Chapter 85………………………………………………
Terrence saw straight through my heart. Just a few days ago, I had firmly declared to him that if I couldn’t persuade Elliot to the end, I would give up cleanly. But now that the moment had come, it wasn’t as easy as I had claimed.
“But what choice do we have? If he receives life imprisonment, Elliot might escape.”
Terrence answered calmly.
“Escaping won’t be easy.”
“I know. But there’s the power of Cassius and Elliot’s intellect. If they take enough time and attempt it carefully, it might be possible.”
Moreover, they still had the eccentric inventor on their side. Who knew? He might suddenly invent some kind of long-distance teleportation artifact.
I can’t force my personal morality or wishes onto Terrence.
If I half-heartedly spared Elliot, I could end up suffering losses myself.
“Then let’s do this.”
After a brief silence, Terrence made a suggestion.
“I’ll give you three more days.”
“…Is that possible?”
“It is. Even if Elliot confesses before His Majesty today, the investigation won’t conclude immediately.”
“That’s true.”
They would need to verify the confession’s authenticity. It would take time to reach a final decision.
“In the meantime, we’ll keep Elliot imprisoned here again. It’s not long, but if you wish, you may try persuading him further.”
“I see! I thought once he went to the imperial palace, he’d have to remain there.”
“I can adjust a matter of that scale within my authority. His Majesty has likely already made his decision, so he won’t particularly care where Elliot is kept.”
“Riena will be released soon, then.”
“Yes. Now that there’s justification to dismantle the Iver Merchant Guild, much of His Majesty’s concern will be eased.”
“Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you about that.”
“What is it?”
Terrence leaned closer and brought his ear near me. There was no one around, so it seemed unnecessary, but I whispered into his ear anyway. Better safe than sorry.
As I spoke softly, his body trembled faintly, perhaps tickled. After our secretive exchange ended, his eyes gleamed.
“Is that true?”
“It’s only my speculation for now. But from what I’ve heard about the Crown Prince’s personality in Cassius, there’s a real possibility.”
“I’m sorry to say this, but it sounds rather far-fetched…”
“Haha, does it?”
“No. Strangely enough, I believe you.”
A dangerous-looking smile spread across Terrence’s face.
“For some reason, it sounds exactly like something my dear younger brother would do.”
I was sincerely relieved that I was not the target of that smile.
“It costs nothing to check. Go back to the palace and confirm it.”
“I will remember.”
Terrence took out a pocket watch from his coat and checked the time. It was quite antique-looking—memorable.
“It’s about time to head to the imperial palace. I’ll call those who will escort Elliot Rude.”
“I’ll tell Elliot to prepare.”
I opened the door to Elliot’s room and told him to get ready. The reply I received was absurd.
“What? You expect me to go like this?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Do you know how many days I’ve been wearing the same clothes? Idel, hurry and get me something clean.”
“What are you talking about clothes for? Do you think you’re going on a trip? Stop complaining and get ready.”
“I’m going to meet His Majesty the Emperor. My attire must be proper. Don’t you know that? And bright colors suit me best. Keep that in mind.”
“I’m so dumbfounded I can’t even respond.”
I closed the door and turned to Terrence, who was still beside me.
“Even if he acts that annoying, don’t hit him because of the artifact. You be careful too, Tay.”
Terrence’s expression turned strange. His voice, cooler than before, came out slow and measured.
“…It seems you’ve grown rather close to him while staying here.”
“Close? Me and him?!”
What part of that looked friendly? Elliot trying to treat me like a maid? Or me being speechless at his ridiculous demands?
“That’s not a funny joke.”
When I firmly denied it, Terrence nodded as if accepting it.
“I almost regretted the decision I made earlier.”
The only thing I could infer was that he now disliked Elliot even more.
“I–I refuse! Stay away!”
Outside the police annex, Elliot recoiled at the sight of Terrence attempting to board the same carriage as him. From the moment he first faced Terrence today, he had seemed oddly intimidated—like a prey animal instinctively sensing danger.
“Y–Your Highness… how could you ride in the same carriage as a criminal like him…?”
The investigators escorting Elliot looked flustered as well.
“It’s fine. Don’t concern yourselves. I have personal matters to discuss with him.”
No one dared stop the prince. Terrence climbed into the carriage anyway and waved at me.
“How should I put it… how chaotic.”
I muttered as I watched the carriage disappear.
The next afternoon, Terrence remained alone in his residence, drinking the herbal tea Idel had told him about.
Yesterday, he had watched Elliot confess fluently beside the Emperor.
“…Since matters have come to this, I have no choice but to confess. Yes, I was blinded by money and betrayed the grace Lady Cassius bestowed upon me. Execute me!”
Elliot’s acting wasn’t particularly masterful, but it wasn’t unbearable either. The Emperor listened indifferently before telling Terrence that Elliot indeed seemed to be the mastermind.
“It would be best to proceed that way.”
It was practically an order to designate Elliot as the mastermind and release Riena. The Emperor cared less about the true culprit than about what benefits he could extract from the situation.
Terrence had also examined the evidence brought by the man who had sent the letter to the chief chamberlain. It pointed flawlessly to Elliot as the culprit. Two guild executives named him. Most decisively, Elliot himself confessed.
From the Emperor’s perspective, there was no reason to dig further. Moreover, he had heard that while Terrence was briefly absent yesterday, Duke Cassius had secretly requested an audience with the Emperor.
“What did he offer in return?”
Land again? Or perhaps one of the many mines in northern Cassius territory? Given how readily the Emperor hinted to Terrence about releasing Riena, it was certain the price had been substantial.
Even Duke Cassius—so famously proud—must have been desperate with his cherished daughter imprisoned. To think he had even pleaded before the Emperor.
“If we don’t release her by today, he might come to protest.”
Terrence recalled the woman who had whispered in his ear at the police annex. The sensation that tickled his ear. The lovely-colored hair that had swayed before his eyes.
As he remembered it all, he sipped the bitter tea she used to brew for him daily.
The aftertaste lingered on his tongue—but the impression faded.
“…The taste is different.”
It wasn’t the flavor from that shabby teahouse he had frequented while awkwardly playing bodyguard. Even after summoning the elderly palace attendant famed for brewing the finest tea in the imperial palace, it wasn’t the same.
The headaches that had plagued his life like constant obstacles were gone. The recipe wasn’t wrong. But the taste was different. Only the taste.
“Now isn’t the time for this.”
He brushed his bangs back and refocused. To make use of the information Idel had given him yesterday, today was his only chance.
Just then, Jack entered with a stiff expression. The awaited news had finally arrived.
“Your Highness was correct. I can’t believe something like this is happening…”
“It wasn’t discovered, was it?”
“Of course not! I was cautious—extremely cautious.”
“Well done. Tell me exactly what you saw.”
After hearing Jack’s report, Terrence felt immensely pleased—but he did not smile. It was too early to laugh.
He drained the now-lukewarm tea in one gulp and headed straight for the Emperor’s palace.
The Emperor looked somewhat surprised at his son’s unannounced visit.
“Have you come to invite me to dinner? I’m pleased, but it’s rather early.”
“I have a request, Your Majesty.”
“Only one? Two or three are fine—ask as much as you like. You’ve brought me great joy lately. What wouldn’t I grant?”
With what he had extracted from Duke Cassius and the wealth of Iver soon to be absorbed into the treasury, the Emperor was in high spirits.
“You must come with me somewhere immediately.”
“Where?”
“It’s within the imperial palace. A minimal escort will suffice.”
“My, my. And where would that be?”
“It would be better for Your Majesty to see it with your own eyes rather than hear it from me.”
“Hmm.”
The Emperor stroked his chin, then smiled playfully.
“I don’t know what it is, but it sounds entertaining.”
“It won’t be entertaining. It’s quite serious. You may even be shocked.”
“Shocked? If you put it that way, I must see it myself. Lead the way.”
Everything proceeded smoothly according to his plan.
