Chapter 79
The person called Lapage whom Luluria had tracked down was someone Tsetsedra had never heard of. Tsetsedra searched his memory once more, but the name still meant nothing to him.
"So, who exactly is this Lapage? Was this person recently appointed as one of Elder Brother's close aides?"
If this was a recent appointment, it was only natural that Tsetsedra would not know about it. At the same time, an appointment made at a time like this certainly seemed suspicious.
However, Luluria's answer was somewhat unexpected.
"No. Apparently, this person was hired as a lighthouse keeper. It's supposedly a small lighthouse called Laboka. Do you know it?"
"Laboka... I feel as though I've heard of it, but it made no particular impression on me."
"Apparently, it is a remote place with nothing nearby except an abandoned village."
"Oh. ...Huh? That doesn't sound like a particularly important position, though..."
"Yes. Apparently, it was once a place where an elderly couple lived out their final years. But the young person hired recently has now been placed in charge of it."
"I see. And then?"
"One of your subordinates apparently heard about it as a bit of idle tea-table gossip, too. 'A young person who had only just entered service was suddenly assigned to be a lighthouse keeper. In such a remote place...' Well, apparently, people were saying it was rather pitiful."
"Could it not simply be that the elderly couple had already been considering retirement?"
"That may be so, but doesn't it strike you as a little suspicious? From what I heard from everyone, the lighthouse called Laboka is apparently on the verge of collapsing because a new, much larger lighthouse was built nearby. What reason could there be for going out of their way to station someone young and in the prime of life in such a place...?"
Without Roa's letter, this would have been something one could dismiss as just one of those things. But if we accept the possibility Luluria mentioned—that weapons are being smuggled in from Gederland—then everything changes.
"Are you suggesting that weapons are being hidden somewhere in that area?"
"It might be. That's all I'm saying. But if we take that letter as true, the timing is too significant to ignore. ...Can't we investigate?"
Investigate, huh. If we do that, we can hardly keep this just between us. If we seek help, there are only those two we can turn to.
"I think we should consult Gafol and Bridget and ask for their cooperation. What do you think?"
"Yes. I agree."
Gafol and Bridget were summoned at once. To Tsetsedra, they were the twin pillars of military and civil administration.
"Why have you summoned us so suddenly?"
The two looked puzzled when Tsetsedra ordered everyone else out.
"I have something extremely important to discuss. For now, it is something I can tell only the two of you."
"This seems quite serious, but... is it truly all right for Luluria-sama to be here as well?"
Bridget asked hesitantly. Tsetsedra understood how Bridget felt. Luluria had only recently arrived, and Bridget was probably a little uneasy about a newcomer taking part in an 'important discussion.'
It was Gafol who objected to Bridget's question.
"No. The fact that Luluria-sama is here must mean this has something to do with the directive issued the other day. I had assumed the princess merely wanted to meet her subordinates."
"You are quite right, Gafol-sama. If I may be so bold, I would like to take part in this discussion as well. First, please read this."
Luluria held out the letter. Gafol accepted it carefully and silently began to read.
Silence enveloped the room for a while.
It was Gafol who broke the silence.
A growl like that of a beast escaped Gafol as he looked up from the letter. Gafol fixed Tsetsedra with a sharp stare, handed the letter to Bridget, and asked curtly, "Is this true?"
"We cannot rule out the possibility that this is a scheme by Rudek to sow confusion. But if it is not, leaving the matter unattended could bring disaster upon our country."
"Indeed."
Meanwhile, Bridget finished reading the letter as well.
"This is not something one can readily believe."
"I am only half-convinced myself. That is precisely why I want to find out whether Elder Brother is truly contemplating something so terrifying."
"Investigate? You mean...?"
"Yes. First, I want you to hear about the person called Lapage whom Luluria found."
At Tsetsedra's prompting, Luluria told the two of them exactly what she had explained to Tsetsedra.
"...And that is the situation."
"Indeed, there is something somewhat odd about sending a young man to that place."
It was Bridget who reacted that way.
"Do you know the lighthouse called Laboka, Bridget?"
"Yes. It is the sort of place that will probably be demolished in a few years. I cannot even see any need to station people there. So Luluria-sama's observation may well be on target."
"...What do you think, Gafol?"
"...It seems worth investigating. I will send some of my people."
"Please do."
"Leave it to me. Then, for now, I suppose we wait for the results?"
Tsetsedra nodded and, just as he was about to wrap up the discussion,
"Um, may I mention one more thing?" Luluria interjected.
"Is there still something else?"
Just as Tsetsedra felt one major task was done, Luluria once again presented Tsetsedra with a surprising proposal.