Chapter 59
Dazar, who had been walking briskly while lightly covering his mouth with one hand, suddenly paused.
It was because of a woman’s name he’d heard from behind.
Silia.
Silia Evanroir.
“…Ha. Seriously.”
He rubbed his ears with both hands as if brushing something away.
Because of his rough movements, his ears quickly turned red.
“….”
Just as his head instinctively tried to turn—wanting to check whether she had already entered—he slapped a hand against it and stopped himself.
He resumed walking.
“She must’ve gone in safely. What am I even trying to confirm?”
Dazar muttered sharply to himself and began heading toward a more secluded area.
It was the direction the palace attendant—who had recognized him earlier—had guided him to.
He pushed through the palace shrubs and entered a hidden passage. Even though the corridor inside was filled with darkness, he continued forward without hesitation.
As he stepped deeper into the pitch-black passage, it felt as though the darkness completely swallowed him.
“But earlier…”
He suddenly stopped and scrubbed his face with both hands. A pointless cough escaped his lips.
There was no one around.
“Kuh.”
The laughter he’d been holding back finally burst out.
“That look on her face—seriously hilarious.”
That pale, frozen expression.
“She really knows how to make a person suffer in all sorts of ways.”
He’d struggled to hold in his laughter the entire carriage ride.
It almost felt like his facial muscles had gone numb. Dazar rubbed the corner of his mouth.
He used to think she was just a strange woman. But lately, just looking at her made him laugh. Even when she did nothing at all, the laughter bubbled up.
“…Huh? Why am I laughing even when she’s doing nothing?”
The logic felt a bit strange, but he accepted it quickly.
She must’ve made him laugh so many times that now, just seeing her was enough.
Shrugging his shoulders at that conclusion, Dazar continued walking.
“Dazar.”
Just then, someone called out to him.
It was a familiar voice.
“…Scarlet.”
“You made it on time. I thought you might be late.”
“At whose command would I dare arrive late? If not now, there wouldn’t even be time for the two of us to speak alone.”
The one who stopped him was Scarlet, dressed in splendid attire.
With the imperial staff and the fox-fur mantle symbolizing the emperor added on, the outfit would’ve been complete ceremonial dress.
Dazar looked over her clothes and asked,
“Looks like you rushed out.”
“It’s hard to avoid Sir Hael’s eyes unless I change clothes at the right moment. I got caught sneaking out last time too and was thoroughly scolded.”
“Heh.”
An emperor being scolded by her own guard—what an amusing image.
When Dazar chuckled instead of offering comfort, Scarlet narrowed her eyes.
Then she sighed deeply, her expression saying I should’ve known.
“We don’t have much time, so I’ll get straight to the point. Last time, there were too many ears around, so I couldn’t say much. I told you that the ‘Followers of Ruben’ would make a move during this Field of Repose, didn’t I?”
“Mm.”
Dazar nodded as if he remembered.
He’d discussed it together with Morocanil back then.
“If they’ve extended their reach all the way to the Field of Repose, there’s definitely someone backing them.”
“I think so too.”
Although he hadn’t said it when Silia and Morocanil were present, Dazar had thought the same.
To infiltrate an event like the Field of Repose and cause trouble, they would need a powerful supporter behind the scenes.
“So this time, I intend to capture every last one of the Followers of Ruben.”
“…What?”
Dazar’s eyes widened.
“They even laid hands on the imperial granary of Miar. That, too, must be the work of those aiding them. We need to stop those who are moving ahead of us.”
“But Your Majesty, the nobles’ backlash will be severe.”
The nobles were already harboring resentment over the imperial order to open their granaries this time.
No matter how powerful the imperial family was, who would welcome an order to open their stores for free?
There were far more nobles than expected who viewed commoners as livestock. Even if they showed no sign outwardly, they would surely be dissatisfied.
“Aside from a few key nobles, almost no one knows about the Followers of Ruben. We don’t even know what guise they may be hiding under at the Field of Repose. If nobles see us arresting those they believe to be their own faction—”
“You needn’t worry about that.”
At that moment, someone else joined their conversation.
Scarlet recognized the intruder and smiled in welcome.
“Ah, Chancellor.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Sir Hael was searching for you with fire in his eyes.”
Dazar raised an eyebrow as he looked at the smiling man who had appeared before him.
Marquis Saedrig Eihartz.
The Empire’s Chancellor—and the emperor’s right-hand man.
Like Dazar himself, he held one of the emperor’s hands…
And yet—
“What do you mean, Chancellor? That we needn’t worry?”
For some reason, Dazar had never liked this man.
He didn’t know why.
It was simply instinctive aversion.
“It’s difficult to explain at length since Her Majesty must return shortly, but the Followers of Ruben have a strong religious nature. Their beliefs are unyielding. If we exploit those beliefs in reverse, we can identify them.”
“Exploit… them?”
“Yes. And now is the time to keep the nobles on a short leash. Even if they feel discontent, if we push harder, they will eventually fall in line. This is a problem we would’ve collided with eventually anyway—it cannot be avoided.”
“……”
Yes. That smooth, flowing speech.
And that ever-present smiling face.
He didn’t like either.
“Then we’ll take our leave first.”
“I’ll see you later, Dazar.”
“…Yes.”
The chancellor bowed with a gentle smile.
As he followed behind the emperor, who walked off with an unsteady gait, the man suddenly turned around and asked,
“By the way, during the last Day of the Rift, it seems Lady Evanroir did not leave her estate. Is that correct?”
Dazar’s eyes narrowed unconsciously.
Why was he suddenly asking about her?
He crossed his arms and tilted his head.
Ah. That guy was learning farming from Silia, wasn’t he?
And didn’t he say they studied together at the academy?
Unaware that the two had been childhood friends since early on, Dazar assumed they were merely acquaintances.
“That’s correct.”
“…Hmm. I see. Even though I advised her to keep her distance.”
With an expression suggesting he could roughly guess why she’d made that choice, Cedric turned away.
“…What is his problem?”
Already disliking him to begin with, Dazar thought the man felt especially irritating today as he sharply turned around.
He needed to enter the banquet hall—following Silia.
“Hm. It seems Dazar has a slightly different view regarding the Followers of Ruben.”
Scarlet murmured quietly.
Behind her, Cedric smiled faintly.
“Please don’t worry. He’s likely only concerned for Your Majesty.”
“I know.”
Cedric was well aware that their friendship ran deep from childhood.
Even if Dazar voiced opinions that went against the emperor’s intentions, it was highly unlikely the emperor would ever see him as an enemy.
There was firm trust between them.
“I was surprised earlier. Sir Hael was charging around like an ogre.”
“What? Oh dear. Then Sir Hael must be quite angry. That’s a sight you only see about once a year.”
Scarlet quickened her pace.
Following behind her, Cedric glanced back briefly.
By now, Dazar would’ve exited the hidden passage and headed toward the banquet hall.
To where his childhood friend, Silia, was.
“I hope Silia enjoys the banquet today.”
Cedric smiled kindly.
It might turn out to be a somewhat trying day for her—but she would endure it well.
“And if she finds it difficult, I should comfort her properly.”
If she felt the urge to lean on someone, he intended to help wholeheartedly.
So that they could be happy together.
Ah.
Ahhh.
Ah, how troublesome.
I let out a deep sigh as I stared at the three women standing in front of me.
“Oh my, Lady. Whatever are you doing right now?”
“How terribly rude. Sighing in front of people.”
“Heehee. Indeed. We should understand. Lady Evanroir must not be used to gatherings like this. Isn’t that right?”
Giggle, giggle.
Watching the trio chat among themselves and laugh like traffic lights, I scratched my cheek with my index finger.
The moment I entered the banquet hall, these three noble ladies had hurried over to greet me.
Each wore a dress of a different color—red, yellow, and blue.
They really do look like traffic lights.
Normally, upon hearing my name, everyone should’ve scattered like they’d seen a cockroach.
Yet these three had boldly pushed through the retreating nobles to approach me.
Brave little things.
Up until a moment ago, I’d been annoyed that they were talking to me.
But now, I was genuinely curious.
What business could these three “traffic-light sisters” possibly have with me—this infamous body?
“Well, the three of you certainly have admirable courage. To dare approach me like this. Are your bodies particularly sturdy? Do you perhaps have the special talent of popping right back up like roly-polies after getting hit?”
When I smiled sweetly and said that—
The three traffic-light sisters stiffened all at once.
