Chapter 405: Shock and Horror(1)
Chapter 405: Shock and Horror(1)
Three days had passed since the release of the "Shock and Horror" that was Volume 29 of the Xenon Biography. By now, reviews and critiques were likely pouring into the newspapers.
As planned, I headed for the Imperial Palace without delay. Just in case, I had asked the publisher to delay sending the new volume to my mother for a little while.
The group heading to the palace consisted of me, Marie, and Adelia. Lina was, of course, included as our guide.
You might wonder why Kate was missing; she had returned to the Order, claiming she suddenly remembered something she had to do. She said she’d attained some kind of realization through her confession to me and the subsequent advice I gave her.
Realization is a vital thing for a member of the clergy, so I couldn't exactly stop her. I let her go as she wished.
Besides, the Imperial Palace was far safer than the dormitory, so it wasn't a major concern. Unless a meteor fell from the sky, there was no need to worry about terrorism. Lina also mentioned she would be enlisting the Order's help for any unforeseen circumstances, so I felt at ease.
"Marie, you've been to the palace often, right?"
"Yeah. Our mansion is basically a private residence for handling official business. I know all the routes."
The distance from the Academy to the palace wasn't great, so traveling by carriage was perfectly fine. The issue was the force escorting said carriage. I looked out the window at the passing scenery.
Inside the carriage were the Princess, Marie, and myself. Because of that, a force nearly the size of a small army was guarding us.
As mentioned before, Gloria, the capital of the Minerva Empire, has a very high level of public security. Usually, when Leort or Lina travel to the palace, their escort isn't particularly large. In fact, having too many guards can be a nuisance because it draws unwanted attention.
But in my case, the situation was different. Since demon worshippers were openly attempting assassinations, the escort had to be dialed up to the maximum.
Just looking outside, I could see knights, mages, and even priests dispatched from the Order. The only way to break through this would be a suicide attack. Furthermore, Lina said they had deployed search parties all over the vicinity to intercept any threats in advance.
They're certainly working hard.
Since there was a real threat of terrorism, everyone was likely on edge. I looked away from the window and toward the people sitting with me.
Marie and Adelia sat side-by-side next to me, while Lina sat in the center of the opposite seat.
She wore a yellow-toned dress that left her shoulders and collarbones completely exposed, revealing her porcelain skin, though most of her chest was covered. Unlike Cecile, who openly emphasized her cleavage to exude sexiness, Lina’s outfit highlighted her elegance. The overall color palette suited her perfectly.
To think a girl like her has such...
I wasn't just thinking about her unique sexual preferences. Lina had shown her "ruined" side to me several times—like when she found out my true identity and let tea dribble out of her mouth, or when she accidentally sprayed tea all over my face.
To be fair, her reactions were understandable given the circumstances, but the contrast with her usual self gave her a different kind of charm.
"Do you have something to say?"
Lina asked in a bewildered voice, perhaps because I had been staring too intently. I had been thinking about her, but I was mostly just spacing out, so I shook my head.
"No. I was just zoning out."
"How boring. Don't you have anything you're curious about regarding the palace?"
"Curious, huh..."
I crossed my arms and thought about the Imperial Palace of the Minerva Empire. It was quite famous internationally.
First of all, it was huge. It boasted an absurdly vast territory. Even Halo Academy, which was called a small city within the capital, had to bow its head before the palace. By law, no building was allowed to be larger than the Imperial Palace.
However, it wasn't just a display of vanity; various government institutions were located within its grounds. It also housed training centers for knights and mages, as well as the teleportation facility we had used before.
Because the Empire's territory was so vast, the government institutions themselves were massive; the palace's scale was simply appropriate for the land it governed.
"I'm not particularly curious. I'm interested in the interior, but I'll see that soon enough. If I had to ask one thing..."
I trailed off, glancing at Lina. I was subtly signaling that my question might be a bit awkward. Lina caught on quickly and nodded as if to say it was fine.
"What kind of person is His Imperial Majesty?"
"My father?"
"Yeah. I've hardly heard anything about him."
Berit Urmi Jacklith Minerva, the Emperor of the Minerva Empire. Unlike Prince Consort Friedrich, who was the King of Ters, very little was known about Berit publicly. He occasionally appeared before the leaders of other nations for diplomatic matters, but not a single rumor followed him.
The only evaluations of him were that he managed state affairs reasonably well and that he only had two children: Leort and Lina.
They say no news is good news, but the total lack of rumors made me curious about what kind of man he was. If I weren't involved with Lina, I wouldn't have cared, but since we were likely to meet face-to-face in the future, it was better to know in advance.
"Father is... to be honest, he's a man who believes in just doing the basics."
"Just the basics?"
"Yes. Perhaps because of that philosophy, he focuses more on maintaining the status quo rather than rapid national development. He says that pursuing growth too hastily creates holes, so he'd rather focus on solidifying the nation's discipline."
He might not be a legendary "Great King," but he was far from a "Tyrant" or an "Incompetent King." I nodded, feeling like I understood his character.
Some progressive-minded people might be frustrated, but given the current state of the Minerva Empire, his approach could be seen as a blessing in disguise. They had only recently realized that demon worshippers had been undermining the national strength; if the nation's discipline had been weak, the problem would have been much worse.
Even now, despite the Empire being criticized as a "nest for demon worshippers," the fact that he was resolving the issue suggested he was by no means incompetent.
"I see. And what is he like personally?"
"Well... for one, he rarely gets angry, and he has a bit of an eccentric side..."
"Pfft."
At the word "eccentric," I heard Marie stifling a laugh beside me. I turned to look at her, and she was struggling to hold it in, making little muffled noises. It seemed Marie also knew what Berit was like personally.
"Calling him an eccentric makes me even more curious. He's a good person, right?"
"Yes. But he's a very eloquent speaker, so you'll need to stay on your toes. He keeps his ministers in line with his words alone."
"Got it. Anything else to watch out for?"
"Not really. Surprisingly, you two might actually get along well."
Afterward, I asked about her mother, the Empress. Lina’s answer was simply that she and the Emperor were two of a kind. She added that they still had a very affectionate relationship.
However, despite their good relationship, it was a bit strange that they only had two children. Emperors and Kings usually had an obligation to produce many descendants to ensure the succession. In the Ters Kingdom, for example, there were four children, one of whom had married into the Duchy of Bellua.
Let's just let that go.
There was surely a reason. That was a much more rude question than the previous ones, so it was better not to ask.
We spent time chatting pleasantly like that for a while. About ten minutes after passing through the palace gates, the carriage came to a halt.
"Princess! We have arrived!"
As the carriage slowed to a stop, a booming voice reached our ears. It seemed we had reached our destination.
As soon as I heard that, I peeked out the window. I couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the palace.
Usually, palaces are recorded as the most beautiful buildings of their era. This palace was built to live up to that reputation. If Halo Academy felt like it was modeled after Hogwarts, the Imperial Palace was closer to a soaring, fortress-style castle.
If that were all, it might have looked ordinary. But the true essence of the palace was gold. The entire castle was so dazzling it looked as if it had been plated in gold.
Given the vast territory, the Empire was rich in resources, and gold was no exception. One could call it a vulgar display of wealth, but considering the Minerva Empire's economic power, they could certainly afford it. In many ways, it was a palace perfectly suited to flaunting the Empire's overwhelming national strength.
"I'll take you to your rooms first. We can do the tour after that."
Lina said as she slowly stepped out of the carriage. One of the escort knights took her hand and carefully escorted her. I followed her down, and then Marie took my hand as she stepped out. Finally, Adelia descended, completing the group.
I should mention that Marie was wearing a white dress that suited her perfectly, while Adelia wore a dress shirt and leather pants that were easy to move in. Both were dressed in clothes that matched their individual charms, making them a joy to look at.
Rumble—
The massive main gates, so tall you had to crane your neck to see the top, began to slowly open. The gates were emblazoned with the crest of the Empire. The mere act of these gargantuan doors opening felt majestic.
If Albenheim’s charm lay in its elegance and warmth that seemed to melt into nature, the Minerva Empire was simply "Big and Beautiful." There was no other way to describe it; every single thing was built on a massive scale.
I wouldn't even be surprised if I got lost.
It wasn't an exaggeration; the interior was so vast I had no idea where was where. I wouldn't be walking around alone, but I was still a bit worried.
As I was thinking that, we passed through a hallway lined with portraits of past Emperors and Empresses. Just as we rounded a corner...
"Oh? Brother?"
"Ah, you're finally here."
As soon as we turned the corner, we happened to run into the Crown Prince, Leort. It seemed he had come to greet us after hearing of our arrival.
However, his condition was quite alarming. His handsome face was the same, but the dark circles under his eyes were long enough to jump rope with. Lina had mentioned he was out of his mind with overtime every day, and it seemed she wasn't lying. He looked like he was about to die of exhaustion.
"Hello, Crown Prince Leort. Have you been well?"
"Haha. I've been doing well, thanks to a certain someone."
Leort offered a pointed joke in response to my greeting. Feeling a bit guilty, I tried to laugh it off. Leort then looked over each of us before turning to Lina.
"Were you in the middle of showing them around the palace?"
"No. I was going to show them their rooms first and then give them a tour."
Leort nodded. He then turned to me, standing behind Lina, with a request.
"I see. Then, Isaac... this is a very rude request, but once you arrive at the guest rooms, could I borrow Lina for a moment? I have something urgent to discuss with her."
Given how Leort was speaking, it clearly seemed to be an urgent matter. The current situation of the Empire was what it was, after all.
Besides, I didn't mind staying in the guest room; I had brought the manuscript for Volume 30 and my typewriter. If not that, I could ask Marie to show me around. I had heard that since she used to hang out with Lina, she knew the general layout of the palace.
"I don't mind. It sounds urgent, so I'll send her along quickly."
"I thank you for your consideration. Well then—"
Being quite busy, Leort gave a brief wave and hurried off. Even his brisk pace suggested he was in a rush. I watched his back for a moment before looking at Lina. She had a look of realization on her face, but she was also checking my reaction.
She doesn't need to be so humble.
It would be one thing if Lina had invited me, but today, I was the one who had asked her if I could come. If I weren't Xenon, it might have taken months, let alone days, to arrange this. Furthermore, as I saw from Leort's face, the Empire was in chaos because of the demon worshippers.
I gave a bitter smile and nodded to show it was okay. Lina seemed relieved by my gesture and spoke with a soft smile.
"Thank you. You're really okay with this?"
"It's fine. You have work to do."
Lina chuckled at my words and spoke in an even softer voice.
"Even with that kind of power in your hands, you really haven't changed a bit."
"What hasn't?"
"You, as a person."
She then glanced at Marie and acted a bit sly.
"I think I'm starting to get jealous of you. Men like him aren't common."
It was a comment meant to subtly stir up jealousy, but...
"Even so, don't sleep in the room next to ours. You should be bold and sleep in the same bed."
"..."
Lina was the one who ended up being counterattacked.
*
After dropping Isaac and his party off at their guest rooms, Lina headed to the office Leort had mentioned. As she walked, Marie's words kept echoing in her head.
Don't sleep in the room next to ours. It was a comment that hit Lina's specific sexual preference right on the mark. That one sentence made her face flush, and she found it hard to even speak properly.
Her preference was already public knowledge, but it was something that should never be spoken aloud. Hearing it mentioned by someone else made her feel like she was going to die of embarrassment.
Did she find out? No, right? Surely she doesn't know that much.
During Arwen's speech, Lina had used a magic item to spy on their relationship. She had been using that item quite effectively ever since. Since her dormitory room was right next to Isaac's, the layout made it very easy to use the item.
The dorms were basically soundproof, but if you pressed your ear against the wall...
No. What am I thinking...
That wasn't what was important right now. She had to think about what Leort was going to say. She shook her head vigorously to clear her mind.
Nine times out of ten, it would be about the demon worshippers. It always was. She wondered what kind of headache they had caused this time. Just thinking about it made her tired, but she had to do her job.
Finally, as she stood before Leort's office, she managed to calm the heat in her face.
Knock, knock, knock—
[Come in.]
As soon as she knocked, Leort's tired voice came from behind the door. He seemed to have guessed immediately that it was Lina.
Lina carefully opened the door. As soon as she did, she saw Leort, looking utterly exhausted. He was currently sitting at his desk, reading a book. Even from a distance, she could tell exactly what book it was.
Xenon Biography? Oh, right. I heard a new volume was being released. I guess it was today.
She had been so busy she had completely forgotten that a new volume of Xenon Biography was coming out.
Meanwhile, Leort closed the book as soon as Lina entered. She had the illusion that his already tired face had somehow become even more haggard.
"What did you call me for, Brother?"
"Whew... Lina."
"Yes."
"Have you read the new volume of Xenon Biography yet?"
Leort asked out of the blue. Lina was puzzled for a moment but shook her head.
"No. I've been so busy I forgot."
"Then what about the reviews in the newspapers?"
"I don't know those either..."
Normally, she would have read the new volume by now. However, Lina had been working on something else besides the demon worshippers. It was an idea that had flashed into her mind after learning Isaac's true identity and receiving his advice.
She was working alone on a policy that could strengthen the Imperial power while decentralizing the power of the nobles (excluding the Imperial family). Furthermore, since Isaac was coming to the palace, she had many things to prepare and couldn't pay much attention to her surroundings.
"Then you should read this first."
Leort suggested, showing her the copy of Xenon Biography Volume 29 in his hand.
Lina didn't mind the suggestion, and since it was a chance to take a break, she accepted it happily.
"Of course, Brother. May I prepare some tea?"
"Do as you wish."
At that moment, Lina had forgotten. She had forgotten the ending that Isaac had vaguely spoiled for her before.
Thinking of it as just a brief rest, she began to read Volume 29 of the Xenon Biography...
"...Huh?"
It delivered a shock and horror that was entirely foreign to her. Her expression became one of utter disbelief.
The ending was so shocking that crumbs of her snack fell from her mouth, and she kept flipping the pages back and forth repeatedly. Even though she was a fan of the Xenon-Mary couple rather than the Jin-Lily couple, this was simply too cruel.
"N-No. What... what is this... No..."
The bigger problem was that this cruel ending perfectly fit Jin's character. Her head could understand it, but her heart found it impossible to believe; the "internal injury" was so severe it caused cognitive dissonance.
"...I slept fine even when those demon worshipper bastards were making a mess of things. But after reading that, I couldn't sleep for a while."
Leort spoke in a voice bordering on despondency, as if he shared her feelings. It was the voice of someone who had seen a reality they didn't want to believe.
Lina dazedly looked away from the book and toward him. At the same time, she remembered what Isaac had hinted at before. She had expected something back then, but she hadn't imagined it would be this much. She had only thought that, at worst, Jin would be heavily wounded by a demon worshipper.
But the reality she faced was far beyond that. How could he make the two protagonists fight each other?
If it lacked probability, it would be one thing, but every piece fit together like a perfect puzzle, making it even more shocking. It felt as if despair was being forcibly shoved into the reader's heart.
"Because of that one ending, the readers are in an uproar. There are even theories going around that Xenon might actually be a demon."
"A demon?"
"Yes. Of course, I know that's nonsense... but that's how shocking it is. That's why I called you."
Leort sighed deeply and slowly leaned forward from the back of his chair. He looked Lina straight in the eye and spoke in a grave voice.
"Before the demon worshippers can exploit this, spread it to every media outlet. Tell them Isaac is absolutely not a demon. Tell them it's just a tragedy. The mere fact that conspiracy theories have emerged could become a major problem later."
"...I understand. I just need to give them a plausible reason, right?"
"Yes. For example, tell them he wrote it because he saw such a future in a vision, or... I don't know. I can't think of anything."
Leort rubbed his eyes and groaned. He had called Lina, but the ending was so devastating that his brain wasn't working properly.
"How can he think of something like this if he's not a real demon? Did that half-successful summoning ritual actually succeed completely...?"
"..."
He was likely joking, but Lina couldn't just let it slide.
Just what kind of world did Isaac live in... is it really filled with such tragedies?
Her misunderstanding only deepened.
