Published at 30th of September 2019 01:50:06 PM
Chapter 62 – Red Flame Ring (1)
“What?”
“I think it must be some kind of plan . What is it?”
Prince Heinley looked surprised . He didn’t answer, and closed his mouth and looked downward . When I saw his calm face, I remembered my first impression of Prince Heinley .
‘That’s right . He only smiled after we were acquainted . Before, I thought he seemed cold . ’
Even if he may have just been thinking, the mood was chilling .
“I…”
It was not long before Prince Heinley looked up at me and spoke, his expression softened .
“Queen, I don’t want to lie to you . ”
His answer had many implications . Good and bad .
“Yes . ”
On the good side, he was proving how serious his friendship was . He didn’t make excuses when the other option was riskier .
On the bad side…he was up to something, and he couldn’t tell me . It crossed my mind that whatever it was could be personal or contain confidential information of his country . But there was likelihood that the plan involved bringing Duke Elgy into the Eastern Empire…
“You don’t have to answer if you can’t . ”
I smiled and spoke in a casual tone, and Prince Heinley stared at me with nervous eyes and sighed .
McKenna leaned against the wall of the drawing room as he waited for the prince to return . He had a mind to complain to Prince Heinley for calling him a foolish bird in front of the foreign empress . He was most definitely not a foolish bird . He sulked even more as he remembered how Prince Heinley told him to play a pet bird .
However, McKenna’s mood changed when the prince entered the room and collapsed onto the couch .
“Your Highness? Are you alright?”
McKenna wasn’t worried, not initially . He knew how strong Prince Heinley was, and it wasn’t often he had to be concerned about him . However, Prince Heinley unexpectedly waved his hand away .
“Your Highness?”
McKenna leaned down to peer at him carefully . McKenna was the one that had been forced to play as a pet bird in front of the Empress, but it was Prince Heinley who had a look of defeat .
‘Did it not work out as he thought?’
“Your Highness, did the Empress say anything bad?”
McKenna placed his hand on Prince Heinley’s shoulder, but the prince shrugged it off . There was no anger in his face over what had happened . McKenna was starting to worry a little .
“Did you hear anything bad?”
“Well, McKenna . ”
“I—”
“Yes, I’m listening . Speak . ”
“I think I like her more than I thought . ”
Prince Heinley’s reply, however, was a complete nonsense . McKenna frowned .
“What?”
Prince Heinley buried his face in his hands and gave a shuddering breath .
“I think I made a slip of the tongue . ”
“A slip of the tongue? In front of the Empress?”
“Yes . ”
McKenna was more puzzled by his answer .
“What did you say that made you sad?”
“What if she’s wary of me now?”
“Wary?”
“Studying me with those sharp eyes…aah . ”
The prince stood up from the couch and fell into his bed with a groan . He had rambled incoherently at all of McKenna’s questions, and the knight looked at Prince Heinley in surprise .
“Did she find out you can change into a bird?”
“Not that . ”
“Then?”
“Something else . ”
Although I considered Prince Heinley a good person and a good friend, even differences could cause good people to become enemies . However, being an enemy did not necessarily mean being a bad person—it only meant that they stood opposite of me .
As soon as I returned to my room, I summoned Sir Artina to give him a mission .
“Sir Artina . There is something I want you to look into . Be discreet . ”
“Yes, Your Majesty . What is it?”
“It’s about Prince Heinley and Duke Elgy . ”
“What?”
Sir Artina, who knew Prince Heinley was the owner of Queen, looked at me in surprise . He seemed to think it strange that I wanted to investigate someone I was already sending letters to .
“Duke Elgy is understandable…but Prince Heinley as well?”
“Yes . I want you to focus on their activities before New Year’s, before they came here to the Imperial Palace . ”
Sir Artina looked suspicious, but he was a model knight . Instead of questioning me, he gave a short “Yes” and left the room . Afterwards, I walked towards the window and leaned my head against the frame .
The Western Kingdom was the Eastern Empire’s most powerful rival, but they were neither too distant or too close . In the meantime, what could Prince Heinley do by bringing in Duke Elgy?
I remained busy for the next five days . The public ball was to be held a month earlier than last year in exchange for a generous sum paid by Grand Duke Lilteang, and the relevant documents had been approved and distributed .
There was also good news . For the first time, a child from a state-sponsored orphanage earned a scholarship to attend the academy of magic . It was imperative to nurture magical talent . No matter how much one spent, magic was a priceless talent .
As a symbolic gesture, the officials recommended that someone in the Imperial Family should present the scholarship, and I was willing to assume the role . I didn’t remember all the children raised at the orphanage, but I did know a fair number of them, especially the child who was chosen . I was happy to do the honor of congratulating them . However, the trip would take more than a day, and so I visited Sovieshu’s office to consult him . I found him sitting at his desk, turning over a small ring in his hands .
“I thought you lost it?”
The Red Flame ring, which Sovieshu said was gone, was right before his eyes . I stared at him in puzzlement, and he smiled .
“Yes . It’s amazing . ”
“Did you find it?”
“I wouldn’t say I found it . ”
Sovieshu set down the ring on his desk .
“I gave this ring to Rashta, but she said she felt sorry for a poor maid and gave it to her . ”
” …The Red Flame ring?”
“I suppose she didn’t know about the spell . When I told her about it, she was upset . ”
Sovieshu’s voice turned fond, and he continued .
“I asked Count Pirnu to look for a ring that had a similar property . You remember that from a few days ago, right?”
“I remember . ”
“And Count Pirnu gave this to me today . He bought it from an auction last night, not realizing that it was already mine…”
He smiled faintly .
“Isn’t it amazing?”
“I see . ”
I wasn’t impressed at all, but I was still obliged to answer . Sovieshu tucked the ring inside his breast pocket . I thought my answer was too brief, so I spoke further .
“If the maid was poor, she likely needed the money and sold it . ”
“I agree . But information about jewelry, especially magical items, is difficult to find . The average person would not know to sell it for its full price . I told Count Pirnu to find out how much the woman who sold the ring received . ”
The corners of Sovieshu’s mouth lifted in pride .
“Rashta is kindhearted . I want to make sure her good deed was done properly . ”