Belletria Lien Archesium (6)
Belletria Lien Archesium (6)
A division commander of the Imperial Knights was a spy.
And he was executed by the hands of the Empress, who had not a shred of mercy.
Events that would cause a commotion if even one happened in the morning had exploded one after another.
But... the Imperial Palace in the afternoon was so peaceful, as if nothing had happened at all.
'Did I dream it?'
I was genuinely planting that doubt in a corner of my mind while checking the new intelligence on Dharon that the Empire had acquired, which was laid out on my desk.
[With Olden's death, we have successfully contacted and recruited Denias Karlpen, the lord of the 3rd fortress, Karlpen.]
[I would like to propose a new attack route for the Imperial Army to the Commander-in-Chief. How about we collapse the 4th fortress, Basern, through the 3rd fortress, Karlpen, and strike directly at the capital of Dharon, bypassing Cailders?]
[Submitted by Colonel Lodmus, Chief of Staff of the 6th Division of the Imperial Knights.]
"Recruited the lord of Karlpen, huh..."
Putting down the letter, I looked down for a moment at the map of the entire Dharon Kingdom spread wide across the center of my desk, then stroked the Karlpen territory on the map with my fingertip.
The route starting from the 3rd fortress, Karlpen, rode through the rugged mountain range, passed through the 4th fortress, Basern, and led straight to the capital, the heart of the kingdom.
I ran a simulation in my head.
Considering the Imperial Army's overwhelming mobility and supply speed, and the topographical advantage of Karlpen, Colonel Lodmus's proposal was quite reasonable.
From the moment he recruited a general who claimed to be the shield of a nation—not just some random nobody—from within enemy lines, his competence was proven.
'If Karlpen just opens the way, we can definitely advance to the capital without obstruction.'
If we launch a flanking strike like this, Cailders, the 1st defense line that bet everything on defensive warfare and is called an impregnable fortress, will be left completely high and dry.
Inside those massive walls that are blocked front and back, all they would be able to do is blankly watch the Imperial Army chew up and swallow their capital.
With the home country fallen, Cailders would have neither the justification nor the food to hold out until the end.
'In the end, they'll choose to surrender. It's the optimal move to break through the defense line while minimizing bloodshed.'
There was nothing more to see.
I took a quill pen out of the drawer and scribbled my signature, signifying approval, at the bottom of the document.
It was the moment I was about to stretch to loosen my stiff lower back after sticking the pen into the inkwell.
"...?"
Suddenly, I started to feel someone's presence behind my back.
I hadn't heard the door open or any footsteps at all, so how did they get in?
No, before that, this scent that was somewhat sweet yet strangely addictive... could it be?
I reflexively turned my head.
"......!"
Y-yikes.
The first thing I saw as soon as I turned around were Belletria's ruby-colored eyes, staring straight down at me with her characteristic indifferent expression.
At the same time, that brutal scene I had seen on the parade ground this morning overlapped in my mind.
A silver longsword dripping with blood.
Olden's head rolling on the dirt floor.
Seeing those images overlap, it felt as if I had encountered an assassin.
My lips trembled, and I barely swallowed back the miserable, pathetic plea of "P-please spare me!" that was about to pop out of my throat.
And I put as much strength as I could into my facial muscles to welcome her with a smile that looked as natural as possible.
"O-oh, you've arrived, Your Majesty. You entered without a sound, so I was a bit startled."
The slight tremor at the end of my voice was likely not just my imagination.
Belletria did not give a particular answer to my greeting.
She just scanned my face once with an indifferent gaze.
Then, she turned her eyes to the Dharon strategy map scattered messily on the desk and the document from Colonel Lodmus that I had just signed.
Her long eyelashes slowly lowered from top to bottom and then went back up.
Before long, she slowly opened her mouth.
"It seems your work is about finished."
Belletria tilted her head slightly and looked at me.
"It is time to have tea with me as promised. Idelon."
Somehow, it felt like her voice carried a will that would not tolerate a single inch of refusal.
I quickly stood up from my seat.
After lightly straightening my disheveled shirt collar, I approached her and bowed slightly.
And I extended one hand with the most polite and cautious gesture possible.
"I have been waiting only for the time to be with Your Majesty. Allow me to escort you."
"......."
Belletria stared blankly down at the hand I had extended.
Soon after, her slightly cold and soft fingertips rested lightly on my palm.
Trying my best to ignore the goosebumps that rose the moment our hands touched, I escorted her and stepped out of the office.
The destination was the Sun Garden, same as yesterday.
The Sun Garden, which we arrived at after walking for about 10 minutes while holding hands as if we were real lovers.
In a spot a little further in from where we had tea yesterday, there was a very lavish tea table and two chairs placed.
Only then did Belletria carefully let go of my hand, walk ahead, and sit in the left chair.
I also watched the mood for a moment before sitting opposite her.
And as soon as she confirmed we were seated, a maid who had been waiting at a distance approached very cautiously without making even the sound of footsteps.
"Excuse me."
A silver kettle tilted, and steaming red tea was poured into each of our teacups.
Afterward, the maid bowed deeply with practiced movements, then faded away like a shadow.
Belletria immediately grasped the handle of the teacup lightly and brought it to her lips.
After taking a sip of the tea, she closed her eyes gently, as if savoring the scent and taste of the tea for a moment.
Facing her peaceful face bathed in the warm sunlight.
It felt surreal, wondering if she was really the brutal sword-demon who had been splattering blood in the morning.
"I heard from the 2nd Company Commander of the 3rd Division."
Belletria, who had been savoring the tea without a word for about 20 seconds, slowly opened her mouth.
"⋯⋯?"
"They said you were at the scene where Olden was dealt with."
"Ah......."
I reflexively clenched my fists without realizing it.
My heart started beating like crazy.
'Someone saw me?'
My mind went blank.
I had thought I was perfectly hidden since I was pressed tight against a pillar holding my breath, but it seems I was clearly visible to the eyes of the knights on the perimeter.
No, the very fact that there existed a knight who had the leisure to turn their gaze to a third party in the middle of that brutal execution ceremony was shocking.
"Um... I mean...."
My lips dried up completely.
I couldn't figure out how to get past this situation.
Should I prostrate myself and apologize, begging for forgiveness for daring to secretly peek at the Empress's execution ceremony?
Or should I just spout a stupid excuse about getting lost while taking a walk?
Not knowing where to fix my gaze, my eyes frantically scanned only the lace decoration of the tablecloth.
I parted my lips, but only the sound of air leaking out hovered in my parched vocal cords, and no coherent words popped out.
Belletria just stared blankly at me as I was openly flustered.
She didn't rush me for an excuse, nor did she explode in anger.
She just breathed softly, waiting leisurely until I calmed down on my own.
"...... Phew."
Was it thanks to her consideration?
My wildly beating heart began to find its rhythm little by little.
I lifted the teacup, trying hard to calm my trembling hands.
As the hot tea went down my esophagus, I felt the stiffened mouth muscles loosen a little.
Afterward, having completely calmed down, I spoke cautiously.
"Yes, I heard everything."
I put down the teacup and met her gaze without avoiding it.
Trying to cover it up with a clumsy excuse would only invite suspicion.
It is better to shamelessly imprint that I am a blind and useful pawn.
"That you were able to catch the spy by using me."
"......."
Even at the blunt words that came out of my mouth, her expression didn't even twitch.
"Thanks to that, you were able to exterminate a cockroach eating away at the Empire. Would you care to praise my contribution a little?"
At my nonsensical joke, a faint smile spread across Belletria's expressionless face.
"At first, I intended to use you entirely for my own convenience."
"... Pardon?"
"In the process of dealing with the leech-like marriage pressure from the noble faction, some vermin who annoy me from inside and out. And lastly... catching foreign spies like Olden."
I had expected it, but hearing her say out loud that she intended to use me as a pawn like this, I couldn't help but feel bitter.
Still, I should be grateful that she told me honestly.
I nodded slowly as if resigned.
Actually, it doesn't matter if she uses me as a shield or bait.
Because the people called my family have been doing things worse than this for over 20 years.
Rather, if I could buy a little favor and survive even like this, it was a profitable deal.
However.
"You may use me as you wish. Please, just spare my life...."
"However."
The moment I was about to carefully bring up a compromise, Belletria cut me off.
"Since yesterday's tea time, my thoughts have changed a little."
"...?"
Belletria tilted her head forward slightly.
In her red eyes looking at me, instead of that ruthless murderous intent from the morning, there was a bit of interest and a strange heat.
"If you are that sincere with me, I should also approach you with some sincerity."
"... Pardon?"
What kind of talk is this?
That she would treat me with sincerity.
Isn't that a line that a tyrant who stained the continent with blood shouldn't be saying to a prince of a defeated nation dragged here as a hostage?
However, as if she had finished saying everything she wanted to say, Belletria emptied the remaining tea in one go and put down the cup.
And she, who stood up from her seat first, looked down at me.
"Let's end it here for today. If it were up to me, I'd want to fill the full two hours, but I had a lot of work today and wasn't planning on meeting you... but I was worried my fiancé might lose sleep over nothing, so I even postponed a meeting to come here."
Having finished speaking, she turned her back without hesitation and walked toward the exit of the garden.
I could only stare blankly at her retreating figure, her white hair fluttering in the wind as she moved away, with my mouth half-open.
A woman who was cutting off people's heads like swatting flies in the morning, came running in the afternoon because she was worried about her fiancé, even postponing a state affairs meeting?
It felt like the rational circuits in my brain had completely burned out.
Unable to even find words to answer, I just stupidly twitched my fingers resting on the table.
Until her white uniform completely disappeared from view in the distance, my gaze remained fixed there.
'What... is this situation?'
To soothe my parched insides, I downed the cold black tea I hadn't finished in one gulp.
The astringent taste lingered on the tip of my tongue.
'No, before that, I guess it's true that rumors are always exaggerated.'