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Chapter 59
“…An envoy from the Belzesti Empire?”
The emperor furrowed his brows.
The advisor, bowing slightly, placed the tray he was holding in front of the emperor.
“Here is the related correspondence.”
“…Understood. You may leave now.”
The advisor, after giving a proper bow, exited the room.
The emperor picked up the letter from the tray.
I watched him blankly for a moment, then slowly frowned.
“Suddenly sending an envoy from the Belzesti Empire?”
Why now?
Elberk and Belzesti were not exactly on good terms.
Sending an envoy like this was even more unexpected.
“What sudden whim made Duke Cervante do this?”
The emperor smiled without warmth as he scanned the letter.
“And it seems to be a very secretive whim.”
Currently, in Belzesti, agents planted by Aces were scattered across various regions.
The Quiel I sent was also monitoring activities in several locations.
“I need to track Belzesti’s movements to plan Harnen’s revenge.”
Yet they were sending an envoy in such secrecy that even all of their eyes could not detect it.
At this point, the exact reason remained unknown.
But thinking about it in reverse could narrow down the possibilities.
For instance, if the reason was an utmost secret that must not leak to anyone.
And there weren’t many reasons important enough to be treated this seriously.
“Judging by how secretive this was, someone in Elberk may have planted the idea in the duke’s head,” As said, curling the corners of his lips.
The emperor shrugged as he put the letter down.
“Let’s see what they’re trying to pull off by sending such a tightly guarded envoy.”
Leaning back in his chair, the emperor’s navy-blue hair cascaded gently with the movement.
“Surely my foolish uncle hasn’t teamed up with foreign powers, right? Haha.”
The emperor laughed as if joking, but I couldn’t.
It wasn’t a problem if Grand Duke Baharman joined with foreign powers—I’d deal with him soon enough.
“But why, of all people, with the Belzesti Empire?”
That question continued to bother me.
As watched me silently pondering and finally spoke.
“Einra.”
“Hm?”
“There’s a greenhouse near the forest adjoining the Grand Duke’s residence.”
“A greenhouse?”
I blinked in surprise. I had never heard of it before. Did it appear recently, maybe in the last five years?
As smiled gently, folding his eyes in a delicate smile.
“If you like, would you like to go see the flowers with me later?”
“Sure, sounds good. Let’s go.”
After all, no amount of thinking about Belzesti’s intentions would yield any immediate results.
It seemed a good idea to clear my head while enjoying the greenhouse with As.
The emperor watched us with slightly cloudy eyes and shook his head.
“Even if a war breaks out tomorrow, you’re ready to go flower viewing today, huh.”
Though the emperor muttered nonsense, I didn’t bother to argue, excited at the thought of going with As.
The audience with the emperor ended there.
Grand Duke Serenia’s advisor, Violetti, had been extremely busy lately.
She had collected the weaknesses of Grand Duke Baharman and contacted a witness who could act as bait to reveal them publicly.
This also laid the groundwork for linking these actions to the eventual downfall of the Baharman family.
She didn’t neglect her routine duties, though.
Currently, Violetti was heading to the interrogation room to perform one of those routine tasks.
Walking down the corridor while reading a report to save time, her steps suddenly froze.
Through the window, she saw the greenhouse completed about half a year ago.
She also saw her master entering the greenhouse, escorted by the Elementalist.
A greenhouse…
Violetti’s keen eyes narrowed slightly.
This greenhouse, named the Cecilgrass Garden, wasn’t originally part of the Grand Duke’s residence.
It was built after the sudden death of the previous Grand Duke from worsening health and after Aces assumed the title.
“That’s strange.”
Aces had never been interested in flowers.
No matter how beautiful, they would soon wither.
Yet one day, he asked Violetti,
“Does liking flowers mean a person is likely good?”
Though confused, Violetti answered.
Since then, she often saw her master studying botanical books.
“And eventually, he built the greenhouse.”
Why he suddenly became interested in flowers, she didn’t need to know.
Instead, she recalled a question she had always had since first knowing Aces.
Violetti was very busy now.
But she knew she could not compare to her master’s workload.
Even with mountains of tasks herself, he had even more.
“…Yet he handles everything perfectly.”
Even finding time to escort the Elementalist for a greenhouse tour.
Was he really two people in one body?
Lost in such impossible thoughts, Violetti resumed walking.
The interrogation room, somewhat hidden by the Cecilgrass Garden, was located underground, connected by stone gates.
Placing her pendant near the stone gate, it shimmered platinum and clicked open.
The wet stone path echoed under her steps.
She arrived at her destination.
“Ah, you finally came, Count Chevila.”
A languid, soft voice filled the interrogation room.
Violetti bowed to the man already present.
“Warlock Harnen, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, it really has, hasn’t it? Even if it’s only been two days.”
Harnen smiled brightly, grinding his teeth, muttering, “Damn Grand Duke.”
Violetti pretended not to hear her master’s insult.
“I read the report you sent. You found the one who cast the spell on that man?”
Violetti’s sharp eyes focused on the man sitting in the corner, wrapped entirely in a black robe.
He seemed resigned, eyes closed, as when she first arrived.
This man, caught a week ago near the northwestern border, was a skilled warlock—the one who set fire to Verbena Forest in the Saxen County.
He had used magic to set the forest ablaze, then manipulated a local peasant, Selena, to take the blame.
When everyone’s attention was on Selena and the flames, he tried to flee through the border.
“He likely set a large fire deliberately, aware of the Elementalist’s presence.”
A bigger fire would buy more time.
Though, given the Elementalist’s immense power, it didn’t matter much.
Eventually, he was caught by Violetti in cooperation with the imperial investigator and transferred to the interrogation room at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Violetti was puzzled.
Why would he risk causing a fire in Saxen, gaining nothing?
“Even knowing there’s an Elementalist contracted with the Water Spirit King in Elberk.”
Yet no torture could make him speak.
After repeated failures, Violetti looked for other clues and discovered that a spell had been cast on him.
But the spell was so complex that she asked Harnen for help.
Harnen deciphered the spell in a single day.
“This spell couldn’t have been unknown.”
Harnen’s icy smile turned deadly as his silver-blue eyes pierced the man.
He muttered, grinding his words:
“Ackela la Cervante.”
“…”
Violetti blinked, her eyes narrowing.
Duke Cervante, currently the most powerful figure in the Belzesti Empire.
He was famous as an outstanding warlock, yet ironically, no one knew his spells.
All who saw them were killed.
…Including the Bellarisan Emperor.
“You said he didn’t speak under any torture? Understandable. A spell is cast that would burst his heart if he leaked a secret.”
Harnen mocked.
The man bit his lips tightly and slowly opened his eyes.
“What should we do about this?”
Harnen smiled faintly, tilting his head.
A languid voice continued.
“There’s more than just that spell cast on him.”
