Chapter 34

"…What?"

"I will prepare a residence for you in my palace, so move there. The imperial palace is a place where the empress cannot reach."

If we were to fight, rolling around like dogs, it could happen. However, if we were to engage in an all-out war with the empress over this issue, the Baldur family would undoubtedly intervene.

"If you don't like it, you can return to the Poitevin family."

"No! No, Your Majesty."

Dian urgently grabbed Karl's arm and shook her head.

"Don't abandon me. Please, don't abandon me, Your Majesty."

At her words, Karl, with great effort, swallowed a large lump and shook off Dian's arm.

"I told you not to say that."

Her face, disheveled from shock, looked as if she were about to die.

"You… are becoming more and more like my birth mother…"

Karl turned and began to walk quickly. His steps were so fast that it seemed he was running. When he reached the end of the corridor, he met someone who was just climbing the stairs. The person was not dressed in the attire of the palace staff and had a name tag around their neck, indicating they were from outside. The woman, who had just encountered the emperor, quickly bowed and stepped aside.

"I am the skin care specialist summoned by the palace mistress."

"…."

The emperor, after a moment of frowning, quickly left the Ivory Palace. ＊ ＊ ＊ A short while later, the brothers headed to the library. The butler, who had been informed of the empress's visit, followed them, pulling a food cart. Adel, who was deeply engrossed in a book, stood up at their arrival.

"Shouldn't you eat?"

"Thank you. The library is excellent."

As they conversed, the butler, who had prepared the food at lightning speed, quietly left.

"Since this is not a formal dinner and you requested secrecy, the food is modest."

"It's more than sufficient. Thank you. Let's eat, then."

Due to not having eaten much all day, Adel quickly devoured his portion.

"Does it suit your taste?"

In response to Lionel's question, Adel swallowed the food he was chewing and replied.

"Very much."

After finishing their meal, the three moved to a place with soft sofas and a low table. The library of the Baldur family was vast, with many places to sit.

"Now, ask me any questions you have."

The empress, sitting down, spoke directly. Indeed, as someone who was nearly the supreme ruler of a nation, she didn't need to use flowery language to make the conversation smooth. Yet, it was surprising that the atmosphere wasn't oppressive. As she had shown at the wedding, the empress was someone who could control the room with just a light word or action. While Theseus observed the empress, Lionel began his questions.

"May I ask about the tower destruction?"

Adel nodded, and Lionel, as if he had been waiting, started his questions. In fact, he had been holding back this curiosity all along.

"That day, you said, 'It's almost a 5th-class, so there's no need to wait.' Can you destroy a 4th-class tower alone?"

At this question, Adel tilted her head and slightly shook it.

"I can destroy a 5th-class tower alone. For a 4th-class, I can destroy the lower to mid-level towers, but the upper-level ones are too difficult for me alone. However, I usually don't destroy them alone if I can help it."

"You destroyed the tower before it touched the ground. Is that the common method in Gothrop?"

"About five years ago, I discovered this method by chance. Since then, the first rule of tower destruction is to destroy it before it touches the ground."

To destroy a tower, you need to destroy its core. The core is usually in the upper to mid-levels of the tower, so it's more efficient to ride the updraft to reach it.

"The problem is that there are few mages who can ride the updraft like me. So, statistically, about half of the towers are destroyed before they touch the ground, and the rest are destroyed after they touch the ground."

"The damage must be incomparable."

"You saw it that day, didn't you? When you destroy a tower before it touches the ground, there's no loss of life as long as the striker doesn't make a mistake and fall."

At this, Theseus, who had been listening, asked in a low voice.

"What do you think about leaving a tower that has touched the ground? Is 'management' possible?"

At this question, Adel's face hardened, and she spoke firmly.

"Absolutely not."

"Absolutely not?"

"Absolutely."

"How does Gothrop deal with towers that have touched the ground?"

"Towers that have touched the ground must be destroyed within two days of their appearance. Nearby mages have the duty to destroy them, and if the local mages are insufficient, the next level of mages must come to assist."

As Theseus observed the empress, he asked for a moment of leave, then returned with a long cylinder. Adel instinctively knew it was a map. As expected, it was a detailed map of Echmont, divided into fiefdoms. Theseus spread it out on the wide table. While Adel looked down at it, Lionel began placing red stones on various points on the map. Dozens of stones quickly appeared on the map. After using up the handful of red stones, he took another handful. Adel's expression darkened as she watched. When Lionel finally removed his hands from the map, the empress seemed to have forgotten to breathe. The red stones, reflecting the light, made it seem as if the map was drenched in blood.

"…Are these all towers?"

"Yes. These are the towers currently 'managed' in Echmont."

"What? Managed?"

The empress slowly scanned the places where the red stones were placed. She knew without seeing that the surrounding areas would be destroyed. The survivors, living in constant fear of death, would not even dare to look up at the sky. Orphaned children would wander the streets, and parents who had lost their children would be in a daze.

"…If these red stones are all towers…"

'They say the vast plains are beautiful, with a mild climate year-round and some regions capable of three crops a year.'

She had vaguely suspected that her mother's words were a lie, but she hadn't expected it to be this bad.

"If these red stones are all towers…"

Adel raised her gaze to look at Theseus and Lionel alternately.

"Echmont is a living hell."

The massive mountains and deep, rough seas that protect Echmont from foreign invasion are a blessing from the gods. Otherwise, Echmont would have had to endure foreign invasions. At the empress's declaration, Theseus and Lionel nodded solemnly. It was true. Echmont was a living hell, except for a few fiefdoms outside the influence of the towers. Theseus straightened his shoulders and stood up. He was glad that the empress, without hesitation, described the current situation as a 'hell.' Among those who refused to call hell by its name, the brothers had suffered greatly.

"You're right. The empire is a living hell. Please help us. We desperately need your assistance."

＊ ＊ ＊ The empress and the Baldur brothers talked for hours. They had what the other needed, and at the moment, they had no one else to trust. This mutual need increased their trust, allowing them to have a serious conversation. As they asked and answered each other's questions, the moon had already risen. When the three finally stood up, the butler silently entered and greeted Adel. Theseus introduced him to Adel.

"He is the butler of the manor. He will show you to your room. If you need anything, please let him know."

The butler formally extended his right hand to guide Adel, who, after a light nod to the Baldur brothers, began to follow him.

"I have rearranged the movements of the staff. Are you sure you don't need any attendants?"

"I'm fine. You've done a lot in a short time. Thank you."

"It's an honor."

Adel followed him, looking around the corridor. The interior was as magnificent as the exterior. They stopped in front of a grand door, and the butler politely opened it and stepped aside.

"If you need anything, pull the cord next to the bed. I will come immediately."

"Thank you for your hard work."

"Have a good night."

As he left, Adel slowly scanned the room and walked towards the bed. It was a heavy yet luxurious room. Adel pressed the bed with her hand and slowly leaned back. The soft mattress enveloped her body, and a lazy fatigue washed over her.

"Ha… When will this place feel like home…? Will it ever?"

She felt as if she had been on a long, tedious journey since leaving Gothrop. The strange tension and fatigue wouldn't go away.

"Well, in Gothrop, I moved around and slept in different places every day. What's the point of complaining about a home?"

Adel shook her head and pressed her eyes with her hand. Still, it was the first time since arriving that she felt a bit at ease. At least she had a conversation that matched her temperament.

She got up, stretched, and headed to the bathroom. Seeing the steam rising from the hot water in the bathtub, Adel's face relaxed. She often fell asleep in the hot bath, which worried her governess. But what could she do? Who falls asleep on purpose?

As she thought, Adel gradually slipped under the water. If someone had seen her, they would have panicked and woken her up. Eventually,

"Phew! Cough, cough!"

Adel woke up after swallowing a lot of water. She coughed violently and staggered out of the bathroom. She shivered as she dried her hair with a towel. Her body was already cold from the water, and the violent coughing from swallowing water had chased away her sleep. After thoroughly drying her hair, she crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling with wide eyes.

"Ah… I won't be able to sleep."

After tossing and turning for a while, Adel finally got up from the bed after an hour and grumbled.

"At times like this, a drink would help me sleep. Ah, I really wish I could. But I can't ask the butler of someone else's house to bring me alcohol at this hour."

＊ ＊ ＊ Meanwhile, there