Mess 159
by Cristae159.
The crown prince was never known for his kind temperament. There was always a chill in the air around him, a harsh, cold presence—but until recently, he had never abused those beneath him.
But now, he was changing.
“I heard he punished a servant just because a drop of water splashed from the washing basin, and he overturned an entire meal because the sauce wasn’t the same as yesterday’s.”
“…”
“…”
Everyone’s faces turned ashen.
“Th-then, why did that maid die?”
“I’m not certain but…”
After much hesitation, the maid finally spoke.
“They say the maid had blue hair.”
“Huh? What kind of reason is that…?”
“Gasp!”
Someone, mid-conversation, suddenly gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth, horrified.
Her face was so blanched with shock that it was almost pitiable.
“Va… Validus?”
The name, forced out in a trembling voice, sent a wave of alarm through the group.
“Because she looked like Count Validus?”
“No, his hair’s sky blue, isn’t it?”
“So she was killed just because it was similar?”
“But why? Does the crown prince have that bad a relationship with Count Validus?”
“On the contrary, hasn’t the count been a tremendous help to the imperial family!”
Count Validus had discovered lands forsaken by the gods and regularly presented treasures secured from there to the throne. Moreover, he was known for his devotion to the emperor and prided himself as a model of imperial loyalty.
“…My God.”
Someone shuddered in fear.
“Could it be…?”
But no one dared voice what followed.
“What are you all doing standing around!”
The chief attendant in charge of the banquet preparations barked at them.
The palace workers hurried off to their tasks in a clamor, but their faces were still gripped with shock and dread. And each one silently repeated the question they couldn’t bring themselves to utter aloud.
Does the crown prince harbor resentment toward the emperor?
Is that why he looks with such disdain on Count Validus, his most loyal supporter?
Those doubts settled like weights in their chests.
But suspicions, once born, and the unease that came with them, rarely disappeared so easily.
“You’re here.”
The emperor greeted Duke Felikia—who had come to his study—without so much as glancing up.
“I greet the great Emperor of the Empire.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
Waving a hand dismissively, the emperor, buried in paperwork, gestured for the duke to sit and present what he’d brought.
Settling into a chair, the duke clicked his tongue at the sight of the mountain of documents on the emperor’s desk.
The emperor had always been busy, but to see him this preoccupied before a grand event like the banquet evoked nothing but sympathy.
The duke hadn’t waited long when—
“Haah.”
With a weary sigh, the emperor finally rose from his desk.
“At this rate, these will be the death of me.”
“You seem to be growing more and more dramatic with every day.”
“Impudent subject, you are…”
The emperor shot the duke a wry glare and then gave a curt nod, as if to say, “Let’s get on with it.”
“Give your report.”
“I’ve brought the progress report on the implementation of the Poor Relief Act.”
A rather hefty stack of papers was set on the table. As the emperor leafed through them, the duke summarized the key points.
“The trial run within the capital has had excellent results.”
Contrary to Seraphy’s expectation that it would take a long time to see results, the Poor Relief Act had already yielded notable successes, and faster than anticipated.
“We’ve identified the poor, apprehended several wanted criminals, and even managed to reunite some lost families.”
“That was in a previous report.”
“Among the registered poor, those fit for labor have been provided jobs. As a result, next month’s tax revenue is expected to show a significant increase.”
“Hm, is that so?”
Sure enough, exactly that was written in the report.
The emperor smiled in satisfaction.
“However, there are clear points needing revision and improvement.”
“Forced labor is one issue, but there’s also the matter of schooling for impoverished children.”
“Many of the children have trouble adjusting. Some have even dropped out as a result…”
Their discussion continued in this vein.
Not just the Poor Relief Act, but also the schedule for the upcoming council of elders, its agenda, and much else.
There was even mention of an artist causing a stir in society.
“That painter of darkness is a protégé of Count Validus, isn’t he?”
“He is a personal favorite of mine—an outstanding talent.”
“I hear the subject matter of his works is nothing if not biting.”
“That, I would argue, is the essence of art itself.”
“You always have something to say…”
The emperor let out a feigned sigh and managed a half-hearted smile.
“At this point, it’s almost irritating. There’s nothing Count Validus gets involved with that doesn’t turn into a sensation.”
“The brilliant count is dating my son, after all.”
The duke’s face shone with pride. The emperor, finding his slick satisfaction insufferable, clicked his tongue in mock annoyance.
He felt an urge to silence that smile with the nearest stack of reports.
“…I’m jealous.”
In the end, he let slip his true feelings.
“If only it weren’t your son, I’d have made him my daughter-in-law.”
“I’m afraid we don’t have a say in such matters, Your Majesty.”
“That much is true.”
Talking among themselves, without the person in question present, was ultimately meaningless.
“He’s not someone who should be confined to the palace.”
The emperor knew Seraphy’s talents well. Validus was a trusted and capable subject who should make his mark beyond the palace walls.
“Keeping someone tethered is trouble enough with my own husband.”
“My, how romantic.”
They were wrapping up their conversation when—
“Your Majesty.”
A maid announced herself from outside.
“The crown prince and Prince Ex have arrived.”
“Show them in.”
Soon after, the crown prince and Ex entered side by side.
“I greet the crown prince and the prince.”
Duke Felikia rose and gave a proper bow.
“Oh! The duke is here as well?” Ex greeted him warmly. The duke replied with a simple yes.
“In fact, both my brother and I came to report on our assigned duties. We just bumped into each other in the corridor a moment ago.”
“If so, perhaps reporting to His Majesty should have taken precedence over banter with the duke.”
At the crown prince’s cool remark, Ex gave a sheepish laugh.
The two brothers then took turns reporting to the emperor—the crown prince on his current roadworks project, Ex on the development of new materials in the Validus domain.
“Good work, both of you.”
The emperor listened silently, then asked,
“As you mentioned, the rate of carriage accidents is especially high at night. Have you taken measures to address this?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Then present it as a proposal at the council.”
The crown prince nodded wordlessly.
“Well done, Ex.”
“No, Mother…”
Ex, awkward at the praise, scratched the back of his neck.
“It wasn’t my doing. I just got lucky…”
“Estir.”
The crown prince narrowed his eyes.
“This is an official setting. Don’t speak as if you were a child.”
“Yes, brother. I mean—Your Highness.”
When both had finished, they each bowed to the emperor and left.
“I’ll take my leave as well.”
The duke followed suit.
“Duke!”
But someone was waiting for him outside the door.
“Your Highness.”
“I was waiting for you.”
“To what do I owe…?”
“I wished to ask your advice.”
Ex made no attempt to disguise his embarrassment.
“This is my first time handling things myself. It’s a bit overwhelming. You’re experienced at this sort of work, so I thought you might give me some pointers.”
“Heavens. Has the world truly turned on its head?”
Duke Felikia was genuinely astonished.
“Don’t tease me.”
Ex sighed and suggested they walk together. The duke gladly accompanied him.
“You heard my brother’s rebuke just now. If I make even the slightest mistake, I’ll only bring trouble to my mother and brother.”
“That attitude alone is more than enough.”
The duke couldn’t help but show his pride.
“You’re already managing admirably on your own, Your Highness.”
“I can’t say I feel confident.”
“Have you ever known me to offer empty compliments? You are doing splendidly.”
“To my ears, it still sounds like flattery.”
“Wise counsel is often unwelcome, as they say…”
As they talked, the two found themselves making their way toward a quiet place, away from the throng of people.
Walking, and walking still.
“…Is anyone following us?”
“No presence that I can sense.”
“Ah, my wretched fate…”
That he had to live so circumspectly in his own home.
Ex muttered plaintively, in a tone so flat it was almost comic. The duke laughed openly behind him.
They descended the stairs leading underground.
“That just proves you’re more important than ever.”
“No, really—”
Ex sighed, running his hand along the damp stone wall.
“These days, it feels like I’ll be assassinated by someone’s gaze alone. The look that man has been giving me recently is positively murderous…”
“I noticed as much myself.”
The duke reached for an unlit torch nearby and set it ablaze. At last, the darkness around them yielded to the light.
“So this is the place I’ve only heard rumors about.”
“That’s right.”
Ex’s face was half in shadow from the flickering torch.
“This place doesn’t officially exist within the palace.”
“…”
“But it has always accompanied the secret history of the royal family.”
The air was thick with the musty scent of moss growing in the cracks of weathered stone. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, water pooling here and there.
“One illustrious ancestor, known as a wise ruler, is said to have conducted his affairs here with a hidden lover. Another, infamous as a tyrant, supposedly wept here, begging forgiveness from the gods.”
“…”
“Well, it’s all just rumor.”
Thud, thud—their heavy steps echoed, then suddenly stopped.
What halted their progress were thick iron bars, set close together. And behind them, a familiar figure awaited.
“Sister-in-law.”
Duke Felikia called out to the former Marquess Iris.
“You look dreadful.”
With effort, the former marquess managed to force a smirk. Through her matted, filthy hair, her violet eyes flashed.
“Shall we go in?”
At Ex’s inquiry, the duke nodded.
Once inside, the stench forced the duke to suppress a grimace.
Kneeling before the Marchioness, the duke’s eyes glimmered. Red mana rose and swirled, scrutinizing Marchioness Iris carefully.
After a moment—
“…”
The duke curled his lip and rose to his feet.
“There is magic at work here.”
“So silencing her was the goal.”
Ex muttered softly, sighing.
“Is there no way to break it?”
“There is, but we’ve hit a snag.”
Duke Felikia glared at the former Marchioness with rare, seething fury. She simply met his gaze in silence.
“…Damn it.”
The duke spat bitterly.
“Your Highness, this magic is not of the Empire.”