Chapter 200 : Chapter 200
Chapter 200 - Imperial Garden
“...Lubosch?”
“Head Maid.”
The agent who had arrived first walked out from the darkness of the black ship's bridge.
Although it was a room without a single point of light, the former and current agents of the Intelligence Department recognized each other in an instant.
“I expected it, but you really were dispatched to the empire.”
“Yes. It just happened.”
“A high-level mission like this is not something you can just happen to get. You can have a little more confidence.”
“Thank you.”
Lubosch smiled bitterly. The hardship of his past was conveyed through that smile.
“...It must have been very difficult.”
As a Grade 1 agent, she knew all too well the hardships of an agent sent to the field.
Moreover, in a wartime situation like now, the Intelligence Department had agents infiltrate right under the enemy's nose.
It would not be strange at all to be discovered, beheaded, or tortured at any time.
Lubosch, still with a bitter smile, slowly shook his head.
“It's for the sake of the family, so what's there to be difficult about? The one who can truly be said to have it hard is the Youngest Son who is here as an envoy.”
“I can't deny the latter.”
“Is the Youngest Son doing well?”
“He is always in the same state. He walks on thin ice, then on the edge of a blade, and passes through a field of reeds as if it were nothing.”
Lubosch bowed his head and chuckled.
“He hasn't changed since the first time I met him. That person.”
“I agree. Truly.”
The two agents fell silent for a moment under the theme of the Fifth Son. Now it was time to get to the main point.
“Currently, there are about ten agents, including myself, infiltrated in the imperial capital.”
“What about the agent ranks?”
“One Grade 1. The rest are all Grade 2.”
“Who among the Grade 1 agents came?”
“It's Kang Yu.”
“...Kang Yu.”
The Head Maid chewed on that name without realizing it. It wasn't because she couldn't remember.
It was because there was not a single good memory of him.
Lubosch, after saying the name of the Grade 1 agent, hesitated a little before opening his mouth.
“...By any chance, may I ask about that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
The Head Maid's voice became blunt. On the contrary, Lubosch's voice became lower and lower, even though no one was listening.
“The one about Agent Kang Yu confessing his feelings to you and being rejected.”
“I don't remember such a baseless rumor. And even if I did, I don't think this is the place to talk about it.”
“I-I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. Please continue with your report.”
“Yes, yes.”
After the number of infiltrated agents, it was the location of the infiltration.
“Agent Kang Yu tried to secretly infiltrate the imperial palace, but the risk was too high and he failed. He said it was impossible because of the knight who always protects the emperor.”
“I would like information on that knight later as well.”
“Yes. So, Agent Kang Yu infiltrated the imperial palace every night at sunset and gathered most of the information he could.”
“Did you also happen to find out about the crown prince's condition then?”
“Ah, that's information I acquired.”
“……?”
A rare thing happened in the Head Maid's eyes. Her pupils contracted in surprise. Her mouth asked back.
“Lubosch, you acquired information on the crown prince? Not a Grade 1 agent?”
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to be able to infiltrate deep into the Imperial Family in disguise.”
“How did you do it? It's a place as meticulous as a beehive with numerous knights, numerous barriers, and mechanisms.”
“As a cleaner.”
“Ah.”
At the too concise yet certain answer, the Head Maid let out a single exclamation.
The Head Maid, who was instantly convinced, slowly nodded.
“Certainly. It was a talent that would work even in the imperial family of the empire.”
If he had gone to the Butler's Department instead of the Intelligence Department, he might have become the Deputy Head Butler with just his mopping skills.
“What happened was, the day after I safely arrived in the imperial capital, my head was so complicated before the next directive that I was cleaning the imperial palace walls….”
“I will listen to the details later.”
I don't know why he was cleaning the castle walls when his head was complicated, but the Imperial Family's eye for talent was used against them.
“What's important is this. You're not directly under the emperor, so who are you working under?”
“The princess.”
The Head Maid quietly recited her name.
“...Exia Kaiser Rosephilia. The youngest daughter of the Imperial Family and a troublemaker.”
“Yes, yes. That's the princess. But that word troublemaker, it didn't really resonate with me when I watched her up close.”
“Is there anything unusual?”
This time, she didn't stop him and let him continue talking.
Information related to the Imperial Family had to be delivered to the Youngest Son as quickly as possible, so she had to listen now.
“She just looked like a worried girl.”
“Please be more specific.”
“Well.... Her older brother, who is supposed to inherit the throne, is bedridden, but the current situation where she is hiding it from the powerful vassals cannot last forever, and also….”
“There are many things to worry about, but there is nothing she can do. So she is frustrated. So she is going out and about. Is that what you mean?”
“Yes, yes. That's right. That's exactly what I wanted to say.”
While he handled his work with certainty, he still had a rookie-like air when reporting. In many ways, she was worried.
The Head Maid thought for a moment and asked him.
“Kang Yu, does the Grade 1 agent interfere more than necessary?”
“Umm.... I'm not sure. I don't think so.”
“Then that's a relief.”
“More importantly, Head Maid. Do you remember Agent Kang Yu? Then that rumor also—”
“I should be going now. It will be tight if I go back now.”
The Head Maid quickly moved a couple of steps away and asked.
“Where has it been decided to share the written information?”
“The agents have made a bird's nest in one of the trees in the south garden of the imperial palace. They gather the latest information there every day at midnight, so you can take it.”
“Understood. Please be careful from now on as well.”
Srrrrrk—
The Head Maid, who had become a full-body spirit, disappeared into the shadows.
“...You be careful too, Head Maid.”
Although her skills had returned a lot, she was noticeably slower compared to her active days. And weaker.
Although she was the only one who could help the Youngest Son in the shadows, I hoped she wouldn't overdo it.
But things in the world did not go as one wished.
So, I just had to try and prepare as much as possible.
Srrrrk—
A full body was still impossible, but he spread out his spirit form as much as possible and left the black ship.
Still, since the Youngest Son was staying in the imperial palace, I hoped I could see him briefly, even if by chance.
***
Riding in Raymond's carriage, I returned to his residence in the imperial palace.
The imperial palace was not just a single palace, but referred to the entire area.
The power of the Imperial Family did not come from the status they were born with, but from those they governed.
The three generals symbolized military power, and the powerful vassals presided over all matters on the table.
The Youngest Son, in the center of it all, looked outside, unbound by anything.
Raymond's carriage did not have curtains that blocked the windows. As he kept smiling, Raymond couldn't stand it and asked first.
“You'll be a dead man in a week. What's so funny?”
“I have no intention of dying, but even if I do, shouldn't I see a lot in my short life before I die?”
“...As you said, it is a short life. Why didn't you just live a wealthy life as a blood relative of the east without causing any problems? Why did you escalate things this far?”
That thing referred not only to the envoy, but to the earlier problems of the East-West war and the Dark Elixir.
The 1st process Dark Elixir, which the Imperial Family had also secretly obtained, had all the elements that the west would hate at a glance.
The name itself was provocative, and when consumed, the body filled with yin energy.
From then on, the consumer could only think of generating heat in their body and could fight like crazy.
It was truly a fearsome weapon.
Furthermore, the creator of such a weapon calmly came to enemy territory and offered his own neck.
“Hah. I just can't understand it.”
“I did it to live.”
“...So you made a bet with your life to live?”
“No. The Dark Elixir you're thinking of. The reason I made it was because I wanted to live.”
“You only looked ahead when you made your move, and it ended up like this.”
“Don't try to teach me. You were one of my moves too.”
“……”
Raymond's mouth shut tight. The Youngest Son chuckled at him.
“If you feel so sorry for this little kid, then let me see the famous imperial garden.”
“That place is only accessible to the royal family and their relatives.”
“You three generals can enter, can't you? I'll go in with you. I won't be long.”
“...Hah.”
Raymond rubbed his face. He felt like he was being tricked again.
He mulled it over and over before shaking his head. A chick that would die in a week, I should at least let him see a sunny place.
“Stop for a moment.”
At Raymond's stop signal, the coachman pulled the reins.
“What is it?”
“Turn the carriage towards the imperial garden. We will stop there for a moment before moving to the mansion.”
“Understood.”
Clatter— Clatter—
The carriage wheels rolled towards the imperial garden.
“I owe you one.”
“If you know that, don't cause any trouble.”
The Youngest Son did not lose his smile and just looked out the window.
Smiling and brushing it off. The Youngest Son's frequently used way of speaking had just passed over another answer.
Don't cause any trouble.
Enad, who had naturally seen through that way of speaking while being by his side, shook his head.
[There's going to be trouble again.]
***
Raymond's carriage passed through the imperial garden, which was only accessible to the royal family and their relatives, without any trouble.
However, they could not go deep inside like this, and from now on, it was on foot.
“Get off.”
“Alright.”
Clank—
As soon as I opened the door, a breeze from the garden brushed against my face.
It felt like a perfume made of flower scents had been sprayed on my face.
The scent was that strong, and colorful flowers were lined up on all sides. Furthermore, the flower beds made using the colors of the flowers were already a painting.
From the sky, it depicted the emblem of the imperial family, and there were many other things to see besides that.
Among the imperial palace content, garden decoration was considered the one with the most to do, so that said it all.
So, the veteran player, who had spent a not-insignificant amount of time in the garden, could walk through the basic state garden with his eyes closed.
“General Raymond. Can I go and see the fountain in the center over there?”
“Yes. You may.”
“Aren't you coming with me?”
“Are you going to break the fountain? Or are you going to pluck the flowers?”
“I won't do such things.”
“Then there is no reason for me to follow. It's not so far that you'll get lost, so enjoy it for about 10 minutes and come back.”
The Youngest Son smiled. As expected of the most popular one among the three generals.
He was unyielding when he was being stubborn, but he was also very understanding and fundamentally a good person.
“I'll be back.”
The Youngest Son entered the garden alone, without General Raymond.
He approached the fountain, which seemed to be about 3 stories high. The path to it had many walls covered in flowers, so he had to turn several times.
Although the path was like a maze, the Youngest Son entered without hesitation.
Even if he got lost, he could still reach the fountain, but the Youngest Son did not get lost.
Swaaaaaaaaaaaaa—
The sound of water falling from the top of the fountain to the bottom echoed coolly.
But there was something that stole his gaze more than the fountain.
“You….”
Her golden hair, more beautiful than the bright yellow flowers basking in the sun, and her golden eyes, widened in surprise.
“What a coincidence. To run into you here.”
“...How are you here?”
“I asked General Raymond. To let me see the imperial garden once before I die in a week.”
“Die in a week? I haven't heard of the execution date of a Millesdusk blood relative.”
“I set it.”
The princess, who was sitting quietly by the fountain, sighed once again.
“Hah…. When I mix words with you, nothing is clear.”
“Why not?”
“Then what is?”
“Don't you remember when we parted?”
“……”
The princess who had turned her back, saying they would not see each other again.
The Youngest Son who had unilaterally left a promise to properly introduce themselves if they met again.
He kept the promise with the princess that he had made before the promise with the emperor.
“Shall we try again? My name is Dante Black Millesdusk.”
Crack—
Red ice formed the petals and stem, blooming from the Youngest Son's hand.
The red rose, which was also a symbol of the Imperial Family. The princess inadvertently accepted it. The petals that touched her hand were cold.