Chapter 24: Chapter 24: A Competent Aide

Chapter 24

While one might feel inclined to stake everything in a fight against someone who resists fiercely, it was difficult to bring oneself to wield a whip against a person who had completely prostrated themselves.

It was insipid, uninteresting. The desire to fight simply wasn’t there. Evening merely continued to provoke a restless irritation within him.

“‘The most grateful in the world’? What on earth does that even mean? Is there truly nothing else to be thankful for?”

“Mere words of gratitude are insufficient. I am the most grateful person in the world.”

Even upon hearing it again, the words sounded absurd. ‘The most grateful in the world,’ she claimed. What did Evening truly know of the world? Just because the man she was forced to marry treated her slightly better, what warranted such fervent gratitude? He had heard she was an intelligent woman, yet he couldn’t fathom why she kept uttering such foolishness.

However, there was a limit to how long he could endure gazing into those eyes, which seemed to sparkle with an abundance of affection. As Erich changed the subject, Evening immediately wiped away her glistening tears and dismissed everyone from the room.

This gesture signified her intention to attend to matters of state. The medical staff and attendants all exited with respectful bows.

“I heard from Duke Elpata, Greg, that attackers appeared the moment he left the palace. Someone suddenly assaulted his carriage from within, and when he retaliated with magic, the carriage exploded.”

“The sound of the explosion wasn’t singular.”

“Indeed. Several boxes containing gunpowder had been placed both inside and outside the carriage, causing a chain reaction of explosions. All of them were boxes brought in today.”

Duke Elpata, Greg’s, magic revolved around controlling flames. He could conjure explosive fire from his fingertips and, to a certain extent, manipulate the inferno. The flames Greg unleashed met the barrels of gunpowder, triggering a massive explosion.

“Duke Elpata reportedly countered with flames immediately, so he didn’t suffer significant harm. He tried his best to contain the blaze to prevent damage to the civilian homes, but he said it wasn’t easy.”

“And after that?”

“While the Duke held his ground, Captain Mabel of the Royal Guards and Councilor Yuder joined him to fight back.”

The lightning that erupted was Captain Mabel’s magic, and the storm that nearly harmed Evening was the magic of Councilor Yuder, a member of the House of Commons.

“If Mabel and Yuder were both there, then the culprits must have been utterly defeated.”

“Yes, thanks to their swift response, they were quickly subdued. There were three fatalities and two criminals captured alive at the scene. The two captured individuals are testifying that they were merely asked to drive the carriage to this location.”

“That sounds like a common excuse.”

“It didn’t seem like they were fabricating something entirely false. The carriage owner is an itinerant merchant affiliated with the Dublin Merchant Alliance, and the other is a porter. The information about them being part of the Dublin Merchant Alliance is confirmed.”

Their identities were clear, but the veracity of their claims remained uncertain.

“According to them, they received the job from someone who appeared to be a noble. Since it was merely a task to transport the carriage to the palace gates, they didn’t suspect anything.”

“If it was a wooden barrel filled with gunpowder, wouldn’t there have been a smell?”

“They naturally noticed it, but they assumed it was just a gunpowder delivery. It’s not an entirely unreasonable explanation.”

Evening defended the prisoners’ claims.

“To ascertain the truth, I’ve instructed the guards to investigate the specifications of the wooden barrels and to see if the noble the merchant mentioned is still at the location.”

“Ah, I see.”

As Evening’s report lengthened, Erich’s eyes narrowed. It wasn’t because the incident was severe, nor because Evening’s report was flawed. Rather, it was because her report was far more thorough than he had anticipated.

Evening had grasped the intricacies of the situation quite comprehensively and had already issued additional directives. She was unlike any of the ministers he had dealt with thus far. Had he ever received a proper report from them when a problem arose?

“And?”

“Adler took the prisoners for interrogation, as that is the role of the Imperial Guard. I’ve also requested the capital’s security forces to double their patrols for the time being, as similar incidents could occur elsewhere. I’ve also asked them to maintain a log, recording basic personal details and actions of any suspicious individuals.”

Evening, who had been tapping a stack of papers with a quill pen as she spoke, turned a page.

“Oh, and the porter is a 32-year-old man, and the itinerant merchant is a forty-year-old woman. Among the deceased attackers, there were two men who appeared to be in their late teens to early twenties, and one charred corpse. Councilor Yuder said that one was likely a man too.”

Evening’s report flowed effortlessly. Erich had only slept for three hours, yet in that short time, Evening had handled all the necessary tasks. Furthermore, she had received and memorized all the information Erich might have asked for.

“…Remarkable.”

With the previous Minister of the Interior, he would have been subjected to an exasperating back-and-forth. If he asked, ‘How many were injured?’ he would be met with, ‘Pardon? Many were injured,’ forcing him to ask the question twice. They would know the number of casualties but nothing about their identities, requiring him to send someone to inquire. And if he, exasperated by their tendency to skip such investigations two or three times, sent an Imperial Knight instead, he would likely receive a lengthy complaint along the lines of, ‘I would appreciate it if His Majesty did not interfere with my duties.’

It wasn’t just the former Minister of the Interior; a significant number of ministers were the same. High officials would often say, ‘This is my responsibility, Your Majesty need not concern yourself,’ or ‘I don’t know? Am I supposed to know that? Why?’ The subordinates he, as Emperor, encountered were mostly nobles from prestigious families who possessed good lineage rather than competence. Not one of them had much experience bowing to others during their upbringing, so their heads were always held high. It was natural for them to be awkward at pleasing others, and they lacked urgency even in their work.

Evening was different.

Evening was the first competent and affable subordinate Erich had ever encountered. A refreshing sense of profound satisfaction, like finding the perfect brick to fit into an empty space, rippled gently through his chest.

“Yes? What do you find so remarkable?”

Her expression, unlike the feigned shyness she displayed when he spoke of liking her, was subtly unfathomable. It implied that this was not something she considered worthy of pride.

To think such a person existed in the world. Not merely a figment of convenient fantasy, but truly, tangibly real.

He felt the same admiration as when he had seen an artisan meticulously carving intricate engravings onto a coin-sized disc. The same astonishment as realizing the bird chirping in the garden was the very bluebird he had diligently sought. His throat parched, as if a cup of water had been poured onto dry earth.

Evening brought a welcome rain to Erich, who had only ever dealt with stifling subordinates. A pleasant feeling, like meeting someone with a shared hobby among people he couldn’t connect with, surged through him. The ticklish sensation around his neck and chest was refreshingly cleared.

For a moment, he felt an impulse to possess her. To keep her hidden away like a precious jewel in a casket, to bring her out and display her before the eyes of those who mocked him whenever the need arose. However, he couldn’t openly reveal such a desire to the composed Evening. Erich pressed his lips together, attempting to suppress his wavering emotions. Naturally, his gaze, which had been scrutinizing her as if testing her, turned impassive.

“Your expression seems troubled. Are you alright? Are you perhaps unwell? Should I speak with you later?”

“No, continue. How much damage was incurred on this side?”

“If you’re tired, you can rest anytime. Civilian casualties include five minor injuries, two severe injuries, and two fatalities.”

“There were deaths?”

“One was a merchant doing business near the city gate, and the other was a middle-aged palace maid. Both were unfortunately caught in the crossfire. One of the severely injured is Captain Mabel of the Royal Guards. They were gravely cut during the engagement. Fortunately, my brother has stayed to treat them.”

“Your brother came? That will be useful.”

Evening’s brother, Orville, was a rare and exceptional talent with healing magic. His magic could mend injuries as swiftly as Erich’s own. Although their relationship was strained, to the extent that Orville conspicuously avoided Erich throughout the engagement ceremony and reception, he was not one to refuse his sister’s request.

“Thanks to my brother’s care, I’m feeling much better too. I’m truly sorry about earlier. He said my condition suddenly deteriorated, and my magic became uncontrollable.”

Some magic is affected by one’s physical or mental state. Freezing, fire, and electric magic were typically like that.

Evening lowered her head with a guilty expression.

“I suppose I was tense taking on so many new responsibilities in a new place, so my condition wasn’t good. And when you collapsed, Erich, I wasn’t in my right mind either.”

“Rest later. Was the other severely injured person Greg?”

“No, Greg only sustained minor injuries. He merely took some burning shrapnel to his thigh and side.”

While not so trivial as to be dismissed as ‘merely,’ it wouldn’t be classified as a severe injury if he hadn’t collapsed.

“The road, two buildings, the garden gate, and a section of the wall were slightly damaged. Repairs are estimated to cost at least 150 gold coins.”

“Hmm.”

“I’ve instructed them to investigate the exact damaged items and the total cost of damages, divided into court and civilian sectors, by four days from now. I will report back once an outline is established. By the way, should the damage cost be tallied by the value of the items, or by the cost of repairs?”

“Investigate both, but prioritize repair costs when reporting. And—”

Erich, after a slight pause before answering her final question, cut himself off mid-sentence. He clamped his mouth shut, maintaining silence with an anxious and agitated expression. The playful smirk and expression had completely vanished from his usually mocking face.