I was left alone in the parlor, chewing on Sun Grass.
I was more familiar with cold than anyone. But for someone like me to feel
as if the world froze in an instant, was that even possible?
Fortunately, Solana had shown a kind side, befitting her nickname as the
Angel of the Empire. But angels often transform into the most vicious
demons when they change their minds.
…I don't want to see an angel turn into a demon.
[ Appointment Letter ]
[ Appointing Jaekiel Hound as the Imperial Tower Auditor. ]
Anyway, it seemed I'd become the auditor of the tower.
Even an ordinary tower was huge, but the auditor of the Imperial Tower, no
less.
Phew.
I exhaled deeply, reminiscing about the days just a few days ago.
My routine was very simple.
Drinking, painting, and spending time idly in nature… But now, everything
has changed. I have to dress neatly and go to work immediately.
"Too bad mind reading isn't my specialty."
I still hadn't fully grasped Solana's intentions.
She was sending me to solve the problems of the Imperial Tower, but added
that it was fine if I didn't do anything.
Did she believe things would be solved just by my going there?
Well, it wasn't something to think about now.
Anyway, I had to work as an auditor by force, and since I promised to trust
her, I had no choice but to believe. Solana would have at least requested to
believe her with only good intentions.
Now there was only one thing on my mind.
"…So, who wrote the reply? Was it really Solana?"
It was certain that Solana had read the letter, but the atmosphere was so off
that I couldn't confirm if she sent the reply. At the same time, one thought
came to mind.
'If the reply wasn't from Solana… '
Cold sweat ran down my back.
Receiving Solana's favor while marrying another princess? I couldn't even
imagine what would happen. I couldn't even use 'a drunken mistake' as an
excuse.
…Was this what it felt like when a prank turned into a disaster?
Whatever I imagined, it was the worst. It was a fear I hadn't felt in a long
time.
'Anyway, I need to meet the Emperor directly.'
I didn't particularly welcome the idea of meeting the Emperor, but if I used
his power, couldn't I forcibly make everything go away?
'The Emperor has forbidden it'─ That would work well.
Bang.
At that moment, the parlor door opened again.
A familiar face now. Anes with her black bob and expressionless face.
Click, click.
She entered, manipulating a cube with one hand as usual.
It felt like watching a skilled musician. Her long, slender, white fingers
were quite elegant.
I was dazed from too many thoughts. I quietly chewed on Sun Grass and
met her gaze. We stayed like that for a while.
"…"
"…"
Click, click.
Click…
…
Suddenly, Anes hid the cube behind her back.
She seemed concerned that I might freeze the cube again. I hadn't been
paying any attention, but seeing her action made me oddly want to freeze
the cube.
Snap. I lightly snapped my fingers.
Anes felt the cold of the ice on her palm and shut her eyes tight. Her
shoulders trembled slightly as a bonus.
"…Please don't do this."
"I've told you several times in the carriage. It's noisy."
Surprisingly, Anes just sighed deeply without much resistance. After being
together in the Penitence Palace, she somehow seemed more polite. She
wasn't as sharp as when we first met.
"So, why do you look like you've lost everything?"
"If I had just lost, I'd be smiling. I even incurred debt."
"Is it hard to understand? Haven't you rather advanced?"
Anes looked as if she'd seen something bizarre.
"You seemed beyond redemption, yet you somehow made it to the Imperial
Palace. You weren't even dragged here as a criminal. Surprisingly, you
seem to be an esteemed guest."
"You know how to speak your feelings honestly? I didn't know."
"You started the honesty first."
Anes raised the frozen cube conspicuously, but I stubbornly didn't melt it. I
was sick of the noise.
"Anyway, I didn't know you were acquainted with the 3rd Princess."
"Solana? We've known each other for a long time."
"…Is it okay to just say her name?"
"It's fine for me. But not for you."
Anes furrowed her brows slightly, and this time I asked.
"So what's your business? Your mission is already over, right?"
"One remains. His Majesty the Emperor has summoned you."
"…"
It was quite welcome news for me. I had been pondering how to have a
private audience with the Emperor.
Anes tilted her head slightly.
"…You really are strange."
"Why?"
"Your expression hasn't been good since you had a private audience with
the Princess, yet you brighten at the news of seeing the Emperor. Isn't it
supposed to be the opposite?"
"I've always been strange. Let's depart immediately."
Always, even now. It was always like that.
Afterward, I followed Anes's guidance and moved.
No, to be precise, I was rather leading Anes. The structure of the Imperial
Palace was already ingrained in my mind.
As expected, whispers followed.
"To the Emperor's quarters… Who is that?"
"They say the Emperor personally summoned him."
"…I'm envious. I haven't even had a glimpse in 20 years of working."
My mind was full of thoughts about the Emperor.
Why did the Emperor seal the appointment letter Solana issued? That
monster-like man? The one who doesn't understand 'conversation'?
There seemed to be some affair between the princesses and the Emperor,
and I intended to find out gradually from now on.
After a while, Anes stopped at the end of the corridor.
"I cannot go further. This is as far as I go."
"Come to think of it, you're a newbie. Alright, I got it."
"Then, farewell."
I felt a strange excitement in Anes's departing figure. Even the
expressionless woman seemed happy at the prospect of leaving work.
After entering the Emperor's quarters, officials with their faces fully
covered in veil cloth greeted me. Here, officials were not allowed to expose
any part of their body or face.
"The changing room is on the left. Would you please change into this?"
"Alright."
I quickly changed clothes.
It was more like a large tablecloth covering my body, so calling it clothes
was strange. It was probably intended to prevent visitors from secretly
carrying anything.
I had to walk a long way after that.
"The Four Seasons Garden, it's been a while."
A famous spot known to embody the characteristics of each season. Only
after passing through spring, summer, autumn, and winter could I reach the
giant door.
Beyond this was the great hall where the Emperor resided.
"Stop there."
Two large men blocked my way at either side of the door. Their stature was
so grand that it seemed as if pillars had come to life.
The one on the left pointed at my mouth.
"Spit it out."
Spit out Sun Grass? Of course, I didn't.
"…Not spitting?"
The one beside him tried to step up aggressively, but the right one stopped
him hastily. They whispered something to each other and then nodded
simultaneously.
Finally, both of them showed respect at the same time.
"We apologize. We will open the door immediately."
The giant door opened without a sound.
"…"
My first impression upon entering. Magnificent.
But it wasn't due to the interior's size or structure. It was because of the
presence of one grand being.
There was a presence on the throne at the top of the stairs.
The body was transparent, making it look as if clothes were hanging in the
air. Despite having no form, the presence on the throne exuded an
overwhelming pressure that filled the entire space.
That was the Emperor of the empire, Verd, the Formless.
I paid my respects.
"I greet His Majesty the Emperor."
No answer came back.
The clothes hanging in the air on the throne fluttered. The nearby holy grail
sloshed, likely being leisurely swirled by the Emperor's hand.
After that, silence.
It would have been nice if something were said, but there was only silence.
I calmly waited for the Emperor's words, and it felt like almost a day had
passed.
And as one day was almost turning into two.
"Jaekiel Hound."
He finally called my name.
Rumble.
At the same time, all the floors in the space collapsed like puzzle pieces in
an instant. Below was something that could be described as an abyss—an
unfathomable darkness.
But I didn't fall. An ice floor had already formed beneath my feet, firmly
supporting me.
"Persistent. You don't die easily."
"But I will die soon. It's terminal."
"Hmm…"
Then the Emperor gave a meaningful smile.
"I only told you to teach my daughters some magic… But you blatantly
proposed. What were you thinking?"
I was drunk.
…Words I couldn't bring myself to say.