Chapter 91
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Chapter 91
* * *
"A grave matter, Your Majesty. Reports have come in of a skin disease outbreak across the entire Empire."
Dale, upon receiving the report, rested his chin in his hand with an expressionless face.
The incident had occurred exactly as Enya had predicted.
"A disease is set to spread like an epidemic among the nobility."
It matched her words with uncanny precision, as though she had witnessed the future herself. Dale listened to his aides' reports.
"A skin disease has broken out simultaneously across the Empire. However, what is peculiar is that all of the afflicted are—"
"All nobility."
"You were already aware, Your Majesty."
The aide nodded and handed over the documents.
"Indeed. All those recorded are nobility, with noble women comprising the vast majority."
As I examined the documents, they too aligned with what Enya had described.
Unexplained skin rashes had erupted simultaneously, causing those afflicted to cry out in agony.
"Is it highly contagious?"
"Fortunately, it does not appear to be. Among those reporting illness, there are some with familial connections, though we must investigate further to determine how it has spread."
"I see. I entrust this to you."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Rising from his seat, Dale checked the time. Three o'clock in the afternoon.
Of late, he found himself waiting for a specific hour, like a dog with a master.
His range of movement within the Imperial Palace, once confined to his office or bedroom, had expanded. The monotonous routine of holding only a sword or pen in hand had begun to shift.
He now held a teacup he had rarely touched before, grasping it firmly in his hand.
As though waiting for her.
"You've arrived, my lady."
Dale, who had already come to the Greenhouse, opened the door to greet Enya as she entered.
Enya, whom he met as Adeline, possessed a different kind of mystique. Dale carefully concealed his excitement.
Compliments about her beauty, such things...
"Your attire suits you beautifully today as well."
Often, he could not help himself.
Yet unlike when they were together as Dale in Grunvalt, she did not seem particularly pleased to receive his praise.
At best, she accepted it with a polite smile—nothing more.
Between himself as The Emperor and her as Adeline, there existed a clear, invisible boundary.
"Your Majesty is quite distinguished as well."
"Thank you."
Dale replied flatly, restraining any emotion that might surface.
Fortunately, Enya's complexion looked well these days.
"A skin disease has been reported."
"That was quick. The Emperor must have issued orders beforehand to investigate whether something like what I mentioned had occurred, yes?"
When Dale gave a light nod, Enya laughed with satisfaction.
"Then I should prepare for the next step now."
Enya straightened her posture and sipped her tea. Today's prepared tea was milk tea.
"Hmm?"
It was a flavor that made me tilt my head in confusion.
"Does it not suit your palate?"
"No, it's just... I'm surprised it suits my taste so well."
It tasted similar to what Dale used to make at home. That overly sweet preference—the kind that would earn scolding back home about how my tongue would go numb and my teeth would rot.
But I was a bit surprised that it was reproduced identically here in the Imperial Palace.
"I'm surprised because it's delicious. It's fine, Your Majesty."
"I'm relieved."
The Emperor exhaled softly.
Enya stared at him intently. The Emperor always wore a mask.
When drinking tea, he would lift the mask briefly or turn his head to drink...
"If you find it uncomfortable, Your Majesty, you could draw curtains or something and converse."
The Emperor shook his head at Enya's words.
"It is not uncomfortable because of my mask."
"Are you truly certain?"
"I am."
"Is that so...?"
Tilting her head in confusion, Enya decided to proceed with the main matter.
"All the people who fell ill were nobles, correct?"
"With the exception of three or four, yes. They comprise the majority."
"I thought as much."
The air grew heavy at her words.
"Perhaps, my lady."
"I didn't create the skin disease, so please don't misunderstand."
"...I understand."
It was something thrown out as a jest.
But the Emperor seemed to have genuinely harbored some suspicion.
"You thought I might have caused it?"
"Not exactly. However, given the timing, it seemed an impossible deduction unless you possessed internal information."
"You're right. It's worth suspecting."
It would be more foolish to blindly believe without question.
"Lately, physicians in the Capital have been summoned to noble houses frequently. At first, I was monitoring the situation for that reason."
I presented a reasonable deduction.
"The Medical Clinic closed, and I watched where they went—they entered the noble district. It wasn't just one person. More than twenty of them left, all equipped with protective gear."
"Suspicious movements indeed."
"Exactly."
I sent people to investigate a few days later, and the answer came quickly.
"They all have no cure, correct?"
"That is correct."
"And they have no intention of supporting the Medical Clinic either?"
The Emperor nodded.
"However, if the lady wishes it, I can compel them."
"I appreciate the jest, but...."
Yet The Emperor's upright posture remained unmoved.
The oppressive atmosphere still felt ominous.
"...You're not actually joking, are you?"
"It would benefit the Empire's development, so I can enforce it."
He stared at me like a relentless bulldozer.
I nearly forgot that he was the kind of person with such tremendous drive—the one who nearly killed his own father to become Emperor.
"No. Don't do it. It will only increase resistance."
At my response, I heard a deep sigh of relief from somewhere—it sounded like it came from among his aides.
Two or three of The Emperor's Aides stood guard over the Greenhouse at a distance.
"Does the lady not wish it?"
"Not at all. So let's choose a different method instead. I've already thought of something."
"What is it?"
"Look, Your Majesty. Which area did all the people with skin rashes suffer damage to?"
"Primarily their faces."
"Why their faces?"
The Emperor, who had been thinking quietly, spoke.
"Perhaps the poison worsened from sun exposure or frequent touching."
"It's because they wear cosmetics."
I tapped my face seriously as I explained.
"There's a problem with the nobles' cosmetics."
* * *
I brought The Emperor to the Desolate Field, which looked like an abandoned wasteland.
"Cough."
"Are you alright?"
The moment we arrived via scroll, The Emperor broke into a cough—quite a violent one at that. I quickly steadied him.
'Is something wrong?'
But I couldn't detect any scent of illness.
"Wasn't there a cold going around during the hunting festival? Perhaps it hasn't fully cleared yet?"
"!"
When I supported The Emperor's arm to prevent him from stumbling, his body stiffened.
There was a warmth to him—a slight fever, perhaps? What was this?
"Be careful not to fall. If you feel like you might collapse, you can lean on me as we walk. I promise to keep the fact that Your Majesty is somewhat delicate strictly confidential."
"Huh...."
In that instant, I heard the Aide's gasp.
"My apologies. You are the only one, my lady, who has ever spoken to His Majesty in such a manner. The novelty of it caused me to lose my composure."
Is that so?
Though The Emperor was large in build, he didn't appear to be made of steel.
At first glance, there was something imposing about him—the kind of presence that would make "This man rose to the throne through a bloody purge!" seem entirely plausible. Yet in conversation, that impression didn't hold.
Rather, he seemed quiet and sensitive in certain ways, someone who required careful consideration.
But would supporting him damage The Emperor's dignity? I glanced around.
"The mask makes it difficult to see. Let us support His Majesty."
"...Ah. Yes, sir!"
Getty and Soho positioned themselves on either side to guide the way. We pushed through the field where weeds had grown in thick clusters, obscuring the path ahead, and a massive structure came into view.
A dilapidated house that looked utterly uninhabited.
"We shall conduct a search."
The Aides moved to enter first, but I raised my hand to stop them.
"We've already investigated this place. There were no dangerous items."
"Then what is the reason for coming here?"
Getty pressed close to me with the question, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"The cosmetic was likely formulated here."
"Is this place significant?"
"It was once, but it was hastily abandoned."
I swept the powder residue from the table with my hand and inhaled its scent.
"This is the Storage Shed that Hexagon used."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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