Chapter 140

Lawrence crossed his legs arrogantly and spoke in a dismissive tone.

“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 particular reaction and simply sipped my tea slowly. I had nothing to say to him and nothing to hear. I wasn’t naive enough to show wholehearted courtesy in front of the person who had poisoned my tea.

In the quiet silence, only the birdsong outside the window indicated the passage of time.

“Raven. That was your doing.”

In the end, it was Lawrence who was in a hurry.

I tilted my head with the 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 swear because I can’t?

But raising my voice over such low-level 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’s how I had to appear.

I repeatedly hypnotized myself: when it comes to the Crown Prince, I am more relaxed than anyone.

“It is true I made the suggestion. To be honest, I didn’t expect the Prince to come with me—into such a dangerous area. But wasn’t the 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. Clap. Clap. Three times. I could see a vein stand out at his temple.

“You did something unnecessary.”

I didn’t reply and only gave a faint smile.

“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, unable to restrain himself, 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 trigger something in him 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, please 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 psychopathic nature, the Crown Prince put on a nonchalant act.

“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 just shrugged my shoulders.

“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.”

Worried about what he’d say next, my eyebrow twitched.

He flashed a faintly sour smile as if finding it very intriguing.

“I heard you have a lover.”

“…!”

This time I was a step too late.

Has it already leaked? Or was someone planted in the plague area?

Still, I had barred those with warped sympathies who looked like Crown Prince cronies from entering the camp. Besides, their work was so poor they wouldn’t have been selected as supervisors anyway.

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

From his look, it seemed the witness only saw a figure wrapped in a robe. If he’d known it was Ren, he wouldn’t have come so politely to inquire; he’d have trampled my pride, calling 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 responded nonchalantly, as if saying, ‘Ah—ah— that.’ At that, the Crown Prince’s curiosity seemed to subside a bit.

“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 a nonsensical offer, seeing only what his eyes wanted. I calmly poured tea into my cup and leisurely took a sip.

“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, you’re quite industrious. A desirable talent, Chancellor.”

“…”

It seemed the Crown Prince’s mind was already filled with images of me enjoying a tryst. In any case, it looked like the 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 to make me his aide. Lawrence stood and looked down at me as I sat.

“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 treats even his allies like flies?

A son of a—terrible at negotiation too.

Aside from a passable face, from head to toe he is utterly unfit to be Emperor. His looks even pale compared to Ren’s.

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

Status here is too gangster-like. If I acted on impulse, it wouldn’t end in the police station but in an execution, so I’m holding back.

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

This will also serve as preliminary preparation for the Emperor’s birthday and Prince Raven’s political return banquet. Besides, someone in our department knows 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 chess 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 being 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, raised keenly.

“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 I’d met at the monthly meeting—he had a snake-like, inscrutable air.

“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. Moreover, they still hold significant wealth.”

Wait a moment, 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 let out 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 fight of pride.”

The behavior that can’t even tell friend from husband is exactly like that boss’s subordinate.

“Third is the Vainglory Count family. That is, it’s 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.”

But their high noble positions remain, so they’ll be active at banquets and elsewhere. The one who attended the monthly meeting seemed to be another member of the family.

“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 supporting 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 knew, but it was interesting that the relationship between Duke Seref and the Vain the Marquess family ended that way. Having it listed from the perspective of the Crown Prince’s circle made things feel much clearer in my head.

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

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

It was surprising that someone who seemed uninterested in parties would ask such a question.

“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…”

“What do you mean…?”

I soon understood what Eldo meant.