Chapter 07
Utterly foolish.”
I looked down indifferently at the servant who was prostrate on the floor, trembling violently.
‘Is our talent pool so shallow that we have to entrust tasks to someone like that?’
Or perhaps those in higher positions simply had poor judgment of people.
‘The chief chamberlain also had a weak mental barrier, just like that fellow, so I can guess what his attitude toward life is like.’
There are people who prioritize their own safety and comfort, deciding everything else carelessly on a whim.
Only after a crisis erupts will they pretend to be strict in order to avoid responsibility.
Just as expected.
The chief chamberlain, looking down at Osman with contempt, gestured to the soldiers waiting outside the door.
“You must understand that the crime of attempting to harm a hostage is extremely grave, Osman.”
He emphasized that it wouldn’t end with merely forcing poison-laced gruel down his throat.
“We shall conduct a thorough investigation into whether this was done on your own initiative, or if there is someone behind it.”
He was saying that because of me—a native of Bardia who had become Elhardt’s attendant.
It was a preemptive move to distance himself, to make it known that he, the chief chamberlain, was innocent.
‘Since there appeared to be no one else involved, perhaps this is enough.’
I had even used demonic powers to investigate thoroughly, so there was no way I had missed any accomplices.
“Take him away.”
“Yes, Chief Chamberlain!”
Osman, trembling almost like a madman, was seized and dragged out by the soldiers.
“Ugh… please spare… spare me…”
“Pathetic wretch.”
The chief chamberlain clicked his tongue and muttered as he watched the scene.
“Regardless of punishment, that man must kneel and apologize to your master.”
“Of course, that must be done.”
He spoke as if it were only natural.
I found the chief chamberlain’s attitude—acting as if he were doing his duty, yet so brazen—absurd.
But well, someone like that is easy to handle.
Satisfied with having secured a definite answer, I nodded.
That servant named Osman had been mistaken about one thing.
He believed that he had the authority to make decisions.
The same went for that knight named Hamel, who had lost his life last night for trying to use violence against Elhardt.
These people, on their own authority, exercise powers granted by no one, all while believing they are easing the burdens of their superiors.
Authority flows from above; it is not something for underlings to pick up off the ground.
That way of thinking could not be more ridiculous.
Why would the Cradion Empire have demanded Elhardt as a hostage?
A deposed crown prince, stripped of power even in Bardia.
‘They intend to use Elhardt in their future conquest wars.’
After all, that gentle-faced man, alone, had managed to defend a corrupt kingdom—such was his immense martial prowess.
‘I heard he was called the guardian deity of the Bardian people.’
They have confined him now to isolate him, but once Bardia is completely subjugated to Cradion and the situation becomes irreversible, they will attempt to win Elhardt over.
‘Even if it means marrying him into the imperial family.’
This was a common method even in the chaotic continental politics of the past.
For them, it would be ideal if Elhardt harbored vengeful feelings toward the homeland that abandoned him, but even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter.
They could simply use the Bardian people as hostages and exploit him as they pleased.
Even I, having stayed here for just a single day, could grasp this much.
But Osman failed to read the intentions of his superiors and overstepped the line.
If he had merely insulted him, perhaps it might have been overlooked, but he tried to harm Elhardt on his own accord—that would certainly not be let slide.
To make an example of him, they would surely punish him severely.
‘Because nothing is more troublesome than an uncontrollable underling.’
With the summary execution of the knight Hamel last night and Osman now imprisoned, the imperial palace servants would also become more vigilant.
That they must not mistreat Elhardt.
‘As for fools who can’t even grasp that much—I’ll just eliminate them myself.’
From now on, what I truly need to watch out for is the higher-ups.
“From now on, I will come to fetch my master’s meals myself. Please inform the kitchen accordingly, Chief Chamberlain.”
If you don’t handle this properly, you’ll end up just like that servant.
The chief chamberlain, whose mental barrier had already collapsed once, took the thoughts I had seeded as his own and hastily nodded.
‘These demonic powers are certainly convenient.’
For those who are close to evil, nothing works better than this.
‘Though I must be careful not to use it too often, or they’ll try to cling to me.’
They’d cause so much trouble, demanding responsibility because I had occupied their territory.
To avoid being pestered again by those I had just barely shaken off, it was essential to assess the current level of magical defenses in this place.
I needed to set an upper limit of power that wouldn’t cause problems and use it efficiently.
‘I’ll look around a bit more until the meal is prepared.’
According to the chief chamberlain, the place I was currently in was the Central Palace.
It was said that the offices of the high-ranking officials, the very heart of Cradion’s internal administration, were gathered here.
Naturally, security was quite tight, but I was no longer an outsider, so wandering around wouldn’t be an issue.
‘Though they say only a few authorized individuals can access the third floor and above.’
I had no intention of snooping around such places in broad daylight and arousing suspicion.
‘First, I need to learn the building’s structure and their patrol methods.’
In the early days of Bardia’s founding, Mikhail had agonized over how to secure the palace, inside and out.
Even with experts—or those who could be considered experts—pooling their knowledge, they faced many trials and errors, refining the system each time.
Three hundred years had passed since then, so I had expected things to have evolved into a much more perfect form.
‘What’s this? Why is the imperial palace of the empire so shoddily built…?’
It looked like it would collapse with just one or two intermediate-level attack spells.
‘They rely solely on beginner-level alarm magic? What kind of nerve do they have…?’
As I examined the walls and continued my thoughts, a hypothesis suddenly occurred to me.
‘Is Cradion short on high-ranking mages?’
Come to think of it, I couldn’t sense the presence of any master-class mages, at least one or two of whom should be stationed at the imperial palace.
No matter how large the city, it shouldn’t be at a scale where I couldn’t detect them.
‘I suppose I’ll need to ask Elhardt about this.’
He had been on the front lines until recently, so he would know Cradion’s military strength better than anyone.
‘The soldiers and knights stationed at the Central Palace aren’t of very high caliber.’
Those guarding the detached palace seemed to be of a similar level.
‘If I could see the knights guarding the Emperor or the Crown Prince, I could gauge more accurately.’
Even so, I didn’t expect to encounter them easily.
They would have their offices in their respective palaces; how often would they come all the way to the Central Palace?
‘I’ve roughly figured out the structure up to the second floor. Should I head back now?’
The meal should be ready by now.
‘Our little prince must be hungry.’
I had also skipped breakfast, but I had long been accustomed to consuming only the minimum necessary for survival, so I rarely felt hunger.
‘Elhardt, though—just breathing must consume an enormous amount of energy for him.’
Given his physique and muscle mass, he probably needed ten times my food intake.
As I headed down the stairs, gauging the location of the dining hall the chief chamberlain had pointed out, I paused.
‘Hmm…?’
From the floor below, I sensed a mana capacity far surpassing that of any knight I had encountered so far.
‘Advanced rank or higher. Just slightly short of the highest rank, I’d say.’
I quickly descended the stairs and blended in among the other servants standing along the corridor wall.
Naturally bowing my head, I listened to their hushed whispers and soon learned the visitor’s identity.
‘The Crown Prince. Lucky me.’
To have the opportunity to observe the highest-ranking authority figure of a hostile nation just one day after infiltrating their palace.
I subtly shifted my gaze and caught sight of a blonde man walking in the center of the entourage.
‘That must be him.’
As I assessed the level of his escort knights, I was momentarily startled.
Because the Crown Prince’s appearance, glimpsed briefly between the knights, bore a striking resemblance to Mikhail.
‘What…?’
I had no intention of doing something stupid like drawing attention to myself, so I quickly lowered my gaze, but my mind was filled with questions.
‘Could it be that he is actually a descendant of Mikhail?’
Perhaps it was just an incredible coincidence…
I suppressed the urge to take a closer look and waited for the group to pass.
But then, for some reason…
“……”
“Your Highness…?”
At first, it felt merely like a passing glance.
But then the Crown Prince stopped walking altogether, his gaze fixed stubbornly on me without moving.
As if trying to confirm something.
