By Zephyria Following the servant through the piloti guarded by the royal guard, a massive door that seemed to take half a day to open greeted the visitors. It was similar in size to the ‘Gate Watching the Sun’ in the western Agrigento Territory, but this door was located indoors rather than on a fortress wall.
The massive Gate of Purity, made solely of gold, did not allow the passage of impurities.
Here, impurities referred to various metals and tools that could be used as weapons, people who did not meet the required formality, and Magic Power.
Magic Control Zone 4. Once inside, no matter how powerful one’s Magic Power was, the use of magic was impossible. It meant that only those who laid down their status, abilities, assets, and everything else before the sun of the Empire, returning to their most primal human form, could prostrate themselves at his feet and enter.
Outwardly, it was said to prevent unfortunate events in advance, but Hugo knew the real reason. Of course, he had never spoken of it. He was able to enter with his watch on, having only undergone a simple possession check due to the Duke’s privilege.
“Duke Agrizendro, entering―!”
As he entered, hearing the royal guard’s call, light streamed down from the glass ceiling, dazzlingly illuminating the carpeted marble floor. The interior was surprisingly bright. This was because the palace’s owners had loved the sun for generations. There were many curved glass windows on the walls, allowing natural light to permeate.
In the midst of it all, the empty central garden, reeking of soil and tragically dug up, greeted him from the entrance. Until a few months ago, it had been full of lush greenery, and as he gazed at the somewhat incongruous sight, the servant spoke.
“Landscaping work is in progress by His Majesty’s order. We apologize for showing you an unkempt appearance.”
“It’s fine.”
“This way, please.”
The servant quickly led Hugo. Hugo barely managed to tear his gaze away from the garden, which was so red that the word ‘overturned’ seemed appropriate.
After walking for five minutes through an arched passageway with ceiling murals, a quaint hall with quite a few people gathered appeared.
“If it isn’t Duke Agrizendro―.”
“It’s been a while, Lord Duncan.”
“Congratulations on your safe return.”
“Congratulations on your return, Duke.”
“Thank you. Raymond, Lord Felton.”
At first glance, the mainstays of the banquet scheduled for 6 p.m. today were gathered in one place. The servant bowed politely, said he would wait for a moment, and left.
Hugo shook hands with the familiar faces one by one, offering the Duke’s smile as usual. The old man called Duncan repeatedly adjusted his wig, then pushed through the crowd and took the seat next to Hugo.
“It is such an honor to have the meritorious subject of the subjugation respond to the invitation.”
“I am more grateful to you for always stepping forward first.”
“What brings you to the Imperial Palace? Oh dear, with so many ahead of you… Did the Duke also come to see His Majesty?”
Most of those in this place had received titles, but Duncan had inherited his wealth and status to his son, who was his heir, and had officially lost his title. However, paying respect to him was a long-standing custom among the Imperial Faction nobles.
From another perspective, it meant that this old man without a title had more influence than the young Duke Agrizendro, who should have been the mainstay.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Regardless of status, the pillars of time that individuals had built up could not be ignored. Hugo intended to treat him with due respect in that regard. However, Duncan sometimes forgot his position and stepped forward excessively. If one carefully examined the psychology behind his remarks, sometimes he seemed to have more power than the Emperor.
From what Hugo had seen, such people usually did not live long. The reason he had bothered to show his face in such a troublesome place was to solidify the hierarchy, as it had been a while since they had met.
“I visited because His Majesty summoned me. But it seems he is still in his private chambers.”
Commonly, in aristocratic society, the artworks that filled the gallery walls were used to compare each other’s status. On the other hand, in the Imperial Palace, ridiculously but understandably, the closeness to the Emperor became the standard for comparing one’s power.
Hugo felt the tips of the other man’s clasped hands twitch, gave a gentle smile, and patted the man’s shoulder a few times. The expressions of Duncan and some others became subtle before quickly covering them with masks.
“Did His Majesty summon you directly? I suppose he intends to bestow a great reward for the subjugation of the peninsula.”
“What a joyous occasion… How about the Duke host the next banquet? It would greatly help to widely publicize the glory and honor bestowed by His Majesty and to strengthen our solidarity.”
“But the Duke doesn’t have a mistress yet…”
One person blurted out thoughtlessly and then shut their mouth, while the others coughed and sent glances. Hugo didn’t miss the opportunity and gently relaxed his lips.
“It seems difficult for the time being as the mistress’s seat is vacant. But I will consider it positively.”
In the hall where heavy chandeliers were hung, a long tail was formed following the Duke. Before he knew it, ladies and gentlemen who had taken off their hats gathered around Hugo. The group led by Duncan gradually retreated from the crowd. Those who were blinded by the splendor of the Duke, who had raised his feathers, generally did not notice that fact.
Around the time when an unexpected gathering for conversation blossomed, the delicately embossed door inside the gallery opened slowly with a sound. At that moment, a silence flowed through the whispering hall. Hugo hardened his expression, which he had loosened, and raised his head.
All those around him moved in unison to both sides, creating a wide path to greet the sun.
Checking his watch, it was 11:45 a.m. It was not yet noon.
The eerily sudden silence created a suffocating tension in the stagnant air.
Soon after, only the sound of two pairs of shoes could be heard from beyond the door guarded by the royal guard. One who revealed himself under the chandelier was Lord Chawood, whom he had met earlier, and the other was the Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace, whom Hugo knew well.
They stopped exactly on the boundary line of the door, holding a thick stack of audience cards and staring at the target on the front page.
“Duke Agrizendro, please come inside.”
Many pairs of eyes that had been waiting all along were focused on one person. Hugo nodded lightly in response and walked towards the Chamberlain along the path for the sun.
After he entered, Chawood asked the nobles to return, saying that His Majesty did not wish to have any more audiences today.
They had come to pay their respects ahead of the faction’s banquet, but they were people who had submitted their name cards with audience requests enclosed two days before the audience date. Yet, to be turned away like this was a great blow to their pride as high-nosed nobles.
However, there was not a single one among them whose expression was distorted. They wished for the Emperor’s eternal life, muffled their footsteps, and quietly retreated.
Hugo, who had entered the inner palace alone, felt his neck and shoulders stiff as if a stone had been placed on them. It was even more so as he passed by the audience chamber, which was usually the place where he met the Emperor. He silently passed by the pillars that soared straight up, feeling the air becoming noticeably warmer.
The ceilings of Carseil Palace were very high, and the intricate patterns and delicate carvings incited awe to the point of making one’s eyes dizzy. However, the decorations that played the biggest role in this palace were gold, light, and plants. The slanting light that came in like rays was reflected in the gold and mirrors, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
The open-air indoor gardens in various places gave the illusion that one was in a forest rather than inside a building. Hugo always thought that this was what it would feel like when the harmony of nature and civilization reached its peak.
Even the many cathedrals that had dominated and disappeared in the old era would not be more sacred than this.
Just as he felt that the light shining down on his head was particularly intense, the Chamberlain, who was walking ahead, stopped. Hugo also stopped accordingly.
“Your Majesty, Duke Agrizendro has arrived.”
The Chamberlain announced loudly in front of the door. It had been about 15 minutes since they had entered the inner palace and moved busily.
The Imperial Knights who were guarding the front turned to face the visitor all at once. The way they held their swords with both hands and pointed the tips at the floor gave the viewer a subtle pressure that they were being guarded.
Hugo wondered inwardly if there was anyone among them who had been swept away in the dam’s waterway. But unfortunately, there was no one who tried to make eye contact.
After about a minute or two, when he was wondering why there was no word from inside.
The tightly closed door of ‘Aurasian’ began to open eerily.
Dddddd―
Perhaps because the door was so heavy, the hinges, which were replaced every year, groaned heavily. Hugo naturally lowered his eyes to match it.
It was because the light pouring out from inside was dazzling, but also because he could not raise his head until the sun allowed it.
The Emperor’s servants and dozens of knights who were lined up on both sides of him bowed their heads and knelt down all at once.
The sound of the steel knee pads of the armor hitting the floor at the same time could be heard. Even that was very small and cautious, as if they were afraid of offending his sensibilities.
In the midst of them, Hugo placed his hand on his left chest and bowed respectfully.
“I greet the Almighty and Great Emperor. Glory to Laina Rogia.”
His low voice echoed in front of the line that could not be crossed without permission. Hugo aimlessly stared at the shadow that was briefly cast at his feet.
He could only hope that this time would pass quickly and the shadow would lengthen.
But what he heard next was not the stern voice of the Monarch, but the frivolous sound of someone giggling and laughing.
‘……?’
Hugo, who doubted his ears for a moment, raised his head halfway without realizing it. As he rolled his eyes in bewilderment, he saw a fluttering lilac curtain at the end of the straight space that stretched out in front of him.
The thin curtain filled every corner of the room to a bizarre extent, draped around each pillar and hanging down. The light that came in from various directions cut through the pieces of fabric, giving the feeling of looking into a bright and sacred labyrinth.
In the center of it, next to the noble silhouette whose appearance was obscured, he saw young boys laughing brightly and entangled.
As of the current time, there were no young children in the Imperial Family who had inherited the bloodline. But it was impossible for them all to be servants, as they could not approach the dignified one so freely.
As he stared blankly at them, an abstract voice that echoed in the magnificent secret chamber rang in his ears.
“Come in.”
Hugo straightened his back and stepped into the illuminated chamber.
By the time he realized why he had been drawn to Lord Chawood earlier, the doors of Aurasian were already firmly shut.
Leonardo, standing in the dimly lit bathroom, plugged the sink and kept the faucet running. He stared blankly at the bubbles forming from the water’s friction, and as the water level reached the edge of the sink, he plunged his face and head straight in.
Swish―
The cool deluge drenched his feet and the hems of his pants. Nevertheless, Leonardo didn’t care and remained submerged in the golden-tinged sink with his eyes closed for a while.
After a moment, when his breath reached its limit, he jerked his head up, splashing water everywhere.
“Hah―.”
A ragged breath escaped, clearing his mind, and the droplets of water running from his hair soaked his front, chilling him to the point where his heart ached.
Looking in the mirror, he saw a listless, blond-haired boy smiling for some reason. But he knew that face was actually hiding fear. It was the boy who often steeled himself with such eccentricities right before going to the battlefield.
Back then, the boy wore a helmet, but today’s Leonardo dried his hair and clothes in an instant and wore an air of composure. Although he had to borrow someone else’s hand a little, his heart fluttered when executing something he had always prepared for. Before leaving the bathroom, he glanced at the calendar hanging on the inside of the door.
‘D―DAY♡’
Judy’s playful handwriting eased the pressure somewhat. He chuckled at the heart, slicked back his hair, and grabbed the doorknob, pulling it open.
Creak―
“Leo’s out!”
As soon as he stepped out, the owner of the handwriting greeted him first. Several familiar faces were gathered around a large wooden table. Mikhail and Beatrice, who had been out and about for a while, and Gillian were also present today.
They, too, were partners with the same goal. And everyone gathered here was from ‘Bermuda.’
Leonardo scanned the group with a relaxed smile and asked in a deliberately casual tone.
“Gentlemen, are you ready?”
The seven people gathered around him nodded, their eyes gleaming. The atmosphere was solemn, but their expressions were quite bright.
Walking through the space made by his partners, Leonardo stared at the wooden table split in half. On the map revealed between the halves, markings that hadn’t been there a few days ago had been added. A red circle was the starting point, surrounded by scattered blue triangles.
He placed his hand on the tabletop, looked down at the red circle, and immediately got to the point.
“Internal structure? Is it the same?”
“Yeah, it was the same as the blueprints we secured.”
Mikhail, who looked quite similar to Miraile except for their gender, readily answered.
“Most of them are hidden in the designated locations, and the ones that were difficult to access were placed in nearby warehouses, depending on the situation. Judy’s gas canisters were also placed in areas where the walls are solid or more than 50cm thick.”
Mikhail explained, pointing to the building’s blueprints spread out on one side. Behind him, Kuamer’s Magic stone, crafted like jewels, was piled high in a luxurious box. That was the identity of the items they had hidden.
For the past five days, Leonardo, Judy, and Beatrice had used magic and abrasives to process Kuamer’s Magic stone into jewel-like grains used in accessories. Most of them were placed in boxes used to present tributes to high-ranking nobles and moved to the operation locations, leaving only a portion in their current residence.
Leonardo looked away from the Magic stone, nodded, and asked.
“Contingency plan in case of misfire?”
“Since so many gifts come in anyway, they won’t be distinguishable from the jewelry piled up in the reception room. The gas will naturally dissipate into the air unless it bursts from pressure, so even if someone opens the lid, it will look like an ordinary empty bottle.”
“Still, we can’t leave any evidence, so we need to collect them if necessary. Do you remember the locations?”
“Of course. Terzio and I have cross-verified them.”
“But do we really have to go this far?”
Beatrice interjected in a disgruntled tone. Dressed in a gothic-style indoor dress, she had a somewhat hysterical voice, as if it were awkward for her to be awake during the day due to her nocturnal lifestyle.
“It’s a noble faction’s uprising anyway. We can just stand by and watch them fight. Why are we doing their dirty work for them?”
“Because they don’t seem like they’ll clean up neatly. If they’re suspected, they’ll just blame it on the rioters again. They always have.”
Leonardo placed both hands on the tabletop, leaned forward, and continued.
“When I infiltrated the mining team’s hideout in the peninsula, I mixed in some Kuamer Magic stone as a decoy when I took the Etaid. But that probably won’t be enough. If they’re caught using Etaid, our future operations will be jeopardized. I don’t want to help the nobles, but we need to lend a hand to erase the traces.”
His sharply raised Gold Eyes looked around the room.
“Since arrows will come our way even if we stay still, let’s not be stupidly hit this time and use them too. So, what about the reconnaissance team?”
When he asked, looking to the side, Miraile answered instead of Mikhail.
“Areas B, D, E, and F are all on standby. A and C have no visual obstructions but are at risk of exposure, so we’ve withdrawn, leaving only half of the existing personnel. Binoculars and scopes are installed, and each person has a Teleportation Device for escape.”
“Good. Miraile, please monitor and report the situation every 30 minutes. Once crowds start gathering, report every 10 minutes.”
“Understood.”
“Then, the preparations are roughly done….”
Leonardo turned his gaze to the clock hanging on the wall of the residence. There wasn’t just one clock; each frame had a name tag for identification.
Based on the name Zodiac attached to the largest clock, the seven clocks surrounding it reflected the local time of other nearby territories. Agrigento Territory was among them, but Leonardo’s gaze wasn’t on that clock.
He stared at the clock labeled ‘Pentagov’ at the 6 o’clock position. It was the same region name as the red circle drawn on the map.
Terzio, who was looking at the same place, placed his hand on Leonardo’s shoulder and said.
“Wouldn’t it be better for one of us to go in? If we don’t finish it in one go, things will get complicated. I’ll go in.”
“What―?”
Judy retorted as if it were absurd. Leonardo also frowned and punched him hard in the side.
“Just because you’ve come back from the dead a few times, do you think you’ve become immortal or something? You said you’d take care of yourself. Just stay here.”
“…I’m just worried it might end ambiguously. And when did I say I was going to die? I’m just saying I’ll finish it properly if there’s a problem, depending on the situation.”
Terzio frowned and rubbed his side. He retorted, but he didn’t seem to dislike being worried about, even if it was with a rough touch.
He had been acting strangely distant ever since he came into the room a few days ago, looked at the clock, and left. Leonardo nudged Terzio with his forearm, worried that he might have made some strange resolution. Then, he muttered as if to say, ‘Don’t think useless thoughts.’
“There’s a clear difference between risking your life to carry out a mission and wasting your life unnecessarily. And it’s best not to linger around if you’ve already infiltrated once.”
Judy nodded vigorously in agreement. The others also nodded, looking at Terzio, as if they agreed.
“There’s no need for you to step in.”
Leonardo stroked the silver ring on his left middle finger with his thumb. The intangible currents flowing through the uneven engravings brushed past his fingertips.
His lowered Gold Eyes murmured, commemorating his allies who would be moving secretly somewhere.
“I hired a top-notch sniper, so he’ll take care of any unexpected situations.”