Chapter 45: Crisis(4)
Chapter 45: Crisis(4)
"Isaac. You haven't been caught by that girl, have you?"
As soon as it turned six o'clock—our promised meeting time—Mari headed back to her dormitory. Left alone with me, Nicole posed the question. I turned to look at her and saw a face etched with worry and concern.
It seemed she was afraid my secret might have been exposed, given how friendly Mari and I appeared. But contrary to her fears, I hadn't been caught—aside from a few minor slips.
"Don't worry. I haven't been caught. For now, we're just friends. Just friends."
"...Is that so?"
Nicole voiced her doubt, casting a deeply suspicious look my way. I felt a bit taken aback by her reaction.
Did she think I was some kind of loner with no real friends? I knew my social circle wasn't exactly vast, but seeing Nicole look at me like that still stung a little.
"What's with that look? You look like you don't believe me at all."
"Um... if you say so. Anyway, she really doesn't know anything about your secret?"
The feeling that she was abruptly changing the subject was definitely not my imagination. I pushed down the rising suspicion in my heart and answered.
"I've made a few mistakes, but it should be fine."
"Mistakes... You mean like showing someone your drawings? Don't tell me that was her?"
When she widened her eyes and sought confirmation, I nodded silently.
Nicole knew that I had accidentally shown my drawings to someone else. However, she had no idea that the person was Mari. I hadn't told her because I figured it would only cause unnecessary worry.
But now that they had met face-to-face, I thought it wouldn't hurt to let her know this much.
"Phew..."
Her reaction was slightly different from what I expected. Nicole stared intently at my face for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. It was the kind of reaction that couldn't help but make me feel tense.
She seemed to fall into thought for a moment, then spoke to me in a low, somber voice.
"...Isaac. You received a letter from Father too, didn't you?"
"About our tail being stepped on?"
At my counter-question, Nicole nodded in affirmation. It seemed she had received a letter from our parents just as I had.
Unlike me, however, she appeared to be taking the current situation quite seriously; her expression was stiff and frozen.
Perhaps the letter Nicole received contained different information? As a sense of unease began to crawl up my spine, I spoke in a cautious voice.
"Didn't Mother say we didn't need to worry?"
The letter Mother sent me told me not to worry, saying that our tail had simply been stepped on and it wouldn't be a big problem. Honestly, aside from that one part, it was no different from her usual letters asking how I was doing.
Of course, that didn't mean I was acting as I usually did; I was being reasonably careful. I'd almost had a major disaster today because of Mari's sudden, probing questions, but I'd managed to move past it safely.
Seeing my reaction, Nicole's expression grew even more troubled. She looked like a parent who had left their child by the water's edge.
"...Isaac. Do you know what it means for a tail to be stepped on?"
Nicole asked me in a voice that lacked its usual strength. Hearing that question, I instinctively sensed something was wrong and nodded silently.
Nicole stared at me for a long time, then eventually shook her head. Her mind seemed to be a tangled mess.
"...No. I'll tell you later. For now, let's just eat."
"...Okay. By the way, what about Adele?"
"She said she couldn't come because something suddenly came up today. When I asked why, she said a letter from home was arriving today. She said it's the first letter she's received in almost a year."
"Really?"
It was a bit disappointing, but I could understand her feelings. Not hearing anything about her home for an entire year meant she must have been desperate for news.
Since my home was quite close to Halo Academy, it took a week at most for mail to arrive, but that wasn't the case for everyone. A week was the bare minimum for most; if someone lived far away, it could take over a month.
It was especially difficult for commoners because imperial law dictated that noble mail must be prioritized. Since nobles often handled official state business, every piece of mail was considered important.
Furthermore, mail couldn't be sent via magic, so carriages were the only option. Because of this, the time between sending a letter and the recipient receiving it was inevitably long.
"Just where does Adele live that it takes a year to get a letter?"
"Who knows? I asked her once, and she just said she lives quite far away. It's definitely not within the Minerva Empire, though."
"Hmm. You don't think she's a noble hiding her identity or something, do you?"
"She does have the face of a noble. I thought she was one at first, too. But she's not. She's definitely a commoner."
Since Nicole was so certain, I couldn't ask anything more. I briefly pictured Adelia's beauty—which was hard to believe belonged to a commoner—before quickly clearing my head.
Right now, dinner with Nicole was more important than Adelia. Since I was eating with Nicole and no one else, I could enjoy my dinner in peace...
"Hm?"
"...Lord Leort?"
...Or so I thought. Right up until I ran into Leort in front of the main gate of the restaurant where we planned to have dinner.
"Hello. What a coincidence."
"...Indeed."
Even Princess Lina was by Leort's side. I greeted her with a lukewarm heart as she waved with a welcoming smile.
I didn't know how this had happened, but it seemed Leort and Lina were also planning to have a sibling dinner. Seeing as they were in their school uniforms rather than civilian clothes, it looked like a pre-arranged meeting.
But who could have known we would run into them at the same restaurant, at the exact same time, right in front of the main gate? The odds were practically non-existent.
Sensing that things had become complicated, I looked at the two of them and then checked Nicole's face. She also looked visibly flustered, clearly not having expected to meet them.
"Are you two here for dinner as well?"
When the subtle atmosphere settled, Leort asked us in his pleasant, baritone voice. Nicole snapped out of it and answered hurriedly.
"Ah, yes. That's right. I came to have dinner with Isaac."
"Hmm..."
"... ..."
After Nicole's answer, Leort looked back and forth between us siblings, and then his lips curled into a smile. Seeing that smile, I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
I prayed that my bad feeling wouldn't come true, but unfortunately, ominous premonitions always hit the mark.
Leort then extended a hand and made a suggestion in a smooth tone.
"Since we've run into each other like this, why don't we eat together? I'll pay for everything. As it happens, I have something urgent to discuss with you both."
"...Understood."
It was phrased as a suggestion, but it was practically a command. Who would refuse a proposal from the Crown Prince, the most likely candidate to be the next Emperor?
Nicole knew this all too well, so she accepted reluctantly. Even if she refused, Leort wasn't the type to hold a grudge, so it would have been fine, but there was nothing to be gained by making him uncomfortable.
Above all, there was one part of Leort's suggestion that weighed on my mind: the fact that he had something urgent to discuss with us.
The fact that he brought it up meant it was likely an important matter, whether good or bad. Nicole probably accepted because she had no excuse to refuse and was curious about what Leort had to say.
"Good. And you, Isaac?"
"I don't mind either."
"I see. Then let's head inside. As I said, I'm paying for everything, so feel free to order whatever you like."
"Really?"
"Isaac."
When I asked with a nuance of "Can I really do that?", Nicole scolded me from the side in a stern voice. Only then did I realize I'd made a slip of the tongue and quickly shut my mouth.
However, Leort seemed to like my reaction, as he let out a faint laugh and answered.
"Hahaha. Of course. You can order anything you want. Whether it's steak or wine."
"Isaac. You haven't forgotten who we are, have you?"
"... ..."
Following Leort's answer, Lina smiled softly and asked teasingly. After hearing her jab, I blinked, and then my face began to burn with a rush of embarrassment.
Who were the siblings in front of me? They were members of the Imperial family who ruled the Minerva Empire. Their wealth was bound to be overflowing.
So, asking such a question was just plain stupid. Nicole knew that, which was why she had called my name.
Normally, I'm the type to think twice before speaking, but given the situation, the words had just popped out.
"Sigh..."
"... ..."
Even as Nicole let out a sigh of embarrassment beside me, I couldn't say a word.
Finding our dynamic amusing, Lina covered her mouth with her hand and laughed gracefully. It only made me feel more ashamed.
"Is there a four-person room that is well-soundproofed? Don't worry about the price."
"Understood. Please follow me."
After that little incident, Leort asked the waiter for a room. But the characteristics of the room Leort wanted were a bit strange.
Not just a normal four-person room, but a soundproofed one. If it wasn't an important conversation, there would be no reason to specifically choose a soundproofed room.
Was it from that moment? That anxiety and worry began to stir from deep within my heart. Sensing something was off, I looked at Nicole.
Nicole also seemed to have sensed that things were taking a strange turn, as she kept her mouth tightly shut. Her expression was also slightly stiff.
"If you wish to call a staff member, please ring this bell."
"Thank you."
"Then, please have a pleasant time."
Eventually, we entered the four-person room Leort had requested—the soundproofed space.
Once the waiter closed the door, I looked around the room. For a dining space, it was quite spacious.
The design was generally no different from a normal restaurant. There was simply a rectangular table placed in the middle of the large room.
Since it was a soundproofed space, I expected it to have a secretive atmosphere, but it was quite different from my expectations.
"Now, now. Everyone, please sit. Lina, you sit next to me."
"Okay. Isaac, you sit down too."
"...Yes."
I followed Lina's instructions obediently and sat in a chair. Naturally, Nicole took the seat next to me.
For the record, Leort and Lina had sat down before we did. Thus, I ended up facing Lina, and Nicole faced Leort.
"...I didn't get a chance to introduce myself properly earlier because of the rush. I am Nicole Ducard Maishal, Isaac's older sister and the eldest daughter of the Maishal family. It is an honor to meet the Princess, who shall become the sun of the Empire."
Just before an awkward air could settle, Nicole introduced herself first to refresh the atmosphere. Come to think of it, while Nicole had met Leort before, this was her first time meeting Lina.
Lina met the eyes of Nicole, who had introduced herself in a stiff tone. She then gave a soft smile, placed her hand on the center of her chest, and greeted us according to Imperial etiquette.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nicole. As you know, I am the First Princess of the Minerva Empire, Lina Urmi Christine. Please feel free to call me Lina, not Princess."
"I understand. But..."
Once the greetings were over, Nicole looked back and forth between Lina and Leort. Their smiles were similar, proving they were indeed siblings.
The problem was that those smiles gave off a strong feeling that they were hiding some kind of scheme. Since even I felt that way, Nicole must have felt the same.
Nicole spoke in a voice that was cautious yet full of wariness.
"...May I ask what the 'urgent matter' you mentioned earlier is?"
"It would be better to order first. Let's talk about that after we've finished our meal."
"...Understood."
It seemed he intended to wait until after the meal was over. Nicole obediently accepted Leort's request.
"Now that I think about it, Isaac, you like wine, don't you? You drank quite well at the last gathering."
"...Huh?"
Then, Lina, sitting across from me, kindly brought up my dark history. It was such a sudden topic that I was momentarily flustered, but Nicole was the bigger problem.
As soon as Lina said those words, she whipped her head around and stared at me.
Her gaze demanded an explanation for what I had done at the gathering to make Princess Lina say such a thing.
Faced with her terrifying gaze, I hurriedly waved my hands and spoke frantically. I didn't know what misunderstanding she had, but I really hadn't done anything.
"I-I just drank some wine! Nothing happened! Really!"
"...Really?"
"Hehe. It's true. Though he did fall asleep in his chair because he drank too much wine."
"Isaac?"
Why was she bringing that up? Even as I looked at her with a gaze bordering on resentment, Lina just kept a mischievous smile on her face.
Was she holding a grudge because I had refused her invitation back then? Unlike the others, I wasn't close to Lina, so I couldn't even tell.
"Then we should order wine as well. Since you said you drank it at the gathering, shall we get Alcyone?"
"...Yes."
"I see. What would you two like to eat?"
"I'll have..."
Surprisingly, the meal itself proceeded without any trouble. Although the cozy family dinner I had envisioned had gone out the window, I could only hope for that another time.
Moreover, thanks to Leort making the atmosphere comfortable, we were able to converse easily. Lina also chimed in with interesting stories from time to time to keep the mood light.
In fact, having a meal with the Imperial family like this was quite extraordinary from my perspective.
Dining with the Crown Prince, the most likely successor to the throne, meant having a personal connection with him, and by extension, it was synonymous with having built a solid political foundation from the start.
If anyone in my family were to enter politics, this would be an excellent connection, but as you know, my family is far removed from politics. I also dislike the idea of throwing myself into the complicated world of politics.
Thus, the meal was finished in less than an hour. It was a restaurant I visited often, but perhaps because it was an expensive steak, it tasted much better than what I'd had before.
"Since it seems the meal is mostly finished, I'll bring up what I wanted to say to you both."
As I was feeling a satisfying fullness, Leort spoke while wiping his mouth with a napkin. I felt the relaxed atmosphere vanish instantly and focused on his words.
Nicole, who had been tidying up, also flinched as soon as Leort spoke and looked at him.
When both our gazes were fixed on him, Leort gently placed his napkin on the table and began to speak.
His tone and voice were gentle and smooth, the kind that easily caught one's ear.
"I'll tell you in advance, even if we hadn't met today, I was planning to call for you both separately later. Today's meeting was merely a coincidence."
"... ..."
"Do you two know who the author of the Xenon Biography is?"
It was a question that brought an immediate sense of foreboding. At the same time, Father's letter saying "our tail has been stepped on" vividly flashed through my mind.
The atmosphere, the fact that he was planning to call us separately, and the question itself.
I had expected it to some extent, but hearing it from Leort of all people made the impact greater than I could have imagined. The blood in my body turned cold, and my heart began to beat violently.
"...I do not know."
Unlike me, who could barely open my mouth, Nicole responded as calmly as possible. However, the current situation was just as tense for her, and her voice was trembling slightly.
In the meantime, Leort, having heard Nicole's answer, chuckled and spoke in his characteristic baritone.
"But if a tail is long, it's bound to be stepped on eventually. Even if it belongs to the author of the Xenon Biography."
"... ..."
"The person who submits the manuscripts to the publisher was a mere errand runner. They were like a lizard's tail; no matter how much we investigated, nothing came up. So, I threw out a bait, and someone bit. I don't know who it was, but they'll realize too late that it was a waste of effort. That was about ten days ago."
I had received the letter exactly two days ago. It roughly matched the time it would take for Father to hear the news that our tail had been stepped on and send a letter to me.
While I was thinking that, Leort continued speaking with a smile. It was a smile full of leisure.
"In the end, unable to watch any longer, I pressured the publisher to show me the contract, but even that didn't mean much. After all, one can just sign a contract using a pseudonym. So, I was going to stop pressuring the publisher. Until I happened to check their tax records."
"Tax records... You mean taxes?"
When Nicole asked with doubt, Leort nodded.
"Yes. Taxes. As you know, taxes are more complicated than you'd think. The amount to be paid varies wildly depending on the law. And the publisher paid their taxes according to the tax rate. Actually, there's no problem up to this point. The contract states that the publisher pays the taxes in advance. But the problem here is that the records show taxes being paid one more time."
"... ..."
"If you don't understand what I mean, a commoner only has to pay taxes to their lord once according to their income tax rate, but it's different for a lord. They have to give a portion of the taxes received from commoners to the Empire, and they themselves must also pay taxes according to a specific tax rate. It's to prevent wealth from being accumulated too easily."
Regardless of time or place, 'wealth' is directly linked to power. With money, one can increase military strength or improve welfare to make the lives of the people more comfortable.
Furthermore, 'currency' is well-developed in this world. The fact that currency is well-developed means the economy has advanced significantly, and the country's power grows accordingly.
However, unlike its economic power, the Minerva Empire's science hasn't kept up. Since the tax rates Leort mentioned earlier have to be calculated manually by people, there are many discrepancies.
But who would have known that our tail would be stepped on because of that problem?
I swallowed hard and quietly looked at Leort. I could feel my fists clenched tight and cold sweat trickling down my cheeks.
"Paying taxes twice means the person is not a commoner, but a noble. We knew this because the tax rates for each are subtly different. Moreover, because they didn't pay them separately but combined them into one, it took a long time to notice. Since taxes have to be calculated by hand, the traces were left behind."
"... ..."
"In any case, the taxes were split into two and headed to different places. One went to the lord of the territory where the publisher is located. The other went directly to our Empire, bypassing the lord. But it didn't come directly. There was one place it passed through in the middle. We traced it back to see who it was passing through."
Leort trailed off and stared intently at Nicole and me. My heart pounded as if it were about to explode, and my clenched fists were soaked with sweat.
Nicole was no different. Her golden eyes were shaking uncontrollably, and she was clenching her fists just like me.
Eventually, Leort spoke the name that we siblings never wanted to hear.
"Hawk Ducard Maishal."
"... ..."
"The knight who was the commander of the Navy Knights and who displayed great prowess as the Red Lion."
Honestly, the moment Father's name came out of Leort's mouth, I thought it was over. So, I squeezed my eyes shut.
"And the person presumed to be the author of the Xenon Biography."
"...?"
That was, until Leort mistook my father for the author instead of me.