Mess 193

193.

In just the past month, one noble family had already been wiped out, and now another stood on the brink of extinction.

From the Imperial perspective, the continuing tremors within the aristocracy could not be overlooked.

Thus, more time was needed before striking at the families involved. The Emperor was waiting for the perfect moment to utterly destroy the Crown Prince and seize his place.

‘That moment is not mine to create.’

That, at least, was not Seraphie’s role.

---

“Ugh…”

X lay sprawled across his desk, groaning in his office.

It had already been three days since the Council of Elders resumed and the Earl of Typhaeon was arrested.

During those three days, the world was, unsurprisingly, in an uproar. After what happened to the Vagrosa family, another noble’s crimes had now been revealed.

Yet, oddly, things around X were eerily quiet.

The Imperial family, which had made a show of publicly arresting the Earl of Typhaeon, now maintained its silence. The other nobles present at the scene merely watched events unfold, choosing their next actions with caution.

Some waited to strike; others, to defend.

The biggest blow, without question, had fallen upon the Crown Prince.

X had not seen a single strand of the Crown Prince’s hair in three days.

Since returning from the Council, he had gone into hiding. No one knew what was happening within.

After the incident in which the Crown Prince killed a maid, the Emperor had restricted access entirely to protect the palace staff working there.

Even the servants now avoided speaking of the Crown Prince; his very presence had changed beyond recognition.

Where once he was revered and admired, now he was becoming something to be avoided.

Whispers questioning his very competence had even begun to circulate.

“Sigh…”

Yet, for X, this wasn’t all welcome news.

‘It’s overwhelming.’

He had spent his entire life drifting as an idler simply to survive, and now, suddenly being asked to demonstrate competence felt like torture.

‘Did I ever really have any ability, anyway?’

He had spent all his years shuffling about as an idle nobleman, turning his back on the world; that was his age, in years.

Now, forced to show his skill in opposition to the Crown Prince, he found himself desperately attempting feats for which he’d never prepared or practiced.

And he wasn’t even in a position to complain.

Everyone around him was now moving all the more desperately for his sake.

Seraphie and Duke Pellichia opposed the Crown Prince on the frontlines, gradually severing his limbs and means.

His parents, the Emperor and Empress, needed no mention; determined to cast away with tears of blood another of their children, who had killed their own. X could not begin to fathom such resolve.

‘Even Pura succeeded three days ago.’

The one who played the largest role in cornering the Earl of Typhaeon was Pura, the Glake the world had scorned as a barbarian.

‘But me…’

All I do is push paper and think in the comfort of my study; I’ve accomplished nothing with my own hands, and it was stifling.

“……”

At last, X rose from his seat.

He aimlessly wandered the garden to clear his head, but it did little to ease his muddled thoughts.

“How to prevent nighttime traffic accidents…”

He had offered his opinion at the reconvened Council of Elders, which so offended the Crown Prince that he had the proposal withdrawn.

The Council chairman, Marquess Castane, reported this to the Emperor, who then gave X the task of developing a new policy.

“How should I know…!”

Aaaah!

He cried out suddenly in frustration, collapsing onto the ground.

But that did nothing to bring inspiration.

With his eyes tightly shut, X even considered, with some seriousness, riding out to the accident-prone site himself.

“……”

Through his shut eyelids, a sliver of light made him squint and glance aside.

“Oh, the street lamp…”

A bright street lamp illuminated the garden.

“……”

As X stared blankly at it, his eyes grew wide.

“Huh? Wait, wait a minute?”

Suddenly, he sprang to his feet and rushed over to the street lamp.

Standing directly below it, he tried to look up but immediately shut his eyes. The light was so bright it almost stung.

Then he returned to where he had begun, fixing his gaze on the lamp. From there, it did not dazzle.

“The only difference is…”

X pointed at a tree beside the street lamp.

Its long branches and thick leaves absorbed the bright light, softening the glare on the other side.

X moved again beneath the lamp and looked for a spot shielded by the leaves.

The leaves served as a filter for the glare rather than reflecting it.

He picked up a fallen leaf under the tree. Its rough surface was coarse and matte.

X returned to the palace.

He still wasn’t certain he would succeed.

But as he seated himself at his desk, gripping his pen and poring over materials with earnest concentration, there was a faint glimmer of confidence on his face.

---

News that the Earl of Typhaeon had run an illegal factory in his domain, where he used kidnapped victims as slaves, shook the Empire once more.

People, outraged by the continuous revelations of noblemen’s crimes, demanded thorough investigations and stern punishments.

For all their stiff-necked claims to rights and status, how could these nobles be guilty only of such heinous crimes?

The Imperial Family took the crisis seriously.

If mishandled, the fury directed at the nobility could well turn on the throne itself. Thus, the Emperor enacted strong measures.

“As a parent who rules the Empire, these events are unbearably grievous and painful.”

The Emperor spoke out personally, setting an example.

He canceled the annual autumn ball and declared that the funds allocated for the festivities would instead be donated to charity.

For orphanages, almshouses, and other welfare institutions, it was a blessing as precious as rain during drought.

Yet, among the Emperor’s list of beneficiaries was one foundation that did not yet exist.

The address: 66-6 Parsar Street.

The once snow-white mansion in the northern capital, once called “Paradise” and infamous for exposing the temple’s dark side, had been purchased by an aristocrat and was now being thoroughly refurbished.

The noble founding the foundation said this:

“I know what this country needs. I’ve been through it myself.”

After casting out her biological father, she revealed to the world the mission she had carried in her heart ever since.

“I will begin with myself.”

Countess Seraphie Validus declared she would confront the pain of rejection head-on.

Thus was born the Validus Foundation.

Of all Validus’s ventures, it was the first conducted entirely with personal capital, without outside investors.

It was a charitable project, where she willingly bore the loss for the sake of public welfare.

As always, the Validus household bustled endlessly with activity.

“Bring over the list of orphanages we’ll be working with!”

“That place has suspicious financial records; we need to audit it again!”

“Sera! Please approve the uniforms for the foundation staff!”

“Madam! Please confirm the furnishings for the property at 66-6 Parsar Street!”

“Here’s the list of new hires from the merchant guild—they’re ready for training as soon as you approve!”

“There’s a message from the Kea estate! Two trading vessels are due soon—payment processing approval needed…!”

“The Imperial Palace just called; they’re sending an inspector for the foundation’s books, and need a visit scheduled…”

With just over a month remaining until the foundation’s official launch, the Validus household was busier than ever.

Add to this the reestablishment of the Iris Knight Order, and they were often up working until dawn.

“…Ah.”

At last—

“……”

Seraphie’s nose began to drip blood.

“Oh no, the documents! Don’t let it drip on the documents!”

Luni, helping despite her own dark-ringed eyes, quickly cupped her hand to catch the falling blood.

Seeing this, Orkis and Carl decided things could not go on and carried the two women off to bed, forcing them to sleep.

Not that much force was needed—they collapsed into sleep the moment they lay down.

In the end, for the sake of the two busy women’s health, the two men spent days at their sides, pressing food on them, coaxing them to rest, and making them sleep whether they liked it or not.

“At this rate, I’m going to die…”

Ugh.

Having held out as long as she could, Luni was first to give in.

“What’s the point of getting things done if we end up too sick to enjoy it? We’re going to collapse before anything’s finished…”

“……”

Seraphie felt the same, but hadn’t the strength even to agree, letting out only a feeble groan.

“Just hang in a little longer,”

Seraphie managed at last.

“Help is on its way…”

“When are they getting here, exactly?”

With trembling, exhausted hands, Seraphie started bending her fingers, trying to guess the date of arrival.

“Any day now…”

“Madam!”

Just then—

The butler entered, eyes bright.

“They’ve arrived.”

The moment he spoke, Seraphie tried to rise with a bright smile.

“Waaah!”

But Luni sprang out of bed before her and dashed to the front entrance.

Left alone, Seraphie stared wide-eyed at the butler, who smiled awkwardly.

“Shall we go?”

When she stepped outside, she saw the Matron of Validus and the Viscountess of Kea just alighting from their carriage.

Beside them stood Sir Raven Dula, his hand tightly grasping the Matron’s.

“My lady! Matron!”

Luni embraced them both as if reuniting with family long separated.

“What took you so long? Start helping, quick!”

“You little rascal.”

Just here to work me to death, are you?

The Viscountess lightly rapped Luni on the shin with her cane, feigning annoyance, but the playful smile creased her wrinkled lips.

“Sera.”

The Matron of Validus smiled radiantly at Seraphie standing in the doorway.

It was hard to believe she was the same person who, a year ago, had not taken a step outside her room.

“Mother!”

Seraphie hugged her mother tight as she returned.

Now, to the Matron of Validus, this house was not a place to fear.