Mess 187

187.

For a while, the public was abuzz with the tragedy of the Baglosa family.

Because all attention was focused on the sensational incident, the investigation into the whereabouts of Count Baglosa’s missing daughter only gained attention later.

Regrettably, Lady Baglosa was discovered dead two days after the incident.

“She was found early this morning, out on the outskirts of the capital.”

“I heard the body was completely burned…”

“Burned to death? That’s horrific!”

“Isn’t this truly a cursed affair?”

“So why did she burn to death?”

People fixated on the fact that Lady Baglosa had died by fire, spinning endless rumors and speculation.

She was attacked by robbers while trying to flee the city by night, some said.

Others claimed she despaired of her fate and committed self-immolation.

“Oh, you don’t even want to hear about it.”

The crowd turned toward the source of the voice.

“Do you know how horrifying it was?”

The center of attention, a merchant, glanced about nervously and then lowered his voice.

Others instinctively glanced around or swallowed dryly, lapsing into silence.

“As you can see, I’m a merchant myself.”

He pointed to the loaded wagon behind him.

“I was about to pass through the city gates at dawn to deliver my goods.”

A road I take all the time, you know, but that morning, there was an old dead tree, just sitting there. I thought someone had just dumped a shriveled trunk in the roadway.

“But as I got closer, the smell of burning got worse and worse.”

The merchant wrinkled his nose as he continued.

“It wasn’t like the smoke from firewood in a hearth. It was more like the sickly haze when you burn meat by mistake—a stench so thick you could taste it.”

He drew closer to the old trunk…

“Ah!”

He suddenly collapsed where he stood, overcome.

“That’s when I realized!”

What I’d taken for a tree was charred flesh and bone; what I thought were twisted branches were arms, legs, and fingers!

“It was like something a demon spewed out from the depths of hell! The face was already just a skull! And the head—completely twisted around…!”

The lurid description, delivered with vivid acting, stunned the audience into silence. Some even turned away, retching.

“Afterwards, the soldiers came to take away the corpse. They say they found a torn piece of dress with the Baglosa family crest. There was also something like a letter, reduced to ash…”

“Hey!”

The merchant jumped at the interruption.

He turned to see another merchant, already up on the wagon, glaring at him fiercely.

“What are you babbling about? If you shirk any more, you’re fired!”

“W-wait, please…!”

Before he left, the merchant whispered urgently to those around him.

“Don’t go spreading this around—just keep it to yourselves.”

And with that, the merchant’s wagon set off.

They had no need to look back, for the departing footsteps of the dispersing crowd were loud enough to drown out the wheels.

The senior merchant who had done the scolding let out a sly chuckle.

“…You’re quite the actor, you know?”

“When I leave the knighthood someday, maybe I’ll try the stage.”

“What good is it now?”

Save your talent for the palace.

With an exchange laden with hidden meaning, the two gave a quick glance into the cargo area.

There, packed tight, were animal-shaped porcelain dolls.

“We’ll be entering the palace soon.”

Disguised as merchants, the knights of the Pelikia Order drove toward the Imperial Palace, faces set.

“Greetings!”

The merchant greeted the gate guard with a breezy smile.

“We’ve come from the Kiah Trading Company. Here are our entry passes.”

“We’re delivering the porcelain figures ordered by the Empress’s palace. We also have the inventory list.”

“One moment, please.”

One of the guards retrieved today’s list of authorized companies to enter.

Kiah Company—two merchants, twenty porcelain animal statues ordered for the Empress’s garden.

While the papers were checked, other guards carefully searched the wagon for anything suspicious.

A few even picked up and shook the porcelain dolls, turning them over and scrutinizing them.

“All in order.”

Satisfied, the guards stepped aside.

Inside the gates, they saw the palace yard already full of parked delivery carts.

Some wagons had servants hastily unloading cargo, others were already moving away toward side paths.

“Are you from the Kiah Trading Company?”

A man of gentle countenance approached on horseback.

“Her Majesty the Empress has sent me. Please follow me.”

The narrow corridor gradually opened into an expanse of lush gardens.

A splendid palace, dazzling in the morning light, loomed nearer and nearer.

The attendant stopped near the gardens adjacent to the Empress’s palace.

“You may unload your cargo here.”

At that moment, waiting maids and gardeners approached the cart.

“Her Majesty is quite fond of these porcelain animals.”

As the porcelain figures were unloaded, the attendant chatted cordially.

“She likes to set them up as if recreating scenes from a children’s tale. When I pass by, it puts my mind at ease.”

“It’s a style Count Validus popularized last year,” the merchant said proudly.

“So talented, isn’t she? My wife waited months to buy one herself.”

“Hahaha! In that case, let me share a little secret.”

The merchant glanced around conspiratorially, then leaned in close to whisper in the attendant’s ear.

He was just about to murmur something when—

“…What’s this?”

A cold voice sliced through the gentle warmth of the garden.

“Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

The attendant hastily bowed. The merchants followed suit, awkwardly bowing at the waist.

Palace staff unloading the carts also froze to bow.

The Crown Prince barely acknowledged them as he strode past, eyes locked not on the people but the line of porcelain dolls they’d been unloading.

“You’re crossing a line.”

The tension in the air could have frozen stone. Someone in the garden swallowed audibly.

“Just what is going on, that in these times a member of the Council has goods delivered directly to the Empress’s palace?”

“Y-your Highness…”

The attendant edged forward anxiously.

“These are the garden porcelain figures Her Majesty has ordered since last year.”

“And you think I don’t know that?”

“……”

“Validus is getting full of herself.”

And she doesn’t even bother to hide it.

The Crown Prince gazed coldly at a porcelain cat that had just been set down.

He was about to stamp down, clearly intent on shattering it beneath his heel.

“B-but…!”

One merchant, trembling, spoke up with great care.

“These have nothing to do with Count Validus. Our company only delivered them, but they’re actually sold at Baron Farence’s shop—”

“Did I give you permission to speak?”

In a flash, the Crown Prince drew his sword and pressed it to the merchant’s throat.

The merchant flinched and tumbled backward, narrowly dodging the blade.

Had he been any slower, he’d have been bleeding from the neck.

“When the master is impertinent, the servants forget their place, too.”

“Your Highness, please—!”

The shocked attendant tried to intervene, but the Crown Prince shoved him aside and let out a quiet, cruel smile.

“Today, I’ll remind you of your place—”

“What is this commotion?!”

A thunderous voice brought every movement to a halt.

“…Father.”

The Crown Prince quickly sheathed his sword and bowed his head as the Empress approached.

Unlike everyone else, frozen in fear, the Empress alone remained calm.

She slowly surveyed the scene.

The drawn sword in the prince’s hand, the thin line of blood at the merchant’s throat.

The half-unloaded wagon of porcelain dolls.

“Trips.”

“……”

“Say it yourself.”

“My apologies.”

The Crown Prince bowed easily.

“In these times, I was concerned for Your Majesty’s safety.”

“My safety?”

“A noble has been killed, the Council is suspended, and yet Count Validus makes contact with Your Majesty in this fashion—it could easily arouse suspicions—”

“Crown Prince.”

The Empress, who had listened quietly until then, cut him off.

“Are you asking me to believe that?”

Her tone was composed, but there was steel behind it.

She was not merely a parent rebuking her son, but the one who had once led the Imperial Knights, warning anything that would disturb her domain.

“These porcelain animals, regardless of politics, are things I have personally ordered since last year. I’m sure you know that well.”

“I do.”

“And yet you dare make a scene in my palace?”

“What if something was hidden in the cart—”

“Enough.”

The Empress finally silenced him.

She turned to the knights who had followed her, as well as the servants and gardeners who stood by in silence.

“Smash all the dolls.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

The flustered attendant instinctively flinched and closed his eyes tight.

Ear-splitting crashes and shattering sounds erupted all at once.

The cute, whimsical animals were hurled to the ground or struck by swords, splintering into grotesque shards.

Some were even cut by flying fragments.

As the destruction dwindled, the Empress calmly wiped the thin scratch on her hand with a handkerchief and asked,

“What have you found?”

“Nothing, Your Majesty,” replied one knight. He, too, wore a couple of nicks on his face from flying shards.

The garden was a scene of utter chaos. The shattered porcelain was hideous, and the garden itself looked wretched, strewn with debris.

The air between the Empress and Crown Prince was equally fractured.

“Are you satisfied?”

“……”

“There is nothing here.”

“……”

“Trips.”

Still staring at him, the Empress called for her son wearily. He looked clearly exhausted.

“…Mother.”

The Crown Prince averted his gaze and offered a terse apology.

“I only wish to be cautious, for Your Majesty’s sake, in this fraught situation.”

“I know that.”

The Empress’s tone softened.

“But this time, you went too far.”

“……”

“You may go—”

“Your Majesty!”

From afar, someone came running up. The Emperor’s messenger, sweating from his haste, hesitated at the sight of the ruined garden.

“What is it?” the Empress asked.

The messenger bowed low.

“News just arrived a short time ago—”

“Speak freely.”

Glancing nervously at the Crown Prince, the messenger relayed the message.

“Lady Baglosa was discovered dead at dawn.”

“What?”

“A burnt body was found in the forest northwest of the capital, and next to it was what appeared to be a letter bearing the Baglosa seal.”

“What did the letter say?”

At last, the silent Crown Prince spoke up.

“It was too badly burned to decipher, Your Highness.”

All that remained was a rectangular pile of ashes, presumed to be the letter.