NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94
Hah, really…
The terrace was sparsely populated.
No, to be precise, it seemed deliberately arranged that way.
Unlike the casino with no windows, as soon as we went up two floors, we arrived at a ballroom with several large windows. There were several more floors above that, so there was probably a hotel up there. Since the academy students lived in Northwood Castle, it would naturally be hard to put a price on its value, but I had the feeling that even if I were to receive money, it would probably be less than what I could get here.
“I’m just a really devoted goddess believer, you know? I can tolerate someone touching my body, but mixing things up is a no-go. Should I take off my clothes right here, right now?”
She said playfully as she peered through the curtains of the terrace.
In fact, just turning her head to the side revealed couples engaging in such acts on the other terrace. Typically, there were just those who sat on their laps and groped their bodies.
Was this more like a place you pass through before getting into the business?
It was an open space, but the distance between the terraces was quite far, and although there was light coming up from below, it was high enough that identifying faces from a distance didn’t seem easy.
“……”
Without saying a word, I went to sit on the guest sofa and crossed my legs.
Then, I stared intently at her as she playfully slipped her hand next to her chest.
“……”
“……”
“……Wait, really? Are you taking it off?”
When I stared blankly at her, she seemed flustered and returned the question.
“If the service is included in the value of 30 pounds.”
When I said that, the woman gaped and quickly flashed a bold smile.
“I didn’t know the Crown Princess had such tastes!”
“If that’s not possible, I can settle for some information instead.”
“That means you already know who I am?”
“Of course. Lady Verati.”
At my words, her face stiffened.
“I came here to find out why Lady Kiara Verati is doing such things here.”
“Wasn’t it already because you found out?”
“To be precise, I’m here to verify the facts I know.”
“……You already knew?”
Kiara Verati let out a defeated expression, withdrawing her hand that was just about to lift her clothes.
“There’s a reason the papacy told you to be careful.”
“To be precise, even if you had been careful, you wouldn’t have been able to hide information from me.”
When I said that, Kiara Verati shrugged.
“Well, I suppose.”
And as she looked around, she faced me and said,
“But if you think you could buy a secret with just this much money…”
“I know. But the information you think is ‘confidential’ is already in my head, so you don’t need to worry. Again, the cost is merely for confirming the information.”
“You mean you can reveal the fact that you know so much?”
Kiara Verati looked shocked, but I didn’t change my attitude.
Naturally so.
After all, I planned to confirm things and rewind time afterward.
“If needed, I can pass along some information from my side too.”
“Are you suggesting we trade information? You? With me?”
“Is that strange?”
“Of course it’s strange. Considering your attitude at that gathering last year.”
Had she been there?
Well, there wouldn’t be anything unusual about it. If she were one of the nuns the Cardinal brought along, others wouldn’t have known. Back then, I didn’t care either.
“I’m just thinking about what would benefit the Empire right now. At that time, I merely thought that forming an alliance outside the Empire would harm it; it had nothing to do with personal feelings.”
The truth was that personal feelings had been all over the place, but there was no reason to reveal such truths to this fortress knight.
“……If I give you my information, what will you give me in return? Oh, and just so you know, this kind of check…”
Kiara Verati produced a check from between her cleavage.
“By the standards of the Papal State, it’s hardly a handful—”
“I will tell you the contents of the Empire’s prophecy.”
“—.”
As I maintained my nonchalant demeanor and said that, the woman’s mouth shut again.
The prophecy was one of the treasures that the Papal State coveted. There was no way to extract that book located at the deepest part of the Imperial Palace, so they hadn’t done anything about it. However, had they found a way, the Papal State would have forcibly tried to obtain that treasure. They were a fanatic group that believed all the treasures left by the Goddess should be managed by them, the successors of faith.
And it was the content of the prophecy that was important; the book itself wasn’t something sacred. Kiara Verati in front of me was certainly aware of that fact too.
“……If you are lying…”
“Everything I say in the future will have no value under the Papal State’s standards. The 30-pound check in your hand will become nothing more than a worthless piece of paper.”
“…….”
The reason she brought me here, even though that money wasn’t anything extraordinary, was simple.
It was embarrassing for a bunny girl to refuse 30 pounds.
Even if she decides later whether to sell her body or not, she naturally would want to keep a customer who spends 30 pounds, regardless of gender, a bit longer. They would want to extract just a little more. If not, she’d just be scared and return the money.
On top of that, since she had already grasped that I was the Crown Princess, she must have thought to have a conversation since I’d come this far.
“Alright.”
Kiara Verati, who had been lost in thought with a complex expression, surprisingly said so and took a seat.
It wasn’t the kind of chair that faced each other. The chairs were arranged in a semi-circle, so she sat at the edge, a bit distanced from me, who sat in the middle.
It was a decent enough distance for us to see each other’s expressions.
Even though we were sitting there without a drink, I didn’t feel like forcing any intimacy, so I opened my mouth.
“First, let’s talk about your identity. Your name is Kiara Verati. You are a nun of the St. Antonio Cathedral and one of the Four Knights of the Cathedral. The weapon you wield is a holy spear. The reason you are here is to ‘retrieve’ a treasure from the Northwood ruins. Is that correct?”
“……You know about the Empire’s treasure?”
“At least I do know.”
If a cup of tea had been served, I would have taken a sip with a slurp.
“It’s part of an ancient weapon. It’s not far from where this casino was built. Isn’t that right?”
In the old days, when the world was not properly built.
There existed a civilization before everything collapsed.
And a few of the buildings or items from that civilization remained unbroken amidst the chaos.
The Papal State called these places and objects ruins and artifacts, rummaging around secretly as if they were treasures from the goddess. Of course, they did so in a way that others wouldn’t notice.
And while doing so, to “not get caught,” they would pin various wrongdoings on others.
Whether it be a band of thieves or accidents caused by monsters, or due to unfortunate weather changes.
Or even called “warlords.”
“……”
There were no answers coming through, but more than the answers, I could be certain. The events happening here closely followed the main story.
“If you don’t respond, there will be no prophecy.”
“……That’s true.”
Grinding her teeth, Kiara Verati said.
There was no need to be so angry. At this point, the Papal State’s plans had already been thoroughly disrupted, and their chances of success had significantly reduced.
Rather than hiding it in vain, it would be better to acknowledge it and get something from me.
In that sense, my proposal was quite generous.
“Impressive. Truly fitting for the next emperor of the Empire.”
“The next emperor is not me.”
Though it wasn’t a mocking tone, she corrected my compliment mixed with amazement.
“……So you left the backdoor open for another princess to follow us? I suppose it’s because the next emperor needs to be aware of the situation.”
……Someone following us?
“Are you trying to tease me?”
As I remained silent, Kiara Verati stood up with a slightly irritated expression.
Then she walked over to the entrance of the terrace, parting the curtains without giving me a chance to stop her.
“……Ah.”
The sight of the people beyond the curtain was immediately visible.
Claire, who was dressed lightly like me, Leo, who had probably followed Claire, and in front of those two, there was…
Alice.
Dressed in sky-blue bunny girl attire.
“……”
Alice and I locked eyes silently.
She should have been shocked to hear all the prophecies and other things coming out of my mouth, but…
The expression on her face showed she was much more embarrassed about running into me in that revealing outfit.
…….
So that’s how it is.
I let out a deep sigh and thought.
Again.