Chapter 96
Chapter 96. Welcome Banquet for the Envoys
The blue eyes that turned and glared at him. The small lips that chattered incessantly, and the soft skin that was as sweet as ripe fruit were all so captivating. He missed her.
“Huh, you’re ignoring your comrades who have shared life and death with you because of a woman?”
“Who would dare kill Your Majesty?”
“Why, why is this rascal so disrespectful? Kill me!”
Heinz turned his head indifferently without answering as Dietrich deliberately exaggerated his tone. Dietrich, fed up with the uninspired response, pouted in discontent and threw down the documents he was looking at.
“The old library redevelopment will be underway soon. The budget payment has already been cut off.”
“Cutting off the budget payment?”
Heinz’s eyebrows furrowed at Dietrich’s words. Henelone was still in the library. Looking at the situation, it seemed like they had cut off the budget without any particular mention to the library. His mind boiled at the thought of poor Henelone shivering alone in the dark library with the lights off.
“…Are you going to build a useless temple?”
“Hmm? Useless? It’s a reconciliatory offering for communion with the temple.”
Heinz snickered at the shameless words. The reason people stopped coming to the old library was because of the new library built in the new city. It was also in a remote place with poor accessibility. In the first place, they had stolen the prime temple site in the capital by bringing up the Great Priest’s dirty scandal and built the new library there. So now they were giving the old library site to the temple as a gesture of reconciliation.
The temple would probably be very happy if they found out.
“I’ll be back soon after organizing it, so please hand over the old library redevelopment plan to me.”
“You dare try to make a deal with me?”
“Yes. It’s a deal.”
“Hmm, I really like your brazen spirit. Well, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you. You alone are more important to me than that temple.”
He didn’t feel like giving the land to the temple, but he thought it would be better for Heinz to handle it. The excited Dietrich scribbled a note to the Duke saying that he would hand over the redevelopment plan for the old library, and then stamped it with the Emperor’s seal.
***
“No, aren’t you Duke Woodward? It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. Hehe.”
“Count Berner.”
After being tormented by Dietrich, who was writhing in boredom, Heinz came out of his office and was greeted by Count Berner, who had neatly combed his thin goatee. His face was not pleasant to Heinz, who had to leave for Berner’s estate again for an investigation. Count Berner’s eyebrows twitched at Heinz’s uncomfortable expression, but he soon smiled faintly.
“Are you on your way back from meeting His Majesty?”
“Yes.”
“Hehe, I guess His Majesty didn’t kick the Duke out! I guess he’s finally feeling a little better. Then I guess I’ll see you again at the palace soon.”
He wondered what he was trying to say, so he stared at him silently. The Count, with his sharp eyes, hurriedly continued.
“Are you attending the welcoming banquet for the envoys this time?”
“Nothing has been decided yet.”
“Oh, I see. After the welcome banquet, we plan to set sail for the port of Berner and hold a ball. If the Duke comes, I will give you a grand welcome.”
It was something that didn’t need to be heard. Heinz, who had already been to Berner Port so many times, was planning to come back to the capital as soon as the investigation was over and stay by Henelone’s side. He had no intention of setting foot in Berner Port for the time being.
Heinz nodded silently without answering and strode away. The Count, whose thin goatee was shaking, turned around with a frown.
***
Count Berner headed to the club room of Fryusken, a hotel located in a remote part of the old town. It was a hotel frequented by local nobles who did not reside in the capital, with a large floating population. The club room was well-guarded, making it a perfect place for secret gatherings away from prying eyes.
“I guess I’ll be going to Woodward soon. The Duke is likely to be reinstated.”
“Oh, I knew it! How could the Emperor have kicked out Duke Woodward? Everyone just pretended not to know!”
As Count Berner hurriedly spoke upon entering the club room, the old man with white hair, Marquis Grossmann of the West, replied. Next to him, Duke Sylvester of the North, who had a more robust appearance than most men despite his wrinkled face, poured himself a glass with a calm expression. Marquis Grossmann, who seemed quite relaxed, cautiously opened his mouth, showing a look of impatience.
“As long as the Duke is in the capital, there is no way to move troops.”
“We have to drag him out of the capital.”
“How on earth can we do that? Unless something really bad happens, the Emperor won’t send the Duke out of the capital.”
“Haha, we just have to make him send him out.”
“No, that’s right! Isn’t that the only way!”
As Marquis Grossmann shouted, pounding his chest in frustration, Duke Sylvester put down his empty glass on the table and leaned back on the sofa with a leisurely smile. The Marquis and the Count’s eyes were focused on his relaxed attitude.
“There’s been some interesting rumors going around town lately.”
“Huh? What’s that rumor?”
“It’s a rumor that the Duke of Woodward proposed to Princess Marie-Jose of Honfleur.”
“Haha, now that I think about it, I heard a rumor that the Duke went down to the Brenicke estate with the Princess. He was stuck right next to the Princess on the cruise ship…”
