Ch.624Episode 23 – The Spy Who Returned from the Cold Country

In the Kiyen Empire, the royal family is considered divine. However, not all members of the Smirnov Imperial Family can be revered as godlike beings despite their noble bloodlines.

Because the throne is a place reserved for only one person.

The Emperor alone rules the empire, and all royals except the heir are considered “potential threats” who could challenge imperial authority at any time.

And today, there are three rising dragons said to be capable of competing with Crown Prince Valery:

Elizaveta, his own sister, who has deep connections with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Yet precisely because of her closeness to the central organizations overseeing administration, civil service, firefighting, and public security, she could potentially interfere with the Crown Prince’s domestic policies.

Therefore, she would likely be first in line if purges were to occur.

Margarita, who was born with noble blood and backed by her maternal grandfather, a business magnate, and her mother’s family’s influence.

Yet because she holds too much, she could easily become prey during an anti-corruption campaign in the early days of a new reign.

A royal who could have her belly cut open to extract golden eggs at any moment.

Anastasia, who possesses extraordinary talent.

Yet due to losing her parents to puerperal fever, she had to leave the palace in childhood and wander abroad.

The unfortunate princess who had the most yet simultaneously had nothing, and thus received care from the Crown Prince.

These are the only royals who could challenge the Crown Prince’s authority and the throne.

Episode 23 – The Spy Who Returned from a Cold Country

Sunlight touching the window gently spreads in a hexagonal pattern.

The Kiyen Empire’s sky is usually shrouded in a dull gray, but today it’s exceptionally bright, which feels quite refreshing.

The high, cloudless sky was transparent as if someone had wiped clean a glass surface after a long sleep, and the nameless flowerpot in the studio’s courtyard gleamed softly in that light. The complex aroma of black tea quietly permeated that tranquil silver glow.

After meeting with Princess Anastasia, I moved to the greenhouse at her invitation.

“These are tea leaves that the imperial palace imports annually from Ashtistan.”

Holding a delicately crafted teacup lightly, the princess began speaking calmly with a smile on her lips.

In Abas language as smooth as her eloquence.

“I’ve heard you usually enjoy coffee, but I hope this tea suits your taste.”

I stared at the princess with an impassive gaze before responding in rather fluent Kiyen.

“I like tea as well.”

“Is that so? Then my concern was unnecessary.”

She nodded with relief as she brought the teacup to her lips.

With an innocent-looking smile.

Was she trying to prove herself a harmless royal without ambition? Princess Anastasia maintained a relaxed attitude throughout.

In other words, she was wasting time with nutritionless conversation after summoning me from afar.

In a secluded castle quietly weathering time in a mild climate, we sat in a tea room bathed in warm sunlight, exchanging rather uninteresting conversation.

The topic was none other than tea.

The one who chose the subject was, of course, Princess Anastasia.

“The black tea you’re holding is made from leaves grown in the highlands of Ashtistan. The mist-covered northwestern highlands have been renowned for their excellent harvests for hundreds of years.”

“Ashtistan is famous as the home of tea. I understood what that meant when I visited myself.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m envious. Visiting the Republic has been a long-cherished wish, but His Majesty wouldn’t easily grant permission, so I haven’t been able to go.”

She looked at me with increased elegance, raising her head.

“The hills along the coast are always surrounded by fog, making them consistently humid and cool. Despite the harsh climate, the massive mountain ranges standing like shields and the intense sun create an ideal environment for tea plants to thrive.”

As soon as she finished her first sentence, I suddenly thought this wouldn’t be easy.

Princess Anastasia wasn’t as manageable as I had imagined. She was someone who could talk for hours without tiring when a topic she liked came up, and she was a person who could completely disregard what others said.

Of course, I suspected it might be an act. This was an imperial castle, with eyes and ears lurking everywhere.

But I had to quietly set aside that suspicion.

“…Um, Grand Duchess?”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Then why are you sweating so much?”

Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna, sitting next to the princess, began profusely sweating cold sweat.

It was noticeable even from a distance.

Considering that she normally wouldn’t bat an eye no matter how much Camilla troubled her or how much commotion she herself caused, the fact that she was showing nervousness made me suspect something was seriously wrong.

They say one must be mad to reach the truth.

It seems Princess Anastasia isn’t entirely sane either.

Inwardly swallowing a sigh, I calmly suppressed any sign of annoyance.

And I politely asked the princess, who was chattering in Abas language:

“Does Your Highness enjoy tea?”

My diplomatic, restrained tone took the form of rather fluent Kiyen. The Abas language, which might have included consideration for the other party, perhaps even goodwill, was suddenly cut off.

Princess Anastasia seemed not to have expected Kiyen from my mouth and paused briefly.

Holding her teacup, she maintained silence and merely gazed at me for a while.

“Enjoying tea has meaning beyond a simple hobby or taste. The history and culture contained in its flavor and aroma. Only when everything harmonizes can one truly appreciate its taste.”

“How philosophical.”

“I don’t think this hobby has any profound meaning. But thank you for seeing it in a positive light.”

A gentle smile returned to her lips, and the princess pretended nothing was amiss.

Suddenly, as she looked into her teacup, she trailed off. With a somewhat regretful look in her eyes.

“Every time I drink Ashtistan tea that comes to the imperial family, I’ve thought about visiting the land where these leaves are grown. I’ve begged His Majesty the Emperor several times but couldn’t get permission.”

She meant the Emperor’s excessive protection was very frustrating. Considering the period when she left the palace and wandered abroad, she was probably reminiscing about quite an early childhood.

In truth, if she had begged to be sent across the sea to the desert to tour tea plantations, any father would have opposed it.

I deliberately didn’t mention that part.

“Now that the High Priest has visited the Empire, I was thinking of making a special request to allow me to travel to the northwest…. What do you think?”

Just as the princess with an innocent smile asked what I thought of her plan.

Another royal who had been listening to the conversation scolded her.

“I cannot allow it, even if dirt enters my eyes, child.”

“Great-aunt.”

“Hmph.”

Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna reprimanded Princess Anastasia in a rather stern voice. Asking what she thought she was doing, going to such a place. She threatened that even if visas were issued, she would absolutely not permit it.

The princess, looking somewhat upset, tried to persuade the Grand Duchess, but the latter stubbornly insisted she wouldn’t back down a single step.

It was completely different from her earlier appearance when she was disgusted by Princess Anastasia’s rapid-fire eloquence.

“But Great-aunt, you visited Ashtistan with your disciple. Why can’t I go?”

“He went with me, didn’t he?”

“I can go and return safely with the Imperial Guard’s protection.”

“That child is a magician who can take care of himself even without others’ protection. But you, Stasha, are someone who could face unknown dangers the moment you’re separated from your guards. You are an imperial royal. Don’t forget that fact.”

“……”

As the argument continued, the atmosphere around the table noticeably sank. Before the stubborn Grand Magician made the mood worse, someone needed to step in and resolve the situation.

*Plop*

After dropping a sugar cube into my tea, I naturally intervened in the conversation between the two royals.

Through a plausible pretext that the princess would accept.

“As Your Highness may have heard, the unfortunate incident in Shizuya a few months ago raised widespread concerns beyond bilateral relations, about the safety of royals staying abroad. That’s precisely what Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna is worried about.”

The diplomatic conflict triggered by the Ashtistan Republic Security Committee’s wiretapping incident.

The incident where the Republic’s security agency installed listening devices in the residence where the Imperial Grand Duchess was staying is still talked about in diplomatic circles as a tremendous accident.

Of course, the target they intended to monitor wasn’t Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna,

But the victim was indeed the Grand Duchess, and that was an undeniable truth that neither the Empire nor the Republic could deny.

So as someone who experienced the incident, it was natural for the Grand Duchess to oppose Princess Anastasia’s overseas travel. That was roughly the logic I used to persuade the princess.

Of course, that was merely representing the Grand Duchess’s position.

It seems the childish princess found it quite annoying.

She turned her head primly, avoiding the Grand Duchess’s gaze, indicating she was upset.

“So what? I completed my coming-of-age ceremony long ago, yet Great-aunt still treats me like a baby.”

“No, when did I ever…!”

At that moment, the Grand Magician, overcome with indignation, raised her voice, forgetting even her dignity. She even abandoned her archaic vocabulary and used expressions more typical of commoners.

Though even noble royals can be understood for having battlefield experience,

Isn’t this acting too young for her age?

As I was thinking this while looking at the fuming Grand Duchess, Princess Anastasia slightly opened one eye and muttered loud enough for others to hear.

“You even brought your cherished dress to meet your niece. Everyone in the palace knows it’s something you wore only at your niece’s wedding and preserved with magic.”

“Y-you… Can’t you be quiet!?”

“Who said what, Grand Duchess?”

A roar erupted! But the princess remained unfazed and casually asked what the problem was.

Alexandra Petrovna, her insides turning, jumped up from her seat. Her face was not just flushed but could be described as red-hot, and her hands were pounding on the table.

Startled by the sudden outburst, I hurriedly lifted my teacup and leaned back.

Looking around frantically, when the Grand Duchess’s eyes met mine, she began sending silent threats with her blazing gaze.

A threat that if I spread what I’d seen and heard today, she would chase me to the ends of hell and make me regret it.

“A-ahem… I just remembered I have urgent business.”

“……”

“I’ll be going now, so you handle the rest.”

Alexandra Petrovna, who had been fanning herself repeatedly, suddenly seemed to regain her composure and began hastily tidying her hair.

She stormed out of the tea room at an unrestrained pace, accompanied by numerous attendants and maids who had been guarding the surroundings.

It seemed she had taken all listening ears with her, perhaps fearing what mischief the princess left behind might get up to.

“……”

Princess Anastasia, left behind after the Grand Duchess swept out like a storm, stared blankly at the empty space. Then, with a mischievous smile, she opened her mouth as if troubled.

“Well, I’m not sure how this will sound, but I don’t know who the real child is here.”

I answered nonchalantly, covering my mouth with the teacup.

“I deeply sympathize.”

*

For having summoned a foreign official, Princess Anastasia didn’t bring up anything particularly important. The Grand Duchess, a senior imperial family member, had shared the table, and the imperial eyes and ears had been in the same space.

And now, with everyone withdrawn from the tea room.

Princess Anastasia finally put down her implausible mask.

“Let me introduce myself formally. I am Anastasia Nikolaevna, the third princess of the Smirnov Imperial Family.”

“Frederick Nostrim, former Abas Defense Attaché to Petrograd.”

The blue eyes faced forward without a hint of wavering.

With pearl-like transparent eyes shining, Princess Anastasia gripped her teacup.

“I’ve heard about you from several people. The imperial family is deeply grateful for the heroic achievements you and your colleagues accomplished in the frozen northern lands.”

Flattery already? I thought this wouldn’t be easy, but in a different sense from before.

If asked whether we ended the Kiyen-Demon Realm conflict entirely by our own strength, that would be open to interpretation.

But it was clear that finding and killing a demon no one even knew existed, and eliminating monster colonies that even the imperial army couldn’t touch, contributed to the victory. We even received decorations in recognition of those merits.

The problem was that the princess was revisiting a past that had already gone by.

If someone who had shared life and death in the north had spoken, I would have accepted it as reminiscing about memories, but she was neither involved in the northern conflict nor even acquainted with our group.

The bigger problem was that she was an imperial succession rights holder.

In other words, this could only be interpreted as a statement with distinctly political intentions from any perspective.

I smiled and responded in fluent Kiyen.

“That was the result of everyone’s combined efforts. The end of the five-year conflict and the return of peace to the north is welcomed by all. I believe the Kiyen Empire will quickly regain stability and play a pivotal role as a member of the international community.”

For reference, I was no longer a diplomat.

This couldn’t be considered the official position of the Abas government, merely the personal view of a former diplomat. Naturally, I emphasized that point.

Of course, the princess was unlikely to firmly believe this.

Logically, an official going to meet an imperial royal would certainly have received some position from their government.

So, she gently smiled and murmured:

“Since the war with the demon race ended not long ago and the country is obviously not in good shape, you’re telling me elegantly to refrain from reckless actions and stay put.”

“……”

“In diplomatic reading, that’s what your words mean… Ah, perhaps I’m over-interpreting?”

Princess Anastasia, bringing her teacup to her lips, asked me as if nothing was wrong. As if wondering if she had made some mistake.

Her innocent smile remained the same as before.

I responded in a calm tone.

“That could be considered somewhat of a liberal translation.”

“My oversight, then.”

Definitely, she’s a different breed from the Grand Duchess.

They look similar, but their minds work differently. A more political creature.

Unlike Alexandra Petrovna, whose brother ascended to the throne early and who herself withdrew from power, Anastasia Nikolaevna had a sense for it. An eye for reading flows and understanding contexts.

“……”

Well, maintaining succession rights until now would be impossible without considerable skill or luck.

In a room with just the two of us.

Recalling the instructions ordered by the Abas cabinet and the profiles of the Kiyen succession rights holders in my mind, I engaged in the negotiation with a calm tone.

“I feel bad for coming empty-handed when you’ve served such precious tea. If it’s not impolite, could you perhaps hint at what gift might please Your Highness?”

“Asking that directly is not courteous to a lady. And it would be undignified for me to answer.”

“There’s no one listening, is there?”

“That’s right. At least not in this room.”

“……”

Princess Anastasia didn’t erase her smile. She put down her teacup and looked at the vase on the table with a gentle gaze.

Tilting her head slightly, the princess turned her gaze toward me.

“But, for the sake of your dignity, I’ll tell you just this once, specially.”

“Please speak freely.”

“I want the Abas government to publicly support me.”

“……”

Clatter. I put down the teacup I was holding.

And opened my mouth in a low voice.

Loud enough for the sound to carry across the table.

“So you’re requesting intervention in the next imperial succession battle.”