Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 102 : Coincidence and Inevitability
“I ca here because I have sothing to say briefly to Sir Zephyros, who is in charge of this place.”
“Ah…… Is that so?”
“Yes. At first, I visited to ask Sir Zephyros a few things, but since there were various things that looked quite interesting, I couldn’t easily stop my steps.”
“Interesting? That’s right. It is certain that this is a very interesting place.”
Isabella pretended to arrange her hair flowing down beside her ears and fell into thought.
‘With Sir Zephyros? Then does that an a connection with the fourth older brother is not the goal?’
Usually, the biggest interest for a foreign noble coming to the Imperial Palace would be the Princes.
But for it to be Sir Zephyros instead of that.
‘Well, I can check this directly with the fourth older brother a little later.’
Just as Isabella, who felt interest in the fact that Hein’s goal was not Suleiman, was about to harbor doubts,
“It seems Your Highness also likes this place?”
“……Yes, well. There is that, and I also have sothing to tell the fourth older brother.”
Hein suddenly threw a question.
“It seems Your Highness has very good sibling affection with the 4th Prince.”
“Yes. Because Older Brother Suleiman is a person with a very warm heart. And he knows a lot too.”
Recalling the awkward smile Suleiman often showed, Isabella showed a small laugh.
‘Right, well at least the temperature of the heart that guy holds toward you would be real.’
Recalling the complicated diagram of affection revealed during the Empire’s Civil War in his past life, Hein unwittingly built a bitter smile.
The twisted heart held by the 4th Prince, whose exceptionally white skin was impressive.
Of course, at this timing, he did not throw the question-
‘Have you perhaps ever pondered what the owner of this laboratory thinks of Your Highness?’
-asking such a thing.
Right now, his words would not work, and he also had no intention of stepping up first to alleviate the burden the Empire’s successors would have to shoulder soday.
Beep-
At that mont, a signal sound rang from the pager Hein had.
“Your Highness, then I will take my leave now.”
“Will you do so? Grand Duke, I was glad to be able to see you like this today.”
“I was also truly glad to be able to et Your Highness.”
Hein soon disappeared from the garden.
Isabella, watching Hein’s receding back, spoke to her friend.
“Grace.”
“Yes. Princess.”
“Look into Grand Duke Reichart’s tracks once. Is it because he is a person whose inner thoughts cannot be grasped at all? It keeps bothering .”
***
“……Hmm, so, you an the Dragon Tooth Soldiers were made from debris excavated from the Bisane Ruins.”
“Yes. Those guys stole what was being stored in the Imperial Laboratory after excavation.”
“To think debris stored for over a hundred years could be revived like that. It seems Magic Engineering possesses greater power than I thought.”
“Haha, although I shouldn't be like this in a situation that caused trouble due to our negligence in managent, since Your Excellency says so, I honestly can’t help feeling proud.”
The two people sitting face to face in Zephyros’s office were talking about the Dragon Tooth Soldiers as always.
Because the Dragon Tooth Soldier was the reason Hein visited the laboratory, no, chosen as the excuse to examine the laboratory.
“By the way, the Grand Duke has truly much interest in Magic Engineering. Usually, politicians or knights have absolutely no interest regarding this field. Ah, of course, for , it is a welcod thing beyond compare though.”
“Personally, it is my individual interest, but it is a matter related to the group that tried to shake the foundation of Zodiac. Naturally, I must have interest.”
“Since a person who loves Zodiac so much is the Grand Duke, the people must be truly happy.”
The appearance of the two people was harmonious beyond comparison on the outside.
“Actually, the 4th Prince frequently says he wants to et the Grand Duke by all ans once.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. If it weren't for the duties he undertook in the Sacred Festival, he would have created a seat to invite Your Excellency long ago.”
Actually, neither the fact that Suleiman had special interest in Hein nor that he wanted to et Hein was a lie.
‘Grand Duke, you shared a chat joyfully with Princess Isabella just a while ago, right? You better avoid His Highness’s gaze well. Because His Highness clearly witnessed that scene in the garden just a while ago…….’
Because just a while ago, he was staring at the scene of Isabella and Hein sharing a conversation with eyes that seed like sparks would fly.
Recalling that the reinforced wooden chairs smashed because of Hein already exceeded 10, Zephyros smiled secretly.
“It would have been good to et once. It is truly regrettable that the day for you to return is approaching.”
“Since many days still remain for both His Highness and , an opportunity will co soday. By the way.”
Hein, who showed a smile just like Zephyros, revealed the purpose for finding him today.
“Actually, the reason I found this place today is because there is one thing I want to request of you, Sir.”
“The Grand Duke to ? If it is sothing I can do, I will do my best.”
“As you said, I have to leave this place in a few days. So, if you are okay with it, Sir, I would like to arrange a ans to be able to contact you.”
“To think you would look for even after going to your ho country! Haha, what to do? I feel like I might be touched.”
“Then will you grant my request?”
“Of course! Grand Duke, please wait just a mont.”
In the hands of Zephyros who revealed himself after a while, two crystal balls emitting a brilliant light were held.
“If you just have this, you will be able to talk comfortably with even after returning to your ho country.”
“Since you cheerfully grant an unreasonable request, I am just thankful.”
Hein, who received the crystal ball, examined the surface with careful hand movents.
Perhaps inside this crystal ball, various suspicious functions other than a simple communication function would be attached.
‘Perhaps you are thinking of as sothing like a moth drawn to the fla, fallen for kindness.’
If there was an advantage for Hein in the relationship between these two, it was that while Zephyros was full of things he didn't know about Hein, Hein knew too well about Zephyros’s essence.
Even though Hein clearly knew the trick Zephyros might have played, he accepted the crystal ball he held out without hesitation.
‘Right now, securing a connection line is necessary first. Even if I don't know the inner thoughts, I must arrange a ans to at least grasp the movents.’
Hein, who succeeded in securing a minimum safety net, stood up from the seat.
“If fate allows, I will be able to see Your Excellency again before long, right?”
Twinkling his eyes that ‘looked’ innocent as always, Zephyros saw Hein off.
“I do not believe in words like coincidence or fate.”
“But I feel like I will definitely et you again, Sir. I will be waiting for that day to co.”
Right, Hein did not believe in things like coincidence.
With these words as the last, Hein ca out of Zephyros’s office.
‘Zephyros, we will et again. Because you and I are a relationship bound by a chain of inevitability, not sothing like a string of fate.’
The hazy blue light emitted by the laboratory blurred behind Hein.
***
Ti flowed diligently even while Hein moved busily to achieve the purpose for coming to the Empire.
Before long, the night when the Sacred Festival approached to tomorrow.
“Please co inside. Duke Nervian is waiting for Your Excellency.”
“Thank you.”
Hein could finally have the private eting with Ned that he had been looking forward to.
Actually, he was thinking the possibility of a private eting with Ned being realized was about fifty-fifty.
Since entering the Empire, Ned had been handling a busy schedule almost equivalent to the Emperor.
The nurous delegations of small nations who had requested to et Ned until now also just gathered in one place, got a cup of tea, and stayed as if pushed before leaving; that was all.
‘Screwing up that guy Drak is having a pretty decent effect.’
Ned was a person aloof from private interests, but it seed unavoidable that he too would be interested in the protagonist of the rumor that made the Imperial Palace noisy.
“Nice to et you. For the rumored Grand Duke to personally make footsteps all the way here to et this old man. It seems this person hasn't lived completely in vain during that ti, so I am considerably relieved.”
“Hein Reichart of Zodiac greets the Master of the White Crystal School.”
The accommodation of the Maganus delegation, which was three or four tis larger than other nations’ delegations.
As soon as he opened the guided room door, what was seen first was a white-haired old man sitting in front of a small table, tilting a liquor cup with a pleased expression.
‘Elfian.’
Pure white hair that would easily reach the waist and ears perked up.
Ancient race within the body, a mixed blood of human and High Elf preserving the blood of High Elves.
Ned, who fully revealed the characteristics the bloodline possessed, raised his hand and welcod Hein.
“Do not stand like that and sit in the seat. Ah, would the Grand Duke also like a drink? Today the moon is so good I could not possibly just pass it by, so I was having a drink first.”
“Thank you.”
Hein accepted the kindness Ned bestowed without declining.
Glug glug glug-
“Now, shall we share the main story then.”
After pouring liquor to the point of rippling in the cup placed in front of Hein, Ned opened the corners of his mouth wet with amber liquid to the left and right and showed a smile.
“First, I have one thing I want to ask the Grand Duke.”
“Please speak.”
The blue envelope held in his hand.
“Although I have aged quite a bit, I did not think I was old enough for my eyes to be dim yet. The content contained in this letter…… I felt that perhaps I saw it wrong, you see.”
Ned’s gaze was directed toward the Ancient Runes that first appeared around the middle of the letter Hein handed over.
That na which could not be expressed with general characters and could only be marked with Ancient Runes.
“This letter, is it correct that the Grand Duke wrote it personally?”
Ned lifted a finger and pointed to the part written in Runes.
“Yes, it is correct.”
Hein nodded his head imdiately.
“I sent the letter to Duke Nervian because I want to borrow the Ark of Setien.”
“Hoho!”
Eventually, a scoff mixed with admiration burst out from Ned’s mouth.
“I have heard that the Grand Duke of Zodiac is an outstanding talent whose words and actions are serious and whose possessed abilities are exceptional, so he does not carelessly spit out nonsense.”
“It is just exaggerated words babbled by those who like to talk.”
“Grand Duke, surely you aren't unaware of what object the Ark of Setien is, right?”
“Of course.”
Could he be unaware?
Hein knew too well about the Ark of Setien.
How could he not know the 7 divine objects of the Magic Kingdom that protect Maganus and their King?
“……You an you said you want to borrow the Ark of Setien while knowing that fact well. Hoho.”
A slightly deeper admiration than the one just before burst out from Ned’s mouth.
Gulp.
Ned emptied his full cup in one breath.
And filling the cup again, he said.
“It seems the story will beco a little long. Grand Duke, how about another drink?”
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