Chapter 76
“Pardon…?”
The Captain of the Imperial Guard looked around at the soldiers in confusion.
The guards just stood there, frozen in place.
“What are you doing? Get inside and wait at your stations.”
At last, the hesitant guards slowly withdrew, and Lavian clicked his tongue as he watched them.
“What a disgraceful rabble.”
“Ahem… apologies. It seems the situation has everyone unsettled, but still…”
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for. Now, who did you say the current Guard Captain was?”
In the early days of the empire, the Imperial Guard and the Royal Guard had been one body. In modern times, they were split into separate units.
Yet despite the official distinction, most still lumped them together—and that left the Guard Captain embarrassed, especially in front of his predecessor.
“Sir Schultz.”
“…And who’s that supposed to be?”
“He was appointed seven years ago on the recommendation of House Czerny.”
“He’s my father.”
The one who had remained behind finally spoke up—it was the rookie guard from earlier.
“You’re still here? What exactly are you doing? Have you lost your mind?”
When the Guard Captain snapped at him in disbelief, the young soldier flusteredly stammered,
“N-no, that’s not it! I just—toward His Highness, the Deposed Prince—I mean, toward Lord Lavian, I haven’t yet properly apologized for my rudeness earlier…”
“You fool! There are limits, even for the young! Do you really think this is the time to be making a fuss about apologies?”
“But… but what if I don’t get another chance to see him…?”
“Are you seriously talking back right now? And another thing—I’ve been meaning to ask, what’s with your hair? Are you trying to rebel against me or the Guard Captain with that look?”
Just then, Lavian stopped him with a glance, his eyes narrowing as he looked the young guard over.
“Leave him. Hey, brat—what’s your name?”
“L-Lance. And… um, I’m sorry about before.”
Blushing, the rookie answered shyly. He couldn’t have been more than late teens, with his head shaved down like a soldier’s, looking unusually tough for his age.
“How long has Sir Lance been assigned to the First Princess’s palace?”
“Just Lance, sir. It’s been two months now. Do you… by any chance know where the First Princess is?”
“Why are you asking me? You’re the ones who lost her.”
“…I’m so sorry.”
Lance’s bright blue eyes drooped, and he scratched at his shaved head sheepishly.
Turning away, Lavian jerked his chin toward the Guard Captain.
“Let’s go. The kid comes too.”
The Guard Captain followed with an uneasy expression, while Lance trailed behind them looking excited.
“Lord Lavian, he’s still young and so new here. I doubt he’ll be of any help…”
“Why? Leave him. He looks useful enough.”
“…If you say so.”
The Guard Captain said no more. He had his doubts, but he hadn’t really expected Lavian to take this investigation seriously anyway.
And he wasn’t the only one.
The staff of the First Princess’s palace, upon hearing that the deposed prince himself would be questioning them, weren’t particularly nervous or alarmed. Instead, their mood was more like the guests at a banquet—bemused, curious.
Considering Lavian’s reputation, that was perhaps to be expected.
“This is Lady Silbern, the head of the maids.”
At the Guard Captain’s introduction, a woman in her mid-thirties stepped forward and bowed politely.
“An honor to meet you, Your Highness.”
“Highness? I was thrown out long ago. That’s just rubbing salt in the wound.”
Lady Silbern’s face flushed red, while a few of the maids stifled giggles.
When she turned to glare at them, some covered their mouths quickly, but others boldly met Lavian’s gaze with mischievous smiles.
Lavian pointed one out with a flick of his hand.
“You there. Come here for a moment.”
“…Me, sir?”
“Yes, you.”
The chosen maid hurried over, cheeks pink. She had soft, light-brown hair and long, slanted eyes that made an impression.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Irene.”
“Nice name. Drink with me?”
At one side of the hall, the table was still covered with trays of food and wine the servants had carried in earlier.
Pouring wine into a fresh glass, Lavian offered it to her. Irene covered her mouth in mock surprise.
“Thank you… though, I’m not sure I should drink while on duty.”
“Isn’t that what it was brought here for anyway?”
“Well…”
“You didn’t bring it for a six-year-old who doesn’t exist, did you? You’re tense. Have a drink.”
“Well, if you put it that way, I can’t refuse, can I?”
As Lavian and Irene clinked glasses, the Guard Captain watched sourly from the side.
“How long have you worked here, Irene?”
“This is my third year.”
“You look young. How old were you when you started?”
“Oh my, I’m not that young. I began serving Her Highness when I turned twenty.”
“Must’ve been tough. Got a lover?”
“What do you think?”
Unable to stand it any longer, the Guard Captain interjected.
“Ahem, Lord Lavian…”
“What? Want a drink too?”
“I appreciate the offer, but drinking is forbidden for guards while on duty.”
“Such a rigid fellow. You think I don’t know that? Don’t spoil the mood—take one. From your predecessor, no less.”
What kind of predecessor was this? Refusing could provoke the infamous disgrace of a prince, so the Guard Captain reluctantly accepted the glass.
He wasn’t a strong drinker, so after clinking glasses with Lavian and draining it, his face flushed as red as a bashful teenager.
“Ah, so my successor can’t handle his liquor.”
“Captain, your face is all red. How cute.”
Lavian clicked his tongue dramatically, and Irene laughed, covering her mouth.
“Hey, brat.”
“Yes, sir?”
Lance hurried over at Lavian’s call.
“You want one too?”
“N-no thank you.”
The boy replied brightly.
Every guard in the hall turned to glare at him in disbelief.
“That brat! Even the Guard Captain drank, and you dare refuse?”
“Lord Lavian, I’ll drink in his place! Don’t waste it on that insolent fool!”
The Guard Captain, determined to keep things from turning into a full-blown drinking party, quickly spoke up again.
“Lord Lavian, perhaps we should begin the investigation…”
“All right, all right. You’re so damn pushy.”
Grumbling, Lavian set his glass down. He leaned close to whisper something into Irene’s ear, making her blush, then abruptly turned and strode away.
The Guard Captain and Lance scrambled to follow.
He walked so quickly that the two uniformed men had to trot to keep up.
“Lord Lavian…? Where are you going?”
“You wanted me to work, didn’t you?”
“But that way—there’s no one there—”
Before he could finish, Lavian threw open the door ahead.
It was the First Princess’s bedchamber.
For a moment, he stood at the threshold, sweeping his gaze around.
The room was neat and pleasant, but it lacked the childlike charm one might expect from a little girl’s quarters.
In fact, the penthouse hotel suite Nina was living in now looked far more suited for a child.
“Lord Lavian, what are you—”
“Close the door.”
“Yes, but… this is…”
“You’re noisy. Quiet down.”
Who was he to call anyone noisy?
As Lavian rummaged chaotically through the princess’s room, the Guard Captain could only stare in stunned silence.
