Chapter 41

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Dawn That Twists Your Neck
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Well, I’ll be. I was certain Antevasila would win. Who could have possibly predicted Dopein’s victory? Even if it was thanks to the Empire's intervention, it’s just… you can never tell how things will unfold in this world.”

Antevasila, Dopein, and Parnas.

The three-way standoff between the nations had a history stretching back nearly five hundred years.

A single nation had fractured into Parnas and the Ante Republic, and the Ante Republic had then split into east and west, becoming the Dopein and Antevasila of today.

From the time of the schism to the present, Antevasila’s national power had always been overwhelmingly superior. Most people had assumed that if a war were to break out, Antevasila would be the victor.

But.

“They say you never know until you see for yourself, and how amusing it is. Yes… you never truly know.”

He opened the cigar case on his desk and took one out.

An attendant swiftly cut the tip, lit it, and offered it to Witten. Staring at the glowing red end of the cigar, Witten’s lips curled into a smile.

“I’ve arranged to meet the Crown Prince soon.”

He mumbled, his voice indistinct with the cigar in his mouth. The attendant, who had been staring blankly, belatedly understood and his eyes widened.

“Is the Crown Prince coming in person?”

“Hmm… something like that. He’s coming, but we can’t meet on land. Those filthy pigeons are swarming the land and sky, you see.”

Filthy pigeons.

It was the term used for the Raphi corps under Arsinoe’s command.

The Raphi corps, scouts directly under the Grand General, had always carried messages in secret, never revealing themselves until now.

Though rumors of Raphi within the Royal Army had spread by word of mouth, the number of humans who had actually encountered one in their lifetime was small enough to be counted on one hand. Consequently, most people had no real understanding of how the Raphi corps contributed to the army by relaying information.

However, the true nature of the Raphi, revealed during the suppression of Duke Kill, was far more terrifying than anyone had imagined.

Fearing that their words might be overheard anytime, anywhere, the lords moved their secret meetings to even more clandestine locations.

Cellars, wine storages, granaries, docks… or.

“You intend to meet at sea.”

Witten exhaled a puff of smoke and gave a slight nod.

“Indeed. Since we are not in a position to meet openly, it’s best to choose a place where we can avoid as many eyes as possible. It seems he has his own schemes, considering he’s making a personal appearance… I’m thinking of joining hands with the Crown Prince to cleanse the royal palace.”

Perhaps thinking that now, with a new king on the throne and the government unstable, was the perfect time, the Crown Prince had openly sent an envoy with a message proposing an alliance.

He was the one who had incited Dopein to start a war, so he was likely confident he could swallow Parnas whole as well.

This time, it was his turn to do the inciting.

With the Crown Prince’s power, bringing down the royal palace would be a simple matter. Witten took a deep drag from his cigar.

“Have a ship ready as soon as the meeting date is set. The only sea route to the Empire is through Portmeier, so we must slip through the strait as discreetly as possible. Tell the Crown Prince to move covertly as well.”

“Understood. I will send a letter at once.”

The attendant replied and rose from his spot. As he watched the attendant’s retreating back, Witten suddenly called out to him.

“By the way, what did you say earlier? Did you ask if you should find another girl like her?”

“Yes. The girl in the bedroom seems to be in a bad state, so I mentioned it… What should I do?”

He removed the cigar from his lips and gazed at the smoldering red tip. Presently, a refined smile graced Witten’s lips.

“Well… never mind. If the talks go well, I won’t need a substitute. I’ll just drag Arsinoe, that wench herself, into my bedroom. I can’t wait to see that insolent face of hers streaming with tears.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

In the rose-scented bathroom, the soft sound of dripping water echoed. *Drip, drip.* Marquess Rutherford waved a hand, pushing aside the steam that clouded her vision.

She then adjusted the robe she was wearing and straightened her posture before looking at the woman before her with clearer eyes.

“So, to summarize what Your Majesty has said… you want me to investigate every single ship passing through Portmeier? Without exception?”

“Yes. You must investigate not only the ships docking at the harbor but all those that pass through the sea lane.”

Lucy replied, poking at a rose petal floating on the water with her finger. Rutherford touched a petal that had drifted her way, a bewildered expression on her face.

“To check every ship… that will not be an easy task. Furthermore, I am but a fledgling who has only recently become the governor of the duchy. Whether the port workers will listen to me is…”

“I will send the Raphi soldiers. You can use them to monitor the ships from the sky, can’t you?”

Rutherford’s eyes widened, and she blinked several times.

“Is it truly all right for you to send such an important military unit to me?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll have them return as soon as their mission is complete. It shouldn’t take very long.”

Leaning back in the large tub, Lucy gathered her loose hair and twisted it up.

Her white skin was flushed pink, and water trickled down her skin.

Her features were lovely, but it was her flawless skin and slender figure that naturally drew the eye. Watching her, mesmerized, Rutherford looked up at the ceiling with a wistful expression, thinking, *I was something in my day, too…*

“The bathroom in the Rutherford manor is quite splendid. It can’t be compared to the one in the command headquarters. Hmm… is this a scented oil?”

Lucy picked up a bottle of oil from a basket and shook it. With a sloshing sound, the crimson liquid inside swirled about.

“It is the oil of desert roses imported from the west. It has a wonderful fragrance.”

Rutherford took the bottle of oil from Lucy and poured it directly into the tub.

A fragrant aroma spread in all directions. Rutherford swirled the water to disperse the oil, then reached into the basket and grabbed a handful of petals.

Amidst the rich scent of roses, red petals drifted and spread.

“I was puzzled when you suddenly came to the manor and suggested a bath… but I imagine you chose the bathroom out of concern for eavesdroppers.”

“Yes. Listening ears can be dangerous.”

“May I ask why you are giving such an order? Is it… related to Duke Witten, by any chance?”

Lucy smiled and splashed the water on her cooling shoulders.

“I appreciate people like you. I say one word, and you understand ten.”

The straightforward affirmation caused Rutherford’s brow to furrow even more deeply.

*She wants me to watch Witten?*

*Why?*

*Is he planning to do something via the sea?*

*Could he be trying to mobilize troops, like Duke Kill?*

But Duke Witten was different from Duke Kill. He wasn’t the type with the nerve to plot a rebellion, nor was he irrational enough to challenge someone he couldn’t defeat.

Rutherford narrowed her eyes slightly, trying to deduce the meaning behind Lucy’s words. But there were too few clues to draw a conclusion.

“Duke Witten did seem quite displeased at the meeting that day… Is the Duke planning to do something foolish?”

“I hear a strange guest has been visiting the Witten estate lately. An antiques dealer, supposedly. He’s disguised as a merchant, but I suspect he’s connected to either the Empire or Dopein.”

“…Could he be plotting treason with them?”

“Perhaps,” Lucy murmured as she washed her face.

“For now, I only have suspicions, no proof. To be honest, the identity of the merchant visiting the Witten estate is merely my own speculation. But it’s certainly strange that his visits began only after I provoked the Duke.”

The timing, as well as Witten’s disposition, was indeed odd. Rutherford rubbed her cheek and looked at Lucy with a cautious gaze.

“Indeed… Duke Witten was a man who detested having tradesmen visit his manor. It is certainly suspicious.”

“Right? But suspicion is meaningless without proof. Your role is to find that proof. I will give you a list of ships associated with the Witten estate. When a matching vessel crosses the sea lane, you are to inform me immediately.”

Climbing out of the tub, Lucy shed the wet towel and dried herself with a dry one.

When Rutherford quickly rose to assist her, Lucy chided her, saying an elder should rest, and instead began drying Rutherford’s hair with a towel.

Maids who entered the bathroom belatedly helped finish up, and Lucy, with a refreshed look, entered the adjoining room.

Whees, who had been waiting for his master, saw Lucy flop onto the sofa and, with a horrified expression, brought her a blanket.

“How many times have I told you not to just lie down anywhere? And this is Marquess Rutherford’s manor, no less.”

“My whole body feels languid after being in a large tub for the first time in a while. I’d be grateful if you could bring me a pillow, too.”

“Honestly, it’s not like you’re an old woman…”

Though he grumbled, Whees found a cushion somewhere and placed it under Lucy’s head.

She lay there for about five minutes, wrapped snugly in the blanket. Then, Vanessa Rutherford herself entered the room with a tea set.

“Staying at the command headquarters must be taxing on such a delicate body… Please, rest as much as you like while you are here, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Lady Rutherford.”

“Not at all. It is thanks to Your Majesty’s grace that my daughter’s life was saved. This is nothing.”

Rutherford smiled kindly as she offered a teacup.

Her daughter, who had been suffering from the plague, had now fully recovered and returned to her daily life. It was all thanks to the queen before her.

Rising to her feet, Lucy accepted the cup and faced her with a bright expression.

“I’m glad I could help. I’ve heard your eldest takes after you and is quite wise. I would be delighted to meet her sometime.”

“Oh, is that so? She happens to be at the manor today. She has been very much looking forward to the day she could meet you, Your Majesty. She would be thrilled to come if I call her.”

“Oh, you don’t have to go that far…”

“Now that you mention it, shall I call her now? Please wait just a moment, Your Majesty.”

Before Lucy could stop her, Marquess Rutherford slipped out of the room. A moment later, she returned, a troubled expression on her face.