IMHMF 24

Chapter 24

“Did you sleep well?”

It was the first time I had come face to face with Eden just after waking, and it felt embarrassing. To shake off the embarrassment, I urged him to get up quickly.

“I am hungry so I will go ahead to the dining room. Come down.”

Without waiting for his answer, I slipped out of the room.

Not long after, Eden walked into the dining room looking neat and presentable.

“Eden.”

“Loa.”

Both spoke at the same time, and the one who yielded was Eden.

“Go ahead.”

“Why did you not come in yesterday?”

“……”

“Were you angry at me…”

“No.”

“Then? Because that is the only reason I can accept.”

I already knew from Alb, but I felt I needed to hear it from him directly.

“You are not going to say, are you? Alright then, I will get up first…”

I set my fork down with a slightly loud clatter and dabbed my mouth with the large white napkin, and then he opened his mouth.

“I found Marquis Ter Giuo.”

Only after Eden’s answer came did I sit back down with a satisfied expression and continue eating.

“Did you kill him?”

“Not yet.”

“Will you kill him?”

“……”

I swallowed dryly and waited once more for Eden’s answer, but there was silence.

I could not know exactly what his silence meant, but in that moment it felt as though I had heard an answer that said he would.

“I have a request.”

“Anything.”

“If you are going to kill him, let me be the one to do it.”

Whether it was an unexpected answer, his eyes flickered faintly. But the eyes that soon found their place again looked calm.

“That boldness is truly fitting of a Duchess.”

“I mean it.”

“It is not simple. Since he holds the rank of marquis, it would be troublesome if a missing persons report were filed.”

“Ah…”

It was something I had not considered.

“That is why I had been thinking of having him punished through proper channels.”

“……”

“It seems your thoughts differ.”

“Yes, even if he is punished, Marquis Ter Giuo will use his connections and be out quickly. And even if he does go in, he will live comfortably…”

“Do you want Marquis Ter Giuo dead?”

“Can you do it?”

“…If you wish it.”

No sooner had his lips parted and closed than I gave a nod.

“I wish it.”

“This is a moment where my fiancée and I are of one mind.”

“……”

“Once Ter Giuo is dealt with, we will hold the wedding immediately.”

At the word wedding, I did not reply. I simply changed the subject.

“What was it you were going to say?”

“The emperor wants you to attend the upcoming diplomatic ceremony with the Western Kingdom.”

“Me?”

“And the Western Kingdom’s prince as well.”

“The Western Kingdom’s prince too?”

Setting the emperor aside, why the Western Kingdom’s prince?

I had been rude to the Western Kingdom’s prince, so the idea that he wanted me to come was something I could not understand.

“Do I absolutely have to go?”

“It would seem so.”

“If I do not go, would that be defying an imperial decree?”

“Most likely.”

“What happens if one defies an imperial decree?”

“Empeltaon Prison, or exile to a convent.”

I did not think I would end up in prison simply for not attending a diplomatic ceremony… perhaps being exiled to a convent would actually be more comfortable.

But as though reading my thoughts, Eden added.

“Since you are a Duchess, it would not be a convent but rather three years of service within the imperial household.”

“Is the diplomatic ceremony not coming up soon?”

“That is right. About fifty-two hours remain.”

“Which means…”

“We need to enter the imperial palace tomorrow.”

This wretched class system!

“We are expected to stay at the imperial palace for approximately two days.”

With those words, Eden did not show himself again until the day of entering the imperial palace.

The day of entering the imperial palace.

The ducal residence was moving about more busily than usual, and even without a single word being spoken, it felt noisy.

Knock, knock.

At the low, firm knock that resonated through the room, the servants’ movements came to a halt for a moment.

“Yes.”

The one who appeared at my brief reply was Siobhan.

“Sir Sio.”

“My lady, for a moment…”

Siobhan trailed off, but the meaning behind the words was clear enough. Only after dismissing all the servants in the room did he open his mouth.

“Please speak freely.”

“The master has arranged to join us in the capital. Until then, I have received orders to attend to you.”

“Where is Eden?”

“The master has gone to carry out the final task for dealing with Marquis Ter Giuo.”

The final task.

Am I truly going to kill Ter Giuo with my own hands…

“He also asked me to give you this.”

What Siobhan handed me was a soft handkerchief. I had thought it was an ordinary handkerchief, but upon actually receiving it, I felt something within it.

Wrapped inside the handkerchief was a small magic stone.

“A magic stone?”

In the past I would have found it fascinating, but now it was different. Perhaps because the reason my body had changed to one that absorbs magical energy was due to a magic stone, I felt a sense of aversion.

Haah, I am thoroughly sick of magic stones now.

The aversion showed plainly on my face without reservation. Siobhan, who could not have failed to notice the change in my expression, quickly added.

“It is a magic stone specially crafted by Physician Schmitz.”

“Schmitz?”

“Yes. This too was made on the master’s orders.”

“What ability does this magic stone have?”

“That much I do not know either.”

“I understand. Thank you, Sir Sio.”

I will have to ask Eden directly about the magic stone’s purpose when I meet him.

The carriage carrying me came to a stop quite some time after leaving the ducal residence. As we drew near the capital, Eden made his appearance. He sat down naturally across from me, looking pleased.

“Did you receive the magic stone?”

“Yes, as you can see.”

At his question, I lifted my hair slightly and showed him my neck.

“Is this magic stone a communication stone?”

“It has the ability of a communication stone as well.”

As well? So it has other abilities too?

“Does it have other abilities?”

“You are perceptive.”

“……”

“It is a magic stone that also handles transportation, invisibility, and protection.”

“A magic stone like that does not exist.”

“It simply has not been made available commercially.”

“So it has already been developed?”

“Well, as you can see.”

Four abilities… thinking of Schmitz who must have worked day and night on it made me feel sorry for him.

I am sorry, Schmitz… I will put it to good use…

“Tonight I will take care of Marquis Ter Giuo.”

“But tonight we will be at the imperial palace.”

“……”

“Surely not. You planned it that way on purpose…”

“I told you, you are perceptive.”

“The location where Ter Giuo’s body will be found has already been prepared. All we need to do tonight is use the transportation stone while avoiding the eyes of the imperial palace.”

“How will Marquis Ter Giuo be handled. Will it be made to look as though he took his own life?”

“That was the plan, but Ter Giuo had no reason to do such a thing.”

“Then…”

Eden spoke with a bright smile, but the content of what he was saying was anything but.

“It will be handled as a murder.”

If Ter Giuo were to die as a murder victim, everyone connected to him would be summoned to trial. Since the ones who had been targeted by Ter Giuo were Eden and I, we would become the most likely suspects.

“You seem worried.”

“……”

“Did you not say you wanted to kill Ter Giuo?”

“That feeling has not changed.”

“Then…”

“Please tell me the details of what you plan to do.”

Nothing would change even if I deliberated here. All I needed to do was listen to Eden’s plan and not make any mistakes. That was all.

“Do not mention Ter Giuo’s name while at the imperial palace. You will understand the reason well enough.”

I answered with a light nod.

“The time given to us is not long. We have arranged to meet the prince after the evening banquet.”

Accounting for the time to change clothes after the banquet, thirty minutes at most.

“That should be about all you need to know.”

Not long after the conversation with Eden ended, the carriage came to a stop in front of the imperial palace. The buildings never failed to draw a gasp of admiration each time I visited.

How much tax money went into all of this.

Unlike the previous visit, this time the emperor had come out in person.

“I offer my greetings to the Sun of the Empire.”

“I am truly grateful that you have come to attend the diplomatic ceremony.”

“It is nothing but an honor to be able to answer the summons.”

Only after the formal greetings with the emperor concluded did I notice a small child standing behind him. The child, whose eyes met mine, immediately wore a startled expression and hid behind the emperor’s legs.

At that movement, the emperor let out a hearty laugh and told the child it was alright.

“My niece.”