"Aren't you going to ask why that fell?!"
Bang.
Simultaneously with the sound of a fist striking the desk, the Emperor erupted in fury.
The Chamberlain bowed his head beneath the rage that sent shivers down his spine. The Emperor pointed toward the insignia with his finger while glaring at the unresponsive chamberlain. The curtain that had always hung as though concealing something was now thrown wide open.
"Do you think it makes any sense that a portrait protected by a preservation spell would fall when no one approached it? Chamberlain!"
The Emperor's eyes flashed as he stared at the empty wall. The chamberlain solemnly raised his head at the Emperor's sharp voice—a voice that sounded as though he might kill someone.
"Your Majesty, surely you know? I am the only one who inspects Your Majesty's bedroom each night."
The chamberlain spoke in a trembling voice. It was literally true. He had simply inspected the Emperor's bedroom as usual. Everything had been the same as the day before—until he discovered that something had fallen in the deepest part of the bedroom, beneath the insignia symbolizing the Franz Empire.
The Emperor knew that fact better than anyone.
After all, the person who had pulled back the curtain and gazed upon the portrait just moments ago was none other than the Emperor himself.
The Emperor's heavy breathing gradually subsided—a positive sign. When the bedroom finally fell quiet, the experienced chamberlain spoke carefully.
"...I will summon the court wizard to cast the preservation spell again, Your Majesty."
The Chamberlain bowed deeply. Soon came the sound of the Emperor sinking into a chair.
"...Thank you. I did not look very well today."
"Not at all, Your Majesty."
The chamberlain had served the Emperor throughout his life. He had watched from the sidelines how obsessed the Emperor was with the woman in the portrait—and what he had done because of it.
It was the only portrait depicting such a woman.
No matter how long he had served the Emperor, the chamberlain could not have predicted what might have happened if the Emperor had not looked upon the portrait just now.
The chamberlain unconsciously touched his neck. It felt cool—as though a blade had passed across it.
"Raise your head, Chamberlain."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The chamberlain raised his head. The Emperor spoke, looking away from the portrait now propped upright on the desk.
"Is the Princess conducting the investigation I ordered in Vikander?"
"I received word that she is staying in the Viscounty of Katanta."
"Is she already returning from the investigation? She's coming back faster than I expected."
The Emperor exhaled lightly and tried to compose himself. Fortunately, the chief chamberlain's answer seemed satisfactory. The Princess always delivered clear results for whatever task she was given. Despite her late start, it appeared she was diligently following her father's orders to complete the investigation quickly.
"That is..."
The Emperor raised one eyebrow. The chamberlain hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully.
"...She is not on her way back. She is still en route to Vikander."
"What?"
The Emperor frowned, his anger plainly visible. The chamberlain, cut off mid-sentence, kept his mouth shut.
"Is that truly the case? The Princess has only reached Katanta? Isn't that merely four hours from here?"
"Yes. I apologize, Your Majesty. It is said that the journey was delayed due to Her Highness's motion sickness."
"Ha!"
The Emperor burst into incredulous laughter. Motion sickness? She was still in Katanta because of motion sickness!
The Emperor could not extinguish his fury, easily recalling how the Princess had claimed to be ill the last time.
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