🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 14
It’s a profession with the word “Sa,” not a con artist.
“…What exactly are you talking about?”
At Miren’s question, her mother couldn’t answer immediately and lowered her head.
Eventually, she raised her hand, which had been resting on the table, and covered her face.
Miren approached and asked, almost pressing her mother for an answer.
“What do you mean by that?”
“They say all the villagers agreed they don’t want to return to the Terun Duchy. And it makes sense. Life was so hard back then… Now that we’ve finally become citizens of the Empire, they’re telling us to go back to the Duchy!”
“Wait a minute, Mother. So, right now…”
“Yes. A decree has come from the capital: all subjects of the Frenity territory must return to the Duchy.”
Miren frowned. This was completely different from what she had understood.
‘If they want to go back, we’ll have to allow it. Reports keep coming in. The land will be returned, but the people will be sent. Apparently, the village agreed.’
Ryan had clearly said that the villagers all wanted to return.
He had no reason to lie, so maybe the information got mixed up somewhere along the way.
Something felt wrong. This… this is not right.
“The Terun Duchy wouldn’t accept us anyway. It’s already been twenty years! Do you know what they call the people of Frenity in the Duchy? Traitors. So where exactly are we supposed to go?”
Stress must have gotten to her, because tears streamed down her mother’s face.
The hardest times were endured not by Miren, but by her parents and other migrants like them.
They had followed like prisoners and barely established themselves, but they were still not official citizens of the Empire. And returning home was too far a journey.
Those who had lived here for twenty years might suddenly have to lose their homes and wander again.
Miren, frowning as she pondered, approached and gently patted her mother’s back.
“I’ll try to find out a bit.”
“…Enough. You go to the capital immediately. Once there, just marry any man. Then at least you can stay here.”
“What good would it do me to live as a citizen by myself?”
“…Miren.”
“Mother, what good is it if I live alone leaving Father behind? I’ve told you over and over.”
Suddenly, Miren reached forward and wiped the tears from her mother’s eyes with her thumb.
When their eyes met, she smiled softly.
“There’s nothing more important than family.”
Blink, blink.
Miren lay quietly in bed, blinking, before getting up.
Her head was a little dizzy, but otherwise, compared to usual, she felt in good condition.
Lately, it had been like this every time.
Even when her body was in good shape, it felt almost too good, which made her a little uneasy.
Putting aside the small unease, Miren stepped down from the bed.
She had something to investigate and had gone to bed earlier than usual.
It was still early evening, so the outside was quite lively.
Unlike the dead of night when she usually got up, the atmosphere felt different, and she went outside first.
She intended to look for Maria.
“Maria, are you there?”
“Your Highness, were you looking for me?”
Stepping outside, she saw Maria waiting, bowing her head.
Unlike usual, the Empress had gotten up early, and Maria seemed surprised.
“Maria, Your Majesty…”
Miren suddenly stopped speaking.
Behind Maria, who was bowing, was a large window revealing the outside, and the reddish evening sunlight streamed in.
And there stood a man with white hair.
The same man she had seen yesterday.
Unlike in the dark, the bright surroundings revealed his face clearly.
It was indeed Hegel Karner, the man Miren knew.
He smiled at her and raised his hand.
Miren frowned just as she was about to speak, but Maria spoke first.
“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“…No, nothing in particular.”
Hegel raised his index finger to his lips and pointed at Maria once.
Miren realized it meant “keep this a secret” and instinctively prepared to make an excuse, but frowned instead.
Why am I siding with Hegel?
That guy was more than a little crazy.
To come the very next day after receiving the Emperor’s sword, intent on committing the same crime…
If the knights caught him, he’d be imprisoned immediately.
“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?”
“Today I feel unusually light. No need to worry.”
“That’s a relief. Just as…”
After watching her silently for a few minutes, Hegel waved his hand and turned sharply. Miren flinched instinctively, about to call him back.
“Where do you think you’re going…!”
“Your Highness?”
Looking down, she saw Maria staring at her in confusion.
Maria seemed about to look behind, but Miren moved first.
Using her height, she gently guided Maria into the room.
Hegel could still be seen in the distance.
“Let’s go inside. We have something to discuss.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Miren watched Hegel’s retreating figure with anxious eyes.
If he wandered around like that, he could be caught… No, never mind. It’s only a fleeting connection; there’s no need to worry too much.
Inside, Miren finally spoke.
“Is His Majesty still busy with work?”
“Yes, the meeting hasn’t ended yet. Your Highness, shall I report to His Majesty? He’ll surely come immediately.”
“No, it’s fine. We can talk tonight.”
Refusing this seemed to worry Maria, who looked at her with unease.
Seeing this from usually composed Maria, Miren tilted her head in surprise.
“Maria, is something wrong…?”
“No, may I just say one bold thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“Your Highness…”
Maria hesitated several times, then swallowed and looked up at her.
Seeing Maria’s nervousness, Miren nodded once, and Maria finally spoke.
“If you report this, His Majesty will be very pleased.”
“…His Majesty?”
“Yes. He has been waiting for this.”
“Me?”
Miren laughed in disbelief, and Maria, usually stern, smiled briefly.
The smile vanished as quickly as it came, and she nodded quietly.
“…Then, I’ll report it in exactly one hour.”
“One hour?”
Not immediately, but exactly one hour later?
Maria tilted her head in confusion. Miren turned her head slightly, noticing the faint signs of awkwardness on her pale face.
“…He’s still in the meeting.”
“…He’ll leave the meeting and come immediately.”
Sigh.
Miren let out a low sigh at Maria’s words.
“That’s why I said no.”
His Majesty… that wouldn’t work.
Sometimes, when Miren got up early, this happened.
If Maria reported it immediately, Ryan would drop everything and rush to her.
Of course, any unfinished work would be pushed to the next day.
Because of this, there were occasional rumors among the maids.
They said the Empress had enchanted the Emperor, keeping him from working while the weak Miren stayed in bed.
Miren frowned at that ridiculous thought.
Reporting in exactly an hour would mean Ryan would finish his work around that time.
“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”
“Speak.”
Maria’s expression was unusually serious.
Miren blinked slowly, focusing on her words.
Maria stepped back, bowing, stopping in front of the door.
“Actually, His Majesty has arranged for someone to attend to your examination. They were scheduled to start this evening, and since you’re awake, it would be best to receive the examination now…”
“Hmm. Another change of doctor?”
“No, your main physician remains the same. This is just someone who will provide special care.”
“That’s a relief. I thought it might be another strict order.”
Her main physician was an elderly man near eighty.
Miren, reminded of her grandfather whenever she saw him, felt relieved that he had not been replaced.
…Special care?
While Miren hesitated, Maria, who had approached the door, informed her she would open it.
Had someone been waiting already? Since when?
Putting her thoughts aside, she nodded, and the doors opened.
Sitting in a chair on one side of the room, Miren looked at the person entering.
The first thing she noticed was a slightly muddy shoe.
The man’s hand was so pale it seemed almost devoid of pigment. He wore a neat white shirt, the kind commoners wore. Seeing his face…
“Hegel?”
“…Your Highness?”
Miren muttered without thinking.
Staring blankly at his face, she saw Hegel looking at her with a puzzled expression.
The man with long white hair was definitely Hegel.
He had tied half of his hair back.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. I am Hegel Karner, a mage from the southern magic tower.”
“…Your Highness, this is a special healing mage appointed by His Majesty to manage your health.”
“Manage me?”
That lazy guy?
Miren unconsciously pointed at him with her finger. Hegel smiled gracefully.
Truly, a perfectly mad kind of elegance.
He then approached the seated Miren, placed his hand over his chest, and bowed in a textbook greeting.
Raising his head again, Hegel smiled and spoke softly.
“May I examine you?”
“Ah, yes… well, alright.”
Though her answer was somewhat hesitant, Hegel seemed unfazed.
Kneeling before her, he suddenly extended his hand.
Miren just stared at it.
“…Your Highness, please take my hand.”
“Hand? Ah… I see.”
She raised her hand, and he closed his eyes with theirs carefully joined, remaining silent for a long while before speaking.
“You are in very poor condition.”
Everyone present already knew that.
…Miren wanted to say that aloud but held back, watching Maria.
Hegel then rummaged through his inner pocket.
“Actually, by His Majesty’s order, I have brought the world’s only miraculous medicine.”
“…Miraculous medicine?”
“Yes. It’s extremely rare and hard to find, but I, Hegel Karner, managed to acquire it.”
Hegel continued.
“Finally, I have brought it before Your Highness.”
He revealed a familiar cloth. Unwrapping it, Miren recognized it instantly.
Artemis.
“I ventured alone into the mountains to retrieve it.”
…This guy…?
