IWLMS 41🔐

Chapter 41

Shhhk.

The crimson velvet blackout curtains were drawn back. Beyond the long stretch of window, a dreary sky revealed itself.

With a low sigh, Cailien turned to glance at the ornate canopy bed.

“Isn’t it about time you got up?”

The man buried deep in his pillow, fast asleep, stirred with a groan.

“Too cruel. Can’t I rest a little on a holiday?”

“Ha. To think you dragged me all the way here just to listen to your whining, Lawrence.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Lawrence stretched long and slow before sitting up in bed.

“Haaahm… well, you’re always so busy.”

Srrrk. Pushing aside the canopy, Crown Prince Lawrence brushed back his tousled blond hair with a lazy smile.

“They say Lord Cailien has no time except on holidays—so what choice do I have but to match your schedule?”

He spoke as though he were the one inconvenienced, but his face was as composed as ever.

Clicking his tongue, Cailien strode to the sofa at the center of the room and sat down heavily.

“How very considerate of you.”

“I heard you were nominated as an Esquire this time? You didn’t seem the least bit interested even back in your sub-lieutenant days. Quite strange.”

“Mind your own business. So, what’s this urgent matter you needed to discuss face to face?”

Lawrence tied his nightgown and walked leisurely to the seat across from him. Rubbing at his drowsy face a few times, he sank comfortably into the sofa.

“Don’t you think it’s a shame? Do you know how many years it’s been since we’ve sat like this?”

“I greeted you during the return ceremony, didn’t I?”

Lawrence burst out laughing as he sipped the tea brought by a servant.

“Hah, if you call that stiff formality a greeting, then I suppose it was.”

He wasn’t wrong. Cailien had paid his respects to the Emperor upon his return, and the Crown Prince had been present at that ceremony.

“Anyway, you haven’t changed a bit. How was life in the desert?”

“It was nice, not having any headaches.”

“That so? Well, that’s a relief.” Lawrence’s red eyes curved gracefully as he laced his long fingers together and leaned toward Cailien.

“I’ll apologize in advance. What I’m about to say will be a bit of a headache.”

At his words, Cailien raised a brow. Lawrence dismissed the attendants, straightened his posture, and began.

“You’ve heard about the monsters growing rampant lately. Because of it, the Temple’s been moving busily as well.”

“…They’ve gained considerable influence, it seems. Since when did priests start involving themselves in the Academy?”

Cailien rubbed at his temples, recalling the priests who had overseen the entrance ceremony. Not only there—he had spotted them several times even within the Imperial Palace.

“They should be busy enough refining manastones. Seems they’ve taken quite an interest in politics too.”

“It’s nothing new. Movements that were always there have simply risen to the surface.”

“So, are you here to place the blame on me?”

“Haha, don’t misunderstand. That’s not my intent. But… it wouldn’t be fair to say you’re entirely blameless either.”

Lawrence’s red eyes curved slyly as he fixed them on Cailien.

Long ago, when Marquis Este, who had enjoyed the Emperor’s trust, retired, the position of Royal Knights’ Commander fell to Marquis Liechtenstein.

Unlike Marquis Este, however, Liechtenstein craved not only honor, but also wealth and power.

The one meant to balance this greed and the central military authority was Grand Duke Carlo—but with his illness, his post was practically vacant.

“With the Grand Duke fallen ill and you gone, Liechtenstein wasted no time in stretching out comfortably like a man on a bed.”

“Get to the point. What exactly are you saying?”

Lawrence’s lips curved upward over his teacup.

“The increase in manastone supply has brought the Temple enormous profits. And, naturally, it’s drawn in all sorts of opportunists.”

In an empire where mages were precious, artifacts that aided magic had limitless value depending on type. Among them, refined manastones, used as mana crystals, skyrocketed in worth. For the Temple, who monopolized refinement, no business could be better.

Though the Imperial family tried to regulate distribution prices, it was impossible to stop all the profit skimming in practice.

Cailien snorted at Lawrence’s words. How ridiculous—that greedy man had overstepped his bounds without knowing his place.

“So, Liechtenstein has allied with them?”

“Officially, it’s called a ‘sponsorship’ of religious activities. After subjugations, he supplies manastones and takes a cut of the profit.”

“I accept responsibility for giving him such an opening. Even the lion that let a snake coil in its den just because one wolf was missing bears guilt.”

“Ah, calling it ‘just a wolf’—that’s quite the insult to House Heraïs.”

“Make no mistake, Lawrence. The mana crystal business is supervised by the Imperial family.”

If Liechtenstein was diverting public funds, it was a matter the Imperial family could resolve. In fact, it was a perfect reason to lop off the snake’s head.

Leaning deep into the sofa, Cailien tilted his head and stared at Lawrence.

“Why drag me into this?”

Sharp as always. Lawrence nodded without hesitation.

“You’re right, I’m already investigating this matter. But apart from that—since you’re now the owner of the Academy, shouldn’t you be aware of affairs in Lepium as well?”

He shrugged with a mischievous wink.

“Liechtenstein’s precious youngest son has been treating Lepium’s cadet corps like his personal plaything.”

“I already know.”

Cailien narrowed his eyes with a click of his tongue. He had received written reports of Alfonso, the cadet representative, mobilizing the corps for monster hunts and manastone harvesting.

Like father, like son.

So this was what Lawrence summoned him for?

“Don’t worry, I’ll remind him of his limits soon enough. Leave Lepium to me.”

“Wait. What I really want to say starts now.”

Still impatient as ever. Lawrence chuckled softly, setting down his teacup.

“The bigger problem is the Temple.”

At that, Cailien, who had risen from his seat, turned back with a hardened expression.

“…So it is going to be a headache.”

“As you know, matters involving the Temple can blow up too large for the Imperial family to meddle in directly. We need to act quietly. And for that, I need your help.”

Tapping the rim of his cup with a fingertip, Lawrence fixed a long stare on Cailien.

“…What do you think the Temple demanded in return for profit-sharing?”

Cailien’s brow furrowed deeply.

Only the Temple could refine manastones. Whether or not they worked with Marquis Liechtenstein, the stones of the Empire would have to pass through them.

Something the Temple desires even more than wealth…

Narrowing his eyes, Cailien let out a bitter sigh.

“…Surely not.”

Leaning back against the sofa, Lawrence tilted his head and nodded.

“That’s right, Cail. The Temple has resumed its search for the ‘Daughter of the Moon.’”

“Do people really live there?”

Rune clicked his tongue as he looked across the river at the barren wasteland.

It had taken nearly two hours to arrive at the outskirts of the capital, just as Ellen had said. The land was so desolate that not even weeds grew, and last night’s rain had turned it into a sea of mud.

As if marking the border of another world, a narrow but deep river separated the shining capital from the slums.

Normally, running water doesn’t rot… but this state is severe.

Poorly maintained, dead fish floated along the banks. Even in the borderlands of Este’s domain, no people lived in such places.

“Move along!”

At the 4th-year sub-lieutenant’s command, the new cadets began crossing the wooden bridge that spanned the river.

The rickety structure looked like a few determined men could collapse it in moments.

Since it was narrow, the cadets had to cross in single file, carefully balancing.

Rune stood in line, with Daniel and Ellen just ahead and behind him.

“Ughh, here we go.”

Daniel grumbled as he hefted a wooden crate and started across. Rune followed suit, carrying one of the boxes.

Inside were bundles of hard bread, dried fruit, and paper-wrapped strips of jerky—relief goods to be distributed to the residents of the slums.

The incomprehensible summon order at least made some sense now—they were here to conduct actual relief work.

“I thought everyone in the capital lived well… I never imagined there’d be a place like this.”

“It’s where those who can’t afford the expensive land are pushed out. Hardly seems like the same Lepium, does it?”

Ellen, who had been quietly following, spoke in his calm tone.

“It’s land so barren it can’t even be cultivated. Only because the Temple bought it do these people have anywhere to stay at all.”

Rune lifted his gaze to the towering grand temple not far away. Its pure white, sacred appearance contrasted sharply with the dreary slums, creating a strange atmosphere.

They could have built it on better land. Why place a grand temple out here, on the outskirts?

Whatever Alfonso’s motives, the Temple did seem intent on aiding the poor and hungry.

Once across the bridge, priests checked the arriving supplies. It seemed additional priests had been dispatched, as there were more than when the cadets had departed the Academy.

A young priest approached, giving instructions.

“First, we’ll distribute the relief goods. After that, we’ll begin manastone harvesting. Please follow the priest assigned to your area.”

The cadets split into small groups, each following a priest to deliver supplies.

The low wooden shacks were clustered tightly together, so the work didn’t take long.

Just as the piles of boxes were dwindling—

“We don’t need your pity!”

Whap!

A boy yanked his arm away violently, sending the sack the priest held tumbling into the dirt.