Chapter 41

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"Wh-what!?"

The brief silence that fell in the salon was broken by Edouard’s voice.

"What do you mean, Father!?"

At Edouard’s faltering voice, Eugenia, who had been motionless as if time had stopped, suddenly lifted her face as if startled. Elizabeta’s light brown eyes wavered with confusion, and Enoch’s eyes widened in shock.

Olivia felt that the difference in their reactions suggested a disparity in perception of the Sword of Selection between the three royal family members and Elizabeta, who had married into the family from outside.

(Probably... to Lady Elizabeta, the Sword of Selection is just one of the national treasures...)

The Sword of Selection, passed down through generations at the coronation. The tradition that has continued for six hundred years since the founding of the kingdom—Edouard’s anxiety at the thought of it ending in his generation must be immeasurable. Eugenia and Enoch, too, must have been taught from a young age about the importance of the Sword of Selection in the coronation ceremony.

The treasure room where the Sword of Selection was kept seemed to be a place where Edouard and the others could enter freely as children, but that was probably limited to the royal family. It certainly wasn’t a place anyone could enter casually.

Therefore, if the Sword of Selection, which was kept in the treasure room, was lost, it must mean that someone had broken in and taken it. —If that’s the case, it’s unknown where it is now.

Olivia wondered why she and Cyraus were kept in the room while discussing a matter of great importance to the country. It’s not something that should be heard by outsiders.

"Father, I will immediately command the troops to search for the sword—"

Edouard, eager to take action as quickly as possible, started to rise, but Wilson smiled and said, "Wait a moment."

Olivia felt a sudden sense of unease at his calm demeanor, and she wasn’t the only one.

"What are you being so relaxed about!?"

"That’s right! Father is always too relaxed! Please show some urgency!"

Wilson looked at Rezabella with a troubled expression as his children pressed him.

Rezabella glared at Wilson briefly before exhaling and speaking.

"The Sword of Selection was not stolen; it was lost. ...By His Majesty."

"What!?"

Eugenia let out a scream-like voice.

Olivia and Cyraus were also dumbfounded, their gazes turning to Wilson.

Wilson scratched his cheek and, as if trying to avoid the piercing gazes, turned his face to the empty window outside.

"Well, you see? I remember taking it out of the treasure room and carrying it around about a month ago... I thought I had brought it back to my room, but it’s nowhere to be found. I must have left it somewhere. Oh, it must be my age, how troublesome."

"That’s not just troublesome! Father, why did you take it out of the treasure room in the first place! I always told you not to carry important things around because you often lose them!"

(To often lose things... but to lose a national treasure...?)

It seems too careless, but from Wilson’s tone, it really seems like he left it somewhere.

"Did you take it outside the castle? We should call the troops immediately—"

"Ah, son, about that, I’d like you to wait a bit."

"What now!?"

Edouard, who rarely shows such agitation, was unusually irritated.

Wilson stroked his smooth chin, furrowed his brows, and pouted like a child.

"I don’t want to mobilize the troops."

"Why not!"

"Well, you see? If it’s known that the king lost the Sword of Selection, it would be a matter of national prestige, and I would be embarrassed... right, dear?"

Wilson looked at Rezabella for help.

Rezabella looked at the agitated Edouard and Eugenia, then her expression hardened.

"If it’s known that His Majesty, the king, lost a national treasure—especially the Sword of Selection, which is used in the coronation ceremony and can be considered a symbol of the king—it would be a major issue. It would affect the king’s dignity. It must not be leaked."

"That’s too relaxed—"

"Please hear me out to the end."

Eugenia tried to interrupt, but Rezabella silenced her with a calm but firm tone.

"Fortunately, His Majesty did not take the sword outside this castle. The sword is somewhere inside the castle. We can search within a manageable range without mobilizing the troops. ...Right?"

"Are you saying that we should search for it ourselves, just the people in this room?"

Olivia felt certain that she and Cyraus were included in this “we.”

Cyraus, when she looked at him, was smiling wryly, as if saying, "We got dragged into this."

"Exactly. However, if you search the castle, someone might notice. So—"

Rezabella paused and turned to Wilson.

Wilson nodded vigorously and said cheerfully,

"Let’s tell everyone that we are performing the 'Selection Ceremony' and see if they can help us find it."

Everyone in the room except the royal couple gaped in shock.