TRETTHD 95

#95. The Prelude to War

Velia’s expression was icy and unreadable as she left the Empress’s palace.

Yet there was a hint of urgency in her steps.

I need to see the Emperor…

She had to understand the situation clearly—not just based on the Empress’s probing words.

If something had truly happened to Khalid, she had to confirm it and devise a plan.

The Empress’s palace was not far from the Emperor’s location. Velia walked briskly down the cold corridor toward the Emperor’s office.

Just as she was about to reach it, a sharp clanging of metal echoed through the hall.

“Access denied.”

Guards blocked her path, standing firm by the windows.

She hadn’t even had the chance to speak to the chief attendant in front of the office, yet her path was halted midway. Velia’s voice rang with controlled anger:

“Tell His Majesty that the Second Crown Princess requests an audience.”

“No one is to be admitted, no matter who it is,” the guard replied firmly.

Velia gritted her teeth.

“I must…! There’s something urgent to confirm—please convey it.”

The guards, seeing her unusually contorted expression, seemed to understand her urgency and spoke more politely.

“Your Highness… I apologize. His Majesty is in an emergency meeting and has ordered that no one be allowed in.”

“And this emergency meeting is regarding…?” Velia’s voice trembled as she spoke, unable to hide her anxiety.

“It is indeed a meeting concerning Prince Khalid’s disappearance.”

From behind her came the voice she least wanted to hear at that moment.

“Your Highness, the Prince!”

“Your Highness, the Prince!”

The formal greeting of the guards and Raul’s leisurely stride as he approached were enough to twist Velia’s heart.

“There’s little time due to an urgent meeting, but we can speak briefly,” Raul said, glancing out the window before addressing her.

“Would you like to talk with me for a moment? I think I can tell you what you want to know.”

With a fresh, charming smile, Raul extended his hand toward Velia.

She stared at his large, pale hand. She didn’t want to hold it—but she had no choice.

Raul, seemingly pleased as her hand lay atop his, clasped it firmly.

“Shall we go?”

Without a word, Velia walked beside him.

It wasn’t a long time, yet to Velia, it felt unbearably long, like insects crawling over her skin.

Suppressing the urge to pull her hand away, she finally asked as they reached the front garden of the central palace:

“…You said there was an emergency meeting regarding Khalid’s disappearance?”

“It’s truly unfortunate. I imagine you were very surprised by the news,” Raul said, furrowing his brows as if showing sympathy.

But Velia noticed the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes.

“I too was shocked when I heard this morning. I imagine you were as well.”

“…What is the agenda of the meeting?”

She didn’t want to hear his insincere sympathy, so she asked directly.

“They plan to dispatch a search party. They will leave this afternoon. Who would have thought such a tragedy would occur on their way back from the Yakum Kingdom?”

“Then why didn’t the Second Crown Palace receive urgent news?”

“Well… the matter was so urgent, it might have been overlooked. I will immediately send all available information to the Second Crown Palace,” he said lightly, as if to remind her: you haven’t reached this far yet.

“Anything else you wish to know?”

Velia forced the calmest expression she could manage. She had to hold herself together in front of him.

“I’ll tell you everything honestly. Ask anything.”

The question she had long avoided—the one she feared might be true if spoken aloud—finally left her lips in a heavy, weighted voice:

“Have you… confirmed whether Khalid is alive?”

Raul smiled.

“My heart aches as well, but they say nothing can be seen atop the collapsed earth.”

She hadn’t wanted to ask him, of all people. But access to the Emperor was blocked, and neither the Empress nor the Empress Dowager would have reliable information. Communication to the Second Crown Palace was also cut off. Raul was the only one she could ask.

She had to know the situation, even if the truth would be verified later.

“So, you must prepare yourself, however hard it may be.”

It was merely a necessary question and answer. Also a way to gauge his attitude.

…It’s okay. I can confirm again through Deric. He wouldn’t be dead.

And Raul hadn’t said Khalid was dead—only that he hadn’t been found. Velia calmed herself. Nothing was confirmed yet.

Then Raul suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered:

“I told you you would come to me in the end, Velia.”

Before she could answer, he smiled smoothly and stepped back, then spoke brightly:

“The meeting time has come. As your husband, and as someone saving my brother, I will of course do my best. Don’t worry.”

After offering Velia polite reassurance, he headed to the Emperor’s office, which she couldn’t enter.

Watching him walk away, Velia pressed her lips together.

Still… even now…!

She had thought she had achieved so much, taken so much, yet why was he still ahead?

Despairing at the unbridgeable gap, Velia felt as if the ground beneath her feet had given way.

If only Khalid were here, he would have held her.

Thump.

Thump, thump.

Tears, stirred by her thoughts, quickly ran down her cheeks—but she hastily wiped them away.

He’s not dead.

He said he’d come back.

So she must focus on what she could do now.

Upon returning to the Second Crown Palace, worried faces greeted Velia.

She smiled, sat at her desk in the empty office, and quietly organized her thoughts. Soon, materials sent by Raul arrived.

Sigh.

Seeing the date only added to her frustration.

Since when…!

He never dated his letters out of habit, so she had no idea someone had delayed Khalid’s letter on purpose.

…Raul.

For him, delaying the letter’s arrival at the Second Crown Palace would be trivial.

Velia tapped her fingers on the desk. Had Raul caused this avalanche?

If his expression when sending Khalid to the Yakum Kingdom was meant for this moment…

Did he predict Khalid’s path and send someone ahead? Or was it surveillance?

Yet Khalid would not have failed to notice it. Then how…?

Haah.

Velia swept her hair back and hastily wrote a letter, then quietly summoned a knight left behind by Khalid to deliver it.

“Deliver this to the head of the infirmary. This place must be heavily monitored. Go as discreetly and cautiously as possible, so no one knows you are heading there.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“…Rest assured, they will be safe.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The knight quickly left the palace.

A maid approached Velia to relay a message:

“Your Highness, the Marchioness of Caprie has come to visit.”

Ah. Rachel.

She must be suffering greatly over her father’s disappearance.

“Please have her wait in the reception room.”

“And Sir Locus has come with the Marchioness.”

“Very well. Please escort both to the reception room.”

Velia nodded and headed to her chamber, forcing a softened expression. She needed to comfort and reassure them as the Crown Princess.

“Your Highness…!”

Rachel called with swollen, red eyes. Velia exhaled quietly to calm herself.

“My father… my father… ugh…!”

“I heard Prince Khalid is missing as well. Are you alright?” Locus asked Velia, gently putting his arm around the sobbing Rachel.

“…It would be a lie to say I’m fine. Sir Locus must be deeply troubled by the news of the Marchioness of Caprie’s disappearance, and so is Rachel…”

Velia couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence. Perhaps it had happened because they had reached out their hands. She closed her eyes.

“…We have to go find him. He must be safe. Something must have gone wrong!”

“Rachel… you didn’t come here for this.”

“Brother…! Huh…”

They said nothing, letting Rachel calm down.

When her sobbing finally subsided, Velia spoke quietly:

“If all goes well, a search party will leave for the accident site this afternoon. But don’t expect too much—they won’t truly be going to rescue him.”

“Then…?”

“I’ve requested cooperation from the Rune Guild. I hope they reach the site before the search party and find him faster.”

The search party was only nominal—they had no real intention of saving Khalid.

“We will also request aid from the Divine Nation and the Kingdom of Ronica. The documents are in the name of Velia Ronica, so they will cooperate.”

She had to move slightly ahead of them. She could only hope that Deric, upon receiving her letter, would act quickly.

“…I am truly powerless. I am sorry.”

Velia bowed sincerely. Locus waved his hand hastily to stop her.

“No. I know Your Highness is doing her best. I only wished to discuss a few unsettling matters.”

“What do you mean by ‘unsettling’?” Velia asked. Locus sighed, then spoke with difficulty:

“…Someone has intentionally blocked and disrupted the information reaching Your Highness.”

And what he said was exactly what Velia had suspected.