Chapter 119
Chapter: 119
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 119
>Chapter Title: Butterfly (1)
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>"Here is the list of missing persons from the Heresy Tribunal, Your Highness."
Seongjin accepted the documents Dasha handed him and flipped through them one by one.
"Fewer than I expected."
"Yes. They say there were hardly any unidentified bodies compared to the scale of the incident."
Seongjin nodded as he reviewed the materials.
He had initially asked her to investigate Priest Hayes, but even after several days, the results were less than satisfactory.
He had come up from a rural backwater church with just a single letter of recommendation. And since he had been assigned to the Heresy Tribunal only toward the end of the purge of the Dark Church, no significant connections to its remnants could be found.
On top of that, Hayes was known as an extremely taciturn individual. He had hardly any personal friendships, let alone business interactions, and was thoroughly isolated even within the Heresy Tribunal.
'But it wasn't something one person could pull off alone...'
Considering Jonathan's case, at minimum, there was one heresy inquisitor, two guards who beat him, and one priest recording the testimony—four in cahoots.
And given that most of the prisoners in the underground dungeon were gray plague patients, it might not have been the work of just one or two teams.
That meant Hayes definitely had accomplices, or there was a separate group within the Heresy Tribunal unrelated to him.
'And since the plan went awry, they've probably already fled.'
With Cardinal Benitus fired up and hunting down the Dark Church, staying in the Heresy Tribunal would be suicidal.
That was why Seongjin focused on the list of missing persons.
"Wolfgang, junior priest; Clemens, junior priest; Inquisitor Fabian... Hmm."
After reviewing the list of nine missing individuals, Seongjin selected five and handed them to Dasha.
"Let's track these down first."
There was one missing inquisitor, plus four priests assigned around the time of the gray plague outbreak.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll get right on it."
"Sigh. I wonder if any of this will even matter..."
"Pardon?"
"...No, nothing. Just talking to myself."
Truth be told, his motivation for investigations had hit rock bottom lately.
The Holy Emperor and the twins probably knew the full story. Even Arenza likely had a grasp on the group's identities and scale.
But when he asked for information through Captain Bruno, Arenza's response was:
-The time has not yet come.
As a relatively new agent, Bruno could only guess that revealing information beyond a certain person's capacity triggered some kind of backlash, with consequences that were far from positive.
'So, run around and do what I can until then?'
No, with the answer right there beside me, what was the point of all this busywork?
As Seongjin grumbled inwardly, Dasha, who had gathered the documents and stood to leave, suddenly hesitated as if something caught her eye and turned back to him.
"Um, Your Highness. This is just my personal curiosity."
"Yeah?"
"You've been wearing that outfit a lot lately. Is that your style?"
"Oh, this?"
Seongjin tugged at the hem of his garment and asked.
"Don't you think it's a bit flashy, even to you, Dasha?"
Indeed, Seongjin was currently wearing Madam Justine's latest creation—a dazzling rainbow-hued garment adorned with vibrant tiger butterfly patterns.
"It's a bit much to look at, but surprisingly comfortable."
Excluding the ceremonial attire tailored for the birthday celebration period, this was probably the most recent outfit he'd had made.
Madam Justine's craftsmanship was excellent; despite all the elaborate decorations, it was the most comfortable and well-fitting among his clothes.
'Plus, I'm growing lately.'
Unfortunately, it had barely been made, and already signs of strain appeared at the ankles and cuffs.
So, with the resolve to at least get his money's worth, he wore it relentlessly around the Pearl Palace.
"What? You don't like it?"
"Oh, no! I was just asking because it seemed so forward-thinking in design."
Dasha backed away, sweating profusely.
"Just be honest, Dasha."
Seongjin gave her a warm smile.
"Like 'looks like a crazy Bretonsman' or 'a clown from Bertrand Street' or 'just add flowers to the head and it'd be a heretic's...'"
"...N-no! I'll report back as soon as there's progress on the investigation! Rest well, Your Highness!"
As Dasha fled the room, Seongjin tilted his head and examined his outfit closely.
'Does it really look that weird to you?'
[It's pretty avant-garde, isn't it?]
Even to Seongjin, a layman in design, the butterfly pattern felt overly modern somehow.
He'd heard Salon de Mersy had dedicated pattern designers, but who on earth came up with something like this?
* * *
"Wow! Did you guys hear? Archduke Sigismund stopped by our salon today!"
In the sewing room, lit as bright as midday even at the dead of night.
The staff at Salon de Mersy were gossiping energetically while tackling their backlog of all-nighters.
"He's as impressive as the rumors say. His aura is just different from ordinary people."
"How does the house wolf crest suit him so perfectly?"
"Being escorted by someone like that... I'm so jealous. I wish I could be Isabella Scarzapino for even one day!"
At that, a young woman who had been quietly listening to their chatter let out a low laugh.
"Hehe. You girls have nothing to envy."
"Iseo, aren't you jealous?"
"Nope, not at all."
The girl called Iseo set down the pattern she was working on and looked up.
She had rare black hair in Delcross and deep brown eyes—an exotic beauty.
"Unfortunately, the Scarzapino lady won't get her chance. She's positioned as the jealous villainess."
"Jealous... what?"
The staff stared at her in confusion.
Seo Iseo. She was a new hire at Salon de Mersy just recently.
She said she hadn't been settled in the imperial capital long, and occasionally she said things that were hard to grasp with Delcross common sense. The staff usually brushed it off as hometown humor.
"Above all, she's not the archduke's type."
"...How would you know Archduke Sigismund's ideal type?"
"Yeah, she's one of the top beauties in the capital."
To the staff's sharp, incredulous questions, Seo Iseo smiled leisurely and replied.
"People like that always have a fixed type. Pure and kind-hearted, but with a spark of unexpected playfulness."
"...Spark? How do you do that?"
"Hmm, well? Tripping in front of him at an unexpected moment, or spilling tea."
"Ehhh?"
"Or getting teary-eyed from drunken antics, or suddenly slapping his cheek?"
The staff, who had perked up hoping for useful info, deflated with disappointment.
What was that? Slapping the archduke out of nowhere?
He was the continent's most promising swordsman and a northern grand noble. It'd be a miracle if her head didn't roll right there.
"Kekeke. Iseo says the weirdest things sometimes."
The staff burst into laughter as if hearing a silly joke, then picked up their sewing again.
"Remember last time during the Triumph? She said something about Prince Logan having a handsome face but no character to match."
"What? For real?"
"Hmph. Personal taste. Respect it."
Seo Iseo replied curtly and buried her nose back in her pattern.
"So Iseo prefers someone like Archduke Sigismund? The cold, bad-boy type."
"Who knows? He did look pretty cool today. But I was a bit surprised the cold northern archduke doesn't have black hair."
"......?"
What did northern archduke and black hair have to do with each other?
As the staff blinked in bewilderment, Seo Iseo suddenly smirked as if struck by a thought.
"More than that, I was shocked seeing Prince Mores today. Reading about him in descriptions is one thing, but seeing him in person is totally different. Visually, he might be more my type? My subby fever's acting up again."
"Whaaat?"
The staff froze mid-stitch and stared at her.
Is she in her right mind?
"You do know what kind of person Prince Mores is, right?"
"Well... isn't a guy with bad-boy charm different from a total wastrel?"
She hasn't been in Delcross long, so she doesn't know the full story!
The staff shot her sympathetic looks.
"Hehe, who knows."
Unfazed, Iseo resumed sketching her pattern.
"He acts like a playboy on the outside, but deep down, he might have big scars from childhood. So in the end, he'll be drawn to a woman who truly understands his pain."
"...Scars deep down?"
The baffled staff exchanged glances.
Her nonsense is getting more elaborate each time?
"Oh no! This could ruin the character. My mouth got away from me."
"......?"
"Well, talking about it now won't change anything."
After finishing another butterfly wing, she added with a confident smile.
"Anyway, once the birthday celebration ends, you'll all find out soon enough."
* * *
Emerald Palace.
This lavish annex where Second Empress Consort Melody resided was a beautiful palace with expansive verdant gardens and a small glass greenhouse.
Finally back at the imperial palace after so long, Sisle spent the entire morning lounging on the couch in the greenhouse.
"Hey, Sisle."
Melody gently stroked her daughter's silver hair and chided her softly.
"I'm glad you're spending time with me after so long, but shouldn't you get ready soon? Your audience with His Majesty is coming up."
But Sisle, face buried in the pillow with eyes closed, didn't budge.
"It's not just today, right? I can push it back."
"But dear, you've been away from the palace too long. His Majesty might feel neglected at this rare audience."
"I already greeted him right when I got back. He's been busy with envoys and such lately anyway. Seeing his face should be enough."
Faced with Sisle's utter stubbornness, Melody finally gave up persuading her and let out a small sigh.
"Children grow up so fast, you never know when. It feels like yesterday you were clinging to His Majesty's robes all day."
"......"
"You know, Sisle? When you were little, you didn't even try to walk on your own. You always insisted on being held by Father. Every time he went into council meetings, we had to pry you off—poor man was sweating bullets."
Lying still and accepting Melody's touch, Sisle slowly blinked.
Her childhood memories were always similar scenes.
The pale gleam of robes under sunlight, her toddling after them.
And the Holy Emperor occasionally turning back to check on her.
If only she could return to those days...
"Your Imperial Consort, Your Highness."
Just then, a servant approached swiftly, bowed, and spoke.
"A letter from the southern front."
He politely offered Sisle a small tray with a white envelope.
Melody brightened and asked.
"Oh? From Prince Owen again?"
"Yes, it's personally addressed to Her Highness."
Sisle sat up on the couch and opened the letter with mild pleasure.
-To Sisle.
I heard you've embarked on a long inspection tour. With the birthday celebration approaching, you might already be back at the palace by now.
Sadly, I won't make it back for this birthday either. The southern front is stable, but the atmosphere here is still a bit unsettled for me to leave.
We've just begun exchanges with the Volanta tribe. Chief Chikutaruku seems quite dignified and wise, so I expect good relations ahead.
However, the other nearby chiefs aren't as welcoming, so conflict could erupt anytime.
It's not much in exchange, but I'll send gifts to Father and you soon.
P.S. Always take care. Don't forget to consult Father if anything happens.
Melody, peeking over at the letter, smiled softly.
"How thoughtful of him to care for you so devotedly. We're truly grateful."
But Sisle's face, having read it through, was utterly dark.
Brother Owen, do you know?
I'm sometimes really scared of His Majesty.