“Many weapons must have been damaged while hunting the dragon.”
“Yes, I was about to report it.”
"Allocate additional budget.
The money recovered from the recent investigation in the Southern District should be significant."
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
Soho, who had recently visited Kydland himself, recalled the money that had been enriched by Miss Lockhart's initiative.
It was a windfall from Ms.
After this incident, Suho began to somewhat understand the Emperor's obsession with Mrs.
Lockhart.
“However, Your Majesty, there is a slight problem with the armor supplies.”
Dale looked at him.
“There is a part that goes into the joints of the armor.
The more precise it is, the better the movement, but the workshop caught fire, and the documents related to the technology were lost.”
“Even if the documents are burned, aren’t the craftsmen still there?”
“This is the thing...
Unfortunately, many craftsmen have been injured due to the delayed evacuation and are currently unable to work.”
“Who are the replacements?”
"Although there are remaining apprentices, their skills are limited.
This craft requires detailed knowledge, so it is difficult to transmit it orally, which makes the situation difficult for us."
“It seems difficult to realistically conduct winter training as planned.”
“It seems so.
Unless we find a dwarf who provides us with a solution, finding dwarves who have hidden away for a long time is like searching for a star in the sky.
Ah, but there is another option.”
“Speak”
“We can seek advice from Marquis Cassion Schultz.”
“….”
"If it's Cassion Schultz, the Tower Master, there's a good chance he knows.
Given the Tower of Wizards' long history, they likely have books about dwarves."
"Understood."
Dale nodded, propping his chin with his hand, lost in thought.
“Soho”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Just as Suho was about to quietly withdraw, Dale called out to him again.
“Recently, I became curious about something.”
“Yes, please tell me what it is.”
Suho was internally surprised.
The Emperor became curious about the world like never before.
He always seemed so uninterested in everything!
“What reason do you think there might be for someone sneaking out at night?”
“At night, Your Majesty?”
“Assuming the person doesn't normally move around at night.”
“Ah, that's right.”
While Suho was listening intently, Del began to speak slowly.
“Suddenly, she started going out in the evenings.”
“Ah, yes.”
“She tried to hide something from me, and she quickly threw something and hid it.”
"Understood."
“One day, she was smelling strongly of perfume and wearing makeup.
She seemed to meet someone periodically.”
“Ah, this is definitely suspicious...”
Suho instinctively stopped himself from responding hurriedly.
‘When Your Majesty asks questions that are not related to work, it is usually about the miss.’
Suho pondered the intention behind the question.
'The Emperor is troubled.'
That was a commotion...
As Suho slowly rethought the question, his expression grew darker.
Night walks, hiding things, perfume, makeup.
In other words, she does things she wouldn't normally do.
What could be the reason?
...marital infidelity.
Suho was desperately hoping that his conclusion was wrong.
But it was all indicative of the patterns of someone having an affair.
Could it be that the missus is disloyal to His Majesty...!
"What is your opinion?"
“Well, in my opinion...”
Suho felt more serious pressure than during the imperial examinations.
“It looks like she's preparing a special gift for your gal.”
Suho decided to rant something for the sake of world peace.
“I did not mention the person’s name.”
“I assumed it was Miss Lockhart.”
Suho looked at Dale worriedly, but surprisingly he didn't seem upset by the idea.
“All of these phenomena occur when one does not want to be discovered by the other party.”
“To be discovered.”
“Yes, for example, like a surprise birthday party or a surprise gift.”
“……”
Seriously listen to the Soho story.
“As far as I know, the Lockhart family prepares gifts for their loved ones at this time when the crops are ripening and it is time to share the warmth of early winter!”
“This is strange”
“Indeed, Your Majesty.
It's all about preparing for the harsh winter, and it's a kind of surprise gift.
Haha.”
The Emperor's broad back was motionless.
He crossed his legs contemplating.
“Was there such a tradition in the Lockhart family?”
“Of course.
I investigated Miss Lockhart and learned about various aspects of the family by order of Your Majesty, so you can trust me.”
Suho was internally praying for salvation.
Of course, it was a blatant lie.
But it was better than suggesting that Mademoiselle might be having an affair.
This was a matter of life and death.
Moreover, it can be a matter of national survival.
Miss Lockhart's presence means a great deal to His Majesty.
“It's certain since the Lockhart family lands were investigated.”
Suho had done his duty as chief assistant.
Then Dale, who seemed to be meditating slowly, turned his head.
“This is nonsense.”
He picked up the imperial seal with an indifferent expression as if it didn't matter to him.
However, the seal was not addressed to the document but to his hand.
“……”
Dale scrubbed his hand clean, then stamped the document.
With a face that seemed lost in thought, he picked up a pen and began writing in a worm-like hand.
“gift”
“……”
“Maybe it is.”
The corners of his mouth rose slightly.
Even though it was a cold day, cold sweat was dripping down Suho's back.
'He's already starting to get excited.
He's secretly looking forward to it!'
What has been said cannot be undone now.
Suho noticed that the Emperor looked rather pleased, and clasped his hands excitedly.
Can there really be such a tradition?
It was a white lie for the sake of world peace.
‘Please.’
'Please don't make this dangerous, miss.'
'It doesn't have to be treason.'
'Please!'
***
“Do you have something to tell me?”
Today, Dale was hovering over me all day.
Why is he acting like this when he's never done that before?
Could he have noticed that I lost the ring?
Dale pretended not to focus on me, and sat cross-legged near the garden.
"nothing."
Was this just my imagination, or did Dale bend down with his huge body and seriously begin to cultivate the land.
'I have to find him quickly.'
I squinted my eyes, scanning the field Dale was plowing, wondering if the ring might emerge from it.
But apparently it wasn't there.
'But why doesn't Dale look tired?'
He followed me to work in the garden today but he didn't seem tired at all.
Instead he seemed to enjoy playing in the dirt, vigorously turning the soil like a farmer delighted by the scent of nature.
'As long as one of us is happy, that's good enough.'
I sighed.
I mused, observing the tracks that looked as if someone had expertly avoided traps to selectively eat only grasses.
Avoid those that contain poison or a strong bitter taste, and choose only herbs that are good for health.
‘He must be someone who knows exactly which herbs to take.’
Judging by the size of the footprints, it appears to be a man.
A man who can move his body gracefully for sure.
“Dale, besides you, are there any guys here?”
“About 30 young men in their twenties in the village.”
“Is there anyone among them who has extensive knowledge or education in herbs?”
“Not to my knowledge.”
“I see...”
If someone is so hungry that they eat anything they find, they will have ingested herbs that can trigger a toxic reaction in humans.
In a small village like this, rumors would certainly spread if someone got sick.
This means that the perpetrator was most likely not from this village.