Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt (1)
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Imperial Palace secret conference room.
Under the dim lighting, the emperor sat with a grave expression.
Deep shadows fell across his face like those on a statue from myth.
As if they were debating a matter upon which the fate of the nation hung.
"Capital Defense Knight Commander. Continue."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Greta Mikhail.
The black bob-haired woman pointed sharply at the blackboard with keen eyes.
"Derek Minster, age 21. Currently serving as Berryhill Prison Warden for the 80th day."
"All previous wardens lasted less than two weeks, yet this one alone has renewed the record at three months."
"That's precisely what's so unusual. The prisoners there are infamous for threatening their guards. For him to endure means he must have struck some deal with them."
"Some deal?"
At the emperor's question, the chalk moved on its own, listing out the prisoners' names.
Anje Renault, Dark Angard, Myoran, Damas Angard.
"Yes, as you can see, they're all extraordinary individuals. Each one capable of annihilating an entire city."
"So you're saying he's rallied them into a faction. With Camillia Andalusia at its center."
The black bob-haired woman bowed her head lightly.
"Yes. Derek Minster can be considered one of Princess Her Highness's favored retainers."
"I'm pleased my daughter has retainers beyond the White Horse Unit, but it worries me too."
Previous emperors had always educated their children equally.
Since any gender could ascend to the throne, the next emperor was chosen purely by merit.
Initially, succession proceeded smoothly through fair evaluations.
But as time passed, the evaluations grew darker.
Retainers secretly competing to promote their favored royals.
The incidents and accidents they caused inevitably fueled palace intrigues.
Aware of this, Baudouin VIII had meticulously monitored his children's retainers.
However, his worsening illness had recently prevented him from doing so.
And it was in that very gap that Derek Minster had appeared.
"Camillia has a righteous nature but trusts no one, so she's had few retainers."
"From childhood, her exceptional talent attracted many vermin-like suitors. It's my failing that I couldn't stand by her side to advise."
Greta Mikhail apologized with a remorseful expression.
As a descendant of a previous imperial scribe, she had long maintained close ties to the imperial family.
"It's fine. What's important now is that my once ice-cold daughter has finally taken someone as a retainer."
The emperor looked down at the paper on his desk.
At the portrait of one man sketched there.
"And it's a real snake of a man, at that."
"......"
The black-bobbed knight commander eyed him warily with cat-like eyes.
The emperor's grip was so intense that smoke rose from the paper he clutched.
"My mistake. I should have educated her to interact with men somehow from a young age..."
His thin, elongated eyes and sinister features that looked black-hearted inside.
Even the previous imperial scribe, who married seven women, had a sly but not so ominous face.
"That's not Your Majesty's fault. From childhood, Princess Her Highness treated most men like lowly beasts."
"That's exactly the problem. Why doesn't she see this scoundrel with his rotten record the same way?"
"Likely because Confession Magic proved his innocence, stirring her sympathy. Her Highness has always been one to blame herself for her own mistakes."
"Sigh, she's too pure. She takes after the benevolent and pure Empress Lea, as recorded in history."
Among previous emperors, Lea was renowned as a virtuous and upright woman.
Camillia resembled her so closely that she too was seen as pure and steadfast.
"On the other hand, this man's background is highly suspicious. Bought his family registry, with roots in moneylending."
"Indeed, he's lacking in many ways to be her first retainer. We'll have to investigate thoroughly at this hearing."
Golden magic power simmered from the emperor's broad back.
His only daughter had shown this man—son of a moneylending family—as her retainer.
Moreover, his academy records were completely blank.
Usually, that meant hiding unspeakable misdeeds.
Nobles who had approached her in the past for her beauty did the same.
"Yes, good. We'll dig into every last detail."
Baudouin VIII, rising from his sickbed after a long time.
Somehow, this portrait had done far more for his health than the finest elixirs.
Kiiiek―――.
"Your Majesty, so you're here."
Radiant golden hair and a form-fitting uniform.
His one and only daughter, Camillia Andalusia, opened the conference room door.
"Why have you dimmed the lights so much again? It'll only make your eyes worse."
The emperor's eyes flashed like in his heroic prime.
The young knight commander, catching the signal, quickly infused magic into the blackboard.
The verbose topic on the blackboard changed to something innocuous: National Foundation Day event plans.
The emperor then reverted to a sly, old fox's cunning gaze and rose.
"No need to worry about me, Camillia. Thanks to your devotion, my health has 'greatly' improved lately."
"Still, don't overdo it. I'll handle the hearing properly."
"I'll just attend. It's time for you to take the reins."
"Thank you for your trust."
The princess bowed in greeting and closed the conference room door again.
Baudouin VIII closed his eyes, listening to her receding footsteps.
"I hope she doesn't shield the warden at the hearing."
"Even for a retainer, she'll distinguish public from private. No need to worry overly."
Greta Mikhail reassured him while erasing the blackboard.
The emperor's eyes sharpened as he muttered to himself.
"Bring him before me before the hearing starts. We must summon him before my daughter does."
"Understood. His Berryhill carriage has just arrived at the outer walls."
The emperor rose and flung open the curtains.
Brilliant sunlight poured in, revealing the majestic city of 300 years' history.
"May the ancestors aid my pure daughter."
While the emperor admired the view outside.
Camillia walked the corridor alone, then stopped abruptly.
"It's been a while, Derek. Already a full month?"
With the sunlight at her back, shadows fell over her face.
Her blue eyes, bereft of their usual gleam, harbored desires mirroring those of her ancestors.
"When the hearing turns against him, I'll step in at the perfect moment and grant him a favor."
She had already prepared countermeasures against the Holy See's inquisitors.
Leaning her cheek lightly against the wall, she crossed her arms alone.
"That proves his innocence and transfers him to the palace. Done."
Many nobles would attend the hearing.
Proven innocent before their eyes, Derek's reputation would soar.
At that exact timing, she'd scout him as a retainer, praising his talents.
To the secretary position no man had ever claimed despite their attempts.
Keeping him in the same space as her.
And when he returned wounded from the battlefield, just like that time...
The princess bit her tongue lightly as her expression slipped unwittingly.
She glanced around quietly to check if anyone had seen.
"Ahem."
Confirming no one was there, the princess headed to the assembly hall for the hearing.
The carriage entered the imperial palace.
It passed the moat and stopped before the plaza fountain.
Even after it halted, I couldn't easily rise.
This plush sensation I hadn't felt in ages.
In my efforts to avert ruin, a warmth I'd never known in my lifetime.
I savored deep sleep within it.
"We've arrived, Warden."
Slowly opening my eyes, cascading blue hair greeted me.
The soap scent blooming from her locks cleared my mind.
"......?"
But soon, I jolted upright.
For I was lying on my stoic vice warden's thigh.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"You were sleeping so deeply your dark circles faded. I let you rest."
A stocking mark imprinted on one cheek.
I rubbed my face hastily, staring at my expressionless, sulky vixen of a vice warden.
"I'll reward you handsomely when we return."
"Just focus on managing your condition now."
Clea rose smoothly and prepared to disembark with practiced ease.
Thanks to her, I joined the exit line comfortably.
Ahead of me stood two young ladies in academy uniforms.
At first, no particular thoughts arose, but the black crown of one's head felt oddly familiar.
'For a moment, I thought it was Myoran from behind.'
The twin tails on either side made it different from her style.
Besides, Myoran was from the Eastern Continent, far from the academy.
Of course, if cleared of charges, I'd enroll her.
Spending her last teen years in prison was tragic.
To prevent her fall to darkness, I needed to give her new experiences, like the novel for Anje.
With that thought, I eyed the short-uniformed girl ahead.
'If Myoran attended the academy, would she style her hair like that?'
"......"
No, unlikely.
She who drooled pervert at the sight of my face alone.
For such a chastity-obsessed woman to wear twin tails...
And that provocative outfit hugging her figure so tightly...
Impossible.
Plus, prison barrier magic prevented outings.
Just a coincidental resemblance.
Descending the carriage, the two students headed straight toward the academy path.
I shook my head, dismissing my groundless suspicion.
"The hearing is in the assembly hall. It's nearby, so let's walk."
"Sure. We'll wrap it up quick and I'll treat you to lunch."
Clea eyed me steadily at the lunch offer.
"Something expensive. My legs are still numb."
"Of course. While we're here, I'll cover everything—eat freely."
On the way to the assembly hall building.
An official awaited at the entrance to escort us.
"Warden Derek, this way."
Black bob, navy uniform-clad woman.
Looking about 25, she had come with a few knights to greet us.
'Why is the Capital Knight Commander here...?'
Typically, mid-level knights handled hearing escorts.
Why would a knight order's leader appear?
'Perhaps the princess specially requested an escort.'
Greta Mikhail had always been on good terms with the royals.
Plausible she'd come at the princess's command.
"Please, come this way. I'll guide you to the assembly hall."
"I never expected the renowned Knight Commander herself to greet us. It's an honor to follow."
I bowed politely in greeting.
"No need for such words."
With a curt reply, she ascended the assembly hall steps.
Leading me toward a dim corridor.
"This way."
Following silently, I realized something off about her actions.
The direction she indicated wasn't the main hearing chamber.
It was a smaller VIP waiting room.
"Someone wishes to see you before the hearing."
"Me?"
As I tilted my head like a dubious eel.
Commander Greta opened the waiting room door.
That instant.
The atmosphere in the assembly hall corridor shifted completely.
'I think I know who's waiting...'
I swallowed deeply and stepped inside.
The moment I faced the colossal presence awaiting within.
'I just showed my face...?'
Cold sweat trickled from one cheek, where a faint imprint remained.