16-2 The Prince’s True Face

Michael was sitting in front of the desk in his office—or rather, his own room—with his arms folded and a difficult look on his face.

There was also tea in front of him, which one of his subordinates had quietly placed there so as not to disturb him, but he was so focused in deep thought that even that did not enter his eyes.

His bright blond hair had been grown slightly long.

And his eyes were a deep blue filled with an intelligent light.

His nose was finely shaped, and his lips were soft and well-formed.

Perhaps his face reflected his inner heart, because despite the harsh nature of the work he carried, he gave off no cruel impression at all.

A noble young man looked picturesque even with a difficult expression.

(There has been movement in the Empire. But something is odd. Normally, I would not expect them to launch a full-scale war before the harsh winter climate, but something is definitely strange. They should be setting something up. As an intelligence specialist, I vaguely feel something close to certainty. No, let us stop that. They are coming. They will definitely come. I am certain of it…)

It seemed that Michael felt that way.

“Perhaps I should make a move here.

I will meet Granburst today.

Apparently, he is also visiting Emilio today.

Let us go there at once while pretending to be casual.”

After murmuring that to himself, he moved into action as swiftly as his epithet suggested.

The second prince, Michael, casually came to visit His Highness Prince Emilio’s room.

“Hello, hello, my adorable Emilio. Have you been well?”

“Ah, Brother Michael!

Yes.

I was just having Al tell me all sorts of stories.

Stories about the country of the Rare Visitors are very interesting.”

Oh, that sounds fascinating.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me with an expression that seemed to say that.

“Good day, Lord Granburst. How are things at the Beast-Ear Garden?”

Hmm.

So this man had come here because he had some business with me, not his younger brother.

I understood it without any logical connection, in my usual way.

But it did not feel unpleasant.

Rather, it felt favorable, or perhaps like something I had to receive that way and respond accordingly.

“Yes, they are going reasonably well. Also, as a year-end event, we have the school performance.”

“If you do not mind, could we speak in my room? I have obtained some extremely good tea. Emilio, it is about time for your studies.”

“Yes. My teacher will be here soon.”

So he had come after watching for the right timing after all.

If he wanted to speak with me, then it was probably a pending matter related to the Empire.

It seemed I would be able to hear something interesting.

“That sounds good. Then I shall intrude on you now. Well then, Your Highness Prince Emilio, see you again. Please do come watch the school performance.”

“Wow, I’m looking forward to it.”

After leaving His Highness Prince Emilio’s room, I brought up a topic as we walked.

“Come to think of it, Your Highness Michael, you are quite light on your feet. Your elder brother gave me the impression of being somewhat slow to move.”

“Ahaha, that is my defining trait. I am allowed to handle all sorts of things.”

All sorts… of things, huh.

I understood.

This man was probably in charge of intelligence, information processing, and fields like that.

That was why, if he normally acted like that, it would not be strange for him to be anywhere, and it would also be fine even if he was absent.

On the other hand, behind the scenes, he was probably running around busily.

What a hardworking person.

From this man, I smelled none of that suspiciousness like Nielsen’s.

He was clearly the type who worked himself to the bone.

There was not even a trace of baseness in his features.

In Japan, people often said, “Before thirty, you have the face your parents gave you; after thirty, you have the face you made yourself,” but for this man under thirty, perhaps it was both.

This man and his parents were unmistakably people who carried Funabashi’s bloodline.

When we arrived at the room, not a maid but someone who seemed to be a subordinate briskly brewed tea for us.

Depending on how you looked at it, this prince’s private room itself might be the central hub of this country’s intelligence activities.

First, I decided to have the tea.

Oh, this was quite good.

His tastes in various things were not bad.

His choice of tea sweets was good too.

They were nothing like those overly sweet, sugar-coated things.

Even from a single sweet that was served, this man’s true nature could be seen through it.

“By the way, is what you wanted to discuss related to the Empire? Do you have something you want to ask of me?”

“You cut straight to the point. Well, that is certainly true.”

“I personally like people who get to the point quickly. I would like to hear what you have to say right away.”

“Then I shall state it plainly. I want you to go to the Empire.”

“Oh? What is the aim behind that?”

I asked, sounding as if I were slightly weighing him up.

Telling someone he had barely associated with until now to suddenly go to that sort of country could not be a trivial matter.

“The truth is, we have seen some movement in the Empire. However, that movement feels somehow strange and difficult to grasp. But they will definitely come. They will attack this place. I am certain of that. How should I put it? I cannot explain it well, but for some reason, I feel that you would understand that sort of thing.”

Oh.

So there was someone like a fellow of mine in a place like this.

Was this what they called professional intuition?

There were probably many people like that in this line of work.

That was right. You were exactly right.

They would definitely come.

They were plotting something.

“If I send you, a wild one, into the Empire, something will definitely move on their side. I feel that if we thoroughly investigate when that movement appears, we may learn something.”

“You are the top person in charge of intelligence in the kingdom, are you not?”

“That is exactly right.”

The prince said it without the slightest hesitation.

So he was treating it as something I naturally knew, was he?

“Understood. However, I am a little busy right now, so I can only spare two or three days. In exchange, I will respond to your requests. I also cannot stand having them attack the Beast-Ear Garden again. Also, please pass their information on to me as well.”

“Understood. I will certainly promise you that. No, I am grateful that you are someone who understands quickly.”

“Then how should I do it?”

“Do not use teleportation magic. Enter the Empire officially.

And make a proper display of yourself.

Something like the arrival of the duke-killing Spirit Demon King.”

“Then I will go now. I will make sure to show my face at the local embassy.”

The moment I said that, I vanished from the spot using teleportation magic.

“That is the first time I have ever seen someone with lighter footwork than mine…”

The person known as Michael of the Gale murmured with a sullen expression.

Well, I had properly left behind a hidden camera.

Just to see that face.