Bergamot Katia.
She was once Epherna’s teacher, someone I would see every day without fail, and now, she stands before me.
“…Why are you here?”
“Is it strange that I’ve returned to my domain?”
“I heard you were staying in the imperial palace…”
“Indeed. Quite the big coincidence, isn’t it?”
“…”
For a moment, we stared at each other in silence.
We weren’t sure if our presence was real, or if it was truly us, and if it was, we couldn’t easily decide what stance to take.
What should I do?
Bergamot is a loyal servant of Epherna.
Having had ties to Epherna for a long time, she would report everything about today, without missing a single detail.
“Do not inform the Princess… I mean, Epherna.”
“Why should I do that?”
“There’s something I must do. It must not be discovered.”
“Is what you must do more important than revealing your survival to Her Highness?”
“When I finish what must be done, I will speak to her myself.”
“You don’t have enough justification to persuade me.”
That’s true.
The Personal Guard, which should have been protecting the imperial family, had disappeared for three years while supposedly dead.
It’s hard to imagine the imperial palace not being notified of her survival, but now I’m asking her to keep it a secret. From her point of view, she must be incredibly confused about what I’m thinking.
“Can’t you just let it go?”
“Do you understand the situation Her Majesty is in?”
“I’ve heard roughly.”
“From your reaction, it seems like you’ve only heard a little.”
“…”
Again.
After Simon, now Bergamot.
They both speak as if I am underestimating Epherna’s current condition.
So I asked.
“What’s her condition, then?”
“It’s more serious than words can express.”
“It’s the same for me.”
“Are you not worried about her?”
“Of course not.”
I now realize that Epherna’s situation is worse than I imagined.
The reason is my death and the resulting emotional turmoil, and that without me, her suffering will only grow day by day.
I understand, but…
“I am worried. If I fail to properly handle this trial, I may never return to Epherna.”
“What trial have you undergone?”
“With my survival and life as the price, the old gods have told me to find my name. But the condition is that Epherna cannot discover the true nature of this trial.”
“What happens if you don’t find it?”
“My life will cease to exist again.”
“…”
Because my life is at stake,
In the end, Bergamot nodded and promised to keep my survival a secret.
“So where are you heading now? If it’s not far, I can teleport you there.”
“To the Imperial Palace.”
Bergamot furrowed her brow.
“Are you kidding me?”
I’ve been persuading her this whole time not to let Epherna discover my survival, but now I’m saying I’ll walk into her shadow myself.
I can understand her being stunned, but there’s nothing I can do.
The only clue points to that place, so I have to go there.
“What else can I do?”
I shrugged.
Then I talked about the journey I had experienced since my resurrection, hoping to get some help from her, as she is knowledgeable not only in magic but also in history.
“Hmm… The center of the world.”
“Is there anywhere other than the Imperial Palace that comes to mind?”
Bergamot continued with a teasing tone.
“Is there? The land of the world isn’t just the continent. If you include the sea, finding the center of the world is practically impossible.”
The center of the world, even if only abstractly expressed, is the Imperial Palace.
“I know why you thought of the Imperial Palace, but I think it might not be the center after all. If you consider the land of the continent, neither the capital nor the Imperial Palace can be considered the center.”
“Then is there another place?”
“I think…”
*****
“That’s how I ended up here…”
“Wasn’t I persuasive enough?”
Inside the dark and cold steel bars,
Having been captured by Dairon’s knight order, I’m speaking up.
Dairon’s loyalty is so vast it could span the Pacific Ocean, so I had to brainwash him into thinking all of this was for Epherna’s sake.
“…I’ll release you for now.”
“Ah, that took quite a while.”
Why did it take over an hour just to convince him?
There wasn’t much conversation, and I had to keep talking without rest.
After the handcuffs and magic seal were removed, Dairon turned his back and headed somewhere, and I followed him and asked.
“Excuse me, Sir Dairon, what would you have done if my persuasion hadn’t been enough?”
“I would’ve sent you to the Imperial Palace in custody. Your punishment is best left to Her Majesty’s judgment.”
Did he always speak casually?
I can’t quite recall.
He’s usually a man with no gift for words, so I don’t remember his usual tone.
“I’ll provide a place for you to stay for the time being. But I don’t think I can help you with the search for the name you’re looking for.”
“I understand.”
It’s not about finding any object; it’s about finding my name.
Even if I were looking for my parents, I would need to search a vast area, and in doing so, the chances are high that my name would spread beyond the duchy and even reach the capital.
“I can introduce you to some rumors that have been circulating about the Dragon Clan. There are many. It’s said that the Dragon Clan, a blessed family, is in our village. Such rumors.”
“There are many of them in the Katya Duchy as well.”
The Dragon Clan, as rare as they are, exude a mysterious power that affects common people strongly.
Even now, magicians are desperate to study even a single drop of the Dragon Clan’s blood, and wanted posters for criminals who were mistaken for members of the Dragon Clan can be found scattered everywhere.
I had spent time trying to uncover the truth behind such rumors in the Katya Duchy, but there was no real progress.
It was all just inflated gossip.
“If you can find them, I’d be grateful. As for verifying the rumors, I’ll handle that myself.”
According to Bergamot’s speculation, the place once called the center of the world isn’t just the current Grandeum Imperial Palace.
Before the Grandeum Empire was established, there were many kingdoms scattered across the continent.
During those times, scholars from each kingdom would meet every year, and the reason was to share research and knowledge.
The world holds many mysteries, like magic, but it was impossible for a single lifetime to uncover all of them.
Thus, the scholars would gather every year to discuss various topics, and one of the topics was the center of the continent.
“Sir Dairon, do you care about the theory of the center of the continent?”
“The center of the continent would naturally be the Imperial Palace.”
“…”
It seems that he doesn’t know.
Rather than not knowing, it seems like he just has no interest.
Just then.
“Lord—!! Where are you—!!”
A shout broke my thoughts, and I turned my head.
A young man with gray hair and wearing monocles was running toward us, holding a thick stack of documents.
“You have to review all of these by today—!!”
Dairon’s face contorted in frustration as he looked at him.
“Please! Please, I beg you, don’t run away! There’s a mountain of problems caused because of you right now!!”
*****
Ruling a country is difficult, arduous, and, most importantly, a responsibility that follows.
Like the responsibility on the battlefield, one wrong decision could cause countless citizens to starve or die.
Dairon was terrified and uncertain.
If he were the commander on the battlefield, he could have made the best decision based on decades of experience and knowledge.
“You can’t ask me that… Every project has its pros and cons, and it’s up to you, my lord, to make the choice. I’ve already told you, I’m not exactly an expert in politics…”
You can’t take care of everyone.
Sometimes, you have to decisively give up on certain things.
This principle, the same as on the battlefield, only served to weigh Dairon down even more.
“…Fine. I’ll make the choice.”
But he had to make a decision, so Dairon, deep in thought, selected a project.
He stamped approval for the projects he would accept and returned those he would reject.
Having witnessed the scene, Ern found this process completely incomprehensible.
“…What are you doing?”
He, too, doesn’t consider himself an expert in politics.
But having watched the imperial affairs and political system from Epherna’s side for over four years, he could tell something was wrong with the way they were choosing the projects.
“Dairon, how do you think the Empire will turn out? How will the Empire move forward, and how will it change?”
By executing this project, how will the lives of the people in the Eastern Principality be affected?
It’s natural to foresee such a future, but any ruler should also be able to see beyond that.
“It’s good to think about the people’s lives. But how do you think the nobles will react if this project is executed? Do you think the royal family is automatically on your side? Do you think there will be no conflict when ruling a land as vast as the Empire?”
Ern was curious.
Why isn’t there a competent person around these politically naive people?
Epherna wouldn’t just leave the Eastern Principality…
No, the Duchy, like this, would she?
*****
Meanwhile, at that moment.
“Your Majesty.”
Merien, who had been reading while wearing monocles, relayed a message to Epherna.
“‘That person’ from the Eastern Duchy has something to report.”
At that moment.
Epherna lightly removed her monocles with a small gesture.
Then, with an expressionless face, she stood up from her seat.
“I’m watching.”
She quietly commanded.
“It’s time to prepare.”
