A good person, they said.
I mulled over the objective report Albert had left, which for that very reason felt somehow more bitter.
Then how did a person said to be kind end up caught in a bloodbath and reach the point of being pointed out as a suspect behind an assassin?
As I descended into the damp darkness along the stairs, fragments of <Pavane for a Dead Princess> came to mind piece by piece.
The reason Dowager Imperial Consort Betius went out of her way to trample a humble count family was precisely because she needed to make an example.
‘Because she wanted to make her son emperor.’
One didn’t just become emperor. Even more so if one wasn’t the sole heir.
So the Imperial Consort tried to draw in the power of the surrounding nobles, and to her, the Kalt Count family wasn’t a very welcome existence.
As expected, the assassin who saw me spoke with a slight sneer.
“That’s what I said. If you want to kill him for sure, bring more money. Then you won’t have to leave your fate to a small fry like me.”
“…”
“Life is really petty and filthy, isn’t it? A life where even if you empty everything you have, you can’t even get revenge.”
Reading the resignation in his eyes, I asked.
“Why did you accept the commission even though you knew it was an uncertain assassination?”
Then he smirked and asked back.
“Do you think the young Viscount was the only one who held a grudge against that fine mother of yours?”
Well, that would be the case. Would someone who ruined an entire family just because they weren’t helpful in the struggle for the throne have refrained from other deeds?
“You said there was something you wanted to confirm before killing me. What is it?”
“He told me to ask why you did it.”
He said in a tired voice.
“Whether the reason for ordering to kill everything in the mansion, not leaving even a dog alive, was because he lent a handkerchief once, thinking you were a young noble of the same age.”
“…”
“He told me to ask if they all really died for just that reason.”
It was ridiculous. Because the only answer I could give was yes.
“That’s right.”
His words were correct. Life was petty and filthy. The commission he’d entrusted with the remaining money after losing everything had failed, and that Viscount wouldn’t even hear the answer to his only question.
It was pitiful, but I had no right to sympathize. I ordered in a blunt tone.
“Process the assassin according to the laws of the North.”
I considered showing mercy but stopped. For whatever reason, he had tried to kill me, and even if not, he was ultimately someone who made a living harming people for money.
“How will you handle the mastermind?”
“…Mm.”
Normally, I should track them down and root them out, right? But chasing after the sole survivor of a ruined family didn’t seem like it would be satisfying.
“What happened to the Count’s estate now?”
After pondering for a moment, Albert answered.
“If things had gone as usual, they would send private soldiers to surround the mansion and set it on fire.”
It was a terrible sound. Run away and die stabbed by a sword, or else burn to death alive.
The cruel story didn’t end there.
“And the Count’s estate would have become a haunted house while burned down.”
“Why not clean it up? Because if caught, they’d become the next purge target?”
“That’s part of it, but usually there’s a story that those who died screaming bring curses, so people around don’t rashly step forward.”
“What kind of…”
I snorted and ordered.
“Send people to clean up the Count’s estate and hold a funeral.”
“…Pardon?”
As if proving Wieg and Albert’s flustered feelings, the ‘Chaos Meter’ rose steadily.
“Why? Are you afraid the dead will curse you? If it were me, I’d protect the person who collected my body rather than curse them.”
“…”
“Say that I ordered it and that I’ll take responsibility.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
Anyway, after Dowager Imperial Consort Betius died, the ducal family also became a toothless tiger. Living while being conscious of dead people would only be a loss.
Thanks to those who considered my decision radical, the Chaos Meter rose generously. My head, which had been throbbing day and night, and my nose, which had been aching as if it would bleed at any moment, were fine.
But it wasn’t particularly welcome or happy. I pondered for a long time about this subtle guilt that wasn’t my share, yet I had to resolve.
When I went up while adjusting my stiff shoulders, Billy was standing in front of the room where I’d stayed last night.
“The young Your Imperial Majesty woke up a short while ago.”
“Did you convey the message well?”
“Yes. He said he would get ready and go to the dining room. It seems he’ll return soon, so I told them to prepare breakfast for both Your Imperial Majesties.”
I was nodding with a satisfied look when something soft brushed against my ankle.
It was the fox’s tail.
“But why is this thing here instead of leaving?”
“Well. Perhaps knowing I was waiting for Your Imperial Majesty, it waited together?”
“…Is a beast that smart?”
—Kyaeng.
When I narrowed my eyes and looked down, the fox whimpered softly and then leaped into my arms. Thinking it might fall, I reflexively caught it in my arms, and soon a moist tongue began licking my cheek.
“Stop. It’s getting wet.”
—Kking.
“I said it’s getting wet…”
If I put it down, it kept leaping up, and if I held it, no matter how much I turned my face, it found empty spots like a ghost and licked them.
While I was having a meaningless exchange with the small beast, Billy, who had been watching the spectacle, suddenly asked.
“By the way, Your Imperial Majesty. Won’t you give it a name?”
“A name?”
Here and there, everyone’s telling me to give it a name. I looked down at the beast that flattened its ears and sparkled its eyes pretending to be pitiful.
“I’m going to send it out when spring comes, so what for?”
“You’re going to send it out when spring comes?”
“I said from the beginning I would…”
I lowered my gaze at the tapping sensation on my arm. The fox’s fluffy tail was swaying back and forth, hitting my arm.
“What.”
—Kiiiiing.
“Why? What.”
I narrowed my eyes again and looked down at the fox. I’ve been thinking this for a while now… This thing acts exactly like it understands human speech.
‘Is it just coincidental timing?’
But even though it was a beast, seeing its oddly sullen face, I couldn’t help but be suspicious.
“Billy. Could a fox understand human speech?”
“Even if it’s not a North fox but a Northern grandfather fox, that would be difficult, wouldn’t it?”
“…I suppose so?”
Right. It must be my imagination. No matter how clever it is, that can’t be. Even if it’s not a beast but a magical beast, I’d never received a report that any North magical beast was as smart as a person.
After pondering for a moment, I turned toward the dining room while holding the fox. Since it would follow anyway, it seemed fine to just stay like this.
“Let’s go.”
—Kkaeng!
Was it because I was holding a warm, soft animal?
Even though I was walking through a windy corridor, I wasn’t cold to an unusual degree.
***
[January 4th]
Winter has deepened considerably.
As the magical beasts’ active period began in earnest, both inside and outside the castle became unsettled. Still, with the training we’ve done, I trust the knight order will do well.
When I banned going outside the castle, Lenox became thoroughly upset. Having no choice, I reduced document review time and increased Lenox’s taekwondo lesson time to three hours a day.
…Since the little one is happy, that’s fine.
[January 20th]
I asked the head of Sting Trading Company to search for a veterinarian. It was because of the fox.
I’m definitely feeding it proper portions for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but it’s gained weight—where on earth did it pick up something to eat? I could feel it had gotten considerably heavier when holding it too.
But the examination result says it’s just more fur. No, just how much fur does it have to gain to become heavy? Half of that body is fur?
Even the veterinarian asked what species that thing is, saying foxes don’t live in the North. If even an expert doesn’t know, how am I supposed to know?
The Northern fox that they said isn’t a Northern fox is lying beside me even now. It seems it plans to sleep in my room today.
[January 31st]
I’m worried that Lenox isn’t growing tall. To anyone, he looks about 7 or 8 years old.
Jump rope is good for stimulating growth plates—should I make him do it? I ordered Billy to research what children should eat to grow well.
Still, I’m glad he’s kind and healthy. Except for being curious and unnecessarily affectionate… No, that’s not really a flaw. Being affectionate can’t be wrong. What makes affection meaningless is what’s wrong.
As long as this world doesn’t act unnecessarily cold toward him, Lenox will surely be able to live a happier life than what was foreseen.
I will make it so.
[February 14th]
I gave Lenox chocolate. Since he couldn’t know what Valentine’s Day is, he was just purely happy.
[February 15th]
It seems I managed the territory too diligently. I was unconscious all day.
Blanc, this bastard, where the hell is he and what is he doing? Is this a scheme to kill me early and eat my soul? I have a place I need to return to. Does he think I’ll die so easily?
[February 23rd]
The custom-made wooden sword arrived.
The movements of magical beasts are also unusual, and I don’t know how long the little one will stay here… I think I should start teaching him how to hold a sword soon.
I hope you can live even without me.
[February 28th]
After several tests, I’m certain.
It seems like good energy is coming from this strange Northern fox.
