187. Summer Vacation
187. Summer Vacation
Even while listening to Sara's summary, my eyes never stopped moving as I quickly scanned the Holy Kingdom's movements.
Even after the Sacred returned to the holy land, the Twelve Cardinals had been visiting Ge Vihenum on a regular cycle.
The interval between arriving at Ge Vihenum and returning to the Holy Kingdom was two months. Then they would stay in the Holy Kingdom for a month before departing for Ge Vihenum again.
Each time, the escort they brought along was the Blood Heaven Knight Order.
The personnel taken to Ge Vihenum changed every time, and the same was true of the Twelve Cardinals.
Except for seven years ago, the number of cardinals moving at once was six. The remaining six cardinals handled the Holy Kingdom's various events and services.
The Patriarch always remained at his post, and the Executors, unlike the Blood Heaven Knight Order, stayed in the Holy Kingdom and went around judging heretics.
So the Executors and the Patriarch aren't in league with the Demon bastards?
I couldn't say that was true of all of them.
Mikel had said the heresy had seeped in so deep that friend and foe could no longer be told apart.
For now, it would be best to give up on finding allies inside the Holy Kingdom.
"Is there anything separate on Nuclexirol?"
"Yes. As far as I was able to investigate, no information on Nuclexirol existed at all."
"Not even a single transaction record on the black market?"
"I was able to find records of it spreading through the Empire, but I could find no records inside the Holy Kingdom."
Not existing at all, not even on the black market...
Among countless drugs, Nuclexirol is the easiest to obtain and the easiest to come across.
No matter how much of a Holy Kingdom it is, there's no way there are absolutely no humans who touch drugs. The Holy Kingdom is still a place where people live, after all.
I tapped my lips lightly, then furrowed my brow.
"So they're definitely bringing Nuclexirol in."
I had told her a week ago that this "incident" was the awakening of an Apostle of Gluttony caused by Nuclexirol.
That was why I had Sara look into information on Nuclexirol, and it was too clean.
In a situation where even a moderate amount of dirt would have been suspicious, being told that no trace existed at all turned suspicion into certainty.
"...I think so as well."
"And they're controlling that information."
"I would guess the Cartel's influence is at work, though whether the Cartel's power reaches into the depths of the Holy Kingdom, I cannot say for certain."
"What if the imperial family is behind the Cartel?"
No matter how much I was raised in a ducal house and received all sorts of education, I'm not exactly politically savvy.
Of course, with my Past Life experience and my memories of what Luna used to say, I'm probably better than the average person, but it's still true that this isn't my field.
So I asked Sara to confirm, and after sinking into thought for a while, Sara's lips twitched slightly.
"You must mean someone other than the Emperor. And among them, the person closest to the throne would be..."
"The First Prince, Anton de Hermann."
"...Yes. If the Empire's First Prince is pushing the Cartel from behind, I would expect it is not entirely impossible."
"Among the Six Pillars, the Puppet Emperor might also be backing the Cartel. That's probably likely."
The corners of Sara's eyes trembled faintly.
I considered giving her a little time to think, but there wasn't much time, so I kept talking.
"The Eustetia collateral line also seems to have their hands in this."
Undisguised fury settled over her trembling eyelids.
Sara, who was better than anyone at hiding her emotions, let her feelings show.
And that feeling was rage.
"They're a collateral line stuck out in the Beruna Region, but since you're not surprised, I guess you already knew?"
"...I am sorry to say, but yes."
"What about Dad? No, never mind. If you know, then Dad obviously knows too."
Sara didn't answer and avoided my gaze.
"Anyway, that's the situation right now. The collateral line is trying to drag down the main line, the Cartel is after the profits that would come from that, and the Puppet Emperor and the Holy Kingdom are..."
Should I say this or not?
There was no need to say it. If it were something I needed Sara's help with, I would have said it, but I didn't need it, and I didn't want it either.
Just bringing me this information must have meant taking on quite a lot of risk... I don't want to make things more dangerous than they already are.
For now... Sara is like family to me, after all.
So I was about to just shut my mouth, but.
"The Puppet Emperor is after the Shedding, and the Holy Kingdom is after the Saintess's Resurrection, I imagine."
At Sara's next words, my mouth fell open blankly.
"...How do you know that, Sara...?"
"A week ago, Executors visited the Eustetia Duchy."
"...What did they say?"
"They said a Revelation had come down that a descendant of the Hero would lift the shadow cast over the Holy Kingdom. And they even said that descendant of the Hero was not the Duke, but another descendant."
"Good heavens..."
I squeezed my eyes shut and smacked my forehead.
They could've just... just come to me quietly. Why? Why go out of their way?
Well, was it because I'm a minor and needed guardian consent?
Then why the hell did that lunatic Mikel go on about a guardian?
No... was it just... simply... a missed delivery?
If the Executors visited the academy about ten days ago... that's a three-day gap.
...A missed delivery would make sense.
"...So, what did Dad say...?"
"That, I cannot tell you with my own mouth. You will have to hear the rest directly from the Duke."
"Don't tell me he's grounding me at this age... or something like that?"
"Even if you were grounded, I do not imagine you would stay locked up in the Red Cherry Palace."
"True. Even if I were grounded, I'd find a way out. So is he going to break my arms and legs so I can't even think about leaving?"
"...Has the Duke ever raised a hand against you since you were born?"
"He's never so much as swung a club at me, let alone said a harsh word."
"Then please do not say such things."
Sara said that, but I thought that if I told Dad the plan I had prepared, I might actually get hit at least once.
Because I had only given him the brief version, not the details.
"...Could I get out of it by acting cute?"
"It's good that you're even thinking of acting cute, but you mustn't abuse it. And as for this matter, it won't work at all."
"Can't we just turn the carriage around right now and head straight for the Holy Kingdom?"
"I will stop you even if it costs me my life."
"Ugh..."
This thought is a little... unfilial, but.
Right now, I was glad Mom wasn't in the duchy.
If Mom had found out... I might really have been locked up with broken arms and legs.
*****
Stella swallowed dryly and stared with her mouth hanging open. Beside her, Pina made a fuss as if she were about to pass out.
"...Seeing it in person, it's even... way bigger."
[I have never seen such a big building in my entire life!!!!!!! I think it's bigger than the village I lived in!!!!!]
"Hmm... it really is huge."
Sure enough, seeing the Imperial Palace in person in the Imperial Capital really drove it home.
On top of that, with the sky growing dim as night fell and the brilliant lighting added, it looked even bigger.
No, it didn't just look bigger—it actually was bigger. It was definitely bigger??
I'd always thought everything Dad said was just bluster, but it really was bigger...
Is this even allowed?
I mean... doesn't that cause problems, like some crime or another?
-I'm gonna build a huge! A huuuge house! A house way bigger than the Imperial Palace! And Ronan, Paulo, Luna, Kaloso, and I are all gonna live there together!
-Huh? Rebellion? If you say stuff like that, I'll smack you one!
Arisa, that crazy chimpanzee, really had built a building bigger than the Imperial Palace...
"What's the point of you being surprised? You've lived here all along."
"I'm surprised because I've only ever lived here. This is the first year I've seen the Imperial Palace since I was born. And in the first place, there's no saying that the Red Cherry Palace is bigger than the Imperial Palace."
"Well, if you've only lived here, I guess that makes sense... But the fact that there's no such saying—is that because it might cause all sorts of problems related to imperial authority?"
"Yes. That's right. Actually, if you dig into the shadows of history, there are even rumors that the Imperial Palace expanded its land after the Red Cherry Palace was built."
Sara, who had carried all of our luggage, chuckled as she spoke.
"So even if you go elsewhere, it would be best to refrain from saying it was bigger than the Imperial Palace."
"Hah... R-right. I see. Y-yes... I'll keep that in mind."
Stella pressed her lips together tightly, took the luggage Sara handed her, and looked around awkwardly.
"A-all of these are cherry blossom trees, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's a shame it's summer now..."
"We can just come again next year. What's there to be sad about?"
"...N-next year, can I come again?"
"There's a festival and all, so we can just use the club as an excuse and come once."
[May I come as well, same as this time?]
"Yeah. There's tons of good food around here, so you'll like it too, Pina."
"Hee!"
"Th-then... then... then next time, I'll... somehow, through the club, make sure I can come... I'll try!"
Stella clenched both fists, her face flushed red, and her eyes sparkled.
Beside her, Pina wagged her tail so hard her hips shook too, beaming brightly.
"Up until now it's always been the two of us, but next year it'll be four of us having fun, huh?"
I smiled softly as Eurasia approached.
"That's right!"
Eurasia, who had heard my words, was wearing a somewhat awkward smile.
Because she'd come to the duchy after a long time? Because she was with the knight order?
It was a smile a little different from those.
"Oh, right. Eurasia, isn't it about time for you to head down to your family home?"
It was the awkward smile she wore when it was time to go to her family home.
But... was it already that time? Wasn't it a little early?
Since vacation had started, maybe she was planning to go a little early.
"Ah... right. I'm planning to greet the Duke, report my return to the Commander, and then head down."
"Right away today?"
"Umm..."
Eurasia chewed on her lip for a moment, then put on her usual smile and spoke.
"It's late today, so I think I'll leave tomorrow morning!"
"Is it going to take more than fifteen days again this time?"
"Yes. It'll probably take about fifteen days... Why? Do you think you'll miss me?"
Miss her, my ass.
I meant to say it like I usually would, but for some reason the words wouldn't come out.
...Why? What's causing this?
I don't know. I just feel strange.
Is it because it's about time for my period?
"Yeah."
So I just nodded.
At that, Eurasia's eyes went wide.
Stella sucked in a surprised breath beside me, and Pina just thought the Red Cherry Palace was cool.
"...Then, then... in that case... shall I stay just a little longer with you, my lady?"
"Yeah. Stay a little longer, then go."
I swallowed the words "since the kids are here too."
I didn't bother tacking on words that would sound like a pointless excuse. Why? I don't know either. I just didn't want to.
It's the mood swings that come before my period... something like that.
"And come back as fast as you can."
"...Because you have to go to the Holy Kingdom?"
"Well, there's that too. Anyway, you got it?"
Eurasia hesitated for a moment, then smiled more brightly than ever and hugged my arm.
There was no answer.