Chapter 40

Episode 40

It was a memorable meal.

I wasn’t usually expressive, but Lady Lucia had made a strong impression on me.

She was a completely different person compared to her usual demeanor in her chambers. She was intelligent, curious, and had a warm smile.

Her grace and beauty would surely blossom once she reached adulthood.

Even without the Kalisto name, she would shine brightly.

This might sound like I’m infatuated with her, but that’s not the case.

This was just a step in my journey to become her left-hand man, a brief respite before the storm. The journey to the Imperial Capital would be fraught with danger.

I felt both nervous and excited.

What awaited us in the heart of the empire?

“Inspector!”

Lilith ran towards me, her face beaming.

She was waiting for me at the intersection leading from Rosetta to the inner castle gate.

“Did you finish your meal? I’m so jealous.”

“Why would you be jealous of that?”

“It’s not an opportunity everyone gets.”

She might sound like she was envious of me dining with Lady Lucia, but I knew the truth. She was envious of Lady Lucia.

“How are your parents?”

“They’re doing well, thanks to you, Inspector. They asked me to send their regards.”

I had instructed the investigators to keep an eye on the area, just in case any of Satyr’s followers were still lurking around.

We had successfully deceived Baron Roman, but we hadn’t apprehended all of his subordinates. They might seek revenge.

“Would you like some cookies? I baked them earlier…”

She offered me a plate of cookies. She was a skilled baker as well.

“Thank you, Lilith.”

“Are you leaving for another mission?”

“Yes. But I’ll be staying at the Inspection Unit headquarters for a while, so I’ll visit the castle often.”

“See you next time, Inspector.”

She bowed and turned away, her smile lingering. I left the castle and boarded the carriage.

“Where to, Inspector?”

“Inspection Unit headquarters.”

The coachman closed the door and set off. I leaned back, lost in thought. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels faded into the background.

Lord Hylix’s words echoed in my mind.

*— I’ll spare you, considering your talent. The offer still stands. Come find me if you change your mind.*

His words were a double-edged sword.

He could kill me or spare me.

He had offered me an opportunity for advancement, but it was also a veiled threat.

‘If I interfere with Lucia’s marriage, his anger will intensify.’

The Lady had promised to protect me.

She had said she would take responsibility for the Inspection Unit’s actions. I could trust her words she was the ultimate mastermind, after all.

But there was a problem.

‘She might be testing me, evaluating my potential.’

That meant I would inevitably clash with Lord Hylix. I would become a pawn in their power struggle.

‘Is there a way out?’

I couldn’t think of a solution.

I had to trust my abilities and my allies.

The carriage arrived at the Inspection Unit headquarters.

The reception desk was empty. Everyone was probably gathered in the secret chamber.

I activated the hidden mechanism and entered the chamber. Selendis, Jericho, and Chloe were chatting and enjoying snacks.

“Welcome back, Inspector.”

“Inspector! You had dinner with Lady Lucia? Alone?”

Chloe rushed towards me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“How did you know? Did you plant a spy?”

“No way! I’d be beheaded if I was caught. A butler from the castle told me when he delivered supplies. He said you were amazing.”

“He’ll go far.”

I chuckled and sat down. I added the cookies Lilith had given me to the snack platter.

“Did you buy snacks?”

“No, a maid gave them to me.”

“Wow, our Inspector is so popular! I heard the maids and ladies-in-waiting are all talking about you.”

“They have too much free time.”

“So what happened? How did you end up having dinner with the Lady…?”

Jericho intervened, unable to tolerate Chloe’s prying any longer.

“Hey, assistant! Show some respect! He’s the Inspector of course he can dine with the Lady.”

“It was so sudden. I’ve never had a meal with Lady Lucia.”

“You’re comparing yourself to the Inspector?”

“We both have two eyes, a nose, and a mouth.”

“Sigh… I give up.”

“Maybe it’s a green light?”

“A green… what?”

“Oh my god, old man! It’s a popular slang term. You know, healing magic is green. It means things are going well. Romantically.”

That wasn’t the origin of the term…

I hadn’t expected them to make such a big deal out of it. I would have to avoid dining alone with her in the future.

“Lady Selendis, have you ever dined with the Lady? You were her guardian knight.”

“No.”

Her blunt response made Chloe sigh.

“How could I possibly dine with the Lady? A guardian knight can’t afford to let their guard down, even for a moment. That’s what she would have said.”

Selendis remained silent, confirming Chloe’s assessment. Chloe was good at reading people.

And then, Chloe revealed her true intention.

“Anyway, I think it’s a significant event. A love that transcends social status! That would be amazing.”

“Write a novel! She’s about to become the prince’s consort! Don’t spread rumors. You only have one life.”

Jericho seemed offended by the term ‘old man’.

“I have some common sense, you know. Honestly, I feel sorry for the Lady. She can’t marry the man she loves… I heard the Third Prince is a scoundrel. He has a terrible reputation in the capital.”

A scoundrel.

I couldn’t let the ultimate mastermind marry a scoundrel.

“Who’s the Third Prince?”

“Prince Arthur. I heard he’s infamous in the capital. They even have a department dedicated to cleaning up his messes.”

“And the Duke accepted the proposal?”

Jericho answered before Chloe could.

“Becoming related to the Imperial Family is a significant event. It’s beneficial for both sides. House Kalisto is one of the most powerful families in the empire. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”

“Who initiated the proposal?”

“The Imperial Family. The Duke heard about it directly from the Emperor at a banquet.”

That meant it was impossible to refuse. The Emperor’s request was essentially an order.

“The marriage is inevitable.”

“It seems so. As Chloe said, even if the Third Prince has a bad reputation, it’s not a valid reason to reject a marriage proposal from the Imperial Family.”

“I received a third mission.”

My sudden announcement made Chloe choke on her cookie. Jericho patted her back awkwardly.

“The Lady will be traveling to the Imperial Capital. And I’ll be accompanying her.”

“What? That’s it? Just an escort mission to the capital?”

“Yes. She didn’t mention anything about the marriage.”

“Are you going alone, Inspector?”

“Yes.”

Silence fell over the room. They were probably realizing that the missions were getting increasingly difficult.

And they were right.

High risk, high reward. The more dangerous the mission, the greater the reward.

“I’ll follow you as a backup. We don’t know what might happen in the capital.”

“It’s alright, Selendis. Take this opportunity to rest. It’s the Lady’s order.”

“…Yes, Master.”

I turned to Jericho.

“Prepare a report on Prince Arthur. Immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

I had expected it to take some time, but he returned with the documents in less than a minute. He was incredibly efficient.

“This is a lot of information. Can you summarize the key points?”

“Prince Arthur is considered incompetent compared to his brothers. He lacks ambition and enjoys a life of indulgence. He has no notable achievements. Chloe’s assessment was accurate.”

I reviewed the documents as Jericho explained.

There was a family tree of the Imperial Family. I noticed something interesting.

“He’s the son of a concubine. And not just any concubine she was a commoner and the Emperor’s second concubine. He’s far removed from the line of succession.”

“You’re right, Master. That’s why some people disapprove of this marriage. House Kalisto is one of the two ducal families in the empire. It’s a mismatch.”

There were only two ducal families in the empire.

House Kalisto was the older and more prestigious family. The other family, House Enceladus, was less influential but still held significant power due to their connection to the Imperial Family.

So when people talked about the most powerful family in the empire, they usually referred to House Kalisto.

“It seems unfair, but the Duke can’t refuse the Emperor’s request.”

“That’s the dilemma. Lady Lucia is the jewel of House Kalisto. The Duke must be reluctant to send her away.”

The Duke’s reluctance…

My intuition sparked.

‘Perhaps this mission is connected to the Duke’s intentions.’

Not all nobles were power-hungry.

Duke Kalisto, the head of House Kalisto, was a strict knight, but he was also a devoted father. He wouldn’t sacrifice his only daughter’s happiness for political gain.

I was starting to see the bigger picture.

I couldn’t meet with the Duke directly, even as an Inspector. I would have to find another way.

“Jericho, I have a task for you. It’s top secret.”