Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Entering the Palace
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“Whew. Hot water is the best.”
“You’re telling me. I never knew our house bathtub was this nice. Hahaha!”
Romandro and Berik leaned back on the sofa, murmuring blissfully after a long-overdue bath in hot water. Their journey had been one where they could barely wipe off their sweat with melted snow in the absence of proper inns. Vivianna smiled softly as she set tea on the table.
“I’d love to tell you to rest more and shake off the travel fatigue, but it’ll be afternoon soon. You should head out early and come back to relax.”
“Right. I think so too. Anyway, once I submit the report, there shouldn’t be anything major until the New Year’s banquet. Oh! But why won’t my body move?”
“Dear, the child can hear her father whining.”
“Huh? Can’t have that! Uraracha!”
Romandro sprang up and briskly brushed off his collar. Berik, on the other hand, just sniffled with half-closed eyes. He made no effort to hide his reluctance to follow.
—Madam. Could I trouble you for some water as well?
“Of course, Hasha.”
Vivianna accepted Hasha’s presence more readily than expected. It helped that she had traveled the reconstruction areas with him before marriage, broadening her experiences. Fresh from shedding his sweat and grime, Hasha shivered as he sipped the hot water.
“Hasha, you stay here at the mansion and rest too. I’ll look into a carriage heading to Astana on the way back.”
“You too?”
Berik muttered in a drowsy tone. He looked like he’d pass out any second.
“You. Berik. Stay at the mansion with Hasha.”
“Wh-what’s that mean, my lord? It’s consideration, right?”
“What? You think I’m separating you two because I worry you’ll cause trouble?”
“…Don’t jinx it. Sounds good to me! Huhaha!”
Berik let out a burst of laughter before lolling his head back into a half-sleep. Romandro clicked his tongue at the sight and whispered quietly.
“Oh, and on the way back, pick up some mana water to play the brooch recording. And anything else we need personally while staying at the mansion.”
On the way up, they had recorded Hasha’s testimony onto Deruga’s brooch. Mana water was needed to replay it, so Ian nodded as he grabbed his overcoat.
“Got it. We’ll swing by the commercial district.”
“……?”
Romandro mumbled, surprised at the term “commercial district.” It was phrasing more common among central bureaucrats; even nobles called it the “central district,” “town,” or “shopping street.” Commoners just said “market.”
“Ian, have you been studying behind my back?”
“Studying? What kind?”
“N-never mind. Let’s go. We’re seeing Prince Marib, so make sure your attire is proper. Mini! The carriage?”
“It’s ready. I’ve loaded the documents too.”
“Good. Let’s head out.”
Romandro planted a cheek kiss on Vivianna and stepped outside. A clean, sleek-designed carriage waited at the front gate, replacing the rickety one from their trip.
Neigh!
As the carriage raced down the road, Ian took in every street without missing a moment. It looked much the same from a hundred years ago or now, but the details differed greatly.
‘That spot looks like where Haiman Bank used to be. They must have built right over it.’
A man tossing newspapers while running, stalls displaying fresh vegetables and meat, children lighting cigarettes for tips. Ian’s heart pounded inexplicably with emotion.
Screech.
The carriage didn’t go far. The Imperial Palace Central Guard saluted and peered into the window. Romandro handed over his identification and greeted them.
“Good work.”
“Thank you for the confirmation.”
The massive gate, like those on the outer walls, opened on its own. A city within a city. The palace matched Ian’s memories perfectly. His gaze naturally turned toward the Magic Department.
“Lord Romandro. On the way back after reporting, may we stop by the Magic Department?”
“Sure. It’s in the central building of the Second Palace. We can’t go all the way in, but we can check the atmosphere from outside. By the way, the First Palace has the imperial family’s residences and bureaucrats’ offices, while the Second Palace houses the departments.”
Ian, being a mana user, naturally took interest there. Romandro pointed out directions, explaining the layout meticulously.
“That way is the Third Palace, for staff, servants, and slaves. The Fourth Palace handles lower central departments and external dealings……”
Ian smiled and nodded as he listened, but inwardly fixated only on the Magic Department. Hadn’t Naum said as much? When he used forbidden magic, Naum replied that visiting the Magic Department annex would bring opportunity.
‘Going there should reveal everything.’
Why he entered the body of bastard Ian, what became of Naum in Emperor Ian’s time, whether he was truly dead—all of it. In the foggy path where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, it felt like spotting a distant lantern.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Good. Well done. Drop us off up front.”
“This is the east building of the First Palace main hall. What’s your business?”
The Central Guard at the entrance approached imposingly. Romandro leaned out toward them, while Ian peered outside from the opposite window.
‘This is the palace Crony used.’
He’d never walked the path of a prince, nor had siblings. From the moment Ian entered the palace, he used the emperor’s residence, so this naturally became his nephew Crony’s place.
“Ah! Long time no see!”
“Lord Romandro! You’re back.”
“Came to report on entering the capital. Mind helping with the luggage?”
It was the building housing Prince Marib’s office within the First Palace. The guarding soldiers recognized Romandro and approached warmly. They took the document boxes and asked.
“Will you be meeting Prince Marib?”
“Yes. I have much to tell him directly.”
“Please proceed inside. We heard he’s out, from the shift change.”
“Out? Hold on. What day is it today?”
Romandro counted on his fingers and clicked his tongue. It was precisely the afternoon of the palace fellowship gathering.
“No helping it. We’ll wait a bit. It should end soon.”
“Yes, sir. Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll call a servant. We’ll place the documents in the office ahead of time.”
The two followed the servants to a reception room. Everything was elegant and harmonious, befitting the palace’s prestige. Ian gauged the prince from the room’s atmosphere.
‘The decorations carry nearby kingdom influences, and the books look half-read… but the sun-faded marks align perfectly. No fresh flowers either, which you’d expect in a reception room.’
More intriguing than expected?
Displaying nearby kingdoms’ ornaments openly helped foster intimacy with visiting dignitaries—a measure of his diplomatic savvy.
The sun-faded books extended from that. They hinted at his pursued image and political role.
‘Especially placing harmonious plants where sunlight pours in……’
There was that saying. People who liked animals and children were generally good-natured. Nature affinity suggested the same. He seemed somewhat cold and particular.
Unless it was allergies.
Knock knock.
“Lord Romandro. We’ve sent word to the fellowship venue.”
“Good. Thank you.”
The servant bowed and sneakily eyed Ian. Was that the Bratz border bastard from the rumors? The one who ousted his noble father with lowly blood and seized the lordship—a hot topic in high society.
‘Younger-looking than I thought?’
Having heard he tamed border barbarians, he’d imagined a ferocious man. But Ian struck him as delicate and gentle.
Creak.
With the reception room door fully closed, Ian stared at his tea and asked.
“The palace fellowship—is that with high officials?”
“Yes. Mostly hunting outings, but sometimes art appreciation. One appearance can skyrocket an artist’s value. All sorts of interests tangled up, right?”
Slurp. Romandro smiled blissfully sipping his tea. Nothing beat palace-brewed tea.
“Then Prince Gail will be there too.”
“Hm?”
“If word reaches Prince Marib, Prince Gail will know early. That we’ve arrived in the capital.”
Precisely, that insolent thorn ‘Ian,’ who thwarted their great cause, had arrived. Romandro cleared his throat and replied. A faint note of discord slipped in.
“P-Prince Gail rarely attends fellowships.”
“Is that so?”
Really? Sincerely?
As second prince, he might self-restrain to avoid checks. But saving Molin meant all-out war with Marib, and with a variable in their rebellion plot, would he still?
“…P-Probably? Maybe?”
Romandro caught the implication in Ian’s question and muttered uncertainly. He then gulped down his tea as if parched.
“Why so tense? No secrets once you enter the palace. The Magic Department’s heard by now too—the gates open with mana. Today or tomorrow, what’s the difference?”
“The problem is… there isn’t one. But the psychological burden?”
Romandro cleared his throat again. Having advised in Bratz, he worried Gail might summon him anytime. Ian smiled faintly at the rustling plants.
“If it’s hunting outside, the servant couldn’t have reached him yet. Looks like art appreciation today.”
Ian nodded toward the First Palace annex. Spot-on, without a hair’s breadth error.
* * *
“Ah, is this the statue you mentioned last time?”
“Yes, yes. They said orders were backed up and it’d take ages, but luck was on my side—I got it right away. That sculptor’s the hottest right now.”
“Art. This is art.”
“Oh, care to see this too?”
Bureaucrats from various departments mingled in small groups, sharing their art. Outwardly a casual social gathering, freely scattered, but lines were strictly divided.
Marib’s royalist faction versus Gail’s opposition.
Noble as they were, they pretended ignorance and toed the lines. A subtle, precarious tension fell like first snow, silent and still.
“Prince Marib.”
Then, Marib’s aide approached brashly and whispered.
“Romandro and Ian have entered the palace. They’re waiting in the office reception room.”
Oh ho. Marib smiled and twitched his brow at the unexpected news. Gail, sipping wine while watching, received a whisper from Wesley too. The two princes’ sharp gazes clashed in the air.
“Ian and the Bratz advisor have entered the palace.”