“I won’t deceive you.”
I won’t confuse instinct with reason. I will firmly take myself as my own master.
Thus I vowed.
“Since I’ve made up my mind, I should be returning now.”
“Indeed.”
Colton’s demeanor towards me had changed at some point.
But now, what difference does it make?
As I pondered this, I calmly continued speaking.
“However, I will report after I finish everything I have to do.”
“…Did you not say you’ve made up your mind?”
“That’s why. I no longer want to lie.”
“Is there some circumstance?”
“Yes.”
Regardless of my feelings, the fact that Epherna must not find out about the trials remains unchanged.
So, after resolving all trials, I want to go to her and speak.
“To confess my feelings and seek forgiveness, living is the most important thing, isn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
If there is anything more important than living, that would be a serious misunderstanding.
Colton agreed with this.
“No wrongdoing can compare to the importance of life.”
Once dead, nothing can be done.
Even if one gathers their twisted feelings.
Even if one makes a great resolve.
Ultimately, one must live to be able to do anything.
*****
I have received a hint.
The center of the world.
The answer lies there. It may be a story that has nothing to do with me, but just in case, it would be better to check it myself.
“Have you decided where to go?”
“If it’s called the center of the world, there is only one place.”
There is no precise definition of the center of the world.
How vast is the continent, and to say to find its center—could it even be considered reasonable?
However, if there is a place that is ‘called’ so, then it exists.
“Few Inner. Is there anywhere else?”
“Just as I thought.”
The center of the empire, where the imperial palace is located, and the noble street. That place, where many significant matters of the empire are decided, is called the most splendid city.
“Didn’t you say you must not be found out yet?”
“It can’t be helped.”
I must accept it. I’m not someone who has lived too meekly; I have enough ability to wander around the capital like it’s my home and hide myself.
“If not that place, will you be wandering around the world again?”
“It seems so.”
There are no remaining hints or clues to find another way.
Meeting Colton through Sonya was almost a miracle.
For someone like me, the words left by member of the Dragon Clan are like the only hope.
“I sincerely hope fortune follows you.”
“Thank you.”
“Oh, and.”
At that moment, someone opened the creaking door and stepped out.
A girl with long black hair. It was Sonya.
“It seems my daughter has something to say. She’s been loitering around the door for a while.”
“You knew…?”
“Of course. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Yes….”
“Hahaha.”
Colton let out a hearty laugh at the unexpected response.
Looking at his face, it seems this is the first time he has such a conversation with his daughter.
“Go in and get some sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Mister, will you be here tomorrow too…?”
“Of course. I will do whatever it takes to keep him here.”
Sonya’s face brightened up.
Colton kept his eyes on her until she entered her room and said,
“My daughter does not know that I was a successful mercenary in my youth.”
“That could be.”
Sonya appears to be about seven or eight years old on the surface.
Even if you give her a bit more age, she is still in her early teens. Even with dragon blood, she is too young to recognize the strong.
“You’ll come to know later. I did too.”
No matter how late, within five years.
Sonya will realize the talent latent in her blood.
“I hope so. But my daughter seems to be uncomfortable with the fact that she is special. No matter how many times I tell her and warn her, she thinks she is just like an ordinary person.”
“I think that’s a good phenomenon.”
“That’s the problem. There is no justification to break that stubbornness.”
Her desire to live like an ordinary person.
It spread so thoroughly.
Colton dared not completely crush his daughter’s purity.
“I intended to respect her wishes and teach her how to conceal her dragon blood, but perhaps due to her young age, that didn’t go well.”
“Colton, you are a pureblood. The way of teaching itself might be wrong.”
“Then can you do it?”
“Me?”
It might be possible…
“I just said it, didn’t I?”
“What do you mean?”
“I will do whatever it takes to keep you here until tomorrow.”
“Ah.”
*****
Grandeum Imperial Palace.
Imperial Court.
Unlike usual, the place was bustling with the footsteps of attendants.
In a week, a banquet would be held here.
Not just any banquet, but one hosted directly by the current Empress, Epherna Grandeum.
There wasn’t any particular reason for the banquet. Recently, there had been a significant development in the trade between the shamans and the Empire, and this banquet was simply a party to celebrate that.
Thus, despite the attendants being busy, the office where the owner was working remained exceedingly calm.
Scribble Scribble—
The sound of a pen writing letters spread quietly. With perfect soundproofing, no outside noise could be heard, allowing the woman with brilliant golden hair to concentrate on her work.
Originally, her job was not to personally write commands for someone.
She would check the contents of documents proposed by her subordinates, stamp them if they seemed acceptable, and issue inspection orders if anything seemed off.
Although her assigned duties had halved since her days as a princess, the amount of work she was currently handling had actually increased.
She sought out additional tasks on her own. In these three years, the nation had grown prosperous, and the number of those unjustly starving had significantly decreased.
Yet, no one remained to protect Epherna.
“Your Majesty.”
At that moment.
The movement of her writing hand halted, and she looked up.
A woman who had been waiting for the right moment to speak to her.
Bergamot Katia.
Once her mentor, she was the empire’s greatest magician.
“How much of my report have you read?”
“Hmm.”
The report she referred to was a proposal regarding the Eastern Principality, which had been merged about a year ago.
The Principality had been temporarily governed by the Knight Commander Dairon, who took on a figurehead role after the war.
As it happened, Dairon was a nobleman holding the title of Count and was also a hero, giving him sufficient justification.
However, to be frank, it was not a role he could hold for a lifetime. At one point, she had seriously considered promoting Dairon to Marquis, but after years of contemplation, she concluded that it was not the right choice.
Because.
“Dairon is too rigid. He excels as a war leader, but he lacks the wisdom to govern a territory.”
Dairon lacked the qualities of a ruler.
Simon Lemea, the practical lord of the North.
Bergamot Katia, who had a capable deputy for her husband.
Unlike these two, Dairon was both deficient in his own wisdom and lacked reliable talents to support him.
“Indeed, it is a dilemma.”
If this was her only blunder, then it was indeed a blunder.
She had believed that the reliable Dairon would eventually show satisfactory results, yet she had only just realized that reliability and wisdom were different things.
“…”
The woman pondered deeply.
Naturally, it seemed appropriate to place a capable person as the ruler of the East instead of Dairon.
“Do you think the citizens of the Eastern Principality would willingly accept any ruler other than Dairon?”
That was correct. Knight Commander Dairon.
He had no ability to govern land and people, yet he had steadily built the trust of the citizens.
It was the result of his own diligent efforts, but that was the problem.
If one thinks that the world runs solely on faith and trust, that is a grave misunderstanding.
Having faith is nice, but if wisdom does not accompany it, it is worse than useless.
“…That is indeed a problem.”
Even Bergamot had nothing to say about that.
“I’m sorry. I thought it was a good plan. Your Majesty, you were thinking of this before me, weren’t you?”
Epherna nodded.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Don’t skip dinner today, and get plenty of sleep. I’ll check tomorrow, so you know you can’t miss it, right?”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
After Bergamot, who offered her advice until the end, left, she was left alone in the spacious room. Merien had gone to get the tea.
Quite a bit of time had passed, so it shouldn’t take long for her to return.
However.
The woman felt loneliness.
She couldn’t stand the brief moment and began to have a fit.
“…Shut up and be quiet.”
She ordered herself.
“Didn’t you decide to hate that worthless man?”
Her trembling body shrank as if frightened.
“I said I would not forget. That should be enough. What more do you want?”
The woman continued to burn her vibrating arm by herself.
After three years, the skin of the high-ranking magician had no burn marks, but the pain was clear.
And with that pain.
Epherna was able to forget a certain emotion that was stabbing deep in her heart.
*****
Let’s think for a moment.
How did I end up here?
I was clearly heading towards the center…
“Hey! Are you coming? If you don’t show up in ten seconds, I’m just leaving!”
“Ah… Yes! I’m coming now!”
Why did I come to the Eastern Principality?