140

Lawrence crossed his legs with an arrogant air and spoke dismissively.

“I told you. Since I stopped by the Ministry of Justice, I thought I’d take the chance to see you.”

I smiled faintly and brought the teacup to my lips.

“Is that so. I thought you’d come to admire the state I’m in after suffering in the plague area.”

“That too, incidentally.”

“Are you satisfied now that you’ve seen me?”

“Not really. Maybe it’s because some time has passed, but you’re not much different from before. Below expectations.”

“What a pity.”

I made no visible reaction and sipped my tea slowly. I had nothing to say to him and nothing to hear. I wasn’t naive enough to pretend warmth in front of the man who had poisoned my tea.

Outside the window, only the birdsong marked the passing of time.

“Raven. That was your doing.”

In the end it was Lawrence who grew impatient.

I tilted my head, teacup in hand, and smiled.

“What do you mean?”

“You were the one who took Raven to the plague area, weren’t you?”

What? “Bitch”? That bastard. Do you think I don’t know how to curse?

Still, raising my voice over such a petty provocation would be amateurish.

Are you in a hurry? I’m not in the least. I won’t give you any information you want. That had to be my posture.

I reminded myself: when it comes to the Crown Prince, I remain unflappable.

“It is true I suggested it. To be honest, I didn’t expect the Prince to come with me into such a dangerous area. But wasn’t approval granted by His Majesty? Is there a problem? Ah, as Your Highness said, I, a fitting talent, went and dealt with the plague. Excellent judgment.”

I clapped—once, twice, three times. A vein throbbed at his temple.

“You did something unnecessary.”

I gave only a faint smile and stayed silent.

“You’d better behave moderately. I’m letting you off, after all.”

“I truly— I can’t possibly understand what you’re talking about…”

Lawrence lost his temper and raised his voice.

“Why don’t you pretend not to know and behave?”

“What could someone like me possibly do to Crown Prince Raven? He’s of noble royal blood and will handle things himself, surely. He seemed clever. I did nothing.”

That seemed to set him off again.

“Clever? The Chancellor has no eye for people. No wonder, then, that the people who keep close to you are all of that caliber…”

“Truly wonderful people. I, too, happen to have something I’d like to say to His Highness the Crown Prince. If there are any Chancellery documents you’d like to see, tell me in advance. I’ll deliver them immediately.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I was told there were signs someone attempted to break into our department while I was away.”

True to his cruel nature, he affected casualness.

“The traces related to the targeted documents somehow… seemed like a topic His Highness the Crown Prince might be interested in.”

“Ha. I’m speechless. Do you even have any proof?”

I shrugged.

“Well. I only asked because I thought Your Highness might know better.”

“You’re talking nonsense. I’ll put an end to this low-level conversation. By the way, I heard some interesting news.”

A twitch ran through my eyebrow at the hint of gossip.

He flashed a faintly sour smile as if delighted by the prospect.

“I heard you have a lover.”

…!

I was a step too slow this time.

Had it already leaked? Or had someone been planted in the plague area?

I had barred those with warped sympathies—those who resembled the Crown Prince’s cronies—from entering the camp. Besides, their work was so sloppy they wouldn’t have been chosen as supervisors.

“They say he came when the Chancellor was infected. Someone? A noble I know?”

From his expression, the witness had seen only a figure wrapped in a robe. If he’d known it was Ren, he wouldn’t have inquired politely; he’d have trampled my pride and called it preposterous.

He was genuinely curious.

“Ah, it’s not to the extent that His Highness the Crown Prince would know. Just as I’m not curious about His Highness’s secret lover.”

I answered lightly—an “ah, is that so”—and the Crown Prince’s curiosity seemed to ease a little.

“Well, I suppose so. In truth, a seat of power also needs such an outlet. This time I’ll understand the Chancellor. It’s true you’re an attractive beauty. If you want, I can introduce men who meet your conditions—just say the word. But I thought you were special because you went all the way to the plague area.”

He made the offer as if seeing only what pleased him. I calmly refilled my cup and sipped.

“Who in their right mind would send their lover to a plague area? With a stranger showing up, apparently many people like to talk.”

“True enough. Heh. I heard you’re busy with work, but seeing you still do everything yourself, you’re quite industrious. A desirable talent, Chancellor.”

…His imagination was already painting me in some scandalous scene. In any case, it seemed the immediate danger had passed.

“Seeing you like this, the Chancellor does have some humane aspects, doesn’t he? My previous offer still stands, so if you think about it, come see me.”

He meant the scout offer—making me his aide. Lawrence rose and looked down at my seated figure.

“You’d do well to remember my words. A worm is a worm.”

Then he flung the door open and left. I raised my middle finger at his retreating back.

“Ugh.”

Why should I serve a man who treated even his allies like flies?

Son of a—terrible at negotiation, too.

Aside from a passable face, from head to toe he was utterly unfit to be Emperor. Even his looks paled beside Ren’s.

“If he weren’t royal, I’d verbally beat him up.”

Status here made everything brutal. If I acted on impulse, it wouldn’t end in the police station but in an execution, so I kept my restraint.

I need to find out what backer makes him so confident.

This would also serve as preliminary preparation for the Emperor’s birthday and Prince Raven’s political return banquet. Besides, someone in our department knew more about the Crown Prince’s close associates than anyone.

“You called?”

It was Eldo. Since my return, his complexion had improved considerably.

“I called you because I had something to ask. Sit down.”

“Speak.”

“The banquet is coming up soon. I think we need to clearly understand Lawrence the Crown Prince’s close associates.”

“I see.”

He tilted his head and began to explain.

“You know I’m not the Crown Prince’s right-hand man, right?”

“I know.”

“I’m also just one of many pieces, so I don’t know everything. I’ll tell you about the high-ranking nobles attending this banquet as far as my knowledge goes. Counts like me and baronial houses are wielded by higher nobles, so I can’t say precisely how many there are or who they all are.”

“That’s fine. Better than ignorance.”

Eldo’s sharp eyes, matching his twig-like frame, brightened.

“First is Duke Seref. As the Chancellor knows, the Crown Prince’s fiancée is Lady Seref, so there couldn’t be a more certain alliance than this.”

I recalled the elderly gentleman from the monthly meeting—snake-like and inscrutable.

“Second is the Vain the Marquess family. Due to scandal and corruption, Marcus the Marquess stepped down from the Chancellor post. The family’s standing has fallen greatly, but they remain bona fide high nobility. They still hold significant wealth.”

Wait—if that’s the case…

“They’re both in the Crown Prince’s faction—so Duke Seref and Marcus the Marquess were the ones involved in that mess?”

Eldo gave a hollow laugh.

“At the time, His Highness the Crown Prince was indeed troubled. In the end he called the two of them and forced a resolution. The Chief Justice and the Minister of Finance pursued it relentlessly, so it’s now a temporary truce.”

“Work is work, love is love—something like that?”

“There’s hardly any love between nobles. It’s political marriage. Especially among high nobility. It’s more like a contest of pride.”

The behavior that couldn’t tell friend from husband was exactly like that boss’s subordinate.

“Third is the Vainglory Count family. That is, the family of Dorian, who was a first-grade secretary in the Chancellery. He was held in custody for a time until the Crown Prince saved him and spared his life. However, Marcus and Dorian can never hold office again in their lifetimes. They were also levied enormous fines.”

Their noble ranks remained, so they’d still appear at banquets. The man I saw at the monthly meeting seemed to be another family member.

“Finally, the Cassius Count family. It’s the family of Lord Gerard, who is currently the Marshal. Their status rose rapidly after the large personnel reshuffle.”

There were more influential families backing the Crown Prince than I had expected.

“What about the other families?”

“They’re all pro-Emperor or neutral. In particular, the Fortuna Grand Ducal family firmly supports His Majesty the Emperor, so the Crown Prince cannot move rashly.”

Overall it was information I mostly knew, but seeing the Crown Prince’s circle laid out made the picture much clearer.

“Good. I’ll have to see them at the banquet.”

“By the way, Chancellor, have you chosen a partner for the banquet?”

I was surprised that someone who seemed uninterested in society would ask that.

“No. There’s still time; can’t I decide slowly?”

“Hmm… it would be better to decide quickly, though.”

“Why?”

“You’re so well-versed in affairs, yet woefully ignorant about society.”

“…Eh?”

“There are more than a few who covet the seat beside the Chancellor. It will become bothersome…”

Slowly, I understood what Eldo meant.