Translator: Nox

35 - The Crown I Will Steal from You

Chapter 35

The scrawled lines on the parchment were actually a coded message.

Don't try to find me anymore, Kensington's spy.

What will be revealed won't be me,

but you.

And it's written in Kazen.

It was astonishing how he knew their cryptography, but something else shocked him even more.

• Kensington's spy.

'He, he knows my identity!'

Being called the Red Fox wasn't a coincidence.

'How did he know? Where was I exposed?'

The last note written in code shattered Umberto's will to track down the other party.

'I have to prevent my identity from being revealed at all costs. The fact that they're contacting me means they want something from me.'

What do they want?

He wrote a reply in code and hung it on the windowsill.

Half a day later, the note he had written was gone, and a small pouch was hanging there.

Have your master take this.

As he opened the box, a fresh fragrance faintly brushed his nose.

"...Scented candle?"

Umberto paused.

The captivating scent that lingered at the tip of his nose somehow felt ominous.

'Etienne's hobby is collecting scented candles. That dirty bastard only lights them when he's doing his nighttime activities.'

However, recently, Etienne had been forcibly abstaining, using scented candles to soothe his anger and desires.

'Are they trying to use me to eliminate Etienne?'

He shook his head and wrote a note.

Impossible. Too dangerous.

But the reply that came back was chilling.

Easier than your comrades in Osof getting their heads cut off, wouldn't you say?

"Osof...! How do they even know that!"

Umberto's fingertips trembled.

The spies Danju sent were scattered all over the continent. They were even among the nomadic tribes currently at war with Baldina.

Osof was the capital of the Rasai Tribe, known as the most brutal and savage among them.

They knew everything, from enemies abroad to the private affairs of domestic officials. Their intelligence capabilities inspired more fear than admiration.

'It's better to hand over one lustful pig than to have all my comrades in Osof exposed.'

Not long ago, he had received orders to return to his home country. This meant that the higher-ups no longer found value in Etienne.

Feeling like he was on a leash, he acquiesced.

The next day, in Etienne's bedroom.

As a few rays of intense sunlight pierced through the curtains, Etienne, buried in the bed, scowled as much as he could.

"I'm sorry, Master. It's almost time for you to go to the Royal Palace."

"Shut up. Who do you think you are, telling me what to do, you insect..."

Etienne spewed out curses that no servant could bear. Perhaps it was because of the heavy drinking he had done late into the night, but his head was throbbing.

Just then, a fragrant scent brushed his nose.

"...Hmm?"

Etienne half-opened his eyes at the refined and comforting scent.

In his blurry vision, he saw a Maid lingering near the candlestick.

"Is that a new scented candle you've brought in?"

"Ah, no. It was included in the gift that Baron Girion sent last time when he was trying to solicit a position."

Umberto smoothly delivered the prepared answer.

'If I say I just brought it in, he'll look for me first if something goes wrong, right? I can't let that happen.'

If something really did happen to Etienne because of that scented candle, selling out Baron Girion would buy him enough time to escape.

"...You stepping-stone-like bug...!"

Just then, an ashtray suddenly flew and hit Umberto in the chest before falling to the ground.

Etienne bared his yellowed teeth and spat.

"Didn't I tell you to bring good, precious things quickly? Don't be stingy, light them up lavishly!"

The annoyance that had been softened by the sweet scent seemed to surge up again.

"You ignorant pig, you should know you're living well thanks to me. When else would someone like you get to smell such a fragrance if not by my side?"

His jiggling white belly, undulating with his self-introduction-like fit of anger, made him even more repulsive to watch.

Umberto tightly gripped the scented candle carved with a snake design.

"Yes, of course. All of this humble one's glory is thanks to you, Master. With every breath and step, I pray while recalling your magnificent presence and sculpted smile."

The smooth, cold sensation of the scented candle somehow felt pleasing. There was no more hesitation in the hand that lit it.

"At least you have an eye for good things..."

The captivating scent filled the room.

Etienne contentedly buried his face back into the pillow. His undulating flesh disappeared into the white sheets.

Back in his room, Umberto shoved a hastily scribbled note into the windowsill.

Operation complete

\ \ \

Early in the morning, a cart carrying groceries exited Count Etienne's Residence.

A boy in a straw hat sat in front of the cart, driving the ox. Rattle, rattle, rattle, the cartwheels made a rough noise.

It was as the ox entered the downtown area of District 3, where the vegetable shops were located.

"Tom. Did you make the delivery okay?"

At the question from a stranger who had climbed onto the cart, the boy lifted his straw hat. His freckled face grinned.

"You wound me. Have you ever seen this indomitable Tom do anything sloppily?"

He handed over a piece of parchment.

"But, what did that servant guy used to do? The way he moves and finds traces, it looks like he's one of us no matter how I look at it."

"That's none of your business."

"You're still not trusting me even after using me like this? I'm a little disappointed in Princess."

Tom pouted.

"It's not Her Highness who doesn't trust you, it's me."

"Hmph. My teacher told me to become Her Highness's hands and feet. So if you think about it, I'm also Her Highness's subordinate. Neril, are you afraid I'll take your place?"

"Her Highness told me to give this to you. I'm leaving."

Without paying attention, Neril tossed a pouch to Tom and jumped off the cart.

The pouch was full of gold coins. Tom gave a bitter smile. No one pays subordinates. This is the line that the Princess has drawn.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have sent someone else back then."

He wondered if he had made a bad impression for no reason.

An uncharacteristic sense of deep regret lingered.

Perhaps it was because he had directly confirmed the changing complexions of the people in the Soldier Village that the Princess had built.

\ \ \

Royal Palace.

"Your Highness. Etienne's servant has made a move."

Neril handed over Umberto's note.

Seeing the phrase 'Operation complete', Medeia nodded.

"You've worked hard. Neril, your concealment skills were a great help this time as well."

At Medeia's praise, Neril wore a faint smile.

It was a shy smile that contrasted with his outstanding skills, which even the eyes of renowned spies couldn't detect.

"You flatter me. But, how did Your Highness know that he was a Spy of the Empire?"

"Well, that's..."

Medeia had first seen Umberto when she was being punished by the Queen Dowager in the chapel.

"You must not approach."

"Come now. It'll only take a moment!"

"Minister! What is this rudeness?"

A noisy situation where the Queen Dowager's Maid and the Minister's servants clashed.

One of the Minister's servants, struggling with the Maid, caught her eye.

When she was wondering if the face was familiar, the man's chest was torn open in the fierce scuffle.

Seeing the small fox-shaped badge rolling and falling in front of Medeia, she was certain.

'Why is Count Kensington's spy in Baldina?'

That was the symbol of the 'Red Fox Corps', the intelligence unit that Count Kensington commanded, which only a very small number of Imperials knew about.

Countess Louisa Kensington was a meritorious subject of the Kazen Empire.

She had helped the current Emperor of Kazen, Perdikkas II, since he was just an Imperial Prince.

When the late Emperor Alkettas II suddenly died of illness, his younger brother Perdikkas II ascended to the throne instead of his young son.

Kensington devoted herself to loyalty, even spending her own private funds to build her own intelligence network throughout the Empire.

It was thanks to Count Kensington that Perdikkas II was able to fend off his formidable brothers and sit on the throne.

This was because she was able to know and prepare in advance for secret plans such as assassinations and rebellions through the spies that the Count had hidden everywhere.

However, whether that loyalty was excessive or not, Perdikkas II, having achieved his goal, tried to kill her and seize her spies.

In the end, Kensington was chased by the Emperor's shadows and starved to death.

The 'Red Fox Corps' also disintegrated and disappeared without a trace.

The reason Medeia recognized the face of the spy at a glance was thanks to Iason.

"Medeia, I need to absorb the spies of the dead Count Kensington. Before Uncle takes them all away. What should I do? Help me."

"Don't worry, darling."

Using her former position as the Princess of Baldina, she searched the scattered connections and sent people to find the spies.

She used their anger towards the current Emperor to make them join the expedition.

In the end, they became Iason's hidden hands and feet, the most powerful force in eliminating rivals for the throne.

It was all Medeia's achievement.

'I was foolish.'

But her end was not much different from that of Count Kensington.

'Iason. You won't receive their help in this life.'

She would eliminate any possibility of the Count, the Red Fox Corps she commanded, becoming Iason's hands and feet.

First, she would move the servant Umberto to eliminate Minister Etienne.

And her ultimate goal was to bring Count Kensington through this connection in the future.

Medeia raised the corner of her lips.

'Since I created the Emperor, I have to destroy him myself.'

Neril was bewildered by the uncharacteristic sneer.

"No, let's start preparing to go out."

The trap to hunt Etienne had been set. Now it was time to meet the hunter who would snatch him up.