Chapter 46: Crisis (5)

Leort was doing well, but suddenly, he mistakenly nominated my father, Hawk, as the author of Xenon’s Biography. He was so close to our destination, but Leort abruptly turned the wheel and we ended up at the wrong place.

“...?”

I slowly opened my tightly closed eyes and looked ahead. Leort was looking at us siblings with a confident smile on his face.

Beside him, Rina was elegantly sipping her tea with a relaxed expression.

I was too tense a moment ago to speak, but doubts had started to creep into my mind. Why would Leort confidently nominate my father, Hawk, as the author of Xenon Biography and leave me behind? I couldn’t think clearly in this situation, but it didn’t seem like something he would do.

After hearing Leort’s confident words, Nicole remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking. Her voice was so quiet that it seemed like it could pierce through the floor.

“...If I say it’s not him, will you believe me?”

“If you say it’s not him, your family could be in danger. Paying taxes means there’s income, and it’s the obligation of nobles to report where they obtained that income and how they will use it to the higher-ups. By the way, this is not a threat, but rather the law. Only my father can enact the law.”

Leort’s mention of his father was clearly referring to the Emperor, who was the highest authority figure in the empire. It seemed like Leort had intentionally brought up the Emperor.

Nicole seemed to be thinking the same thing as me because her already stern face became even stiffer. The fist on her thigh also seemed to have tightened up.

“You don’t have to make such an expression. Anyway, it seems certain that your father is the author of Xenon’s biography.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“... ...”

I could tell from Nicole’s question that the flow of the story had taken a strange turn. It seemed that Leort had taken this as an opportunity to continue the topic, despite the fact that I, the real author, was sitting right next to them.

But the more Leort continued, the more uncomfortable I felt. It was as if I was using my father as a shield.

Squeeze-

My father had devoted himself to me, and it was hard for me to accept him being used as a shield. So I was about to speak up, but nicole grabed my hand firmly to stop me.

I was momentarily confused by the inexplicable pressure, but when I saw Nicole’s expression, I had no choice but to give up on speaking. Her expression was serious enough to make me trust her, despite the fact that it felt like I was selling my father.

“There’s a reason for everything.”

Leort leaned back in his chair, his charisma quietly flowing out and drawing everyone’s attention.

“As I said before, taxes are a very complicated thing. Especially in our Minerva Empire, where tax-related matters are extremely strict and complex. But the complexity also brings about clear effects. One reason why our Minerva Empire has far more capital than other countries is due to this.”

“... ...”

“However, that in itself is not perfect. There may be people committing tax evasion even at this moment. Especially, the method used by Baron Michelle had plenty of room to be abused for tax evasion. If he had the will, he could have perfectly hidden his identity without even paying taxes. Fortunately, it didn’t happen thanks to the strong willpower that he has retained down from his time as a knight.”

It seemed like Leort was convinced that our father is the author of Xenon’s Biography. It was hard to determine whether I should like it or not.

Meanwhile, Nicole and I were looking at Leort. Rina, who was drinking tea next to us, put down her teacup and spoke in her characteristic gentle voice.

“At first, it was hard to believe that Baron Michelle was the author of Xenon’s Biography. But considering his achievements and experiences, there are too many parts that fit perfectly.”

“...Achievements?”

Finally, I spoke. Until I entered the academy, I didn’t know that my father was once a distinguished knight who held a high position.

He was the head of the Navy Knights who were like wandering human monsters, and he accumulated achievements that I, as his son, could hardly imagine.

The magnitude of his achievements was so great that he was supposed to be titled as a Count instead of a Baron. Even the fact that a commoner received a noble status was surprising enough, let alone being a Count. I could roughly imagine how great my father’s achievements were.

“Hmm...”

Rina listened to my question and let out a subtle sigh, then looked at me with a sharp gaze. After a moment of silence, she smiled kindly and spoke to me in a tone that only conveyed kindness.

“Isaac, do you know what achievements Xenon made in Xenon’s Biography?”

“Of course... I know.”

Who wouldn’t know? Xenon, the protagonist of Xenon’s Biography, had achieved so much that it would leave one speechless.

As the biggest example, although he had the help of his colleague, he accomplished great feats such as subduing a fierce dragon, saved the country from a devil’s threat, recovered the relics of a church thought to have been lost, and so on.

Each achievement had such a significant impact on the world that the name “Xenon” became widely known.

Then, after hearing my answer, Rina nodded her head and began to tell me one by one the achievements my father had made.

“Baron Michelle did more than that. He certainly did not do less. About thirty years ago, there was an occasion when a dragon that had ran rampant after losing its offspring, attacked the capital.”

“Oh. Is that...”

Then, he slowly extended his upper body forward, clasped his fingers, and supported his chin. Then, he gave an answer we had not expected.

“There is one thing you are mistaken about. Our imperial palace has no intention of touching you, along with Baron Michelle. It is only to confirm this truth.”

“Are you asking us to believe that?”

In the end, Nicole couldn’t stand it any longer and raised her voice. Although I didn’t say anything, I glared at Leort with a look that said, “Are you kidding me?”.

You push people like this, you have no intention of touching them? Anyone who believes that statement at face value is a fool. If they really had no intention of touching them, they wouldn’t have called them to this place in the first place.

Leort noticed our intense reaction and extended his hand. It was a gesture to calm down, so Nicole settled her expression calmly.

“You have every reason to react sensitively. But this statement is true. What if we pressure Baron Michelle and he stops publishing because of it? If we let the publisher know it’s because of our pressure? Can you imagine what kind of reaction that would cause?”

“... ...”

“Of course, it would become serious in various ways. The influence of Xenon’s Biography on the world is tremendous. No matter how greedy we are, we wouldn’t do the foolish thing of killing the goose that lays the golden egg. Above all, even I and Rina are fans of Xenon’s Biography. I just said it before, but the reason we are with you here is just to confirm it.”

Should I believe it or not? If it were someone else, I would have understood, but Leort is a nobleman deeply involved in politics.

I don’t even know how many hidden agendas he has, so it’s not easy to accept.

As Nicole and I couldn’t easily accept it, Rina, who had been watching from the side, took action. She looked directly at me, not Nicole, and put her hand on her chest, opening her mouth.

“Isaac, I swear by the name of the princess. There will be absolutely no harm to Baron Michelle, your family, or your house. Rather, I can prevent his identity from being revealed.”

“...Then what is the merit for you two?”

“The next volume of Xenon’s Biography will come out sooner. That’s all.”

Is that really all? I looked at Rina’s ambiguous answer with suspicion, and she smiled at me, knowing my doubts.

I know that smile is fake because I’ve seen it many times before. That’s why I couldn’t help but be more suspicious.

It was then that I hesitated and faltered.

“I understand.”

“...Noona?”

“Please, I hope you keep that promise.”

Nicole accepted them in a solemn yet determined voice. It was a completely unexpected situation for me.

As I looked at her bewildered face, Leort nodded in satisfaction at Nicole’s response with a content smile.

“Thank you. I’ll say it again, we have no intention of touching Baron Michelle. Before he became the author of Xenon’s Biography, Baron Michelle was not someone our royal family could handle lightly.”

“You flatter us.”

“It’s no flattery. Baron Michelle is an exceptional person.”

I wonder what kind of achievement could make Prince Leort say that. Anyway, I’m glad we’ve put this issue to rest.

Although I felt uncomfortable using my father as a shield, it seemed best to console myself that he would understand. Of course, as soon as we returned to our lodging, I planned to write a letter.

‘What should I write? First of all...’

As I sighed inwardly, trying to figure out what to write in the letter, I felt someone’s gaze on me.

I lifted my head and saw Rina looking at me with a strange expression, resting her chin on one hand.

For a moment, I almost lost my mind admiring her beauty, which seemed to have been crafted by a skilled artisan, but I managed to snap out of it.

“... ...”

She glanced at my face and then lowered her gaze. I wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but I could roughly tell that her gaze was directed towards my right hand.

Afterwards, Lina lifted her gaze back up and met my face. It was around the time when I started to question her strange behavior.

As soon as our gazes met, Lina drew a smile with the corners of her mouth and said.

[Nice to meet you.]

She silently mouthed a meaningful message.

Translators note:

I typed ‘Baron Michelle’ so many times this chapter I think I will have nightmares about it now...

Also! Finally busted!