"I'm sorry, have you been waiting long?"
It took the princess less than five minutes to bring the tea. I had turned the document over so she couldn't see that I had looked at it. A teapot, from which steam was gently rising, was placed on top of it.
As a stream of rose-colored tea was poured before me, I watched it for a moment before speaking cautiously.
"I am of low birth, so I don't know much about noble etiquette or the ways of the Imperial Family, but receiving tea poured by Your Highness the Princess seems problematic, even at a glance."
"Most problems become problems because people treat them as such."
She was right. Sharmia spoke with a bright smile.
"So, which story would you like to hear first? Ah, perhaps you're not curious about the time Karos tried to bake butter cookies and ended up with a lump of charcoal?"
"I'm very curious. But I'm in a bit of a hurry."
I quietly wet my lips with the tea and spoke firmly.
"I've already come here knowing a certain amount about my past. Was I not born in some small city in a desert?"
"Oh, really?"
Sharmia clapped her hands in surprise.
"How surprising! It was so difficult for me, too! If you've already reached that point... hmm, this has become a little troublesome."
"Troublesome, you say?"
"Ehehe, to be honest, I don't know much about Rahashan. Jern might know more than I do."
"Rahashan, you say."
I rolled the pronunciation around in my mouth. It was completely unfamiliar. I placed my elbows on the desk, leaned my upper body forward, and asked.
"Where is this city located?"
"It's a small country in a distant, western desert. Though it's closer to a city, they insist on calling themselves a country."
"And the Empire just left it be?"
"A lion that goes out of its way to catch a mouse, isn't that laughable?"
I understood immediately how the Empire treated my homeland. Not much different from the elves, then.
"Finding Jern's city was no easy task. At first, I scoured every nation and city under the Empire's jurisdiction, looking for a missing noble's child."
"A noble's child? Why would you specifically look for—" "Because Jern had a certain grace," Sharmia said flatly.
"Look at you now. You instinctively put down your teacup without making a sound. That's something you can't do without being taught."
"It means you received strict etiquette training from a young age. Even if you don't remember it."
She was completely on the wrong track. Sharmia proudly presented her ridiculous deduction.
"But there weren't that many missing noble children, so I had no choice but to check on children who weren't missing as well—and voila, a childhood picture of Jern turned up."
"How did you know it was me by comparing that child to me now?"
"Jern."
Sharmia looked at me as if it were funny and giggled.
"You may not know this, but you're still very young, Jern."
"... I suppose that's true."
I shrugged.
Similar hair, similar eyes, similar age. There were many elements to base a guess on.
"To be honest, I couldn't connect that child with you either. What convinced me was this portrait."
"...?"
Sharmia slid a painting toward me. In it was a boy who looked similar to me. He was very frail, with slumped shoulders—but the use of expensive paints on high-quality parchment made the color expression outstanding.
I narrowed my eyes and examined the painting.
"Who is this?"
"I believe he might be Jern's twin brother?"
Wondering what she was talking about, I looked at the painting more closely— And I could truly see a few resemblances to myself. ... No, it was more than a resemblance.
"This is me...?"
"That's what I thought, too."
He resembled me so much I wondered how I hadn't noticed. Of course, the clothes, the expression, the hairstyle, and the build were different. But if you looked closely, all the detailed physical features were the same as mine, enough to mistake us for twins.
"It's just that the feeling is completely different."
"The child in this painting looks unconfident and full of fear, appearing frail... whereas my first impression of Jern was the complete opposite. " "You wouldn't know unless you looked closely."
"This child's parents, by any chance..."
"Hmm, they never filed a missing person report."
Sharmia smiled gently and handed me a few other paintings. They were all of me. A child similar to me, but with a completely different atmosphere.
As I checked the paintings, I sorted out the situation. There is another me who isn't missing. That's why they didn't look for me.
"One thing—" "It doesn't seem like the sort of dreadful place where they'd bear a child and kill it over succession rights."
"The husband and wife seem to get along well. However, it's said they have practically no family, and that crime has been increasing sharply lately."
"... Did you foresee this?"
"No. But I know you, Jern. I thought you might ask about things like this."
There it was again. That way of speaking, as if to say, 'I know you.' I gathered the paintings neatly and bowed my head low.
"I see. Thank you. Thanks to you, I think I'll be able to find my way to my homeland."
"Oh, it's something I should have given you before. I hope you can meet your parents."
"..."
I couldn't give a definite answer. I didn't know the full situation, but it seemed certain that my twin brother or younger sibling was an only child. Assuming the best-case scenario, I was a distant relative who just happened to look like him.
The worst-case scenario was that I was intentionally abandoned. Even if I believed everything the princess said, one cannot easily know the hidden sorrows of the past. The most plausible explanation was that I was an unwanted child and was therefore excluded.
In that case, visiting without a plan is not a good idea. Though I do have to go.
"... Jern, you seem to be in a difficult position."
"Hn."
Was it because I was lost in thought? My Tide Sense failed to do its job. Sharmia's hand had reached out and touched mine.
The warmth of her hand spread to me. She wore a benevolent smile that seemed to hold only goodwill as she spoke in a whisper.
"If it's not too much of an imposition—would it be alright if I offered a little help?"
"What do you mean?"
"It seems Jern truly wishes to meet his parents. But going all alone might feel unsettling... isn't that right?"
"Well, yes, something like that."
"In that case—how about going with my name to back you up?"
"..."
It was a proposal as sweet as Sharmia's voice. After all, it was a country that survived on the Empire's goodwill. The moment they laid a hand on an envoy sent by the princess, their very existence would become a dream.
"If Jern were to work with me, I could do this much for you anytime, but..."
"That's not possible."
"I thought so, didn't I?"
I said it flatly. Sharmia smiled bitterly, but as if she had expected it, she brought out her next proposal.
"No matter what, I am a princess, you know? There are many cases where people offer tribute of a carriage full of gold just for a single word from me."
"Hmm, I think I could fill one with copper."
"Really? The market price for a lump of copper these days is... about this much?"
After seeing the amount written on the paper, I changed my words.
"Still, about half of it..."
"I would gladly accept half a carriage of copper filled with Jern's heart, but it's a little insufficient to move me, a princess."
"Then there's nothing to be done."
The princess's help would be better than anything, but if I can't persuade her, then it can't be helped. As I tried to stand up from my seat, she stopped me with a slightly twisted smile.
"Could you lend me your master for a short while?"
"My master? What would you use her for?"
"Use her... ahem, isn't that a bit of a strong word?"
"Ah, my apologies. What would you employ her for?"
"... It's nothing else, but my lovely younger sister, Lumia, has been whining an awful lot lately."
Lumia, I had forgotten. She was a princess, too. Her older sister was so perfect that there was no comparison.
"So, to cheer her up, I wanted to have her take one of Dersia's lessons..."
"You really shouldn't do that."
Dersia and Lumia. I couldn't even imagine what kind of change would occur if those two met. Knowing their personalities, Lumia would probably be beaten to a pulp, and Dersia would receive a death sentence.
"It won't be for long. Just three days! If you promise to help me for just that long, I'll do my best to repay you. And as for Lumia, I can speak to her sternly so that no problems arise."
"... Yes, well, I understand."
In the past, I would have dared not say I could move Dersia. And it wouldn't be much different in the future, but at least at this point, it was plain to see that all of Dersia's actions were tinged with apology toward me. So, she would probably grant me this favor.
"I will do it."
"A wise decision."
As Sharmia smiled, a question suddenly occurred to me, and I asked.
"But what exactly is the method you're planning to help me with? Should I just go there and say I'm an envoy who has come on the princess's orders?"
"Haah, Jern."
Sharmia answered with an expression that was half smugness and half ridicule, one that made you want to hit her.
"I have been delegated a great deal of authority by His Majesty the Emperor. It is to be used in emergencies, so I suppose it can't be helped."
"And so?"
"Hmm, please wait a moment."
Looking at me, Sharmia wrote two documents with hands moving so fast they were a blur. In less than two minutes, she rolled up the papers, stood up, and said in a stern tone.
"Jern. Come here and kneel."
"?"
"Ahem. It is an imperial command."
Forcibly hiding the feeling that I wanted to beat up the prophet, the princess, and everyone else, I got down from the table and knelt on one knee. She then tapped my shoulder a few times with the rolled-up paper.
"From this moment on—Jern Aspandil, I appoint you as my personal imperial envoy."
"I don't like 'personal'."
"... I'll just appoint you as an imperial envoy. Sir Jern."
I had received a title. Was it really this easy? Suppressing the materialistic thought that I could make a fortune selling offices, I humbly accepted the rolled-up paper.
"And this is your first mission. Please check it."
The unfurled paper was filled with detailed matters concerning a business trip to Rahashan. I'll have to read it later. I put the paper in my back pocket and expressed my gratitude.
"I don't think you needed to go as far as giving me a title, but thank you."
"Uh. Um...?"
"Is something wrong?"
Baffled by my calm demeanor, Sharmia tilted her head and asked.
"It feels strange for me to say it, but shouldn't you be a little more grateful to me or at a loss for what to do... isn't that how it's supposed to be? You received a title, your status has been reversed, you're not a commoner anymore..."
"It does feel a bit anticlimactic."
"... You're an imperial envoy, though? Anywhere you go, if you say 'I'm an envoy of the Imperial Family,' you can stay in the best room in that city, you know???"
"I have my own workshop."
I understood that it was a good thing. I thought I also knew what Sharmia wanted. She was probably expecting me to constantly use my authority as an envoy and get entangled with her.
But once this job is over, I will immediately tear it up and ask her to take the title back. Getting tied up in a master-servant relationship would just be a hassle. And perhaps dangerous.
Still, when I weighed the risk of getting involved with the princess against knowing about my past right now, the scale tipped slightly toward the latter. Sharmia reluctantly nodded her head in acceptance.
"I-I see."
"It was a good deal. Then, I wish you peace."
"Ah, just a moment."
"Is there something more you wish to say?"
"... No matter what, an imperial envoy cannot travel alone, so I will assign you an escort detail tomorrow."
"Thank you."
I hurried out before she could say anything more. Getting deeply involved with a prophet is a losing game for me. -Thud. As soon as I closed the door and came out, I saw the knight in black armor standing where the guard had been.
Had she been waiting? I swallowed dryly and offered a greeting.
"... A pleasure to see you, Karos."
"..."
After a brief silence, she moved. It was probably a sign to follow. I knew the way, but not wanting to show it, I followed her quietly.
"What did you discuss with Her Highness the Princess?"
"Just, you know..."
I became an envoy and will be leaving for my hometown tomorrow. That was about it. I felt like she would have a fit if I told her I had become an envoy.
I brought up another topic.
"We talked about how you, Sir Karos, turned cookies into charcoal."
Only after saying it did I realize. Wasn't this also a topic that could make her have a fit?
"... Huuu."
But instead of getting angry, Karos let out a sigh so heavy it was audible even through her armor.
"Sir. Jern."
"Yes. No, if you're angry, I'm sorry. The story wasn't meant to be taken seriously—" "I have never baked cookies with Her Highness the Princess."
"...?"
Is she denying it out of embarrassment? But the color of her tone was far too serious for that.
"I must have taken a joke Her Highness the Princess told me seriously."
"It probably wasn't a joke." -Rumble...
Karos placed a hand on the wall, opening a secret door, and muttered bitterly. Numerous secret passages opened at once. It felt like what they call a shortcut in games.
"I probably did burn cookies while baking them with her at some point."
"..."
Understanding what Karos was trying to say, I shut my mouth.
"You are mistaken. That is a glimpse she sometimes shows, of the me from that side and the me of now."
"... I see."
The moonlight shone brightly. Gazing at the beautiful Imperial Palace even at dawn, Karos murmured in a low voice.
"I cannot trust you. According to what Her Highness the Princess has said, you are my enemy and the enemy of the Empire."
"But I love the Empire. As long as I am in my right mind, I will never raise a hand against it."
"That is precisely why a leash is needed, or so I thought."
Why were there so many women in the Empire who did not abide by Imperial law? As I felt a sense of lament, she bowed her head low.
"You may hate me. But please do not misunderstand Her Highness the Princess's true intentions."
"I don't misunderstand her. She seems to be an exceptional person who works diligently for the Empire."
"I find the word 'diligently' to be far too trivial. That person—how much of her time has she given up for the peace of the Empire?"
Her clenched gauntlet trembled.
"If you are not an enemy of the Empire... I implore you to become Her Highness's ally. The fact that she desires you must mean you are that useful."
"Hmm."
A plea, or rather, a supplication bordering on a beg. The moonlight reflected off her armor, but it was so black that it looked no different from a shadow. What a deeply loyal knight, I thought, as I headed toward the back gate of the Imperial Palace and answered seriously.
"If that is what you think, then please relay this to Her Highness Sharmia."
"... What is it—" "If she wants to use me as her limb, she should at least let me know what her head is thinking."
"That is—!"
Karos was about to shout but clamped her mouth shut. She couldn't tell me everything yet. That was the meaning.
In that case, I too had only one thing to convey.
"My apologies for the intrusion so late at night."
"... You may come to regret this."
"Yes. Are you referring to this decision?"
If it helps me, I can even jump into a fire. But I cannot jump into a hole when I do not know what is inside. Because that is not an adventure, it is a gamble.
"The only one who wouldn't do that would be Her Highness the Princess." -Thud.