TPITT - Chapter 32

When Desmond II publicly showed his favor, many nobles were anxious to talk to me.

After suffering for a while, I was finally able to get out.

Michael went to the corner of the banquet hall.

He showed his concern while escorting me.

“Do your legs hurt a lot?”

"A little."

“I need to find a comfortable place to rest.”

“There are plenty of places to rest. Let’s go to the ‘Pearl Shell Room.’”

It was the first time he had heard the name of the room, but Michael could guess it right away.

“I guess that’s what the secret resting place in the ballroom is called.”

“As expected, you know right away.”

“Because all theories are taught.”

At banquets and dances, heated men and women go into this room. A debauched and decadent culture will inevitably arise.

Due to the nature of the beloved imperial palace, love between a man and a woman is not taboo unless it is an affair.

So, in the imperial palace, married people, fiancés, and sometimes, out of consideration for unmarried couples, small rooms were installed in the hallway of the main banquet hall.

The name is politely said to be a resting area.

However, if an unmarried man and woman were caught entering the room together, they had to be prepared to be featured in the gossip magazines the next day.

In other words, the ‘Pearl Shell Room’ was a place for sexual intercourse between men and women authorized by the imperial palace.

“I don’t plan on practicing, so you can rest assured.”

"Right."

Michael's face was expressionless under the eyepatch, so I couldn't tell if he was relieved or not thinking anything about it.

I entered a deep, dark hallway. Then I saw several layers of velvet curtains hanging at a certain distance.

When you open the curtain, what you see is the pearl shell room.

“Sometimes we light incense in the hallway, but since it’s a banquet featuring minors today, I don’t think they’ll go that far.”

When my explanation was over, the homunculus knight in charge of security approached.

“Would you like to come in?”

"Yes.''

The small resting place created by creating a deep space in the wall was more appropriately called a bed rather than a room.

On the high floor like a platform, there is a large, soft shell-shaped velvet couch. On the low ceiling, a small chandelier emits dusky light.

It was creating a romantic yet strange atmosphere.

I entered the pearl shell room and buried my upper body deeply.

Michael did not go in. He couldn't share a space similar to a bed with the Princess.

Unless it is to be faithful to the secret duties of the direct knight.

“I’ll stand outside.”

"Yes."

I also understood that part, so I did not recommend it again.

The two had a conversation with a velvet curtain between them.

“It’s quiet. Is there no one else but the Princess and me?”

“No, quite a few people are using it right now. The gold stripe indicates it is in use.”

“I can’t hear anything.”

“You can hit the soundproof barrier one step ahead. Sounds inside and outside can all be blocked.”

“Oh, I see.”

Only then did Michael realize the existence of the barrier and feel a little embarrassed. I smiled in understanding.

“Michael specializes in attack magic. It may be weak to barrier magic.”

I wondered if he knew the field well, but the story that followed was embarrassing, so I took a laxative.

“Now that I think about it, you said the Princess majored in life magic.”

"Yes. After learning various fields of magic broadly and shallowly, combining them with each other is my specialty. So, for the purpose of fire prevention or waterproofing, barrier magic is quite effective. I learned it. But it wasn't as effective as attack magic. I don’t have any talent for that.”

“Are your academic achievements limited? I’m sorry.”

“It’s not very fatal. Even if you use attack magic anyway, It is meant to be an attack spell, so it has no meaning in everyday life magic.”

“Then I’m glad. And I think it went well.”

"Yes?"

“Now I am your sword. So, there will be no need for you to fight directly.”

The words promising protection were quite moving. In a dry comment that a directly subordinate knight would normally recite. Even though I knew it was just a matter of time, I felt better.

“Yes, you must protect me well, please "

"Of course."

Suddenly I wanted to ask a mischievous question.

"Oh right. How do you feel about seeing the White Rose of the Empire in person?”

“It doesn’t look like her at all.”

"Yes? She takes after her mother. Anyway, isn’t Rosie pretty?”

“It was just like the portrait. I felt that her fame was not in vain.”

Michael's answer, which came out immediately and without hesitation, was dry.

At first glance, it seemed like he was not impressed by Rosenit's beauty. I even felt a little uncomfortable thinking about our first meeting with her.

It was also visible.

“But I don’t know why she raised the back of her hand at me in front of her direct knight.”

Those words reminded me of Michael secretly wiping his lips after kissing the back of Rosie's hand.

It was nothing special, but it was a very pleasant scene for me.

I had a hard time suppressing my laughter behind the velvet curtains.

“Princess, are you okay?”

"Yes... I'm okay..."

At that time, applause erupted from the main banquet hall so loud that it could be heard even in the deep hallway.

The pearl shell room that I was in did not block outside sounds, so I could hear them.

I could roughly guess the situation in the banquet hall. It seemed like there was a ceremony to cut the birthday cake and pop the champagne.

I raised my upper body and sat down.

“Now it’s time to do the last thing. Please do me a favor, Michael.”

Michael immediately understood what I had said in advance.

“I will invite the most important guest of the day.”

Michael bowed politely towards me behind the velvet curtain and then retreated.

I, who was left alone, thought about the young Lady I occasionally saw in the grand banquet hall.

Countess with light brown hair. The young Lady could not blend in with the happy atmosphere of the banquet.

She was just emptying her wine glass in the corner of the banquet hall with a nervous look on her face.

'Countess Anais Lucyard.'

She was the person who would soon help me raise funds.

Empty glasses were piled up on the table next to Anais.

Although she could not taste or smell the wine, Anais was still so thirsty that she couldn't control her hand from picking up the glass.

Anais was the only daughter of Count Lucyard, who owned a building materials company.

In social circles, she is already treated as Countess Lucyard.

Her surroundings were full of Young Lady and Young Lord who always wanted to become friends.

But today Anais wasn't in the mood for leisurely social activities.

'What should I do? It might be really good.'

The reason Anais is restless, Is because a project entrusted entirely to the imperial family was on the verge of destroying her family.

The imperial capital Hadelun is so large that the Emperor cannot oversee everything.

So, reward profitable public projects to public figures.

The burden of governance was reduced by delegating it to noble families.

Anais's family, Lucyard, began a project last year at the recommendation of Third Princess Brigitte.

To improve the hygiene of its subjects, public bathhouses were built throughout the capital.

It was a bathhouse business that was built and operated.

Although the expected profitability was not very good, it was said to contribute to the welfare of the imperial capital.

They gladly accepted it because it was for an honorable cause.

'My father fell for the 3rd Princess's coaxing and put his stamp on the family too easily.'

A problem arose shortly after the Count of Lucyard began construction of the facility.

The key to the bathroom business is supplying hot water.

At this time, it was necessary to use magic stones, not fire, to heat the water.

In Hadelun, the use of fire is prohibited in businesses other than restaurants and workshops.

The problem was that the price of magic stones had risen sharply since the beginning of this year.

If the imperial family sets it like this. If they run a public bathhouse by charging only an entrance fee, their deficit will snowball.

Even if all of Lucyard Company's profits were poured into the bath business, there was no way to make up for the operating deficit.

'But the third Princess doesn't even meet people from our family.'

Anais wrote several letters to Brigitte.

She tried contacting her to discuss the issue, but no matter how long she waited, there was no reply.

Feeling uneasy, she went to the imperial palace to have an audience with Desmond II.

However, the officials of the Protocol Department only answered that it was impossible.

In the end, the only person Anais could rely on was Brigitte, who remained silent.

The reason Anais participated in today’s banquet was Brigitte.

It was to meet. But Brigitte blatantly avoided Anais.

'The 3rd Princess caused our family's crisis. I plan to sit on the sidelines. I feel so hopeless.'

The work entrusted by the imperial family was a promise made to the Emperor, so failure to keep it would result in severe punishment.

Although it may be extenuating circumstances to some extent if they explain that you tried their best, in the process, Count Lucyard was in a situation where he had to sell not only the merchant association but also his territory and title.

In short, it is a crisis of extinction.

"Ha.."

Anais' hand found the strong wine again.

Then someone handed a glass of ice water in front of her.

“Little Countess, it is best to drink water when you are thirsty.”

“Never mind... Homunculus?”

Anais' eyes widened when she noticed the black-haired knight with an eyepatch covering his eyes.

Suddenly, while she was drinking ice water, the knight introduced himself and told her the business.

“My name is Michaelis Agnito, and I serve the 7th Princess. My Lord wants to meet Little Countess.”

Previous            Next