“Ah, and also…” At that moment, Redian paused in his steps. “How is Ash Benio’s matter progressing?”
Ash Benio? I retraced my thoughts at the unexpected name that came out of his mouth. Ever since becoming the crown prince, Redian had never directly mentioned Ash except in passing.
“As ordered, we have been consistently tracking him.”
It seemed like this was not a task prepared in a day or two, as Lisfeld immediately responded.
“Have you found the whereabouts of his family?”
“Yes. It seems they fled north on the day the magician Stony died. Currently, they appear to be hiding in a temple on the outskirts.”
Wait, magician Stony? That magician who caused trouble at the monster hunting competition.
The magician had only played the role of a puppet, and I had realized long ago that the real culprit was Ash Benio. However, after Stony’s death and his family fleeing, it had become difficult to find evidence, from Luna’s marriage to Redian’s accession as crown prince. I had momentarily forgotten due to the onslaught of events…
He’s more persistent than I am.
Redian seemed to have been tracking them despite appearing to have no interest in related matters.
“What do you plan to do after finding them? It’s only fair that Stony’s family pays the price since he’s dead.”
“No.” Redian’s voice was firm, cutting off Lisfeld’s words. “Why bother touching them? Just need to weed out the nuisances.”
Listening to their conversation, I recalled the original story. As soon as Redian held power, he pressured the nobles to strengthen imperial authority through ‘purges.’ Could this also have been prepared to oust the Grand Duke Benio family?
“If they’re nuisances… are you referring to Grand Duke Benio?”
“It doesn’t matter what happens to that old man.”
As Redian habitually brushed his hair, his sharp gaze was revealed.
“Ash Benio.”
His face under the moonlight was cold, but the smile I loved was still there.
“Before Master takes care of them, I should tidy up.”
At that moment, only one thought filled my mind. It wasn’t revenge against Ash, not surprise at Redian’s unfamiliar appearance.
Everything leads to an end.
Even in my absence, Redian habitually muttered my name. I was in all his spaces and at the end of all his sentences.
“…”
I didn’t listen any further and returned to my room. It had been a day filled with tumultuous events. But now, my mood was…
You’ve grown a lot, my child.
It was thoroughly enjoyable and fun. I was convinced that Redian wouldn’t betray or harm me. Regardless of the face Redian made behind me, that was his business, not mine. Wherever his arrow pointed, it didn’t matter as long as it wasn’t me. But…
If this keeps up, he might end up playing over my head. I’ve raised him this much, so it might be time to start keeping a distance.
* * *
Could it be that I unknowingly fell into a light sleep?
“Master.”
“…”
“Nia.”
As I barely lifted my heavy eyelids, a figure appeared. Rere?
Redian, who had been watching me since who knows when, was a familiar sight. The face of the bright and pure boy I knew.
“I’m sorry, Master.” Redian quietly whispered, covering my eyes with his hand. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Only his soft voice and warmth were felt in the darkness that quickly enveloped my sight.
“Just… I wanted to see your sleeping face before I left.”
A smirk escaped me at the familiar scent on his fingertips.
“Smells nice.”
“It’s the scent you like, Master.”
The smell of blood that must have clung to Redian’s hand all night was masked by the gentle and sweet scent of gardenias.
“What time is it now?”
Well, it’s not like he came in front of me reeking of blood, so it hardly mattered.
“It’s still early morning.”
“Have you been working up until now? Lisfeld said you were in the office.”
Asking in my usual tone with my eyes closed, I felt Redian passing his hand through my hair. His hand, which had once plunged into the blue daylight, was now tenderly changed in front of me.
“Yes. There was some remaining work.”
“Remaining work? What is it?”
A moment of peculiar silence passed between us, then.
“Just this and that.”
Instead of answering, Redian’s low laughter was heard.
“You must be tired. Go back to sleep.”
“Master, I mentioned it earlier in the carriage, didn’t I?”
“…”
“Master needs someone to watch you over all night.”
Perhaps because of his gentle touch or the comforting scent, I began to feel sleepy again.
“I like it when Master sleeps quietly beside me like this.”
Redian’s calm voice flowed with the dawn breeze.
“I’ll take care of everything, so master, just like now……”
It seemed the conversation that followed was about something as mundane as going for a walk as if all of last night’s events were just a dream.
* * *
It wasn’t until late afternoon that I was finally able to leave Redian and return to the duchy.
“Princess, you can’t imagine how shocked I was to hear the news.” Aeron’s face, who hurriedly came to find me, looked worried.
“What about my father and Sir Obelo?”
“I think they went out after being summoned by the empress. I managed to cover for them.”
From Aeron’s perspective, it was inevitable to be anxious and worried all night. Even I, who wouldn’t be surprised by a devil in front of me, found staying out overnight to be a trembling experience.
“How did you end up at the imperial palace when you said you’d just visit the jewelry shop?”
“…Indeed.”
As I murmured in resignation, Aeron tilted his head in confusion. Even I, having experienced it, could hardly believe the situation of the previous night, let alone Aeron understand it.
“Anyway, Aeron. Have Vallentin come first.”
But there was no time to dwell on this.
“Vallentin? Yes, understood.”
With my decision made, it was time to act quickly.
While Aeron was away, I placed the homework given by the royal princess and Claude’s letter together in the safe. Then, opening the bottom drawer of the office desk.
This should be enough for about 30 years. Numerous patents and documents I had prepared methodically for such a time were sleeping there.
“Did you call for me?”
Before long, with a knock on the door, Vallentin entered.
“I heard you’ve been attending classes diligently these days, but you look a bit pale?”
“You seem to be in the same state, Princess.”
With a crooked expression, Vallentin asked me, “What exactly are you doing these days? I thought I might finally monopolize some of your love now that basta, I mean, the crown prince has ascended.”
Even so, he maintained a polite posture with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Now he’s using power to occupy your days.”
While Vallentin grumbled, I took out the document placed at the top. As when I first gathered them, the documents were organized in the order of Vallentin, Francis, and Inein.
“You know the resort destination is opening soon, right?”
“Oh, Elnido, right.”
The resort island, invested in by the imperial family, was named ‘Elnido.’ It was a name that matched well with the surrounding emerald-colored sea. Moreover, it was expected to be a fantastic island, as a joint work of Rixon and Felicite, and was generating great anticipation.
“A cosmetics brand jointly developed by you and our research institute will be launched on the first floor of the foundation building located in Elnido.”
“Yes, I am aware.” Vallentin nodded.
“Not only that, with Redian becoming the crown prince, you have also been honored as a knight who actively participated in the Felicite Duchy.” I handed him the prepared document and added, “Since we kept the promises we made to each other, we should keep the last one as well.”
“…This is.”
Vallentin’s eyes, which rarely showed emotions, trembled significantly as he checked the document.
“It’s the entry permit granted with the king’s approval as a formal knight of the Felicite Duchy.”
From our first meeting in the underground castle, through the research in the apothecary, the monster hunting competition, and the awards ceremony, to the joint patent and the continuous training and studies. And, this was the final step in sending Vallentin back to his homeland. In other words, an entry permit was approved by the king, not as a banished slave but as a formal knight of the Felicite family.
“You’ve done well all this time. This concludes our deal.”
“…”
Unlike me, who was smiling lightly, Vallentin’s expression was complex.
This means I’ve fulfilled my role.
I had resolved only one thing after last night. From now on, I would wrap up all the affairs and send everyone to their respective places… and leave this place.
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