SLDS 8

Scritch, scratch. The nib of the pen moving across the parchment made a ticklish sound.

Cecil rested his chin on his hand at the desk and carefully wrote something down. He had a rather serious expression on his face. Leo was waiting at a distance so as not to disturb his master.

Appearance was not the only thing Cecil had inherited from the empress. Like his mother, he was also exceptionally intelligent.

He quickly absorbed what he learned and made it his own. It went without saying that he was quick-witted. Thanks to this, in his previous life, he had even taken on the role of a strategist, earning the emperor’s trust despite his young age.

His intelligence was Cecil’s greatest weapon. Cecil began to wrack his brain, retracing the events that were to come.

He meticulously divided the fragments of his memories by time period and then repeated the process of transcribing them into a blank book. Major incidents were etched onto the soft leather paper.

“It’s not like I’m making some kind of book of prophecies.”

Cecil, who had been steadily scribbling down letters, suddenly burst into a hollow laugh. Knowing the events that would unfold in the future made him feel secure, but at the same time, he thought that if anyone saw this writing, they would think he was a madman.

Still, since he had written it in his own code that he had used during his days as a strategist, it would be difficult for anyone to decipher what it meant.

Without stopping, he began to classify the nobles as well. The empress’s faction, the neutral faction, and the traitors who currently supported Alexis but would later turn to the empress’s side. Cecil went through the peerage register he had borrowed from the archives, meticulously checking to see if he had missed anyone.

After finishing the long task, he scanned the book of prophecies he had created.

The first thing that caught his eye was, of course, the death of Duchess Olycke Vandel.

The duchess would soon meet her demise in a carriage accident. He remembered that Alexis, who treated her like a mother, had been deeply grieved after her death.

“I think it was around this time.”

He didn’t know the exact date, but he was certain it was right after he had returned to the empire.

Couldn’t I possibly prevent it if I play my cards right?

Cecil gently scratched the tip of his chin with the soft feather fletching of the pen. Then, he snapped his fingers and called for his loyal head chamberlain.

“Yes, Mr. Cecil!”

Leo, having been summoned, came running immediately.

“I want to meet Duchess Vandel, so go to the duchy and deliver a message. The date should be as soon as possible. It’s fine if I go to her, or if she is escorted to the imperial palace.”

“Pardon? The duchess should be at the imperial palace right now, though?”

“Right now?”

“Yes. She entered the palace this morning. I saw the Vandel family carriage heading toward the Saint Palace with my own eyes. Shall I go and deliver your message?”

“No! I’ll go!”

Cecil shot up from his seat. Leo and several servants hurriedly followed behind him as he rushed out in a flurry.

“Hmm.”

Cecil crossed his arms and observed the carriage intently. The servants of the Peridot Palace also followed their master’s lead and examined the carriage seriously.

The four-wheeled carriage, with its white exterior and gold leaf trim, was well-maintained, and the horses also seemed to be in fine condition. On both doors of the ornate-looking carriage was a depiction of an eagle holding a shield. It was clearly the crest of the Duchy of Vandel.

“Hmph.”

Cecil made another unintelligible sound, and this time, he circled the carriage once, inspecting it meticulously. His servants moved in the exact same way. It held no particular meaning. They were simply trailing closely behind their master.

The Vandel family servants, including the coachman, were just bewildered, not knowing the reason for this.

A guard knight, unable to watch any longer, was about to politely ask for the reason. Just then, the duchess, who had finished her private audience with the crown prince, was walking out and witnessed the suspicious scene unfolding outside the palace.

Her benevolent face stiffened for a moment. All sorts of questions popped into her head, but like a seasoned noblewoman, she composed her expression and hurried to the front of the carriage.

“Mr. Adrian.”

“Duchess.”

Duchess Olycke greeted him with due respect. Although not a single drop of imperial blood ran in his veins, Cecil was, after all, a member of the imperial family.

She looked at Cecil with wary eyes.

“What might you be doing here? Is there a problem with my carriage?”

“I was just passing by when I saw the crest of a familiar family. The carriage is so splendid that I was just admiring it.”

For someone who was just admiring it, wasn’t he inspecting it a bit too openly? The Vandel family servants had much to say, but given the circumstances, they held their tongues.

“It is a very fine carriage.”

“Thank you. It is a bit embarrassing that it looks too extravagant.”

“Not at all. A prestigious duchy like Vandel should be riding in something of this caliber. However…”

Cecil smiled artlessly, then pointed to the left front wheel of the carriage.

“That wheel seems a little loose, were you aware?”

“Pardon?”

“The horse with the brown mane also doesn’t look to be in good condition. I am concerned that an accident might occur on your way home, Duchess.”

“Oh my!”

The duchess let out a surprised gasp. At her words, the servants, coachman, and guard knight hurriedly inspected the carriage. While it wasn’t a major problem, it was true that the wheel was looser than usual, and the horse’s eyes were slightly cloudy.

“My lady, it should still be fine to make the journey back.”

“Will it be all right?”

The duchess covered her mouth, a rather troubled expression on her face. Cecil, who was standing beside her, did not miss the chance to add his own words.

“It takes over an hour to get to the duchy from here, and you have to cross a bridge as well. You know how dangerous a carriage accident can be, don’t you? One wrong move and it’s very easy to overturn and die. For your own safety, Duchess, I believe it would be best to reconsider.”

“……”

The duchess could not answer readily. She was suspicious of Cecil looking out for her safety. Cecil, as if he had expected this as well, spoke calmly.

“Why don’t you ask His Highness Alexis for a favor? There are many carriages in the imperial palace. I could arrange one for you, but wouldn’t you feel more at ease asking His Highness the Crown Prince rather than me, Duchess?”

Cecil even presented a concrete alternative. The duchess, as well as everyone around her, showed a rather positive reaction.

As he said, the imperial palace was lined with high-class carriages no less impressive than the one the duchess had arrived in. Furthermore, if the crown prince himself were to procure one, there would be no need for any unpleasant suspicions.

“I will gladly follow your precious advice.”

Duchess Olycke bowed with sincere respect.

And that night, the capital was turned upside down. An accident occurred where the ducal carriage was crossing a bridge, and the horse became agitated and ran wild.

The carriage, with its wheel having fallen off, plunged into the river below and sank into the deep water, and the coachman, who was driving 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 riding in a baggage cart, so there were no additional casualties.

While everyone let out a sigh of relief and wiped their chests, they recalled Cecil Adrian’s advice. A shiver ran down their spines, along with the thought of what might have happened if he had not stopped them.

The next day, a letter arrived at the Peridot Palace. The duchess had sent a long letter expressing her gratitude. Along with it were sweet desserts that Cecil liked.

It is only proper that I visit you in person to express my gratitude, but my circumstances do not allow for it, so I am sending my heart first through this letter. I will be sure to visit the Peridot Palace and greet you once I am feeling better. The Vandel family always repays its debts. Thank you once again for saving my life.

After reading the letter to the end, Cecil crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand at an angle. The way he sat in the plush armchair looked as comfortable as if he were lying down in bed.

“How is the duchess’s condition?”

Leo, who was standing opposite him, quickly recited the news he had picked up.

“I hear she is groaning with body aches and even a fever. How frightened she must have been. And at her age, too… If it weren’t for you, Mr. Cecil, she would have been as good as dead.”

“Still, it’s a great relief the timing wasn’t too late.”

He had not known the carriage accident would happen yesterday. He had just found a small pretext in the hopes that the duchess would be a little more careful about her safety.

In the end, he had helped her at just the right time. Was it just help? He had even saved a person who was supposed to have died. Cecil felt a great sense of satisfaction with the fate he had changed and smiled proudly.

With this, Alexis won’t have to be sad…!

“Ah!”

At that moment, a burning heat seared his chest, and Cecil’s eyes contorted in a grimace. As he clutched his chest and his body crumpled, Leo rushed over in alarm.

“Mr. Cecil! What’s wrong? Are you all right?”

Cecil couldn’t even make a sound from the pain. It was a pain comparable to having hundreds of needles stabbed into his heart and stirred around. His face turned ashen, and he couldn’t even groan, only managing to move his lips. Even the hand that was tearing at his shirt turned pale and trembled violently.

“What are you doing! Bring the royal physician! Now!”

Leo shouted at the servants, giving them orders. The palace was noisy with the sound of running footsteps and shouting voices, but nothing reached Cecil’s ears.

«If you divulge the secret, you will pay a harsh price.»

As his consciousness faded, the voice of the goddess Gaia suddenly penetrated his mind.

Cecil bit his lip hard.

Damn it, but you never said it would hurt this much.