✦ Chapter 72 ✦
「Translator – Creator」
Before the carriage destined for the Black Magic Tower, a pallor touched Ezekiel’s face.
Agnes, her brow furrowed in confusion, queried, “Pardon? What do you mean I should precede you to the Black Tower alone?”
“You heard correctly,” he replied, his voice edged with strain, his face pale. “Just do so for now.”
Just when he thought he could finally depart for the Black Magic Tower, an unexpected disaster had befallen him.
It was the First Princess, Ether, who was the cause.
Wearing a dress as if it were battle gear, the princess, appearing as an elegant bride, had been haunting Ezekiel like a ghost. Though he had managed to evade her so far.
If she were to catch him, well.
Of course, Agnes had no way of knowing all this.
“I’d rather wait too. Let’s go together.”
“Agnes.”
“Yes?”
“…I’m not joking. Go now.”
At that, someone poked their head out from inside the carriage. It was Tether, the personal secretary of the Second Princess, Hedera.
“Oh? Are you saying to depart separately at a later time?” she asked, her head tilted like a curious rabbit.
“It seems like news that the Second Princess will be quite disappointed by. She was hoping that you, the Inspector, would arrive as soon as possible!”
Agnes nodded in agreement.
“That is true. She left after repeatedly emphasizing that I bring you without any issues.”
“………..”
Ezekiel chewed on a sunweed leaf and thought.
‘…That’s exactly the problem.’
Both Hedera and Solana had presented their own conditions just before leaving. The common point was that they wanted to talk again when the exchange meeting was over.
But what would happen if he were caught and taken as Ether’s husband now? It would lead to the worst possible outcome.
“Agnes, you should depart quickly. Who knows, the Second Princess might take a liking to you as well.”
“As if someone like me would catch her eye.”
“Well, you’re right about that.”
“…Excuse me?”
Agnes’ eyebrow twitched, but Ezekiel was already moving away quickly. Watching his retreating figure, Tether quietly murmured.
“He’s quite remarkable.”
“In what way?”
“Have you ever seen anyone who remains unconcerned despite a princess expressing the wish for them to arrive quickly? This is a first for me.”
Come to think of it, that was true. Agnes nodded.
“Usually, no matter what someone is doing, the moment they hear a princess is waiting, they drop everything and hurry to her side.”
“Now that you mention it… you’re right.”
“…..I think his abilities must be extraordinary. He easily captures the interest of the princesses and seems to take it for granted.”
Agnes couldn’t help but tilt her head in confusion.
“…Wait a moment.”
Tether had said “princesses,” not “princess.”
“Do you mean other princesses are also interested in him?”
“Didn’t you know? No less than three princesses visited his infirmary. It’s quite a remarkable occurrence.”
Agnes could only tilt her head in bewilderment.
Interpreting ancient dragon languages and helping the Second Princess was certainly noteworthy for Ezekiel, but why would the other two princesses be interested in him?
“Do you perhaps know why they are interested?”
“Well? His looks? His personality?”
“……….”
Seeing Agnes’s expressionless face, Tether quickly corrected herself.
“Ah, perhaps not.”
Tether cleared her throat.
“In any case, isn’t it you, Secretary, who has spent the most time with the Inspector? You should know better than to ask me!”
“…Me, of all people?”
Agnes suddenly opened her notepad.
[You’re not my type either.]
[He’s out of his mind.]
[I don’t know why he’s like that.]
“…………”
She hurriedly closed the notepad silently.
“In any case….”
In the end, there was only one clear fact she could state.
“Whether it is praise or criticism, he’s definitely not normal.”
…Yes, that much was absolutely certain.
• • • ₪ • • •
“…Hmm, he’s completely disappeared.”
Ether muttered as she swept back her hair with her hand.
The messenger beside her spoke cautiously, “Your Highness, it doesn’t seem like a good time.”
“Silence.”
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Well, I suppose I understand why he’s hiding.”
“Yes. The Inspector has the exchange meeting…”
“He must be terribly shy.”
“…………”
The messenger closed his eyes quietly.
‘Yes, it’s understandable you’d think that….’
And indeed, thinking back on Ether’s life, it was logical and natural for her to think that way.
A woman with beauty often draws in capable men, yet Ether was a woman who also possessed capability. She lived a life taking whatever she fancied.
From the distant past, everyone who ever faced Ether had been respectful and submissive. There were no exceptions.
Failure, defeat, heartbreak…
Ether had lived a life that was far removed from all of that.
It was only natural for her to think that way.
“Perhaps he is not happy with this situation?”
“A man who dislikes me? Such a man could not exist.”
Ether chuckled.
“He may fear me, but he cannot dislike me. That’s who I am.”
The messenger sighed and thought.
‘Something feels off.’
At a glance, she seemed impulsive and single-minded, but the Ether he knew was always a princess who made wise moves.
Why would she insist on this particular moment?
“Does the Inspector truly pique your interest that much?”
“Messenger.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever seen a wild beast that hates the fields?”
“…………”
The messenger thought quietly.
The term ‘messenger.’
Messenger, soldier, Emperor…. Even though she appeared to treat those around her with endless familiarity, Ida always maintained a certain distance. There was a boundary set.
Indeed, Ether likening herself to a wild beast and Ezekiel to a field suggested that her interest in him was immense. Its magnitude was hardly conceivable.
“Your Highness, I remain puzzled.”
There were still elements that eluded understanding.
“If your interest in the Inspector is so profound, should you not approach with prudence and caution?”
“How naive.”
Thwack—!
Ether struck the messenger on the head with her sword hilt.
“When is the best time to succeed in a hunt?”
…When accompanying the First Princess?
The messenger nearly said this but refrained at the last moment.
“I don’t know.”
Thwack—!
Ether struck the messenger’s head again with the hilt of her sword.
“…It’s when the target lets its guard down.”
“So, you plan to exploit the moment when the Inspector is unguarded?”
“No, the Inspector is never unguarded.”
Ether smiled subtly.
“It’s the others being off guard that I plan to exploit. A hunt must occur at an unexpected moment. Love, much like hunting, operates under similar principles.”
“Love is akin to hunting…”
“Yes, just capture and kiss, and the rest follows.”
“… Well, you’re quite the expert.”
He then hesitated briefly before asking.
“Princess, have you yourself experienced love?”
Ether silently tightened her grip on her sword.
However, this time, not the hilt but the blade was pointed towards the messenger.
“I haven’t. So, are you suggesting I give it a try?”
A vein popped up on Ether’s forehead.
“…You insolent fool, am I not permitted to love the Inspector?”
Her gaze was blazing.
The earth beneath them vibrated slightly.
And the messengers’ legs trembled involuntarily.
“…I-I apologize. I did not mean to offend.”
The messenger quickly corrected his statement.
“Anyway, if love is no different from hunting, waiting for others to lower their guard might seem unnecessary. You could seize any opportunity anytime.”
“I need to hurry. Because of the Emperor.”
Ether’s tone became grave.
“Messenger, have you ever seen the Emperor care about anyone who isn’t his own blood?”
“Um, not at all.”
The messenger recalled the events in the North.
Even if important figures in the North were sick and pleaded, nothing came down, but if it was related to Ether, he would send supplies without hesitation. That was the Emperor.
The meaning was very clear.
While others might ignore the significance others place on someone, the Emperor ensures to look after Ether.
“It’s true that the Emperor listens to my requests quite well, but it’s only as an Emperor. It’s more of an Emperor’s heart than a father’s.”
“Indeed, he prioritizes public matters over personal ones.”
“But what if the Inspector becomes my man?”
“Ah…”
The messenger finally understood something.
“You mean to make the inspector a member of the royal family as soon as possible, and then have His Majesty take care of him directly…?”
“Exactly.”
Ether nodded.
“The mission for this exchange meeting is dangerous. However, I cannot directly involve myself in matters concerning the Black Magic Tower. I must make sure the Emperor is concerned about the Inspector’s safety.”
“…………..”
The messenger suddenly felt ashamed and fell silent.
Ether’s actions weren’t for her own selfish desires, but for the other person. She had already thought very carefully.
‘So there was such a deep meaning.’
After a moment, the messenger nodded and said.
“…I hope the Inspector understands the depth of your intentions. He ought to reciprocate your love.”
Thwack—!
Ether struck the messenger on the head with her sword hilt again.
“Ouch!”
Since he tried to dodge, he got another hit.
Thwack—!
“You fool, what nonsense are you spouting?”
“No, but…!”
“I told you, it’s impossible not to love me?”
Ether continued.
“Who am I?”
“The First Princess of the Empire, the Goddess of War, the Queen of all Cures…”
“That’s right. The Queen of all Cures.”
The Queen of all Cures.
In other words, the ruler of all armaments.
“…I am still a woman. I am confident I can use my charms to make him love only me.”
“Um…”
What could that be?
Could she possibly mean…cuteness?
…Cuteness? From the First Princess?
The messenger shuddered at the horrifying thought.
“Messenger.”
“Yes.”
The messenger replied, wrapping a bandage around his head.
“You understand now, right? Do your best.”
“Yes, yes…”
At that moment, Ezekiel appeared in their sightlines.
And Ether’s eyes widened.
“There he is! Now, catch….!”
“Catch him~!”
The two of them jumped off the ground.