Ch.167Do I Really Have to Be the One to Do That?

Infiltrating the Imperial Palace….

Even for me, this was a question that made me hesitate to answer.

It wasn’t something to decide hastily.

Though security might be weakened because of the funeral, the Imperial Palace wouldn’t be such an easy target.

And would Isabella, who would temporarily leave her base, move without setting any precautions in her room?

There was a high possibility she’d lay some kind of trap in anticipation of possible intruders.

Normally, I would have immediately rejected such a dangerous proposal.

However, the advantage of being able to suppress the current political situation in one stroke if successful kept circling in my mind, making it difficult to refuse.

Failure meant ruin, success meant victory.

Both the risk and return were enormous for this operation.

Leopold, this man, just like at Ainfeld…

Despite his atmosphere suggesting he’d always be cautious and thorough, he surprisingly prefers gambling-like actions.

My temple throbs.

“What will you do?”

“No. Wait, just a moment. Let me think…”

I waved my hand toward Leopold who was urging me for an answer.

This guy is so tactless with his pressuring, can’t he see I’m thinking?

Slowly, let me organize my thoughts once more.

First, option 1 is rejected.

She’s a woman who killed Matthias in a day and then framed Leopold two days later.

I can’t even know what she gained by sacrificing Matthias.

Giving such a woman nearly a month is too dangerous.

Option 2 is also rejected.

If Ludwig had brought the entire eastern forces, it might be different, but otherwise, Leopold’s faction isn’t that strong.

They’ve already lost two valuable Masters.

Isabella’s side has lost more Masters, but those bug knights aren’t normal to begin with, so who knows how many she has hidden.

Seeing how she carelessly threw away six or seven, there must be at least ten more.

Besides, there’s not enough justification.

Attacking the Imperial Palace out of nowhere… it’s almost like a rebellion, so our troops’ morale wouldn’t be high either…

Indeed, the chances of success are too low.

So I have to choose option 3 after all…?

No, no, no. Wait a minute, something’s off.

Why am I deliberating between these three operations?

Suddenly, a flash of realization crossed my mind.

I almost fell for it.

Leopold emphasized these three options so much that I mistakenly thought I had to choose one of them.

Thinking about it, I don’t need to stick my head into such dangerous business.

Now that Matthias’s death is confirmed, Lacy must have requested that secret investigation team or whatever.

Why not leave it to them?

They’re excellent investigators vouched for by Lacy, so it might be better to entrust them rather than my amateur infiltration attempt.

I have some experience with interrogation… but infiltration isn’t my specialty.

Even if I’m unlucky enough to be discovered, suspicion wouldn’t fall on me. There’s hardly any connection.

Good, let’s go with this.

“…Let’s go with the third option, but with some modifications.”

“Hmm? Modifications? What do you mean?”

“It’s inefficient for me to infiltrate the palace. First, it would be strange for a guard knight not to accompany Leopold when he attends the funeral… so I can’t act as your guard knight until the funeral. If you were to be attacked during those ten days, that would be the end, wouldn’t it?”

If even one bug knight appears, you’d be meeting Matthias.

“That’s… certainly true. The princess is right.”

Leopold nodded.

Even his close Royal Guard Hektor moved as the Empress’s puppet, so there’s probably no other trustworthy guard besides me.

“Secondly, I’m not particularly skilled at infiltration. So it would be better to use people with professional experience in this field to infiltrate the palace on the day of the funeral.”

“You’re not wrong. However, if I had such talent, would I have asked the princess for such a dangerous task?”

That’s debatable.

Whether he truly lacks such talent, or if he wants to cut me off like a lizard’s tail if things go wrong, who knows?

In the worst case, he might frame me as a Ka’har spy to save himself.

From Leopold’s perspective, rather than being dragged down with me, it would be natural to choose self-preservation by abandoning me. Probably.

Of course, if things turn out that way, relations between the Empire and Ka’har would naturally deteriorate… but that’s a future concern.

Didn’t they say not to plot together if intentions differ?

Indeed, the words of the ancients are never wrong.

That’s the nature of my relationship with Leopold.

We cooperate due to aligned interests, but since our motivations and goals differ from the start, there can’t be complete trust.

I act to prevent the Empire from falling into chaos and collapse, while Leopold seeks to bring down Isabella for self-preservation and to avenge his mother.

“Don’t worry. Among my acquaintances, there are those who specialize in such tasks.”

“No, that can’t be. The whole world knows the princess’s social circle is as narrow as a doghouse. Didn’t you have fewer than ten acquaintances?”

…Should I depose this bastard?

“…It’s classified so I can’t explain in detail, but let’s say they’re acquaintances of my acquaintances. They’re more skilled than me at such tasks, and even if they fail, Your Highness won’t be under suspicion. What do you think?”

“Entrusting such a crucial role to untrustworthy outsiders should be avoided if possible… but I have no choice. Very well. I’ll leave it to the princess’s judgment. I’m counting on you.”

Is he saying he can trust me?

Whether he trusts my abilities, trusts me as a person, or if it’s just empty words, I don’t know.

“Understood. Then I’ll relay the details to them, and from tomorrow, I’ll serve as your guard. Do you have any instructions regarding my duties as a guard knight?”

“Hmm… a man having a female guard knight would be subject to various rumors… so I must apologize to the princess in advance for that.”

Leopold bowed his head respectfully.

“Rumors?”

“Among noble men, it’s not unheard of to have female knights as guards… but in most cases, the guard role is just nominal, and they’re essentially the noble’s concubines. If the princess becomes my guard knight, similar rumors will spread underground. It’s essentially blocking your marriage prospects. At least the princess said she has no intention of marrying anyone, so the burden is somewhat less.”

Ah, in other words, rumors will spread that I’m Leopold’s concubine.

Like a beautiful female secretary accompanying a corporate chairman or powerful politician.

Damn it.

“I’ll… have to bear it, I suppose. If you feel sorry for me, please root out those who spread such rumors later.”

Though if you don’t, I’ll find them myself.

“I’ll try my best to do so. Additionally, another knight will also be assigned to guard me. After all, it would be awkward for both of us to have the princess guard me in the bathroom or bedroom, wouldn’t it? In such cases, instead of guarding me closely, please just monitor that the guard I bring doesn’t try anything suspicious.”

“I will.”

For me, it’s not particularly awkward, but if I were to provide close protection even in bathrooms or bedrooms, rumors about me being a concubine would spread like wildfire.

Just imagining it is terrible. Frider would be rolling on the bed laughing.

“Lastly, while you can wear Ka’har scale armor, I request that you wear proper knight uniform underneath. Given the position, if you dress as usual, it could cause various controversies.”

I glanced down at my chest.

A short piece of cloth over bandage-like underwear.

It was essentially like wearing two layers of underwear.

Indeed, walking around accompanying a prince like this might seem disrespectful.

“I have a knight uniform I received before, so I’ll do that. Whether my armor and that uniform will match well… I’m not sure.”

I think it might look a bit funny.

“You needn’t worry about that. Most knights from Faelrun dress that way, so everyone’s long been accustomed to it.”

True, even Frider wore a fur coat over his school uniform.

As I said then, there’s not much difference between a fur coat and a fur shawl, so it should be fine.

“Understood. Then, I’ll visit again tomorrow.”

“I’m counting on you. With the princess as my guard, I won’t die away from home, so I can rest a bit easier.”

Leopold smiled lightly.

He can smile so easily. Just thinking about the rumors that will spread from this makes my head ache already.