To Grow Close, One Must Know Well

Part 5

Having parted ways with the Director and returned to the Chirner County estate, Francesca washed herself, then collapsed onto her bed with a contented sigh.

“…He was a curious person.”

The engagement was off. The Director had declined first.

Ordinarily, she should be displeased, perhaps even disappointed. But Francesca felt no displeasure.

Rather, far from displeased, she was bewildered by a sensation she was experiencing for the very first time.

Throughout her day-long date with the Director, she had witnessed unexpected aspects of him.

He was polite and chivalrous, and contrary to her expectations, not at all simply a cold man.

Human, perhaps. Such a side, in such stark contrast to the image he’d cultivated, resonated deeply within her heart.

“Above all, it wasn’t that he disliked *me*, but rather that he simply had no intention of marrying right now, it seemed.”

If it was a matter of taking time, Francesca would welcome it. She herself hadn’t yet sorted out her own feelings.

Besides, they had only spent a single day together. To know and understand him more deeply, they would need to meet many more times.

“I want to see him again…”

Fortunately, she had secured his assurance that she was welcome to visit whenever she wished. Now, even if it wasn’t for matters of the Intelligence Bureau or the Order, she could visit him whenever.

If it couldn’t be with just anyone, then there was plenty of time. Slowly, deliberately, they could come to know each other.

Not tomorrow… it wouldn’t be possible. The day after, as soon as training was over, she would go and see the Director. Filled with elation at her own resolve, Francesca quietly closed her eyes.

Somehow, she thought, she would have pleasant dreams tonight.

—

It was hard. Truly hard.

Having scarcely any experience of being out alone with a woman, all the way into my advancing age, yesterday, before the engagement itself, I was tense to the point of near death just from the escorting.

Anyway, as soon as I saw Francesca’s face, I declined, and as she also harbored not even the slightest inclination to marry me, I managed to call it off safely.

Though, to decline and part ways immediately after meeting would be poor manners, so I had to spend a day with her, but I want to believe it’s alright as there weren’t any particular problems.

With that slightly lighter heart, I came to work, only to be met with an unexpected question from an unexpected person.

“How did the arranged meeting go?”

It was Celine, my secretary, asking with eyes as cold as ice.

Judging from her gaze, she seemed to be scolding me for going to meet women when I wasn’t even doing my job properly.

Forcibly dragged into this situation, I found it rather unjust, but detailing my grievances would only make me seem more pathetic. Best to offer a terse reply.

“It was… agreeable.”

“Agreeable, you say…? Then why was the betrothal dissolved?”

“Because I never intended to marry in the first place. More importantly, isn’t a special envoy arriving from the Kingdom of Lavore today?”

Excellent. Even I thought it a natural deflection.

My artful maneuvering ensnared Celine, preventing further inquiry into the matter. She could only nod.

“…Yes. Prince Siegfried Lavore, firstborn of Lavore, is expected to arrive in the capital this afternoon.”

“I see.”

The Kingdom of Lavore, though smaller than the Acherus Empire, was nearly its equal in military might.

And from such a place, a prince was arriving as a special envoy. Naturally, the Imperial Palace would be in a flurry, preparing a welcoming banquet.

And I, too, had preparations to make.

A tedious affair, to be sure, but given Lavore’s stature, and a prince as envoy, it was impossible for me, a department head within the Imperial government, to abstain, whatever my personal feelings.

The work should be done by noon. Best to finish quickly and depart early, readying myself for the evening’s banquet.

—

Duke Wolfgang Barmut scrutinized his reflection, meticulously checking his attire.

“Hmm. Black remains the truest choice, does it not? What do you think, my dear?”

“……You always seem so carefree. Must be nice.”

With a sigh, his wife approached, smoothing his garments. The Duke countered that it wasn’t always so.

“I know what troubles you, my love. But what can I do? He has no interest in marriage, the boy.”

“Couldn’t the title of Duke be passed down to Ervin, perhaps?”

Lady Diana Barmut believed that the weight of inheritance would inevitably compel Ervin to reconsider marriage.

The Duke agreed, in truth. He would be lying if he denied a desire to bequeath his position to his eldest son.

But he could not.

Their firstborn son was too…competent to remain a mere noble.

“The Imperial Intelligence Bureau would grind to a halt without him. Every officer, every operative, is practically an extension of Ervin’s own limbs.”

Moreover, the name Ervin Barmut had become synonymous with the Bureau itself, a deterrent to espionage and information warfare from other nations.

The number of spies dispatched by his hand in the last decade was beyond count.

While spies might still exist, their numbers would be few, and those few likely within Ervin’s watch, or so the intelligence agencies of other nations believed.

Conversely, the Empire’s own espionage efforts were thriving. This, inevitably, resulted in an advantage in both quantity and quality of information.

“But Ervin cannot remain in that position forever, can he?”

“The Lady speaks true. If it weren’t, I think he’d be plagued by the problem himself.”

The phrase ‘irreplaceable talent’ sounds good, but from an organization’s perspective, it’s terribly unfortunate.

An organization that relies solely on a special force is bound to collapse the moment that force vanishes.

Of course, even if Erwin were to disappear, the Empire wouldn’t crumble, but no one could deny that it would suffer a massive blow.

“…This is all your fault.”

“As you know, my dear, it was the best course then.”

The Duke, after kissing his grumbling wife, left the mansion and headed for the Imperial Palace by carriage.

The commencement of the banquet.

—

I arrived at the banquet without tardiness, but truthfully, there was little to do.

My title as Director of Imperial Intelligence seemed almost ironic, as no one approached me.

Unless I’m suffering from excessive self-consciousness, I even get the feeling that people are avoiding being near me.

Well, they probably just don’t want to associate with an incompetent fool. I understand it all.

However, I felt I should at least offer my respects to Prince Labor before departing, so I was waiting for my turn when, unexpectedly, an opportunity arose and I was able to approach him.

“And you are?”

“Erwin Barmut, Director of Imperial Intelligence. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

I gave a polite bow, to which I received a similarly courteous reply.

“…Siegfried Labor. The pleasure is all mine.”

“Indeed. Ah, and allow me to also greet Lady Yennefer.”

I bowed my head to the maid who followed a step behind Prince Siegfried, and the Prince showed his teeth with a smile as if amused.

Judging by how pleased he seemed, my flattery, painstakingly prepared, seemed to have worked.

“Lady Yennefer, you say?”

“She is the one Your Highness will take as Queen upon ascending the throne, is she not? It is only proper to offer my greetings.”

The quickest way to become acquainted with someone is to research them.

A famous person of old once said so himself. He would always find out the hobbies and preferences of anyone he was to meet the day before.

Fortunately, as Director of Imperial Intelligence, research wasn’t difficult for me.

“Hoh. I am greatly pleased that you took the time to learn about her. Then, do you also know how we met?”

Excellent, the conversation has begun. Now I simply need to spout the content I’ve diligently memorized.

“I personally believe your meeting was truly romantic. A Prince falling in love with an assassin – there is no more dramatic encounter in all of history.”

As the words imply, Yennefer, Prince Siegfried’s personal maid, was originally an assassin sent to kill him.

Even I do not know exactly what transpired between them, but it is said she became the Prince’s personal handmaiden, and soon, they fell in love.

I glanced around, ensuring no one was within earshot, and then spoke in a hushed, confidential tone to Prince Siegfried.

“While Lady Yennefer may decline the Queen’s seat, I sincerely hope and support that you two be united in the truest sense.”

“…Thank you.”

Having received even words of gratitude, I considered it a successful exchange, and could return with a lightened step.

—

A serpent.

This man, Siegfried thought, was a serpent.

“Then, I shall take my leave. I pray you find your stay in the Empire comfortable until your return.”

Leaving behind that implicit warning not to trifle with him, the Imperial Intelligence Chief simply turned and exited the banquet hall.

Yennefer started to follow after him, but Siegfried stopped her with a stern look.

“No. It is too dangerous.”

The moment the Chief exited, the five immense presences that had been guarding him from the shadows also vanished.

He could not send Yennefer against opponents he himself couldn’t guarantee victory against.

“Your Highness…!”

“That entire conversation could be a provocation to trap us.”

Even in the Kingdom of Lavore, no one knew of the relationship between Siegfried and Yennefer.

They had kept it secret so thoroughly that not even a hint of suspicion had been raised, but such efforts were rendered meaningless as the Chief so casually mentioned them.

*Already, the murmuring is growing louder, as people noticed the Chief addressing Yennefer. I can’t afford to draw any more attention.*

Erwin Barmut.

Siegfried repeated the name, grinding his teeth.

The man hadn’t even blinked at the barely concealed murderous intent.

Only the five guardians lurking in the Chief’s shadow had reacted sensitively to the killing aura.

If Siegfried had lunged, sword drawn, at the Chief’s throat, they would have instantly appeared, and the resulting battle would have turned the banquet hall into a scene of carnage.

*I was warned he was one of the most guarded figures in the Empire, but I never imagined it would be to this degree.*

The Chief had flaunted his intelligence network as if everything was within his grasp, while simultaneously issuing a grave warning that he would be watching.

There was only one conclusion that could be drawn from this.

*Could he have guessed our plan? No, that would be impossible…*

Siegfried was not merely here as an envoy to foster goodwill with the Empire.

The real reason was to release the spies hidden amongst the envoy’s retinue into the capital.

Since the current Director of Imperial Intelligence took office, espionage targeting the Empire had been faltering significantly, hence the perilous endeavor.

But if everything was being read, deploying agents would only increase pointless sacrifices, not to mention giving the Empire cause to pressure the Kingdom.

‘…No choice, then.’

In the end, Siegfried was forced to decide to abort the plan.