Franz vanished. However, finding his escape route was not easy. This was because no physical traces were left behind.
Even if there were material evidence at the time of his escape, it was highly likely that everything was lost when the stone walls collapsed due to the explosion.
Unable to find any definitive proof, the imperial investigation unit considered another possibility: the illegal processing and distribution of magical stones, one of Franz’s major charges.
The quantity of magical stones he had concealed was truly enormous.
Not only what was seized from his residence, but also the amount he had hidden in collusion with Louisette was equivalent to the empire’s budget. There could certainly be more magical stones hidden elsewhere.
The imperial investigation unit inferred that there must be other hidden illegal magical stones and an intermediary official managing them.
When a leader is apprehended, most intermediaries tend to look after their own interests and abandon their master. Yet, for some reason, it seemed that someone among Franz’s subordinates did not betray him and chose to assist him.
Karl summoned Minister Linke to check whether any traces of magical energy remained in the underground prison that had collapsed due to the explosion.
Any kind of magical stone leaves a trace once its power is exerted. Even if it is illegally processed.
“You were correct in your suspicions. The explosion was not a coincidence, nor did it happen physically. There is a very strong magical residue at the point suspected to be the epicenter of the explosion.”
It was the moment when the hypothesis of the imperial investigation unit was somewhat validated.
“Indeed….”
How could anyone escape from the underground prison guarded day and night by the empire’s elite knights without weapons?
That was impossible. Karl confirmed that his suspicions were true and fell deep into thought.
“To cause an explosion of this magnitude, a considerable amount of magical stones would have been used.”
That made sense. To completely demolish a prison, immense magical power would be necessary.
“If magical stones were used to collapse the prison, then it would have been possible to escape using the same method.”
“Are you talking about time and space travel?”
Karl nodded.
“If there were still magic stones left after the explosion, it might be possible.”
“Even if we can’t go far, we could easily secure a few escape routes once we leave the palace.”
“Yes. If we cross just one iron bridge out of the palace, we’ll reach the Duke of Toskur immediately.”
If they could move from the palace to the duke’s residence, it would have been relatively easy afterward.
According to the royal investigation team’s report, they had completely turned the mansion upside down while searching the duke’s residence, and it was said to have many hidden underground passages not visible on the surface.
All of these passageways were connected somewhere, and their support, weak ground, and the deep tunnels were indeed maintained by illegal magic stones.
Once Franz was caught and the royal investigation team took over the duke’s residence, all those tunnels lost their strength and collapsed.
But what if there were secret passages known only to insiders that we didn’t know about? If those connections were cleverly disguised and they escaped, then returned to find them?
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
“If they attempted to escape using magic, the pursuit would become more complicated.”
“That’s correct. However… any kind of magic leaves traces of its power, Your Majesty.”
“Hasn’t it been quite some time since the explosion?”
“Yes. But no matter how much time passes, traces of magic remain faintly. The color and trajectory fade, but they never completely disappear.”
“What does that mean?”
“If they moved from the palace to the duke’s residence using magic stones, and then made a proper escape from there… we could track the escape route by following the traces of magic.”
Tap, tap. Karl tapped his fingers on the armrest of the chair.
There was no other choice. The troops and search teams mobilized to capture Franz were far too numerous to count. Yet, there had been no solid evidence.
Having found no physical evidence, it was time to seek another type of proof. Tap, tap, tap. Karl’s fingers moved faster.
“Very well. Minister Linke, I will transfer command of the royal investigation team to you. You will take full responsibility and see this investigation through to the end.”
“Yes, Your Majesty! I will obey your command. I will commit my life and do my utmost to fulfill my mission.”
As Linke offered a formal bow, Karl nodded once and then stood up. After seeing Linke step back and leave, he immediately began to move his legs and dash towards somewhere.
Clovis, the closest advisor who always stood a step behind and observed the situation from the imperial throne, sighed briefly at Karl’s back.
“How has he restrained his desire to run like that? Our Majesty truly has remarkable patience.”
Even if war breaks out in the capital, he would not rush like that. Watching Karl disappear into the distance, Clovis stepped forward slightly.
“Your Majesty, please take me with you…!”
***
The kitchen of the empress was particularly busy these days. They were meticulously selecting various delicacies to be presented to the royal family, making baby food from only the highest quality ingredients.
The young princess, who had now cut two lower teeth, was accepting food so eagerly that the kitchen attendants couldn’t remember a time when they had enjoyed their work as much as they did now.
Perhaps it was because of the understanding empress, or maybe it was the delightful reactions of the princess, who resembled both the emperor and empress so closely.
Cecilia, the head maid responsible for managing and producing all the food in the empress’s kitchen, was particularly enjoying her days.
She had been a nurse for the empress since her early childhood, and after the coronation, she became the head maid at the empress’s strong request.
Having lost her parents at an early age, the empress often considered Cecilia as a mother figure. In return for the empress’s expectations and care, Cecilia dedicated herself wholeheartedly to serving her.
Anything that entered the empress’s mouth was treated with utmost care, not even a sip of water was taken lightly.
She went to great lengths to purify water from a mountain spring using special magical stones, ensuring it was exceptionally pure. Every morning and evening, she would check what the empress wished to eat, preparing the most suitable ingredients for her health.
“This is the lunch for the princess.”
How dearly the head maid cherished the empress’s daughter! She spent at least three to four hours making a single bowl of baby food for every meal.
Though it was called a single bowl, the princess’s bowl, having been born just over six months ago, was not even half the size of an adult’s palm. For that small serving, she would gather, wash, boil, dry, and steam all kinds of ingredients…
She didn’t delegate those burdensome tasks to other maids.
Cecilia insisted that she needed to see and touch everything herself to be reassured, rolling up her sleeves to take on the work. As a result, the kitchen maids had to keep busy alongside her.
Could the head maid, always working hard even when not preparing meals, just stand still?
She had to pretend to clean the kitchen, meaning the empress’s kitchen was shining more cleanly than ever in history.
“Our princess, is it delicious?”
“Ahh, bababa.”
With her lips full of white porridge, Valerie murmured something, toppling several adults simply by her existence. Almost every day, no, not just every day.
Every moment the princess ate her baby food or milk, the prominent adults of the royal family were present.
They all drooped their eyebrows down, furrowed their foreheads tightly upwards, and made foolish expressions by pursing their lips and flaring their nostrils. What they all said was the same.
“Oh, our little one.”
“Oh, our princess.”
“Oh dear, lovely Valerie!”
It was as if dozens of adults were flocking around one tiny child, showering her with praise and attention.
Like an audience at a circus, they sat close, marveling at every action of Valerie.
“Is our Valerie eating right now?”
And just then, one more person joined that crowd.
“The Emperor has arrived.”
“Oh, Karl. You came. No, our Emperor, you have arrived.”
Pulcheria opened her arms wide to welcome Karl. Seeing her breathless nephew who seemed to have run hurriedly, Pulcheria stifled a laugh inside.
“It must be busy with state affairs, how can you come here often like this?”
“No, Aunt.”
Karl responded with an awkward smile. He hurriedly finished a brief greeting and searched for someone with his gaze.
“Have you arrived, Your Majesty?”
That was Celeste, comfortably seated next to Valerie, smiling.
“Madam, have you been well?”
Naturally approaching Celeste, Karl wrapped his arms around her waist and gently placed his lips on her forehead.
“Has our Valerie been well too?”
“Baba.”
Valerie had just started to babble. She couldn’t pronounce words like ‘Daddy’ or ‘Papa’ perfectly, but every time Karl heard her babbling, he was filled with admiration.
