Chapter 12
[We Have to Run]
At that moment, in front of the Grand Temple.
Lady Mare was in a panic. The knights were at a loss as well.
This wasn’t how the Empress was supposed to be escorted. It felt unsettling that the Chancellor had managed to shake off the maids and the knights. Who would protect the Empress if something were to happen?
Why isn’t she coming out yet… it’s so unnerving…
Just then, someone caught her eye.
“…!”
She ran with all her strength toward that direction. Her shoes got dirty crossing the garden, but she didn’t care.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”
And there he was—Leto. He had just finished a meeting and was coming out.
“Lady Mare?”
Leto asked, surprised. He immediately sensed that something was off.
“Where is the Empress? Why are you alone?”
Gasping for breath, Lady Mare managed to catch it.
“Y-Your Majesty… The Empress has gone to the Grand Temple.”
“I know that. What I mean is, why aren’t you with her?”
“Well… only the Empress is allowed to enter the temple.”
“…She went in alone?”
Lady Mare couldn’t bring herself to answer. Leto frowned.
“What on earth were you thinking!”
Lady Mare squeezed her eyes shut.
“My apologies. I tried to stop Her Majesty… but…”
Leto was speechless. Even though he had allowed a private audience with the Chancellor, he hadn’t meant for her to enter the lion’s den alone.
“You fool…”
He was about to head straight to the Grand Temple. Then, as if struck by a thought, he changed direction.
Yutten followed Leto’s heavy steps.
“Your Majesty, where are you going? It’s time for tea with the ministers.”
“Cancel it. Postpone it until the next meeting.”
“But Your Majesty… all the ministers are gathered.”
Yutten whined, but Leto didn’t even hear him. He even waved his hand as if to tell him not to follow.
Yutten trudged back. The ministers stood there, bewildered. Yutten forced an awkward smile and addressed them:
“Ha… the weather is lovely today, isn’t it? Rather than tea, why don’t we all take a walk together?”
Damage control was entirely Yutten’s responsibility.
“What do you say, Your Majesty? Will you hear our petition?”
The Chancellor asked. Oran stood beside him, wearing a servile smile.
I wanted to stop this farce. That way, Oran wouldn’t become wealthy, nor could he funnel funds to the Chancellor.
The problem was after revealing the scam. The Chancellor would start attacking me, just as Leto had said.
Still, this was a wall I had to cross at least once. I couldn’t let them manipulate me out of fear. After all, I am the Empress.
Even if the Chancellor attacks me, I just need to hold on for a year. By then, Merrill would deal with him.
And I had to trust that Leto would—at least this once—stand on my side.
First, I would make the authenticity of the “Goddess’s Snowflake” a public issue. I would expose that it was simply kaolin.
I took a slow, deep breath and spoke.
“But Chancellor, as for this ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’—”
I was about to say, it doesn’t feel sacred at all.
Before I could finish, there was a sudden bang, and the door opened.
“What are you all talking about so cheerfully?”
Someone unexpected had entered.
“Your… Majesty…?”
“Y-Your… Majesty!”
The Chancellor and Baron Oran jumped up in surprise. I just widened my eyes and stared at him.
Leto flopped down beside me, crossing his legs. The Chancellor calmly asked:
“Your Majesty, what brings you here…?”
“I heard that my wife is here.”
He turned toward me. So close.
That familiar, indifferent expression… but today it was different. There seemed to be concern and relief in his icy gaze.
“Yet the Empress doesn’t even greet me. Am I not welcome?”
“…I was too surprised.”
“….”
“I am pleased to see you. Truly.”
He took my hand, which had been resting on my lap, as if to reassure me. Though his face was smooth, his hands were calloused—hands of a seasoned swordsman.
And… they were warm. Only then did I realize how cold my hands had been from tension.
“So, what were you all discussing?”
The Chancellor answered:
“We were discussing the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ with Her Majesty.”
“‘Goddess’s Snowflake,’ you say. Is it this?”
Leto nodded toward the velvet pouch.
“Yes. That’s right.”
He touched the powder, then carelessly poured it out. The granules scattered across the table, sparkling randomly.
“I already had something to say about this, so this is convenient.”
Leto pulled out something from his own pocket—twice the size of the Chancellor’s pouch.
“I believe I made the ‘Goddess’s Snowflake’ myself.”
He dropped it on the table, and its contents spilled out.
“Th-This is!”
Oran was shocked. It was definitely the “Goddess’s Snowflake.” Both pouches contained exactly the same thing.
I let out a silent sigh of relief.
Leto had understood my hint. Remarkable. In that short time, he had found the feldspar and made kaolin.
Both men looked pale. Leto said:
“They’re an unknown type of rock found in the strata of coastal cliffs. It’s noticeably transparent and sparkly, so I suspected, and indeed, it was as I thought.”
“This is…”
“If you like, we could even have an expert confirm whether these two powders differ.”
The Chancellor could only clench his teeth; Leto glared at him coldly.
“But Chancellor, isn’t it strange that this rock can’t be found in the capital or nearby, yet it was discovered at Baron Oran’s estate?”
His tone, calm yet laced with scorn, evoked a subtle terror—perhaps worse than fiery anger.
Baron Oran trembled and stared only at the Chancellor.
“I-I apologize, Your Majesty.”
Eventually, the Chancellor spoke:
“As for this powder… I swear I had never seen anything like it. I had no idea it was just rock powder, Your Majesty.”
“Had no idea? You speak of the Goddess’s miracles with an object you don’t even understand? How am I to entrust the Empire’s faith to a Chancellor who senses divinity in mere stone powder?”
“I… apologize, Your Majesty.”
The Chancellor seemed to choke up, then bowed deeply.
“My senses are failing with age, leading to errors in judging divinity. I nearly caused great harm to the Empire.”
“Hah, old and feeble.”
Leto laughed mockingly.
“Fine, so the Chancellor erred due to age. But what does Baron Oran have to say about this?”
Oran flinched as if burned. He immediately dropped to his knees.
“Y-Your Majesty! I… I had no part in this! Th-this was a conspiracy… N-no, it was the Chancellor who—”
“Baron Oran.”
The Chancellor’s low voice stopped him.
“You are in the presence of the Emperor. Speak nothing you cannot stand by.”
It was a threat. A warning not to speak recklessly.
Oran turned ghostly pale and shut his mouth. The Chancellor stepped forward:
“Your Majesty, for the honor of the temple, I hope this matter can be laid to rest. I will never forget your grace until the day I die.”
Instead of answering, Leto turned to me:
“Seems the Empress was almost involved in this. What do you think we should do?”
Was he passing the decision to me?
I looked at them: Oran pleading, the Chancellor silently bowing.
“Honor is important. Temple honor, needless to say, must be protected.”
A flush of relief appeared on Oran’s face. I added:
“Therefore, the truth of this matter must be revealed. Publicly, of course.”
The Chancellor lifted his gaze at me, clearly flustered.
“If we do not reveal this incident that almost stained my and the temple’s reputation, wouldn’t that indeed harm the temple’s honor?”
“Your Majesty.”
“Also, Chancellor, until your sacred power is fully restored, you should refrain from judging miracles, understood?”
Veins bulged on the Chancellor’s forehead. He must have hated this—he certainly did. Miracle judgment was his hidden lifeline.
He bowed deeply, suppressing his anger.
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The situation seemed to be under control. Leto spoke:
“Good. Chancellor, focus on restoring your sacred power. Baron Oran, report to the royal military police. I will personally interrogate you soon.”
Oran turned pale, almost blue. He tried to speak, then collapsed backward, eyes rolling.
Pathetic. To think he tried to scam the royal family with such flimsy means.
Apparently, he had been manipulated by the Chancellor as well. Now, backing out would be impossible.
Leto took my hand again and said:
“Let’s return to the palace, Empress.”
We walked slowly through the palace’s grand garden. The sun was setting, and seeing the warm glow eased the tension.
Leto was still holding my hand. Had he forgotten to let go?
“Your Majesty…”
“Hm?”
“You can let go of my hand now.”
I thought he would release it when I spoke—but he held on tighter.
“How do you feel about meeting the Chancellor?”
“He’s an impressive man.”
“Don’t lie.”
“He’s a sly one. Probes people naturally, subtly threatens and persuades, and in decisive moments, skillfully retreats. Baron Oran will need to understand the situation and confess quickly.”
“Thank you for speaking frankly.”
“Don’t mention it.”
I worried I had sounded harsh, but Leto seemed to like it.
“I’m glad you understood my note.”
“The sands by the sea shine. Some white stones might do the same?”
“Yes.”
“I investigated all rocks in the canyon secretly, researching dozens of species without the temple knowing. Only this morning did I find the result.”
It had been close. Lucky Leto arrived in time. Things could have gotten complicated.
“In any case, I’m glad it was resolved well.”
He stopped walking and looked at me intently, curiosity and interest in his gaze.
“How did you even think of that? Rocks, fine—but how did you know it would be by the sea?”
“I didn’t say it was by the sea. I only compared it to the sand by the shore.”
“A play on words, then.”
I shook my head with a smile.
“Just consider yourself lucky.”
“Indeed. Thank you for bringing me good luck.”
Was that praise? Not a bad feeling.
But the pleasant feeling didn’t last. He spoke seriously:
“There’s one thing I want to clarify.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you go into the Grand Temple alone? You could have refused a private meeting or told me so we could go together.”
Was this really that serious? The matter had been resolved successfully.
Was he upset that I rushed into the Grand Temple because of him?
“I was prepared for that. I didn’t want to back down.”
“And if I hadn’t shown up then?”
That was a sharp question. It felt almost like he was blaming me.
