Chapter 47: The Grand Return and Royal Intrigues

“Doctor Sera! Did I hear that correctly? A formal matching test for Lord Bliss and Ethan?”

Instead of scolding Philip, who had burst into her room after she saw Marquis Douglas Moore and Hans off, Sera thrust the armload of luggage she was carrying into his arms.

“Yes, that’s right. Just help me first.”

“Are you leaving early?”

With her own arms full, she urged the bewildered Philip forward, opening the door. As they walked down the corridor, she quickly explained.

“Esper Violet, who became half of Riga, and Guide Emma, who was abandoned by their Esper, will be coming with us. There’s a limit to how long we can temporarily manage here without finding a suitable Guide with a high matching rate for Violet.”

“Isn’t it dangerous to conduct a matching test for Riga’s Esper at the Ashilton research facility? Surely, the Center’s surveillance…”

Nearby, a carrier bot was laden with even more luggage. The Antares Unit’s mark stamped on it indicated it had been brought from inside a transport aircraft. At Doctor Sera’s nod, Philip loaded his bags, and after Sera’s luggage was also placed, the robot began to follow them.

“Guides with lightning-affinity compatibility from the Moore family’s private Guides will be coming to the Morapolio City villa. Since Ethan and Lord Bliss are scheduled to return to Ashilton with the unit in a few days, we can actually divert attention with Ethan and Lord Bliss’s matching test.”

Philip stopped in his tracks, startled.

“Couldn’t that lead to Lord Bliss and Ethan’s information being handed over to the Center by mistake?”

As she stepped into the cube heading for the transport aircraft, accompanied by the carrier bot, a wry smile played on her lips.

“Do you really think I’d just sit back and let the birth of an Esper and Guide with such an unprecedented matching rate fall into someone else’s hands?”

“That’s not…”

“There’s a reason I’m deliberately leaving before Lord Bliss. It might still be a bit late, but I trust Philip and Lord Bliss to handle things appropriately.”

Philip’s face contorted.

“Are you telling me to come up with an excuse to stall for time?”

“Well, I’d suggest you consistently engage in social activities you haven’t been doing.”

“Sera!”

Sera laughed lightly and pressed the ‘close’ button on the cube.

He stood, glaring at the closed door, not even attempting to avoid the dust stirred by the cube, remaining there until it vanished into a distant speck. Only when the tablet, specially prepared for contact with His Highness Herace’s side, lit up did he finally collect himself.

“What is it, Chamberlain?”

[It seems something has happened at the Cloud Ducal family.]

“…!!”

****

Ashilton, the capital of the Aitoolia Empire—which was the first to unify the surrounding kingdoms and become an empire—was one of the five largest cities across all continents.

It was a city teeming with people and bustling with commerce, its immense area matched by a splendor befitting its reputation. It instilled pride in its residents and a sense of awe and envy in its visitors, truly embodying the majesty of an imperial capital.

Parents in a park looked up, following the direction their child pointed. Towards the palace, where the unit’s exclusive airfield was located, colossal transport aircraft glided silently at a low altitude.

On one side of the aircraft, the mark of a red scorpion was visible.

Ordinarily, it was rare to see the airships of the Esper military unit, which usually bypassed the city to head directly to the airfield unnoticed, or flew high while cloaked, at such close proximity.

However, the sight of them slowly entering in formation, uncloaked for the citizens to see, was a triumphant procession.

“That’s the Antares Unit’s mark. I heard on the news they were supporting Riga and Veliki.”

The woman, who had been about to hand a ball to her child, tilted her head.

“I only heard the news; I didn’t even know they’d gone on a mission. This is quite a show of triumph. I’ve seen other units do this, but the Antares Unit is rarely seen except for major events like Foundation Day.”

Like them, people were gazing up at the sky. Some pointed at the Antares mark, excitement bubbling within them.

“Perhaps there’s something to celebrate? Or maybe an important person is on board.”

“That could be it.”

The couple murmured softly, then returned home with their child. From inside the transport aircraft, the important figure who had been looking down at the family walking along the sunset-lit promenade with their child, Ethan, let out a sigh.

‘Why, do you miss your mom and dad?’

At Yuwol’s teasing voice, Ethan let out a bewildered chuckle.

“Where in my memories do you ever find such a harmonious family scene?”

‘Then why are you sighing? In my memories, Ethan, you were always being scolded by Major Han, talking back to Captain Prescott, escaping under the guise of running away, getting caught by Captain Mark, skipping classes, and being punished by the elders, and nothing else…’

“Stop it. Ugh.”

Ethan grimaced, as if the mere thought was agonizing. Yuwol chuckled.

‘Then why did you sigh? Bliss went to all that trouble to bring you here to enjoy the scenery.’

“They’re saying this airshow is happening because of me. Do you think I’d just kick back and enjoy the view, thinking, ‘Oh, okay’? And Scott, too…”

Ethan’s voice, which had been sharply retorting to Yuwol, suddenly trailed off.

‘The surgery ended safely, didn’t it? It’s not wartime, and medical technology isn’t so poor that he’d die again.’

“That’s only because he hasn’t woken up yet.”

‘Hey, Ethan. For once, if I’m going to leak a secret from the heavens, Scott has an incredibly long lifespan.’

Ethan snorted derisively.

“You can’t actually predict the future, can you? Right?”

‘What’s with this! How spiritually potent I am! Aunt Mary’s stomachache was truly just a mistake!’

“Right, right. Let’s see when you actually get something right.”

Ethan replied dismissively, gazing blankly at the approaching palace.

Somehow.

“I suppose I need to stay alert, don’t I?”

Yuwol solemnly agreed with Ethan’s mumble.

‘That’s right. While my predictions might be a bit off, I do know what doesn’t change from what I’ve seen since ancient times. The palace is a den of foxes and snakes.’

****

BANG!

Devon Green shoved aside the protesting chamberlain and flung open the door to His Highness Herace Green’s office. The secretaries, who had been working on either side of the prince, quickly rose and paid their respects to Devon Green.

However, Herace, clad in a pristine white uniform, sat upright in an antique chair, reviewing documents categorized by his secretaries, without even lifting his head.

“Your, Your Highness. Second Prince Devon Green has requested a private audience.”

The chamberlain, who had rushed in, cleared his throat and announced. His face was a mask of mortification, uttering a sentence that was already useless since Devon had already entered.

“Tell him I am busy.”

“Herace!”

Unable to bear Herace addressing the chamberlain instead of him, Devon shouted.

Herace clicked his tongue softly and gestured. As the secretaries on both sides promptly exited, the chamberlain let out a relieved sigh, dismissing even the other attendants who had been serving the prince within the office. He then personally poured tea and placed it before the princes.

“Devon Green, if our ailing father were to see you, I imagine a scolding would immediately fly your way. You’ve diligently mingled, pretending to care for commoners, but where have you discarded the dignity you were educated to possess since birth?”

“If I cared about the scolding of an old man who spends more days collapsed than awake, I wouldn’t have allowed the Antares Unit to cross Ashilton City openly! You’re saying it lowers the prestige of the Aitoolia Empire’s royal family to display a triumphant procession of the elite Esper unit for a mere territorial battle!”

A twisted smile spread across Herace’s lips as he gazed at his half-brother with an indifferent stare.

“Isn’t it rather because you think the Antares Unit’s triumphant procession instantly ruined the gentle, peaceful image you, Devon Green, painstakingly cultivated through the Center?”

Devon suppressed his anger, composing his features. If Herace’s Guide weren’t the Princess Consort, he would have instantly killed him and laughed heartily watching Herace suffer terribly and rampage.

“…That can’t be. I, too, am merely concerned about our father’s worries. What glory is there in having to dispatch aid because we couldn’t resolve the internal strife of friendly autonomous regions within our vast empire? It’s tantamount to exposing the empire’s instability. The Antares Unit doesn’t exist for such tasks.”

“It could be seen as a testament to the elite unit’s efforts to ensure the empire’s stability, making it seem more secure.”

“There was no precedent.”

Herace snickered, sipping his tea.

“In the early days of conquest, even a small territory would warrant a grand triumphant procession.”

“That was for display and morale during wartime! Herace, what exactly are you plotting?”

Herace responded with a question instead.

“Did you tamper with the Cloud family’s second son’s Guide?”

“Ha. What are you trying to do now? When did you suddenly have time to care about some dim-witted Guide?”

Devon Green’s wariness sharpened perceptibly, having skillfully avoided giving a direct answer with another question. Though he had learned of it a bit later, Devon, who controlled the Center, must have known that Enoch Cloud had manipulated Scott Kenton’s matching rate in Morapolio City using his influence.

Naturally, he would have thought it easier to tamper with.

‘This is getting interesting.’

“Shouldn’t we host a small banquet to celebrate the victory?”

“Herace!”

Herace, deeming he had endured enough of his beautiful half-brother’s impudence, moved his hand lightly. As a refreshing breeze swept through the silent royal office, Devon fell silent. Herace was swirling a small gust of wind in his palm. It was a dismissal.