The Third Prince was a little concerned that he wanted to talk 'again', but he ignored it as he had more urgent matters to attend to and left the Knights.
I returned straight to the palace where I was staying for a while and immediately prepared to go out.
Then, the maid who had gone to the knights' party with me asked with a puzzled look.
“You just got back, are you going out again?”
“Yes. I promised to have dinner with Count Martina.”
After sending the maid out for a moment, I was gathering up various things when a red light came out faintly from the pocket I always carried with me.
It was a pocket that contained the communication ring connected to Leo.
I moved as far away from doors and windows as possible and connected the communication.
"What's the matter?"
I didn't ask you to do anything other than relaying the message, so there's no reason for you to contact me like this?
"...Your Excellency the Duke."
"Yes."
"I have bad news and worse news... Which one would you like to hear first?"
The feeling of deja vu wasn't an illusion.
I had heard the same thing not long ago, and I had been hearing shocking news after shocking news, so I had a feeling of unease.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
"Should I say that I had an accident or not?..."
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me straight. What’s going on?”
"That's why I asked what you wanted to hear first."
You could have just said it, but I was a little annoyed because it felt like you were testing me.
I answered, pressing my furrowed brow.
“Then the bad news first.”
"I met His Highness the Fourth Prince in the border village."
"What?"
I was so surprised that I raised my voice without realizing it.
I quickly covered my mouth and looked at the door.
Fortunately, there was no response, perhaps because no one outside had heard.
“What did you just say?”
I asked in a quieter voice than before but with urgency.
“You met Lord Perdes in the border town?”
"Yes. Lord Perdes was there for some reason. He was even registered as a mercenary and was looking for work at the top."
Since the inspections were stricter due to the counterfeit gold coin incident, he tried to enter the empire by pretending to be a mercenary who had received a request from the upper class.
I thought he was just going along with what I said, but it turned out he was trying to come back secretly.
I'm telling you, he's really a pain in the ass.
...But wait a minute.
“Leo, why were you in the border town?”
He must be in Hepburn or somewhere near there?
“Could it be that you were also trying to disobey me and return to the Empire?”
"...I’m sorry, Your Excellency."
Leo did not make excuses but honestly admitted his mistakes.
I liked that, but that didn't make it any less of a mistake.
“I told you clearly not to return to the Empire for the time being.”
"That's because I was starting to get tired of foreign food and I wanted to go back to my hometown..."
“Your hometown isn’t the empire, is it?”
Leo kept his mouth shut as if he had nothing to say.
Seriously, it's the same for both of them: they don't listen.
A sigh rose from deep within me.
“So, is it bad news that you met Lord Perdes at the border?”
"No. That's a bit of bad news, the real bad news is that His Highness the 4th Prince has been hired as a mercenary by the Cosmos Alliance and has entered the Empire with them."
“...”
For a moment, my head started spinning and my vision became dizzy.
Not only was Perdes quicker than most people, he also knew what kind of place the upper part of Cosmos was like.
There was no way he could sit still and watch the top floor filled with slaves who couldn't even be him.
He must have felt something was strange and wanted to dig into it.
No way...?
“The worst news is that Lord Perdes noticed everything?”
"I don't think everyone noticed."
A voice with weight, unlike Leo's.
“Lord Logos?”
"It's been a while, Your Excellency."
“Why are you with Leo?”
"This man told me that the Duke had told him what you wanted and asked him to come with me."
"Ugh, what if I tell you the truth!"
Leo's voice was heard screaming faintly behind Logos' words.
Not only did he try to return to the Empire, he lied to get attached to the Cosmos.
“Leo.”
"I was wrong. It was all my fault. I was just curious... I'm sorry."
Leo's quick apology dampened my desire to get angry.
Besides, right now, solving Perdes' problem is more important than urging Leo, so I'll put that aside for the moment.
“So, does that mean that Lord Perdes noticed something?”
"I think so."
"Otherwise, there's no way he would have suddenly disappeared."
The former was said by the Logos, the latter by Leo.
“He disappeared?”
"Yes. He disappeared without a trace while we were taking a short break before Montu."
"Ha."
Not only did Perdes notice something, he even disappeared.
I returned straight to the palace where I was staying for a while and immediately prepared to go out.
Then, the maid who had gone to the knights' party with me asked with a puzzled look.
“You just got back, are you going out again?”
“Yes. I promised to have dinner with Count Martina.”
After sending the maid out for a moment, I was gathering up various things when a red light came out faintly from the pocket I always carried with me.
It was a pocket that contained the communication ring connected to Leo.
I moved as far away from doors and windows as possible and connected the communication.
"What's the matter?"
I didn't ask you to do anything other than relaying the message, so there's no reason for you to contact me like this?
"...Your Excellency the Duke."
"Yes."
"I have bad news and worse news... Which one would you like to hear first?"
The feeling of deja vu wasn't an illusion.
I had heard the same thing not long ago, and I had been hearing shocking news after shocking news, so I had a feeling of unease.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
"Should I say that I had an accident or not?..."
“Stop beating around the bush and tell me straight. What’s going on?”
"That's why I asked what you wanted to hear first."
You could have just said it, but I was a little annoyed because it felt like you were testing me.
I answered, pressing my furrowed brow.
“Then the bad news first.”
"I met His Highness the Fourth Prince in the border village."
"What?"
I was so surprised that I raised my voice without realizing it.
I quickly covered my mouth and looked at the door.
Fortunately, there was no response, perhaps because no one outside had heard.
“What did you just say?”
I asked in a quieter voice than before but with urgency.
“You met Lord Perdes in the border town?”
"Yes. Lord Perdes was there for some reason. He was even registered as a mercenary and was looking for work at the top."
Since the inspections were stricter due to the counterfeit gold coin incident, he tried to enter the empire by pretending to be a mercenary who had received a request from the upper class.
I thought he was just going along with what I said, but it turned out he was trying to come back secretly.
I'm telling you, he's really a pain in the ass.
...But wait a minute.
“Leo, why were you in the border town?”
He must be in Hepburn or somewhere near there?
“Could it be that you were also trying to disobey me and return to the Empire?”
"...I’m sorry, Your Excellency."
Leo did not make excuses but honestly admitted his mistakes.
I liked that, but that didn't make it any less of a mistake.
“I told you clearly not to return to the Empire for the time being.”
"That's because I was starting to get tired of foreign food and I wanted to go back to my hometown..."
“Your hometown isn’t the empire, is it?”
Leo kept his mouth shut as if he had nothing to say.
Seriously, it's the same for both of them: they don't listen.
A sigh rose from deep within me.
“So, is it bad news that you met Lord Perdes at the border?”
"No. That's a bit of bad news, the real bad news is that His Highness the 4th Prince has been hired as a mercenary by the Cosmos Alliance and has entered the Empire with them."
“...”
For a moment, my head started spinning and my vision became dizzy.
Not only was Perdes quicker than most people, he also knew what kind of place the upper part of Cosmos was like.
There was no way he could sit still and watch the top floor filled with slaves who couldn't even be him.
He must have felt something was strange and wanted to dig into it.
No way...?
“The worst news is that Lord Perdes noticed everything?”
"I don't think everyone noticed."
A voice with weight, unlike Leo's.
“Lord Logos?”
"It's been a while, Your Excellency."
“Why are you with Leo?”
"This man told me that the Duke had told him what you wanted and asked him to come with me."
"Ugh, what if I tell you the truth!"
Leo's voice was heard screaming faintly behind Logos' words.
Not only did he try to return to the Empire, he lied to get attached to the Cosmos.
“Leo.”
"I was wrong. It was all my fault. I was just curious... I'm sorry."
Leo's quick apology dampened my desire to get angry.
Besides, right now, solving Perdes' problem is more important than urging Leo, so I'll put that aside for the moment.
“So, does that mean that Lord Perdes noticed something?”
"I think so."
"Otherwise, there's no way he would have suddenly disappeared."
The former was said by the Logos, the latter by Leo.
“He disappeared?”
"Yes. He disappeared without a trace while we were taking a short break before Montu."
"Ha."
Not only did Perdes notice something, he even disappeared.
It was also troubling that the identities of Lord Perdes and Logos, whom they had tried to hide, had been revealed to each other.
If just one thing happens, it's a headache, but if they happen one after another, I don't know where to start.
"Don't worry, Your Excellency, Perdes will be fine."
Leo comforted me, probably thinking I was worried because I wasn't saying anything.
I'm not really worried.
“Have you ever found out where Lord Lerdes went?”
"Yes. We've been searching the area, but haven't found it."
“When did you find out he was gone?”
"It was 4 hours ago."
Four hours was enough time to go somewhere else.
"I'll keep looking in case something happens."
“No. Leave that to Leo and let Sir Logos move as planned.”
They've already spent 4 hours on this, and if they spend any more time on it, it's going to seriously affect my other plans.
Lord Logos immediately replied that he understood, but Leo looked embarrassed and said to me,
"Are you really leaving it up to me? It seems like it would be difficult for me to find Lord Perdes on my own..."
“No. I believe you can do it.”
"...Hahaha."
What is this stupid laughter?
Did I hear that wrong?
“Leo?”
"Oh, yes. I'm here. Trustworthy Leo is here."
“...”
"Ha."
I was speechless at Leo's outrageous behavior, and Lord Logos let out a deep sigh.
"Where on earth did you find a man like this?"
"What kind of man is this! What's wrong with me?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
“I wish you would cut off communication when fighting.”
I had to go out soon, and I couldn't communicate comfortably because I didn't know when the maids would barge in.
“Then do as I say, and Leo, contact me as soon as you find Lord Perdes.”
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Communication ended there.
I glanced at the tightly closed door and took out the ring I was wearing as a necklace.
It was a communication ring exchanged with Perdes.
If he disappeared after hearing the conversation with Logos, he probably wouldn't be answering my calls either, but I called just in case.
“As expected, he’s not accepting it.”
I had a hunch, but it was the expected result.
I could also guess why Perdes suddenly disappeared.
“You must want to stop me.”
Even if Perdes hadn't overheard Sir Logos' conversation, he would have figured out why I disguised the Cosmos top as a slave top and brought a large number of slaves into the empire.
“You can't stop me.”
By the time you get here, it will already be irreversible.
Knock knock.
“Your Majesty, the carriage is ready.”
“Go out now.”
***
I had expected that I wouldn't be able to go out alone, but as expected, I was accompanied by an escort.
He was clearly a guard knight, a sentinel on orders from the Emperor.
That means there's a high chance that he's a knight belonging to the Anatome Guard.
It was annoying to have to carry around the Emperor's loyal dogs, but since the Emperor had given them to me, I had no choice but to go with them to Countess Martina's residence.
“Welcome, Your Excellency the Duke.”
When I arrived at the Count's residence, the old butler greeted me warmly.
I glanced around the hall and asked the butler.
“Where is Count Martina?”
“A guest has arrived and they are chatting for a moment. His Grace has asked me to bring Your Excellency over as soon as you arrive, so I will show you to him.”
“Yes. You guys wait here.”
I left my loyal dogs behind and followed the old butler to his office.
Knock knock.
“His Excellency the Duke Leopold has arrived, my lord.”
“...”
“Please come in.”
Although there was no answer, the old butler spoke as if he had heard.
I also went inside without saying anything.
Count Martina's office was spacious, clean, and quiet.
It's natural for it to be quiet since there's no one else there but me.
The old butler said that Count Martina was in the mansion, but it was all a blatant lie.
Countess Martina was currently serving as host in my stead at the warehouse owned by Nicole Tesis, welcoming the northern nobles.
Even knowing that fact, I came here to get rid of the eyes that were watching me like loyal dogs waiting in the hall.
I opened the window, made sure there was no one outside and jumped over to the tree directly across from me.
I easily climbed over the high wall of the mansion and sneaked out of the Count's residence, then headed to the warehouse where Count Martina and other northern nobles were waiting.
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