Chapter 65
Chapter 65. The Falcon’s Arrow, the Crow’s Leg
“—It’s distracting, Your Majesty.”
“I-I’m sorry, Empress. I’m getting anxious because Vante is returning. He says he’s coming separately from his uncle, and I’m worried if something might happen…”
“Didn’t you send the Imperial Knights? Put your worries to rest now.”
Pelga, Vinea and Vante’s mother and the Empress of Veshnu, turned away from her husband and sneered coldly.
She was rather relieved that her son wasn’t coming with Grand Duke Gartan.
After receiving Vinea’s message, she had people search the separate palace where Gartan stayed, abandoning his main residence, under the pretext of renovations.
True to his meticulous nature, he hadn’t left any clues, which was almost disappointing. But at that moment, Pelga met Nexior, Gartan’s son, in the small garden attached to the separate palace.
The palace garden was a place she often visited when dating her husband, Orban. She had just stopped by briefly to check its condition after a long time, but she never dreamed she would witness her nephew’s atrocity there.
He had been a child she couldn’t feel affection for since he was young, being stupid and arrogant. It wasn’t once or twice that she had seen him treat subordinates as mere tools to be used and discarded, not even as people.
As he grew up, due to his inferiority complex about Vante’s appearance, he spread unfavorable rumors in social circles, forcing her to step in and suppress them. His academic level wasn’t particularly outstanding either, making her doubt if this child was really fit to lead the Veshnu Empire when she conversed with him.
It wasn’t that she wanted to enter the imperial palace, but considering the future of the Veshnu Empire, it would be much better for Vante to become the Crown Prince rather than Nexior, setting aside the fact that she was their mother.
She had been somewhat suspicious even before receiving the contact from her daughter Vinea.
Grand Duke Gartan, who refused to leave the imperial palace citing various reasons. Nexior, who constantly whispered his opinions on all decisions to her husband under the pretext of adaptation, and who kept interfering with her son who had started various studies as the Crown Prince.
It didn’t take long for her evaluation of her kind but somewhat unsettling brother-in-law and uncomfortable nephew to change to a cunning snake of a human and a dull fool.
Although she had endured until now because of her husband who blindly trusted him as a blood brother, and her son who relied on his uncle without saying it, was there any need to continue doing so?
Pelga, hiding her body behind the garden, crushed the red rose blooming in front of her with her hand.
“Call me Your Highness, Margrita! No, Your Majesty would be good too. After all, this country will soon be mine! Hahaha—”
It was Nexior, rolling around with a daughter from a lower noble family known for their poor quality.
Pelga frowned in disgust at the hand kneading the woman’s buttocks over her dress, with the woman sitting on his lap, as if this were a bedroom rather than a garden.
“Oh my. This is the imperial palace, you know. What if your head rolls for saying such things? This Margrita is so scared.”
At the woman’s coquettish voice, Nexior burst into even louder laughter and smiled viciously.
“Who would dare to cut off my head? Me, who will sit in the highest position of this empire!”
“Of course! Ah, my dependable Lord Nexior!”
Nexior embraced the woman who threw herself into his arms, rubbing her ample bosom, and kissed her here and there. He whispered in her ear while kneading her breasts.
“Just wait a little. When a white falcon is hung on the western wall, a blue falcon is bound to be hung on the eastern wall. My father will make it so soon. Even if not, I, Nexior, will definitely make it happen.”
“Margrita is so excited. Please embrace me quickly, our Majesty.”
The woman probably didn’t properly understand what Nexior was saying. If she had known, she wouldn’t have been in his arms so fearlessly.
Pelga took a step with an expressionless face. Her presence was easily masked by the sound of the two mingling flesh.
‘When a white falcon is hung on the western wall, a blue falcon is bound to be hung on the eastern wall—’
Nexior’s incredibly arrogant words ignited Pelga’s anger.
“How dare he…”
The white flag hung on the western wall symbolized the death of a royal family member. The large falcon emblem embedded in the center of the flag was something only members of the royal family, those who inherited the surname ‘Madretta Veshnu’, could use.
In other words, Nexior had spoken of the death of her husband or son.
The blue flag hung on the eastern wall was the one hung when an emperor ascended to the throne, and it was the flag that was hung when her husband suddenly became emperor not long ago.
What should she do with this foolish nephew who said that his father, Grand Duke Gartan, or he himself would directly make it happen?
As Gartan was thoroughly protecting him with his subordinates because he was his only heir, she had to wait for an appropriate opportunity.
“The hunting festival is tomorrow, as it happens.”
The hunting festival, held twice a year, was an event that noble men were required to participate in. As Vante, who had announced to the outside that he was unwell, wouldn’t participate, Nexior would definitely not miss this opportunity to stand out.
Returning to the palace, Pelga said to the head maid:
“Prepare the bow. The one I used before marriage.”
“Are you planning to participate in the hunting festival, perhaps?”
“Yes. A crow keeps circling the palace and it’s incredibly annoying. It will surely appear, so I want to deal with it myself.”
The head maid, who had served Pelga since she was unmarried, nodded with a pleased face.
“I’ll make sure it’s well prepared. How exciting to be able to see Her Majesty the Empress’s archery skills after so long.”
Before her lungs weakened after suffering greatly from an epidemic three years ago, Pelga was called the best archer in Veshnu. Even well-trained knights couldn’t match her archery skills.
She could hit targets from distances invisible to the naked eye, making it impossible to even gauge the direction, so knights training for war would often seek her help.
Although it would be awkward to hold after so long, her skills from her youth hadn’t completely disappeared.
She only hoped to hit just one leg of the annoying crow. So that even with perfectly good wings, it would have to limp when touching the ground.
* * *
She confirmed the face of the woman who first possessed Sefitiana and pinpointed the time. After pouring out her highly elated mood like a collapsed dam on the narrow sofa, overwhelming fatigue came over her, but the hope that had been fully charged remained intact.
Beyond the seemingly quiet, hushed imperial palace, the distant sounds of people’s cheers and music could be heard. The streets of the capital, where the festival marking the end of the Empire Foundation Day continued for two days, were full of vigor.
It was fascinating how the sound she had hardly paid attention to before and wasn’t even aware of was faintly carried by the wind. Wasn’t it like the everyday life she had enjoyed before the regression?
The sunlight pouring through the window pleasantly tickled her cheeks.
Her gently folded eyes blinked softly.
In the calmness she felt after a long time, Vinea quietly settled her mind.
However, an uninvited guest appeared to disturb her peace.
“Well, Vinea. I had submitted a request for an audience today, and just as I was worried about receiving a reply that it was impossible, we meet by chance like this.”
Vinea smiled brightly towards the person addressing her.
“Given the day, I have quite a few duties as Empress. Was it an urgent matter, Uncle?”
“Vante’s whereabouts are still unclear, aren’t they? I was worried you might be losing sleep with concern. I also had something to give you.”
Gartan’s eyes, narrowed like a snake’s, scanned Vinea.
“But it seems this uncle worried for nothing. Seeing your good complexion puts my mind at ease.”
It was a sarcastic remark about her looking good despite her brother’s disappearance. However, his expression truly looked relieved about his niece’s well-being, so if one didn’t know the situation, they might have been momentarily fooled into thinking it was a concerned comment.
“Thank you for your concern.”
“You are as precious to me as Vante, Vinea.”
Vinea skillfully hid her contempt. How brazen. He must know it’s against etiquette to look straight at the Empress of the Tessibanian Empire, not to speak formally, and to call her name so casually.
However, Vinea could gladly forgive his rudeness. Through the imperial artifact Vante had brought from the Veshnu Imperial Palace, she had received very welcome news from her mother at dawn today.
Nexior Aktavil. It seems his arrogant and stupid son was severely injured. They say he won’t be able to use one leg for the rest of his life.
She thought it was quite remarkable how he could speak to her without changing his expression at all, even though he must have heard about that situation.
“By the way, you said you had something to tell me?”
“I looked into Eurene Castallo a bit after hearing your words. I’m not sure if it will be helpful, though.”
He handed over a rolled-up paper. It was surprising that he had gathered this much information in just a day since mentioning Eurene Castallo’s name. Even though he must have had considerable restrictions in using his subordinates, as this wasn’t Veshnu.
Vinea grasped the paper. However, Gartan didn’t let go of the hand holding out the paper. He smiled kindly towards Vinea and said:
“Have you found out anything about Vante’s whereabouts? It’s not easy for me to send people. If I have your help, this uncle could find him as soon as possible.”
Somehow, it seemed he wouldn’t hand over even information that wasn’t very helpful to him so easily.
To ruin the day of the intruder who had disturbed her quite satisfactory moment, Vinea said with her eyes closed:
“I’m sorry for telling you late, Uncle. You can put your worries to rest.”
Gartan’s eyes flashed brightly. His lips curved into a smile.
“Have you found Vante?”
“Yes.”
Vinea said, snatching the paper from Gartan’s hand:
“I hear he just crossed the border. Father has sent knights to bring Vante to the palace. Isn’t that great news?”
At those words, Gartan’s expression hardened.
How could he have reached the border in such a short time? It was impossible unless he used a warp managed by the Tessibanian Imperial Court.
Moreover, warp was a magic that required at least five imperial mages working a full half-day to prepare. Given how busy it is now with the Empire Foundation Day, they would have had to be notified at least a day in advance.
As his thoughts reached this point, Gartan raised his head with a face completely devoid of a smile. How many people in this empire could do such a thing?
Vinea. Cunning and impudent thing.
It was his mistake to dismiss the changes that had been bothering him as groundless concerns. His eyes, devoid of any warmth, turned to his niece.
“—So return carefully, Uncle. There’s nothing more you can do here now.”
