Chapter 62
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Emperor's Preemptive Strike
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The next day, in the emperor's office.
Count Polan entered after completing his investigation into the matter Emperor Justis had ordered following yesterday's banquet.
"Upon checking locally, it is true that Lady Philomel was detained at the guardhouse."
Crack.
A crack formed in the armrest gripped by the emperor.
Count Polan continued his report, growing even more tense.
"However, we couldn't uncover the detailed circumstances of the incident at the time. My apologies."
"Why not?"
"Apparently, none of those who were at the guardhouse during that time remain in Anhellium to this day. The prisoners detained alongside her have all vanished without a trace, and every single guard has suddenly resigned and left the city."
"......The Averyden brat must have pulled some strings."
Justis said in a low voice.
"Come to think of it, I heard that Young Duke Averyden rushed back from Anhellium to meet Lady Philomel, then left the capital the very next day. If he did get involved, that must have been when."
"Insolent fool. He dares hide matters concerning my daughter from me and act on his own?"
"Shall I summon the young duke for reprimand?"
Count Polan asked cautiously.
"......No, not for now. He is Philomel's fiancé, after all."
Justis hesitated for a moment before waving his hand in refusal.
Seeing this, Count Polan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. There was no benefit in clashing with the empire's foremost house of merit.
The emperor issued a cold command.
"But one act of mercy is enough. Track down those who vanished. If they're alive, kill every last one without exception."
"As you command."
After responding, Count Polan brought up another matter.
"And, Your Majesty, there is one more thing I believe you should know."
"What is it?"
"Sir Humphrey, the chief court mage, is waiting outside to report to you directly."
"Send him in."
Soon, the highest-ranking court mage, Humphrey, entered the room. He was an exceptional mage who had joined the palace just a few years ago and risen rapidly, even earning a title.
After properly greeting the emperor, Humphrey spoke.
"This concerns the two newly appointed court mages."
"Is there a problem?"
The emperor's brow furrowed at the mere mention of some novice court mages.
"It may not be a problem per se, but...... Both of them are Children of Dawn, and that troubles me."
"Children of Dawn?"
Children of Dawn. The term referred to a past experiment and the beings born from it.
Justis drummed his fingers on the desk, lost in old memories.
"Children of Dawn, eh...... A mad mage's folly gets a grandiose name."
The Magic Tower had conducted the experiment in secrecy, but its scale and the number of people involved made complete concealment impossible.
The Belleroph Empire and other nations had been on high alert about the results. It was only natural, given the potential for vast power to emerge en masse.
It was an experiment as alluring as it was dangerous.
What if that previously uncontrollable power fell into their hands?
Each nation drooled with ambition.
Humphrey spoke cautiously.
"Three children were born from that experiment. One avoids showing their face so extremely that even I know little about them, but I know for certain who the other two are."
Count Polan, listening beside him, grew gravely serious.
"Your Majesty, shall we take them into custody immediately?"
Justis silently stared at Humphrey without responding.
"Did you ask why they became court mages?"
"I did, but they only said it was for personal reasons."
"Was their behavior suspicious?"
"No. I've kept watch, but there were no irregularities."
"Then there's no justification for arrest. Just keep them under surveillance."
"But we don't know what schemes they might be plotting!"
Count Polan cried out sharply.
"Polan, getting entangled with the Tower Master or Children of Dawn will only bring needless trouble. And......"
Justis smirked arrogantly.
"Even if they harbor other intentions, do you think they pose even the slightest threat to me?"
"However......"
"It might be different if their father came himself. But that man isn't one to bother with such petty schemes. If he stormed in openly, perhaps."
"......Understood."
In the end, Humphrey left with only orders to monitor the two brothers.
As Count Polan turned to leave and carry out his own orders, he addressed the emperor.
His lord seemed somehow uneasy.
"Your Majesty, is something troubling you?"
"......No. No, it's nothing. Probably just my imagination. Go."
Count Polan withdrew, puzzled.
Lexion arrived at the meeting place only after the time he himself had specified.
Jeremiah grumbled irritably.
"You sure took your sweet time."
"Sorry. I had surveillance on me, so it took a while to shake them."
"Did they catch on?"
"I wasn't infiltrating under a false name, so it was inevitable. Even if I had disguised myself, they would've figured it out quickly. The empire's intelligence network isn't to be underestimated."
Jeremiah sighed.
"Keep that Cadin in check. If you're not careful, he might be under surveillance for life."
"I've been cautious. With Lord Rguin's help, dodging surveillance on Cadin is easy enough."
"Why do I have to go through all this trouble......"
Jeremiah clicked his tongue lowly.
"To take Phil away. Isn't that why you stayed behind too?"
Lexion continued nonchalantly.
"......"
"Your identity hasn't been exposed yet. Persuade her as quickly as you can, for all our sakes."
"......Persuade how, exactly?"
"The surest way is to turn the Magic Tower into a place that appeals to Phil."
"How?"
"Simple. Just bring things she likes to the tower."
"What does she like?"
Jeremiah muttered.
"That's for you and Lord Rguin to find out. What's the point of sticking by her side if you can't even do that?"
Lexion narrowed his eyes.
"Think back carefully. You might have noticed something already."
"As if I'd......!"
"You went to the central square alone with her last time, didn't you?"
Jeremiah, rummaging through his memories, spoke up.
"She liked the pastries from that Creasion shop."
"Creasion might be tricky. It's so renowned they probably won't want to come to the Magic Tower unless we force them."
"......She also said the apple pie from that rundown pastry shop was delicious."
Jeremiah recalled Philomel's flushed face after eating the apple pie.
"That shouldn't be hard, then. I'll handle the recruitment."
"You're really going to do it?"
"Of course. Offer them great terms, and won't they want to relocate to the Magic Tower?"
Lexion said confidently.
But the news he brought the next day was anything but.
"Sorry. I checked, but the owner's family had already vanished."
Jeremiah furrowed his brow.
"Where to?"
"They fled in the dead of night, so no one knows. The [Rainbow Pastry Shop] has closed too."
"A waste of effort."
"No helping it. But where on earth did they go?"
Their question was answered before long. The truth appeared on Philomel's breakfast tray.
"Wow, Jeremiah. This apple pie was made by the owner of that place we ate at."
"What? He's here?"
"According to the maid who brought the tray, he was suddenly specially hired by the palace."
They had been beaten to the punch, handsomely so. The emperor had moved first.
Only Philomel remained blissfully unaware of the behind-the-scenes struggle over her.
"It's probably because of me. I mentioned apple pie in front of Ellensia once, and she said she wanted to try it. So His Majesty must have given the order."
Jeremiah decided not to tell his innocent little sister the full story. Ignorance benefited them.
"Still, it's great that we get to eat this apple pie here. It's good for the owner too, now that he's working at the palace."
Philomel shoved the pie into her widely opened mouth. Then she savored it with a blissful expression.