North x Northwest

Chapter 341

Volume 9 Chapter 341

In the middle of Annette expressing her concerns, the Emperor and Venua returned from their walk along the river.

‘The emperor’s face looks much softer than before… It’s actually my first time seeing Venua put up with someone’s temper and appease their mood. Our father only used to scold Venua without giving him the chance to process his emotions… Just looking at this peaceful scene, it seems like Venua has come to realise what upsets and excites people.’

Soon enough, the emperor sat down again and rested his hand on his stomach.

“What would I have done with this heartache if not for Venua?”

“I am grateful.”

‘It seems like Venua has promised some kind of assistance.’

Lil took advantage of the emperor’s good mood.

“Your Majesty. I think I can ease your worries a little bit more.”

“I know that the bandits the Imperial Army eliminated in Kano were a mix of unidentified people.”

The emperor’s small eyes widened in a flash.

“…How did you know about this matter?”

“I saw and heard this while travelling from Roahn.”

“Oh, yes, I see. You indeed said you were there.”

Annette asked, following the emperor’s words.

“Have you seen anything?”

Lil briefly described what happened in Kano and meticulously provided her audience with a detailed account of the many different forces who attacked the village. She also added that revealing their identities as accurately as possible could not only help allay the union’s concerns, but also the emperor’s.

Annette, who was staring at her in awe, turned to the emperor.

“Your Majesty, what are you going to do?”

Venua burst into laughter and intervened.

“Your Majesty, how can you believe the words of this ignorant child? How can someone like Liloa differentiate mercenaries from bandits? Meeting with the Union is no child’s play.”

“If you are doubting me, Your Majesty, then you should make me come to the meeting with the Union alongside my brother of course. Then if I, in any case, talk nonsense, he is free to rebuke or scold me there.”

The emperor cautiously reaffirmed what he had just heard.

“Are you sure about the mercenaries?”

Like a spell, Lil said the magic word that would instantly dispel the emperor’s doubts.

“Yes. Admiral Retiro, who was with me at the time, personally confirmed this, Your Majesty. Since the Admiral is not here, I can tell you his conclusion on his behalf.”

“That daredevil himself? Then, I guess I should get up quickly.”

‘I didn’t expect that the Emperor would change his attitude so quickly. I guess no matter how much he curses and hates on Ed, he still seems to have complete trust in his abilities. Rather, his disdain for Ed must stem from the ambivalence he feels towards him.’

Annette spoke while supporting the emperor’s arm.

“I will attend the meeting with His Majesty first, then afterwards you can enter slowly.”

Lil and Venua stood up and bowed to the emperor’s back as he walked away.

As soon as the two rulers disappeared into the building, Lil gathered her belongings that she had left on the chair to make her own preparations.

Venua asked coldly from across the table.

“What are you up to?”

Lil grabbed the parasol and fan from her seat and leaned forward.

“Do you think I am clueless about how my own brother ordered Maxwell to kill Edgar?”

“You are talking nonsense. I came here from Obernyu.”

Lil snorted and came around the table to block his path.

‘He’s acting so calmly. He must be thinking that he’s covered his tracks because I don’t see any hints of suspicion or anxiety from his end.’

“Did I not tell you before not touch the Marquess? Could you not have done me this simple favour? It would have been better for you not to have ignored my words because I will teach you that lesson today.”

Her opponent’s voice, conscious of the servants standing around the awning, lowered to a whisper.

“…What are you planning to do? Do not be foolish. You do not even have the Admiral with you, so who will believe your words?..”

“You asked me what I am planning to do because, in truth, you do not know what to do now, right? My poor brother. Since you made the most powerful move as your first one, of course, you cannot think of the next. Showing all your cards at once is the fastest route to a certain defeat. That is the most cardinal rule learned in tactics…”

“…”

The anger Lil had buried, suddenly resurfaced; Ed’s fall from the cliff, the sensation of falling into the sea with him, and the life-threatening battle in the forest flashed before her eyes like an afterimage.

Lil recited her next question with clear conviction.

“Why did you not study a little more?”

“How insolent!”

Lil stepped back to avoid his arm being swung towards her.

“Until now, you have only been killing people who cannot afford to fight you, right? But those cannot be counted as real battles.”

“..!”

Venua, now fuming, swung his arm again. Lil directly caught and blocked his fist this time. Although his strength was waning, he was able to hold out for a while. His eyes flashed behind his trembling forearm, and Lil saw her face, filled with determination, reflected through the man’s dilating black pupils.

“And in a real battle, you will never beat me.”

When Lil let go of his arm with a push, Venua fell away.

“…Haha… Hahahaha! Have you forgotten? There was a time in the past when you acted so arrogantly confident as well. And what happened? Did you not end up crawling under that insignificant Mireille, begging for a living?”

“…”

Venua who still couldn’t stop laughing, tilted his head before grabbing a cigarette.

“No, no. Please say such outrageous things in front of the dignitaries and ministers. That way, it will be much easier for me to drag you back to Obernyu.”

Lil replied as she passed him.

“At least I escaped that hell. What about you? What progress have you achieved thus far, brother? It just looks like you are still struggling in our father’s shadow, begging.”

Venua raised his voice against Lil’s back.

“You brat! Once you are back in Obernyu, I will make sure you spend…”

Venua’s words were so consistent that they bored Lil, so she answered without even turning around.

“There are many eyes and ears around us. I do not think those are the appropriate words that should come out of the mouth of my brother, who claims to have personally come from Obernyu to Sesbron just to save me from the Duke’s evil clutches, right?”

“…”

***

After returning to the Empress’ transept’s inner room, Lil called Shail, who had been waiting. He was holding a small box in his hand.

“What is this?”

“This is a letter and package from Levi.”

“Oh, leave it for now. We have other things to do.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Get the witness ready.”

Lil thought of the man who was staying at Retiro’s residence disguised as a servant. Since the residence and the palace weren’t far from each other, she would be able to call him in at any time.

Shail’s expression hardened in an instant.

“Do you truly trust him?”

“He knows I already sent some men from the deck of the Clotilde to his family in Obernyu. So, he’ll at least testify… And even if I don’t like it, it can’t be helped. There’s no other alternative.”

“…”

Lil looked puzzled at Shail, who remained standing there instead of leaving right away.

“Why? What’s going on?”

Shail hesitated but soon opened his mouth.

“Didn’t you ask me to watch over Maxwell Farin?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I was hesitant to tell you, but I saw him snooping around the luggage compartment of the Clotilde a few times.”

“That doesn’t sound like anything special. So, I guess there’s more to the story?”

“He tried to get his hands on a particular load…”

“And you didn’t stop him right away?”

“Yes, because I had to know what he was after. That’s why I waited. But in the end, he didn’t touch anything and went back on deck.”

Lil deduced without difficulty.

“Was that luggage mine?”

“…Yes.”

“Then… I guess he was onto something.”

“It appears that was the case. Afterwards, we monitored more closely, and although he snooped around the area a few more times, nothing was tampered with. I’m only able to tell you this now because you immediately had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress. I had no chance to speak to you face-to-face.”

“I guess you’re right.”

“Our surveillance was thorough, so it would’ve been impossible for him to steal anything…”

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