SLDS 30

The knights fell into a panic at the Crown Prince’s sudden visit.

Even without any specific orders, they all stopped what they were doing and came running. As nearly several hundred knights gathered, a magnificent spectacle unfolded. The air was layered with tension.

Alexis scanned the knights who had formed ranks in an instant. A faint annoyance was etched on his face, which was framed by his hands resting on his hips. It was because the face he was looking for was not in sight.

“Where is Maxwell?”

Claude quickly asked the vice-commander. The vice-commander also frantically darted his eyes around, searching for the absent Loco.

“Well… he’s probably in the barracks. Why didn’t this guy come out…”

His Highness the Crown Prince himself had graced them with his presence, yet he hadn’t shown his face, and the vice-commander was growing anxious. He gestured with his eyes to the knights standing nearby. The quick-witted knights broke formation and headed for the barracks to fetch Loco.

But they returned shortly after with bewildered faces.

“He’s not inside.”

“What do you mean? Then where did he go?”

They couldn’t bring themselves to report and just whispered amongst themselves. But there was no way the sharp Alexis would miss it.

His cold, piercing eyes scanned the crowd and the training grounds. A situation that could not be controlled within the imperial palace, and within the Knight Order at that, was an unacceptable matter.

“Find him.”

A short command was given. The members, considered the elite of the Knight Order, moved in perfect order.

They immediately formed groups and began the search. No matter how vast the imperial palace was, when the elite knights were mobilized, they could find even a rat hiding in a sewer.

After about thirty minutes, news arrived that Loco had been found.

The problem was that he had been discovered in a completely unexpected state. In a deserted forest path deep inside the imperial palace, where even sunlight barely reached.

Alexis stared at the body hanging limply from a tree branch by its neck.

During the five years he had spent in the Black Forest, he had seen more human corpses than he could count. There had been countless scenes more gruesome than this.

But there had never been a corpse as pitiful and wretched as this one. The terror of his final moments was etched onto Loco Maxwell’s face, which had turned a deathly blue, a testament to how much pain and fear he must have felt.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I should have watched him more carefully… I will gladly accept my punishment.”

“Take the body down at once.”

Alexis bit his lip hard. Although it was to preserve the scene until he arrived, he couldn’t stand the fact that they had left a suicide victim unattended for so long.

As soon as the order was given, the knights all lent a hand. They cut the thick rope and laid Loco’s body on the ground, covering it with a white cloth.

While they were handling the body, a somber light spread across the knights’ faces. It was out of self-reproach for driving a comrade to his death.

“It seems he left a note.”

Claude handed him a piece of paper. While Alexis confirmed the contents of the suicide note, he looked around at the chaotic surroundings. It went without saying that Claude’s face was also full of sorrow.

“What should we do with the body?”

“Summon the coroner. Cordon off the area and have the cause of death confirmed one more time.”

Although it clearly looked like a suicide, Alexis ordered an autopsy. It was to investigate the possibility of a homicide, no matter how slight.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Claude immediately obeyed the command. The knights who received his orders began to move busily again.

No matter how secluded the place was, this was still inside the imperial palace.

The news of the unprecedented suicide spread in an instant. Someone approached the front of the Knight Order, who were holding back the gathering onlookers. It was Cecil, his face pale.

“…Is he really dead?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Cecil. You cannot enter.”

The vice-commander spoke with polite deference. However, the way he blocked the path with both arms showed a thorough sense of caution.

“Move. I need to see for myself.”

“Nothing good will come from you seeing the body, sir.”

“I ordered you to move.”

A short command fell from Cecil’s lips. It was a voice devoid of excitement or agitation, but it carried a sharpness that could not be defied. The vice-commander glanced around before slowly lowering his arms.

Cecil walked straight inside and stood before the group clustered around the body. The autopsy was in full swing, so the white cloth had been removed, and Loco’s entire dead body was clearly visible.

“……”

The bluish skin, the clear rope mark on his neck, and the tongue hanging long out of his mouth were more surreal than he could have imagined. But Cecil steadfastly seared the sight into his eyes.

Though his tightly clenched fists were trembling, he didn’t look away even once. When the autopsy was over, Claude closed Loco’s bloodshot eyes. Only after seeing that did Cecil finally manage to turn his head.

His eyes met with the man standing under the tree trunk, exuding a unique presence.

Since Alexis had been watching Cecil the whole time, their eyes meeting was inevitable. Cecil did not avoid his gaze and stared straight at Alexis.

It was Alexis who moved first. He walked over to Cecil and handed him the suicide note.

“I thought you should read this.”

“……”

Cecil silently took the note and read it. On the shabby scrap of paper were the last words Loco wanted to leave to the world. Along with an appeal of his pain, it contained an apology to Cecil.

A lowly person has dared to wound your noble body. Though you overlooked it, Mr. Cecil, the unbearable guilt has made it difficult to endure each day. I pray that my death can repay this.

Cecil squeezed his eyes shut and then opened them. He returned the read note to Alexis.

“…So it has come to this in the end.”

As Alexis took back the note, he observed Cecil closely. Unlike his bloodless, pale complexion, his face showed no expression, making it difficult to read his feelings.

“Were you close to this person?”

“No.”

“Then why did you care so much?”

When Alexis questioned him again, Cecil let out a hollow laugh.

He was sick and tired of discussing this issue. Above all, wasn’t the timing far too late? What was the point now that Loco was already dead?

“That is none of Your Highness’s business.”

At the impertinent reply, Claude stood up, incensed. No matter if he was royalty, a clear hierarchy existed between the Crown Prince and Cecil. He was about to step forward to say something, but a straightly extended palm stopped him.

Alexis stopped Claude and continued speaking.

“Although Loco Maxwell was not yet appointed, he will be given a funeral befitting a member of the Knight Order. I also promise to give his bereaved family appropriate compensation.”

“……”

Cecil stared up at the face before him. Soon, he let out a listless sigh.

“Do as you please. It has nothing to do with me anymore.”

As he was about to turn away, his legs gave out, and he staggered. Alexis reflexively grabbed Cecil’s wrist. The warm temperature was felt plainly. Cecil slowly shook off his hand and turned his back without any lingering attachment.

Alexis opened his left hand and looked at it. It was only natural that Cecil would avoid him after the recent incident.

No, even though this was what he had wanted, his mood sank unpleasantly.

✽ ✽ ✽

After the suicide of Loco Maxwell, Cecil’s behavior changed noticeably.

While he didn’t go anywhere near Alexis, the people he met were limited. Most were the empress’s close associates.

It wasn’t strange. Rather, that was normal, and it was the way Cecil Adrian had been before.

Empress Elizabeth was delighted that Cecil had finally come to his senses. How infuriating it had been to see him chasing after Alexis’s coattails, playing the part of a subordinate that didn’t suit him at all.

“I hear the Minister of Protocol has recently made a huge profit from the gold mine business.”

Tristan cautiously relayed the information he had heard to the Crown Prince.

Sifting through the rumors secretly circulating in social clubs for anything that might be helpful to the Crown Prince and reporting it was one of the chief aide’s main duties.

Hearing this, Alexis laughed it off as if it were nothing.

“He’s quite talented.”

“Surprisingly, it is said that the one who advised him to invest was Mr. Cecil.”

The story that hadn’t been very appealing a moment ago now hit him like a ton of bricks. Alexis wiped the smile from his face and asked.

“What would he know.”

“Actually, I heard everyone had a similar reaction at first. But strangely, wouldn’t you know, every single thing he points out turns out to be a boon. It seems the Minister of Protocol also invested as a test, and it was a huge success. The nobles are all buzzing with this story now.”

“……”

“It says it all that they seek out Mr. Cecil more than a successful financial accountant. They say every little word he throws out turns into money and rolls in.”

“Is that possible?”

“According to the rumors, they’re asking if he’s received a divine revelation from somewhere…”

Alexis snorted in disbelief. It was nonsense. It must have been a series of coincidences, or he had received information from the empress in advance.

The Cecil he had seen until now was not stupid at all. Rather, when he put his mind to it, he was eloquent enough to charm people, and he seemed skilled at handling people for his age. Alexis was convinced that this was Cecil’s true nature.

“It seems he’s finally decided to drop the act.”

He was very curious to see how he would come out now.

“Dig deeper. From now on, report all news related to Cecil to me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Afterward, Tristan began to mention other matters. They were important topics, but Alexis’s attention was still on the story from before.

His gaze was fixed on the empty desk and wouldn’t move. It was easier when he could keep an eye on him right in front of him.

The absent presence now began to bother him like a hangnail.