The Burgos envoys entered Clifford’s palace with their national flag wrapped around their left arms. Their strides toward the reception hall were so imposing and sharp that the attendant leading them felt almost like prey being pursued.
As darkness fell with sunset and lights illuminated various corners of the palace, the twilight burned completely into night. The King of Clifford sat upon his throne to receive the envoys.
“Welcome, envoys of our neighbor.”
“We pay our respects to the King of Clifford. We are honored by your hospitality despite our sudden visit.”
Slash.
The Burgos envoys drew their country’s symbol near their hearts with a gesture. Though it would be proper to follow local customs when visiting another country, the Kingdom of Burgos had never failed to use their own style of greeting when in Clifford. Watching this, the ministers exchanged glances while hiding their displeasure behind their sleeves.
“Yes. Though your sudden visit is curious. What brings you here? Has there perhaps been a death in Burgos?”
Though the greeting was dignified and warm, its content was utterly ruthless. He was asking if their King Damon had died. As if nothing else could explain such a breach of protocol.
The envoys bowed their heads while grinding their molars. How dare this human vessel fit only for farming dare discuss their lord’s death while playing at being king of a country.
“No, nothing of the sort. We heard news that Clifford suffered a mysterious attack while returning from Bariel’s appointment ceremony. King Damon personally sent us to inquire if Burgos might be of assistance.”
“My, how kind. But worry not. No such thing occurred.”
“There was not?”
“Indeed. Don’t be too harsh with your subordinate.”
The king stroked his beard while laughing heartily. This conversation was meant to probe the relationship between Clifford and Bariel. While it was clear there had been a clash between them, the king’s response suggested there hadn’t been major changes in their relationship.
‘There was a clash but no problems?’
Since Clifford neither could nor should become estranged from Bariel, surely some sort of exchange must have occurred. The envoys exchanged signals through their eyes.
“That’s a relief then. Clifford is keeping Burgos’s jewel in safekeeping. We wondered if we might be of help if that clash had caused any problems with the jewel…”
“Hmm. No.”
“Pardon?”
“Is it not Bariel’s jewel rather than Burgos’s? Since it was bestowed by His Highness the Crown Prince of Jin. Surely you don’t misunderstand the meaning of royal gifts?”
“…We merely meant it was a jewel crafted in Burgos.”
“Do be careful with your words, as such things are easily misunderstood.”
The King of Clifford fed the Burgos envoys one line after another while chuckling. The ministers bowed their heads while trying to contain their laughter.
“However, I’d like to ask what specific kind of help you mean. Surely you’re not suggesting sending jewelers. Clifford has many excellent jewel custodians.”
Truth be told, Clifford’s culture of leisure and entertainment sparkled more brilliantly than the barren, dry Kingdom of Burgos. So naturally, when it came to jewel crafting, wouldn’t this side be superior?
The Burgos envoys shook their heads as they answered.
“No, not at all. The jewel was a family heirloom passed down for generations in a Burgos noble house. Therefore, if there are any issues with the jewel, we can resolve them cleanly through the family’s custodians. Even if there are scratches or pieces missing, it’s no problem. We still have a smaller one just like it, so if you entrust it to us, we can repair it perfectly. Since it was bestowed by Bariel’s Crown Prince, this is King Damon’s consideration for any trouble Clifford might face if problems arose.”
Flow. The king rested his chin on his plump cheeks as he looked down at them. It was a kind of trade proposal.
According to Noah, wasn’t the Burgos jewel supposed to be an important means of rallying their nobles? They were asking for it to be returned to Burgos under the pretext of repairs, without Bariel knowing. Even if Burgos didn’t return the jewel, Clifford would have an excuse to present to Bariel.
But what to do? They no longer had the jewel.
“Very well. Tell King Damon I accept his sentiment only.”
Prince Noah had already traded it as payment to a mysterious group in exchange for securing Idgal first. And the Ministry of Magic Minister and Bariel already knew about this.
They absolutely must not make any more choices that defy Bariel. Whether it’s appropriate to call it fortune amid misfortune when dealing with human life is debatable, but Ian’s collapse had become a negotiating card for Clifford to appeal to humanity.
At any rate, Clifford’s course was clear. Absolutely standing with Bariel. Keeping the mages here was also part of that course.
“…Your Majesty. If it’s not too presumptuous, since we’ve come all this way, might we see the jewel?”
“Hmm. I believe it would be. Clifford has no obligation to show it. I find it rather uncomfortable how your questions keep assuming negligence in our jewel management. The jewel is fine, so keep your concerns firmly to yourselves and go report that ve-ery well to your king.”
The king cut them off immediately while laughing heartily. Continuing to press about the jewel would be testing and doubting Clifford’s competence. His attitude was firm that he would hear no more about it.
“Then, what about the black moon?”
The king hesitated. The black moon—they meant that hole from which the mages had poured out.
Though he wanted to play innocent, everyone living in Clifford’s capital was already talking about it. The Burgos envoys would have easily picked up the information.
“Are mages present in Clifford?”
“…”
The king fell silent for a moment, organizing his final thoughts. His gaze as he looked around at his ministers was both resolute and careful.
The opposition ministers seemed to think they hadn’t completely missed their chance to intervene. Though Burgos had sensed something and sent envoys, if there were no mages here, they would have no reason to attack Clifford to suppress them and Bariel. Several ministers shook their heads slightly, suggesting they might be needlessly lighting a fire.
But the king announced his decision without hesitation.
“Yes. Bariel’s mages are currently stationed in Clifford.”
“…!”
“…!”
The envoys showed slightly surprised expressions, while the ministers squeezed their eyes shut as if lamenting what had been done.
Strange silence fell over the reception hall. The Burgos envoys bowed even lower as they asked:
“Might we ask why they are here? Burgos and Clifford share a border. If magical matters occur in Clifford, they could affect the Kingdom of Burgos as well.”
“It’s a personal matter. There’s nothing to tell Burgos.”
“But Your Majesty—”
“It’s gotten quite late. We’ll arrange accommodations for you, so why not rest and return early tomorrow?”
Though he smiled jovially, he was still a nation’s king. His conclusion indicated that he had already given sufficient time for this sudden meeting.
The envoys swallowed their sighs while their lips twitched, then bowed.
“Then we shall pay our respects again before departing tomorrow.”
“Do so. Rest well from your journey. We’ll provide you with precious things you cannot taste in Burgos. Everyone, treat the envoys with utmost hospitality.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The king gestured as he spoke. Attendants stepped forward before the envoys holding goblets decorated with gold and silver on trays. The envoys had no choice but to accept the cups and watch as dark wine was poured.
During this, the king spotted Mei and raised an eyebrow. As if asking if Prince Noah, who had gone to fetch the mages, had returned. Mei made a tearful expression and drew an X with the side of her hand.
“…Your Majesty?”
“Ah, yes. Well then, drink. There’s no better wine to whet your appetite.”
The king granted permission to drink at his subordinate’s call. The envoys drained their cups in a single swallow, then wiped their mouths. Whether due to their fruitless journey, they particularly grimaced as if it was bitter.
“H-how rude, before the king.”
“Indeed. This is why Burgos people…”
Clang!
Just as the ministers were whispering.
One who had been particularly grimacing threw his wine cup away as he collapsed forward. The sound of the cup rolling across the marble floor mixed with choking breaths. Everyone froze in shock.
“Ugh, urk… kugh…”
“Hey, what’s wrong? Hey, breathe! Breathe!”
“Wh-what’s happening?”
“Urk! He’s coughing blood! Doctor! Doctor!”
“What is this! What is the meaning of this!”
“That’s our line. What are you all doing?”
“Breathe, man! Hi-his pupils are dilating!”
Chaos erupted in an instant. The envoys surrounded their colleague trying desperately to save him, while the ministers formed lines to protect the king and call for doctors. When someone tried to pick up the gold cup, a Burgos envoy shouted:
“Stop! Don’t touch it! We must thoroughly investigate what was done to the wine cup!”
“Do you realize what you’re saying? Us? You’re saying we did this?”
“He collapsed right after drinking the wine!”
“How dare you! You damn curs!”
“Everyone calm down, calm—!”
Clang! Clash!
Though the king called for calm, the atmosphere instantly overheated beyond control.
The envoys’ guards lowered their stance while drawing hidden daggers, and the palace soldiers surrounded them at spear-length distance. Just as the king was about to shout again.
Creak.
The reception hall doors opened slowly. Through the gap spreading left and right, Prince Noah appeared.
And behind him, Ian’s group. Whether from the wind that rushed in as the doors opened, their entrance stimulated everyone’s senses.
“How noisy.”
Ian approached, poking his head over Prince Noah’s shoulder. People stepped aside one by one. Even the envoys froze, looking up at Ian with an unfamiliar pressure.
Ian personally bent one knee to check the fallen man’s breath.
“He’s dead.”
“D-dead, he says he’s dead!”
“What should we do about this, Your Majesty?”
One envoy dead, eyes not even closed. Murmuring grew louder again at Ian’s words. The envoys let out rage-filled screams as they warned the king.
“We came as representatives of Burgos and on behalf of King Damon—how could this happen? Clifford must explain immediately and prepare to take responsibility for this!”
“Shh. Uncle. You’re hurting my ears.”
“Wh-what, who are you!?”
“Me? I’m Beric.”
Beric gently placed his hand over the mouth of the envoy who was shouting in anger. Though the envoy struck his hand away, he covered his mouth again from the other side.
“Shh. It echoes too much in here. Ian said we need to be quiet.”
“You crazy bastard! What are you!”
“I told you, I’m Beric? Uncle, are you stupid?”
Zing. Zing.
Just then, light surrounded the fallen envoy.
Hale and Akorella were examining the corpse with magic. They were checking whether any magical devices had been placed on the body.
“Lord Ian. The body is clean.”
“Yes, doesn’t seem to be any message spells either.”
“M-mages, they were! Of course! He collapsed right after drinking the wine! We must formally protest—!”
“Why only one?”
Ian’s clear voice echoed softly.
The envoy’s expression asked what he meant. Ian wiped his hands with a handkerchief while examining the envoys. Five heads in total, and five guards as well.
“The wine came from one bottle, so why did only one person die? Seeing how you can’t rationally point out such a suspicious situation, it must be one of two things.”
Those envoys sent by Damon didn’t know they would die either. Or—
“Are you sending a signal to your country through death?”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Isn’t swift information delivery most important in wartime? Since you don’t know how Clifford will respond, you communicate information through incidents. For example, if one dies it means ‘mages are stationed here’. If two die, ‘no mages’. If three die, ‘uncertain of their presence,’ and so on.”
As Ian walked while meeting each person’s gaze, the surroundings grew rapidly quiet. Only the sound of Akorella rubbing her blood-stained shoes on the floor could be heard.
“If you don’t understand, that’s fine. Your Majesty of Clifford.”
“Ah, u-um, yes. Lord Ian.”
“I earnestly beseech you to detain these individuals separately. We should confirm whether they are sending signals to Burgos.”
If they were sending signals, those could be used in reverse. The king nodded blankly as he asked:
“Y-yes, let’s do that. But how?”
“Akorella.”
“Ah, yes siree. I wrote down what we need. Please get these within an hour. For a proper kingdom, that should be possible. Even if not exactly the same, we can make something similar enough.”
At Ian’s instruction, Akorella pulled out a note from her chest. A minister standing nearby unfolded it and muttered:
“…Recipe for truth potion?”