Ch.4949. Should I Reveal It Even Now?

“Are you saying you really met the Imperial Princess in Evis territory!?”

“Yep, I did.”

“….Are you insane!!? Why are you only telling me this now!!”

Federicks’ voice was loud enough to pierce through the ceiling.

I covered my ears slightly with my fingers as I continued speaking.

“I didn’t know it would become such a big deal. The Imperial Princess also hid her identity from me.”

“I am the butler who serves the young master!! You should at least tell me important matters in advance!”

At that, Jawil Wilson, who had been silently listening to the conversation, tilted his head.

“But why is the Imperial Family looking for me?”

“Oh, that? The Imperial Princess asked for my name, so I told her I was Jawil Wilson, a knight of the Alphonse family.”

“Y-young master! Have you lost your mind!?”

“Well, when the Imperial Princess suddenly asked, I felt awkward giving my own name. Besides, I was in exile at the time.”

“Sigh…. What do you plan to do now? Lying to someone from the Imperial Family could be considered a great insult.”

Anyway.

What kind of situation is this?

Since the Imperial Princess had hidden her identity too, I thought there was no way she would look for me.

I was trying to maintain my composure so that Federicks and Jawil Wilson wouldn’t get nervous, but I was just as flustered.

“Federicks, so you’re saying an invitation came from the Imperial Family?”

“Yes, the Second Imperial Princess has invited Jawil Wilson and you, young master. They even sent a carriage to take you to the mansion.”

My head was throbbing.

I unnecessarily showed the sword with our family crest, and now this disaster…

Since both of us were invited, if I go to the Imperial Palace pretending to be Jawil Wilson, then ‘Selden Alphonse’ would disappear.

“What should I tell Father?”

“He’ll understand since it’s an invitation from the Imperial Family, even in your exiled situation. However, we need to find a quick solution for your identity deception.”

“So, did they invite us for a meal at the Imperial Palace?”

“There’s an Imperial event, they said. It’s a ceremony commemorating the former Emperor, Curios Silonia.”

The fact that Sairine personally sent an invitation means she’s planning to reveal her identity as the Imperial Princess….

Should I also reveal myself now?

No, I’m concerned about my current exile situation.

The information network of the Imperial Family is not to be underestimated.

They would certainly know that ‘Selden Alphonse’ is currently in exile.

It would be like confessing that I disobeyed my father’s orders and went to Evis territory.

That would bring shame to the family.

My head throbbed again at this predicament where I could neither do one thing nor the other.

“Sigh…. This is driving me crazy.”

“You need to decide quickly. I’ve shown them to the reception room, but we can’t keep the Imperial people waiting forever.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“I think it would be best to tell the truth even now.”

“The Imperial Family must know that I’m in exile, right?”

“Still, isn’t that better than committing an uncontrollable crime?”

Father has somewhat turned a blind eye to me leaving the mansion, but he won’t stay quiet if the family’s reputation is tarnished.

What if he sends Miria Alphonse again?

I thought it might be better to lie.

The problem is finding someone to play the role of ‘Selden Alphonse’….

Would Rio Sergang be good?

He’s tight-lipped so he wouldn’t make mistakes, and with his handsome face, we wouldn’t be embarrassed.

However, he seems unsuitable for the delinquent image of ‘Selden Alphonse’.

Moreover, as the protagonist’s companion, Rio is destined to meet the Imperial Princess in the future.

Having him meet her now would be like me twisting, or rather overturning, the story of the novel myself.

I sighed briefly and looked at Jawil Wilson.

“Jawil Wilson.”

“Y-yes, sir?”

I raised my head toward the nervous Jawil Wilson and curled up the corners of my mouth.

“You, be Selden Alphonse.”

“….What!?”

*

“Sairine invited the youngest son of the Alphonse family?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Etherian Silonia, the First Imperial Princess of the Eastern Continent.

The woman most likely to become the next queen twitched her eyebrows.

“How does she know the youngest son of the Alphonse family?”

“Ten years ago, the Alphonse family was invited to an event, and they seem to have connected then.”

“That’s strange. Sairine has never once mentioned the Alphonse family.”

“He’s an insignificant fellow. Known as a delinquent in the Eastern Continent, he’s a headache even within the Alphonse family.”

Etherian Silonia stroked her chin at Butler Wellsran’s words.

“Our planted men aren’t doing their job properly. They couldn’t even find out why Sairine invited the Alphonse family to the Imperial Palace.”

“For now, Oliver, the Second Imperial Princess’s butler, is minimizing information. Probably aware of the planted spies.”

“Have they been caught?”

“Fortunately, it seems they haven’t identified who they are.”

“Sigh…. I never liked that old man since I was young. If he’s old, he should retire, but he’s just too greedy….”

Most people in the Imperial Palace already predicted that Etherian Silonia would be the next queen.

However, for her, it was just a prediction, not a certainty.

Historically, the position of successor could change as easily as turning over one’s palm.

Having focused solely on one goal since childhood, even a moment of carelessness was a luxury.

She had that much confidence.

But.

Etherian found herself increasingly concerned about Sairine.

Despite the clear difference in their positions, and even though Sairine only had Oliver as a proper person around her.

Moreover.

This was the first time Sairine had personally sent an invitation to someone for an Imperial event.

So, she couldn’t help but be on edge.

Wellsran, noticing Etherian’s troubled expression, continued.

“As I mentioned earlier, the youngest son of the Alphonse family is not someone to be particularly wary of.”

“Tell me more details.”

“He’s currently in exile by his father’s order after frequenting pleasure quarters.”

“Pleasure quarters?”

“Yes, and his swordsmanship is evaluated as the weakest in the family, and his standing is also the lowest.”

“Then why is Sairine interested in him?”

Wellsran opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for Etherian’s question.

“I hear his appearance is excellent.”

“So you’re saying Sairine fell for his looks?”

“There’s nothing else that can be predicted.”

“That’s a big deal in its own way….”

“Why do you think so? Isn’t it better for us if Imperial Princess Sairine is interested in a delinquent?”

Etherian shook her head.

“No, it’s not about that delinquent. The Alphonse family is where Baron Byron, a former knight, resides, right?”

“Y-yes, that’s correct.”

“If I know this much, they must have a solid standing within the Eastern Continent. What if Baron Byron supports his youngest son?”

“They’re just a single family. Even if Baron Byron sides with Imperial Princess Sairine, it wouldn’t cause even the slightest harm to you, Imperial Princess Etherian.”

Etherian gritted her molars and twisted her neck irritably.

“Wellsran, are you not thinking straight?”

“….Pardon?”

“Don’t you realize that if the Alphonse family sides with Sairine, other families with friendly relations to them will also move?”

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far.”

“Even if he’s the family’s troublemaker, he’s still a son with their blood. You never know what variables might come into play.”

“My thinking was shallow, it seems.”

No family would willingly involve themselves in Imperial politics.

However, humans are creatures of desire.

If there’s a way for a family to prosper a bit more, they can’t easily refuse.

Families that wanted to live modestly would have already been weeded out within the Eastern Continent.

“Anyway, the youngest son of the Alphonse family is coming, right?”

“Yes, I heard he’s accompanied by a knight. By now, they should be heading to the Imperial Palace by carriage.”

“Is that so?”

“Should we deal with them now?”

Etherian Silonia, who believed in cutting down promising trees early for peace of mind.

The dominant thought in her mind was whether it was necessary to be this concerned, but there was always only one way to alleviate her anxiety.

“How many knights did the Imperial Palace send along with the carriage to the Alphonse family?”

“Two elite knights. Since a knight from the Alphonse family is also accompanying, we’ll select our personnel generously.”

“No, it’s better not to send anyone associated with me. No matter what, they’re people invited to the Imperial Palace. If they’re attacked, it could become a big issue.”

“Then what should we do?”

Etherian closed her mouth, lost in thought, then adjusted her posture.

“Where did you say his place of exile was?”

“Lake territory.”

“Then find an assassin group on the route from Lake territory to the Imperial Palace. Since there are two elite knights, it should be a group with some reputation.”

Feeling a strong gust of bloodshed at the tip of her nose.

Butler Wellsran bowed respectfully at Imperial Princess Etherian’s words.

“I’ll make the preparations.”