Chapter 79

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: A Suspicious Invitation
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What came out of the pocket were rice husks so black they could be mistaken for charcoal. To be precise, it was smoked charcoal.

Made by burning rice chaff at high temperatures, smoked charcoal, when sprinkled on soil for new cuttings, prevents pests and improves aeration, promoting plant growth.

Kill dug a hole for a sapling, then lightly sprinkled the smoked charcoal over it before planting a dainty grapevine sapling in the hole.

“Oof…”

Perhaps because of his old age, a groan escaped him every time he bent and straightened his body. He was in the middle of planting the fifth sapling.

“My goodness. I knew you liked wine, but are you now going so far as to make a vineyard in the royal palace?”

Having arrived in the garden, Lucy let out a hollow laugh along with an exasperated sigh.

Without looking back, Kill remained focused on covering the sapling with soil. The moment Lucy, who was hovering nearby, slyly reached for a leaf on the sapling, Kill turned to her with wide eyes and barked.

“You mustn't carelessly touch a sapling this young!”

“I'm only touching it, what's the big…”

“Your Majesty does not understand the profound art of gardening. I was so dumbfounded to see you put ten sugar cubes in a vase, claiming it would make the flowers last longer.”

“She said it was true. It was a top-tier tip from my lady-in-waiting.”

“…”

Kill's only response was a look of utter pity, and Lucy rubbed the back of her neck to hide her embarrassment.

“Well, of course, I didn't know you weren't supposed to add that much sugar. I haven't made that mistake since. Anyway, read this.”

As she handed him the letter, hiding her blushing face, Kill accepted it with a faint, teasing smile.

The smile slowly faded from Kill's face as he read the letter. After quickly scanning it, his teasing expression vanished, replaced by a serious one as he looked up at Lucy.

“An invitation for Your Majesty from Dopein. Isn't this an obvious trap?”

“You think so too?”

“Of course. Sending an invitation at a time like this… it's impossible not to be suspicious. No matter how much we focus on your protection, if something were to happen to Your Majesty's well-being in another country, we couldn't rashly mobilize our troops.”

The letter, written in a polite hand, stated an invitation to discuss the security of both nations and their borders in commemoration of Dopein's 200th anniversary.

The content was perfectly ordinary, but Parnas was in a position where it could not let down its guard against Dopein, which had shattered the balance of the three kingdoms.

“But not going is also a problem. They say they're inviting the leaders of all the surrounding nations, not just me… They're openly requesting my presence. If I don't go, the prestige of Parnas will plummet.”

Ever since the war ended in Dopein's victory, the people of Parnas, who had always prided themselves on being the strongest of the three kingdoms, had begun to show concern, worrying what would happen if the balance of power shifted completely to Dopein.

Numerous intellectuals and commentators were also paying close attention to the queen's movements. It was unclear whether antagonizing Dopein in this situation was the right move.

Lucy sighed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared at the grapevine with a bitter expression. Realizing the validity of her words, Kill also remained silent, his face displeased.

After staring down at the sapling for a long while, Lucy was the first to speak, her tone worried.

“What should I do? They've sent an envoy for their 200th anniversary, instructed to bring back a reply. Is it really right for me to back out in this situation?”

Must she advance, even when it was highly likely to be a trap?

But politics was always like this. Having to press forward knowing you would suffer losses, having to push through knowing you would be criticized.

There was no guarantee of a good outcome, but this was a world rife with situations where doing something—anything—was better than doing nothing, if only to save face.

Kill, too, shared this thought and could not easily speak up. But soon, he reached a conclusion.

“Your Majesty's safety is more important than saving face. We have only just found a master for the throne; we cannot escort you to a place fraught with danger.”

Personal feelings aside, she was the one who had quelled the period of chaos caused by the king's absence. And at the same time, she was now the sovereign he had to serve.

“The man who found me so disagreeable is suddenly defending me. What's gotten into you?”

“Regardless, Your Majesty has a good grasp of the times. I'm getting old myself, and I'm more at ease with a young sovereign than one older than myself.”

“Hah, it seems you've finally recognized my true worth.”

As Lucy, looking moved, tried to embrace him, Kill shuddered and took a step back.

“True worth… In truth, it seems my son has been thoroughly charmed by Your Majesty. He praises you so much his mouth never runs dry.”

“Your son? Who?”

“Who else? My second boy.”

“Ah, Atlind.”

Atlind, who had been studying theology at the temple for a while, as if engrossed in the doctrines of a nameless god, soon began to delve into archaeology, revealing his scholarly side.

He was the very scholar Lucy had thought of the moment she arrived at the Lycan temple.

Lucy had chosen him as the right person to interpret the temple's documents, and Atlind, his face filled with emotion, had begun investigating the temple according to her wishes.

“They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Atlind seems to be as brilliant as you. I heard he's fluently deciphering a dead language. Youthful vigor really is something else.”

“…Forgive me for saying so, but are you aware that my son is older than you, Your Majesty?”

“Was he?”

Kill gave Lucy a look as if she were some strange creature, then turned his gaze to Whees, who was observing the surroundings from a distance. Understanding the gesture, Whees preened his feathers and strode into the garden.

“What is it?”

“I have a favor to ask. He should be in the outer palace by now…”

While Lucy was distracted by the grapevine, Kill gave an order in a low voice.

Whees took flight, and about ten minutes later, he landed in the garden again, this time with a familiar figure.

“Why have you summoned me?”

Walter adjusted his attire and looked back and forth between Lucy and Kill.

He was dressed not in his usual military uniform but in a black formal suit, suggesting he had been attending to official duties in the palace. Lucy, who had been planting grapevine saplings under Kill's direction, belatedly stood up and tilted her head.

“I didn't call for you.”

“I asked for him to be brought here. Grand General, please take a look at this letter.”

Kill handed Walter the letter he had tucked into his pocket.

Walter glanced at the seal on the outside of the letter and frowned slightly before reading it quickly. His gaze, which lingered on the last paragraph for a long moment, soon moved to Lucy.

“This is a suspicious proposal. It would be best if you did not go.”

Seeing the Grand General react the same way he had, Kill shot Lucy a triumphant look.

So that was why he had suddenly called for Walter. It seemed he wanted to push his own opinion and brought someone to back him up.

Lucy met Kill's gaze with an incredulous one of her own.

“I understand why you both object, but this isn't a matter of likes or dislikes. I've already been refraining from most external activities since my coronation. If I refuse this invitation now, Parnas will become a laughingstock.”

“Your Majesty. Safety comes before honor.”

“I know that too. But there is something you are both mistaken about.”

Lucy crossed her arms and slowly shook her head.

Since both men were inherently stubborn, it would be better to persuade them rather than take a hard stance to change their minds.

“First, we can't be certain of Dopein's intentions. Of course, I agree they are suspicious, but invitations must have been sent to other rulers as well. No matter how hot-headed the Grand Duke of Dopein is, I doubt he would dare make a rash move at a diplomatic gathering.”

“But isn't that an overly optimistic view…”

“And second, this is the main point, actually. I have something I want to confirm using this as a pretext.”

Walter and Kill looked at each other at the same time, exchanging puzzled glances. Lucy shrugged once, then continued in a lighter tone.

“From Dopein's perspective, the biggest obstacle right now isn't me, but the Grand General. They probably sent the invitation directly to me with the intention of using me as bait to draw out the Grand General as well.”

Unlike in the past when the monarchy held absolute power, the politics of Parnas were now structured around a duopoly of two powerful figures: Walter and Kill.

This was because the roles of the Three Ducal Ministers—the Grand Marshal, Grand Minister of Education, and Grand Tutor—had been divided between the Chancellor and the Grand Marshal.

Kill handled all matters related to politics and administration, while Walter was in charge of military affairs and internal audits, leaving Lucy with practically nothing to do.

Of course, she still received daily reports and discussed important matters, but the reality of this was confined to the inner palace, so outsiders had no way of knowing.

Consequently, Lucy had become a rather useless figure in Parnas, serving only a symbolic role.

Yet, for them to single her out for an invitation, bypassing more useful individuals, meant they must be up to something.

If I make a move, the person who would follow…

The one most responsible for putting me on the throne. And the one who always accompanies me on official business.

Walter.

The person they wanted to lure out was not her, but Walter Hyverge.

She had seen through Dopein's shallow ploy the moment she received the letter, without needing to think too deeply. Lucy raised a crossed arm and gently rested her chin on her hand.

“The Grand Duke of Dopein probably plans to use the founding festival as an excuse to get rid of us both. Conversely, it means that if you don't go with me, Dopein won't dare lay a hand on me.”

“…”

“Walter. What would you do if I were to come to harm?”

“I would lead the Southern Command and invade Dopein.”

Although it was the answer she had hoped for, Lucy was left speechless by his talk of war, delivered without a hint of hesitation.

Her eyes darting to hide her unease, Lucy cleared her throat with a hum and continued.

“Ahem. Well, yes. The Grand Duke of Dopein also knows that you wouldn't stand idly by if he touched me. In other words, it means I'll be safe if I go alone. And while I am away.”

Her golden eyes, which had been fixed on Walter, sparkled with a mischievous light.

“The Grand General will need to pay a visit to Antevasila.”

“Pardon? Why Antevasila…?”

Kill, who had been listening intently to Lucy's words, recalled the region she had been concerned with lately and answered in Walter's stead.

“Are you perhaps planning to have the Grand General scout the refrigerant stone mines?”

At the word “mines,” Lucy let out a light laugh.