Chapter 224
Chapter 224
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: Ransacking Vernus Palace
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"Search every nook and cranny!"
"Yes!!"
Armed knights bustled in and out of Vernus Palace. Unlike the Royal Knights who had insisted on preserving the scene, the duke's private soldiers were literally turning the palace upside down.
The servants, tense from the arrival of the intimidating soldiers, fidgeted restlessly, unable to do anything.
Ivon whispered awkwardly to Jane, his close friend standing beside him.
"...Jane, did His Highness really go missing?"
"Y-yesterday, he, he disappeared, and y-you're only a-asking now?"
"No, I thought the young master just went out and vanished... I figured he took him along."
Besides, until yesterday, hadn't the Knight Captain been hush-hush about the young master's traces?
"Th-the e-eldest b-brother, n-no, S-Sir E-Evan was th-there, s-so there's no w-way he'd leave without him."
"But everyone thinks Nil the young master kidnapped His Highness. If the young master took him, isn't that fine?"
"D-did the y-young m-master t-take him?"
"That's what they're saying."
"...Th-then, d-did they g-go on a f-field trip for l-learning?"
The two fell into thought for a moment. Then they asked simultaneously.
"...Is this really happening for real...?"
"...D-did the y-young m-master o-orchestrate th-this situation?"
"......?"
"......?"
Ivon and Jane finally realized their conversation sounded off to outsiders. But just as they were about to speak again, the old butler's bellow rang out first.
"Your Highness, this won't do! How can you unleash the duke's private soldiers in His Highness's palace!"
"This is being conducted with His Majesty's explicit permission. How dare you quibble when my master has vanished?"
Helia brushed him off curtly as she scanned Vernus Palace.
When that foolish woman was around, the palace had been a chaotic mess of flowers that hurt the eyes, but now it was so empty it made the name Vernus feel hollow—like a warehouse.
"Then at least pretend to search properly! Why are you tearing the palace apart!"
Helia glanced at the old butler amid his shouts, then spoke in a refined tone.
"Because that spirit beast is suspicious. What are you waiting for? Tear it apart and find traces of that spirit beast!"
"What nonsense is this! His Highness's disappearance has nothing to do with the young master!"
Paul stepped forward, protesting that he wasn't some spirit beast, but it was futile.
'How dare they—how dare the duke's rabble...!'
Paul ground his teeth. How could snakes like these slither into his master's palace and wreak havoc?
The queen clearly had no intention of finding His Highness. And His Majesty surely knew that too...
'...Does His Majesty suspect the queen is the culprit?'
It made sense if he'd handed over investigative authority to humor her only because he had no choice, to get His Highness back safely.
His Majesty was probably desperately searching elsewhere right now. The Prime Minister's absence confirmed it.
"The spirit beast might be hiding somewhere. Search every inch."
Paul sneered faintly at the absurd claim, then schooled his expression.
...It would be better if the young master had taken His Highness, as the queen claimed.
'Old man, keep an eye on the house.'
'...Where are you going?'
'To get a birthday present for the kid.'
...But that was unlikely. Paul clamped his lips shut and clenched his fists. For now, he could only hope His Highness was safe.
"The young master isn't the type to do that!"
"Exactly! Your investigation is off track! Focus on finding His Highness!"
A few servants stepped up to defend the young master. But the queen only sneered at them.
"Don't you know you're all guilty for failing to protect my master? Arrest anyone who interferes!"
"What!"
Paul quickly blocked the servants.
"Don't touch the servants! The only one who can punish them is the palace's master—His Highness!"
"How dare you interfere."
Ching!
Several armed knights drew their swords toward Paul. One swaggered up and tapped Paul's shoulder.
"Old timer. If you don't want to rot in prison in your old age, stay quiet."
Paul smiled chillingly in response.
"A knight whose speech sounds like a street thug. Didn't they teach you to respect your elders?"
"Wh-what...!"
Crack!
"......!"
Before the knight could retort, Paul smashed his fist into the man's jaw.
Thud!
The knight's body crumpled. He'd been knocked out cold from the direct hit.
"......"
"......"
The noisy palace fell deathly silent in an instant. Paul carefully bent down and picked up the fallen knight's sword.
As everyone stood stunned by the aged butler's prowess, clack, Helia stepped forward and broke the silence.
"What... is the meaning of this?"
"Your Highness, surely you know no one but the permitted may draw a sword in the palace."
"......"
"Sheathe your arms. No exceptions."
"Anyone who draws a sword will lose their wrist."
With the old knight's low growl, a thick dark blue-gray aura rose up.
"...H-head Maid..."
"Wh-what do we do...?"
The young maids, startled by the armed knights, clung tightly to Perry's skirts. Rima, who always trailed behind her, stepped aside a bit for them.
'...She means she can protect herself.'
Perry had known since first seeing Rima that he wasn't an ordinary apothecary. That's why the young master had placed him by her side.
Perry kept her back straight and composure even as knights passed by her.
'If something bad happens, blame it on the talisman not working properly—curse me for giving you a faulty one.'
Recalling that voice, Perry clutched the precious talisman hanging around her neck.
"......"
Perry bowed her head to look at the talisman. It was still white. Honestly, she couldn't tell if it really warded off misfortune as the young master claimed. It had never once turned black since she'd had it.
Still, the reason the young master had diligently given her these talismans was probably because he'd seen her foolishly relying on something like this.
'Sis, do you have to go today? The omens are bad.'
Her hands trembled. What had today's omens been? Were they okay? The days the young master spoke to her always felt lucky... Was this happening today because he wasn't here?
Ching!
Friction erupted between the servants and soldiers, and swords were finally drawn.
Crack! Boom!
...But it quieted down soon after.
"Anyone who draws a sword will lose their wrist."
A low growl accompanied the rise of thick dark blue-gray aura.
Perry stared, entranced, at the cold flames flickering along the blade.
"...Sheathe your swords."
The queen's calm yet anger-laced voice echoed through the silent palace. The duke's soldiers exchanged glances before reluctantly complying.
Having lost the staring contest, they trashed the palace blatantly. Nil's room suffered the worst.
"There are herbs in the study!"
"There might be poisonous ones! Confiscate them all!"
"P-please don't touch those precious herbs! These are all His Highness's property!"
Rima shouted, but it was pointless. The butler merely stood by quietly, checking off an inventory list. A bill would surely arrive once this chaos ended.
The young master didn't use the room often, but watching it get wrecked twisted her gut.
'This... this can't be. I have to tell His Majesty!'
Perry slipped out of the room and hurried down the stairs.
His Majesty was probably pursuing other leads, but she couldn't let the palace be destroyed like this. Whether he'd take her seriously was another matter, but she had to see him first...
"Kyaa!"
Crash! Tumble!
"Head Maid!"
"Oh my god! Head Maid!"
"Ugh......!"
The palace servants gathered around Perry.
Having tumbled down the stairs, Perry staggered to her feet with help. It didn't hurt much, but she was too embarrassed to lift her head.
"Head Maid! Are you okay?"
"Are you all right?"
"Ugh, y-yes, I'm fine."
Of all times, in front of everyone...
"I-I'll be right back."
Perry tried to leave quickly, both urgent and mortified.
"Head Maid, wait! You dropped this!"
"......?"
A young maid picked something up from the floor and held it out. All eyes naturally turned to it.
"Ah......"
Seeing it in the maid's hand, Perry suddenly wanted to cry.
"Th-the color..."
The talisman, made from the young master's own beautiful hair, was turning black.
"Apothecary, what's this used for?"
"Can't you read the instructions? Are you blind?! Ack! Hey, don't touch that recklessly! Do you know how expensive that is? You couldn't buy it with your yearly salary!"
"Why are there drugs in Baedong's study?"
"How many times do I have to explain! It's stored here because it's a good spot for preservation! The young master doesn't use the study anyway!"
"Why poiso—"
"You thick-headed bastard! If you ever need anesthetic or painkillers again, I won't let it slide!"
"H-hey, Apothecary, calm do—"
"...So vulgar."
Helia glanced at the shouting apothecary before quickly scanning the room. Honestly, aside from the study overflowing with herbs, there was nothing noteworthy in Baedong's room.
Moreover, contrary to the commoner knight's ominous words, the apothecary's activities seemed utterly mundane.
'Baedong... seemed like he'd go out tomorrow. I can't leave His Highness's side, so you'll have to take him yourself.'
'Baedong's going out?'
'He seemed to be sneaking off to buy a birthday present for His Highness. I'll send word when he leaves the palace.'
She had received the letter the next day saying Baedong left the palace. But not only had they failed to catch him, no witnesses had even reported seeing the boy.
'...I thought he'd hidden Baedong somewhere...'
With no word of capturing him no matter how long she waited, she'd assumed the commoner knight had hidden Baedong and lied to her.
'...Did he take him somewhere else?'
But the prince's sole guard knight acting alone without him would draw too much attention, and he had nowhere to seek aid.
'...Where on earth...'
Lost in thought, she heard a frantic voice calling her.
"Your Highness!"
"What is it?"
"It seems there's a hidden room behind here!"
"......!"
Of course. Helia smirked faintly before continuing calmly.
"Open it quickly."
Soon, with a crash of splintering bookshelves, a concealed small room appeared.
Rima, unaware of the hidden room until now, wore a hollow expression realizing his acting had been for naught—but Helia mistook it for dismay at the secret spot being discovered.
"There are herbs here too. Shall we take them all?"
"No. Leave the herbs and search for something else. Anything."
But after rummaging for a while, no Baedong turned up. Just as she puzzled over it, a soldier found something in the corner.
"Your Highness, there's... a diary here."
"...A diary?"
"It... looks like Baedong's diary."
"......!"
Helia brightened, thinking she'd finally uncover Baedong's true nature.
-Nil Diary Superstar. Don't peek, you jerk.
"......"
Something felt off, but Helia carefully turned the page. A plain diary wouldn't be hidden like this.
-○ Month ○ Day. Weather sunny.
-Today played hide-and-seek with Rian. So fun. Rian cute as always today too.
"......"
Helia doubted her eyes at the diary's contents. Turning to the next page revealed more of the same crooked childish scrawl.
-○ Month ○ Day. Weather cloudy bit.
-Queen called so went. Queen said eat lots of snacks. Queen hate. So scary.
"......"
"......"
The soldier who found the diary grew paler by the second. Helia worked her lips a few times, set the diary down, and forced out words.
"Bring the criminal Evan here."