Simone could immediately sense that Louis was going to tell him about the secrets of the palace today.
Simone nodded and followed him to the castle.
It had been quite some time since she had been with Louis, and she had naturally assumed that she would help with the affairs of the palace if asked, so she wasn't too shaken.
'Actually, I even know your real name.'
Louis, you don't know anything, so you'll probably be wondering how to say this until you get to the castle.
Since they weren't the type of people who would normally have a friendly conversation unless they had something to say, the long silence wasn't that awkward.
The two finally stood in front of the palace.
"Hmm..."
Simone groaned softly.
Is this the limit of distance that ordinary people can approach?
The distance to success was much farther than she thought.
The castle was already far away from the castle gate, so it was an ambiguous distance away and couldn't be seen.
If she looked from further away, shr would have seen the roof of the castle, but from here, all she can see is the beautiful garden that spreads out beyond the castle gate.
Simone frowned.
This is not enough.
Simone can't even see the castle, let alone feel the energy emanating from it.
Louis, unaware that she already had a handle on the situation, thought that the reason she was frowning was simply because her surname was not as visible as she had thought, and spoke softly.
“Can’t you see it well?”
“I can’t see it at all.”
“Yes, so in fact, not many of Rydel’s people have actually seen the castle properly. They say that they intentionally left the castle walls and the distance between them wide in all directions to prepare for any possible rebellion or assassination.”
“If it’s this far, I guess they’ll have to take a carriage even within the castle walls?”
“How did you know? The royal family and nobles enter the carriage through the carriage door. They hate to walk and sweat even a little.”
“You know it well, right?”
As Simone spoke with a glare, Louis smiled playfully and then bit his lip.
Then he spoke in a bitter voice, the corners of his lips awkwardly raised.
“Would you like to take a closer look?”
“I would like to look closer. I can’t see anything from here.”
She can't figure out anything.
Then Louis nodded and held out his hand as if to escort Simone.
“Then let’s go.”
Of course, it was a fabrication.
Simone slapped Louis' hand away without hiding her annoyed expression.
Is this guy joking even at this moment?
Louis took the lead, giggling as if he knew Simone would slap his hand away.
“Then follow me. I’ll show you closer.”
Louis took Simone to the gate and spoke to the soldiers in front of the gate.
“Open the door.”
The soldiers opened the gate as if they had been waiting.
It was a very natural process as if the person who was supposed to come had arrived.
“Come on in.”
Louis looked back at Simone, expecting her to be surprised, but instead of being surprised, Simone went inside as expected and looked around.
Then he said it displeasedly.
“The castle was built so far away to protect against assassination or rebellion, but its security isn’t particularly tight.”
Even if he is the Crown Prince, isn't it too naive to open the gates just by seeing his face?
Even though Louis is not alone and Simone is with him, it would be right to ask Simone about her identity before letting her in, even if Louis doesn't know.
“...Is that so?”
Louis answered sheepishly.
Why did they open the gate? How did they get into the castle?
Simone didn't ask a single question that she thought would come up naturally.
'Why?'
From Simone's perspective, the whole situation must be questionable, so why isn't she asking anything?
As if she already knew everything.
“It’s not that the castle’s security is lacking, but rather that everyone entering and exiting the castle has their own password. Even if you’re coming in the family’s carriage, you still have to give them the password to enter.”
Far from making security less robust, it has become more robust since that incident.
To others, it may seem like they just check your face and let you in, but in reality, you have to enter at least three passwords.
In Louis' case, the code was a hand signal, showing a specific pattern on the scabbard, and making eye contact with the guard for three seconds before blinking immediately.
“But you don’t seem to be curious about anything.”
Louis stopped. At this point, he was starting to feel a little wary.
Seriously, why don't you ask anything?
As if she had known all along that she was the Crown Prince. Simone had no way of knowing the identity of Louis, whose face was not yet known as the Crown Prince.
“Aren’t you curious about how you were able to enter the castle with such confidence?”
Only then did Simone, who had been walking steadily forward, turn her gaze to Louis.
“I thought you’d explain it to me. And I know for a fact that Wren is hiding his identity. It’s so suspicious.”
The ability to easily find a home in any area, whenever you want.
Moreover, he is always polite and uses words and speech that a noble would use.
As soon as he saw the necromancer Simone, he gave up his adventure and set out to lift the curse on her and the mansion.
A person who didn't seem particularly needy for money or passionate about adventure ended up becoming an adventurer and then an employee of Simone.
He is a person who does not yearn for his hometown and goes on adventures in various countries. He is particularly fond of the Luan Empire and its people and does not show any particular caution or fear when seeing any nobles, including the Grand Duke.
Except for one person, the Marquis of Barrington, who has close ties to the royal family.
Wouldn't anyone have suspected his identity at least once?
“You said earlier that you had something to say. Wasn’t it about Wren’s true identity?”
Only then did Louis realize.
Simone was not always calm because she knew his true identity.
She waited as calmly as possible for him to say something, thinking he would say something so that he could speak more comfortably.
She's not too surprised, and she'll listen to whatever he says.
'Oh my, should I have at least pretended to be surprised?'
Of course, Simone just pretended not to know and was unable to do it because she was clumsy.
Anyway.
Simone stopped walking.
Since the story has come this far, there is no need to go around in circles and prolong the conversation.
“Then tell me now. How did you get into the castle?”
Eyes wide open, without any emotion.
Louis's mouth closed as he met Simone's gaze.
Now she's given him a chance to speak properly, but when he tries to explain again, he's speechless.
Louis said as he walked back to the castle to relieve his tension.
“From now on, I will tell you only the truth. Even my true identity.”
Simone followed Louis.
“I am the Crown Prince of the Luan Empire.”
Louis glanced back at Simone, but she didn't respond at all and just nodded as if telling him to continue talking.
“The current imperial family is facing a serious problem. If it were to become known, it would shake the entire empire. And I have been disguising myself as a free-spirited adventurer to investigate the truth of this problem to solve it.”
“Crown Prince, our Louis, are you there...”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am here.”
Louis, with a tired expression, made his presence known and held the Emperor's hand, which was flailing about anxiously.
As he kept hiding his sadness, pain, anxiety, and tears, before he knew it, nothing was showing on his face.
A year has passed since the Emperor fell ill with an unknown illness.
The Emperor's illness became increasingly severe and he eventually reached a point where he could no longer handle state affairs.
“My son... My son...”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When I enter ‘Eternal Sleep,’ you will succeed me... and become the Holy Emperor... Do not try to rule over the people... and live for the people until the moment you die...”
"Your Majesty."
Louis tightened his grip on the Emperor's hand.
“Why do you say that? Please don’t do that.”
It was scary. For the first time in his life, Louis felt fear.
The death of the only person he trusted, followed, and loved.
That's when it feels like it's coming right in front of his nose and strangling him.
Why does his father speak like a will?
'I'm not ready yet.'
He was not even prepared to send off his beloved father, let alone inherit the throne.
When Louis refused to listen to him, the Emperor stopped talking and lifted his other hand with great effort to encircle Louis' hand.
Then, as if to comfort him, he patted him roughly without saying a word.
Soon, he relaxed his hands and closed his eyes.
“Ahh...I’m feeling sleepy again...”
Louis bowed his head deeply.
A disease that causes unbearable drowsiness.
It was a disease the Emperor was suffering from.
Simone nodded and followed him to the castle.
It had been quite some time since she had been with Louis, and she had naturally assumed that she would help with the affairs of the palace if asked, so she wasn't too shaken.
'Actually, I even know your real name.'
Louis, you don't know anything, so you'll probably be wondering how to say this until you get to the castle.
Since they weren't the type of people who would normally have a friendly conversation unless they had something to say, the long silence wasn't that awkward.
The two finally stood in front of the palace.
"Hmm..."
Simone groaned softly.
Is this the limit of distance that ordinary people can approach?
The distance to success was much farther than she thought.
The castle was already far away from the castle gate, so it was an ambiguous distance away and couldn't be seen.
If she looked from further away, shr would have seen the roof of the castle, but from here, all she can see is the beautiful garden that spreads out beyond the castle gate.
Simone frowned.
This is not enough.
Simone can't even see the castle, let alone feel the energy emanating from it.
Louis, unaware that she already had a handle on the situation, thought that the reason she was frowning was simply because her surname was not as visible as she had thought, and spoke softly.
“Can’t you see it well?”
“I can’t see it at all.”
“Yes, so in fact, not many of Rydel’s people have actually seen the castle properly. They say that they intentionally left the castle walls and the distance between them wide in all directions to prepare for any possible rebellion or assassination.”
“If it’s this far, I guess they’ll have to take a carriage even within the castle walls?”
“How did you know? The royal family and nobles enter the carriage through the carriage door. They hate to walk and sweat even a little.”
“You know it well, right?”
As Simone spoke with a glare, Louis smiled playfully and then bit his lip.
Then he spoke in a bitter voice, the corners of his lips awkwardly raised.
“Would you like to take a closer look?”
“I would like to look closer. I can’t see anything from here.”
She can't figure out anything.
Then Louis nodded and held out his hand as if to escort Simone.
“Then let’s go.”
Of course, it was a fabrication.
Simone slapped Louis' hand away without hiding her annoyed expression.
Is this guy joking even at this moment?
Louis took the lead, giggling as if he knew Simone would slap his hand away.
“Then follow me. I’ll show you closer.”
Louis took Simone to the gate and spoke to the soldiers in front of the gate.
“Open the door.”
The soldiers opened the gate as if they had been waiting.
It was a very natural process as if the person who was supposed to come had arrived.
“Come on in.”
Louis looked back at Simone, expecting her to be surprised, but instead of being surprised, Simone went inside as expected and looked around.
Then he said it displeasedly.
“The castle was built so far away to protect against assassination or rebellion, but its security isn’t particularly tight.”
Even if he is the Crown Prince, isn't it too naive to open the gates just by seeing his face?
Even though Louis is not alone and Simone is with him, it would be right to ask Simone about her identity before letting her in, even if Louis doesn't know.
“...Is that so?”
Louis answered sheepishly.
Why did they open the gate? How did they get into the castle?
Simone didn't ask a single question that she thought would come up naturally.
'Why?'
From Simone's perspective, the whole situation must be questionable, so why isn't she asking anything?
As if she already knew everything.
“It’s not that the castle’s security is lacking, but rather that everyone entering and exiting the castle has their own password. Even if you’re coming in the family’s carriage, you still have to give them the password to enter.”
Far from making security less robust, it has become more robust since that incident.
To others, it may seem like they just check your face and let you in, but in reality, you have to enter at least three passwords.
In Louis' case, the code was a hand signal, showing a specific pattern on the scabbard, and making eye contact with the guard for three seconds before blinking immediately.
“But you don’t seem to be curious about anything.”
Louis stopped. At this point, he was starting to feel a little wary.
Seriously, why don't you ask anything?
As if she had known all along that she was the Crown Prince. Simone had no way of knowing the identity of Louis, whose face was not yet known as the Crown Prince.
“Aren’t you curious about how you were able to enter the castle with such confidence?”
Only then did Simone, who had been walking steadily forward, turn her gaze to Louis.
“I thought you’d explain it to me. And I know for a fact that Wren is hiding his identity. It’s so suspicious.”
The ability to easily find a home in any area, whenever you want.
Moreover, he is always polite and uses words and speech that a noble would use.
As soon as he saw the necromancer Simone, he gave up his adventure and set out to lift the curse on her and the mansion.
A person who didn't seem particularly needy for money or passionate about adventure ended up becoming an adventurer and then an employee of Simone.
He is a person who does not yearn for his hometown and goes on adventures in various countries. He is particularly fond of the Luan Empire and its people and does not show any particular caution or fear when seeing any nobles, including the Grand Duke.
Except for one person, the Marquis of Barrington, who has close ties to the royal family.
Wouldn't anyone have suspected his identity at least once?
“You said earlier that you had something to say. Wasn’t it about Wren’s true identity?”
Only then did Louis realize.
Simone was not always calm because she knew his true identity.
She waited as calmly as possible for him to say something, thinking he would say something so that he could speak more comfortably.
She's not too surprised, and she'll listen to whatever he says.
'Oh my, should I have at least pretended to be surprised?'
Of course, Simone just pretended not to know and was unable to do it because she was clumsy.
Anyway.
Simone stopped walking.
Since the story has come this far, there is no need to go around in circles and prolong the conversation.
“Then tell me now. How did you get into the castle?”
Eyes wide open, without any emotion.
Louis's mouth closed as he met Simone's gaze.
Now she's given him a chance to speak properly, but when he tries to explain again, he's speechless.
Louis said as he walked back to the castle to relieve his tension.
“From now on, I will tell you only the truth. Even my true identity.”
Simone followed Louis.
“I am the Crown Prince of the Luan Empire.”
Louis glanced back at Simone, but she didn't respond at all and just nodded as if telling him to continue talking.
“The current imperial family is facing a serious problem. If it were to become known, it would shake the entire empire. And I have been disguising myself as a free-spirited adventurer to investigate the truth of this problem to solve it.”
***
“Crown Prince, our Louis, are you there...”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am here.”
Louis, with a tired expression, made his presence known and held the Emperor's hand, which was flailing about anxiously.
As he kept hiding his sadness, pain, anxiety, and tears, before he knew it, nothing was showing on his face.
A year has passed since the Emperor fell ill with an unknown illness.
The Emperor's illness became increasingly severe and he eventually reached a point where he could no longer handle state affairs.
“My son... My son...”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“When I enter ‘Eternal Sleep,’ you will succeed me... and become the Holy Emperor... Do not try to rule over the people... and live for the people until the moment you die...”
"Your Majesty."
Louis tightened his grip on the Emperor's hand.
“Why do you say that? Please don’t do that.”
It was scary. For the first time in his life, Louis felt fear.
The death of the only person he trusted, followed, and loved.
That's when it feels like it's coming right in front of his nose and strangling him.
Why does his father speak like a will?
'I'm not ready yet.'
He was not even prepared to send off his beloved father, let alone inherit the throne.
When Louis refused to listen to him, the Emperor stopped talking and lifted his other hand with great effort to encircle Louis' hand.
Then, as if to comfort him, he patted him roughly without saying a word.
Soon, he relaxed his hands and closed his eyes.
“Ahh...I’m feeling sleepy again...”
Louis bowed his head deeply.
A disease that causes unbearable drowsiness.
It was a disease the Emperor was suffering from.
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