Chapter 22

The eight princes and princesses each resided in a different detached palace.

Only those who had not yet reached adulthood shared a palace with their mothers.

The Fourth Prince Nebulo, who was nineteen, had lived in the same palace as his mother, the Sixth Imperial Consort, until two years ago.

Nebulo’s mother was the youngest daughter of the head of the Etier Trading Company.

Thus, the head of the trading company was Nebulo’s maternal grandfather.

It was unknown if there was anything that could be called family love between them.

However, it was clear that their relationship was not bad.

Nebulo’s detached palace was overflowing with rare items received from the Etier Trading Company.

‘Still as extravagant as ever.’

From the doormat in the entrance to the ornaments in the hallway, and even the glass fitted into the windows, there was nothing that wasn’t a masterpiece.

The handiwork of imperial craftsmen and renowned artists from the West could be found everywhere.

This way.

The handmaiden quietly guided me and I followed.

The reception room was on the second floor.

The stairs were polished so well that I almost slipped.

It was excessively splendid and pathologically neat.

It must be the fat Nebulo’s taste.

Despite his appearance.

“Brother Nebulo.”

“-Heh, welcome, Zionis.”

Nebulo greeted him from an armchair.

His hands were covered in powder, as if he had already been eating cookies.

The handmaiden quietly withdrew and I showed a bright smile.

Nebulo gestured for him to sit and asked.

“You came alone? Where did you leave the imperiall guard I met at the acrobat troupe?”

“I told him to rest.”

Oho.

Nebulo looked slightly surprised.

It was during the Succession War.

And yet he had come to this detached palace unarmed.

It was impossible to know if he trusted him, or if he was confident that he couldn’t be harmed.

“I received the Erta cookies. Though I didn’t expect a different handmaiden to bring them.”

“Hmm? Ah… the one who fell at the acrobat troupe? Are you interested in her?”

“She was somewhat memorable.”

Her name was Hes, with green eyes.

I remembered that small handmaiden.

My eyes sank deep.

Nebulo continued as if it were no big deal.

“Have you tried the cookies?”

“I came straight here, so I haven’t had a chance to taste them.”

“That’s true.”

“I should go back and try them soon.”

I conveyed my intention to return quickly in a roundabout way.

Nebulo showed no reaction.

Was he dense, or was he playing dumb?

Since I couldn’t be sure yet, I prodded him once more.

“Anyway, what’s the matter?”

“I told you. There’s a very good tea, but it spoils quickly.”

“May I ask the name of the tea?”

“…Laphosi tea, from the Schmeizen mountains.”

“That is a very good tea.”

I lifted the teacup placed before me.

A very pleasant aroma rose from the clear, red liquid.

“But it doesn’t seem like it would spoil quickly.”

“……”

Nebulo was at a loss for words.

If it was Laphosi tea from Schmeizen, it was certainly a delicacy among delicacies.

However, it was not the type that used fresh leaves.

In the first place, how could a tea that spoiled quickly cross the great mountain range?

“No, it could spoil quickly. The weather has been so hot lately……”

“It’s autumn, though?”

“No, that’s not it, well, um……”

He came up with a few excuses to hide his lie, but they were all incoherent.

The fat Nebulo let out a groan,hmph and stealthily averted his gaze.

“It’s alright, brother. You called me because you wanted to have a secret conversation, right? You can be honest with me.”

“…You, you’re quick-witted!”

I won’t be able to call you sluggard Zionis anymore.

Nebulo made a surprised face and then immediately began to pour out his words.

Things like the head handmaiden had written the letter and he didn’t like it from the start, that lately it had been nothing but annoying things, and that he was grateful I understood his intentions.

As expected, it wasn’t worth listening to, so I roughly let it flow and just nodded my head.

“Yes, to be honest… I need your help, Zionis.”

“I don’t have that kind of ability. Didn’t you once tell me not to acknowledge you?”

I feigned modesty and shrugged my shoulders.

Nebulo quickly waved his hand.

“No, no! If you help, it will definitely be a help!”

“What is it that you’re so worked up about?”

“W-well, it’s that……”

The fat Nebulo bit his lip.

It seemed difficult for him to bring it up.

I wanted to end the conversation quickly and go back.

Therefore, I extended a hand to make it easier for him to speak.

Nebulo gained courage and opened his mouth.

“…Yesterday, I ran into brother Ferbias while passing the banquet hall.”

“Oh dear.”

“He pretended not to be, but he was very, very angry.”

I could guess why he was angry.

He must have heard the news that Leniar’s faction had taken another Treasure a few days ago.

Then Secundus would have two, Leniar two, but Ferbias still only one, the same number as me.

Despite being the First Prince, he was falling behind, so his pride wouldn’t be able to bear it.

“I-I heard the news too, so I greeted him as politely as possible. But……”

“It seems his mood wasn’t very friendly.”

“…Uh, yes. You’re really quick-witted……”

Nebulo hung his head.

“I thought if I just stayed quiet, I would be left alone, but I don’t think that will be the case……”

Ferbias Caseptus was an arrogant man.

Meaning he was the type to divide people into three categories.

‘Those who are useful’, ‘enemies’ and ‘trash’.

Needless to say how the fat Nebulo appeared in Ferbias’s eyes.

And his pathological personality would not tolerate trash.

“…If brother Ferbias becomes emperor, I-I won’t be safe either……”

“Our eldest brother has a personality that doesn’t leave even the smallest anxiety alone.”

“That’s right……”

It had been the same before the regression.

When Ferbias Caseptus became the fiftieth emperor, a major purge took place.

Few actually shed blood, but instead, many were forced to leave the capital, Lutilium, as if they were being chased out.

The fat Nebulo was one of them.

“S-so, Zionis… couldn’t you put in a word for me with brother Secundus……?”

“It’s too late, brother.”

More than half of the Treasures had been discovered.

The Succession War was already past its midpoint.

At a time like this, there was no way he would be pleased to hear someone wanted to join his faction.

To hide for self-preservation during the most intense period and now that victory seemed possible, to ask to be made an ally.

Even if Secundus was a good person, there was no way he would hear it pleasantly.

“I know, I know, but just tell him. Huh? Please, I’m begging you!”

“……”

I did not answer.

I didn’t feel the need to.

The fat Nebulo was an ill-fated connection from before my regression.

I couldn’t know what would happen in the future either.

As if sensing my cold gaze, Nebulo hastily continued.

“I-I’m not asking you to do it right away! Heh, of course, it would be nice if you told him soon, but you can tell him whenever you’re comfortable.”

“……”

“That’s right, that’s right! My detached palace has many rare items, you know? How about you take a look around and think about it slowly? I’ll give you anything you like as a gift!”

I ran a hand through my hair and let out a deep sigh.

With him clinging on like this, I had no reason to refuse.

Since Secundus wouldn’t accept him anyway, there was no reason I couldn’t say a word or two.

“Hmm.”

In fact, there was a part of it that was tempting.

‘I did need to get a few things. I should be able to find most of them here.’

Nebulo’s detached palace was filled with all sorts of items collected by the Etier Trading Company.

There would surely be things that would be helpful to me.

I soon nodded my head.

“It would be better not to get your hopes up.”

“Does that mean you’ll do it? Hey, is anyone out there?”

Yes, Your Highness.

The handmaiden who had guided me entered and bowed her head.

Nebulo placed a hand on the handmaiden’s shoulder and opened his mouth.

“Show Zionis around my detached palace. You can show him everything except the basement. Let him take whatever he wants……. as long as it’s not too precious.”

The handmaiden continued to nod her head, saying, yes, yes, Your Highness.

Nebulo seemed to be in a hurry.

I realized he was wearing his outdoor clothes.

“Aren’t you coming with us, brother?”

“Ah. I have something to do. I heard Aconeus is in the capital.”

“…Aconeus, the singer?”

“Yes. You know him too, right?”

“……”

I was at a loss for words.

How could he be so dense!

He had just made an earnest request and now he was going to see a singer?

It was almost unbelievable.

But Nebulo didn’t even notice and chattered on.

“I’m going, so treat Zionis with the utmost hospitality!”

***

‘Nebulo is out, and I’m looking around the detached palace with a handmaiden.’

The handmaiden led the way.

She pointed to the artworks in the hallway and explained who the artist was, how it got here, and so on.

I wasn’t very interested, so I let it go in one ear and out the other.

It didn’t seem like the handmaiden was expecting fervent interest either.

‘No, well, it’s a good thing. I’m just dumbfounded that it’s going so well.’

I never thought he could be that dense, though.

I muttered softly.

That Nebulo brat, no matter how much I thought about it, it was absurd.

And he was nineteen years old.

‘When the time is right, I should slip away from the handmaiden and check things out at my leisure.’

Turning the corner of the hallway and opening the third door revealed a small storage room.

It was full of items like knight’s armor and swords.

Yet it didn’t give a cluttered impression.

There wasn’t a speck of dust, and it seemed to be meticulously managed.

“This armor is a product of the Silver Dragon Magic Kingdom. It was specially made for the Pane Knight Order, which is composed only of women……”

‘As expected, there are a lot of good items.’

It couldn’t compare to the treasury of the Cordis Imperial Palace, but there were many items of considerable value.

When I opened a leather pouch, it was full of gold coins.

I placed my hand on it.

A few gold coins disappeared, and the handmaiden didn’t notice.

‘Valziart is really convenient.’

The black shadow rippled and swallowed the gold coins.

The main body of Mana Armor Valziart was in another space.

A part of it could be used like a subspace.

It was about the size of a human head, but it was useful enough.

‘Hmm. A substitute doll, and a miniaturized model at that. I should take a few.’

I put the small doll inside Valziart.

When the seal was released, a model made of the same components as the human body would appear.

It was a magical item used to fake death or for similar purposes.

There was no harm in taking it.

I packed a few more items like that.

If I told the handmaiden, she would have just given them to me, but I didn’t want to be indebted to Nebulo.

They weren’t very valuable items in the first place, and Nebulo would never even notice.

“Well then, I shall guide you to the next room.”

As we walked, something at the end of the hallway caught my eye.

A heavily closed iron door, with several locks on it.

The ancient Hotus words written here and there showed that the magical security was also thorough.

Judging by the location, there must have been stairs leading down.

I pointed at the iron door.

“What about that way?”

“Pardon? Ah……”

The handmaiden let out a gasp.

It was almost a groan.

Her fingertips were trembling slightly.

I was reminded of Hes, who had trembled so much on the day we went to the acrobat troupe.

But the handmaiden hastily hid her trembling.

“My apologies, but he said not to let anyone into the basement……”

“Is that so? There must be something really precious there, right?”

The handmaiden seemed to wish I would drop the subject.

So I did.

At least, I pretended to.

Soon, what I felt from the handmaiden was a clear sense of relief.

I pretended not to notice that either.

“Where to next?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s right next door.”

This time, it was a storage room for artworks.

The handmaiden explained, and I pretended to listen.

I found a small magic projector.

It was an item that used mana crystals as a power source.

I had a good idea and took out the mana crystal and hid it.

Then I spoke nonchalantly.

“Is this a magic projector?”

“Ah, yes. It’s an item that allows you to enjoy the night sky even indoors. If you press here, like this… oh.”

The handmaiden tilted her head.

Since I had removed the mana crystal, its power source, there was no way it would work.

She soon discovered that and bowed her head.

“…The mana crystal isn’t inserted. It’s my responsibility to manage it, my sincerest apologies.”

“There’s no need to be sorry. So if I just insert a mana crystal, will it work?”

“Yes. Shall I go find one from another room?”

“Would you do that for me?”

I smiled kindly.

Because of my delicate features, I looked several times kinder.

The handmaiden never thought that I had taken out the mana crystal and hidden it.

She just marveled at what a kind prince he was and left the storage room.

“I’ll bring it right away.”

The handmaiden left the room.

‘Now. The surveillance is gone too……’

The door closed with a click and I twisted the corner of my mouth.

I roughly shoved the mana crystal I had hidden into a corner.

I was alone in this storage room.

I didn’t feel any traces of surveillance magic.

‘If they won’t let me into the basement, I can just peek. A small hole is enough.’

A shadow awl extended from my foot.

It easily pierced the floorboards.

The floor was unusually thick.

Even for Valziart, it would have been difficult to make a large hole.

But the size didn’t matter.

The shadow soon reached the underground space.

I carefully poured my consciousness into the shadow.

My brow throbbed.

This shadow was a part of my body.

A mana armor that could change into anything.

Depending on how it was used, it could do anything.

Sen Sorti had certainly said so.

‘That’s right……’

The shadow connected to the basement, I refined its tip and made it round.

This was an eyeball.

It was connected to my eye and showed me what was beyond the wall.

The physical principles didn’t matter.

This shadow was from another dimension, from the realm of will.

‘I see it.’

The shadow eyeball reflected.

The hidden basement of Nebulo’s detached palace.

‘…….’

The basement was dark.

But this eyeball was made of shadow.

It easily pierced the darkness and showed me what was there.

‘I see……’

And so I saw.

I soon swallowed a groan.

‘…Yes, Nebulo, I see.’

I withdrew the shadow with a hardened face.

It was a short time, but I had seen enough.

I heard footsteps.

I once again put on an innocent face and fiddled with the magic projector.

Soon, the door burst open.

“I’ve brought the mana crystal, Your Highness!”

“Thank you.”

The handmaiden excitedly activated the magic projector.

The night sky spread across the wall.

I also laughed cheerfully.

I looked at a few more artworks, and it was a very enjoyable time.

“There was a lot to see. I should be going now.”

“It was an honor to serve you, Your Highness Zionis.”

“The honor was mine.”

I waved my hand.

But the handmaiden bowed her head deeply.

“Tell brother Nebulo that I will keep my promise.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please take care.”

I turned my departing steps and looked back at Nebulo’s detached palace.

It was still an extravagant place.

I gave a bitter smile.

‘…I found out everything I wanted to know in this detached palace.’

It was a question I had wanted to resolve as soon as I saw Nebulo after my regression.

The question was answered by peeking into the basement.

That’s why I smiled bitterly.

The substitute dolls and gold coins I had secretly taken were not important.

‘I know everything now, Nebulo.’

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