouth demonstratively.
“Very well. You may withdraw now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Mikhail, showing a satisfied smile, only rose after Oscar’s presence had completely disappeared.
“Quite…”
A useful son of a bitch.
Not bad for a puppy picked up on a youthful whim. Expressing the same sentiment as always, he slowly continued walking.
When he finally reached behind the massive imperial throne, after touching the blocking wall a few times, a path began to open as if by magic.
There was a staircase leading underground. How far down did he go, holding a small lantern provided on the side? When he began to realize he had come quite deep underground, another new space was revealed.
A single box in the center of an empty space. Sturdy locks that could be believed to have sealed something surrounded it in layers.
Mikhail undid them one by one. Only after five or six locks fell with a clunk did the box open and-
“This is…”
A sword emitting an ethereal blue light revealed itself from inside.
“This will lead us to a new world.”
It was the trace and past of a now forgotten god.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
