Chapter 38

#038 Roiling (1)

"Yeah, I caused a big accident. Frederick is really pissed off."

The one who answered me was not the parties involved but Cardinal Boute.

Now that I looked, she didn't seem to be in a good mood either.

Because I had a hunch, I stared straight at Kristel.

"While I was interviewing Sir Sara Valliar, Princess Sarnez was in the next room. Could it be that...?"

"His Highness the Prince was there too."

Kristel replied in a tone that suggested she was recalling a very pleasant event. There was no sign of remorse.

I was so flabbergasted that I turned to look at the prince.

He glared at me with his orange eyes as if he could burn me to ashes. What did he do right...?

So, the two of them, after causing a commotion in the indoor training hall last time, had a lovers' quarrel even in the imperial palace this time.

No matter how much Kristel had awakened as a holy knight, I thought it was too violent for the main couple.

I was also worried about what the teenagers reading this would learn.

Even if you're angry, there's a limit, and throwing things at each other with your mother nearby?

Kristel even used ether?

"This time, both of you were clearly in the wrong. You should get along better."

I said firmly. The prince clicked his tongue.

Kristel looked a bit embarrassed.

She had been so worried that Sir Valliar would find out about the situation in the next room that she had been talking about Demi, eating, and Demi eating like a madwoman, but it turned out to be a stroke of luck.

If it had been known that the prince and the princess had a fight in the emperor's residence, how the knight would have reacted and how the romance would have twisted, I didn't even want to imagine.

Please, just date properly.

"You're right, Prince. Kristel is only nineteen, so if she couldn't control her blood, that's one thing, but Sedric, you'll be twenty-five in August."

Nineteen... I was shocked by the protagonist's age and glanced at Kristel.

It made sense when I calculated it, but I had never really thought about the numbers.

Nineteen years old, she was the same age as Eunseo.

Even if the person I possessed was a company employee around my age, it was impossible to consider someone so young as a potential partner.

Of course, I had no enthusiasm for a relationship with her from the beginning.

"For the next week, Sedric will not be able to participate in state affairs. Kristel will also not be able to attend her holy knight training."

The cardinal explained to me. The prince glared at the air with a very dissatisfied expression.

Although he had not yet ascended to the position of crown prince, it seemed he was gradually taking care of state affairs.

So, he's twenty-four now.

A guy with ink still not dry on his household register, talking back to his older brother who is four years older...

"It's not over yet."

The beige eyes under the monocle glinted dangerously.

"Since you broke the imperial palace furniture and increased the servants' workload, the two of you will have to clean the underground portal chamber. Without any help."

"Aunt."

"Ah... "

The prince's voice was so low it was eerie. Kristel let out a groan.

I didn't know where the underground portal was or what it looked like, but joint cleaning sounded like something high school students would do.

Seeing the two of them openly showing their displeasure, I couldn't help but chuckle.

"You can be the supervisor, Prince."

"Excuse me?"

The smile on my lips vanished. I felt a chill at the back of my neck from the unexpected attack.

"Why should I...?"

"We need someone to supervise so they don't fight again. It would be better if it's someone who knows them well. If we send someone of lower rank, they might not listen."

'Everyone is busy with their own affairs, too,' she added.

It was a polite way of saying, 'You're unemployed, so go and keep an eye on these kids.'

But I had a card to play in this situation.

"I have to go to confession."

"The two children have wronged the emperor of the empire. Please watch them as they atone for their sins."

"......"

Card limit exceeded. I was frustrated.

If they were going to fight, they should have gone far away to do it. Because they caused a commotion at home, the sparks flew to me, who was just minding my own business...

"......"

"......"

Struggling not to grumble, I lifted my head and met Kristel's blue-gray irises.

Her eyes, now filled with joy, made me grind my teeth.

I then turned my gaze to the prince, who was sitting about three meters away from Kristel.

He ignored my gaze and covered his mouth with his gloved hand. Hey, you...

"The moon of the Holy Kingdom is doing the hard work, so lunch will be provided by the imperial palace. Full course, no limit on the number of people."

"......I'll take good care of them today."

I replied. Damn.

Since it's come to this, I'll work hard and bring along Ganael, Benezaim, and Demi for a feast.

*

The prince, Kristel, and I were promptly escorted out of the cardinal's office.

There were already about ten guards waiting outside the door.

They bowed respectfully and immediately began to escort us.

I explained the situation to Benezaim and Ganael and told them to prepare for a feast.

"I didn't know there was a portal in the imperial palace."

My voice echoed through the stairs leading underground.

We had somehow moved to the darkest part of the imperial palace.

A few guards ahead of us quickly lit torches in various places.

"It hasn't been used since the war era."

The prince answered quietly, though I hadn't really asked for an answer.

I nodded, recalling the contents of the history books I had read.

It made sense that the imperial palace portal would be closed after such an event.

But to have a portal in the place where the emperor resides, it was a sign of immense confidence.

-Thud, thud...

-Clack, clack...

It was just the sound of footsteps again.

The guards walked robotically, and surprisingly, Kristel and the prince, who I thought would argue, didn't say a word.

I glanced at the prince standing next to me and then looked back at Kristel, who was following a step behind.

Is it really because I'm here that they're not fighting?

"You're quiet."

"Do you want us to fight?"

"No, I hope you're getting along well."

The prince frowned slightly at my answer. Kristel didn't respond either.

I couldn't understand what the problem was.

In the original story, they were said to have become close after initially being enemies, but it seemed that this time, the early conflict was more intense because Kristel had gained power.

"We're getting along well."

After a long descent, Kristel suddenly spoke. Wow.

"That's good news."

"I also learned one of His Highness's secrets."

A few guards stumbled in surprise. In contrast, my expression brightened.

"That's great."

"Great?"

The prince asked sharply. The young man was radiating hostility.

But isn't it usually through sharing secrets that people get closer? What's the problem?

"It's good to have a friend you can share secrets with."

"We've arrived. This way, Your Highness."

The prince seemed about to retort, but the guard's report was faster.

We looked up at the massive stone door that filled our field of vision.

Unlike the ground floor, which was covered in Carrara marble and decorated with luxurious materials, the underground area looked like a dungeon in a game.

It was dark and bluish, with a high ceiling and stuffy air.

However, there were no mice or insects, probably because it was inside the imperial palace.

"I'll open the door."

The prince nodded, and the guards moved in unison to push the stone door open.

-Rumble...

The door opened smoothly without much resistance. It didn't seem to be locked.

Since this was the first time I had been to such a place since the possession, everything was fascinating.

It might even be a place Eunseo had never read about. Soon, a spacious room was revealed.

"Cough, cough!"

"Hack, hack!"

"Achoo!"

The guards who went in first to light the torches and check for safety were waving their hands, coughing, and sneezing.

One of them was already wiping away tears and snot from a severe cold.

Following the prince, who was taking large strides, Kristel and I moved forward.

"......When did they clean this?"

I muttered.

The corridor felt mostly clean, but the room with the portal looked like it hadn't been entered for a long time.

Spider webs hung like hammocks from the ceiling, and the floor was so covered in dust that you couldn't see its original color.

The emperor must have been really angry.

Well, considering what they did in the imperial palace, they should be grateful they weren't exiled or imprisoned.

What were the Duke and Duchess of Sarnez thinking right now?

"The brooms and buckets are prepared over here. Mops are also... "

"Your Highness, if it's too hard, we can... "

"Shall we prepare a place for you to sit?"

The guards, who had maintained a professional expression until we arrived, now seemed very awkward about leaving us.

Of course, they wouldn't leave entirely and would stand guard from the corridor to the stairs, as they explained.

But it seemed they were hesitant