I wish I hadn’t seen this... Zen leaned his forehead against his fist. His mind was stuck going round in thought, guessing at what Stoga and Emile could be doing together. Zen wasn’t a central bureaucrat anymore. He was only a minor official who’d been demoted to the countryside, but he couldn’t help thinking about it.
“This is the first time someone has stood before me because they couldn’t turn a blind eye.”
That monster’s voice from that night burrowed into his ears and wouldn’t leave. Once again, he felt like that man was still laughing at him.
But Zen continued to contemplate. At best, what he’s up to is still within the scope of the prefectural governor’s power, and they’re pushing toward a favorable business transaction that’ll benefit both territories. At worst, Stoga is guiding Baron’s army to help them with an invasion. I don’t know what Stoga would be getting as a reward, but it’d be a nightmare if it’s the latter scenario.
If that worst case came to fruition, Nazalf Prefecture would be dragged into war. His older brother Yohia had gone out of his way to prepare it as a refuge to shelter Elysia. Zen already deeply loved his next-door neighbors Donna and Kulzawa, his coworkers at the village town hall, Cummel, and Mina, and a war would affect them. He couldn’t possibly turn a blind eye!
“I wonder where the Earl of Tus is staying?” If he thought about it rationally, the young man should be staying in the finest room of the finest inn in Alona City. But that was where Zen and the others were currently staying. “Lady Mina, when did His Excellency Cummel reserve our room?”
“After last year’s birthday party. At the time, he was still unsure if he’d attend again this year, but for the time being, he made reservations and went home. He’s a thorough man.”
So that meant although Emile was attending this year, he hadn’t been able to get the best room thanks to Cummel’s prior reservation.
Nobility and their pride didn’t allow them to settle for second best. That was true even when they were traveling incognito.
“Then there’s a high possibility he’s staying in this mansion...” If Stoga personally gave the earl a warm welcome to his private residence, which was more spectacular than the city’s best inn, then the earl shouldn’t have a problem with it.
“Lady Mina. I must ask something of you.”
“If it’s something I can do, then...”
When Zen lowered his voice even further and leaned over the table, Mina and Elysia followed suit.
“The Earl of Tus is attending this party, and he’s meeting with Stoga right now. If we’re going to find out what they’re scheming, now is the perfect chance. I’ll find Stoga’s study as well as the room the earl is staying in and search them.”
“Sir Zen?!”
“You’re going to do that, father?!”
Zen quickly covered their mouths to keep them from shouting.
Mina attempted to ask a muffled “Is that possible?” and Zen smiled vaguely. He’d learned the art of undercover investigation during his time as a tax inspector as well as when he was in the Guards Bureau. Yet he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t be caught.
“So Lady Mina, could you take Elysia and go back to the inn before me?” He didn’t want anyone but himself to be put in danger. If he was caught sneaking in, it was highly likely Elysia and Mina would get caught up in it too. But if they went back to the inn, then they had Keel to rely on.
A divine beast couldn’t get dragged into human quarrels, so Zen couldn’t entrust Keel to do something as risky as fight to protect them. However, if they needed to flee and Keel let them ride on his back, then not even his vanargand parents should make a fuss.
“Can’t I be of some help to you here, Sir Zen? I’ll do anything. Just say the word.”
“As much as I’d like to take you up on your offer, Lady Mina, are you well-versed in the art of stealth and undercover investigation?” Regardless of if you had the guts and will, whether you could actually do the job was a different matter. No matter how bad Zen felt about it, he had to tell her she’d get in the way. And Mina was definitely not a fool.
“I understand. I’ll assist you by returning to the inn with Elysia.” She couldn’t hide her frustration, but she understood in the end.
On the other hand, Elysia didn’t approve of Zen’s undercover investigation in the first place. “I’m against this. There’s no reason you should go that far, father.”
Mina was a military officer, so she immediately understood that this was an emergency and trusted Zen’s calm demeanor in the face of the potential danger, but Elysia was only a family member, so she implored him to change his mind. “Why don’t we just leave it to Sir Cummel once we go home? Or mail a letter back to the imperial capital and leave it to Yohi—I mean uncle and aunt?”
“His Excellency Cummel and the state governor cannot brazenly butt into Alona’s prefectural administration. If no evidence turns up, those two will be put in an extremely difficult position. That’s why they can’t recklessly get involved. The same goes for my brother and sister. No matter how much they believe my claims and how high up the ranks they are, this matter doesn’t concern their official duties. They can’t use any high-handed tactics. And so long as that remains true, Yohia and Sharla will be cautious. They don’t make the mistake of putting themselves in compromising political situations. That’s how they acquired their posts at such young ages.”
“B-But...”
“However,” Zen continued, “if I can gather physical evidence, then that’s a totally different story. I’m sure Yohia and Sharla would use it to get the Director General of the Police Agency to act. And there’s an extremely low possibility I’ll be able to actually gather real evidence if I miss this opportunity.”
“Ngh...” Elysia was a smart girl. With how thoroughly Zen explained it, she had to understand. “B-But...”
Elysia was conflicted both as an imperial princess and as his daughter. Zen took both of her hands and looked straight into her eyes. “Leave this to your father,” he told her. He spoke not as a petty government official, but as a father. It was just like when the assassin of the Vajra Temple had sought her life.
In the end, Elysia reluctantly relented. “I always think how unfair it is when you say that,” she said sulkily. Her stiff hands suddenly loosened.
Zen also let go of Elysia’s hands and said casually, “I’ll get going, then. Take care of Elysia for me, Lady Mina.”
He left the party venue behind, disappearing like smoke.