Chapter 77
Tsetsedra Delassa, the fourth prince of the Greedle Empire, gazed down at the table with a troubled expression. His fiancée, Luluria, sat beside him.
The two had only just met face-to-face, and yet, even alone together in a private room, there was no trace of a sweet atmosphere between them.
It was not that there was any serious problem with their relationship. In fact, they were close enough to sit side by side on the sofa.
The somber atmosphere was caused by a single letter placed on the table before them.
The letter's sender was Roa, a member of Rudek's Tenth Knight Order. He had looked after Luluria from the time her ship went adrift and Rudek rescued her until she reached the Greedle Empire.
When they parted, Roa gave Luluria two letters. One contained the recipe for her favorite dish, poge. That one posed no problem whatsoever.
The other was the letter now lying on the table.
Roa had said, "If possible, I'd like the two of you to read it together." They had opened it without much concern, expecting something celebratory, and were surprised to find a matter far from celebratory laid out in a calm, matter-of-fact manner.
'I heard an unsettling rumor from a merchant who travels in and out of Gederland. There is a possibility that the Second Prince, Filemas, and Minister Basol are plotting a rebellion. It seems the two of them are secretly gathering weapons through Gederland. Something bad may happen soon. It is only a rumor, but the source is reliable. How you handle this information is up to the two of you.'
For Tsetsedra, it was difficult to believe.
His elder brother Filemas was far more capable than Tsetsedra, and their father, Drak, placed great expectations on him. The difference in the expectations placed on them was obvious: while Tsetsedra had only been appointed a local lord, Filemas had been entrusted with command of the invasion of Rudek.
Even so, Tsetsedra had no complaints about his current position. He did not believe he had what it took to take on the emperor's responsibilities, as his elder brothers would. Supporting his brothers while serving as a local lord, as he did now, suited him just fine.
And yet, he still could not believe it.
Tsetsedra shook his head for what must have been the umpteenth time.
Luluria had been watching him. Perhaps sensing his distress, she gently placed her hand over his and spoke softly.
"Tsetsedra-sama, I understand why this has unsettled you. However, it seems that Roa is someone even Reiz-Stein-sama holds in high regard. I cannot imagine a person like that would leave such a letter behind without good reason."
"But could the letter itself be a trap? One intended to drive a wedge between my brother and me?"
Although he said it, Tsetsedra felt the possibility was unlikely. He had no evidence to support the idea. The impression he had formed of Roa when they met and spoke, and the contents of the letter, simply seemed somehow at odds.
"...Your concern is understandable. It is certainly possible that this is a trap."
Luluria's reply surprised Tsetsedra somewhat. He had thought she trusted Roa quite a bit, but perhaps she did not truly trust him as much as he had believed.
Perhaps sensing his thoughts once again, Luluria continued.
"What I mean is that this letter may not have been something Roa approved of. Even if Roa wrote it, someone else may have decided what it would say."
"I see..."
For example, it could be a scheme devised by Reiz-Stein. That possibility could not be ruled out. Even so, Tsetsedra looked once more at the profile of the woman who would soon be his wife.
She was remarkably quick-witted.
"What is it?"
When Luluria asked him, he hurriedly turned his face away. He could feel his face growing slightly warm.
"No, it's nothing. But what should we do...? Perhaps it would be best to inform Father..."
That would be the safest choice. But there was a problem. Father was currently supposed to be at the northern front with his elder brother Bittegald. They did not even know when this letter would reach him, and if it turned out to be false information, it would only cause needless confusion.
Alternatively, they could consult Sarysha-sama in the imperial capital...
"Um... Tsetsedra-sama, may I?"
"What is it?"
As Tsetsedra agonized over what to do, Luluria narrowed her eyes and gently brought her lips close to his ear.
"Why don't we investigate it ourselves first? It won't be too late to decide how to respond afterward, will it?"
Tsetsedra's eyes widened at her words. Luluria moved a little away from him and said again,
"Right, dear?"
She smiled mischievously.