The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 43

“Roil, what were you thinking getting involved in this dangerous situation? Are you out of your mind?”

“I didn’t know at first, but once I found out, what was I supposed to do? The imperial dungeon! No one comes out of there unscathed! I had to do something!”

“What about the consequences? Have you thought about your family back home?”

“Who cares? Let it be!”

“Roil.”

“Forget it! Whatever you say, I won’t regret it! Have you ever seen problems resolved purely through reason and logic? It’s a hundred times better to have tried and risked everything than to hear you disappeared without lifting a finger!”

He glanced me over from head to toe with an exasperated expression, unable to continue his barrage of words, which only reminded me of my current state.

“How… how did you get so injured…!”

Tears started streaming down his distressed face. Watching a grown man sobbing, I couldn’t bring myself to scold him further. I could only pat his shoulder to console him. By now, I felt no pain or discomfort, but even saying I was fine didn’t help.

After some time had passed, the door opened again. The maid who had guided us to this room stepped inside. As we stood up, she spoke in a dry voice.

“The noble guest has arrived, so please show your respect.”

The woman who stepped in was draped in a long shawl. With her lemon-colored hair elegantly pinned up, a style typical of those from the North, she possessed fair skin and striking gray eyes. It was ‘Rielin Apelandra Aslan’, the Empress, whom I had only seen in portraits.

“Glory and blessings of all beings unto you. We greet the Empress, the Moon of the Empire, and the companion of the Sun.”

“Please, rise.”

The Empress acknowledged our greeting with an indifferent expression. Though she looked somewhat tired, it was not the fatigue of someone just awakened. A strong medicinal scent wafted from her clothes, hinting that she had been tending to the Emperor’s illness.

The Empress, known for her reserved nature, had always kept her distance from the machinations of politics. Her family, while prestigious, lacked significant political influence, resulting in a limited support base. In the lavish and competitive environment of the imperial palace, she was often likened to a delicate flower, quietly blooming amid the grandeur. This was the public’s perception of Empress Rielin.

However, meeting her in person, I realized she projected no sense of weakness at all. Though she was not as strikingly beautiful as the imperial concubines, she exuded an air of elegant dignity and possessed a solemn demeanor rather than a demure one. Her gaze, which had been calmly assessing everyone, finally settled on me.

“Are you Officer Sei? You seem to have suffered much in just one night.”

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

“You should. Whether intentional or not, the responsibility for jeopardizing such a significant matter is not light.”

Her cool tone compelled me to bow deeply, the heavy atmosphere weighing on my anxious companions.

“Let me make something clear. Don’t be mistaken: my assistance in this matter does not stem from a belief in your innocence. It’s solely to prevent the Crown Prince from being implicated.”

As she took her seat with the aid of her attendants, the Empress sighed lightly.

“I should never have relied on such a legendary remedy from the beginning. Trusting in such absurd folklore was bound to lead to trouble.”

“But, Your Majesty, our tests showed definite results. If the supplementary agent had been administered, the outcome would have been different.”

Camille spoke up. The Empress, rubbing her temple, cast a peculiar look at him.

“The red solution that burned human flesh? Lord Camille, when did you start harboring treasonous thoughts against His Majesty?”

“Your Majesty, you misunderstand! I never had such intentions! I only meant to explain.”

“Of course, you aren’t that type of person. I know that best, having watched you since you were a child. Yet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to trust anyone. It grows harder by the day.”

“Your Majesty…”

Camille’s face fell at her self-deprecating murmurs. With a light shake of her head, the Empress straightened up again.

“I am giving you this chance, so let’s hear what you have to say. Explain yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“I expect an explanation that’s satisfactory. There were many keen-eyed individuals present, and none of them detected any signs of mana usage. This means there’s no evidence of trickery or supernatural interference with the solution.”

“That’s because there was no trickery involved. The solution had no issues.”

“Then I’m even more perplexed. Are you claiming a perfectly fine solution burned flesh?”

“What if the person testing the solution was not in a proper state?”

A curious expression crossed the Empress’s previously uninterested face. She straightened up from her reclined position, clearly taken aback.

“I was told the solution was tested by one of the palace physicians. Are you saying there was something wrong with him?”

“Before that, I’d like to explain why Sei appears the way he does. Taron visited him last night.”

“What’s this about…?”

“Palace Physician Taron visited Officer Sei?”

At that moment, a bookshelf opened, and a blond man stepped out. The unexpected appearance of the Crown Prince left everyone stunned. It seemed the Empress had already agreed to his presence, given her lack of surprise.

“Your Highness, we—”

“Formalities are unnecessary. Continue your explanation. What is this about the physician having issues and visiting Officer Sei? Are you saying Taron is responsible for Sei’s injuries?”

The Crown Prince looked more gaunt than when I had seen him that afternoon, clearly having endured his own share of hardship. Hale exchanged quick glances with everyone before looking resolutely at the prince.

“Your Highness, please try not to be too shocked. The palace physician Taron is a Demonic Beast.”

“…What did you just say?”

“It appears that the injuries he sustained from the solution were due to his true nature. He exploited this fact to prevent the solution from being presented to His Majesty.”

“What in the world…? I can’t make any sense of this. Explain it in a way I can understand.”

The Crown Prince, looking even more weary, rubbed his temples. He listened silently for a while, unable to fully mask his agitation while also being cautious about readily accepting the claims.

“Is there any way to prove what you’ve just told me?”

“That…”

“The testimony of Officer Sei alone is insufficient. Officially, he is still a criminal. Merely showing his injuries won’t convince anyone.”

No one could provide an immediate answer. The Crown Prince sighed, appearing unsurprised.

“Taron was recommended by the Chief Physician. He was a commoner healer, but his medical skills were exceptional, making him well-known in the region. To claim he’s a Demonic Beast, we need more solid evidence. Moreover, wasn’t he undetected even by the guards present? How are we to convince anyone when even I find it hard to believe?”

“But it’s true that he visited Sei.”

“He could easily fabricate a reason for his visit. Who do you think people would believe? I’m wasting my time here.”

The sharp retort made everyone’s faces pale.

“We can prove the solution’s safety, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow at my words. For the first time, he sat up straight from his slouched position.

“The safety of the solution?”

“If it’s proven that there’s nothing wrong with the solution, it will also demonstrate my innocence. Furthermore, it will reveal that Taron was the only one harmed by it, indirectly proving his true identity.”

“But how can we prove something that’s already gone?”

“Officer Sei says there’s a way to obtain more of the solution.”

Hale, who had been quietly observing, quickly answered. The Crown Prince seemed to ponder briefly before appearing to make up his mind. He looked up calmly.

“What timeframe are you estimating? As you know, we don’t have much time before the Foundation Festival.”

“There’s enough time, Your Highness. We can do it immediately.”

“What…?”

Everyone looked at me with astonished expressions, not expecting this answer.

“Before that, I have one question. Can you confirm that His Majesty did take the pill?”

“That’s a question I fail to understand the intent behind.”

“Palace physician Taron is a Demonic Beast. Though my testimony might lack weight now, as someone who knows the truth, I can’t trust those near His Majesty. That’s why I’m saying this: they might not have presented the pill and could have discarded it.”

“…He definitely took it.”

“I watched the entire process of him taking it.”

The Empress, who had been quietly observing, confirmed my statement. It seemed that things were starting to go more smoothly. I nodded in relief.

“In that case, please allow me to have an audience with His Majesty.”

“…What did you just say?”

“Sei, are you serious?”

The sharp gazes from all sides burned into me. I knew how strange this must seem, but there was no choice. If the Demonic Beasts realized I had escaped the imperial dungeon, they would do everything to prevent me from reaching the Emperor.

“I need to see His Majesty directly. If you allow that, I can resolve everything.”

From now on, it was a race against time.

* * *

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince readily accepted my request. He exchanged a brief glance with the Empress but didn’t probe further or ask for details about my plan. Instead, he stood up, suggesting we leave immediately.

It all happened so quickly that no one objected or intervened. By the time I gathered my thoughts, we had already arrived at an unfamiliar palace. They called it the Iris Palace, a name I had only heard of before. The head chamberlain greeted us, rushing out after hearing the news.