BXBX NOVEL Chapter 81 - Request
Chapter 81 - Request
With a radiant smile, Sylvia, who seemed to be in a good mood, accompanied me as we finally stepped into the Imperial Palace.
“I’ve returned with the Count of Vermont.”
“You may pass.”
As soon as the messenger announced my name, the main gate swung open.
There was no need for any formalities or questioning.
It seemed true that Empress Big Sis was eagerly waiting for me.
“At this hour, Her Majesty should be done with a light meal and working. She’ll either be in her office or the reading room, but let’s try the office first.”
“Uh… shouldn’t we be going to a reception room or the audience chamber?”
“That’s standard procedure, but Her Majesty has made an exception for the Count of Vermont. She said we could take you directly to her without prior notice.”
“…Why is that?”
“She said the Count of Vermont has the ‘scent’ of a fellow kindred spirit, someone who despises superficial formalities and pursues practicality.”
“…”
I was at a loss for words.
Sure, I loathe pompous ceremonies and prefer practicality, but I’m not nearly as extreme as the Empress.
Even so, being led to the office instead of the grand audience chamber that demonstrates the Emperor’s majesty—where’s the grandeur in that?
“Your Majesty, I’ve brought the Count of Vermont.”
“Ah, let him in.”
With a creak, the door opened.
A woman with messy, spiky hair and glasses came into view.
Engrossed in paperwork with dark circles under her eyes, she looked nothing like the regal Empress Vanessa.
I almost didn’t recognize her at first glance.
Thanks to her naturally beautiful features that shone through despite the lack of makeup and the glasses, I managed to identify her.
“I apologize for receiving you in such a state. Please understand. There are plenty of chairs; sit wherever you like. I don’t mind if you lie down either.”
“No, I’ll stand.”
If I sit, the desk will block my view of her face.
“You seem to be quite busy.”
“I am.”
“Is it always like this?”
“Not always. It should only be like this until the end of this month. Normally, I’d be enjoying tea after a meal, but I’ve been busy cutting off the worms eating away at the country. I can’t let the administration be paralyzed until a replacement is found, so I’m handling the work myself instead of the incompetent officials.”
A style of ‘I’ll do it myself because it’s frustrating.’
She couldn’t stand the corruption, and she couldn’t entrust everything to the well-meaning but ineffective ones either.
What a demanding way to live.
I could somewhat sympathize, seeing her suffer under a brutal workload.
But we were not exactly alike.
The Empress tries to handle everything herself, whereas I offload some of it onto Sylvia.
I know my limits too well to take the ‘I’ll do it myself because it’s frustrating’ approach.
“Have you been informed of why I wanted to see you?”
She put down her pen and removed her glasses.
As she let down her loosely braided hair, her long hair fell gracefully, instantly restoring her usual image of the Empress.
With those penetrating eyes that seemed to see right through me, the kind that could scare anyone.
“Yes. I heard you want to place a request with Vermont Security…”
“That’s true, but all the rumors about suspecting you of orchestrating the incident were just a ploy to get you here. You seemed like such a dull, sedentary man that I felt I’d have to wait forever if I didn’t resort to drastic measures.”
“…”
She already had me figured out.
If it wasn’t anything significant, I would’ve delayed coming to the Imperial Palace with every excuse I could find.
It seems she’s already learned how to handle me.
I gulped in anxiety.
“Are you really saying that nothing will happen if I refuse?”
“Do I truly seem like a tyrant who rules by the whip?”
Yes, you do.
I pictured the Empress brandishing a whip for a moment.
Hmm. It suits her.
“An empire ruled by tyranny may seem peaceful on the surface, but it cannot last long. I wish to have an equal transaction with you. I want to assign Vermont Security a task that only they can handle. In exchange, you may ask me for anything. I will grant your request, whatever it may be.”
“…”
My mouth hung open, and I was momentarily speechless.
Anything? Really?
Then can I sleep with you just once?
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ glares, sensing a vulgar aura.]
Of course not.
I should keep within the bounds.
Besides, I can’t waste this opportunity on a fleeting pleasure.
I thought about keeping it in reserve to use an “Empress’s favor” when in trouble.
“Can I delay my request and receive it as a kind of wish voucher?”
“That is not possible. It must be a request I can fulfill right here, right now.”
So, no loopholes.
I need to come up with something on the spot.
I have a few ideas, but…
I can’t help feeling very cautious.
“Don’t hesitate. I am making an unreasonable request to a newly established security firm, am I not? So, it’s only fair that you make an unreasonable request as well. Even a somewhat impolite one would be acceptable.”
The Empress flashed a lethal smile.
An impolite request? Was she flirting just now?
Is she saying I can really ask for ‘that’?
‘No. Resist.’
With superhuman restraint, I resisted the Empress’s temptation and opened my mouth.
“Then, may I ask a question before making my request?”
“Permission granted.”
“Do you know the whereabouts of a fist-sized lump of Neomium that disappeared ten years ago, with no trace of it found in any auction or black market since?”
“…Yes, I know.”
The Empress’s expression hardened instantly.
Sylvia, who stood by, trembled slightly.
Maybe she sensed some kind of aura only a veteran knight could perceive.
“The Imperial Household has always kept an eye on it, so it would be absurd not to know. If we didn’t, the intelligence department would have to be disbanded immediately.”
“In that case, I would like to set the location of the Neomium as the condition for the request.”
“May I ask what it’s for?”
“For purely academic research.”
“…”
A heavy silence filled the room.
Sylvia, desperately trying to remain still, turned pale, cold sweat running down her face.
She must be thinking I’ve lost my mind.
‘I wasn’t lying. Now it’s up to the Empress’s Spirit Eye to judge.’
But this isn’t a gamble.
I know that in those eye sockets of Vanessa’s is a Spirit King’s eye, a power that can see through any lie.
Even if it looks like a blatant lie on the surface,
To Vanessa’s eyes, it would seem like I’m telling the absolute truth.
Of course, because I really am telling the truth.
Except for being a bit nervous, there’s nothing in my demeanor that should appear suspicious to Vanessa.
“I’m not going to devour you, so there’s no need to be so afraid.”
“When… when did I ever say I was afraid?”
“Heh. For purely academic research, you say. There doesn’t seem to be a shred of falsehood in your words. Very well. If you complete this request, in addition to your reward, I will also provide you with the location of the Neomium.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty…”
The Empress stared at me, smiling slyly as if amused by something.
I bowed my head, hiding my expression.
Damn it. The Spirit King’s eye is too powerful.
It’s terrifying in a completely different way than when I’m in front of Irene.
With that woman, I feel a throbbing ache, fearing her heels or nails might physically come flying at me.
With the Empress, it’s more like an overwhelming, inescapable pressure.
The kind that makes you feel completely paralyzed.
“Now, would you like to hear about the request?”
“Yes, please, Your Majesty.”
“The destination is the North. Ester.”
The North, Ester.
A fortress city built to fend off the periodic Monster Stampede that occurs every year.
Currently, Ester is under the command of the Empire’s sole Grand Duke.
Empress Vanessa’s uncle, Richard Friedrich.
“With the Monster Stampede approaching, we must evacuate the Grand Duke’s youngest daughter to the capital before it begins. Vermont Security is to be entrusted with her escort.”
“The Grand Duke’s youngest daughter is a member of the Imperial Family. Wouldn’t it be better to have the Knights personally handle the escort?”
“If it were possible, I would have done so. But there is a problem.”
The Empress rubbed her temple and leaned back, as if weary.
A problem? Now I was starting to get nervous.
‘Could it be due to a conflict with the Grand Duke?’
Rumors have recently been circulating about friction between the Empress and Grand Duke Richard.
Some say the Empress, feeling politically threatened, has essentially exiled her uncle to a cold, monster-infested land.
And the Grand Duke, wielding considerable power locally, is allegedly planning to march on the capital with an army.
‘Is she asking me to take a hostage?’
If that’s true…
Does this mean my mission is to kidnap the Grand Duke’s youngest daughter?
Am I going to be embroiled in a power struggle on the Empress’s side?
After struggling with my words for a while,
The Empress finally spoke up.
“That child has been spoiled rotten and is now throwing a tantrum. She insists she won’t leave Ester unless her escorts are children her own age. The Grand Duke, who doted on her, is at his wit’s end trying to meet her demands, and now this chaos has erupted.”
“…Pardon?”
“I’m aware that your skilled slaves are among the staff at Vermont Security. I’m asking you to coax and appease the Grand Duke’s youngest daughter and safely bring her to the capital.”
“…”
I was dumbfounded.
So, it wasn’t about political intrigue.
It was just that the child was throwing a fit, and that’s how this mess started…?