Chapter 18
“What are you doing?! Move, now!”
“Water! Bring water!”
“Hurry! We have to catch the sparks early! If the flames spread, it’s over!”
The guard, who had been standing dazed, snapped to his senses at the urgent cries around him.
Several quick-footed squad members were already scooping water from the canal.
It was a route they had established in advance according to Ian’s instructions.
“W-we’ll help too! Everyone, move!”
“Hey, clear away anything that can catch fire, hurry!”
The crowd that had been watching also rolled up their sleeves to help the Guard.
They split into two groups—one carrying water and the other moving goods to safety—and set to work.
For a while, 4th Avenue was filled with the sounds of shouting, people running, and the heavy splashing of water.
Simultaneously, water was relentlessly doused onto the merchant guild’s building.
The flames, which had looked ready to spread ferociously at any moment, began to subside little by little.
“Over here!”
“Hey! Is everyone alright?”
“How did the fire start?”
At that moment, journalists and news illustrators who had heard the news flocked to the scene to cover the story.
「Sudden Lightning Strike Causes Fire on 4th Avenue! Citizens Evacuate in the Middle of the Night!」
「Crown Prince’s Guard Swiftly Extinguishes Fire Caused by Lightning!」
「The Crown Prince’s Rapid Response Capabilities Displayed at the Fire Scene!」
The next morning. At the Imperial family’s breakfast banquet.
The Emperor was scanning the articles with a satisfied expression.
The entire media was covering the previous night’s fire, praising the foresight of Ian, who had stationed guards in advance.
“Hahaha, well done. Very well done!”
After checking the last newspaper, the Emperor folded it and laughed heartily.
It could have been a major disaster, but thanks to the actions of the Imperial Guard stationed beforehand, it ended as a minor incident.
Naturally, the public’s perception of the Imperial family was positive.
The Emperor looked back at Ian with satisfied eyes.
“At first, I thought you were talking nonsense. Ian, you did very well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Ian replied with a smile.
Of course, he too had been quite surprised by the turn of events.
To think a fire would actually break out. And by an unexpected natural disaster, no less.
The Emperor harbored the same curiosity.
“I am glad the accident was prevented, but how did the Crown Prince know to station personnel in advance?”
“Indeed. You could have wasted the Imperial treasury, couldn’t you?”
The Empress chimed in from the side.
It was a futile attempt to chip away at the credit Ian was receiving.
‘How can someone act so predictably?’
Ian clicked his tongue inwardly.
Of course, he had a scheme to use this situation even more effectively.
“In truth, I did not do it because of a fire. Rumors have been circulating in Centerfield lately.”
“Unsettling rumors?”
“Yes. I heard that a poisonous herb native to Pernin has entered the city and is spreading secretly.”
“A poisonous herb? Do you mean that ‘Devil of Pernin’?”
“Yes. It is said to be so addictive that it turns a person into a total wreck in an instant.”
As he brought up the poisonous herb, Ian observed the Empress’s reaction.
Carola also seemed quite shocked by the mention of the herb.
“Goodness, such a terrible poison. How on earth is the border being managed…”
“Ahem.”
Carola, speaking thoughtlessly, caught herself as the Emperor cleared his throat.
It was her husband, the Emperor himself, who had recently ordered the reduction of personnel at the border.
Ian watched the entire exchange closely, not missing a single reaction.
‘She really doesn’t seem to know.’
Carola didn’t appear to be acting.
Thanks to growing up reading his stepmother’s moods since childhood, Ian could distinguish between when the Empress was lying and when she wasn’t with a high degree of accuracy.
Above all, if the Empress were behind this, she wouldn’t have made a comment that sounded like an outright criticism of the Emperor.
‘Perhaps Duke Brian’s prediction was correct.’
Thinking he should give Brian an extra day of vacation next time, Ian continued.
Regardless of the Empress’s reaction, he couldn’t miss out on the credit that was rightfully his.
“That is why I stationed my guards around 4th Avenue, where the merchant guild’s goods move. Last night’s event was just a stroke of luck.”
Ian spoke with an uncharacteristically humble tone.
The Emperor nodded at this, then put on a stern expression again.
“I appreciate the Crown Prince’s heart in trying to solve the Empire’s problems. However, it was a bit hasty to deploy troops meant for your own safety.”
Yet, the Emperor’s tone was filled with trust for the son who had performed well.
“I will have new City Guard personnel stationed around 4th Avenue. Have your current guards return immediately for your own safety.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
Unlike Ian, who nodded triumphantly, Carola clenched her fists under the table.
She absolutely loathed this situation where Ian’s reputation had soared and the Emperor’s trust in him was reaffirmed.
‘If I had known, I should have attempted an assassination while the Crown Prince’s Palace was unguarded!’
Of course, assassinating the Empire’s Crown Prince in just a few days was an absurd idea.
But Carola was so displeased that such preposterous thoughts were crossing her mind.
To make matters worse, there was another situation turning her stomach.
“As expected of my brother! You’re the best! Your Majesty, will I be able to become a cool adult like my brother one day?”
Maximilian, oblivious to his mother’s feelings, chirped another mindless comment with a bright face.
The Emperor laughed heartily and looked at his youngest son with pride.
“Of course, Prince. One day, you will become the most reliable subject to Emperor Ian Heriet.”
“Yes! Your Majesty! I’ll work really hard!”
Carola’s face contorted at the conversation between the father and son.
Watching the contrast between the harmonious atmosphere of the Emperor and Maximilian and the Empress’s frustration was even more refreshing than Ian had expected.
‘Quite a sight.’
Ian enjoyed the scene leisurely.
He felt satisfied that he had landed a blow on the Empress himself after always having to endure.
‘Should I be grateful for the fire?’
No, to be precise, he should be grateful to that woman, Lobelyn Dines.
If not for her, he would never have stationed the troops.
「Your Highness, this is just a hunch, but a fire might or might not break out here in a week.」
Recalling Lobelyn’s words, Ian smiled silently.
The more he thought about it, the more nonsensical it sounded, and it was a bit funny that he had fallen for it so completely.
‘Since she’s the primary contributor to this, I should reward her.’
Maybe about twenty dresses from Prom Sabina?
Ian hummed inwardly, imagining himself wearing out the boutique’s threshold with Lobelyn for an entire month.
‘What is it? I feel a sudden chill.’
Lobelyn looked around, feeling a shiver down her spine.
But there was nothing unusual nearby.
Only the familiar scenery of the drawing room at Marquis Bennett’s estate.
“Bell? What’s wrong?”
Cornelia, who had approached her, patted Lobelyn lightly on the back.
Lobelyn, relieved to see her friend’s face, paused for a moment.
She hadn’t noticed before, but Cornelia was holding a bowl full of snacks.
“Connie, what is this?”
“Oh, I brought some fried corn. Apparently, this snack is all the rage in the New Continent these days.”
……Isn’t that popcorn?
Cornelia added that she felt like she’d be eating this snack a lot lately as she grabbed a handful.
Watching Cornelia munching on popcorn somehow gave Lobelyn a familiar feeling from her past life.
“Bell, how are things with His Highness lately?”
“W-what do you mean?”
“You two parted like that at the plaza that day. I’ve been dying to ask. Do you know how much I’ve held back because you were so busy after Viscount Dines returned?”
As Cornelia said, Lobelyn had been busy for a while.
She had to welcome her parents back from Newerie, and there were many household chores to handle on behalf of her busy parents.
Naturally, her meetings with Cornelia became less frequent.
They had only managed to meet under the pretext of preparing for the upcoming Imperial banquet.
“N-nothing. Nothing happened.”
Lobelyn’s gaze fell upon a newspaper article on the side table regarding the recent fire.
As with most articles, it praised Ian’s wisdom, even including a portrait of him.
‘I see Ian everywhere these days.’
Lobelyn flipped the newspaper over.
It was a relief the fire had been prevented, but she hadn’t expected to see Ian’s face so frequently.
“Bell?”
“Ah, Connie.”
In the meantime, Cornelia had moved to Lobelyn’s side.
She looked down at the newspaper Lobelyn had flipped over her shoulder.
“That’s the person who will become the new Marquis Maxwell. Do you know that all the newsletters in Centerfield are talking about him lately?”
“Really? Does inheriting a title usually get this much press?”
“The Maxwell Marquisate has been vacant for a long time, so there’s more interest. And look. He’s already a hot topic among the ladies of the capital for being incredibly handsome.”
At Cornelia’s words, Lobelyn also glanced down at the side table.
The portrait of a mysterious young man was smiling back at her.
