Ch.637Episode 23 – The Spy Who Returned from the Cold Country

After the storm had passed, Reyevsky Hall was enveloped in a cold silence.

The banquet was promptly concluded following Crown Prince Valery’s instructions.

The attendees who had packed the grand hall all returned to their respective positions, but they did not know why the Imperial Guard had stepped in to protect the royal family, or why the ball had ended earlier than scheduled.

This led to countless speculations. Despite a stream of inquiries from nobles and officials, the Smirnov Imperial Family maintained their silence without expressing any particular stance.

“How did it go?”

In the now-deserted Reyevsky Hall, I cautiously approached Camilla, who sat alone, and asked about the situation.

Sipping some liquor from an unknown source, she shook her head with a complicated expression, then finally spoke with a voice tinged with fatigue.

“…She still hasn’t regained consciousness.”

“It seems the Princess will remain in a coma for quite some time.”

Episode 23 – The Spy Who Returned from a Cold Country

The event organized to celebrate the Crown Prince’s birthday ended with the unexpected tragedy of the Princess’s incident.

Amid the chaotic atmosphere, the hastily concluded ball gave rise to numerous rumors. Instead of issuing an official statement, the Smirnov Imperial Family pretended nothing was wrong, appeasing the unsettled public by distributing appropriate gifts to the attendees.

However, unlike those unaware of the truth, the atmosphere within the imperial family was growing increasingly grim.

“The Imperial Guard and the Imperial Protection Agency are conducting background checks on all attendees. High-ranking officials from the Kiyen Counterintelligence Unit and Public Security Police have entered the Protection Agency headquarters, and Imperial Defense Command troops are stationed at key exit points from Petrograd.”

Crown Prince Valery ordered intensified security checks and background investigations on all ball attendees.

Military units responsible for Petrograd’s defense established checkpoints and conducted intensive inspections, the Imperial Protection Agency carried out high-intensity counterintelligence activities with cooperation from the five security agencies, and those responsible within the Imperial Guard, who had handled internal security, were dismissed one after another.

These movements were fully captured by the surveillance networks of foreign embassies.

Immediately after the ball’s disruption, embassies that detected suspicious currents quickly moved to assess the situation.

High-ranking officials from the Kiyen Foreign Ministry had to endure countless handshake requests from foreign representatives, while diplomats from various countries, gathered under the pretext of meetings, were keeping a close eye on the empire’s and imperial family’s responses.

“Margarita Princess is still in a coma?”

“Yes. The emergency treatment was perfect, but no one knows the exact cause. Even the imperial family is still trying to figure it out.”

“This is a real mess.”

Leoni threw the diplomatic communication from the embassy onto the conference table. A faint groan escaped her lips.

Rolling a walnut in her palm, she pressed her throbbing forehead. Her extremely displeased expression was an added bonus.

“Was it an assassination attempt targeting the Princess?”

“Based on the circumstances, that seems most likely.”

“Indeed, they desperately lunged to take Margarita Princess’s life…”

Clevins, occupying the seat opposite, suddenly muttered in a dry voice. Though his voice wasn’t much different from usual, there were more wrinkles around his eyes as he examined the report. As if he had aged about ten years.

In the Military Intelligence Bureau’s conference room, the atmosphere between the two directors was more solemn than ever. Leoni and Clevins were investigating the incident at the ballroom by examining mountains of intelligence documents.

“According to your report, Margarita should have emerged from her coma by now.”

Leoni asked.

“The Grand Duchess who found her at the scene personally handled the initial emergency treatment, and imperial healers who arrived within 10 minutes took charge of the Princess’s secondary healing and procedures. So why hasn’t she regained consciousness yet?”

“As I mentioned earlier, the exact cause remains unclear. However, after consulting with experts in magic and healing arts, they all agreed that traumatic brain injury is the most suspected cause.”

It was confirmed that Princess Margarita, who had been attacked by an assassin, was still unconscious.

There was no possibility of improper treatment.

Although she had fallen into a coma after suffering third-degree burns to her face and upper body from a direct magical hit, Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna and the imperial healers hadn’t missed the golden hour.

In fact, the archmages and healers had successfully treated her in time. Most of the visibly apparent injuries had already recovered, and internal injuries to her organs had significantly improved through surgery and potions.

In other words, she appeared fine on the outside.

According to Camilla, who had personally examined the Princess in her sickbed, Margarita looked as if she were merely in a deep sleep after receiving a sedative endoscopy. She didn’t look like someone who had suffered a major accident at all, according to Camilla’s explanation.

Despite the efforts of many, Princess Margarita failed to regain consciousness.

So, I consulted with my sister, who is well-versed in magic, and saints known as authorities in healing to find out why the Princess wasn’t recovering consciousness, and received consistent answers.

I took a sip of coffee from the break table and briefly explained.

“Brain damage and brain-related diseases are areas where neither the Magic Tower nor the Ivory Tower has found clear treatments. Similarly, even the Church, which can reattach severed limbs, is generally powerless when it comes to brain issues.”

“If it were as simple as saying a few prayers and washing with holy water, Nikolai VI would have long recovered from dementia and risen from his sickbed. Even Saint Lucia couldn’t find a method after more than a year.”

“Yes. Both Veronica and Lucia mentioned that point.”

“So did the assassin use a special magic that inflicts physical or magical damage to the brain?”

“It’s not certain, but Ayla explained that even without such specialized magic, ordinary people easily fall into comas.”

My younger sister Ayla, who had joined the Royal Intelligence Service, had grown to a level comparable to a battle mage during our time apart.

Given the nature of intelligence agencies, it was easy to learn techniques for killing people, and mages were killing machines capable of eliminating ordinary people with just a few finger gestures. So it wasn’t unnatural for her to master battle magic after completing basic training and magical warfare education as an intelligence officer.

According to Ayla, people directly hit by magic can easily fall into comas.

Even attacks that mages can casually exchange with each other (in her words, “at the level of jabs thrown by boxers”), are extremely dangerous for ordinary people, potentially life-threatening, and especially when hit in the head with magic, immediate death is common.

“If the magic the assassin fired during the subduing process unexpectedly hit the Princess’s head, it’s natural that she hasn’t regained consciousness. She’s actually holding up well for a non-mage. Even elemental magic taught at academies can cause instant death if hit incorrectly.”

“If it was magic fired with the deliberate intent to assassinate, it’s remarkable she’s still alive.”

“Indeed.”

Anyway.

The prevailing view was that Princess Margarita’s condition wouldn’t dramatically improve anytime soon.

Although Kiyen’s imperial medical team and healers were making every effort, and even high-ranking priests from the Petrograd diocese had stepped in, Veronica, Lucia, and Ayla all agreed it would be better not to have high expectations.

“At the Grand Duchess’s request, I’ve specially asked Veronica and Lucia to examine the Princess’s condition, but…”

Shortly after the assassination attempt, I received a request from Grand Duchess Alexandra Petrovna. She asked if I could bring the Church’s saints to the empire to help treat Princess Margarita.

Both of them initially responded that they would help as much as possible, but when Church officials heard this request, they expressed strong reluctance.

The reason was simple.

Because nothing had been revealed about who had ordered the assassination.

“Since this was an incident where a royal family member was nearly assassinated, and with no information about the assassin’s identity or backers, the Church is reluctant to grant permission out of concern for the saints’ safety.”

I frowned with an ambiguous expression, pausing mid-sentence.

The assassin who had attempted to kill Princess Margarita was killed by the Grand Duchess who had rushed to the scene. The problem was that with the assassin’s death, the opportunity to discover the identity of those who had ordered the assassination had vanished.

Even now, the Imperial Protection Agency hadn’t figured out how the assassin had entered Reyevsky Hall or who had given him an invitation.

Therefore, the Church informed me of their difficult position, citing that “since there might be more assassins, they cannot guarantee the saints’ safety.”

With the security of the imperial ball breached, even the palace couldn’t be considered safe, so how could they entrust the safety of Veronica and Lucia to the empire? In plain terms, it meant “we cannot entrust the protection of our saints to an empire that cannot properly protect its own royal family.”

“The holy folks are unusually heated.”

As Clevins murmured, Leoni took over in a calm tone.

“How could they not be angry? On the day of the incident, Church diplomats and even the archbishop were at Reyevsky Hall.”

“If the security of the venue was breached by a single assassin, it’s fortunate that the ambassadors who attended didn’t express more outrage.”

Indeed.

While ambassadors refrained from criticizing the empire, which was in a funeral-like mood after the Princess’s assassination attempt, the security breach at an event attended by high-ranking diplomatic officials was a serious issue.

Even countries traditionally considered Kiyen’s close allies were considering whether to send diplomats to remaining events, and some foreign ministries were at the point of issuing directives to “preferably abstain from attendance, citing personal reasons like health deterioration, in consideration of diplomatic relations with the empire.”

Of course, the Kiyen Foreign Ministry issued an apology and asked for attendance at the remaining events, but… who would want to go to a place where a perpetrator carrying dangerous weapons had roamed freely and nearly killed a royal family member?

No matter how important diplomatic events were, nothing was more precious than life.

“Looking at the circumstances, the answer seems obvious… but was it definitely an attempt to kill a royal family member?”

I answered affirmatively.

“Although the assassin had been watching me closely from inside the venue and followed me as soon as I moved to the lounge, the target he intended to kill was clearly Princess Margarita.”

“How strange. Anyway, due to rumors spreading about your involvement with the Hero, the atmosphere at the embassies has become quite unfavorable.”

As he said, diplomatic public opinion was deteriorating.

Information had spread that I, though former, had once served as a military attaché and had confronted the assassin. For those in the diplomatic field, this was a deeply concerning matter.

Even in clubs in Petrograd frequently visited by diplomats, questions about Crown Prince Valery’s suitability as emperor were being openly discussed.

For Valery, who had aimed to make a splendid debut as the future emperor through the imperial ball, this was essentially the worst-case scenario.

And,

From the perspective of intelligence officers,

This situation reeked of something foul.

Sure enough, the two directors who had summoned me back to the mainland posed one question at the end of a long debriefing.

With a voice filled with very blatant suspicion.

“So, Frederick. Who do you think is behind this?”

“……”

“Which of the imperial claimants would kill Princess Margarita and undermine Crown Prince Valery’s authority?”

Leoni and Clevins leaned back comfortably as they posed the question, and I put aside my coffee, stroking my lips before answering.

“You hardly need to hear my answer.”

“……”

“I suspect the same person you do.”

*

“I regret what happened to your family member, Your Highness.”

Meeting with the two princesses who had accepted my request for an audience, I expressed my condolences with a seemingly sad face.

The two responded with sorrowful voices.

“What happened to Margarita is unfortunate. I was heartbroken about the misfortune that befell my beloved sister, and I’m truly humbled that you, who must have been quite shocked as a witness, are showing such concern.”

“As a family member, I deeply thank you for saving my sister.”

In the reception room of the Grand Duchess’s residence, Princess Elizaveta and Princess Anastasia, whom I met again, each expressed their regrets in their own way.

Princess Elizaveta, holding a teacup, placed one hand on her chest and offered a generous smile. She spoke of her feelings for her beloved sister and expressed her apologies to me.

In contrast, Princess Anastasia, with her hands neatly folded, conveyed her thanks. Specifically, it was gratitude toward me and Camilla, who had intervened to stop the assassin at the scene.

Although Camilla wasn’t present at this meeting, she asked me to convey her thanks to Camilla as well. I briefly replied that I would and moved on to the main topic.

“It must have been deeply concerning for both of you when an unexpected incident occurred at what should have been a place for positive exchanges.”

“Well, I think the Grand Duchess must have been even more concerned. She was extremely fond of her sister.”

“Indeed, she remained in the Princess’s hospital room for a while, turning away everyone else. I understand she visited Princess Margarita’s room today as well.”

I casually exchanged information about the Grand Duchess’s recent activities while observing the two women’s reactions.

Princess Elizaveta maintained her elegant demeanor as always. Princess Anastasia also maintained her proud posture with strength in her waist and neck, just as before.

Neither of them showed any sign of concern for their family member who had fallen into a coma. If anything, Princess Elizaveta seemed somewhat worried, but I easily noticed that she was merely expressing concern verbally while actually feeling indifferent.

What a truly dysfunctional family.

Princess Elizaveta, sipping her tea, suddenly crossed her legs and spoke. Her elegant posture and confident smile remained unchanged.

“I hear that both you and the Hero were injured. As a member of the imperial family, I must apologize.”

“It’s fine. There’s no reason for you to apologize to me.”

Princess Anastasia frowned her delicate brow and shook her head with a rather serious attitude.

“Apologizing is only proper, since the issue occurred at an imperial event. By the way, are your injuries severe? If you need treatment, I could call my personal physician…”

“The wounds weren’t that deep, and I received sufficient treatment at the scene that day. The imperial healers helped. Of course, the Grand Duchess had already tended to my wounds as well.”

“Truly… that’s a relief.”

I had many conversations with the princesses gathered in the reception room. However, the dialogue didn’t need to take much time.

Princess Elizaveta, sipping her tea, expressed conventional gratitude and regret, then left saying she would set a date to meet again soon. Along with the expectation of hearing the “positive answer” she hadn’t received last time.

It was a rather early departure.

In contrast, Princess Anastasia remained in the reception room a bit longer. Unlike her half-sister who had left first, she stayed in her seat for a while, asking me various questions.

“I have something I want to ask.”

“Please speak freely.”

“That day, at Reyevsky Hall, my sister Margarita went to meet you, didn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“What did you talk about?”

I responded plainly without showing any particular reaction.

“It was exactly the topic you’re thinking of, Your Highness.”

“…So it was indeed that.”

Afterward, Princess Anastasia asked a few more questions, but nothing particularly substantial came up.

“I have some urgent business to attend to, so I must leave now. Until we meet again, take care of yourself.”

“Safe travels, Your Highness.”

She hurriedly left the Grand Duchess’s residence, citing busy official duties.

Left alone in the reception room.

After being lost in thought for a while, I slowly rose from the sofa and approached one of the walls.

Then, without knocking, I opened the door and greeted the person inside.

“Have you been waiting long, Camilla?”

Camilla, who had been sitting with her back and head against the wall facing the reception room, gently opened her eyelids. I leaned my shoulder against the doorframe and handed her a cookie.

“Thank you. I was just getting hungry.”

“Don’t mention it. By the way, how did it seem to you?”

“……”

“Which of the two seemed most suspicious?”

Taking the cookie, she smiled at me. As she broke the cookie in half and offered me a piece, she said:

“I found Elizaveta most suspicious.”

“So you thought so too.”

That’s exactly what I was thinking.

I bit into the half cookie along with her.

“Elizaveta is clearly the one who ordered her sister’s assassination.”