The mouse trembled as it looked at Bark, yet somehow managed to convey Minte's message.
The main content was that they had finally pinpointed a likely location for the key. They had suspected it might be in some palace basement or warehouse, but the location Minte reported was the imperial underground tomb where only certain royals could be interred.
The imperial family's underground tombs were situated in three regions, and among them, the tomb nearest to the Imperial Palace was a sacred place that served only the finest and greatest ancestors.
"Is it really there?"
[Yes, yes!]
"So where is Minte now? Why didn't he come himself?"
[He got caught by the tomb keeper....]
Before the mouse could finish speaking, Bark grabbed the bars with both hands.
[What? Minte was captured! Is he imprisoned!]
[H-he's being loved.]
"...What?"
[The tomb keeper is giving him baths, grooming his fur, feeding him, and keeps staring at him, so he couldn't come personally!]
Goodness, it seems he's once again charming his way through a crisis.
[Ugh, to give love to Minte...! Those enviable humans!]
Bark curled up in the corner of his cage in defeat. Watching him with some pity, I sent the mouse back for now.
[Minte...]
I rose to my feet to give the sobbing Bark some time alone.
I shouldn't dwell on Heinley's words needlessly. Instead, I needed to think about how to enter the underground tomb.
* * *
Despite the crown prince's palace roof being blown off in front of numerous guests, the Emperor declared he would nevertheless resume the banquet.
The original motive for holding the banquet—to give thanks to the resurrected one—had transformed into protecting the imperial family's dignity.
So this time, they used insects.
Amid the chaos when a swarm of locusts suddenly attacked the imperial dining hall, sending the palace servants into an uproar, ruining the ingredients completely, and forcing the banquet to be postponed once more, the Emperor finally requested a private audience with me.
The very fact that the private audience took place in the Emperor's inner chambers indicated treatment vastly different from when I first arrived at the imperial palace.
Not only was thoughtful refreshments prepared, but I was seated in a position facing the Emperor.
"Does the Princess truly possess a solution?"
The Emperor's face across from me had deteriorated considerably. He seemed to lack the energy to even hide his fatigue, rubbing his eyes and sighing.
"It's difficult to call it a solution, but if it concerns the strange phenomena occurring within the palace, I do have some suspicions."
"What might that be?"
"However, it seems my words might only cause unnecessary disturbance."
As I hesitated, letting my words trail off, the Emperor frowned.
"Are you speaking of the evil energy? I wish to hear more about that."
Somehow, Countess Pendelón's face seemed to overlap with the Emperor's.
I know those eyes. Those are definitely a fanatic's eyes. Absolutely.
"I suspect you have allowed in something that should not have been welcomed. Whether person or object."
"What did God say it was?"
"God did not specify anything. However, I dare to guess that there may be something in the imperial palace that does not belong here."
The Emperor's eyes gleamed darkly.
"If it is a person... would expelling that person resolve the matter?"
Judging by his face, it seems he wants to bury them rather than just expel them.
"Do you have any suspect in mind?"
"Lilia Roam. You would know better than anyone how she entered this palace."
"Ah."
I bit the inside of my mouth hard to keep from bursting into loud laughter.
Seeing Lilia's name come up so readily, it seems she has lost quite a bit of trust in social circles recently. Or perhaps the Emperor is simply the type to easily discard people.
Either way, it was laughable.
As I remained silent to compose my emotions, the Emperor couldn't endure even that brief moment and spoke urgently.
"If she is truly the culprit behind these disturbing events, would cutting ties resolve the situation?"
Is he planning to break off the engagement between Maxel and Lilia?
If he's swayed by such nonsensical instigation and pushes for a unilateral breakup, Roam would feel insulted as well, and that would be quite a sight to see.
However, what I wanted wasn't just to expel Lilia, so I calmly shook my head.
"It is difficult to guarantee."
At my words that seemed to defend Lilia, the Emperor raised his eyebrows. He apparently expected I would immediately rejoice and say Lilia should be driven out.
But I don't merely dislike Lilia.
"Lilia is already bound to His Highness the Crown Prince by deep ties. How can I guarantee she hasn't been affected? In an uncertain situation, I am cautious about adding my own words."
If you're going to expel someone, get rid of them both together. Why are you trying to shield only Maxel?
"At the banquet as well, you said Heinley was the least tainted by foul energy."
"Prince Heinley has been quietly staying in his own palace without activity for several years, as I understand it. So the current result is natural."
"Does that mean, in your view, Heinley is better than Maxel?"
That wasn't simply asking about the energy. The Emperor wanted to confirm whether Maxel had truly been abandoned by God.
"I am God's resurrected one. The imperial succession is not for me to discuss."
If I were to say I support Heinley, the Emperor would likely take offense.
For now, he might nod out of desperation, but once he regained his senses later, it would seem as if I were trying to control the imperial family. He would recall my past as well.
The Emperor was an arrogant and ambitious adversary. He was the type who would rebel if pushed from the side. So it was better for me to consistently plead ignorance.
Glancing at the Emperor's thoughtful face, I pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
"More importantly, I think I should leave soon. I cannot keep Durahan at the imperial palace indefinitely."
At my subtle suggestion, the Emperor jumped up with a stern expression.
"What if monsters appear again after the Princess leaves!"
"Your imperial palace's excellent knights and mages will handle it well."
The Emperor found no comfort in my words. Rather, he seemed reminded of the wyvern that had broken through the roof and fled.
Of course, that was precisely why I brought it up.
"We haven't even been able to properly present the banquet for the Princess yet. It would be regrettable, so this won't do."
"I will accept your sentiments."
"Perhaps the separate palace was not to your liking?"
"No, it is sufficient."
"Were the palace servants inadequate?"
"That neither."
"I will open the imperial records for you."
"I have no interest."
At my resolute answers, the Emperor seemed slightly annoyed. Observing his complexion, I spoke as if granting a favor.
"You seem very anxious, so would it be acceptable if I offer a small blessing prayer before I leave?"
"A blessing prayer?"
"Yes. Let us offer a prayer seeking God's blessing at a precious place."
"A precious place..."
The Emperor could not readily think of a specific location.
I paused for a moment, then exclaimed as if just remembering, speaking with light admiration.
"Ah, the imperial underground tomb would be perfect. If we pray there, God will be moved by such devotion, and the great ancestors will protect this imperial family."
If Samuel saw me now, he would probably treat me like a cult leader again.
"Will that suffice?"
The Emperor showed no suspicion whatsoever at my proposal. Perhaps I really do have a talent for this.
"The imperial underground tomb is a sacred place, so that alone should be sufficient. But is it acceptable for me to enter there?"
Perhaps because it was where successive imperial figures were buried, the Emperor's face showed considerable deliberation.
However, he considered the crisis facing the imperial palace before his eyes more important than the great ancestors of the past.
"I will permit it."
"Yes, then I shall prepare accordingly."
Nodding readily, I added in a calm tone.
"Please make sure His Highness the Crown Prince cannot come anywhere near, in case of contamination. Every time I see him, he keeps saying strange things, so God is quite angry as well."
The Emperor nodded with a devastated expression.
...I should leave quickly before I burst out laughing.
* * *
Exiting the Emperor's inner chambers with a light heart, I leisurely made my way out of the main palace.
Having come to meet the Emperor, I had no choice but to be accompanied by several palace servants who followed at a distance.
I would have liked to shake off those servants as well, but I decided against it since it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.
Now that I've found out where the key is, the day I leave this imperial palace is not far off. I just need to be patient a little longer.
However, I had to stop before I had gone far.
"I apologize, this path is temporarily blocked due to pest control work. I'm sorry, but could you please go around that way?"
My, it seems everyone was quite shocked by the locust swarm that raided the dining hall.
Their appearance might be a bit unsettling, but they were enthusiastic and kind creatures in their own way.
Ah, they did have quite an appetite though.
"Very well, good work."
Behind the attendant who blocked my path, I could see workers enthusiastically spraying insecticide.
Pitying their futile efforts, I turned my steps. The fastest route to the separate palace being blocked, I had to go around behind the main palace.
Walking along the path would be too far, so I decided to cut through the garden. It was the garden behind the main palace. And in that garden was a beautiful artificial pond.
The very pond I had fallen into.
'I didn't really want to come here, but it can't be helped.'
With mixed feelings, I stepped into the garden. The garden hedges were tall, so first-time visitors would easily lose their way, but I could cross the garden all too easily.
Before long, I reached the center where the imperial pond was located.
The pond was still beautiful. The fountain in the center was unchanged as well. I could see streams of water shooting refreshingly into the air, sparkling as they fell onto the surface.
I stopped walking without thinking and gazed at the fountain, then lowered my eyes to the pond. In the clear water, plump carp were swimming leisurely.
Beautiful to look at, but there was a fishy smell.
It was the same on the day I fell into this place. On that day when I was soaked from head to toe, the pungent fishy smell tormented me.
I remember that no matter how much fragrant oil I used to wash, the fishy smell would not fade.
'I brought up an unnecessary memory.'
This is exactly why I didn't want to come here.