Chapter 21
Let’s Be Strangers Now
“There haven’t been any reports of monsters appearing in the capital since the last incident.”
“…….”
“The hypothesis that someone summoned them seems to be gaining traction among the scholars in the palace as well.”
Erich’s cold voice echoed through the office.
Dante set the documents he was holding down in front of him and nodded slowly.
I need to stop by the Imperial Palace Library after work to borrow the book Elisha mentioned.
If I finish too late, I won’t be able to get it. Should I go and borrow it beforehand?
“What time does the Imperial Palace Library close again?”
At the words that slipped out of his mouth inadvertently, Dante’s shoulders flinched, his face turning startled.
Did I just mutter something else right in front of the Emperor?
“Dante Renaud.”
“I’m listening, Your Majesty.”
So, could you please stop looking at me with such a murderous glint in your eyes……?
Dante let out an awkward laugh and pressed his lips firmly together.
Erich narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Dante.
“Your mind seems to have been elsewhere lately.”
“…….”
“There’s a limit to how much I can overlook as a friend. Especially when it comes to negligence of duty…….”
“It’s not negligence, I swear it’s not.”
At Erich’s words, Dante blurted out as if he were being wronged.
Who and what do you think I’m doing all this for!
Not only had he scoured every corner of the world to find Elisha, but he had also managed to keep her here somehow.
‘That dog-like Erich.’
And here you are, sleeping soundly with your legs stretched out…… well, maybe not.
Dante let out a small sigh as he noticed the dark circles under Erich’s eyes.
Since she had left, Erich had become a shadow of his former self, looking haggard and worn. As someone watching it happen, it was impossible not to feel concerned.
‘You even told Elisha that she was someone who shouldn’t exist in the palace.’
But if he said that in front of Erich, he would surely be interrogated with a ‘Where did you hear that?’
Since it was a truth he couldn’t reveal anyway, it was better to keep his mouth shut and suffer in silence rather than live under Erich’s constant suspicion.
Having finished his thoughts, Dante took a breath and fixed his gaze on Erich.
“If necessary, I will go out on another expedition to the site where the monsters attacked.”
He had spent weeks wandering around just to find one person; surely he could handle that much.
At Dante’s surprisingly motivated gaze, Erich narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
“It’s pointless to go anyway.”
“I’m glad you realize that.”
Oops, my tongue slipped again.
Dante immediately shut his mouth and stole a glance at Erich.
Fortunately, Erich merely looked indifferent as he flipped through the documents Dante had brought.
Come to think of it, Erich was always quite lenient when it came to other people’s slips of the tongue.
‘Is that Elisha’s influence too?’
After listening to her brilliant vitriol, most remarks probably felt like nothing in comparison…….
“Renaud.”
At that moment, Erich shifted his gaze from the documents to Dante.
Dante gulped and nodded vigorously.
“Y-yes, speak.”
“Why are you reacting like that?”
“It’s nothing.”
It certainly wasn’t because he felt guilty while thinking about Elisha.
Erich frowned at Dante’s suspicious reaction for a moment before continuing.
“Since no more monsters have appeared, I think it’s best to wrap this matter up here. What do you think?”
“I agree.”
Though Elisha probably doesn’t think so.
Dante frowned slightly as that expressionless face flashed through his mind again.
“……At the very least, we should focus on the allied summit. So, which delegations have arrived at the palace now?”
“Nox and Rebein. Nox sent their second princess.”
“Oh.”
Dante pursed his lips.
It was customary for the heir to attend the allied summit instead of the monarch, who couldn’t easily leave their post.
So, normally, the first princess—who was first in the line of succession—should have come from Nox, but…….
‘They sent the unmarried second princess on purpose.’
Their intentions were far too obvious.
“Even so, he technically still has a fiancée. To be so blatant about it……”
“I suppose they’re scheming to have her taken in as a concubine.”
“Your Majesty, surprisingly, not everything you say makes sense just because you say it. Would Nox be crazy enough to send a princess for such a purpose?”
Dante let out a small sigh and continued.
“Unless they’re fools, everyone was bound to notice.”
The Grand Mage who vanished right before the allied summit. An absence too long to be dismissed as a simple vacation.
The Magic Knight Commander attending the summit in her place, and the young Emperor looking increasingly gaunt.
One would have to be an idiot not to realize what was going on.
“Everyone is waiting.”
“…….”
“For you to announce the broken engagement.”
Still, it’s a bit surprising that the news has already reached Nox’s ears.
It was just as Dante raised an eyebrow slightly.
“What should I do?”
Erich spoke while staring intently at the documents in front of him.
His voice sounded like he was talking to himself, yet also like he was asking Dante a question.
“Well, that’s……”
Dante started to answer but stopped, biting his lip with a serious expression.
To be honest, judging solely by the results of the past few days…….
‘I don’t think announcing the broken engagement is a bad idea.’
The reason he had tried to bring Elisha back to the palace was ultimately because of the mountain of work her absence would cause, but isn’t that problem already solved?
After all, Elisha was currently handling the paperwork.
Dante’s eyes darted around as he continued his train of thought.
To be honest, the reason he had intended to tell Erich about Elisha’s whereabouts was to avoid getting crushed between two giants. But after spending a few days with her, it wasn’t so bad.
Having to deal with Erich’s tantrums was a bit of a problem.
But he had been doing that for years, so it wasn’t particularly difficult.
‘Besides, Elisha wouldn’t be able to defect to another country because of the oath anyway.’
Under the premise that she wouldn’t become another country’s military asset, the most beneficial choice would be…….
“Wouldn’t it be better to just announce the broken engagement soon? It’s not something that can be solved by hiding it.”
“…….”
“Besides, you don’t even like Elisha in the first place.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Erich’s expression froze into a cold mask.
Dante flinched and blinked rapidly.
I only stated the facts, why is he reacting like that?
“I……”
Erich fumbled for words for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
What was the point of talking to this fool?
Dante Renaud was a man who cared for nothing but his salary and vacations.
“Forget it.”
In the first place, this isn’t a matter to discuss with you.
Erich finally looked away from the documents and slowly closed and opened his eyes.
‘Both the marriage and the breakup.’
No matter what those around them said, there was only one person whose opinion truly mattered regarding this union.
The problem was the fact that she could no longer give him an answer.
“I don’t like it.”
Elisha’s characteristically monotone voice rang through the study.
Dante tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.
“What don’t you like? I brought all the books you asked for.”
“If I want to read a new book, I have to wait until you finish work.”
“You can just read the books in the study during the day.”
“The books I need aren’t here.”
She replied while picking up the book at the very top of the pile.
Dante shrugged and glanced at Elisha.
The books Elisha had requested were certainly not things one could easily find in the world.
From history books covering the entire continent to books on ancient monsters and magic, the history of demons, and even forbidden books on taboo magic.
‘It’s because of the last incident.’
It was obvious.
Dante rested his chin on his hand and spoke tentatively.
“You probably won’t find anything useful there either. After all, it’s only recently that we even learned of the Hide’s existence.”
“…….”
“I’m not trying to stop you, but we’ve already given up on our end.”
We should just be grateful that nothing like that has happened again.
After finishing his sentence, Dante glanced at Elisha again.
Regardless, Elisha didn’t give Dante even a brief look as she asked.
“Is the reason the palace isn’t forming a special investigation team because of the allied summit?”
“That’s certainly part of it. It’s true that everyone’s attention is focused there.”
He replied with a tilt of his head. Elisha didn’t miss the opportunity and added.
“It’s because of me.”
“There’s a serious lack of talent, you see.”
More accurately, there was a lack of talent that ‘Erich could trust and rely on.’
Elisha nodded slowly at Dante’s words.
Since such a task couldn’t be entrusted to just anyone, an investigation team would normally have been formed with Dante Renaud and his subordinates.
But because of her absence, Dante Renaud was tied down by the allied summit in her stead.
So, they had no choice but to dismiss it as a simple incident, hoping that nothing like it would happen again.
‘But……’
Elisha had seen what they hadn’t.
The man with black hair and red eyes, and the Hide he had undoubtedly summoned.
‘I can’t just let it go after seeing that.’
Especially since it wasn’t clear what his purpose was.
But just reading books like this…….
“Dante.”
Elisha shifted her gaze and looked directly at Dante as she spoke.
Dante gulped.
Whenever Elisha called him ‘Dante’ instead of ‘Renaud,’ she usually had a very difficult request to make.
Unaware of Dante’s mounting anxiety, Elisha continued in a calm voice.
“I need to go outside.”
