Chapter 30
“…I will work harder.”
“No!”
The Emperor shook his head clumsily but firmly.
“You… you should focus on supporting Felix… He’s your elder brother… firstborn, and Crown Prince!”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t, don’t you dare have any strange thoughts…”
The Emperor sent her a piercing gaze while breathing heavily.
“Pu-public order… Such things, leave them to that damned Exarch… *cough*! You… from now on… stay away from… the Meteor District.”
The Meteor District was known as where the mad Grimaldi physician lived.
Bathilda swallowed her curses.
“…Yes. Thank you for the advice.”
* * *
Bathilda returned to her palace with a terrifyingly rigid expression.
Dominic closed the office door and stood guard.
Standing silently in the middle of her office, Bathilda muttered quietly.
“I really… don’t like it. I never did, but it’s getting worse.”
Orquenina’s symbol was the red lion.
The next Emperor should naturally be the strongest lion.
She would have understood if Exarch had been named Crown Prince. She had always wanted to compete with him.
‘But Felix?’
Felix lacked both ability and decisiveness. Despite this, he was so avoidant that he didn’t even try to improve.
To think such a person would become Emperor.
That would be an insult to the people of Orquenina.
‘But Father only has eyes for brother.’
Shadows fell across Bathilda’s eyes.
‘At this rate, I might really need to prepare for armed conflict…’
Knock knock knock.
Just then, an attendant knocked and opened the office door.
“Princess Bathilda. There’s a visitor requesting an audience.”
A visitor?
“Who is it?”
“They identified themselves as ‘Mine’, an appraiser from Sophs Appraisal House.”
Mine.
The Sage of Rethor…
‘If I’m preparing for war, her help would be valuable. I should win her over, whatever the cost.’
Bathilda spoke with subdued eyes.
“Send her up to my office.”
* * *
[Quest Completed.]
Such a window appeared before Baeksan as she sat in the princess’s reception room.
Simultaneously, she felt weight in her pocket. Peeking inside, she found the quest reward of 3,600 gold in bills.
A sigh escaped unconsciously.
‘Finally completed it… I was worried spreading rumors wouldn’t be enough.’
Just then, an attendant appeared.
“You’re summoned to the office.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Following the attendant, Baeksan suddenly felt uneasy.
Wait, the office?
But before she could finish her thought, they arrived at Bathilda’s office, and the attendant opened the door.
“We meet again, Mine.”
Flash.
[Nutany Military Command Supply Route Report]
[Yurahan Sorek Special Envoy Secret Meeting Transcript]
[Next Year’s Departmental Budget Plan]
[Report on Political Ties Between Trevereum Royal Family and Yi Dynasty]
[‘Age of Joy’ Memorial Construction Budget]
[Alt Region Dam Construction Plan]
[Sidic Association Tax Investigation Report]
.
.
.
Baeksan staggered at the sudden flood of vast information.
“…Ugh. I pay my respects… Your Highness.”
“…? Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy…”
Baeksan’s face turned pale as she tried to settle her churning stomach.
‘Focus, focus!’
Finally suppressing all the information windows, she concentrated solely on Bathilda. Only then did her vision return to normal.
Bathilda sat at her desk looking surprised, with Dominic behind her.
“…I apologize. My health isn’t good.”
“No need for apologies. Sit down first. Have some warm tea.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Baeksan staggered to the sofa and sat.
‘I definitely can’t visit places like libraries.’
While swallowing a sigh, Bathilda approached the sofa.
Baeksan finally looked at her directly and was slightly surprised internally.
Bathilda no longer had her previous composure. Her aura was sharp, and there was even a faint madness in her black eyes.
She could tell immediately.
Left alone, this would lead to the war route.
“So, what story have you come to tell today? I would be most pleased if you were proposing to work under me.”
Baeksan regained her focus at Bathilda’s somewhat sly words.
“Regrettably, I’ve come to repeat my previous request. Your Highness, please allow me to see His Majesty.”
“Ha!”
Bathilda let out a high snort. Her tone was more aggressive than usual.
[Bathilda Rohik Schröder]
Trust level: 5%
“Did you find my words amusing?”
Baeksan checked the window that appeared beside Bathilda before turning her gaze to her.
“Not at all.”
“Or did you think I would be swayed by mere public rumors? Did you find this Bathilda so easy to manipulate?”
“No, quite the opposite.”
[Bathilda Rohik Schröder]
Trust level: 3%
“Enough! Leave.”
Bathilda shouted, jumping to her feet.
“Your Highness. Such petty rumors cannot harm your political position.”
“Of course not! I am Bathilda Rohik Schröder!”
“That’s precisely why you must walk the righteous path. Keep your path free from filth.”
[Bathilda Rohik Schröder]
Trust level: 1%
[Warning! If this person’s trust falls below 0%, safety algorithms will be applied for player protection.]
Fire sparked in Bathilda’s eyes.
“How dare you…!”
“This is faithful counsel from one who is the Sage of Rethor.”
Bathilda’s movement stopped, and her expression vanished instantly.
[Bathilda Rohik Schröder]
Trust level: 1%
Even the air seemed to suddenly grow still.
Baeksan ignored the translucent window and continued speaking.
“Please grant me an audience with His Majesty the Emperor. I will discover the cause of his illness. And the credit will be yours.”
“…”
Bathilda’s lips quivered. Her eyebrows rose as if in anger.
But soon her face contorted with faint sadness.
“…Father won’t name me Crown Princess just for that.”
“Your Highness.”
Baeksan spoke quietly but firmly.
“You’ve tried so hard.”
Bathilda’s black eyes wavered.
“I am from House Rethor. I have no right to interfere in imperial matters. But I must say this. A friend I made as an appraiser said this about the rumors: that Your Highness would never do such things, that you’re not that kind of person.”
“…”
“That’s who you are, Your Highness. Someone recognized by all.”
Baeksan spoke while maintaining eye contact with Bathilda, who stared at her as if desperately seeking something.
“So I humbly advise you to trust and use me just this once.”
Bathilda remained silent for a long time.
With her face turned away, her expression wasn’t visible, but Baeksan tactfully ignored her status window and trembling shoulders.
Finally, Bathilda snorted.
“…Ha!”
Her gaze returned to Baeksan. The sharpness had returned to her black eyes.
“No one ever mentioned that the ‘Sage of Rethor’ was so impudent with words.”
Bathilda smiled mischievously, showing the playful side seen at the Blue Moon Fair.
“Hmm? Mine. You’re quite audacious. You won’t become my person but you’ll give me counsel?”
“Currently, I am merely Mine, an appraiser at Sophs.”
“If I revealed your identity, the imperial family would covet you, and your little game at Sophs would end. Yet you’re quite composed?”
“That’s because you won’t reveal it.”
“How can you be so sure?”
Baeksan smiled for the first time.
“I am currently free, and Your Highness is not the Crown Princess. If I were to fall into imperial custody, I would likely work for His Majesty or Crown Prince Felix. Surely you wouldn’t want that, so naturally, you’ll keep this secret.”
Bathilda’s eyes gradually widened.
Then…
“Ha! Ahahahaha! Hahahaha!”
She burst into loud laughter.
After laughing for a while, Bathilda looked down at Baeksan with a relaxed attitude.
“Very well, I’ll grant it. I’ll arrange for you to see the Emperor. Just ‘seeing,’ not speaking. Correct?”
