Hesitating to approach, he stood idly in front of the door when Barcas, having placed the ledger on the desk, looked up at him.
“What’s going on?”
It was a calm expression that contrasted with his gaunt complexion.
For a moment, Edric felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity, but he soon shook it off and strode toward the desk.
Although he was getting noticeably thinner, the man was holding up relatively well.
Not only has he been perfectly carrying out all his duties as Grand Duke without a single flaw since immediately after her funeral, but hasn't he also recently launched an investigation into the forces behind the support of the Zrams people?
Gathering the Zrams people scattered across the East and transforming them into a massive armed force was an impossible task for the Heimdall clan alone. Convinced of external intervention, Barcas mobilized the Sheerkhan clan's intelligence network to the fullest extent and began to thoroughly investigate the inner workings of the situation. Not even the sudden death of his wife could break his impenetrable rationality.
Feeling a bitter taste in his mouth, Edric took out the bundle of parchment he had kept in his bosom and placed it on the desk.
"This is a report sent by the informants dispatched to Balbon. It appears that Balbon's central order is trying to cut ties by shifting all responsibility for this incident onto a high priest named Alwon."
Barcas picked up the report and slowly scanned it.
Bjorn was able to disguise himself as a member of the Templar Guardians because the Central Order had vouched for his identity. They thoroughly examined the identity badge the man submitted, the dispatch certificate bearing the Central Order's seal, and even the letter of appointment stamped with the Templar Guardians' coat of arms, but found nothing forged.
This meant that there was a high priest belonging to the central order who was colluding with the rebellious forces. However, the Pope seemed to intend to smooth over the situation by merely excommunicating a few high-ranking clergy who had directly signed the official documents.
"It seems even the Imperial Family has no intention of launching a full-scale investigation. It seems likely that some sort of secret agreement was exchanged between His Majesty the Emperor and His Holiness the Pope."
"What is the basis for that judgment?"
"According to the information I have obtained, the investigation was concluded immediately after the two held a secret private meeting. Given the circumstances, it appears that the Imperial Family also agreed to cover up the matter at an appropriate level."
Barcas turned the last page of the report and looked down at the candle on the desk with a pensive gaze.
With every flicker of the light, the shadows cast over his face deepened and faded repeatedly.
The man, who had been pressing his brows as if his vision had suddenly blurred, opened his mouth after a long while.
"I will soon send a letter of protest to the central denomination demanding a satisfactory explanation. You must continue to keep a close eye on developments in the capital."
"All right."
Edric bowed his head respectfully and slowly turned his body.
Just as he was about to walk out the door, he was swept up in an inexplicable impulse and blurted out a question.
"Is Your Excellency alright?"
When he took out the new official document, the man looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Why are you suddenly asking that?"
Edric felt himself speechless for a moment at the look on the face that seemed to say he did not understand the intent of the question.
He said hesitantly.
"The thing is... You didn't look well..."
"Given the circumstances, I can't deny that I am physically and mentally exhausted."
The man, who had replied nonchalantly, scribbled his signature on the parchment document and added in a calm tone
"Still, since the post-war recovery is back on track, we should be able to catch our breath sooner or later."
Edric frowned at the somewhat off-focus answer.
Barcas opened the new papers and spat out indifferently.
"You keep up the good work until then, too."
Then, he lightly waved one hand as if to say, 'Go ahead and leave.'
Just as Edric, feeling a sense of unease at his strangely indifferent demeanor, was about to say something, the sound of urgent footsteps and knocking on the door was heard. Barcas raised his head again and looked toward the door.
"What?"
"It is Daren. Your Excellency. I have an urgent matter to report."
Barcas, furrowing his brow, put down the document and leaned back against the chair.
“Come in”
No sooner had he given his permission than the door burst open and a burly man strode into the room. Edric quickly stepped aside.
The man approached Barcas straight without even glancing at him.
"It is said that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived in Kalmor leading the Royal Guard."
Edric, who was about to quietly step aside, paused and looked back at him.
The man continued speaking heavily.
"I heard he has come to support the recovery of the damage in the East and help restore public order... What should I do?"
Barcas, who had been rubbing his temples as if tired, rose with a heavy sigh.
"We can't just turn the Crown Prince of the Empire away at the door. We have no choice but to welcome him with courtesy."
Then, he picked up the coat hanging on the wall, put it on, and stepped out into the hallway with a disciplined gait.
Edric, who had been standing rooted to the spot and staring at his retreating figure, soon turned and stepped toward the stairs at the end of the hallway.
He was already out of the Crown Prince's favor for siding with Thalia Roem Guirta back when he was a Royal Guard Knight. On top of that, having quit the Imperial Knights and entered the Grand Ducal family, he must have truly earned the Crown Prince's displeasure. It would be best for him to stay out of the Crown Prince's sight as much as possible.
He pulled his hood down over his head and quietly slipped out of the main palace. Then, he climbed onto the watchtower connected to the inner wall and approached the battlements.
Not long after, he was able to spot the Crown Prince entering through the main castle entrance.
As always, he was majestically crossing the training grounds, mounted on a golden horse and accompanied by hundreds of royal guards. He looked so confident that it was hard to believe he was the same person who had plunged the empire into crisis with his reckless actions.
Edric, who had been letting out a laugh of disbelief, froze after seeing the face of the woman following him on horseback.
He could easily recognize her identity even from a considerable distance.
Ayla Roem Guirta.
She was a woman who had now become the Empire's one and only Princess.
With the help of the knights, the woman dismounted from her horse, stood side by side with her twin brother, and passed through the inner gate with an elegant and dignified gait.
Edric, who was watching the scene of hundreds of retainers lined up in front of the castle to welcome guests and bowing in unison toward them, felt something welling up inside him and turned around abruptly.
He felt nauseated by the Crown Prince's obvious ulterior motive of visiting with the Princess less than a month after the Grand Duchess had passed away.
Suppressing his disillusionment, he strode along the city wall until he stopped abruptly in front of the railing overlooking the chapel.
He saw two tombstones standing side by side on one side of the cemetery, where green grass grew thick. Suddenly feeling a tightness in his chest, he closed his eyes.
As he thought of the short life of a woman who had lived her entire life in coldness and isolation, a strange sense of powerlessness weighed down on his whole body.
Taking a deep breath as if to shake off the emotion, Edric soon turned his back on the cemetery and walked away.
***
"Long time no see."
He looked down at the woman smiling elegantly with an expressionless face.
Although she was feigning composure, it was not difficult to notice that she was extremely nervous. The woman, holding her head high as if to hide her anxiety and pulling up the corners of her mouth, continued speaking in a warm tone.
"Seeing you safe and sound like this finally puts my mind at ease. You have no idea how worried I was when I heard the news that you were injured during the war."
"...What brings you here?"
The woman's face stiffened faintly for a moment at the question she had carelessly spat out.
Gareth, stepping forward as if to shield his sister, spoke in a tense tone.
"We have come representing the Imperial Household. It is His Majesty's order to convey condolences regarding the various tragic events that occurred in the East and to lend our support to the Grand Ducal House of Sheerkhan."
"..."
"If only to repay the hard work you have poured into the Empire, the Imperial Family intends to spare no assistance in the reconstruction of Kalmor."
The Crown Prince took out a personal letter bearing the Emperor's seal from inside a doublet adorned with elaborate embroidery and held it out.
Barcas took it, peeled off the wax seal, and quickly scanned the text written on the parchment. Just as Gareth had said, a brief message of condolence regarding the tragedy in the East was neatly arranged along with phrases promising massive financial aid.
He rolled the parchment up again, handed it to the scribe, and turned away with an indifferent attitude.
"I understand His Majesty's intentions. Please come inside for now."
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