“Did you agree to go on an inspection together tomorrow?”
“I heard they plan to visit the battlefield directly and hold a memorial for the souls of the fallen settlers.”
“Did the priest come along too?”
“Bishop Shield is here.”
Late at night, Fernandez was drinking tea at Kirhas’s residence, chatting. Kirhas was recalling the conversation she had diligently memorized between the Duke and the Crown Prince.
“Was there anything else?”
“The knight who came along was actually the more talkative one. The Crown Prince just… mostly smiled throughout the conversation.”
Kirhas remembered the Crown Prince, who only wore an enigmatic, ambiguous smile. He dined with impeccable etiquette and manners, avoiding direct participation in the conversation.
Hearing this, Fernandez stroked his chin and laughed.
“What do you think?”
“About the Crown Prince’s visit? Surprisingly bold. We confirmed that Iron Side directly intervened, and the Imperial Palace must know that too. I don’t know how he can remain so calm.”
No matter how politely you put it, the Crown Prince’s situation is no different from sticking his head into a guillotine. In Fernandez’s view, the Crown Prince’s visit meant one of two things: either the Emperor doesn’t want conflict with Ribue, or the Crown Prince is not on the same side as the Emperor.
The recent conversation made the latter possibility much more likely. In reality, the Emperor has no reason to tolerate Ribue. If Ribue openly opposes the Imperial Palace over the recent schemes, the justification would lie with the Imperial Palace, wouldn’t it?
“I should talk to the Crown Prince.”
“Shall I arrange a meeting?”
“Preferably alone.”
“His escort knight is extremely thorough. It seemed like he would even follow the Crown Prince to the bathroom.”
“Haha.”
The Crown Prince’s escort knight. A knight of the Bright Star Spear Order. The Bright Star Spear Order is directly under the command of Captain Revans, who is the Emperor’s closest confidant. Is he trying to ‘protect’ the Crown Prince, or ‘monitor’ him…?
Knock knock.
“Who is it?”
Kirhas spoke in a lazy voice, tinged with irritation. She was finally enjoying some alone time with Fernandez after almost half a day.
“It’s the Duke Carvelier’s daughter. Chieftain.”
“The Duke’s daughter…? Let her in.”
The Beastman Warrior guarding the door opened it. Soon, a dazzling evening dress and fiery red hair stepped through the doorway. It was Rene.
Fernandez caught a whiff of a sweet fragrance as she entered. It’s common for noble ladies to wear perfume at social gatherings, but… this scent was different from the one he smelled at the banquet earlier…?
Rene glanced at Fernandez and then approached the Chieftain, bowing her head slightly.
“Pardon the late-night intrusion, Chieftain.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I came to see one of the Chieftain’s retainers for a moment.”
“Fernin…?”
Kirhas’s eyes sharpened as she glared at Fernandez. Again, again, again? Fernandez shrugged and shook his head. What ‘again’?
Unfazed by the tension between the two, Rene looked straight at Kirhas and crossed her arms. The silhouette of her soft evening dress seemed to irritate Kirhas’s temper. She spoke coldly.
“Speak here.”
“I request a private audience.”
“Daring to ask the Chieftain’s concubine… A proper Duke’s daughter, in the middle of the night, alone, with you. Do you have something to say?”
“Yes, ‘in the middle of the night,’ ‘alone.’”
This is getting out of hand. Fernandez chuckled as he watched. Rene Philippa is a seventeen-year-old noble lady. No matter how intelligent or bold she is, the playful nature of her age seems unavoidable.
Hearing Fernandez laugh, Kirhas flinched. She quickly mouthed to Fernandez, who was leaning against the wall behind the Duke’s daughter, ‘Already to that extent…?’ ‘What do you mean, already?’
‘Sometimes I wonder what Kirhas thinks of me.’
-Probably exactly what it looks like.
‘Shut up.’
Fernandez shrugged and approached Kirhas. He knelt on one knee, showing the etiquette expected of a Beastman Noble, and said, “It’s late, so I’ll escort the lady to her chambers.”
“Fernin…!”
Kirhas’s eyes seemed to tremble with disbelief and betrayal. Fernandez gestured briefly in Heretic sign language. ‘Operation.’ Kirhas responded with a gesture full of sarcasm. ‘Oh, of course, you would.’
“Oh, thank you. I hope I haven’t disturbed your rest.”
“I don’t sleep much, my lady.”
“My goodness. I sleep so much that it’s always a problem in the morning. Shall we take a walk, then?”
Rene provocatively draped her arm over Fernandez’s.
*
The palace garden wasn’t much of a sight after the recent destruction, but on this warm spring night, the moonlight reflecting off the fountain was beautiful. Fernandez walked in silence with Rene for a while.
“Isn’t the weather lovely?”
Rene, who had been wearing a somewhat sullen expression, forced a smile and spoke. Fernandez stopped in front of the fountain and looked at Rene.
