Chapter 26
As Cielo returns to his room at almost two in the morning, the first thing that catches his attention is a black note lying on his white bedsheet.
The realization that someone has entered his space causes him to freeze.
Each resident is responsible for their own area, including changing sheets and curtains, which raises the question of why anyone would have come into his room.
Cielo takes a moment to look around, and after confirming that nothing else seems out of place, he cautiously approaches the black note.
To his surprise, it contains a message from Alistair, stating that he would be leaving the palace that very day, and that’s all it says.
Although Alistair had been in the palace for the past two days, Cielo had only glimpsed him from afar, as their schedules rarely aligned—Cielo was busy outside while Alistair was occupied in his office.
‘As soon as Alistair left me alone, I faced a problem almost immediately.’
It felt as if the world was mocking him for his longing for freedom and his conviction that he could thrive on his own, without needing anyone to take care of him.
Frustrated, Cielo crumples the note and tosses it into the trash.
In the midst of his emotional turmoil, Cielo diligently gathered his papers and quill to draw a detailed map of the Empire. Although he lacked exceptional cartographic skills, his main priority was to accurately depict all important features.
Once he finished the map, he discreetly tucked the papers away under his clothing and went to bed for the night.
The next morning, the first question he asks Fisher is about the prince’s cousin, who goes by the name Castiel.
“Ah, that young man.”
Fisher’s expression brightened, clearly recognizing who he was talking about.
The elderly gentleman explained that Castiel, whose full name is Castiel Ettore, is the Second Prince of the Ettore family and the only Grand Duchy in the Empire, with a patriarch who is also the younger brother of the Emperor.
‘A Grand Duke?’
Isn’t that the highest noble rank, just below the Emperor himself? This suggests that Castiel might have the potential to be an heir to the throne, much like Konstantinos.
According to Fisher, Castiel is known to often stay at Konstantinos’s palace, as his family situation is said to be quite troubled. While the details are not clear, it’s apparent that there have been ongoing issues within their family for the past two years.
Fisher speculates that Konstantinos has a friendly relationship with the second prince, as the prince seems to tolerate his cousin’s presence, despite his usual bluntness that often leads him to dismiss those he doesn’t like. However, there is no solid evidence to indicate that the Second Prince of the Ettore family is truly an ally.
“Thank you for the information, Fisher.”
“Anytime, my boy.”
Fisher chuckled with delight.
Cielo decided to inform Alistair about his encounter with the prince’s cousin as soon as the man returned to the palace. For now, the wisest course of action was to steer clear of the East Wing.
***
One week later, Cielo had successfully adjusted to his new life in the main palace. He had familiarized himself with the gardening tools and was now actively helping Fisher. Although he didn’t have a strong preference for the roses and their intense scent, he admitted that working among them was more calming than staying indoors in the palace.
Cielo was adapting well, but a persistent worry lingered in his mind. Even after a week, he still hadn’t received any news about Alistair, Newcastle, or the prince. Alistair had left the night he met Castiel, and neither the prince nor Newcastle had returned since their last meeting in the forest.
In the meantime, the prince’s other guest departed the following day after Alistair left. On the other hand, the prince’s cousin remained in the palace, refraining from leaving the East Wing or attempting to find him, a situation that Cielo is uncertain whether to regard as positive or negative.
Castiel’s formidable presence prevented him from accessing the public library, as he still occupied the entire second floor of the East Wing.
He is unable to explore the reason behind his inability to perceive mana, cannot read or borrow books for enjoyment, and faces limitations on his movement throughout the palace, especially in Alistair’s absence, who usually helps him navigate difficult situations. The weight of uncertainty has been pressing on him lately, motivating him to seek information today.
Initially, he considered the possibility of quietly entering the West Wing. However, with over 2,000 staff members employed in the facility, such an endeavor is quite daunting.
The most effective way to gather information is to cultivate relationships and engage in conversations with the staff, a task that is more complicated than it appears. If only they would cease their evasive behavior and interact with him. Nonetheless, this remains his sole option.
Cielo is confident that the dining area, situated on the second floor of the South Wing, is bustling with individuals.
The dining area in the South Wing is spacious, accommodating up to 500 servants at once. However, with over 2,000 servants living in the palace, specific meal times have been set for them to eat. If a servant misses their assigned breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they will have to skip that meal entirely. Therefore, effective time management is crucial in this setting.
Cielo accepted a tray from the assistant cook and gave the woman a thankful smile, which she responded to with a subtle nod.
This was the only person from whom he ever obtained his meals as she was one of Alistair’s people. She knew about his allergies and made his meals each day, carefully blending them in with the other trays to keep them from being noticed.
He looked around for an available seat. Luckily, he noticed an empty spot a few tables away from the exit.
“Is this seat taken?”
He inquired of the two women who would be sitting beside him, discovering that they were Jane and a maid named Rene, with whom he had a brief conversation the previous day.
“Hello, Cielo!”
Rene greeted with enthusiasm.
“Hey.”
Rene was one of the few people who didn’t shy away from him in disgust. This was probably because she was a commoner, someone who didn’t see people like him as unimportant and had achieved success through her own hard work.
“You may take the seat.”
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Jean made her comment without turning her gaze toward him.
Cielo quietly expressed his thanks and took a seat beside Rene. The three individuals in front of him looked at him with clear disdain before collecting their trays and leaving, resulting in only the three of them remaining at the table.
‘That was rather kind of them.’
Cielo mused as he preferred to share meals with those he felt comfortable around. While he did not know Jane well, she had never given him a disapproving look. Her demeanor was simply one of calm composure.
‘Nevertheless, I still need to ask her who ordered her to send me to the head gardener.’
Or if she did it in her own accord.
He ran into Jane only twice after their first meeting, but he never got the chance to talk to her since she was always busy. However, now isn’t the right time for a conversation either, as Rene is with them.
“Do you two now—know each other? This is the first time I’ve seen you both together.”
Jane chose not to respond, prompting Rene to speak again to alleviate any potential awkwardness. What a considerate person.
“We both served the 1st Imperial Princess before we were transferred here, which was five years ago. I think we can call ourselves friends…”
Rene seemed unsure, but her expression hinted at something different. In fact, she appeared to be teasing playfully.
The first princess?
Konstantinos’ half-sister, Cielo thought.
Although he was intrigued by the prince’s contender for the throne, he chose to concentrate on his main objective for the day and refrained from asking about the first princess to avoid distraction.
Jane let out a frustrated sigh at Rene’s answer.
“We are friends. Close friends.”
“I’m just teasing you! Please don’t cast me aside!”
Rene let out a joyful squeal and hugged Jane with great enthusiasm.
‘Yeah, they are definitely friends.’
Their bond was evident.
When the laughter faded, Cielo decided to have a calm chat with the two. He spoke softly to help ease any remaining tension. He talked about simple things like the lovely gardens and the latest news among the staff, watching their faces to keep the mood light.
After a while, he changed the subject, his voice turning serious as he brought up something that had been bothering him.
“By the way, have either of you seen the Head Butler? I haven’t potted—spotted him around lately.”
Although Alistair informed him of his departure, he did not mention when he would be back.
Rene paused, her brow furrowing in thought as she considered his question. After a moment of contemplation, she responded with a contemplative hum, her finger tapping lightly against her chin.
“It seems that, given your work in the gardens, you might have missed this, but Sir Tree left to accompany His Imperial Highness last week. They probably won’t be back for at least another week.”
“What are they so busy with?”
He asked, clearly puzzled.
Alistair, Konstantinos, Newcastle, and even Doctor Happy always seemed to be busy. During the month he had spent living with the four of them, they often disappeared without any explanation. In fact, he had never seen all four, or even three of them, in the same room at once.
Rene tilted her head slightly.
“Are you not aware? The Empire is currently at war with the Alliance.”
He recoiled in shock, the weight of her words crashing over him like a tidal wave.
“…Is that true?”
This was the first time he had heard such news. Even in the palace, the servants seemed mostly unconcerned about the war happening just outside the Empire’s borders. They went about their tasks with ease, showing no signs of the anxiety that should come with such conflict.
No one from the West Wing had thought to tell him either as if the war were a far-off storm that would never touch their safe lives.
“That’s right. The absence of the Head Butler and Lord Newcastle typically means things haven’t gone as planned, which calls for a meeting. These discussions can last a week or two because the participants often have many debates, making the process take longer than needed.”
“…I see…”
This information was quite overwhelming. It might have been beneficial that he decided against fleeing, as the chances of survival would have been slim.
The Haunted Palace conveys a sense of calm, concealing the intense chaos occurring just beyond its walls.
“Do you live under a rock?”
Jane asked, her brow furrowed in confusion, clearly surprised by his ignorance of the events taking place in the Empire.
“I’ve been two—too focused on just getting by in the slums to worry about what’s happening outside.”
He replied nonchalantly, giving a shrug. However, based on the look on Jane’s face, she appears to doubt his claim.
Rene tilted her head as she spoke to him.
“It’s quite surprising that you don’t know about this, so let me fill you in on the ongoing war.”
“Thanks a lot. That would be vary—very helpful.”
He said in response.
Cielo planned to ask about this issue, but Rene took the initiative to share the information herself.
“The Saoirse Alliance was formed by three kingdoms that were vassals of the Empire.”
Rene began.
The longstanding conflict between the Fides Empire and its vassal kingdoms stretches back thousands of years when the Empire dominated nearly the entire West.
During that time, most of the population and the lords of these regions pledged their allegiance to the Empire. In exchange for access to magical knowledge, financial assistance, and the opportunity to attain noble status, they surrendered their lands.
However, after 500 years since the founding of the Empire, the First Emperor became overwhelmed by the complexities of governance, as managing and patrolling these vast territories proved to be a daunting task.
“As a result, the First Emperor decided to divide the Empire’s extra lands into four distinct regions, which he entrusted to his most loyal allies under terms.”
The terms were clear: these kingdoms would become vassals of the Empire in return for financial support, military protection, and land grants. The four kingdoms were strategically placed to surround the empire, acting as the initial line of defense against possible invasions and thereby protecting the empire from external threats.
“If they breach these terms and decide to end their relationship with the Empire, they must return the lands and repay the Empire for all financial support received.”
If they refuse to transfer ownership of the land, they are required to provide compensation in order to obtain legitimate ownership of those areas.
“Motivated by loyalty, the four individuals who suddenly rose to power accepted this agreement and established their own kingdom with the financial backing of the Empire.”
As time went on, the relationships among these kingdoms began to change. The allied kingdoms sought independence while simultaneously refusing to give up their lands or repay the Empire. This led to an alliance between the three kingdoms and aimed at launching an offensive against the Empire to get full claim to their territories.
Three of the four kingdoms formed a coalition and initiated hostilities against the Empire, while one kingdom chose to remain neutral, neither supporting the allies nor submitting to the Empire.
Although the Empire had the military strength to decisively defeat the three allied kingdoms years ago, the previous Monarchs, who detested the idea of causing unnecessary suffering to innocents, chose to refrain from such actions.
“Instead, the Empire decided to engage. However, it wasn’t a full assault either as the Empire was only defending and never attacking.”
Rene concluded her explanation.
Cielo swallowed hard, trying to process the implications of her words.
A conflict that has endured for a thousand years… Based on Rene’s words, this struggle seems destined to persist indefinitely unless one side is completely defeated.
Choosing not to invade a kingdom to spare millions from exile is admirable, however, prolonging this conflict will only intensify the suffering of the people.
War comes with heavy costs, and it remains unclear whether the citizens are genuinely free from poverty, especially since the government of the allied kingdom may be dedicating all its resources to support the war effort.
“Why can’t the empire simply ga—give up those territories? It seems to me like they have no real need for them.”
From his observation of the full map of the Fides Empire in the library, it was clear that the Empire was far too vast to necessitate the acquisition of more territories. The Imperial Grounds alone exceed the combined area of all the Empire’s territories.
“Why should we surrender those lands?”
Cielo flinched at the sudden change in mood. Rene’s smile faded, and her eyes seemed disturbingly hollow.