Chapter 22
Let’s be strangers now
Episode 22
“You want me to get out?”
“…….”
“That was a joke just now, so don’t look at me like that….”
Dante shuddered and grumbled immediately after.
As expected of someone who lived with Erich—that look in her eyes is terrifying.
Anyway, that wasn’t the point.
“Are you saying you’re going to investigate this yourself?”
“It was a task I would have had to take on eventually if not for you.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
“Besides, it’s practically my fault that a formal investigation team couldn’t be formed. Naturally, I should be the one to resolve it.”
“That’s also true, but….”
Dante’s voice trailed off, his face clouded with worry.
It was certainly unsettling to let the previous incident be buried like this. He had agreed to close the case only because there were no leads to be found, but if Elisha took charge of the investigation herself, things might change.
The oath stated that ‘Elisha shall not leave the Renaud estate without the permission of Dante Renaud,’ so she would be able to go out as long as he permitted it.
By now, everyone who knows Elisha’s face should be at the Imperial Palace for the Allied Summit….
However, there was always that one-in-a-million chance.
“Renaud.”
Elisha called his name as if to prod him.
Dante let out a low groan and resumed his thoughts. Although the engagement would be broken soon, he needed to be careful until a definitive reason for the annulment was established.
I’m planning to claim the engagement was ended out of necessity because Elisha disappeared, but if the person in question is spotted around the capital….
Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
“It’s still difficult right now. You haven’t officially broken off the engagement yet.”
“I can move around without being caught.”
“If that were true, I wouldn’t have caught you either.”
Elisha’s brow furrowed slightly at Dante’s remark. Dante let out a small sigh and continued.
“Just wait until Erich officially announces the annulment and brings in a new Empress.”
By then, even if someone spotted Elisha, there wouldn’t be much they could do. At most, they might say, ‘The missing Grand Mage has appeared, so we must bring her back to the palace.’
I’d be fine with that, actually.
Though he doubted Elisha had any intention of returning to the Imperial Palace.
“There’s no set date for that.”
While Dante was lost in thought, Elisha spoke up sullenly.
Dante shook off his reflections and gave a bright smile.
“It’s not as indefinite as you think. Nox has already started making moves behind the scenes.”
“Behind the scenes?”
“They sent their Second Princess as the head of the diplomatic delegation for the Allied Summit.”
It seems they’ve noticed that things have soured between you and Erich.
He spoke in a smooth, melodic tone. Elisha’s hand, which had been turning a page, came to a dead stop.
“……Already?”
“I was a bit surprised myself.”
Though it didn’t seem like they were taking any overt action just yet.
Dante chuckled, a smirk playing on his lips. Regardless, starting with Nox, things were about to get hectic regarding the selection of a new Empress. For other countries, that might even become a more important issue than the Allied Summit itself.
Erich will suffer, though.
And his suffering would be Dante’s joy!
“Anyway, if something happens, I’ll truly ask for your help then. So for now, just consider this a vacation and rest.”
For the time being, there wouldn’t even be any documents he could bring back to the estate.
“Well, I’m off then.”
Having finished what he had to say, Dante stood up and stretched.
Even then, Elisha remained staring blankly into space, her gaze hazy.
“Um, Renaud.”
She only looked up once Dante’s mana began to overflow and fill the room.
But all Elisha saw was the lingering light left behind by his vanishing magic.
Elisha blinked vacantly and shook her head. It was no longer any of her business anyway. Now was the time to focus on other things.
For instance, finding a way to get Dante’s permission to go out.
The wind brushing against his cheek was quite warm.
Erich, who was walking briskly through the corridor, shifted his gaze toward the direction of the breeze. In the small rear garden adjacent to the corridor, white flowers were already in full bloom.
The previous Emperor had passed away between late winter and early spring; it seemed that, in the meantime, spring had fully arrived.
When I was young, I used to love reading books in the palace gardens on days like this.
Both he and Elisha.
As the memory surfaced naturally, Erich blinked slowly.
‘I like reading outside. It feels like the wind is whispering the story to me.’
It was a habit born simply from a passing comment Elisha had made. From then on, he would walk around with a book he’d picked from the library early in the morning and sit down to read whenever he found a spot he liked.
Silver hair fluttering in the occasional breeze.
Blue eyes that would settle like the deep sea whenever she was reading.
And yet, if she heard footsteps nearby, she would notice before anyone else and grip her staff….
“I greet the Emperor of Cardion.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice drifted into Erich’s ears.
Erich snapped back to reality and looked straight ahead.
With dark black hair and the mysterious pink eyes unique to her royal bloodline—it was the Second Princess of Nox.
“I am Primavera Nox.”
She followed with a soft smile and a bow.
Erich opened his mouth, his expression cold and devoid of emotion.
“I don’t believe there is any reason for the Princess to be in the corridors of the Main Palace.”
“I was exploring the palace a bit to familiarize myself with the path to the main conference hall. It seems I’ve taken a wrong turn.”
Primavera replied in a gentle voice. Erich spoke again, his tone still dry.
“The main conference hall is on the opposite side of the Main Palace. You should have been guided there upon your arrival.”
“I suppose I got confused while looking at other things. I’m a bit shy by nature, so I found it difficult to stop the maids and ask for directions….”
Primavera trailed off nonchalantly, showing no signs of being intimidated.
Erich let out a silent, mocking laugh.
Even if her counterpart was a young, newly enthroned Emperor, her current behavior was excessively overstepping. Such boldness must be her true nature.
With a personality like that, it’s no wonder she’s wandering around the Main Palace as if she owns the place.
The way she countered his words without batting an eye reminded him somewhat of Elisha. Though there was a distinct difference in that Elisha spoke only the truth, never lies.
……Again.
The moment he let his guard down even slightly, his thoughts drifted back to Elisha without fail. Even though he knew it was already too late.
Upon realizing this, Erich offered a bitter smile. Primavera’s eyes widened, and she blinked blankly.
Why is he suddenly smiling?
“Escort the Princess to the conference hall.”
In the meantime, Erich had regained his composure and issued the command in a chilling voice. His face was now so impassive that his previous smile felt like an illusion.
“Your Majesty.”
Regardless, Primavera began to speak with her elegant smile still intact.
“If it wouldn’t be an imposition, might I ask Your Majesty to guide me personally?”
“…….”
“Was my request too much?”
Her pink eyes, the color of flower petals, crinkled softly. Erich furrowed his brow slightly in spite of himself.
It was rare to see someone more audacious than Dante Renaud.
“There are many eyes in the Imperial Palace.”
He replied shortly after in a flat, monotone voice. In short, it was a warning not to act any more familiar than this.
“And because of that, rumors spread quickly in the palace, don’t they?”
But Primavera countered without looking flustered in the least.
“I’m sure there isn’t a soul who doesn’t know why I’ve come here.”
She finished her sentence and smiled brightly once more. Erich narrowed his eyes, unable to find an immediate response. To reveal her purpose so openly.
“Since Cardion’s Grand Mage has disappeared, shouldn’t you at least secure some political advantage?”
“…….”
“To be honest, I was half-forced into this, but seeing Your Majesty like this makes me glad I came.”
Primavera’s eyes wandered around for a moment before fixing back on Erich.
Erich met her gaze with a frigid stare.
How easy did he look to her for her to say such things so freely? It was a natural consequence, given that he was a very young man who had ascended the throne without any apparent specialty, coupled with a vacuum in the nation’s primary military power.
Perhaps the fact that Elisha left also played a part.
It was as good as failing to protect his own fiancée.
Having finished his thought, Erich exhaled a shallow breath and spoke.
“Princess of Nox.”
“Please call me Primavera. You may even call me Lira.”
“It seems the Princess is under some kind of misunderstanding.”
His signature blue eyes glowed with a chilling light. For a moment, Primavera swallowed hard. If his gaze had seemed merely disinterested until now, this time….
“First of all, Cardion is not a nation that will collapse due to the absence of a single person. If it were, we wouldn’t have been able to declare an Empire in the first place.”
Of course, a power like ‘Elisha’ was a temptation anyone would covet, but Erich still had other cards to play. Cards that were no less powerful than Elisha, which he had simply been hiding until now.
“I am well aware that I am still seen as an unreliable Emperor. That is likely why the Princess treats me so flippantly.”
“Your Majesty, I…….”
“I shall overlook today’s rudeness. After all, you are currently here as an envoy of an allied nation, standing on equal footing. However—”
Erich continued, his eyes empty as he curled the corners of his eyes into a slight smile.
“Do not expect such courtesy to continue.”
