Chapter .12
"If I call you Michelon and you respond, you become Michelon. However, the dragon egg recognized by the Throne Magic Circle has no name. Even if there were another dragon egg and I swapped you, the Throne Magic Circle would not recognize it. Because it was told to imprison a dragon egg, there was no order to imprison Michelon."
Unlike when it was first created, the Throne Magic Circle had been gradually neglected.
The only existence who properly understands that magic circle now is me, who analyzed the internal structure while banging my head against the floor.
"...What if you fail?"
"Then we go with another method. I will definitely save you. I will never give up."
"...If you fail, I will give up my contract with you."
"You can give up the contract with me, but do not give up on freedom."
I have to raise his mind as well so he grows into that indomitable dragon.
...However, come to think of it, Michelon was someone who grew up well even without me raising him. Nor am I qualified to raise anyone.
But if someone had said those words to me when I lost my nanny and was left alone as a child.
Michelon did not answer, but he listened carefully to my explanation.
"Let's start."
Michelon still did not answer, but he did follow my words.
First, after figuring out the structure of this barrier through Tess, I created <External Inspection>, a sub-concept of <Inspection>. After that, when Michelon was ready, I started another sub-concept, <Internal Inspection>. This time, Michelon infused magic power.
Like that, we began a modification disguised as an inspection from both inside and outside the barrier. Saying it like this makes it sound easy, if not elegant, but.
"Ugh......"
"...I am sorry, I became used to it so I failed to warn you how painful it is―"
"It does not hurt! That was not a groan but a sigh coming out because you are pathetic!"
He has dignity and courage... but no sense of pain. I wonder whose child he is.
When we finished the <Modification>, we sprawled out in exhaustion.
I collapsed on the ground, but it seemed the baby dragon was doing the same inside the egg. If I unconditionally think of him as cute, I might get a little motivation to raise him.
"Are you okay?"
"Stop saying that, you weak human."
"You are a baby not even hatched from an egg."
"For a prince with the least power!"
"Use nice words―"
"May thy trap fall into eternal slumber!"
...He has a talent for rhetoric. I should not nurture that talent.
"So, how is the maze? Was it modified well?"
"...It is more interesting than before."
"Your answer is the interesting thing. You find boredom harder to endure than confinement. That is a good trait."
"Do not lie."
"How did you know? Actually, it is a point that could be a bit dangerous for you, but since you are a child, I wanted to encourage and praise you. However, even if the trait itself is good, I was hesitant about nurturing it."
"...Your trap―"
"That is not a nice word."
"I hope Your Imperial Highness keeps in mind the fact that it is most advantageous to refrain from speaking as much as possible."
"Yes, that is exactly it, you did really well!"
"...You do not even feel offended?"
"Why? You speak better than me now? I feel a sense of reward."
"...If you know, why not do as I say?"
"I am not usually talkative either. But being with you makes me talk a lot."
"...Do you think I am a pushover?"
"That is exactly it. Because you misunderstand a lot. Since I have to tell you that you are wrong one by one, I end up talking a lot."
It might have been a good change for me, who was introverted, had no friends, and lacked sociability and social skills.
"...Forget it, let us just continue working."
Compared to when he made a fuss about not doing it at first, it was a surprising development. It felt good, like watching a baby who used to be spoon-fed now finding food on his own.
Through Tess, I recorded that the security of the magic circle imprisoning the dragon egg in the Throne Magic Circle had been strengthened. Since it was an undeniable fact.
Following that, I added <Michelon>'s <Maze> as a third magic circle and placed it under the management of Tess. If I did this, even if the Father Emperor acted on a whim to get rid of the dragon egg or send it elsewhere, there was a high possibility that the order would cause an error within the Throne Magic Circle system. The room for me to intervene taking advantage of that gap would also grow larger.
"For now, the basics of the rescue are finished. We just need to proceed to the next stage step by step. Though it will take time."
"Of course. Did you think it would be easy to steal a dragon egg hidden by the Emperor right under his nose? You be prepared, and make sure you do not get caught and murdered before then. Even if you die, get me out first before dying."
'You as well, do not just regress me and die.'
"Understood. You too, even if I die, do not cry and live freely."
"Why would I cry just because you die? Do not even dream of it!"
"Yes, that is exactly the spirit."
I also cried tremendously when my nanny died, but it was of no use. I had not been able to manage like Michelon, who steadfastly did his job when I was dying.
"...What on earth should I say......"
Michelon seemed to be grinding his likely still tiny fangs, but soon spoke again.
"...It is late. Please watch your step on the way back, Prince."
"Thank you for thinking of me. You rest easy too. I will come again, Michelon."
"...Do you really go just because I tell you to go?"
"Yes, I do not lie to you."
"Go!"
"Yes, understood. Then see you next time, Michelon."
I bade farewell to Michelon with a happy heart and turned around.
On the way back, I recorded the name of Maxim and included it in the inspection results. Giving a name alone could not place it under my jurisdiction like the maze, but if I continued the <Inspection>, I could create a pattern. A pattern that the Throne Magic Circle would recognize as normal.
'It is a good start.'
My returning steps were light. Tess possessed a map of the entire maze-like Imperial Palace, and also showed me where the sentries and guard posts were.
I was tired, so it was convenient not to have to use separate search magic.
However, even Tess could not prevent the most common occurrence within the Imperial Palace. An occurrence more common than the banquets held every day.
Precisely, a secret tryst.
As soon as I turned the corner, I ended up running into a man and a woman who were passionately rubbing their lips together, though not to the point of giving me goosebumps.
'It is adultery.'
It was obvious for those who came this far to avoid other people's eyes. Either they had no residence in the Imperial Palace, or a lover of someone who had a residence was cheating.
'When I become Emperor, I should reduce the banquets first, to save the budget as well.'
I tried to pass by pretending not to see them. However, they rather did not let me go.
"Oh, what is such a pretty boy doing here in the middle of the night?"
The woman smiled seductively. The man also chimed in.
"Indeed, I wonder who he is looking for?"
Both were dressed up in their own way, but their clothes were not the latest fashion while their jewelry was new. They seemed to be lower aristocrats who had just come up from the countryside where fashion was slow, having made their clothes there, and possessing few heirlooms. Since clothes take time to tailor, but jewelry can be bought immediately.
That was why they did not recognize me walking alone in shabby attire.
"It is not enough that you are having a secret tryst in the solemn Imperial Palace, but what is this behavior towards someone who is not yet of age?"
As a former Emperor, I scolded them. Since the Imperial Family is the most enthusiastic about debauchery, I could not only scold them, but I still could not tolerate the act of seducing minors. Because they treat them as genderless and molest them as toys in bed for sexual acts that religion outwardly forbids.
"Oh my, does such a smart child not know the story of the boy who died because he did not listen to his lover?"
"Haha, Madam, would your anger be relieved if I became your wild boar and rammed into that tender side?"
It was deeply disgusting to see them playing around while mentioning the legend of a beautiful boy and a married woman, a popular theme in court romances.
"If you would do so for my honor, how could I refuse?"
As the woman laughed, the man also laughed and approached me. There was no choice. If I knocked them out and left them there, they would be shamed by people tomorrow morning and come to their senses.
However, in the next moment, there was someone who intervened between us.
"My joy knows no bounds to meet you like this in the middle of the night."
Duke Grimiati spoke coldly and stared piercingly at me.
He had platinum blond hair and gray eyes like the Queen Mother, but he had a grim face that did not resemble the Queen Mother at all. Whenever I wanted to see the Queen Mother's gray eyes in person, his eyes came to mind first.
Those eyes that hated me.
"Duke Grimiati!"
"Duke!"
The man and woman screamed in fright, but the Duke only looked at me. I opened my mouth reluctantly.
"...Duke Grimiati."
"You should call me Maternal Uncle, Your Imperial Highness. Since you treat me like this, I cannot help but feel sorrowful."
The sound of inhaling breath was heard from close by, but neither the Duke nor I looked back.
'For a hypocrite who says what I should be saying.'
A collateral royal of the Roncer Empire, my mother's maiden family, and the current Ambassador of Roncer.
However, one could not view him only as a Roncerian. His territory spanned across the border of Armatia and Roncer. Since it was land that had belonged to Armatia and also to Roncer, he held a title in Armatia as well. His blood was also connected to the Imperial Family of Armatia.
'It was originally a family that started from the Emperor's younger brother.'
When he became the uncle of the new Emperor who succeeded his older brother, the previous Emperor, he killed the Emperor's younger brother who tried to assassinate the Emperor; so it was effectively killing a nephew to save a nephew. However, he himself was later assassinated by the son of the Emperor who betrayed his parents. Even after that, they exchanged a relationship of fratricide for generations.
"I heard your health had weakened recently, but seeing Your Imperial Highness wandering around so remarkably unscathed, and at night no less, I feel like a sinner for having worried about you."
Grimiati, whose way of speaking was cunning from the start.
It was just like the bastards who expanded their power by inciting civil wars through the succession struggles of both nations, attaching themselves here and there.
"I only came out to get some fresh air."
"You did not come out to attend to more urgent business than that?"
Is he interrogating me, implying I was trying to have a secret tryst right now?
He was a truly arrogant man. Being such people, they had often lost in the battles for Imperial succession. That was why they went from a Grand Ducal family to a Ducal family, but it was a title that would rise again if they won.
Since such a family chose the First Prince, who has the most legitimacy this time, it was not surprising that the power of the First Prince's faction was next after the Emperor's faction. The prevailing atmosphere was that it was the natural order for Maximilian to become Emperor.
"What urgent business would there be in the middle of this deep night?"
When I feigned ignorance and made an excuse, the Duke raised one hand and pointed at the man and woman. His long index finger was aiming exactly at their faces.
"What are those things?"
"They are people I am seeing for the first time."
"Ah, Duke, it is an honor to meet you like this."
When the man smiled and flattered him, the woman did the same. Knowing my identity, rather than running away, they were trying to use this opportunity to curry favor with a powerful man who was on bad terms with me. That was what court people were like.
"Unfortunately, there seems to have been a misunderstanding."
"As faithful subjects of Armatia, we are merely loyal to the Imperial Family. If there is anything you wish of us, we will gladly do anyth―"
In the next moment, Duke Grimiati drew his sword. Then he struck down immediately. There was not even a moment to take a breath.
"Ugh!"
"Aaaack!"
The man died. The woman screamed.
"Duke!"
I also shouted, but the Duke was raising his sword again and striking down. The woman also collapsed.
Is it my turn next... My body did not move.......
However, the Duke, whose face remained the same before and after killing people, was now pointing his sword into the air. Soon, the drops of blood on the blade vanished as if washed away.
He always used a sword enchanted with such magic, and he had taught Maximilian to do so as well.
"Blood has splattered on Your Imperial Highness's face. Please wipe it off."
Grimiati held out a handkerchief.