Chapter 186
We headed to the Emperor's bedchamber.
In the long corridor, Royal Guards stood in rows. We walked alongside the chamberlains and escorts.
Even though we were only walking, there was a tense atmosphere.
The grand duke may have known why we had come, but he probably didn't know where the evidence regarding the Emperor's blood relative was hidden.
That's why the watchful gazes on us were sharp.
They wanted to know where we went and what we would find. The escorts, too, were walking with nerves on edge.
"This way."
"His Imperial Majesty is taking his rest in his bedchamber."
Palace maids opened the door for us.
It was a lavish room, decorated in golden hues.
It wasn't as large as I expected.
There was a grand bed, beautiful curtains on the window. A table sat in the center, and there was also a reception area.
Chamberlain Tos spoke.
"His Imperial Majesty has important matters to relay. All palace maids must withdraw far from the bedchamber. The guards must ensure that no one hears a word from His Imperial Majesty."
The guards drove out the palace maids and the chamberlains who had accompanied us. One chamberlain glared at Tos, probably hoping to sneak a look at what we were searching for.
"Are there any other rooms?"
"There's my office, a dressing room, and my own study. Whatever I need, the chamberlain brings it to me, so I rarely go there. Normally, I stay only here."
I stood still and observed the room.
I activated the intelligence unit's detection technique and began to see with the spirit's eyes.
It wasn't something seen by my physical eyes; rather, I sensed what the spirit saw. If there was something hidden, I could tell—and indeed, there was a hidden space.
I walked directly toward the hidden area.
Portraits of former emperors hung there, and beneath them was a table where the emperor handled simple duties.
Thud—thud—
When I knocked, it was completely blocked.
"What is inside there?"
"That used to be the door to a secret passage, but it has been walled up with thick bricks."
"So that's why it sounds like a wall when knocked on."
I looked at the wall again.
"If all the bricks are removed, the passage will appear and lead down a stairway. Judging from the length, it may connect to somewhere underground in the palace."
"Is that so?"
"You can see that?"
I nodded politely.
The Emperor spoke.
"Chamberlain Tos, summon men at once and have them quietly remove the bricks."
"As Your Majesty commands."
"Now, let's go to the study."
Chamberlain Tos called a young chamberlain.
Soon, a few chamberlains and four guards entered the Emperor's bedchamber, and the door was closed.
We followed the Emperor toward the study.
Even more chamberlains than before followed us, determined this time to come in with us.
A chamberlain opened a large door, and we entered.
The study was quite spacious.
Chamberlain Tos said,
"His Imperial Majesty will be reading for a while, so guards, close the door and keep watch."
Bang—
The heavy door shut. Once again, the chamberlains could not object and withdrew.
"What exactly are we looking for?"
"Do you know where the first His Imperial Majesty's portrait is?"
"Follow me."
We walked after the Emperor.
There were countless tall bookshelves, and the study was quite long.
Moreover, there were three floors.
The third floor stored the empire's and the imperial family's most treasured books, including confidential documents.
Only direct royal family members could enter the third floor, so its security was rigorous. Compared to the two floors below, it was smaller and resembled an attic.
The Emperor led us to a sunlit window. There was a table arranged for reading and enjoying the view, and atop it sat the portrait.
It was the portraits of the first Emperor and Empress.
The Emperor wore radiant armor and a crown; the Empress was dressed in a beautiful gown.
I gazed at the two portraits.
They were said to have numbers.
I did see the numbers.
Whether to add, multiply, or simply list them—I wasn't certain.
"Are there numbers on the bookshelves?"
"Yes."
"How many digits?"
"They go up to the hundred-thousands."
A hundred thousand.
Then it was in sequential order.
"Three. Seven. One. One. Sixteen."
"What's that?"
"There are numbers in the portraits. Three jewels in the crown. Seven decorations. One ring. One gem in the sword. And sixteen buttons on Her Majesty's dress."
The Emperor immediately understood.
"That's three hundred seventy-one thousand one hundred sixteen."
"I will look for it."
Chamberlain Tos checked the shelves.
Soon, he found the relevant bookshelf.
"This is the shelf."
We all stood before the shelf.
I glanced at the covers of the books.
Again, I could tell right away.
"Please select the books as I call their names. The words will be in the title or the author's name. Please don't remove the books entirely, just show me their locations."
"Very well."
I took out a note.
It was a cipher.
"Bartram. Gudrun. Alk. Mosra."
Everyone searched the shelves for related books. The captain of the guard found one first.
"It's a poetry collection by the bard Alk."
"There's also Aindel's travelogue in Mosra."
"Here's an ancient history of Gudrun."
It didn't take long.
Once all were found, I spoke again.
"Next: Hulder. Pashad. Mos. Undphile."
We searched again.
"All found. Any more?"
"The third line: Derek. Haman. Dwarf."
All were located again.
In total, there were eleven books. We pulled each out about halfway. From their locations alone, nothing was clear yet.
"This time, the words are strung together. The line goes: Antsarlazblizharlente."
Just as I finished speaking—
One book on the bottom right of the shelf started to glow. The last phrase must have been a magic spell.
The Emperor pulled the book out.
There was no particular reaction.
"It's a history book about the Magic Tower."
"Nothing else inside?"
"See for yourselves."
I took the book the Emperor handed over and skimmed through it with the captain of the guard. Just as the Emperor said, it was simply a history of the Magic Tower, with no noticeable clues.
The captain asked,
"Your Majesty. Perhaps there are documents in the Magic Tower?"
"The magic animating this book is theirs, so they may have helped. But I doubt the evidence is in the Magic Tower."
I agreed.
The Magic Tower always claims neutrality, no matter the affair. So, we can't trust them completely.
Ross whispered to me.
"Isn't it suspicious how the book was attached to the right wall? Maybe there's a mechanism?"
"Check it, elder brother."
Ross crouched beneath the shelf and looked at where the book had come out. After pulling out a few more books and feeling around inside, he stood.
"Your Majesty. There's a ring attached to the shelf's wall."
"Try pushing the shelf."
Ross and I pushed the shelf, but it didn't budge. So, the captain of the guard and a chamberlain joined, and finally, even the Emperor lent his strength. Bit by bit, the shelf slid aside.
There was a square door in the wall. If you grabbed and pulled the ring, it would open. Once the shelf moved just enough to open the door, we stopped.
"I will go in first."
"Do so."
The captain of the guard grabbed the ring and pulled.
Creak—a sound rang out as the door lifted. Amazingly, there was a space inside the wall.
The captain entered first, and I followed. We had to crawl in, but the Emperor didn't mind. Only chamberlain Tos looked flustered.
It was a cramped, long room.
Only one person could pass through at a time, and boxes and documents were placed on shelves attached to the wall.
We began to inspect what sat on the shelves. I checked inside sealed envelopes and opened boxes, when the captain of the guard found something.
"This document."
"Let me see."
The captain held up a document.
It bore the previous Emperor's seal.
『To the Imperial House and Secret Council.
The crown prince Ardian has a hidden son. The boy is the crown prince's own child, born to the palace maid Mien.
When Lady Mien gave birth, the crown prince was about to marry Duke Syren's daughter. So, I had to keep the maid's childbirth a secret.
But two years later, Duke Gaz came and said: there may one day be rebellion. He therefore urged that the child be sent far away; so, with some doubt, I did as he advised.
I told the crown prince that the maid died of illness, but in truth, I had her exiled. Feeling sorry for her, I ensured she was well cared for—so she shouldn't have died.
Should trouble really arise in the future—
Find that maid and make her a witness. The woman is in the north and will have my imperial jade token.
Now, let me describe the child's features.
The child has blonde hair and light blue eyes, with a single red spot on the back. On the right shoulder, there is also the tattoo of the Red Dragon.
Let all this serve as evidence.
I, Ardian Kaden, 17th Emperor of the great Kadena empire, certify this in my name.
No one may dispute it.
Any who would deny even the Emperor's seal
are to be deemed traitors.』
The Emperor let out a shallow sigh.
He must have been relieved by the thought the maid might still live, when he'd assumed her dead.
"I must find her first."
"We will find her. If someone from the imperial household goes, the grand duke may suspect and harm her."
"Please do."
We gathered up all the documents and exited the secret space. Among them were records of the maid Mien's identity. I gave instructions to the intelligence unit to track her down.
"Your Majesty. I will keep custody of this evidence."
"You may entrust it to Chamberlain Tos."
"It will be safest if I hold on to it myself. No one can harm me by force."
The Emperor looked at me steadily.
His eyes betrayed some displeasure.
Of course, he would trust his own chamberlain more.
"Very well, do as you wish."
I tucked the evidence into my garments.
We headed back toward the Emperor's bedchamber. Since the Royal Guards stood lined up, none spoke.
When we returned, the chamberlains and guards had already removed all the bricks, opening the wall.
The Emperor looked into the newly pierced passage.
"Who will go in to see where it leads?"
"I will go."
"Be careful."
I entered the passage, muffling my footsteps.
After a bit, I went down a stairway. It was quite long. Then, a passage stretched before me.
Upon entering the passage, I found a small shelter-like space. I thought of opening the door of light in the hidden area, but this spot wasn't quite right.
I pressed deeper and came to a fork. There was a stairway descending further and a passage leading west. The implication was that someone as important as the Emperor would escape via the west corridor.
Staying silent, I moved along the west passage. Just at the distance where the Empress's residence ought to be, I heard movement. The noise came from the shelter along the Empress's corridor.
"What's the point of being knights if we have to do this kind of chore?"
"These are Commander's express orders. Roger isn't someone an ordinary soldier can handle. If not us, who would defend this place?"
"Understood."
"Today, we'll install an iron door for security, so just block it until then. If anyone does come in, they'll certainly end up here."
About twenty people. If the Emperor and Empress had a good relationship, passages like these wouldn't be an issue, but now, the passage could pose danger to each.
If they sealed it with an iron door, that would work in our favor. We'd be able to hear any attempt to open it. With it closed, we could move around as much as we liked.
Retracing my steps, I checked where the exit led. After a while, I found it connected to the palace's underground waterway, and its end flowed into the capital's great river.
If they had wanted to assassinate the Emperor, it would have happened already. So, discovering the passage is more dangerous for them than for us. We aren't at risk for the time being.
I returned to the Emperor's bedchamber.
A meal had been prepared.
"We need to seal the door."
"Is it connected to the Empress's chambers?"
"Yes. The Royal Guards were blocking the way to Her Majesty the Empress's bedchamber. It looks like they'll install a steel door and lock it from within."
"Well, that's all the better for us."
I wished to open the door of light somewhere in the palace's secret places, but none were suitable. If the Emperor is in danger, only escape with the guards remains.
"Your Majesty. If an emergency arises, would it be all right for us to come through that secret door?"
"It would give me great reassurance."
I almost gave a communication ring to the Emperor or Chamberlain Tos. But if something happened, the Emperor could be killed before we could respond. We can't always be in the palace.
"We'll seek out the family of the birth mother of the fake crown prince. When irrefutable evidence emerges, then Your Majesty can announce the proof left by the previous Emperor."
"I will do so."
We had the food the Emperor had prepared.
If the fake crown prince is exposed, our side gains the upper hand in the war. If not, it'll be a hard-fought battle.
As the sun set, we left the palace.
During the meal, word had arrived.
Xenon had awakened.