/
On the other hand, Damian reconsidered the part I asked about checking.
He got up and met the knight in charge of the situation.
“Did everyone get out?”
“Last I checked, the party that His Highness brought out was the last to leave.”
“Then that means…”
“Everyone inside the library has escaped.”
“That’s relieving to hear.”
Damian nodded slightly and spoke to me.
“Sit here and wait a minute.”
He slowly stepped forward.
Before I knew it, he employed the divine beast’s power once again, white wings emerging from his back.
RUMBLE….
The low clap of thunder echoed across the air as the sky began to cloud over.
Then.
Pitter-patter—
A tremendous downpour occurred, targeting only the burning library.
Smoke billowed from the library as the fire died out.
People’s eyes widened.
Astonished voices rang out from everywhere.
“Is that the power of the divine beast?”
“I heard that the rain went upwards in Lebane…”
“I thought those were exaggerated rumors, I mean, they were heinously absurd!”
Leaving the whispers of the people behind, I got up from where I sat and approached Damian.
I reached out and wrapped my hand around Damian’s, causing him to glance back at me.
His expression as he opened his mouth looked disconcerting.
“Your hands are cold.”
Aha….
I smiled awkwardly.
“The doctor said you’d get better if you rest.”
“Still.”
Damian bit his lip and twiddled with my hand.
“But Damian.”
I glanced around, lowered my voice, and spoke.
“There was something suspicious today.”
Instantaneously, those scarlet eyes darkened.
And.
“…You think so too.”
That voice had a heavy air to it.
I nodded slightly.
“The fire didn’t happen anywhere else and the Rochester family was responsible for the library.”
“Right.”
“There’s no way Her Majesty, the Empress, and the Duke of Rochester would construct a library so flammable, right?”
After deliberating what I would say, I continued cautiously with my words.
“The individual who would benefit the most from this is…”
“His Majesty.”
Damian said firmly.
A silence so heavy one could feel it bore down on them.
***
The incident in the library caused a huge social stir.
No lives were lost, and the fire was extinguished quickly.
Fortunately, there were no serious or life-threatening injuries. Yet, the damage to the children’s library had been done, and it was significant.
In the end, the Duke of Rochester’s reputation had taken a considerable blow.
The Emperor looked down at the newspaper with a satisfied face.
“Rochester’s gaffe…no deaths but several significant minor injuries.”
Reading aloud the headline of the newspaper, the Emperor burst into laughter.
“Good. Everyone’s sinking their teeth into the Duke of Rochester.”
The article’s wording was as follows.
The fire could have spread to other buildings nearby.
What would have happened if someone had died?
Not to mention, the lives of children were at stake…
“The reporters killed it this time.”
The Emperor, while reading the newspaper with a delightfully devilish face, suddenly grimaced.
It was because the report also evaluated the Duke of Rochester positively.
“However, Her Majesty, the Empress, and the Duke of Rochester showed great leadership.”
The Emperor grumbled when he read that bit of the article aloud.
“They exercised proper leadership, and due to their actions, a great number of people safely evacuated…”
Tsk.
A short knocking sound resounded just as a displeased Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Come in.”
The figure who entered the room was the chamberlain.
The chamberlain, who bowed, spoke politely.
“Baron Bennet is asking for an audience with His Majesty.”
“Baron Bennet?”
The Emperor narrowed his brows.
Baron Bennet.
Allegedly a relative of Rochester, his presence was minuscule.
Why the hell is that person bothering me?
“Yes. He says that it’s very urgent.”
“This Baron Bennet is trying to get an audience with me, the Emperor, at this late hour?”
There was a lingering hint of anger in the Emperor’s voice.
In an ashamed voice, the chamberlain revealed the reasoning behind this disturbance.
“He wishes to speak of what happened at the library.”
What?!
The Emperor was wide-eyed.
“…Tell him to come in.”
After a while, Baron Bennet entered the room.
His narrowed eyes glinted balefully as he bowed his head to the Emperor.
“Greetings, Your Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Enough of your needless greeting. What did you come to see me for?”
At the Emperor’s impatience, Baron Bennet licked his dry lips and answered.
“It is….my daughter. She saw who set fire to the library.”
“What?”
“It was by chance, but according to my daughter, the one who lit the fire was a servant of His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Sheer nonsense!”
The Emperor clenched his fists and struck the armrest of his chair with a loud thud.
Baron Bennet, though frozen in place, did not back down.
Instead, he continued his speech with a servile smile.
“Of course, there is no evidence for this. However.”
“However?”
“If word of this were to accidentally leak out to someone…”
Baron Bennet, who had quietly observed the Emperor, worded his words cautiously.
“…wouldn’t it be scandalous for His Majesty, the Emperor?”
“You dare threaten the emperor!”
The Emperor leaped from his seat, glaring at Baron Bennet.
Baron Bennet hurriedly shook his head, trying to dismiss the notion.
“No, it’s not like that! I am His Majesty’s faithful servant!”
“Ha, a faithful servant?” doubted the Emperor.
“Can’t His Majesty tell from my demeanor from the beginning?”
Baron Bennet lifted his head and met the Emperor’s gaze.
“I am more than ready to never speak of this again for the rest of my life.”
“…but?”
“But, even a dog must be well-fed so it obeys your commands.”
Baron Bennet’s eyes glistened with spite as he spoke.
“Your Majesty may not know this, but the Rochester family has greatly insulted my family.”
“Insulted how?”
“We are relatives of lower status, so they look down on us. As to why I’m telling this to His Majesty…”
Baron Bennet straightened his back and requested.
“I beseech you to raise my title.”
“Raise your title?”
“Yes. It would also be wonderful to have a position befitting the title.”
The Emperor stared blankly at Bennet, laughing brutishly before nodding.
“Very well. Sooner or later, I will elevate you to the title of count and grant you what you so deserve.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty! I give you my allegiance!”
Baron Bennet, who bowed several times, exited the room in exultation.
Click.
The door closed.
The Emperor, who was staring at the closed door, suddenly opened his mouth.
“Chamberlain.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“It looks like we have to move the knights secretly.”
The chamberlain, who stared vacantly at the Emperor briefly, bowed his head.
“I will obey your order, Your Majesty.”
****
Late at night.
Lady Bennet was reclining in the living room, unable to sleep and looking restless.
“When is father coming back?’
I shouldn’t have run away like that.
I should have told people there was a fire…
‘I was so scared that I ran away alone.’
Lady Bennet tightly closed her eyes.
Finding it impossible to keep what she had witnessed to herself, she told her father.
‘…Was it wrong to discuss this matter with my father?’
But the only person she could talk to about this was him.
It was the case, as her father was the only person with whom she shared blood in this world.
Lady Bennet had hoped to receive comfort and resolution by talking it out.
But her father’s reaction far exceeded her expectations.
‘And? Did something like that truly happen?’
‘Yes, that’s true.’
‘Good.’
As soon as my father heard her story, his eyes lit up like those of a beast about to catch its prey.
He left the manor.
‘…maybe.’
Pitying herself for being powerless, Lady Bennet pursed her lips in anguish.
But then.
“What, why are you not yet asleep?”
Baron Bennet was suddenly in the living room.
Lady Bennet jumped up from her seat.
“Father, where have you been?”
“I went to see His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“What? His Majesty, the Emperor?”
Lady Bennet’s face lost its color.
The Emperor was a party to this incident.
Why would he go looking for him?
I would have visited the Empress or the Duke of Rochester instead…!
“Shush. It’s no matter. It’s fine.”
Baron Bennet simply waved his hand dismissively.
“I’ve seized such a providential opportunity, I couldn’t let that foolishly slip by, now could I?”
“Father!”
“I negotiated with His Majesty the Emperor.”
…What is he talking about now?
Like thunder striking all of a sudden, Lady Bennet froze in place.