North x Northwest

Chapter 351

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The Emperor handed the forged documents back to the guard.

“Arrest those involved in this dossier and those standing up right now.”

The Emperor, risen from his throne, came down from the podium and crossed the centre of the court. After passing the testimony stand, he walked down the aisle between the audience seats. Annette hurried after the fast-walking Emperor, with Lil and the guards making up the rear. The rest of the audience similarly got up and left the courtroom.

The guards walked faster than the Emperor and quickly opened the double doors to the back garden, revealing cloud shadows sparsely staining the bright green garden. Behind the greenery came the tributary of the Risch River meanders where four large sailing ships and a smaller yacht cast shadows on the water’s surface.

As Lil was at the front of the crowd, she was among the first to see the yacht, carrying three officers from the deck of the first ship, on its way to the dock. As expected, it was no other than the Admiral standing on the yacht’s narrow bow.

Taking in the scene Lil was dumbfounded belatedly.

‘…Wait what? Did he bring in an entire fleet of smuggling ships? Even ordered his officers to shout from the deck? No matter how crazy he’s always been, this is a completely different level of insanity.’

But even as she thought that she kept bursting into laughter. Making it seem that Ed wasn’t the only one who had lost his mind.

Holding onto his wig, the Supreme Court Justice came running out with a huff before pointing a finger at Ed.

“How impudent! How were you allowed to dock here? How dare you sail those ships right up the back of His Majesty’s palace grounds! This is treason!”

Ed got off the yacht and took off the bicorne hat he was wearing. He half-heartedly brushed his bangs back and bowed in front of the Emperor and Empress. It was actually Lil’s first time to see Ed’s etiquette and couldn’t help being surprised at how elegantly good he was. His gesture was so modest that it made Lil wonder if the Emperor might be offended.

But the Emperor merely cleared his throat and asked.

“You know that there is a perfectly fine dock in front of Sesbron’s walls, so why did you commit such a reckless act?”

“Your Majesty, there are so many nobles involved that I could not allow anyone to board or disembark until we reached you.”

“…”

Not even blinking, Ed effortlessly proceeded with an exaggerating way of speaking.

“Please bear my faithful desire in wanting to directly show you this tremendous plot of treason. If this desire to think only of Your Majesty went too far, you could cut off my head…”

“…Never mind. What is done is done. Now show me quickly.”

“Yes, of course.”

Ed quickly bowed his head again as he stepped aside. Lil watched him, finding his unusual attitude of undying loyalty more than absurd. But Ed, who had his head down at an angle, was looking at her as well and even quickly winked when their eyes met. Immediately, Lil’s eyes widened and she bit her lower lip. With Ed already straightening his face, she was the only one embarrassed after he just shamelessly gave her a look.

“Guide me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

In front of the Emperor was the dock where the yacht, on which Ed came, swayed with the waves. The yacht cast a slanted shadow across the surface. Compared to the ship, it was clear that the dock was small in size as it was only built for the royal family to enjoy water play with a small boat.

The Emperor stepped onto the dock.

“Supreme Court Justice and Congress, follow me.”

Ed refused firmly.

“That will not be possible.”

The Emperor dejectedly spoke again.

“Then the council follows me.”

Ed repeated the same thing as if he were a broken music box.

“That will not be possible either.”

The Emperor’s dejected rumbles continued for longer until he finally opened his mouth.

“Is it the Supreme Court justice or the Congress that is the problem?”

“I think it would be better for only His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, some of the guards, and the accuser to look around first.”

The Emperor, understanding the meaning, suppressed his anger and asked.

“Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately, that is the case. Please believe me when I say it is because I cannot mention each person involved here by name.”

Annette held the Emperor’s shoulder to calm him down and glanced back at Lil, who then quickly went to the other side and was about to grab the Emperor’s arm to support him. As Lil approached the Emperor, Ed’s outstretched fingers slightly brushed with hers…

***

Empire – Obernyu border.

A man wearing a grey hood passed through the border walls. Riding his horse slowly, he looked back at the long procession lined up in front of the castle gate. It was the line to get through inspection, consisting of people who pulled carts, rode carriages, rode donkeys, or walked all the way from the farmlands outside the walls.

Young people from all over the continent flocked to the land of opportunity called the Empire. Above their lively expressions, black birds flew in circles to look for prey, while faceless imperial troops were watching the procession from a high watchtower.

A bell rang twelve times somewhere in the distance, signalling noon.

Maxwell sighed as he looked up at the cold grey castle walls.

“…The land of opportunity…”

‘It’s all just an illusion. No matter how many commoners rise to noble status and become able to move between classes, the old system cannot be broken. They’re still distinguished from one another until they die as if they are labelled livestock. And even if the middle class rises to prominence, they’ll be merely competent servants of more noble families.’

Maxwell went against the flow of people. He was just thrilled to be leaving this empire. This time, upon his return to Obernyu, he would confine himself to his estate and not even be bothered to look at the court of Obernyu, let alone the empire. He also contemplated buying a villa in another principality near the Great Lakes. Lil declared she would stop Venua, but Maxwell couldn’t fully believe it. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust her words. Rather, it was because Venua was still dangerous.

‘With that temper, I wonder what he may do to vent out his anger…’

Because he was anxious about that, Maxwell took the deal with Mireille. No matter how much Lil sent the Roahn Guards, Maxwell, as the head of his family, couldn’t afford to be punished and leave his family alone. And Lil couldn’t do anything about that. So, on the day the Empress first left Lil’s boudoir, Maxwell sought her out, taking advantage of her time alone. Since Annette never wanted to part with Lil, they had to meet very briefly, but it was enough to convey his situation.

– – – – – – – – – flashback – – – – – – – – –

As it was just before the banquet started, Lil looked very gorgeous. The white muslin dress and veil made her look like an ethereal being, one that humans could never reach.

‘Although she’s born with the most precious blood in the land, I never felt an ounce of discrimination against me… She’s long beyond my understanding…’

Maxwell soon came to his senses and bowed his head.

“Servants of the Duke of Mireille came to visit me on the passenger ship.”

“How could they have recognized you?”

“The Prince Regent once stopped by the Duke’s mansion to pressure the Duke about finding you.”

“What did his servant say?”

“He asked me to bring him a necklace.”

“Necklace?”

“Yes. A necklace with a red gem.”

“..!”

Lil’s expression changed as if the necklace wasn’t an ordinary item. Since she didn’t answer, Maxwell continued, worried that he was losing her trust.

“On the passenger ship… I tried to meet with you by going in and out of the luggage compartment. It was my only way of avoiding raising suspicion…”

“Why didn’t you tell Shail?”

“Because that guard doesn’t trust me. He probably would’ve made a big deal out of it. If I got caught on the Clotilde, it would’ve made things even more complicated.”

Lil looked up at Maxwell for a moment and muttered.

“…Neither of you really trust the other…”

“Miss, I…”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to reprimand you. Come, sit down for a moment.”

Lil, who was sitting on the couch, offered him a seat across from her. While Maxwell walked to his seat and sat down, Lil was lost in her thoughts, looking somewhere into space. She was silent for a moment, then quickly came to her conclusion.

“Give it to them.”

Maxwell reflexively asked back at her unexpected answer.

“…What?”

“It was going to have to fall into the Duke’s hands anyway, so you’re lucky that you’re the one he contacted. So, if he calls for you again after the banquet, hand it over to him. Before that, I have something to check at the banquet first.”

‘How does she know that he’ll reach out to me after the banquet? The young lady seems to have a solid plan in mind once again. However, I have no intention of getting involved with the Duke of Mireille. Am I about to get caught up in some insidious and tiring business again? No, no. But if I think about it differently…’

Lil asked as if reading his thoughts.

“What did the Duke offer?”

Maxwell replied, hoping that she would rather decide for him.

“He promised me a complete… pardon…”

– – – – –

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