Chapter 101
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Chapter 101 In the darkness of night, within the Underground Prison.
"I-I-I swear! I truly did it all for the Empire!"
The Minister of Education's screams echoed through the chamber.
"Namia Loapi—that woman will surely ruin Crown Prince Kiaros! I have evidence!"
His voice rang out with such desperation that the prison walls themselves seemed to vibrate. Then it happened.
"Could that evidence be this scroll, Minister of Education?"
The Emperor approached with an elegant, measured gait and spoke to the Minister of Education in a deceptively gentle tone.
"The one you hid so carefully in your home's safe."
The Saint Kairo Banquet had concluded splendidly, and the Ravens had already completed their search of the Minister of Education's residence. Crown Prince Kiaros, who had orchestrated everything, left only a brief note saying "I have more urgent matters" and entrusted the aftermath to the Emperor.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
The Emperor unrolled the scroll before the Minister of Education's eyes—one containing Namia Loapi's recorded words. He then read its contents in a voice both refined and solemn. 【Namia Loapi: He told me, "Our adorable, precious, beloved little Mia can do whatever she wants. Your dragon brother will protect you. Just marry me. I've actually been secretly preparing the wedding ceremony."
That's what he said.】 At the Emperor's recitation, all the Ravens surrounding the Minister of Education stifled their laughter with muffled snorts.
"Look, Your Majesty! Namia Loapi—that damned woman manipulated Crown Prince Kiaros and then behind his back——" "She's hardly worse than a minister who tried to slaughter all the Ministry of Education's officials, wouldn't you say?"
The Emperor spoke with perfect composure.
"There's no denying that."
The Ravens murmured among themselves: "So she really was secretly preparing the wedding ceremony," "She went a bit too far on her own."
The Aide beside them nodded with a sorrowful expression. Meanwhile, the Minister of Education's face had gone deathly pale. He had never imagined the Emperor would take the matter so lightly. Then, with a sound like wood splintering, the iron cell behind the Emperor warped. The Emperor seized the Minister of Education's jaw and locked eyes with him.
"Well then, let's not waste any more time and speak truthfully."
"Ga-gasp!"
"About the Gaejo Faction behind you."
The Ravens trembled at the overwhelming presence of the Imperial Servant.
"I-I d-don't know much! B-but!"
The Minister of Education gasped out his words desperately.
"They knew the future!"
The Emperor's eyes narrowed. Once, Crown Prince Kiaros had said of them: "They behave as though they know a dark period is coming for me."
"O-of course, not all of their predictions came true, but still..."
Indeed, if all their foreseen futures had come to pass, the Minister of Education wouldn't have been captured like this. While the Emperor fell into thought, the Minister of Education spoke through streaming tears.
"As if this entire world were nothing but a single book with its contents already written..." * * * The next morning at dawn. A figure dressed in black, appearing to be one of the Ravens, escorted me to Crown Prince Kiaros.
"I've heard the general circumstances from that intern Kibon."
I never imagined I would meet him again so soon, at such an early hour. Crown Prince Kiaros settled into his seat with elegant poise, his voice carrying its usual unhurried tone.
"You weren't ensnared at the banquet, so now you're anxious that the Gaejo Faction will come after you directly? That's why you want to stay at the Imperial Palace? And in the process, you thought you might leverage my name a little?"
For words delivered so casually, they came at a remarkably rapid pace. I blinked blankly before nodding.
"Yes...."
"That's a welcome thing to hear."
Crown Prince Kiaros folded his arms and nodded.
"I'll have quarters prepared for you at the Imperial Palace at once. My court physician is standing by, so you'll receive a medical examination. And don't report to the Scroll Department for the time being."
"A medical examination from the court physician, Your Highness? But why would I need one?"
"Kibon said you needed one."
For a moment, I was utterly taken aback. He was actually honoring an Intern's request? It had been only a few hours since Kibon said he would contact the Imperial Palace. Yet if I could meet Crown Prince Kiaros directly this quickly.... 'Kibon is definitely not an ordinary Intern.' So that's why, despite his Intern status, he never seemed intimidated by anyone!
"But why shouldn't I report to work?"
"You're ill, aren't you? While you're staying as a guest of the court physician, it would be best to rest properly for a few days. Besides, there don't seem to be any urgent matters at the Scroll Department."
I nodded readily.
"I'll do as you suggest. Thank you for your consideration."
In truth, I had been planning to take either sick leave or vacation time anyway. Given how things had unfolded, I wanted to catch the spy quickly while I was away from my post.
"And, well, ahem, the fact that you need my name suggests you're planning to set another trap for the Gaejo Faction."
"Yes, that's right."
I had been harboring suspicions that the Temple might be cooperating with the Gaejo Faction. So I intended to use the spy remaining in the Scroll Department to investigate that possibility. It was fortunate that the High Priest and his entourage were currently staying at the Imperial Palace, making it advantageous for me to remain there as well. As a bonus, my safety would be assured, given how often I had thwarted the Gaejo Faction's schemes.
"Even if no incident occurred at the banquet, the spy in the Scroll Department will likely behave as usual. If they went into hiding, it would be tantamount to revealing themselves."
"That's true."
"If I set a trap for that spy and observe who they contact, I might be able to identify other collaborators of the Gaejo Faction as well."
"Other collaborators...."
Crown Prince Kiaros fell silent for a moment, then spoke quietly.
"I heard you're not in good health. Why don't you rest for a while longer? The spy has already been identified anyway, so you can leave the rest to me."
"I appreciate your consideration. But since this is ultimately a matter for the Scroll Department, I'd like to take responsibility for the spy investigation through to the end."
That was my genuine conviction. There were ways to arrest everyone for interrogation or force them to resign. But I couldn't stop thinking about innocent people. I wanted to protect those without suspicion as much as possible. After all, they were employees of my department.
"I want to do everything I can, and I also want to meet my father as soon as possible...."
As I trailed off hesitantly, Crown Prince Kiaros spoke slowly.
"Then I'll allow it."
And he added in a low voice: "I'm sorry about Cedric Loapi. I promised to arrange a meeting soon."
"No, that's not it!"
I shook my head vigorously in response to Crown Prince Kiaros's sincere apology.
"It's because of childhood memories from the Southern Region... Regarding my father, I knew I was being stubborn, but I couldn't let go of those feelings."
"I see. It seems you suffered greatly in the Southern Region."
"That's true. You're right about that too."
I laughed softly as I spoke.
"When Your Highness the Crown Prince asked me to come to Count Kalto's estate back then, I should have gone without listening to my father. If I had, my father wouldn't have had to sell himself to the Gaejo Faction."
"It was Cedric Loapi's choice."
"Yes. He said that a few coins wouldn't change anything about the situation anyway."
Remembering that time, I laughed again softly.
"But thinking about it now, even if I had asked him to go for a few coins, he would have refused."
"Why?"
"He would have said you shouldn't expect payment for saving someone's life. That was just who he was. It frustrated me, but I loved it about him."
That such an upright, stubborn man... loved me so much that he ended up walking alongside the shadows for my sake. Just thinking about it, it was an immense love. Though there was something problematic about the fact that he never asked for my consent.
"I see."
Crown Prince Kiaros spoke with his chin resting on his hand.
"If you had come to Count Kalto's estate... many things could have been different."
"Yes. Since Your Highness the Crown Prince thought he could even marry me, he might have paid off all my debts and supported my admission to the Academy."
I giggled.
"Or I might have ended up going to the Magic Tower..."
"I wouldn't prefer that."
Crown Prince Kiaros interjected in a languid voice.
"If you entered the Magic Tower in your mid-teens, you wouldn't be able to leave for twenty years."
"I would have been fine with it."
"I wouldn't have been fine with it."
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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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