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~Chapter 29~
Would’ve Been Caught Quickly
Shiren held back a deep sigh and bowed her head.
“I will remember Your Majesty’s words in my heart.”
“The empress said she wants to meet you. Go with the attendant.”
As if he’d finished everything he wanted to say, Conrad looked back at his documents. The palace’s chief attendant came forward to guide them.
“This way, please.”
The two servants followed, forgetting even to bow as they left.
Once they were gone, Conrad snorted.
“People say mages are smart, but these spies are pretty naive.”
If Shiren and Theodore had heard that, their pride would have been hurt—they weren’t the type to show emotions easily.
But they were so shocked by the situation, they couldn’t hide it.
“If they hadn’t hidden in the baron’s house, they’d have been caught quickly.”
Conrad gave one more cold judgment and gestured. From the shadows, a hidden figure appeared and knelt.
“You called, Your Majesty.”
“I need to see the last one, too. Find him.”
“As you command.”
Mir, the head of Conrad’s secret guard, bowed and disappeared.
Regina’s Room
“Your Majesty, the servants from the Madeline baron house have arrived.”
When the attendant announced it, Regina closed her papers.
‘Servants?’
She hadn’t heard anything about it from Conrad, but quickly guessed what was going on.
Even if her people were now allies, Conrad wanted to check the enemy spies himself before trusting them. And, since they could always become enemies later, he was getting ready in advance.
Regina let out a quiet breath at Conrad’s careful moves.
“Let them in.”
She’d gotten used to comfort after living among monsters, but this was still enemy territory.
‘Never forget that.’
Things would only get harder from here.
Straightening her back, Regina looked up and saw two familiar people kneeling before her.
‘Where’s Martan?’
Regina thought she needed Martan even more than these two. He was more powerful and might be able to help break the magic seal.
“We greet the high moon of the Empire.”
Limitan was still standing behind her. Before Shiren could say anything wrong, Regina thought she should send him out.
‘Definitely not suited to be a spy.’
Shiren was a mage who loved research. He had joined the mage corps to avoid fighting with his sister over the family title, and that was also why he volunteered as a spy to Fredericks. His family was strong, and some wanted to use him for power, so he ran away.
“Limitan.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Can you bring me the law books about taxes? I think I’ll need them.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
Law books about taxes couldn’t be taken out by just any servant. Only a noble with a title—or someone from the legal department—could get them with special permission.
So Limitan had to go himself.
“Then Your Majesty will be alone while I’m gone.”
“Alone? My own servants wouldn’t harm me.”
Limitan cleared his throat awkwardly.
“His Majesty might worry.”
“If you’re worried about that, I’ll get permission from him.”
She picked up her pen, as if she’d write Conrad a note right away, and Limitan couldn’t argue.
“…I’ll be right back.”
Until Limitan left the room, Shiren and Theodore couldn’t move from their spots.
The door to the sitting room wasn’t fully closed. Guards and maids waited outside, but Regina didn’t mind.
“Stand up.”
“Your Majesty.”
Shiren stepped closer, wanting to cast a sound-blocking spell.
“No need for that.”
If he used magic, the guards might get suspicious if no sound came out of the room.
“Can I ask what happened?”
“It’s just as you heard. The emperor saved me.”
Shiren wanted to say more, but couldn’t. Theodore spoke up instead.
“What do you plan to do next?”
“We have to restore the glory of ‘our baron house.’”
Regina’s blue eyes sparkled playfully. Seeing the familiar look, Theodore and Shiren’s faces brightened.
Wanting to restore the house’s glory meant she was also looking for a way back to Permang.
“Then what should we do?”
Theodore asked, hopeful.
Regina suddenly thought of all the magic tools back at the baron’s house—things she’d experimented with and invented.
Now, those tools would become her strength.
“First, bring me the family’s ledgers.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The ledgers were written in code about all the magic tools they’d collected.
If Regina could use those tools in the palace, it would be much easier to fight the Grand Empress.
She was low on magic now, so she’d have to use the tools to make up for it.
“Is there anything else you need?”
Theodore asked. Regina asked about Martan:
“Why didn’t Martan come with you?”
“When you disappeared, he said he’d look for help and left.”
“Then let him know I’m back.”
“Of course.”
As Theodore answered, Shiren quietly moved closer, checking that people outside were keeping their distance. He carefully handed Regina a cufflink.
It changed shape and turned into a bright earring. Regina stared at it, surprised.
“I did my best.”
It was a communication magic tool. It would change form based on the magic of the person who had it.
Regina put the tool in a hidden pocket in her skirt.
“Nothing special at the baron house?”
“Other than your disappearance, nothing happened.”
Regina smiled softly at Theodore’s answer. Both Shiren and Theodore were surprised—she rarely smiled like that.
“My lady, I—”
“His Majesty is coming!”
Before Shiren could finish, the attendant shouted from outside.
Outside the Door
“What a clever move.”
Conrad, leaning by the sitting room door and listening in, muttered to himself.
He’d allowed Regina to use the sitting room to meet guests, since outsiders couldn’t go deeper into the palace.
He’d kept other attendants away and was listening to their conversation himself.
Because he couldn’t let spies from Permang just wander freely in the palace, Conrad was keeping an eye on them personally—even following from a distance in case anything happened.
