In the end, I spent the night at the imperial palace.
“Princess.”
“Sir Lisfeld.”
However, the person who guided me to the bedroom wasn’t Redian or the empress but the aide of the crown prince’s palace, Lisfeld. He was one of Redian’s closest confidants and would later become one of the two wings of the crown prince’s palace along with Francis.
“The servants sent from the empress’s palace would have been enough.”
Of course, Lisfeld and I were already acquainted.
“No, it’s only right that I personally attend to you, being His Highness’s person.” He smiled warmly as we headed down the hallway.
This isn’t like him.
In the original story, Lisfeld often took care of ‘behind-the-scenes’ work. While Francis handled political scheming, Lisfeld was involved in shadowing, eavesdropping, assassination… Well, given the nature of the ‘everyone goes mad’ story, it’s not surprising.
“It seems my bedroom, or rather, the guest room is in a very secluded place.”
I only frequented the office within the crown prince’s palace. Unfamiliar with the geography, I couldn’t tell where he was leading me or how the paths were connected.
“Normally, the master of the palace uses the deepest part,” Lisfeld replied in a casual tone.
What? I almost missed the phrase ‘master of the palace’ because it was mentioned so casually.
“Here we are.”
I looked at the space that unfolded before me. Wait a minute.
“Isn’t this… the crown prince’s personal chamber?”
“Yes! Princess has to pass through His Highness’s personal chamber to get to your bedroom.” Lisfeld answered cheerfully, in stark contrast to my astonishment.
So, my room is inside Redian’s personal chamber?
It wasn’t strange for bedrooms to be connected to the magnificent chamber of the crown prince. The issue was that it was a private space rarely used by outsiders.
“Is this your first time in His Highness’s chamber?”
“Yes, of course…”
For now, I followed Lisfeld without complaint. Tired as I was, I had no intention of quibbling over every detail.
How much deeper did we go?
“Here we are, Princess.”
The atmosphere changed completely as we passed through the inner door, becoming utterly tranquil.
What’s all this?
Redian’s room in the duchy had been touched by my hands. In contrast, this was solely Redian’s space. Perhaps that’s why.
“Is this all the furniture there is?”
“Yes. His Highness didn’t particularly want more. Except for me and a few other senior servants, no one is allowed in here.”
“…I see.”
The room, reflecting its owner’s personality, was not just simple but also gave off a chilly vibe.
“I’ll check if everything is ready and come back, so could you wait here for a moment, Princess?” said Lisfeld, who stopped in the parlor next to Redian’s chamber.
“Yes, let’s do that.”
While Lisfeld was away, I considered exploring how he lived, but there wasn’t much to see. But then.
Surely not.
Something placed beside the bed, as if always kept close for sleeping, caught my eye. The only thing boasting color in this gray space was…
“You’ve kept this up until now?”
It was the handkerchief I had given Redian along with candies on the day we first met.
“Hello, Redian. If you don’t forget me, I’ll give you two candies.”
Only then did I start to notice the traces left around the chilly room.
This is the handkerchief I gave, those are the gloves, and in that frame…
Realizing his traces were essentially my traces, my feelings became complex.
“Goddess!”
A cute voice called out from behind me.
“Oh my, Your Royal Highness.”
“I wan to sleep with Goddess too!”
“Adults have things to discuss. Little child shouldn’t know about such things, so off to bed with you, Mori.”
Sure enough, the princess who had been embraced by the empress was now sparkling her eyes at me.
“How did you get here…”
Ah, right. She’s an elementalist.
“Goddess! Play with me befor brother interupts!”
“Huh?”
“Homework!”
Moriana suddenly handed me a piece of parchment with gaps here and there.
“Goddess know everything.”
“Are you learning about this already?”
The genealogy of fallen angels. For a child not even five years old to be learning this… It seemed more like unsolved research material than homework. But my pride, having lived for over a hundred years, wouldn’t let me admit ignorance. Looking into the eager eyes of the princess, I couldn’t say I didn’t know.
Let’s start reading then. If it’s about the high angels of jealousy and pride… Amon and Inanna.
“Hehe, I new it. You remember.”
“Huh?”
“Then we can go fin the last pice left in the lake.”
As I focused on the content, Moriana’s voice reached me. The last piece left in the lake…?
“Gulp, brother is angry! Mori has to run way!”
Her words struck my ears sharply, prompting me to look up.
“Mek sure to do the rest of de homework for next time! Bye, Goddess!”
Only I and the homework were left alone in the vast room.
* * *
I quietly surveyed my bedroom, thinking. They really went all out. From the products on the vanity to the fabric of the bedding, everything was what I usually used. Especially this scent… Gardenia. Violets and roses with a hint of musk mixed in.
How did they…
I had personally blended and named this scent, known only to me and unavailable in the market. Only a few knew I loved this fragrance…
Could Redian have ordered this?
But Redian hadn’t shown himself since he left.
“Ah, Sir Lisfeld. Where has His Highness gone?”
“Hi-His Highness still has unfinished business in the office.”
Normally, Redian would have found a way to show his face, but he must have been too busy.
I was comfortable, but…
“I can’t sleep.”
The problem was my mind was too alert.
Tossing and turning in an unfamiliar bed, I pondered over the events of the day. My hair, Summoner, and… Peidion. Why does it keep coming up just as I’m about to forget?
From the beginning of my possession, the angel mentioned it, then in the middle phase in a book found in the library, and now Mephisto disguised as Summoner. Constantly, that entity seemed to circle around me, ensuring I couldn’t forget it. Above all, it was clear that Redian also had some connection to Peidion.
“Could it be that I am also related to Peidion in some way?”
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I sprung up from the bed. It made no sense. It couldn’t be. It absolutely shouldn’t be. Because Redian had a connection to Peidion, being by Redian’s side meant I was also connected. Thus, if I distanced myself from Redian, I wouldn’t have to be involved with Peidion.
I need to take a walk.
It seemed like I would only accumulate more thoughts if I stayed put. So, moving my body seemed like the best course of action.
As I walked down the dimly lit hallway, a voice reached my ears.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t you go to the princess’s chamber?”
“I smell too foul from my own body right now.”
Through the slightly opened door, shadows were cast.
“Master gets very sensitive at times like these.”
Amidst it, a low chuckle echoed.
Wasn’t he supposed to be in his office? I knew exactly where his office was. This wasn’t his office but the chamber I had passed through — Redian’s chamber.
“What about those knights that had followed?”
Looking through the gap, the faint moonlight revealed silhouettes.
“Get them out of my sight.”
Following that coldly indifferent tone,
“Showing them in such a state to the princess would be inappropriate, wouldn’t it?”
Redian was sitting on a sofa, his posture relaxed. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top, and his silver hair was disheveled.
“Yes, understood, Your Highness.”
The dim light barely illuminated the scene, making the figures of Redian and Lisfeld seem foreign, like living shadows devoid of expression.
“And you…” Redian, tilting his head slightly while resting his chin on his hand, looked at Lisfeld. “Master knows your face, so she’ll realize.”
In his hand, a blue light lazily twirled around.
“I’ll let this pass for now.”
It was the sword of Revels I had given Redian. Just hours ago, it had pierced the heart of Summoner and was now being toyed with like a mere plaything by those long, white fingers — an eerie sight.
“But if you slip up again.”
Only the sound of the blade slipping through Redian’s grip broke the suffocating silence.
“You’ll end up just like those fools.”
No emotion could be discerned in those dark blue eyes steeped in shadows.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Only a languid malice lingered, devoid of any human warmth.
“I need to wash.” Redian sighed softly and stood up. “Prepare it with Gardénia.”
Then, slowly wiping the dark red stain from his cheek, he smiled. “I should make it suit her taste.”
That was my favorite fragrance.
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