Chapter 193 (1/2)
Chapter 193: Chapter 193
“When he noticed we were approaching, he quickly opened his eyes and told us to go back.
So, we watched him at a distance. He looked at you for a long time, took off his robe and carried you in his arms.”
What?
My eyes popped out. I thought somebody carried me to this place because the place I fell asleep was different from the place I woke up, but I never thought he carried me in person.
Not caring about my surprised look, Sir June continued, “And then, he laid you on the bed and looked at you for a long time, he came out with a deep sigh. I was alarmed at his deep sigh.”
“… ”
“This is why youth is good. Oh my, I wonder if I will ever have a date…”
“Sir June, stop there,” said Sir Seymour.
“But…”
“That’s enough. Hey, that’s the problem, man.”
“Okay, okay. So stop frowning like that.”
Sir June shook his head at his warning voice, then remained silent. I walked on silently, covering my blushing cheeks.
I was escorted to one of several restaurants in the Central Palace. When I stepped in after taking a deep breath, the young man with blue hair sitting at the head table said, “Good morning!”
“… I’m honored to see the Sun of the empire!”
Normally I would not have cared, but today I found myself conscious of people around me.
Maybe it was because my father and the two dukes were here, or because not only the pro-emperor faction but also the noble faction led by Duke Jena and Marquis Mirwa’s son were there.
“Sit down.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A heavy silence lasted even after I took a seat. I was not sure whether it was because they stopped talking in the middle or the ranking members of both factions gathered. The silence continued after the second main course was served.
How much time passed? After pushing aside the plates, Marquis Mirwa’s son said, breaking the long silence, “I’m sorry to tell you this again when you already talked about the state affairs all night. Your Majesty, how are you going to deal with the arson attacks spreading in the capital these days? It’s been quiet for a while, now the arson is back. Don’t you think you should increase the investigation staff to find the criminal?”
‘Arsons again?’
I was puzzled because I was never briefed about it. I clearly told my house vassal Baron Carot to report to me about every little thing, but why didn’t he tell me about it?
“Well, I would love to, but there are already many involved in the search efforts. I am afraid I can’t make more staff available for the investigation.”
“However, the arsonist is not targeting ordinary people, but the noble families in the capital. I’m afraid that the people will scorn the imperial family and noble families as the suspect is still on the loose.”
Obviously, he had a point. But only Marquis Enesil nodded. My father and the two dukes did not respond. I felt uncomfortable somehow. Was there a conspiracy here?
Duke Jena slowly put down the glass and giggled, saying, “Well, it looks like he is a blessed criminal because we can’t catch him at all.”
“What do you mean by that?”
When he asked curiously, Duke Jena explained, “Oh, you might not know about it, but he made a great disturbance in the capital ten years ago. There was a similar arson at that time. After all, we couldn’t catch him.”
“Really?”
Duke Verita said after looking at the son of Marquis Mirwa lost in thought, “I’m not sure if that guy was responsible for this arson. That guy’s arson attack took place a long time ago.”
“I’ve never heard of any wolf stopping hunting because it was old.”
“I know, but there were lots of rumors about that suspect from the beginning, but he was never identified. Now ten years later he is at it again? I think that’s pure speculation.”
“Not identified yet? That’s nonsense…”
As both sides’ argument was getting heated, the emperor said, “Stop it. Let me order the security department to pay more attention to it. If they can’t, let me consider dispatching the knights. Okay?”
Although they were not satisfied, the successor of the Jena family nodded as if he couldn’t help it. Duke Verita also nodded with a smile.