Chapter 365

*BAM!*

The closed door swung open forcefully.

A musty smell of old, dry paper filled the air.

It was the smell of ancient books. The room was overflowing with them.

Bookshelves were crammed full, and even the floor was littered with old volumes.

Marquis Safia narrowed his eyes, taking in the sight.

“Why is this room in such a state? I was told this was the traitor’s room.”

“Well… we didn’t think the books were important…”

The investigator replied, his gaze downcast and demeanor meek.

It meant they had barely glanced at the room before abandoning it.

“Hmm.”

Marquis Safia, upon seeing the room for himself, realized the empress’s order wasn’t baseless.

There was a palpable feeling that something was hidden here.

“This time, I want everyone to be alert. Don’t miss a single detail, no matter how small. Understood?”

“Y-Yes, Marquis!”

“Now, search every nook and cranny. Find out if there’s a secret room.”

“Yes, sir!”

The investigators sprang into action.

The room was quite spacious.

They meticulously searched every corner, overturning furniture like desks, mirrors, wardrobes, and bookshelves.

Marquis Safia stood by the door, his sharp eyes observing their every move.

After a while,

One of the investigators shouted, “I-I found something!”

“What is it?”

Marquis Safia quickly approached him.

“L-Look here! The sound is different in this spot!”

*Thump! Thump!*

The investigator knocked on the floor where a bookshelf had been moved, revealing the bare surface.

As he had said, the sound was distinctly different.

Unlike the hollow thudding elsewhere, this spot produced a duller, more solid sound.

Marquis Safia’s expression changed.

He looked like a hunter who had spotted his prey.

“Tear it open. Now.”

* * *

“…What should we do now?”

A heavy, weary voice filled the air.

It sounded like the voice of someone who had lost all hope.

It was understandable.

It was the voice of a western lord.

The opportunity that had miraculously presented itself…

That had been fine.

The problem was that their collective attempt to bring down Max Celtrine had been rejected outright by the empress.

To make matters worse, she had entrusted the investigation to Marquis Safia, who was at odds with the western lords.

It was a difficult situation for them.

It was as if they had been publicly ostracized.

The atmosphere in the room was as somber as a funeral.

“What do you mean, ‘what should we do’? What can we even do? If there was a way, I’d sell my soul to the devil.”

“Hmm.”

“Ahem.”

Disgruntled murmurs filled the air.

But some of them still seemed to have hope.

“There’s always a way out, even in the direst of situations. Why are you all so defeatist?”

“It’s easy to say that. But what way out is there?”

“Do you know what the public sentiment in the Imperial City is like? The unrest? It means that there are many people who are suspicious of Max.”

The war hero, the most distinguished contributor to the victory.

And coincidentally, the assassins had invoked his name until their last breath, claiming he was behind the attempt on the empress’s life.

Of course, many people would dismiss it as a ridiculous accusation.

After all, Max Celtrine was a hero who had ended the civil war and enjoyed immense popularity and support among the people.

However,

It was too much of a coincidence.

Those who were cynical and viewed everything in terms of gains and losses couldn’t help but be suspicious.

It was the reason why the public sentiment in the Imperial City was so unsettled.

“What can we even do with a little unrest?”

“A little? Public sentiment is the will of the heavens. It’s a force that even Max and his supporters, and even the empress, can’t ignore.”

“Hmm, I agree to some extent. But is the public sentiment strong enough to pressure them?”

“That’s right, it’s not enough…”

“Hmph, then we just have to make it stronger.”

“What do you mean?”

“We manipulate it.”

“W-What?!”

“Are you insane?!”

The western lords were shocked by his suggestion.

He was suggesting that they manipulate public opinion.

But the lord who had made the suggestion didn’t even blink.

“So you’re saying we should just sit here and do nothing? That’s no different from being dead.”

“Hmm…”

“W-Well…”

“All we have to do is make sure we don’t get caught. Who would know if we do it discreetly?”

The western lords’ expressions started to change.

It wasn’t because they were completely convinced by his words.

It was because they couldn’t bear the thought of being powerless and pushed aside.

It didn’t matter how likely it was to succeed.

What mattered was that there was still hope.

“Y-Yes, if we can pressure the empress and Max with public opinion…”

“A-A path might open up!”

The tide had turned.

They made a decision quickly.

There was no time to waste.

The western lords began their secret operation.

* * *

“The public sentiment in the Imperial City is unsettling.”

Norman reported.

I looked at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“The number of people who are accusing you of being the mastermind behind the assassination attempt has increased significantly.”

“Significantly.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Someone’s behind this.”

“It seems so.”

Norman said with a serious expression.

“Shall we investigate?”

“Hmm… No, forget about it.”

“Huh?”

I smiled at Norman, who looked confused.

“It’s not something Red Rain would do. It’s just some small fry. There’s no need to waste our time and resources on them.”

“But if we leave them alone, it will have a negative impact…”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“Huh?”

I smiled at Norman, who was still looking confused.

“I have a way to render their petty schemes useless.”

I stood up.

It was time to visit the empress again.

* * *

The empress seemed to be in a good mood when I saw her again.

“Hehe, I was just about to send someone to you. What a coincidence.”

“It seems like you have good news.”

“Yes, I do.”

She gestured for me to sit down.

I sat down across from her.

And then,

“Ta-da!”

She suddenly placed a stack of papers on the table.

…Where did she even get those from?

No, that wasn’t important.

This was probably…

“You were right, Senior. Marquis Safia found these in a hidden room.”

She smiled mischievously.

But I remained calm.

I hadn’t confirmed if they were useful evidence yet.

“May I take a look?”

“Of course.”

“Then.”

I picked up the papers and started to examine them.

And then,

“This is…”

My eyes widened in excitement.

They were letters exchanged between the treacherous prince and Red Rain.

Each and every one of them was evidence of their conspiracy.

And the contents were even more shocking than I had imagined.

“He asked Red Rain for a way to kill the late emperor…?”

“Yes, that part surprised me too. I thought he had died of natural causes, but I can’t believe my foolish brother actually committed such a heinous act.”

She shook her head.

It was understandable.

Even though she was a monster herself, she had never killed her own father, the late emperor.

But the treacherous prince had.

“…A poison that leaves no trace.”

“He must have been overjoyed when he got his hands on it. Even though he was being used. Well, they were both using each other, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, they were just monsters using each other. It’s a sad story.”

I muttered, a look of certainty on my face.

This was more than enough evidence.

And it wasn’t just that.

There were countless other documents, including letters about the incident on Diotes Island, letters about plans to incite a large-scale rebellion by the Dark Cult to coincide with the late emperor’s assassination…

But I had to confirm one more thing.

“This is definitely the treacherous prince’s handwriting, right?”

“Yes, there’s no doubt about it.”

If she was certain, then it had to be true.

Countless people had seen the treacherous prince’s handwriting, so there wouldn’t be any problems with verification.

“I see. Then this will be sufficient evidence. To resolve this situation.”

“Hehe, I agree.”

She smiled.

“Then shall we announce the results of the investigation today?”

“No, we need to verify the handwriting first, even if it’s just a formality. It will make the evidence more credible.”

“I see. Let’s do that.”

*Whoosh*

She swept the papers off the table with a flick of her wrist.

…It was a strange skill.

“Then are we done?”

“Ah, I have a request…”

“Ah, right? You came to see me first. You must have something you want to ask. Please, speak freely.”

She smiled and gestured for me to continue.

I spoke calmly.

“The public sentiment in the Imperial City is a bit unsettling.”

“Unsettling? What do you mean?”

“It seems like the number of people who are suspicious of me is increasing.”

“What? How dare they suspect you? Shall I banish them all?”

…She sounded serious, and it was scary.

No, she was serious.

That would make her a tyrant, you know.

“…Please calm down. Those who don’t know the truth might be suspicious. So we need to clear up the misunderstanding first.”

“Clear up the misunderstanding? How?”

“We need to show the people of the Imperial City that there are no problems between you and me.”

That was my request.

To quell the unrest that someone had instigated.

And once the public sentiment in the Imperial City stabilized, the troublemakers who were watching the situation from the sidelines wouldn’t dare to act rashly.

“Aha.”

She nodded, a strange smile on her lips.

“That’s a good idea. I like it. I’ll grant your request.”

“Thank you.”

“But,”

But?

Why did she sound so ominous?

I waited for her to continue.

“I’ll decide how to clear up the misunderstanding. Is that alright with you?”

“Y-Yes… Of course.”

I couldn’t refuse.

She had already done so much for me.

But her strange expression bothered me.

“Hehe, good. Then let’s do this.”

“What…?”

“You and I, we’ll go out of the palace and have a date in public. Then no one will doubt our relationship.”

“C-Cough, cough!”

“C-Cough, cough?”

“…”

“…”

“A-Alright…”

“Hehe, good.”

…I had no choice but to agree to a date with the empress.