664 – 8. Testament (38)
The intensive care unit of the temple has become a small meeting place.
The hospital room where the princess was hospitalized was spacious and cozy. She was treated according to her status, thanks to which there was a table large enough for four people to sit across from each other.
There were a total of four attendees at the meeting that began.
Dalton Alpenhauser, who sat across from me, was first. He was fiddling with his white bowler hat, and it was hard to read the eyes hidden by the brim of the hat.
Even if he had taken off his bowler hat, it would have been the same. Dalton’s pupils were uniquely pale in color among Alpenhausers, and at first glance, he looked like a blind man.
Beside him was Siene-senpai. Gazes that have lost their way, cold sweats, trembling eyelashes. It was a look of nervousness for anyone to see.
Because of the burns, he always covers half of his face with a bandage, but he can’t hide his pale complexion.
Anyway, it seemed that Dalton’s visit was an unexpected situation even for Siene-senpai. Hey, didn’t Dalton’s first greeting include the content of rebuking Siene?
In other words, should I say ‘dismissal’?
It meant that Siene-senpai’s position in the family was in danger due to successive failures. And in high-ranking aristocratic society, this was tantamount to a death sentence.
It wouldn’t be strange if you were so impatient.
On the other hand, the princess and I were just sitting there with somewhat confused faces. It didn’t matter if the princess lay on her bed, but since there was no problem with her movement, she sat next to me for now.
Squeeze.
As Dalton tilted the teapot, the fragrant aroma of tea spread out. It was a luxury product with a cool yet subtle reverberation, something Dalton had prepared.
“A lot of high quality tea leaves grow in the western highlands. This thing grows only near Cheongeomsan (天劍山) and is called ‘Cheongeomhyang’.”
“Cheongeomsan? You mean the home of the sword circle?”
For now, I’m continuing the conversation, but my voice has no choice but to be gruff.
In other words, the opponent was Celine’s enemy. It was impossible for me to look favorably on him.
I’m just holding back for public relations.
Although he must have known that I was uncomfortable like this, Dalton’s tone was calm. He was a man who couldn’t even see the slightest gap.
“Yes, it is. As you know, Heavenly Sword Mountain is the home of the Sword Circle and the sacred place of all swordsmen… Of course, you can’t go inside, and you have no choice but to pick the tea leaves that grow naturally in the neighborhood from time to time.”
That’s it.
Dalton did not add further explanation. Just like the reverberation of tea leaves, I just let it naturally remind me of the words that would follow.
‘That’s why it’s expensive.’
Perhaps he meant to say that. I snorted and sipped the tea water. It was very hot, but not enough to be afraid of the high expert body.
The scent was definitely good. Come to think of it, how is Seria doing?
After leaving for Heaven’s Sword Mountain, you must have entered the Sword Circle, right? The melancholy of loss spreads along with the tea flowing down the esophagus.
It was the princess who spoke on behalf of me who was lost in reminiscence.
“Then, can we talk to the police about the issue of artifacts in the future?”
“It is as you say, Your Highness. Although I am insecure, please allow me to assist.”
The princess’ attitude as she knocked on the teacup with her eyes slightly averted was cold. As if the appearance she had been messing around with until just now was a fake.
The gray eyes filled with displeasure turned to Dalton.
“Sir Dalton Alpenhauser, have you not heard beforehand? Who is Iris’ sister’s substitute?”
“Of course I read it. None other than Her Highness Shien, who is called the hidden flower of the Imperial Palace…….”
“But I didn’t even know about the coming visit. Is it because of my incompetence?”
It was a word with bones.
At the cold tone that Xien spouted, Dalton took off his hat and bowed his head without hesitation. It was a sign of a fairly high level for an apology that could be expressed as an aristocrat.
“Please take away your blasphemous words, Your Highness. How could you doubt the ability of Your Highness, who is famous for his intelligence? It’s just that this ugly Alpenhauser made a mistake.”
“A ‘mistake’… ….”
Tok, talk.
A vague emotion was felt in the voice of the princess as she knocked on the teacup with a displeased expression on her face. It was by no means a positive sign.
Dalton was eloquent without even looking up her head.
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“The replacement of the person in charge of Alpenhauser is an issue that has been communicated with Her Highness Iris beforehand. However, in such a rapidly changing situation, we are unable to convey our intentions…….”
“Sir Dalton Alpenhauser.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
However, Dalton’s explanation did not last long. Because of Sien’s name, Dalton had no choice but to go deeper.
“Is this something I need to know? No matter how much I listen to it, it sounds like a story that can be summarized in two words, ‘mistake’.”
“You are right. Sorry.”
“This is the second mistake already.”
It was a truly breathtaking question and answer. It would feel like a burden if the boss he had to serve in the future came out like this, but Dalton’s body didn’t even have a common trembling.
Are you really human?
But Shien was not Princess Iris. No matter how imperial she was, she couldn’t deal with one of her first and her sister’s henchmen. Moreover, if she is acting as her sister’s agent.
It was impossible to add Shien’s words to the matter agreed upon with Princess Iris.
“Please, I hope to see the third in the far future.”
“I will do my best not to disappoint you, Your Highness.”
Hmm, Dalton immediately expressed his gratitude after hearing Cien’s cold-hearted permission. Despite the hard-earned recognition, Dalton’s face was expressionless when he raised his head again.
I’ve seen a few people who seem to have no emotions. ‘I’ from the future was like that, and Celine, whom I met a while ago, was like that. However, Dalton feels something different from the two.
Should I say that it is like a human born without emotions from the beginning?
If the former two gave the impression of being absent and lacking what they should have, the latter seemed very natural. It was more like a machine in the shape of a human than a human.
A bad person.
I mixed up my preconceived notions and first impressions to organize my impressions. However, even though the consultation between the princess and Dalton ended, not all problems were settled.
My eyes sneakily turned to senior Siene, who was sitting next to Dalton. A woman with a pale face, looking down at her and trembling.
“Then, what about Shiene-senpai?”
“…… ?”
Dalton’s puzzled gaze turned to me. Surprisingly, Shiene-senpai was the same.
Why are you doing this, I added annoyedly because I wasn’t in a good mood.
“Senior Siene, what role are you talking about? Will she ever return to her family? Then what about Luna-senpai?”
“Hmm.”
Even Dalton’s salivation sounded dry. He slightly narrowed his eyes and looked at me attentively, before finally conveying his apology with a wink.
“Sorry, Ian. However, please understand that it took time to think about it because it was an unexpected problem… Since you said that, I will leave it at the academy for now.”
‘Do you say that?’
If I hadn’t asked, what the hell were you trying to do? It was an attitude that showed no kinship with my nephew.
It was an extremely high-noble attitude. Even when I clicked my tongue and looked up, Siene-senpai was looking at me with her eyes wide open.
Of course, it wasn’t my business.
As I fell silent again, Dalton raised his warm voice again.
“Then I understand that the issue of my dispatch has been discussed. From now on, as the representative of the empire, please take good care of me…….”
“No.”
I didn’t even bring up the story that I had to tell.
I banged on the desk and let out a growl. The threat of a swordsman who had reached high expert was not light, so it goes without saying that immediately after that, the eyes of the audience were focused on me.
My voice tinged with subtle anger.
“I don’t understand.”
“Is it because of my nephew? Regarding that, I will try to match Ian’s wishes as much as possible…….”
“Not that!”
I knocked on the table again with a bang, and my voice got even rougher.
“Sir Dalton Alpenhauser… Are you free from responsibility in this situation?”
Hmm.
Dalton kept his mouth shut as if he had thought of listening seriously only then. Facing his inorganic gaze, I asked.
“Don’t you know the Hastur family’s gold mine and the tragedy involved?”
And static.
I hope that Siene-senpai, the princess, and even Dalton won’t open their mouths.
Dalton, who had closed his eyes while fiddling with his teacup, slowly opened his eyes.
“If I did, what would you do?”
With an incomprehensible smile.
I don’t remember anything after that. Just, I heard a ‘cudangtang’ noise.
It was after I got up from my seat before I knew it.