Chapter 62
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Queen's Coronation (2)
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Anything else you have to say?
Roins mind was completely filled with the urge to try out the body lotion right now.
To do that, he needed to send Iroa away as soon as possible.
But they were far from done.
Lord Roin, please dont treat me so coldly. I brought some good info for once.
Good info? What is it? If its another rumor about some bard dating someone, Im just heading home right now.
Its not like that.
Even Iroa wouldnt drag out a story Roin had zero interest in for the whole day.
This time, it was definitely info that would help him.
Lord Roin, you said you needed lip gloss, right?
Lately, Roins lips kept cracking.
It was stressing him out more than he could handle.
Yeah. I was gonna buy some in Helond, but lip gloss is harder to find than a star in the sky these days.
Demand was high.
But supply couldnt keep up.
No one was hoarding it on purpose.
The main ingredient, the petals of the flower called bien, had all withered away.
Thats why lip gloss makers were shutting down one by one.
Roin had heard about it too.
Thats why hed previously told Iroa to look into new ingredients to replace bien petals for lip gloss.
And in the process, Iroa had come across some eye-opening news.
Dont freak out. Or, get ready to be shocked.
The bombshell info Iroa revealed to Roin.
It was this...
Theres a rumor going around that a huge field of bien has been discovered.
But Roins reaction was lukewarm.
Ive heard that one before.
Huh, when?
When I was in Endla.
While he was dashing around shops everywhere hunting for lip gloss, one shopkeeper had mentioned the rumor about a bien flower field being found.
But it was just a rumor, nothing more.
It hasnt been confirmed as fact.
Well... true. But doesnt it give you some hope?
Eh.
Roin wasnt the type to believe anything unless he saw it with his own eyes.
So hed just noted the rumor and moved on.
Anyway, theyve sent out an exploration team, so youll hear more details later.
Guess Ill wait.
In the end, waiting was all he could do.
So. That it?
One more thing!
Give me just one more shot.
Thats what Iroa seemed to be pleading.
We got intel from somewhere else that bien has been found too.
Intel? Not a rumor?
Yes. This is top secret.
Iroa didnt just lower her voiceshe hunched her upper body to emphasize it.
She was signaling with her whole being that this couldnt leak out.
Its not a massive field like the one I mentioned before... but we acquired info that whats believed to be bien seeds were found.
Where?
Seeds would work fine.
Roin could just have his researchers grow the bien from them.
The issue was the location.
At the home of a woman named Catherine.
Catherine? You mean Catherine Bell?
Yes, exactly.
If Roin was a man obsessed with beauty, Catherine was a woman obsessed with it.
Shed stop at nothing to look younger and prettier.
Once a merchant, shed bought her noble status with money, earning the title of baroness along with the surname Bell.
Catherine Bells mansion was right next door to Rodris, of all places.
Of all the...
No, maybe it was the perfect opportunity.
Roin was planning to swing by the capital Endla again soon anyway.
For the queens coronation.
That info real?
Honestly... its not the most reliable. But its worth checking out.
Checking, huh.
Roin crossed his arms.
Lost in thought, he finally spoke.
Ill go verify it myself. Im heading to Endla anyway.
Got it. If it turns out to be real, Ill set up a formal purchase through Dian.
No, that wont work.
Huh? Why not?
Here was Roins thinking.
If she wanted to sell, shed have put it on the market already.
Youre right... that makes sense.
She hadnt put it out there because she never intended to sell.
And...
With lip gloss production impossible right now, do you think someone like Catherine would put bien seeds on the market?
The answer was no.
So whats your plan?
Why spell it out?
The moment Roin heard Catherine had a bunch of bien seeds, hed already mapped out a solution in his head.
We steal them.
The entire Leyden family, including Lucas, mobilized for the queens coronation.
Second son Helton and third son Weiji were off on assignments elsewhere, so they sadly couldnt join the family.
Seira was set to attend as a Swordran knight, so she couldnt travel with Lucass group.
The Leydens, plus Gillion and Emilia.
Six of them rented a carriage and set off.
Back in the capital Endla after so long.
The moment they entered the city gates, Roins eyes narrowed.
Whats that?
Something was set up everywhere nearby.
Festive decorations for the queens coronation adorned the streets.
The whole city was in party mode.
Delont had been without a king for a while.
After the 18th, a new 19th was being crownedhow could the people not be thrilled?
Of course, Roin couldnt care less about the event.
I didnt even wanna come.
He finally understood how a kid felt being dragged kicking and screaming by their parents to something they hated.
Life was full of surprises.
Amid it all, Viola was beaming at the dazzling streets shed never seen back in the Leyden territory.
Roin! Look over there! Fireworks!
Yeah. Wow. Amazing.
Amelia chuckled at Roins performance.
Lord Roin, youve got no soul in your reaction.
I know.
Better than no reaction at all, right?
Excited voices echoed everywhere they went.
Meanwhile, Roin turned his head toward where Catherines mansion was.
Today was a light social gathering.
Tomorrow, the coronation.
Two days.
He had to sneak the bien seeds out of Catherines place somehow.
The question is where shes keeping them...
Knowing Catherine, she wouldnt hide them in plain sight.
Probably stashed deep in the mansion.
Ill know when I sneak in tonight.
If not, hed just go and find out.
Roins lips twitched upward.
A grand social party for nobles was underway in the palace.
Nobles from every region, plus key figures from the capital.
All gathered to celebrate the queens coronation.
The noble drawing the most attention was, of course, Kern Tayla.
Kern deliberately headed straight for where the Leyden family was gathered.
Lucas bowed the instant he spotted Kern.
D-Duke! Long time no see!
Indeed. Hope youve been well.
Yes, sir!
Elien and Viola followed Lucass lead, lifting the hems of their dresses slightly in courtesy.
But...
One person who shouldve been there was missing.
Didnt bring your youngest?
Oh, well...
Lucas gave an awkward smile and replied.
He stepped out to the bathroom for a bit.
Hmm, I see?
Kern couldnt hide his disappointment.
Cant be helped if its the bathroom.
It wasnt like hed scheduled a prior meeting with Roin.
He could let that slide.
After Kern left,
Lucas clicked his tongue in regret.
Roin, what the hells taking him so long in the bathroom?
Roin had excused himself, saying his stomach hurt and hed be right back from the bathroom.
Walking the corridor, he confirmed no one was around.
Then,
He vaulted over the railing.
Even jumping from the fifth floor, Roin landed without a scratch.
Hed already checked that guards were nearby, so he slipped quietly into the bushes.
One perk of turning into a kid: his small size.
It made hiding his presence a breeze.
If he had a hulking build like Luoem, infiltration would be impossible.
......
Hiding in the bushes, Roin began mapping the guards patrol routes.
The moment a spear-wielding guard rounded the corner.
Perfect.
Roin darted away from the spot.
He vaulted the wall in a flash, and waiting there was Helond, handing him a small robe.
Here you go, Lord Roin.
Thanks.
A party outfit would draw eyes on the street.
So Roin covered it with the robe.
Catherines place?
Lights were off.
Theyre probably all at the palace party right now.
Before leaving the venue, Roin had confirmed Catherine was there.
Just like every other noble, shed shown up.
He was timing it for nowto clean out her house.
Not for gold, of course.
Bien seeds.
That was all he needed.
The two hurried toward the mansion.
Almost there, when
......?
Roin stopped.
Helond quietly asked at the unexpected halt.
What is it, Lord Roin?
......
Roin stared silently into the dark alley ahead.
He tsked shortly.
Looks like weve got uninvited guests.
Pardon?
Hold off on raiding Catherines for now. Theft can waitfollow me first.
Roin strode boldly into the alley.
Helond had no clue what was going on.
But it was Roins order, so he followed without question.
There had to be a reason.
Otherwise, Roin wouldnt change plans out of nowhere.
Sudden plan switch.
All good, but...
A heads-up would be nice.
A wry smile lingered on Helonds lips for a while.