TPOP 112

Chapter 112

***

Sponsored by Virginie. Thank you ❤️ (3/3)

***

“We’ve pinpointed the location of the person believed to be Miss Diana, Your Excellency!”

Those were the first words from the messenger who had rushed all the way from the Imperial Palace to the Duke of Christen’s residence. Hugo Christen, who had been holding a cold washcloth to his forehead, bolted upright.

“You found her? Where is she now?”

“It’s confirmed that she’s under the protection of the Prince of Ormance.”

Hugo groaned and pressed his hand to his forehead.

“As I expected, Ormance moved quickly.”

He knew it would be like that. After attending the Emperor’s birthday banquet, the Ormance delegation stayed in Karman for quite some time before finally departing for their homeland. According to border records, the delegation crossed the border three days after the coup took place. Although search measures had been intensified, the fatal mistake was that they couldn’t search the cargo hold because the delegation was from a foreign country.

“So she’s been with the prince for over a month and a half?”

“It’s just a guess based on eyewitness accounts, so it’s not certain. There are rumors circulating that the prince was recently spotted in southern Ormance, and since no citizen of Ormance would fail to recognize the prince, the reports seem credible. The prince stayed in the southern region for about a week and is currently on his way back to the capital of Ormance. It’s said that his entourage now includes many people who weren’t with him on the way here.”

“Is there a maid in that entourage?”

“Yes. There was a patient who had been bedridden for several weeks at the inn the Prince frequented; she was described as a woman with wheat-colored hair. However, it is a bit puzzling since the only woman in the Prince’s entourage that departed for the capital was a physician… Given the current situation, the most likely place for Miss Diana to be is right by the Prince’s side.”

“His Highness must be aware of this as well, of course?”

“Yes.”

It was only natural, given that the information came from someone serving as the Duke’s eyes and ears within the Imperial Palace. After all, the spies dispatched to Ormance were Felix’s men to begin with.

“How many spies went to Ormance?”

“I cannot say the exact number, but it does not appear to be many. You could count them on one hand.”

If it was only a handful, they couldn’t be considered a force sent to launch a full-scale assault on the prince. Felix hadn’t reached the point of certainty yet either.

A military map with red lines tangled like a spiderweb flickered in Hugo’s mind.

“Did you also observe His Highness’s reaction?”

“Well, he did issue an order, but it doesn’t seem to have much to do with this matter…”

“What did he say?”

“He ordered preparations for the coronation to begin again. He instructed me to relay this to you immediately. He commanded that we hold a simple memorial service for the late Emperor and proceed directly to the coronation ceremony.”

For once, it was a normal order. Power came from one’s position. It was clear that his wayward nephew had finally realized the necessity of the actual title and authority that came with being emperor.

While this was welcome news, it left a bad taste in his mouth, as he could not fathom the true motives behind his desire for power.

“Did he say anything else? Any unusual orders?”

“Most of His Highness’s instructions are things we’ve never seen before… Come to think of it, he did say he would bring in court painters.”

What on earth was this nonsense?

“He said it doesn’t matter who they are, as long as they know how to wield a brush. The head of the palace attendants has recommended a few candidates, so the painters will likely arrive at the palace this evening or tomorrow. I suspect he might be planning to commission new paintings for display in the palace gallery…”

It was indeed customary to commission a painting commemorating the emperor’s majesty upon his accession. Typically, artists depicted the coronation ceremony itself, or captured the emperor in full regalia—robes, crown, and scepter—after the ceremony. It was a tradition, after all.

So while there was nothing particularly strange about it, a sense of foreboding ran down Hugo’s spine.

Felix commissioning another painter to capture his appearance? It was a scene that was hard to imagine. His nephew was the sort of man who might paint a self-portrait, but he was not the type to entrust himself to an unproven artist.

“Well… I see. I have no idea what kind of painting will result… but first, I need to review the official documents regarding the coronation.”

Preparations for the coronation were already complete. Since the Crown Prince had yet to appear before the people, public interest—whether positive or negative—had already skyrocketed to the extreme. He could only hope that his noble demeanor might quell, even slightly, the rumors that had grown so vicious they seemed beyond control.

‘I hope he’s a skilled painter. One who can capture even a fraction of that façade.’

Hugo forced himself to suppress his anxiety. However, immediately after the coronation he had so longed for concluded, he realized his fears were not unfounded.

“For heaven’s sake, is this something a sane person would do?!”

The Duke, his eyes red with rage, shouted, veins bulging. Before his eyes lay the hall of honor where only the direct imperial descendants of Karman were permitted to display their portraits.

In the far right corner of the gallery—where sixteen portraits, ranging from the First Emperor to the late Emperor, were hung—a large frame occupied the space reserved for the 17th Emperor of Karman. Standing before the completed portrait, Hugo cried out in a voice that sounded like a scream.

“Who on earth is that man in the painting?!”

But the one who could provide the answer had already turned his back. A black cloak cast an ominous shadow as he walked away.

His steps, determined by his destination, were unwavering. Even if he shouted, “Where are you going?!” the only thing that came back was an echo.

‘Surely not… surely he isn’t going directly to Ormance, or perhaps to Dortes…!’

Hugo looked up at the man in the painting with a sense of dread. A pair of unfamiliar eyes—belonging to no one he knew—stared into the void.

Hugo let out a pained groan and clutched his forehead.

***

Claire, on the outskirts of Valfranc, the capital of Ormance.

It was a small town famous for its summer palace, which the royal family has used for generations as a retreat to escape the sweltering summer heat. The meeting between Diana and the Queen of Ormance was arranged in that very area.

Originally, they had planned to head to the royal castle in Valfranc, but their plans had changed. It all began when Diana, while resting at a campsite, sensed an unfamiliar presence and was startled.

“I could barely hear any footsteps. They weren’t those of an ordinary person. It was an extremely refined presence, the kind only trained knights would possess. The knights of the Karman Imperial Palace… specifically, the Crown Prince’s personal guards used to walk like that.”

“We must halt our journey for now. Let’s search the immediate vicinity.”

One of the Prince’s bodyguards spotted a suspicious figure who had been tailing the group since the border region and gave chase, but ultimately lost him.

This made one thing certain: there was an imperial agent watching them.

Elliot quickly changed their destination and immediately sent a message to the royal palace. And so, late one night, the Queen secretly made her way to a small inn on the outskirts of Cler.

The Queen of Ormance was a woman with a stern expression, her eyes and mouth lined with fine wrinkles. All Diana could see was her tall stature and upright silhouette, but the aura she exuded reminded Diana of someone she knew. She possessed a commanding presence that seemed to radiate from every fiber of her being, a sense of authority that made it clear she was the supreme ruler of a nation. Her gaze and tone alone carried an intimidating power capable of bringing anyone to their knees.

Diana, who had never imagined the Queen would make the journey here personally at such a late hour, was so overwhelmed with embarrassment that she didn’t know what to do. Having lived in the empire for over ten years, she instinctively tried to kneel on the floor out of habit, but the Queen clicked her tongue.

“You need to be aware of your own standing. Straighten your back and stand up straight.”

Her voice was almost identical to the Prince’s tone and inflection.

“I had hoped we could spend some time getting to know each other over a simple tea party at the royal palace, but things rarely go as planned. I apologize for making you feel threatened on Ormance’s territory. Why is it that the leaders of Karman have been so arrogant for generations?”

“There is no need to apologize. I am the one who has caused you trouble.”

“Since it seems this is not a matter for you to worry about, shall we get to the point? I cannot remain away from the royal palace for long.”

By “the point,” she meant the offer of asylum conveyed to her through Prince Elliot. Over the past few days, during which she had been practically chased by the people of Karman, Diana had already made up her mind.

“I will not seek asylum in Ormance.”