“I came here to interrogate the criminal, not to chat with the concubine.”
At Linel’s serious tone, Yulina finally showed her guilty expression.
He continued to ask questions about last night, and Yulina answered sincerely.
She looked nervous, but at the same time, perhaps because it was her first time speaking with him up close, a hint of excitement flashed across her face.
But he remained calm throughout. He only asked questions necessary for the case and about Roxana’s visit last night.
Raphael diligently wrote down Yulina’s statement beside her.
“Even when you arrive in the Pasha Empire, you will not be able to attend Prince Calvain’s coronation as my concubine. Of course, you will not be able to enjoy the celebratory banquet either.”
After the interrogation, Linel took my hand, stood up, and said to Yulina,
“Yes... I understand.”
“And as soon as we return to the Lapion Empire, the trial will begin. Keep the emergency medicine Roxana gave you safe. It’s the evidence that will save your life.”
“I’ll keep it in mind!”
Yulina quickly nodded, understanding his meaning.
After sending Roxana away, Hetor met with Palto.
“The plan has changed to tonight.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, they say it’s to finish everything before arriving at the Pasha Empire, but I don’t know. Maybe something else has come up.”
Whatever the reason, as long as Emperor Linel was notified of the change in time in advance, it wouldn’t matter.
“In three hours. Exactly three hours later, release the Galaco and throw the bait in this direction.”
He relayed Emperor Adrian’s instructions to Palto.
“Yes, should we keep our ships waiting nearby?”
“Of course. We have to clean up after this.”
“Your Majesty, you’ve made up your mind, right?”
Palto asked the same question for the third time.
He's heard that he'd been addicted to the obedience potion and had recently been cured, but out of concern, he kept asking. He's always felt frustrated and incomprehensible, feeling like his master was being used like a fool, but he never expected there to be such a story behind it.
"That's right. And I'm sorry,"
Hetor apologized sincerely.
Palto was the only subordinate who had trusted and followed Hetor's every absurd decision.
Of course, he had consistently offered advice, but in the end, he had accepted Hetor's decision.
"That time... at the monastery. I remember how I beheaded all the subordinates who tried to stop me, and it makes me sad."
Hetor said with a pained expression.
"It wasn't your fault, was it? The King became very strange after seeing Empress Roxana at that monastery, but no one would have guessed that you were addicted to something like the obedience potion. It was something I never would have dared to imagine."
Palto consoled him, saying it was inevitable. He added that he should be grateful that he was finally free from Roxana and returned to his original role as the King.
“But Your Majesty, why not just turn it all upside down? Do you really need to release Galaco?”
“There will be some sacrifices, but this will allow us to hold Roxana accountable. That’s why Emperor Linel will let Galaco go.”
“Of course, we need evidence to hold her accountable.”
Palto nodded in agreement.
“Besides, we can deal with Emperor Adrian, who’s after Her Highness Zelda. I also owe Roxana a debt, so it’s not a bad choice for both of us.”
“Yes, it would be very dangerous, though.”
Palto snickered before asking curiously.
“Is Her Highness Zelda really... a Wyvern Lord?”
Hetor simply nodded, not revealing the details.
“Then, shouldn’t he call the Wyverns? Even if only one of the Galacos’ heads remains, wouldn’t the number of knights on board the ship be too much to deal with Galaco?”
“I will also discuss that with you. But since the plan has been brought forward, we must first inform you of this.”
"Yes, have a good day."
"Yes, and don't forget to fire the signal flare, even if I don't tell you otherwise. It's in three hours."
"Of course, don't worry."
Hetor parted ways with Palto and headed toward the place where he had arranged to meet with Linel.
The conference room, known only to the Emperor's inner circle, was an empty room at the end of the lounge, one floor below.
Hetor hurried down the stairs when a shadow fell behind him.
Sensing a presence from the moment he turned down the hallway, he quickly turned and snapped the arm of the person following him.
"Ugh...ugh!"
“What the hell is this guy?”
Linel and I left Yulina’s room and headed to the lounge to hear the statements of Catherine and Count Ethan, the first witnesses to this incident.
As we entered, the two people sitting in the chairs simultaneously rose and bowed to him.
Catherine and Count Ethan seemed like a well-matched couple.
The testimony went much more smoothly than Yulina’s.
The two spoke candidly about how they had seen Pecilini and Yulina the night before.
Suddenly, I noticed that Catherine’s sharp gaze had changed significantly.
It seemed like her eyes always had a hard look when she looked at me, but I hadn’t seen that look in her eyes for some time.
“...That’s all I told you, Your Majesty.”
Catherine finished her statement with a relieved expression.
“I will gladly accept the crime of deceiving Your Majesty.”
Count Ethan immediately bowed his head and said, seeming to be referring to his meeting with Catherine in the warehouse the night before.
Linel didn't look deceived at all, but he stared intently at Count Ethan. His eyes seemed to wander at what nonsense Count Ethan was talking about.
"I will willingly accept my punishment. However, I have a request, Your Majesty,"
Catherine said in a rather firm voice.
"What request?"
"Yes. Since I have neglected the dignity that a concubine should have, I request that you strip me of my position as concubine."
"I will also resign from my position as head of the palace blacksmith shop. In exchange..."
The two immediately offered their positions.
"What do you have?"
"Give me Her Highness Catherine."
At Linel’s serious tone, Yulina finally showed her guilty expression.
He continued to ask questions about last night, and Yulina answered sincerely.
She looked nervous, but at the same time, perhaps because it was her first time speaking with him up close, a hint of excitement flashed across her face.
But he remained calm throughout. He only asked questions necessary for the case and about Roxana’s visit last night.
Raphael diligently wrote down Yulina’s statement beside her.
“Even when you arrive in the Pasha Empire, you will not be able to attend Prince Calvain’s coronation as my concubine. Of course, you will not be able to enjoy the celebratory banquet either.”
After the interrogation, Linel took my hand, stood up, and said to Yulina,
“Yes... I understand.”
“And as soon as we return to the Lapion Empire, the trial will begin. Keep the emergency medicine Roxana gave you safe. It’s the evidence that will save your life.”
“I’ll keep it in mind!”
Yulina quickly nodded, understanding his meaning.
***
After sending Roxana away, Hetor met with Palto.
“The plan has changed to tonight.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“Well, they say it’s to finish everything before arriving at the Pasha Empire, but I don’t know. Maybe something else has come up.”
Whatever the reason, as long as Emperor Linel was notified of the change in time in advance, it wouldn’t matter.
“In three hours. Exactly three hours later, release the Galaco and throw the bait in this direction.”
He relayed Emperor Adrian’s instructions to Palto.
“Yes, should we keep our ships waiting nearby?”
“Of course. We have to clean up after this.”
“Your Majesty, you’ve made up your mind, right?”
Palto asked the same question for the third time.
He's heard that he'd been addicted to the obedience potion and had recently been cured, but out of concern, he kept asking. He's always felt frustrated and incomprehensible, feeling like his master was being used like a fool, but he never expected there to be such a story behind it.
"That's right. And I'm sorry,"
Hetor apologized sincerely.
Palto was the only subordinate who had trusted and followed Hetor's every absurd decision.
Of course, he had consistently offered advice, but in the end, he had accepted Hetor's decision.
"That time... at the monastery. I remember how I beheaded all the subordinates who tried to stop me, and it makes me sad."
Hetor said with a pained expression.
"It wasn't your fault, was it? The King became very strange after seeing Empress Roxana at that monastery, but no one would have guessed that you were addicted to something like the obedience potion. It was something I never would have dared to imagine."
Palto consoled him, saying it was inevitable. He added that he should be grateful that he was finally free from Roxana and returned to his original role as the King.
“But Your Majesty, why not just turn it all upside down? Do you really need to release Galaco?”
“There will be some sacrifices, but this will allow us to hold Roxana accountable. That’s why Emperor Linel will let Galaco go.”
“Of course, we need evidence to hold her accountable.”
Palto nodded in agreement.
“Besides, we can deal with Emperor Adrian, who’s after Her Highness Zelda. I also owe Roxana a debt, so it’s not a bad choice for both of us.”
“Yes, it would be very dangerous, though.”
Palto snickered before asking curiously.
“Is Her Highness Zelda really... a Wyvern Lord?”
Hetor simply nodded, not revealing the details.
“Then, shouldn’t he call the Wyverns? Even if only one of the Galacos’ heads remains, wouldn’t the number of knights on board the ship be too much to deal with Galaco?”
“I will also discuss that with you. But since the plan has been brought forward, we must first inform you of this.”
"Yes, have a good day."
"Yes, and don't forget to fire the signal flare, even if I don't tell you otherwise. It's in three hours."
"Of course, don't worry."
Hetor parted ways with Palto and headed toward the place where he had arranged to meet with Linel.
The conference room, known only to the Emperor's inner circle, was an empty room at the end of the lounge, one floor below.
Hetor hurried down the stairs when a shadow fell behind him.
Sensing a presence from the moment he turned down the hallway, he quickly turned and snapped the arm of the person following him.
"Ugh...ugh!"
“What the hell is this guy?”
***
Linel and I left Yulina’s room and headed to the lounge to hear the statements of Catherine and Count Ethan, the first witnesses to this incident.
As we entered, the two people sitting in the chairs simultaneously rose and bowed to him.
Catherine and Count Ethan seemed like a well-matched couple.
The testimony went much more smoothly than Yulina’s.
The two spoke candidly about how they had seen Pecilini and Yulina the night before.
Suddenly, I noticed that Catherine’s sharp gaze had changed significantly.
It seemed like her eyes always had a hard look when she looked at me, but I hadn’t seen that look in her eyes for some time.
“...That’s all I told you, Your Majesty.”
Catherine finished her statement with a relieved expression.
“I will gladly accept the crime of deceiving Your Majesty.”
Count Ethan immediately bowed his head and said, seeming to be referring to his meeting with Catherine in the warehouse the night before.
Linel didn't look deceived at all, but he stared intently at Count Ethan. His eyes seemed to wander at what nonsense Count Ethan was talking about.
"I will willingly accept my punishment. However, I have a request, Your Majesty,"
Catherine said in a rather firm voice.
"What request?"
"Yes. Since I have neglected the dignity that a concubine should have, I request that you strip me of my position as concubine."
"I will also resign from my position as head of the palace blacksmith shop. In exchange..."
The two immediately offered their positions.
"What do you have?"
"Give me Her Highness Catherine."
"!"
"!"
Linel and I gasped simultaneously, our eyes locking.
"Permission!"
Count Ethan knelt down on the floor with a thud, as if he had come to ask his father-in-law for his permission to marry.
"Your Majesty, you have already given Rosie permission to marry Prince Norton!"
Catherine also knelt beside Count Ethan and pleaded.
Her expression was filled with confidence that her request wouldn't be difficult.
She had such a spirit.
It was a sight too good to be kept to myself.
My mouth itched to tell Catherine that, following Rosie, Melanie was also planning to marry Hetor, the Pirate King of Tanya Island.
"The concubines... did they do it together?"
Linel muttered, looking down at the two kneeling figures.
"Thank you."
The words that followed were so quiet that only I could hear them.
There was even a hint of laughter.
"Ahhhh, I-I'm sent by Emperor Adrian!"
Hetor released his arm at the knight's shout.
"What's going on?"
"There's a change in the plans, and they want you to see them immediately."
"What change?"
"I don't know about that. I was just ordered to bring you here."
The knight continued to fiddle with his arm, his face sullen, as if the pain from Hetor's grip was still there.
“Has the plan changed again to tomorrow?”
If so, he had to revoke his order to Palto.
“The time remains the same.”
“Really? Hmm, is he in the cabin?”
“No. He wishes to meet you elsewhere, as there might be eyes watching. Please follow me.”
The knight guided Hetor down the stairs, mostly frequented by sailors and servants, avoiding those used by the celebratory delegation. Hetor followed silently behind the knight, taking out his pocket watch and checking the time.
He felt he might be a little late for his appointment with Linel.
However, it was better to meet with Emperor Adrian first, confirm the change, and then report it to him at once.
“This is it.”
The knight descended to the lowest level of the ship, stood in front of a corner cabin, opened the door, and entered first.
It was the place where provisions were stored.
Hetor looked around the hallway and followed the knight in.
He remained alert, fearing a possible trap, but Emperor Adrian was indeed there.
Hetor put away the sword he had been about to draw from his belt.
"You're here. I thought it wouldn't be good to stand out to the other guests, so I called you here. Come and sit down."
Emperor Adrian tapped the table and pointed to the chair in front of him.
"I heard there's been a change in plans. What is it?"
Hetor asked, walking over to Emperor Adrian.
The moment he lifted his foot, a dull club struck the back of Hetor's head with a loud thud.
"Ugh!"
Linel and I gasped simultaneously, our eyes locking.
"Permission!"
Count Ethan knelt down on the floor with a thud, as if he had come to ask his father-in-law for his permission to marry.
"Your Majesty, you have already given Rosie permission to marry Prince Norton!"
Catherine also knelt beside Count Ethan and pleaded.
Her expression was filled with confidence that her request wouldn't be difficult.
She had such a spirit.
It was a sight too good to be kept to myself.
My mouth itched to tell Catherine that, following Rosie, Melanie was also planning to marry Hetor, the Pirate King of Tanya Island.
"The concubines... did they do it together?"
Linel muttered, looking down at the two kneeling figures.
"Thank you."
The words that followed were so quiet that only I could hear them.
There was even a hint of laughter.
***
"Ahhhh, I-I'm sent by Emperor Adrian!"
Hetor released his arm at the knight's shout.
"What's going on?"
"There's a change in the plans, and they want you to see them immediately."
"What change?"
"I don't know about that. I was just ordered to bring you here."
The knight continued to fiddle with his arm, his face sullen, as if the pain from Hetor's grip was still there.
“Has the plan changed again to tomorrow?”
If so, he had to revoke his order to Palto.
“The time remains the same.”
“Really? Hmm, is he in the cabin?”
“No. He wishes to meet you elsewhere, as there might be eyes watching. Please follow me.”
The knight guided Hetor down the stairs, mostly frequented by sailors and servants, avoiding those used by the celebratory delegation. Hetor followed silently behind the knight, taking out his pocket watch and checking the time.
He felt he might be a little late for his appointment with Linel.
However, it was better to meet with Emperor Adrian first, confirm the change, and then report it to him at once.
“This is it.”
The knight descended to the lowest level of the ship, stood in front of a corner cabin, opened the door, and entered first.
It was the place where provisions were stored.
Hetor looked around the hallway and followed the knight in.
He remained alert, fearing a possible trap, but Emperor Adrian was indeed there.
Hetor put away the sword he had been about to draw from his belt.
"You're here. I thought it wouldn't be good to stand out to the other guests, so I called you here. Come and sit down."
Emperor Adrian tapped the table and pointed to the chair in front of him.
"I heard there's been a change in plans. What is it?"
Hetor asked, walking over to Emperor Adrian.
The moment he lifted his foot, a dull club struck the back of Hetor's head with a loud thud.
"Ugh!"
As Hetor staggered, two knights grabbed his arms, and another covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief soaked in anesthetic. Hetor's body, struggling, held on for several minutes before slumping.
"Empress Roxana's request to eliminate you... was a matter of change,"
Emperor Adrian belatedly replied, looking at Hetor on the floor. He looked back at the knight and asked,
"You confirmed that Hetor gave the order to his adjutant, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. He ordered the carrier pigeon and signal flares to be fired in exactly three hours."
"Good. All preparations are complete."
Emperor Adrian chuckled with relief. Before Bellos realized who he was, or even if he had, he had nothing to fear. In a few hours, they would all be crushed beneath his feet, bleeding.
The knight, whose arm had been broken by Hetor earlier, took this opportunity to trample on Hetor's arm as he fell to the ground.
"Stop it,"
Emperor Adrian waved at his subordinate with an annoyed expression.
"Your Majesty, I thought my arm was broken because of this guy!"
The knight, unable to contain his anger, even trampled Hetor's hand with his shoe.
"Revenge is best when you're awake. What fun is there in tormenting a passed-out man? Stop it and tie him to a chair."
Emperor Adrian pointed to the chair in front of him and gave instructions.
"Tie him up? Not kill him?"
"Yes."
"But didn't Empress Roxana tell you to kill him immediately?"
The knight asked cautiously.
"After this is over, we'll use him as bait to strike another deal with Empress Roxana. He won't wake up for a few hours, but he's no ordinary man, so tie him up tightly."
"Yes, Your Majesty. But, if Empress Roxana asks, what will we say..."
"Tell her I killed him."
Emperor Adrian replied as he left the pantry. Even after tonight's plan succeeded, it wasn't a bad thing to still have Roxana's weakness. The knights playfully hit the unconscious Hetor a few more times before following Emperor Adrian out. The pantry door was locked with chains.
An hour ago, the kitchen servants had come down here and taken all the dinner ingredients, so no one would come down here again tonight. But an hour later, someone was wandering in and out of the pantry without warning.
"Meow-? (Isn't that Melanie's escort knight-?")
It was Aoshi. As soon as he entered the pantry, he waggled his tail and paced around, his mouth full of the jerky he'd hidden that morning. The pantry door was always locked, but that didn't bother Aoshi. There was a separate passageway that he's used anyway. It seemed like a hole dug by rats over the years, but Aoshi was using it to his advantage.
Who was this? Aoshi found Hetor in the corner of the pantry.
“Meow? (Why are you sleeping here? You even tied a rope around it to keep from falling?)”
Aoshi started to tear into the jerky and started to debate whether or not he should go to Roxana and tell her, “Your escort knight is dozing off in the pantry.”
“Meow? (But he’s Melanie’s escort knight right now, right?”)”
Wait, should I tell Melanie? What should I do?
If Moiya and Moni were here, they would have told her clearly, but the two flew into the Valley of Death as soon as the congratulatory delegation boarded the ship. They grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, demanding to come with them, but thanks to Aoshi’s stubborn talons, he was able to escape the two wyverns.
Life on the ship without Moiya and Moni was comfortable. Being able to sneak into the pantry alone and eat jerky to his heart’s content was sweet. This was a place where he could just sit and play without realizing how much time passed, as there were many sacks of gunpowder to climb over and make holes in, but he felt bad when he saw a familiar face. And it was the guy who had been following Roxana around!
“Meow. (He, let’s just go.)”
I’ll figure it out when he wakes up.
As Aoshi was about to go back the way he came, Hetor muttered something as if he was dreaming. Aoshi spat out the jerky he was biting and jumped up on the table.
“Meow? (Are you sleep-talking? What are you saying?)”
He approached Hetor, who had passed out with his head down, and cried while licking his face.
“Melanie...”
Hetor called her name between his teeth.
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