167 – Kiss
Asteria’s living room.
I was relaxing comfortably in a rocking chair.
“There is no need to attend the birthday banquet.”
This is especially true because her relationship with the prince, the protagonist of the banquet, is the worst. If you go out and get stabbed for no reason, you will lose money.
Besides, Sylvia is already active in all areas. Her social skills at formal events are unmatched.
“I did everything I had to do.”
Everything that should have been done in this episode was accomplished.
It’s so clean that you wonder if it’s okay for it to be this smooth.
‘… Usually, things like this happen later.’
I quickly shook my head.
Let’s only think good thoughts.
Yes. Maybe I woke up smoothly because I did well?
Thanks to Asteria, being able to obtain ether was effective in targeting the assassins.
Anyway.
A wind of blood will soon blow in the imperial palace.
The bloody moment begins when the captured assassin opens his mouth after being subjected to harsh torture.
“… It might open sooner than you think.”
It is better to avoid the wind of blood.
After all the missions have been cleared, it’s not a bad idea to return early.
Of course, it is a pity not to be able to taste the delicacies and expensive alcohol that would have been prepared for the banquet…
“Why not go to Restaurant Esme one more time in Liechten?”
If you consider the taste alone, it is better than the imperial palace chefs.
Okay.
As expected, it would be better to return quickly.
As we are deeply involved in this scenario, we need to be careful.
Should I go to the banquet hall and get Sylvia out?
While I was thinking about that, I heard urgent footsteps.
“Hey, Ian!”
“What? Did the banquet end well?”
Ha-ha-
After catching her breath, Sylvia barely nodded her head.
“Nehehehe… That, more than that!”
“Wait a minute.”
I ripped off the branch that was attached to Sylvia’s bangs.
The end was so close that it seemed like it would stab Sylvia in the eye.
“Thank you…”
“It’s okay. What happened that leaves the branches and leaves like this?”
Silvia is always the cleanest.
It was clear that something was happening.
Silvia blushed for a moment before coming to her senses and opening her mouth.
“Key… Kiss!”
“Kiss?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s kiss?”
Silvia looks up at me blankly for a moment at my question.
“Is that okay? Ah… No. No! Not this!”
Sylvia flapped her hands.
In this way, she seems like Elena, full of foolish talent.
Sylvia, who showed off her foolish beauty, shook her head and opened her mouth again with her cool face.
“The Second Prince kissed Emilia Raymond.”
I now understand why Sylvia made such a fuss about her.
“… The Second Prince and Emilia.”
It is highly likely that it is a strategic relationship.
No. It will definitely be a strategic relationship.
“Are you sure you saw them kissing?”
“It’s not clear because I saw it from afar… But they were clearly holding each other’s cheeks and their shadows overlapped.”
At that level, it would be the same as if we had actually kissed.
“Oh, and.”
Sylvia followed her words.
“Before that, Hun’s servant came rushing in and whispered something to Emilia. She was suspicious, but that was even more suspicious. It seems like Hwang Jang-rang was also involved.”
“How long ago?”
“It was 30 minutes ago.”
In that case, it was after the assassination failure was confirmed.
The Prince and Emilia.
It is said that there is a possibility that those two are connected to this assassination incident.
“What was the reaction?”
“You seemed incredibly disappointed.”
“… Hmm.”
It’s definitely suspicious.
“Do you have any guess?”
I briefly explained to Sylvia the outline of the attempted assassination of the Emperor.
The series of events leading up to the failure of the emperor’s assassination and Emilia and the prince receiving the report.
The timing is perfect.
‘The question is whether it is beneficial to them.’
Let’s think about it in the simplest way.
If the emperor dies, the person with the highest probability of taking the throne is the first princess.
Looking at the ranking of her succession rights and the size of her power, she is at the forefront.
In fact, the second prince, who had all his hands and feet cut off, is now threatened by Asteria.
However, the circumstances point perfectly to him.
How should we interpret this gap?
‘… Are you saying there is another corner of belief?’
Only then does it make sense.
The Second Prince’s forces are largely divided into two.
1. The North ruled by Richard Pierce.
2. Raymond Sang and his allies.
The North was lost to Asteria.
Although the Raymond Association and its alliance are still strong, they cannot compare to the side of the first princess who united the nobles and religious orders.
That’s right.
The story is that there is another mastermind behind the second prince who can turn this political power game around at once.
Who on earth could it be?
Council of elders?
Holy Constantine?
Or Shale Bridge?
A few lists came to mind, but it was difficult to guess right away.
Once the results of the interrogation of the captured assassin come out, the pieces will come together.
Anyway.
“You worked hard.”
“Yes?”
“This is what happened when I was spying on it.”
I grinned and removed a leaf from Sylvia’s head.
“hehehe… Please tell me I wasn’t stealing, I was just following him.”
“I understand.”
I removed the leaves from the back of her head.
Sarr. Sarr.
The hair is thin and delicate, like thread woven from silk.
Every time her hair fluttered, the faint scent of flowers tickled her nose.
She opened her mouth, smelling the scent.
“I’m thinking of returning to Liechten.”
“Already? You haven’t even seen a banquet properly.”
“If I do it wrong, the sparks of the assassination incident could fall on me.”
“Hmm…. With the prince’s personality, that’s definitely possible. When should we leave?”
“Now.”
“I’ll go too.”
Silvia answered without any hesitation.
“Are you okay?”
“On the 2nd or 3rd day of the banquet, we can deepen our friendship. I don’t mind going back. In fact, this can be a bit of a push and pull.”
If Sylvia is like that, then it must be like that.
I believe in her.
“But what would you like me to do with this dress?”
Sylvia pointed at her dress, which was splattered with dirt and grass, as if she were embarrassed.
“Just a moment.”
I lightly activated the power dishwashing.
Pot—Her dress is quickly purified with a shimmering white light.
“… Ian, do you remember?”
“What?”
“When we first met. Ian, you cleaned my dress like this.”
Hmm. I think so.
We first met in the mud of an alley.
At that time, Sylvia was also in quite a bit of trouble due to the mud that had splattered on her clothes.
Sylvia spun around towards me.
“Thank you then and now.”
The dress that floated down gently falls into the night sky.
Her bright smile shone white in the moonlight.
She is still Sylvia with her pure and elegant smile.
… This is not the time to be admiring.
“Then let’s leave.”
We explained our return to Asteria, who came home just in time.
“I understand. It’s not a bad choice. The main woman can handle this much on her own.”
Although she nodded, she looked somewhat lonely… Maybe it’s my imagination.
Silvia and I took a carriage and set off.
“You can ride this!”
The imperial palace had an emergency carriage that could be ridden even at night.
It wasn’t as flashy as the one we had ridden when we arrived, but the carriage cut through the night smoothly enough.
“It’s romantic to run away from the imperial palace at night.”
“That’s right.”
Let’s chat comfortably for a moment with such foolish jokes.
— Kkei Iik.
The carriage stopped.
“Oh! Get better. I’m sorry, but I think it will be difficult for the carriage to go any further.”
The driver bowed to her and said.
We waved our hands and asked the reason.
“This is the fastest way to the customs clearance office, but once a year on the full moon, the city floods.”
Silvia and I got off the carriage and looked ahead.
Just as the coachman said, knee-high water was lapping above the stone city.
“How long will it take to go back?”
“I think it will take about 2 more hours.”
“The customs clearance office is just a little further from here, right?”
“Yes, just walk along this main street. It’s about 15 minutes away.”
“Then this is enough. Coachman, please go home now.”
We sent the coachman away and walked across the bridge.
There is no great difficulty in walking at this level.
From Noble mtl dot com
Transparent water lapping on the road.
The full moon shining above.
It is truly a unique experience.
—Talk
When I put my toe in, the water seemed a little cold.
“… Are they students?”
I heard a voice.
An old man was sitting on a wooden table.
“I have a cold.”
“Thank you for your concern, but it’s okay, old man.”
“Cluck. He’s a well-mannered guy.”
The old man quietly looked up at me.
A deep gaze of wisdom that seems to see through something.
The old man’s eyes fell on my chest and then fell away.
“If it’s that badge… It looks like it’s coming from the imperial palace.”
“That’s right, old man.”
“Cluck cluck.”
The old man who laughed like that lightly waved his cane.
Then, a small ferry boat floated in front of us.
… Was he a wizard?
“Ride comfortably.”
“Thank you, old man. But how should I return it…?”
“Look over there.”
The old man’s cane pointed forward.
A long stone road extending ahead.
The full moon rose over the road with lapping water, softly illuminating the road.
“Isn’t it truly a magical night?”
After saying those words, the old man closed his eyes as if he was going to sleep.
Silvia and I made eye contact and got on the ferry.
It is a narrow ferry.
Our legs are touching as we sit facing each other.
We even touch each other’s breath.
“Anyway, how does this thing move… Wow!”
— Rumbling.
The ferryboat slowly moved through the water on its own.
That’s why I look down.
There is Sylvia in my arms.
Those purple eyes that look up at me with eyes full of tears contain the night sky.
It is a big full moon.
Lotus lanterns were blooming all around.
Sometimes the mood changes for no reason.
Sometimes the other person looks beautiful just because the scenery is nice.
“I. It hurts.”
“Huh?”
“The cure is Ian.”
There was no need to ask anything.
Silvia’s lips overlapped.
The faint scent of moonlight came from her lips.
Wow… even Sylvia has taken her first step