By Zephyria 
Scratch, scratch. The pen tip glided over the parchment, creating a ticklish sound.
Cecile rested his chin on the desk and carefully wrote something down. His expression was quite serious. Leo was waiting at a distance, trying not to disturb his master.
What Cecile inherited from the Empress was not just his appearance. He also took after his mother in having an exceptionally sharp mind.
He absorbed what he learned and made it his own. His cleverness was undeniable. Thanks to this, in his previous life, he earned the Emperor’s trust at a young age and took on the role of a strategist.
Having a good head was Cecile’s greatest weapon. He began to squeeze his memory, retracing the events that would unfold in the future.
He meticulously divided the fragments of memory by time and repeated the process of transcribing them into a blank book. Significant events were etched onto the smooth leather paper.
“It’s not like I’m making a prophecy book.”
Cecile, who had been steadily scribbling, suddenly let out a hollow laugh. Knowing the events that would happen in the future gave him a sense of security, but he also thought that if someone saw this writing, they would surely consider him insane.
Still, he wrote it in his own code used during his time as a strategist, so it would be difficult for anyone to decipher its meaning.
He did not stop there and began categorizing the nobles as well. The Empress faction, the moderate faction, and currently those supporting Alexis, but who would later turn traitor to side with the Empress. Cecile carefully checked the noble list he had borrowed from the library to ensure he hadn’t missed anyone.
After finishing that lengthy task, he skimmed through the prophecy book he had created.
The first thing that caught his eye was undoubtedly the death of Duchess Olrike Vandell.
The Duchess would soon pass away in a carriage accident. He remembered that Alexis, who treated her like a mother, was deeply saddened after her death.
“I think it was around this time.”
He wasn’t sure of the exact date, but it was certain that it was right after he returned to the Empire.
Could he possibly prevent it?
Cecile gently scratched his chin with the soft feather of the pen. Then, he snapped his fingers and called for his loyal attendant.
“Yes, Master Cecile!”
Leo, summoned, rushed over immediately.
“I want to meet the Duchess Vandell, so go to the Vandell residence and deliver my message. As soon as possible. I can go myself, or you can bring her to the palace.”
“Huh? The Duchess should be at the palace right now, though?”
“Right now?”
“Yes. She entered the palace this morning. I even saw the Vandell carriage heading towards Saint Palace with my own eyes. Should I go and deliver the message?”
“No! I’ll go!”
Cecile jumped up from his seat. Leo and several attendants hurriedly followed him as he dashed out.
“Hmm.”
Cecile crossed his arms and closely observed the carriage. The attendants of Peridot Palace also scrutinized the carriage seriously, following their master.
The four-wheeled carriage, with a white exterior adorned with gold leaf, was well-maintained, and the horses appeared to be in good condition. At a glance, the luxurious carriage had an eagle holding a shield painted next to both doors. It was clearly the emblem of the Vandell family.
“Hmm.”
Cecile made another ambiguous sound and then walked around the carriage, inspecting it thoroughly. The attendants followed suit, mimicking his movements. It had no particular meaning; they were just trailing behind their master.
The Vandell servants, including the coachman, were puzzled, not knowing the reason for this behavior.
Just then, a guard, unable to bear it any longer, was about to politely ask for the reason. At that moment, the Duchess, having just finished a private meeting with the Crown Prince, walked out and witnessed the suspicious scene unfolding outside the palace.
Her gentle face stiffened for a moment. Various questions flooded her mind, but being a seasoned noblewoman, she composed her expression and hurried towards the carriage.
“Adrian.”
“Duchess.”
Duchess Olrike Vandell greeted him with courtesy. Although there was not a drop of royal blood in her, Cecile was undeniably a member of the imperial family.
She looked at Cecile with wary eyes.
“What are you doing here? Is there a problem with my carriage?”
“I happened to see the emblem of a familiar family while passing by. The carriage is so splendid that I was admiring it.”
Wasn’t that a bit too blatant? The Vandell servants had much to say, but given the situation, they held their tongues.
“It’s a very fine carriage.”
“Thank you. It seems a bit too extravagant, which makes me a little embarrassed.”
“Not at all. A prestigious family like the Vandells should be riding in something like this. But…”
Cecile, smiling innocently, pointed to the left front wheel of the carriage.
“That wheel seems a bit loose. Are you aware of that?”
“Pardon?”
“The brown-maned horse also looks like it’s not in good condition. I’m concerned that there might be an accident on the way home.”
“Oh dear!”
The Duchess gasped in surprise. At her words, the servants, coachman, and guard hurriedly examined the carriage. While it wasn’t a major issue, it was true that the wheel was looser than usual, and the horse’s eyes were slightly cloudy.
“My lady, it should be fine for the return trip.”
“Is that so?”
The Duchess covered her mouth, looking quite troubled. Cecile, standing next to her, seized the opportunity to add his thoughts.
“To get to the Duchess’s residence from here, it’s over an hour’s journey, and you’ll have to cross a bridge. You know how dangerous carriage accidents can be, right? A slight misstep could lead to a rollover and death. For your safety, it would be wise to reconsider.”
“…”
The Duchess hesitated to respond. She was suspicious of Cecile’s concern for her safety. Cecile, as if anticipating this, spoke calmly.
“Why not ask His Highness Alexis? There are many carriages at the palace. I could arrange one for you, but wouldn’t it be more reassuring for you to request it from the Crown Prince himself?”
Cecile even suggested a concrete alternative. The Duchess and those around her showed quite a positive reaction.
As he said, the palace had luxurious carriages that were just as good as the one the Duchess had arrived in. Moreover, if the Crown Prince personally arranged it, there would be no need for any unpleasant suspicions.
“I will gladly follow your kind suggestion.”
Duchess Olrike Vandell bowed respectfully.
That night, the capital was thrown into chaos. An incident occurred where the Vandell carriage, crossing a bridge, was startled by the horses and went wild.
The carriage, with a wheel that had come off, fell into the river below and sank into the deep water, while the coachman, who was pulling the carriage alone, died on the spot.
Fortunately, the Duchess was riding in the carriage provided by the Crown Prince, and the servants were also in a baggage carriage, so there were no additional casualties.
As everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they recalled Cecile Adrian’s advice. They shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if he hadn’t intervened.
The next day, a letter arrived at Peridot Palace. The Duchess sent a long letter expressing her gratitude. It also included some of Cecile’s favorite sweet desserts.
“It would be proper to visit in person and express my thanks, but due to circumstances, I am sending this letter to convey my feelings first. Once I recover, I will surely visit Peridot Palace to greet you. The Vandell family will definitely repay this kindness. Thank you once again for saving my life.”
After reading the letter to the end, Cecile sat with his legs crossed, resting his chin at an angle. He looked so comfortable on the plush single sofa that it resembled someone lounging on a bed.
“How is the Duchess doing?”
Leo, standing across from him, quickly recounted the news he had heard.
“I’ve heard she has a fever and is suffering from a cold. She must have been so shocked. Given her age… If it weren’t for you, Master Cecile, she would have been a goner.”
“Still, it’s fortunate that the timing wasn’t too late.”
He hadn’t expected the carriage accident to happen yesterday. He had merely hoped to find a small excuse for the Duchess to be a bit more cautious about her safety.
In the end, he had provided help at just the right moment. Not just help; he had saved a life that should have been lost. Cecile felt a great sense of satisfaction with the fate he had altered and smiled proudly.
With this, Alexis wouldn’t have to be sad…!
“Ah!”
At that moment, his chest felt like it was burning, and Cecile’s eyes contorted in pain. As he clutched his chest, his body began to crumble, and Leo rushed over in alarm.
“Master Cecile! What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
Cecile couldn’t even make a sound as he endured the pain. It felt like hundreds of needles were stabbing into his heart. He was pale, unable to groan, only able to move his lips. Even the hand gripping his shirt turned white and trembled violently.
“What are you doing! Bring the court physician! Right now!”
Leo shouted loudly, giving orders to the attendants. The palace was filled with the sounds of running footsteps and shouting voices, but nothing reached Cecile’s ears.
“If you reveal the secret, you will pay a terrible price.”
As his consciousness began to fade, the voice of the goddess Gaia suddenly penetrated his mind.
Cecile bit his lip tightly.
Damn it, I didn’t expect it to hurt this much.