Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Wagner, The Gods Enter Valhalla 1
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It was a foreign land.
The port was beginning to feel near.
A salty sea breeze blew from the bow.
"We have finally arrived."
Eins, standing beside me, spoke in a low voice.
He looked utterly exhausted.
"You have worked hard."
A calm voice followed immediately.
The owner of that voice was Erdi.
Truthfully, the Prince had not permitted Erdi's accompaniment, but I had pleaded my case and managed to bring him along.
I'd feel more at ease if I had at least one ally of my own.
"By the way, I was truly startled just now."
"Indeed."
We had encountered a reef on the way, and the ship nearly broke apart.
It rocked so violently that I was on the verge of seasickness.
How in the world do much larger trade ships sail?
'I see.'
If the port of the Border March had been intact, no one would have come this way.
The ship gradually slowed and eventually came to a stop.
As we disembarked, we saw a formation of knights.
Standing at the very front was a man in splendid attire, draped in a red cape.
Anyone could see he was the king.
It seemed he had come to greet us personally.
As the Prince approached him, the man bowed his head slightly in greeting.
"It is a great honor to host the illustrious Prince."
It was a highly formal greeting.
There was nothing to arouse suspicion.
The Prince returned the gesture.
The two walked forward in step with each other.
'I should probably follow along for now.'
I moved my feet.
The royal palace was located very close by.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A banquet to welcome the Prince's visit was said to be held this evening.
"It seems your performance will be presented then."
"Understood."
In this medieval fantasy world, one could not simply laze about as a guest.
Especially when a figure like the Prince visits a neighboring country, it is proper etiquette to prepare a gift.
Just so.
That gift was none other than me.
They were asking me to play the piano at the royal banquet.
That was precisely why I had come along.
Very well.
If the Prince himself commands it, I must obey.
This time, a sufficient price had been promised, so I could approach it with a pleasant heart.
'A noble title promotion, is it?'
There certainly seemed to be such a system.
Could I aim for Viscount, or even Count?
Strictly speaking, the one being promoted would be my father, Baron Julian, not me.
But that's fine.
'I'll inherit it anyway.'
Since the Prince said it himself, it couldn't be a lie.
I decided to rest until evening.
Leaving the Prince and Eins behind, I headed to the guest room I had been guided to.
I slowly examined the musical score Erdi had delivered to me.
'What piece should I choose?'
Regardless of our purpose for being here, a gift is a gift, and a performance is a performance.
Since we still lack concrete evidence that Yvelon is behind the scenes, I cannot afford to commit a diplomatic blunder.
Until now, I had chosen cheerful and lively pieces for the commoners, but this time, perhaps I should do the opposite.
'The guests at the banquet will mostly be nobles, after all.'
To match that, a calm and elegant atmosphere...
As I spent time selecting a score, I heard a knock.
When I went out, a strange man was standing there.
"Lord Anton Tilberg."
"That is correct."
Who could this be?
"I am Chris Cubel, a minister of His Majesty."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I guided Chris into the room.
A minister meant an official serving the king.
I didn't know why he had come to see me, but at least the atmosphere didn't feel like I was about to be assassinated, so I was relieved.
"Pardon the intrusion. I apologize for visiting so suddenly."
"It's no trouble. But what brings you here?"
Chris sat down and folded his hands neatly.
Our eyes met.
His pupils were unreadable.
"Lord Anton Tilberg."
"Yes."
"What is your first impression of this place? The fresh breeze blowing from the port is the pride of our kingdom."
I mulled over his words for a moment.
It was a question with an unclear intent.
I answered vaguely.
"The wind is quite cold."
Chris smiled at my words.
It was extremely unnatural.
"I shall take that to mean you are satisfied."
Then, he leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice.
"Have you ever dreamed of a new beginning in Yvelon?"
"....."
A new beginning?
Out of the blue?
I was flustered.
It wasn't difficult to grasp the hidden meaning.
Wasn't he telling me to leave the Empire and come under his wing?
He hadn't been that specific, but regardless.
I asked back, just to confirm I understood correctly.
Chris nodded.
"That is correct."
His smile remained unpleasant.
'It's not an unrealistic proposition...'
If I look at Leonardo da Vinci, he traveled to various countries and received patronage.
It's a sort of scouting concept.
A relatively common occurrence for artists.
However.
Even so, it's a dangerous offer.
Musicians are valuable resources, and trying to extract one is an act that tramples on the pride of the opposing nation.
If I were being persecuted, I might have considered it, but I am living a rather satisfying life here.
I have no need to accept.
Nor do I want to cause unnecessary conflict with the Imperial Household.
Moreover, was this man not afraid of the consequences?
If our conversation were to reach the Prince's ears, something unfortunate would surely happen.
Hiding my expression, I probed him.
"I appreciate the offer, but may I ask why?"
"The rumors of your performance skills have spread quite a bit in the Kingdom of Yvelon as well. They are discussed like a legend. I thought this might be a good opportunity for you to spread your wings on a larger stage, so I came to speak with you."
My honest impression upon hearing that was:
'Is it to that extent?'
It felt somewhat exaggerated.
I knew rumors had spread.
Since there's a port nearby, it's not strange for news to travel fast.
Merchants traveling through all sorts of cities are living conduits of information, after all.
But.
It was excessive praise.
Yvelon might very well be an enemy of the Empire.
The mastermind behind the attack on the Border March and the seizure of the trade route.
I came here following the Prince to uncover that truth.
So naturally, Chris's words did not sound pleasant.
It was practically a declaration to steal the Empire's property by luring me with sweet words.
'He has no intention of hiding it.'
As I hesitated, Chris added a word.
"We promise you a sufficient reward."
I relaxed my expression and stared at him.
"If I accept your offer, will my safety be guaranteed?"
"You will be staying in the palace, so you need not worry about your safety. Furthermore, you will be escorted by the kingdom's finest knights."
"What happens if I refuse?"
"Pardon?"
"If I decide not to relocate."
I was asking if he could take responsibility for that.
"I do not understand what you are saying..."
Look at this guy.
He's going to play dumb?
Unless it's an official diplomatic table, the small talk in this room won't leak out.
There's no recording device, so no evidence remains.
If he denies it, it can't be proven.
'So that's why he was so confident in making the offer.'
Based on Chris's attitude, it was clear that the Kingdom of Yvelon was a shady place.
My suspicion turned into conviction.
Since I'd come this far, I decided to ask him directly.
"I've heard that not all the rumors about the Kingdom are good ones."
"Haha."
Chris laughed mechanically.
"Where there are good rumors, there are bad ones. Is any kingdom an exception?"
He deftly avoided the question.
The answer only frustrated me more.
"I will consider your proposal."
I said just that and saw Chris out.
I went to the Prince's room.
When I knocked, Eins came out.
"I am here to see His Highness."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I confessed everything to the Prince.
"So that's what happened."
He seemed to believe me.
However.
"I cannot raise the issue publicly."
Chris would likely deny ever having such a conversation.
A one-sided claim from our side would have little effect, politically or diplomatically.
The Prince seemed to ponder for a moment, then called for Eins.
"Bring it."
Eins placed a small box on the table.
Inside was a glass bottle.
A black liquid sloshed within.
"It's poison."
"...Pardon?"
He began to explain.
The substance found on the Border March's trade goods was a potent poison that burned the skin upon mere contact.
He said they had found an identical substance in Yvelon's black market.
'When did he investigate this thoroughly?'
My gaze naturally shifted upward.
Eins was there.
Master of search, you again?
While I was cooped up in my room, it seemed he had reached a conclusion of his own.
"We briefly interrogated the merchant. He said an unidentified individual purchased five bottles of poison a few months ago."
Furthermore, the timing matched perfectly.
The incident at the Border March's port broke out right after the poison was sold, so the circumstances fit perfectly.
"Then isn't the matter resolved for now?"
"Indeed."
We didn't necessarily have to blame Yvelon; proving the Border March's innocence was not impossible.
If the merchant testifies that he sold the poison, we can prove this was an intentionally orchestrated conspiracy.
"However, I must hold Yvelon accountable. My pride will not allow me to simply overlook the arrogance of those who dared to trifle with the Empire, just because there is no evidence."
The Prince spoke firmly.
"It will not be easy."
Eins replied.
Both were right.
If we cover up Yvelon's crime now, the same thing could happen again at any time.
A public warning and pressure are needed.
But the problem was that the culprit had not yet been identified.
We had strong conviction, but no physical evidence.
It was complicated.
Even so, why was it...
A breakthrough appeared.
"Could you leave this to me?"
The Prince's and Eins's gazes moved simultaneously.