'An elven family.'
Rudger calmly corrected the story Eileen had told him in his head.
There were other great families in the Elven Realm besides House Rifre. He did not know their name since little was known about them. Most likely, after the incident, the Elven Kingdom had destroyed all records of that family.
'The family that controlled the World Tree was very enterprising, uncharacteristic of the Elves of today.'
They joined forces with the kingdom that was the forerunner of the Exilion Empire.
The elves took a sapling of the World Tree and began to grow it secretly in the kingdom's underground.
I don't know what they hoped to accomplish with it, but it wasn't a bad attempt. They almost succeeded but when the demon Basara intervened, things went awry.
Eventually, they succeeded in sealing Basara in the World Tree they had been nurturing underground, but the tree was drained of life and Basara's rampage became a problem when those who hated the demonic presence smelled it and moved.
The Kingdom of Bretus meddled in the affairs of the kingdom and the elves, and from that day forward, the leadership of the kingdom has changed. But the change was so subtle that it went unnoticed by the people themselves.
'It is strange that their king has changed and they do not know it.'
It was as if a great unknown force had acted on a national scale.
Rudger finally summarized the situation.
The current guardian of the World Tree is the Lippre family. That meant that the previous family in charge of the World Tree had most likely been ousted for stealing the sapling of the World Tree.
It was understandable if the elves had become more conservative and confined themselves to their kingdom after the events of that day.
A hundred years ago, they had even gone to war with the humans. But what had happened after that, Rudger didn't know.
'I need more information about the elves…….'
He wondered if he should ask Belaruna about that.
It had happened at least five hundred years ago, and she wasn't that old.
There was one elf who seemed to know, Vierano Dentis, teacher of Elemental Studies to the fourth-year students of Theon. An elf with the outward appearance of a young boy, but who had obviously lived longer than any of them.
Eileen was contemplating inviting him over for tea later to hear his story.
"So what are you going to do now?"
The job was done, but Rudger gave all the credit to Passius since he didn't want to stand out too much.
"I'll have to go back to teaching. This whole incident really messed up the school calendar, and it's going to take a lot of time to get it straightened out again."
"You're a very diligent teacher, but that's not what I asked."
"Of course not." Rudger said, glaring at Eileen.
"I'd like to go to the Treasury in the Imperial Palace now."
* * *
Rudger walked the long corridors of the imperial palace, guided by Eileen and Passius.
The beauty of the interior, each piece a work of art, was something he had felt before, but it was truly breathtaking. However, even that extreme beauty was far from enough to hold Rudger's attention now.
What Rudger was about to see was not the kind of art that many people have seen.
The Exilion Empire has a long history and tradition. It was a place filled with mysterious artifacts and treasures of unknown use.
"You may rejoice."
It was Eileen, who was walking confidently in the lead, who spoke up.
"The Treasury is a space that is not easily opened, even to members of the imperial family. Except for my father, the current emperor, no one is allowed to enter."
"Considering that, the Princess seems to be going in as if it's a matter of course."
"That's because I'm the next emperor."
That meant that Eileen had pushed aside all the other claimants to the throne, and was now proudly wearing the victor's crown.
Rudger thought of two others, Second Prince Ivelon and Third Princess Erendir.
Erendir herself was not interested in power, but the other was a different case.
'The Second Prince…….'
The Second Prince Ivelon gives off an outward appearance of modesty and weakness, but Rudger knew better that there's something else inside him.
Perhaps his public persona is a mask.
'I wonder if the First Princess knows that.'
Rudger hesitated to ask Eileen. After all, the Second Prince was her blood. It didn't look good for an outsider to suspect him.
Besides, Eileen is a woman who lives for her own self-satisfaction, but is also surprisingly protective of her family.
Just look at the way she treats Erendir.
'Erendir is actually tired to death of the first princess' attitude.
Call it perverse affection or disingenuousness. It was safe to say that the way Eileen showed affection to her family was twisted in some way.
"Another way to look at it is that Eileen has her own kind of familial love for her siblings.
Asking Eileen if she knows anything about her brother, the Second Prince, is a bit of a risk.
To be honest, it was a pretty big risk to take.
"Uh, sister?"
Just then, a startled voice came from the front. I turned to see it was Erendir, accompanied by her handmaidens.
Her jewel-colored eyes stared at us in disbelief.
"What brings you here?"
"Well, I was on my way back to where the students are staying, after all, I am a student of Theon."
"Since you're home, perhaps you could rest a bit longer and talk to your father and mother."
"That's not necessary, I just saw them a little while ago."
"For such a young lady, you seem eager to get back to your friends. You must have made many good friends in Theon."
"Uh, that's……."
At the mention of friends, Erendir was visibly taken aback since she had not made many friends.
It's been almost a year and a half since she entered Theon and Erendir had only made one friend.
If she told her sister this, she would tease her for the rest of her life.
"Of course, I've made lots of friends and I'm having a great time at school!"
Even as she said that, Erendir sent an intense glance over Eileen's shoulder, toward Rudger and her eyes were begging him to keep his mouth shut.
Rudger realized why she was so desperate.
'That…….'
It was a pretty pathetic response, so Rudger decided to play it off as best he could.
"Hmph. I see."
Eileen shook her head in disbelief and Erendir quickly changed the subject, as if the lie would be discovered any time soon.
"And where is sister off to now with Mr. Rudger…….?"
"I promised him a reward in advance for doing me a favor so I'm on my way to deliver it."
"But even if you were to take this road, you'd go to the Imperial Treasury……."
Erendir asked with a puzzled expression, and Eileen nodded as if that was the correct answer.
"That's right. I'm going to give him a gift from the Imperial Treasury."
"Now, wait a minute, sis, that's not quite right……! Of course, Mr. Rudger has done a great job, but the Treasury is in a different class……."
"I'll give it to him, what's the big deal, I'm the one who's authorized to open it."
"Still, we've only opened the Treasury to outsiders once in the last 100 years, and that was at the inauguration of Master Luther……."
"Then this would be the second time."
"That's not something you can say that easily."
Erendir shuffled her feet, unable to argue with her sister.
It was in that attitude that Rudger realized how great it was to enter the Treasury.
Then Erendir looked back and forth between Eileen and Rudger.
"It's unwritten law that the Treasury is not to be opened unless you're a member of the imperial family, and I don't think Mr. Rudger is going to be a member of the imperial family. Sis, you can't possibly……."
Erendir trailed off as a disturbing image flashed through her mind.
Eileen and Rudger made a fine pair standing together.
Eileen had natural leadership, charisma, political skills, a good eye for people, stunning beauty, and a brilliant mind. Even though she was her sister, she was so perfect that she didn't dare to look at her.
So sometimes she wondered who her sister would marry in the future.
Her husband would have to be at least as good as her. And it was unlikely that Eileen herself would accept any man for a companion.
'But if it's Mr. Rudger.'
Erendir naturally compared Rudger to Eileen.
She didn't like Rudger very much since every time she saw him, she was reminded of her sister.
Someone who looked normal and carefree on the outside, but underneath was something else. But here he was, standing with Eileen, and they couldn't have been more out of place.
His looks?
A man as cold, noble, and sculpted as Rudger is hard to find, no matter where you look on the continent.
His abilities?
In addition to being a teacher at Theon, he invented new theories and rose to the position of Director of Planning in the shortest amount of time.
No one could argue with that.
Personality?
To be honest, she can't say it's good, but compared to Eileen, it's better. Or rather, it suits her.
"……Sister. No?"
Erendir asked, denying reality while Eileen smiled mischievously, realizing at once what strange fantasies Erendir was having.
"Hmph. I can't believe you've become so perceptive after all this time in Theon. Is it all because of your time in Theon?"
"……!"
Erendir felt a wave of dizziness as she heard her words. She staggered to the side and was about to collapse when her handmaidens rushed to her aid.
"Princess!"
"Are you all right?!"
The handmaidens shouted, and quickly carried Erendir into the distance.
Rudger watched the whole skit and turned to Eileen.
"Aren't you being a little too playful with your sister?"
"After such a passionate reaction, I can't stop teasing her."
"Well, I suppose so."
"I see you sympathize, and I can't say you're not a good-natured fellow, like me."
Eileen smiled in amusement, and beside her, Passius added.
"Well, I suppose it's still better than the First Princess, who knows, and is therefore worse."
Eileen glared at him, and he shut up.
"Anyway, let's get moving again."
"From what I heard earlier, it sounds like you're not supposed to open the Treasury. Are you sure about that?"
"Don't you dare ask me that now. I made the suggestion knowing full well. With your skills, opening the Treasury is rather cheap."
Eileen started walking again, followed by Passius and Rudger.
"Of course, if your performance doesn't live up to expectations, I've thought about reducing the number of things you can take from the Treasury."
"……Well, it looked like it."
"But you've performed beyond expectations. You've saved lives, stopped terrorists, and exorcized demons. That's why I don't even want to think about cutting you any slack in negotiations."
"Is that so?"
"It's the right thing to do. The reward must be certain."
Eileen was firm about this.
She's almost obsessive about the certainty that comes with competence.
It wasn't for nothing that those beneath her were so loyal to her.
Eventually, the three of them reached a place so dark and deep that even imperial servants could not be seen.
Leading the way, Eileen stopped in front of a massive stone gate.
She lifted her head and looked up. Carved with all sorts of ornate symbols, the gate was imposing in its own right.
It was similar to the gates she had seen in the world of Dreamland during the Order Synod. No, it was far greater than that because that was a dream, and this was a real door.
"Halt. If you get any closer, I'll draw my sword."
True to Eileen's warning, there were Guardians in ornate armor on either side of the entrance.
"Guardians, this is quite a murderous place."
"As it should be."
As Eileen stepped forward, the Guardians' jet-black helmets glowed with an inner light.
It was then that Eileen produced the key she had brought with her. She showed them the golden key around her neck, and the Guardians' glow returned.
It was a simple gesture, but Rudger saw the Guardians instantly recognize the key's unique magic wavelength.
"You may enter now. As I said, there are only three items you can take out."
"You're not coming with me?"
"Only one person is allowed to enter the Treasury. Any more than that and the door to the vault will not open."
"That's thorough."
"It has to be."
The underground vaults at the Kunst Auction House weren't this strict, but this was the Imperial Palace after all.
If anything, it made Rudger realize that the name "Imperial Treasury" was not a flattering description.
"Stand in front."
I did as Eileen ordered, and the giant stone door slowly opened.
There was no noise for a door that large to move.
The inside of the door was pitch black and Rudger realized it was some kind of magic.
'I'm not even allowed to peek through the open door.'
If anything, it was even more exciting.
Rudger smirked and started walking.
"Don't get lost."
He heard Eileen's voice behind him, and he waved appropriately.
The stone gate slammed shut again as Rudger disappeared into the darkness.
The door slammed shut and Rudger was enveloped in pitch blackness.
He couldn't tell the difference between up and down, left and right, and felt like he was floating in nothingness.
In the midst of it all, Rudger stood tall and proud, he had been through too much to be surprised by this.
After a few moments, as if the Treasury had sensed the presence of a visitor, the darkness ebbed and flowed like a tide.
Soon after, the glorious view of the interior came into view.
"Ho-ho."