Chapter 31: More Valuable Than Jewels

Chapter 31: More Valuable Than Jewels

Its been a while, Your Majesty.

It was unusual for Count Palatine Vedett to appear in my room at noon. Timona has also left for quite some time Ive never been in this situation before.

The Imperial Guard at the door was probably taken care of as well, which means theres no need for me to act.

Youve been very busy lately Ill guess Ill hear that report later. What do you want?

Please stop messing around.

Count Palatine Vedetts serious voice made me ponder if I had done anything wrong Oh, there is something.

What if I wasnt messing around?

Then you should stop.

Hmm, he sounds very serious. Hes probably telling me to stop at any cost.

Wait. This is about the Crown Princes concubine, right?

I guess hes talking about my regular secret meetings with the former Crown Princes concubine, Vera Sylvie le Chaplier. Her father is an aristocrat in the Chancellors faction, and she is grandly using the magic that has been concealed from her for a long time. It was only natural for him to reproach me for meeting her.

Was there anything else?

Count Palatine Vedett interrupted. Apparently, he couldnt grasp what I was doing at the tower.

But the guard who guards the tower where Vera Sylvie is imprisoned is changed to a spy on nights when the full moon is out. I knew this from their presence, and I only detected the spy with magic, so Im certain of this. I thought that the Chief of the Ministry of Intelligence, Count Palatine Vedett, who would have received reports of me going to the tower, would have been aware of everything, but that doesnt seem to be the case.

You havent received reports from your spies about what Im doing in the tower?

I receive reports after its happened, but its impossible to know what youre doing there because youre hidden by the barrier.

I see, so thats the limits of the spies.

Just because were allies now doesnt mean that well continue to be allies in the future. I wanted to find out what the spies were capable of. Besides, emperors shouldnt blindly trust their vassals. I want to find out what they can and cant do.

In fact, the Chief of the Ministry of Intelligence, who is standing in front of me, continues to distrust me.

Well, Im trying my best to stay hidden with the way everything is. I ordered him not to write about me whenever he wrote to his family Naturally, I cant trust him, so the letters are reviewed. This is also done by a spy. But What does he mean after it happened?

I know what happened. During the period when Count Palatine Vedett was busy, Timona Renan had been instructing the spies on his behalf. So, everything that has happened was reported to Timona only, and Timona is aware of what I have been up to.

Hmm, but its not like he betrayed you.

She must come to my room to teach me magic, so she would have to slip out of the tower to teach me magic. So, of course she would want to hide the truth. This is what people around me will think.

Its easy to make this lie work. I can get Vera-Sylvie out of the tower after I seize real power and treat her with respect. Just by doing this, I can create the lie of repaying a favour to an unofficial teacher.

More importantly, the ability to use magic in the palace means that assassinations and destruction of evidence can be done at will. That is incredibly dangerous. Of course, I can kill them, but what if I fail? They will get revenge and my life will be in danger.

I can guide them to someone who isnt hostile towards me.

Count Palatine Vedett. I have a favour to ask you. Count Chamneaux is a potential neutral faction member, is he not? Support him even if its just behind the scenes. Create a connection with him and get him to the point where he can change to the neutral side even if hes in the Chancellors faction Is this too much?

No, rather its too little.

Alright, did I manage to convince him?

As you wish, You Majesty This Alfredo is truly ashamed of my pushy and thoughtless words. I apologise.

Its alright. You were worried about me, and you didnt have enough information. The problem is

Why did Timona stop him from getting that information?

Timona le Renan told me that we should not question His Majestys actions

Whats with his blind faith? How did he turn out like that?

Thats troubling. Im someone who makes mistakes Keep his blind faith in check.

I am sorry, Your Majesty. That is impossible.

Eeh its scary though. With that kind of blind faith, he might come to kill me and say, Youre not the Majesty I know, if I make a mistake

Ah, this isnt good. I feel like hes really going to do that now that Ive said it. Is this alright?

W-well anyway, please keep up the good work. And youve been busy lately. Hows that going?

Then I will start by reporting the movements of the neighbouring nations

By the way, all reports are verbal since it can be used as evidence if it were written down.

In the end, the days report continued until dawn, though we did take a break for dinner. That was how tense things were in the other nations. They were all focused on what will happen after the Empire rumbles.

Theres finally no time left to spare.

By the way, Im certain that Timona is aware that I can use magic because of recent events. He probably knows that I can use magic within seals too.

He hasnt mentioned anything about this. Hes really scary