Chapter 18
I hadn’t expected him to be that embarrassed. From the outside, he looked like someone who wouldn’t even blink whether he was being praised or insulted.
While cooling his face with the wind, he glanced at me.
“You look like you’re enjoying teasing me.”
Teasing? I was just stating the facts.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere lightened considerably. I spoke to him.
“You seem very busy these days. You’ve lost weight.”
“Have I? I’ve had a few things on my mind.”
“Because of Oran?”
“No. That investigation has been handed off to someone else… Actually, the captain of the Imperial Guard retired. He’s a knight who’s been on the battlefield with me since my days as crown prince.”
“The knight escorting the carriage now? He seems a bit young to retire.”
“Are you talking about Hugo? He’s the new captain. Until recently, he was the vice-captain. The problem is that there’s no suitable candidate to promote to vice-captain. They’re either too young or not skilled enough.”
Personnel matters were never easy—especially when it came to selecting someone close to the imperial family. He would also need to consider relations with the Grand Temple.
Then, a good idea occurred to me. Didn’t I have a talented person right by my side? A capable individual who, despite his abilities, was currently unemployed.
“May I recommend someone?”
“You? Who?”
“He’s skilled, and his age is just right. He’d also fit in well among knights who value loyalty.”
“There’s someone like that?”
Leto showed interest.
“There is one catch—he’s a mage.”
He immediately waved his hand.
“Sean is out.”
“And why not?”
“Are you trying to arrange a job for your brother now?”
“It’s not just for Sean’s sake.”
Just before the Goddess War, the Grand Temple buys off the mages. As a result, the mages all die fighting for Merill—and among them are Sean and Louis.
That was one future I wanted to prevent at all costs.
For now, this was the best solution. To put the two of them on Leto’s side.
“Mages are neutral territory, in a way.”
“Neutral territory…”
“So staking a claim early isn’t a bad idea. There’s no guarantee that neutrality will last forever.”
If it were Leto, he would understand what I meant—that the mages could just as easily end up on the High Priest’s side.
“Isolation isn’t good, Your Majesty.”
However, he shook his head.
“It’s a good idea, but the Imperial Guard is a different matter. Even setting Sean’s personality aside, bringing a mage into the Guard would provoke strong opposition from the knights.”
“I see….”
I gazed out the window helplessly. A sigh escaped me. It was difficult. I wanted to save the two of them, no matter what.
Leto, who had been watching me quietly, spoke.
“But.”
But?
“I’ll consider it.”
“Really?”
“I’m not saying I’ll accept him. I’ll give him the right to apply to the selection ceremony. If the internal backlash is too strong, I won’t be able to take him.”
Even that was more than enough. Knowing Sean’s temperament, I couldn’t complain even if he’d been rejected outright.
I reached out and took the back of Leto’s hand.
“Your Majesty. You must keep that promise.”
Leto looked down at my hand. Then at me.
His wrist turned smoothly, and before I realized it, my hand slipped fully into his.
He tugged me gently. My body leaned forward, and he bent down as well, facing me directly.
So close. I could see my reflection in his eyes.
“I don’t understand.”
“What don’t you understand?”
“What do you think I might do, grabbing my hand like this?”
If anything, he was the one who grabbed hands without hesitation.
“You’re teasing me again.”
“And if I said I wasn’t teasing—would you really run away?”
Run away? Was he referring to what he’d said the last time we consummated the marriage?
He looked serious as he said it. I stared straight at him.
Was he testing me again? Or, if not, how much of this was sincere?
Just then, the carriage came to a stop. I didn’t miss the chance and quickly pulled my hand away.
From outside the carriage, the captain of the Guard spoke.
“We have arrived, Your Majesty.”
The High Priest was drinking in his office. Though it was still broad daylight, no one dared to reprimand him.
The Oran affair had been a disappointment. As Dante said, it could have become a lucrative source of income.
‘Still, it wasn’t the worst outcome. We dealt with it before he could confess.’
Dante had handled the matter cleanly. The box and the poisoned needles had also returned safely to the High Priest. It was precisely because of such competence that the High Priest favored Dante.
A servant entered the room.
“Your Holiness, a guest has arrived.”
“Send her in.”
A woman wearing a deep black hooded robe entered. At a glance, she looked filthy and impoverished. The High Priest frowned.
“Elisana, was it? A dark mage, I hear.”
She nodded. The High Priest already knew about her.
Elisana Lucy. A mage who had recently been expelled from the guild.
‘She absorbed a forbidden mana stone to increase her power. A criminal who disgraced the honor of mages. No wonder she’s unwelcome anywhere.’
Unless one was born into a noble family, a commoner mage had nowhere to work outside the guild.
“I have a request. Of course, I’ll pay you.”
The High Priest took five gold coins from his robes. From beneath her hood, Elisana’s eyes gleamed.
“With this, you could live comfortably for several years.”
“What do you want?”
Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn’t properly drunk water in days.
“A man and a woman departed for the ‘Forest of Mages’ today.”
“……”
“You don’t need to know who they are. Just find out what they’re doing there.”
The High Priest had only learned that morning that the imperial couple were heading to the Forest of Mages.
It was strange. Why the Forest of Mages of all places? Going so far as to obtain entry permission? There had to be another purpose.
That was why he’d hastily found someone—someone strong, and disposable if they died.
Elisana seemed more capable than expected. Especially those sharp eyes.
‘They say you die if you fail to absorb a forbidden mana stone. I like that she’s not quite sane.’
The High Priest grinned.
“Can you do it?”
From beneath the robe, a shriveled hand emerged and swept the gold coins into her sleeve.
“And there’s an additional request.”
The High Priest produced ten more gold coins.
“If the opportunity arises, kill them.”
It was meant literally—if the opportunity arose.
Threatening the emperor was close to impossible. Still, the High Priest decided to place his hopes on Elisana.
The imperial couple would become a serious problem someday. His instincts told him so.
He placed the coins on the table.
Clink, clink—
Once again, the gold vanished into her sleeve.
The entrance to the forest was sealed by a massive iron gate. The captain of the Guard presented the gatekeepers with the entry permit, bearing the guild master’s seal.
The gatekeepers knelt.
“We greet His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
We stepped down from the carriage. Leto spoke to them directly.
“Rise. As you know, I intend to pass through this gate with the Empress.”
“We will open it. However, as agreed, the knights must remain behind.”
“I’ll be taking the carriage. There’s a lady with me, after all. That’s acceptable, isn’t it?”
“The carriage… may we inspect it?”
“How dare you!”
The captain barked. His imposing physique matched the overwhelming pressure he released. The gatekeepers trembled. Leto raised a hand to stop him.
“It’s fine. Do as you like.”
The gatekeepers hurriedly inspected the carriage, checking for anyone hiding inside.
“It’s finished. We will open the gate.”
Creeeeak—
An unpleasant sound echoed as the rusted iron gate opened. Just as rumored—this was a place even mages rarely visited.
“The Guard will wait here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Leto extended his hand to me.
“I’ll have to ride on the driver’s seat. Would the Empress care to join me?”
“Of course.”
I took his hand and climbed up to the driver’s seat. Sitting beside me, he skillfully guided the horses.
“Hyah.”
We entered the forest just like that. Behind us, the gate slammed shut with a clang.
We had permission for one day. During that time, no one else could enter the forest.
The forest was dark and damp. Thick undergrowth dragged along the ground, making it difficult for the horses to move.
“It feels eerie somehow.”
“We don’t have much time. We’ll have to find it quickly.”
“The Forest of Mages is divided into three major zones: trees, grasses, and algae.”
I took out the compass I had prepared in advance and pointed northwest.
“If we go that way, we should reach the grass zone.”
“How do you know that?”
“I did some research. I also asked Sean. The grasses are planted by size, so the area we need to search is limited.”
“What size is the plant we’re looking for?”
“Neither big nor small. About calf-high.”
“That’s vague. This will take some effort.”
I was worried about that too. If it were clearly large or small, it would’ve been easier.
Leto glanced at my expression, then lightly patted my head.
“You did well gathering the information. Is there anything else I should know? Its appearance, perhaps?”
“Well…”
I took out a piece of folded paper from my pocket. It was Indigo’s drawing, which I’d struggled to finish last night.
‘Should I really show him this?’
“What is it?”
Leto swiftly snatched the paper.
“Ah—wait…!”
I tried to grab it back, but he was faster. As he unfolded it, his brow furrowed.
“Is this supposed to be a plant?”
“…I’m really not talented at drawing.”
This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to show it. I’ve been hopeless at art since childhood.
Leto pressed his lips together. I could feel him holding back laughter. He could’ve just laughed outright—this was humiliating.
“A-anyway, if you see something like that, please tell me. Alright?”
“Fine. It won’t be easy, but I’ll try.”
“You’re teasing me again.”
“After drawing it like this, do you really have room to complain?”
‘That’s it. I’m done talking.’
A short while later, we got off the carriage. Grasses stretched endlessly on both sides of the path. Saying they were abundant didn’t even begin to cover it—they seemed limitless.
The sight was overwhelming, yet awe-inspiring.
“Now I understand why they say the spirit of mages dwells here. To think this forest was made by humans…”
“Mages tend to be eccentric. But won’t you be cold?”
He glanced at my clothes. The forest air was indeed chilly.
“I’ll be fine. I might even get warm once we start moving.”
“If you’re cold, say so right away. Don’t just say you’re fine.”
“I will.”
We pushed our way through the grass, carefully examining the shapes of the plants we passed.
After walking for some time, I spoke.
“Um… I have something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Why do you dislike Sean and Louis so much, Your Majesty?”
Leto let out a small laugh.
“That’s what you’re curious about?”
“Yes.”
Leto valued ability above all else—more than personality, even. By that standard, Sean and Louis were capable enough. Yet he kept them at arm’s length.
“I don’t dislike them.”
“Really? Then Sean—”
I was about to ask him to look favorably upon Sean, but Leto added:
“It’s just that there are times I want to kill them.”
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
