Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Myoran's Night (1)
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The day after the long-awaited meal.
The familiar northern forest finally came into view.
"Berryhill"
"Norton"
The fork in the road leading to the Northern Imperial Palace and the frontier Berryhill Prison.
The sign pointing to Norton was quite flashy, while the one for Berryhill was tiny and shabby.
It felt like it was revealing the innate status of the people they were about to part with.
"We'll split up here. It was fun for the past few days, Derek."
"Safe travels, Your Highness."
The Princess mounted the white horse brought by her escorts with practiced ease.
Pressing down on the burly beast's back with her skilled thighs.
"Oh, by the way, some prospective wardens will be coming for a site inspection soon."
"A site inspection? We're the most rundown prison even among the frontier ones. Is there anything worth inspecting?"
She rode over toward me on her white steed.
Then looked down at me with a mature smile.
"And yet, that rundown place topped the rankings among all northern prisons this time."
"Pardon...?"
Ah, it must be because of that Page Inspector General who visited a few weeks ago.
He'd come on the Prince's orders to dig up dirt on me, but ended up extremely satisfied with the prison's condition and left.
"Judging by your face, you've already guessed who gave you such high praise."
"Yes. It must be Page, the Inspector General who visited recently."
I'd even survived the Prince's hunting dog.
Camillia extended her hand toward the commendable fledgling right before her eyes.
"Keep striving forward. Especially hold on tight to the assets you seized from the Walter Group."
"Your Highness, that money was actually the one I... "
Camillia gently grabbed my tousled hair and brushed it aside.
Noon sunlight poured down, illuminating my face now free of dark circles.
"Being thorough is good, but no need to hide it from me."
The golden-haired woman, with the brilliant sun at her back, whispered in a voice befitting a wielder of power.
"No matter what misdeeds you concoct, as my close aide, I'll cover for you."
The ability to cover any misdeed.
Princess Camillia had the power and capability to do just that.
"So relax around me. Treat it like home."
She subtly emphasized 'home' while trailing her finger along my neck.
"About this thick... I see."
"Was there something on my neck?"
"No. Just checking for a moment. Anyway, I meant for you to be at ease around me from now on."
"I'll do my best."
I bowed my head politely in respect.
Camillia stared at the top of my head, then secretly flashed a devastating older-sister smile.
"I'm satisfied with that answer for now."
Having heard my reply, the Princess raised her fist into the air.
With monarch-like command, she pointed her entire force toward the Northern Imperial Palace.
"Let's head out."
At Camillia's order, the white horse riders began mounting up.
Some among them had tasted the Princess's improved dish last night, and they all gazed steadily at me.
"......"
Veteran knights of the Imperial family.
They gave me thumbs up, expressing solemn gratitude.
For transforming the taste of ancient myth's outer god tentacles into plain, tender octopus.
After exchanging mysterious hand signals.
They turned their horses toward the Princess and rejoined her.
The moment they escorted her side by side.
"Was last night's dish alright?"
The knights all flinched at the sudden question that hit their hearts.
"Yes...? Ah, of course. Your Highness's culinary skills are truly remarkable."
"No need to say that. I know my own skill level well."
With the Warden gone, she reverted to the empire's foremost lance knight, cool and collected.
She objectively evaluated all her abilities.
"I wanted to make that improved meat pie again."
Her subordinates had tried to say it was good, but she knew.
That her cooking had been utterly crude.
So she'd researched the meat pie recipe alone until perfect, even earning the Imperial chef's approval.
"But no helping it. The opponent had already captured Derek's palate."
The woman returned to her ruthless commander mode, thinking of one adjutant.
Who nagged her superior with an utterly indifferent expression...
But was actually a vixen hiding ambitions as vast as her own.
"So you took a gamble to steal a man whose tastes were already conquered."
"Sometimes pretending to suck at cooking is actually helpful."
The Princess smiled elegantly with the eyes of an older lioness.
"Thanks to that, I got her promise to come to my camp and cook again."
Camillia held her head high like an empress.
Feeling the cool northern winds of her domain as she departed.
"Some battles you deliberately lose."
As we neared the prison entrance.
I glanced at Clea, who was quietly checking the prison schedule alone.
Fortunately, she didn't look upset about losing the match last night.
Her usual cynical personality was actually a plus today.
'Still, better soothe her just in case.'
"Clea, how about salmon steak for lunch today?"
"You had it yesterday."
"I only got one bite, so I was really craving more. It was delicious."
"......"
Clea snapped the schedule shut and stared at me.
With her signature sharp, narrow eyes.
"Are you trying to placate me because you think I'm sulking over yesterday?"
"Uh..., no? I just brought it up because the aftertaste lingered."
Sharp adjutant as always.
Even after my shameless excuse, she pouted.
"Good thing. I put real effort into making it."
She insensitively looked back at the schedule.
But soon had to lift her head again.
"Of course. It's actually Connie and Chris's favorite dish, right?"
Her boss knew that the dish she'd made yesterday was her twin siblings' top favorite.
"How did you know?"
"Actually, about two weeks ago, I passed by your place. Saw the kids briefly then."
I subtly pulled out the small hairpin Connie had given me.
A treasure she'd pinned into my frizzy silver hair herself.
"When I bought them desserts, they said they'd save some because their big sis was making salmon steak today."
I fondly recalled the cute fox-like twins with a warm smile.
"I can't imagine how delicious your salmon steak is for them to hold back with those sparkling eyes."
"......"
The Warden who secretly looked after her siblings on the sly.
Clea, learning this, subtly adjusted her downturned lips.
"I see."
The former Imperial secretary neatly gathered the schedules with a tap.
Slid them into their case, then looked at me indifferently again.
"If you want, I'll make it for dinner tomorrow."
"Perfect. Thanks to you, I can get back to smooth Warden duties."
She acted nonchalant, but her sulk was clearly gone.
I inwardly found her adorable.
But.
Her next words made me realize she was absolutely not your typical twenty-year-old girl.
"In exchange, you'll eat it at my place. If I grill it here, the inmates will covet it."
"Ah, that condition's fine anytime. Feels like home cooking—"
She'd provided dinner, so now desserts for the kids in return.
Calculating as ever.
The carriage soon stopped at the prison entrance.
As I opened the door and stepped out first, Clea secretly took in my back with both eyes.
"Get used to home cooking, and soon the home itself will feel familiar."
Clea murmured with a sly smile.
Then descended as if nothing happened.
Like newlyweds unloading shopping from their own cart.
"Haah, just a few weeks away, but it feels like years."
The gloomy brick building nestled under the eternal snowcapped mountains.
But unlike before, the depressing atmosphere was gone.
Beautiful peach blossoms blooming around the structure.
Vegetables thriving amid scattering pink petals.
Brightened executives' faces and the new road laid around.
It was starting to look like a proper national institution.
"Warden! You're back!!"
A few middle-aged vice wardens beamed as they opened the main gate.
"Yeah, everyone hold up okay?"
"Us? Same as always. We heard about the tournament, Warden. You smashed those Holy See bastards good!"
Maybe they'd grown some respect now.
The guards swarmed out to help carry the luggage.
Thanks to the crowd, inmates started peeking out too.
"Tell us your thoughts from back then. Yeah, we're dying to know."
"Haha, let's unpack first then talk."
I cheerfully replied to the surrounding guards.
But.
"Heh, tell us right here."
"Right. Or want some tea first before heading up?"
They seemed to be stalling for some reason.
Like they didn't want me entering the prison proper yet.
"Nah, heading to my office first."
I naturally brushed them off and headed inside.
Then, right at the first-floor entrance, I locked eyes with two inmates waiting.
"Warden, welcome back."
"Thanks for getting Steelman to straighten up."
Fred and Nix.
The black-haired and white-haired secret weapons of the Holy See now looked more like regular guys their age.
The grim shadows of the underground were long gone.
They were regaining faint smiles.
"You look better since I last saw you."
"Release is right around the corner. Gotta look upbeat if we want a shot at life."
Nix hooked his fingers on both corners of his mouth.
He resembled Anje, but she had a more youthful vibe.
"I'm thinking dessert cafe near the prison. Got into cooking for kids underground as a hobby."
"I'm taking exams to join Berryhill guards."
Seemed everyone was finding paths that suited them.
Nix had even bought land right at the entrance.
'A dessert cafe at the gate would brighten the mood. Good for visitors too.'
"Dessert cafe, huh... I know a great place. If you want, I can arrange training."
"Really? Didn't peg you for a dessert expert, Warden."
My face in the news again...
"Ahem, yeah. And Fred, guarding's too basic for your talent. I'll recommend somewhere else."
"I'm an ex-con... Possible?"
In this empire, exceptional skill trumps a record.
This kid had deep convictions, so even more so.
"I'll introduce you to Berryhill's lord. Need someone to watch him anyway."
"Sounds like a morally dubious guy. I'll handle him faithfully."
I bid them farewell and headed to the second floor.
They watched my back tensely.
As if regretting not buying enough time.
Arriving at the second-floor hall.
Grand Elder Dark was there, oddly...
"This way. Stick to the shade, away from sunlight."
Hoisting the green-haired progenitor onto his shoulders like piggyback for a granddaughter.
"Elder?"
"You're back. She kept flitting around, so I was soothing her."
The Grand Elder spoke with an even healthier face than before.
Gardening kept him fit; without the beard, he'd pass for forties.
"Flitting? These are my magnificent wings. That dull Warden doesn't grasp their terror."
"Enough, get down. He's way younger, but your physical age is multiples."
I warned coldly, but Grand Elder Dark shook his head instead.
"It's fine. Always dreamed of doting on a granddaughter like this."
"Granddaughter? You insolent...!!"
As the progenitor fumed, Dark masterfully rocked the piggyback.
Dizzy Franqua quieted a bit.
"Wondered when Damas would give me a granddaughter like this. Seems it'll take him ages."
A golden retriever came to mind.
Currently on trial in the capital, he'd need time to become husband material.
"Yeah. Especially that sly one."
"True. Yours might come sooner."
Gently setting Franqua down.
He clasped hands behind his back sternly again.
"Me? Nah, zero talent for romance. Prime lonely death candidate."
Dark smirked cynically at my skeptical reply.
Like a great astrologer who sees all futures.
"You never know with people. You don't strike me as lacking bonds."
With those meaningful words, he returned to his cell.
"He's right. With all these people around, lonely death?"
The progenitor hurried to the dark basement, avoiding sun.
Hands behind back, she glanced back at me.
Flashing pink eyes with a fatal voice.
"If you really want solitude, come find me. I'll grant the privilege of spending it with this body in the dark."
"Don't say scary stuff."
Franqua smiled guilelessly, befitting her eons of age.
Then descended the basement stairs leisurely alone.
'Hmm... Just the Saintess and Sword Sage left.'
I headed to the Sword Sage's cell first.
The very quiet room at the hall's end.
"......"
Other inmates brighter, but this room dead silent.
Suited her, who fled alone to this distant land.
"Myoran, you in?"
For some reason, I felt like knocking today.
And that bad feeling hit spot on.
"......"
No response from inside.
I flung the door open.
Rushed in and realized instantly.
"What? Where'd she go?"
The inmate had escaped.
As I stepped back into the hall dumbfounded, I spotted Grand Elder and the progenitor peeking from the corner.
'These guys were hiding her all together?'