Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Leave the Dirty Work to Others (4)
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The resplendent walls of the imperial palace soon came into view.
"We're finally entering the imperial palace."
I'd prepared extensively for today.
From the people I'd meet at the Noble Conference to the events that would unfold afterward.
I wasn't tense at all. Only pleasant anticipation warmed my heart.
The area in front of the palace was already bustling with carriages lining up to enter. My own carriage joined the end of that long queue.
"I'm sorry. Even though we arrived early, it's like this."
The coachman opened the window and bowed his head apologetically.
"Just a little longer, and we'll be through."
"Understood."
I nodded and turned my ear to the sounds outside the carriage.
"Excuse me. I'll need to check the person inside."
"What is the purpose of your visit?"
Far ahead, the voice of an imperial palace guardsman rang out.
"Hmm, better get ready."
I pulled my identity token and letter from my pocket and held them in hand, waiting for the carriage to move.
"Hm?"
I straightened up from where I'd been leaning against the seat.
"What is it?"
A commotion was stirring up front.
"Halt. You can't do that."
"It'll only take a moment. Just let me look inside once...!"
"Hey!"
The guardsman's voice grew sharper.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you're causing us right now?"
"Just a brief moment..."
"A moment or not, peering into a carriage without permission is an outrageous breach of etiquette!"
Unable to resist my curiosity, I stuck my head out the window.
"Ah-ha."
A familiar face was arguing with the guardsman up ahead.
"Not even for a very short time? I just need to confirm if someone's inside."
"No."
"Then how about letting me handle the identity check instead..."
"Absurd."
The guardsman cut off the man in a tone of disbelief. Then he slammed the butt of his massive spear against the ground.
"We're only letting you wait here because you're with the Ovest Knight Order."
"......"
"Don't insult our goodwill any further."
It was a warning that any repeat offense wouldn't be tolerated.
"......Hah, damn it."
The man scratched his head vigorously and stepped back.
"Oh dear."
I recognized him and smiled faintly.
It was Yonas Klein.
The proxy lord appointed by Diego Kindriel, originally meant to attend the Noble Conference in my place.
Thanks to stealing the seal from his possession early on, I knew his face.
"He used to be a handsome blond man."
His appearance now was starkly different from our first encounter.
His hair had grown out unkempt, covered in shaggy stubble that blanketed his cheeks and chin. His face was haggard, with dark circles under his eyes.
"No one would take him for a knight at first glance."
His current state was utterly disheveled.
"Looks like chasing after me took its toll."
I chuckled softly to myself.
"He's lost a lot of weight."
His wretched appearance was secondary; his behavior was downright crude for a knight.
Standing stubbornly at the palace entrance, trying to peek into passing carriages, making ridiculous demands to handle identity checks himself.
"Well, he has reason to be desperate."
Yonas had one goal: reclaim the seal I'd taken and attend the Noble Conference.
This was his last chance, the only place left where he could achieve it.
"He must think sticking around here will let him run into me."
Not a bad idea. But he couldn't stop me anyway.
The carriage began to inch forward. One by one, the carriages ahead finished their checks, and finally, it was my turn.
Knock knock.
A guardsman rapped on the carriage door.
"Pardon the intrusion. May I check the person inside?"
"Yes."
At my response, he cracked open the door.
"Greetings."
The guardsman was a robust man with dull golden hair and a hearty face.
"I'll need your identity token, please."
I handed over the token I'd been holding and replied clearly.
"I'm Abel Ovest Kindriel."
"......!"
The guardsman flinched in surprise. His eyes meticulously took in my blue hair and face.
Soon, he schooled his expression with practiced ease.
"Abel Ovest Kindriel. Confirmed. You may enter..."
"What did you say?"
A sharp cry erupted from beside him.
"Wait, what are you..."
Despite the guardsman's flustered voice,
Clunk!
The carriage door flew wide open without warning.
"Young Master Abel."
Yonas stood there, eyes bloodshot. He gripped the door tightly, glaring at me.
"Finally, I get to see you."
"What do you think you're doing?!"
The guardsman bellowed from the side, but Yonas ignored him completely.
"Step aside. I have very important business with the young master."
"Is this guy for real?"
"Young Master, you have no idea how much I've longed to see you."
Yonas's eyes blazed so fiercely that for a moment, I nearly forgot they were blue.
"All the things you've done... I want to hold you accountable for every one, but time is short, so I'll hold back."
"......"
"The seal. Where is it?"
He emphasized the word "seal," as if it were something of utmost importance to him.
"Return Lord Diego's seal at once."
The nearby guardsman seemed somewhat flustered by Yonas's erratic behavior.
He hesitated, unsure whether to intervene or watch how things played out.
"Step back for a moment."
I waved the guardsman away.
He brightened and retreated slightly. No civil servant wants to get tangled in a fight like this.
"The seal?"
I blinked innocently at Yonas.
"I have no idea why you're acting like this."
"Young Master Abel!"
Yonas's face twisted as if he were about to burst with rage.
"Are you trying to drive me insane?"
"Hey, watch the spittle."
He kept firing off words regardless, even spraying a bit of saliva.
"Where on earth have you been all this time? I turned the whole city upside down getting here."
"What can I do about you being directionally challenged?"
"Directionally challenged... No, forget that. What was that business in Dabanti Territory? Huh?"
Yonas pounded his chest.
"Do you know how much... how much I suffered after hearing that? Anyway, you have no idea."
"Why go through all that trouble? You should've just stayed in Ovest Territory."
At my nonchalant tone, Yonas's face contorted violently.
"You're seriously saying that?! None of this would've happened if you hadn't stolen the seal!"
"Hey, stolen?"
I put on a grave expression.
"I just picked it up. It was lying there."
"What...?"
"Well, I went into the room, and there it was on top of some snoring baggage. So I grabbed it quick. It seemed important."
Yonas's face, now the snoring baggage in question, flushed red and purple.
"That was because you... the incense...!"
"You should've taken better care of your things."
I patted the seal pouch in my pocket.
"This belongs to someone qualified, someone who can properly 'manage' it—me."
"Young Master Abel!"
Yonas bellowed, his face beet red.
"How far do you plan to go with this nonsense?! Hand it over right now!"
"You're the one going too far."
I remained calm despite his outburst, crossing my arms and tilting my head.
"Don't you realize how much trouble you're causing everyone? Take a look around."
Only then did Yonas startle and glance sideways.
"No, what's going on? Seriously."
"Hurry up already!"
The coachmen behind were fuming,
"......"
And the guardsmen glared at Yonas with evident displeasure. Their patience had worn thin from his disruptions.
Yonas finally seemed to regain his senses, stammering.
"No, this is... Young Master..."
"You there."
I cut him off and beckoned the guardsman.
"What will the other nobles think seeing this?"
"......I'm sorry."
The guardsman bowed deeply, his face ashen.
"One misstep, and they might say the palace guard's discipline has gone lax."
"Th-that's...!"
"Oh, I know. It's not your fault."
I sighed as if exasperated.
"I apologize for my subordinate's rudeness. It's caused a delay in your vital duty of managing palace access—I'm truly sorry."
"No, not at all!"
The guardsman, unprepared for an apology from a high noble like me, looked utterly flustered.
"Please, don't say that."
"If that guy shows up again, don't hesitate to chase him off. He's got nothing to do with me."
My finger pointed at Yonas. Understanding my intent, his eyes widened in shock.
"Wh-what did you just say...?"
"What a disgrace. If he's going to act like that, he shouldn't claim to be from the Ovest Knight Order."
With that, I reiterated to the guardsman.
"Understood?"
"Yes, sir."
Resolve gleamed in the guardsman's eyes. With my permission granted, he no longer needed to hold back.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
I yanked the carriage door shut.
"Wait, no...!"
Slam.
The door shut firmly, slipping from Yonas's grasp.
"What just...?"
Yonas stared alternately at his hand and the door, unable to believe he'd lost the tug-of-war.
"Let's go."
I tapped the window to signal the coachman, then sat back down.
"Wait! Young Master!"
Yonas clung desperately to the door, but
"Enough!"
The guardsman's booming command halted him.
"Drag this ruffian away! Now!"
"Yes, sir!"
The other guardsmen, who'd been itching for action, strode forward.
"L-let go of me!"
Yonas thrashed about disgracefully as they seized his limbs.
"Let go! I'm the one who should be in that carriage! Not Young Master Abel!"
"This fool still hasn't come to his senses!"
The guardsman barked sternly.
"Take him away immediately!"
"Let go, I said!"
Yonas resisted fiercely, but he stood no chance against several burly guardsmen.
"I'm innocent! Innocent, I tell you!"
In the end, he was bound hand and foot and dragged off. Leaving him behind, the carriage slowly pulled away.
"Innocent, my foot."
I opened the window and poked my head out.
"Young Master Abel!"
Spotting me, he shouted my name like it was his last lifeline. I flashed him a bright smile.
"Bye-bye."
I waved cheerily, then closed the window. Soon, an enraged roar erupted.
"Abel Ovest Kindriel!"
"Has this lunatic lost his mind?!"
"Aaaah! Stop! Stop right there!"
The pathetic screams fading behind the carriage were music to my ears.