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ON the day of the festival, the castle hosting the parade was rather quiet. Everyone was dispatched outside, and Jill had no time to relax.
Hadis had finished the last bit of his work before departing for the parade, and Jill was busily making her way through the place. When she turned the corner of a wide corridor, she bumped into Minerd. He looked surprised for a moment, but quickly smiled and greeted her.
“Ah, good day, Dragon Consort.”
“Wait, was the work His Majesty was talking about referring to having an audience with you?” she asked.
“Quite right. I didn’t think it’d be delayed until the day of the festival. Goodness, I suppose your energy drink had affected him greatly.”
Hadis’s poor health was the reason that the ambassador’s official requests regarding aiding poor harvests, meeting Gerald, and reporting about Queen Faris’s coronation had been put off until today. Jill pitied Minerd just a bit; he was under house arrest until today.
“But you can tour the festival today, can’t you?” she asked.
If he couldn’t, he would be unable to see Gerald beside Natalie. Minerd nodded and glanced at the soldiers behind him.
“I’m under close watch—I mean, I was given a guard detail to tour the festivities,” he said. “I would’ve liked to see the city as well; I heard that some interesting things have been going on. A small masked girl was going around devouring all the food apparently, and had even won the eating competition. It was big news.”
“Huh, I see…” Jill replied.
“And that girl even defeated Duke Neutrahl in an arm-wrestling tournament.”
“Wow, amazing,” Jill said in a deadpan.
“You’ve got a long way to go with hiding your tells, Dragon Consort. You’re speaking in a monotone and you’re averting your gaze.”
She couldn’t refute it. She didn’t mind if she was found out, but it was vexing to know she was seen right through. As payback, she decided to tell him what she’d been meaning to for a while.
“Prince Minerd, I’d like to thank you,” she said. “Thank you for returning that night without a fight.”
When Jill had launched her assault on the Empress’s Palace, Minerd was hiding in the inner courtyard. But the prince coolly cocked his head to one side.
“Whatever are you on about?” he asked. “Thanks to you, I’ve been able to spend my days in peace. I must return to Kratos, so I’m grateful that I was able to relax for a while.”
“…Are you going back?”
“I am. I don’t think Kratos expects much from me, but I’d only be a nuisance if I stayed here,” Minerd admitted.
“You haven’t met with Princess Natalie yet, have you?”
Jill had received a report that Minerd hadn’t left his room during the house arrest, but he was doing so of his own accord. Lutiya often visited his room to talk, and Frida arrived to provide some gifts and treats multiple times. Even Vissel had met Minerd on several occasions for work—the crown prince had expressed his gratitude toward Minerd for treating Hadis during the poisoning incident. When Minerd was offered a reward in return, he shook his head with a smile, claiming that he didn’t need anything.
“I’ve spoken with her a few times through the door,” Minerd said.
“Princess Natalie looked sad. She claimed that you wouldn’t talk to her properly,” Jill told him.
“That’s how it goes. I don’t know how I can face her.”
Minerd smiled faintly. Jill could empathize, for he’d left with his mother and abandoned Natalie. A reunion of the siblings would be an awkward affair, but this situation still didn’t sit right with Jill.
Minerd expressed no hostility. In fact, he seemed more like an ally, but the prince refused to clearly state his position. In the end, she had no idea why he plotted to assassinate the previous emperor. Perhaps Natalie would know, but she was busy preparing to tour the festival with Gerald, and Jill didn’t want to burden her.
“But…you won’t abdicate your claim to the throne,” Jill said cautiously.
Minerd gave an amused nod. “Indeed. It’s one of my weapons.”
“If you return to Kratos, you might be killed as a way to provoke the empire,” Jill warned.
“I don’t think that princess would do such a thing. I believe she truly sympathizes with me as I fret over my younger sister’s safety. I’ve heard that the previous emperor will leave the Empress’s Palace tomorrow.”
“I haven’t a clue,” Jill replied. “I don’t know the details myself.”
In truth, Meruonis was set to leave today.
Minerd stared at Jill and sighed. “You’re very good at muddying the waters when it comes to strategies. Is that the boon of House Cervel’s education, I wonder?”
“I’m honored to receive such praise.” Jill curtsied.
“I’m grateful that you resolved this incident amicably, I’ll have you know. Killing the previous emperor is more important to me than dying in Kratos.”
Though Meruonis had already abdicated the throne, he was the former emperor of Rave. If he were to be killed by Kratos’s Ambassador of Friendship, surely reparations from Kratos or retaliations were in order to protect the dignity of the empire. The citizens wouldn’t be happy otherwise. It could very well trigger the start of a war.
“Won’t you quit being the ambassador?” Jill asked. “I’m sure everyone wants you to return home.”
“You’re very generous, Dragon Consort,” Minerd replied. “I’m also suspected of murdering the previous Grand Duke of Laika and hurting my own mother.”
“Lutiya and Princess Natalie don’t seem to be seeking revenge for now. If you’re not trying to harm His Majesty, I don’t mind.”
“Very clear-cut and simple. I expect no less from the wife of a Dragon Emperor who protects logic.”
“I feel like you want to atone for what you’ve done,” Jill stated.
Minerd’s eyes softened for a moment before he smiled awkwardly. “You’re right. Being in debt goes against my principles. If the seeds that my mother had sown don’t bud, I’ll consider the offer positively.”
“Your mother? She was a consort, right?”
“Perhaps I’ve talked too much. Please excuse me.”
Minerd walked past her. After Jill watched his back grow smaller, she quickly turned around and headed where she needed to. His mother… Will Lady Cassandra know a thing or two? Jill wondered.
Rolf may also have been able to provide some insight, but Jill felt exhausted when she remembered Zeke and Camila desperately chasing after him earlier that day. An elderly man who managed to flee from even House Cervel was a tough nut to crack.