“So, that results in a meaningful message.”
“If you read the wine stains as short blinks and the meat broth as long blinks, and then read the two letters from top to bottom, you get the words, ‘take out, blue, in, right.’ I think he made the letters dirty on purpose.”
The idea to read letters usually written from left to right from top to bottom was impressive itself, but to think that the stains were a method of encryption was even more perceptive. Hearing all that, Ingo nodded.
Ingo was actually already aware of all this. The fact that the stains had been intentional, along with the message they contained, had already been verbally relayed to Ingo by the adventurers. Had a copy of this letter reached the capital via an “alternate route,” its readers would assume it was nothing but Werner’s complaints and grumblings.
Rather, Ingo had shown this letter to Lily to test whether she could properly discern Werner’s intentions, and he was satisfied with the results.
“What do you think of its contents?”
“I do not think there is any way Lord Werner would have written such a letter.” Her response was instant. Werner had truly tried to make the letter sound pathetic, but if he was able to witness how much trust Lily had in him, he might have chosen his words with a bit more restraint.
Just then, Norbert returned with the bundle of documents. Ingo took them and silently read them over. Claudia was beside him, scowling wordlessly. She probably wanted to ask Werner if he really couldn’t think of a better way to send the message. She knew it had all been a part of his plan, but she couldn’t have been happy about receiving such a slovenly letter.
Seeing her displeasure, Lily began to wonder if she should back him up. That’s when Ingo nodded, having finished reading the documents.
“Did you find anything?” asked Norbert.
Ingo stroked his beard and began to speak. “It’s nothing but a draft. Disjointed paragraphs with notes filling the margins. He must have half written these documents, then set them aside for later.” They all must have wondered why Werner had asked them to read such a thing. However, Ingo didn’t offer an answer. Instead, he looked toward Norbert, his expression grave. “I shall depart shortly. Gather some servants to accompany me and send word ahead to His Majesty. Tell him I need a moment of his time to discuss an urgent matter.”
“Certainly.” Norbert bowed, his expression unchanged.
“Is it truly something so grave, dear?” asked Claudia.
“If Werner is truly in danger, I’m sure it is. See to it that Max is here by the time I return from the palace.”
“Yes, I will.”
Lily regained her composure and bowed at his words alongside Norbert. Afterward, while things had not changed outside the manor, Ingo was a tad tardier than usual in boarding his carriage to see the king.
✦ ✦ ✦
Before the king, the crown prince, and the chancellor, Ingo explained Werner’s letter and its intent, before submitting the documents in question with a bow. “That is all.”
“I see. Your son is quite sensible,” Chancellor Falkenstein said with a curt nod.
“Viscount Zehrfeld’s plan would be effective,” King Maximillian added. “As to the documents that have been submitted to us…?”
“I believe they require some amendments, but for the most part, they are sound,” Crown Prince Hubertus said. It was clear from Ingo’s expression that even he could not follow the conversation, and Hubertus offered him a slight grin. “Lord Werner’s plans appear to place the Zehrfeld domain on the battlefield.”
“It appears so, though I believe it’s no more than a tentative proposal.”
Written was an off-the-cuff list of evacuation plans or the areas they could use to their advantage—or to impose a disadvantage—if the domain saw a battle. Any noble with such documents would conceal these as a matter of security, leaving aside the fact that they were too shoddy for outsiders’ eyes.
Despite this, Ingo had brought them before the king because he suspected that Werner’s plans were hidden within them. If they weren’t, he would have never sent that letter from Anheim.
Hubertus nodded at those words and shared his own inferences. “Most likely, he has written his strategy predicated on the presence of the Hero’s family within your estate and the presence of Demon army spies within the capital. Should the Demon army attack your domain, you would send forces from your estate in the capital if you were able, which would allow the demons to target the Hero’s family. These are a contingency plan for such an event.”
“I believe it is just as you say.” Ingo nodded.
At that, Hubertus continued. “What Lord Werner wishes to state in submitting these documents to us now of all times is this: The Demon army may be attempting to draw the knight brigade from the capital by launching attacks on various other targets at once.”
“Indeed.” Ingo nodded once again.
Hubertus looked once again at the bundle of documents before speaking. “Should the knight brigade be called away for several battles in succession, the relief force for Anheim won’t reach it in time. That is what he fears.”
“Of course Lord Werner would worry of such,” agreed Chancellor Falkenstein with a nod. Werner’s forces in Anheim boasted neither numbers nor quality. Under those circumstances, Werner had to do all he could to avoid a confrontation with the Demon Commander before reinforcements could arrive.
“The reason Lord Werner chose not to send his message in plain speech is because it would cause unneeded strife if the adventurers let slip the possibility of the Demon army appearing throughout the kingdom. At the same time, the message clearly needed to reach the capital somehow.”
Hubertus stifled a laugh as he added, “Though one group of adventurers safely managed to carry the message home. I do look forward to seeing how the third letter will be delivered.”
“What an ill-natured thing to say, Your Highness,” added Chancellor Falkenstein with a laugh of his own.
The king gave a curt nod before turning to Ingo. “You are Minister of Ceremonies, Lord Zehrfeld. I grant you permission to transfer your knights in the capital to your domain. Should our enemies have any intention of upsetting the deputy in Anheim, it is possible that your domain shall become a battlefield.”
“My humble thanks for such kindness.”
“For the time being, we shall also strengthen security at your capital estate. Do you have a man in mind, Chancellor?”
“My apologies, but I believe we should leave it to the Minister of Ceremonies. Otherwise, he would fear he was being watched,” Falkenstein said with a chuckle.
Ingo responded soberly. “I would think nothing of the sort. Once more, you have my deepest gratitude, Your Excellency.”
To those who believed Werner had been demoted, the king granting the count permission to carry out military maneuvers with his knights in the capital and a man with the rank of chancellor offering to help secure the estate was a big deal; it was proof that their faith in the Zehrfelds had not wavered.
It was late in the night when Ingo at last returned to his estate, having spent a long time in discussion with the king and crown prince. He ordered Max, Orgen, and Barkey to prepare the Zehrfeld domain for a state of emergency. At the same time, he also ordered that they prepare for what he surmised was soon to follow.