HSDOE 63

Chapter 63

He hadn’t misheard.

Just from looking at Rescal’s expression, it was obvious how pleased he was.

His eyes had softened, and the corners of his lips were slightly lifted. That alone made him look so different from usual that Dekan was taken aback.

“Report first. How’s the progress on the tasks I assigned?”

“Ah, yes.”

Dekan quickly composed himself and adopted his usual respectful posture.

“There’s still no trace of the young Duke of Piellion. I suspect he may be under the protection of another sorcerer during his movements. Once he settles, we’ll be able to begin tracking. And…”

Regarding the demons—Rescal’s suspicion had been correct.

The corpses left at the temple were all dressed as priests. There were no signs of those who appeared to be knights of Saint Malik.

It was hard to deny the connection between the demons and the knights of Saint Malik.

“We’re tracking the trail left by the knights of Saint Malik as thoroughly as we can. Not much is known about them, so our information is limited. And as ordered, I’ve completely cut off the March of Pashad’s financial resources. The household should go bankrupt soon. Since the relationship with the Empress has soured, the marchioness won’t have a place in society either. I believe we can leave that part to Her Majesty.”

“What about the marchioness’s seclusion? Is it related to the same aftereffects of losing consciousness like the imperial tailor?”

“Unfortunately, no such symptoms have been observed. However, the marchioness seems to have developed a pathological fear of going outside. According to the servants, even opening a window causes birds to appear and shriek viciously. One even pecked her eye once and left a wound.”

Rescal let out a quiet chuckle.

“Seems the underdeveloped one is doing its job. That’ll do. Just make sure she doesn’t crawl back out again.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. Is there a new task you wish to assign?”

“Bring me the sorcerer the Piellion family hired. It doesn’t have to be by force. If they come willingly, offer them as much compensation as they want.”

“Do you need something from them?”

Liyan asked curiously. With Dekan around, it seemed unnecessary for Rescal to hire another sorcerer.

“Not for me—for the Empress.”

“Ah. Could it be…?”

Liyan showed a hint of concern.

On the day of the trial, the Empress had tried to escape using sorcery. No one knew exactly what she had been thinking, so there was no guarantee she wouldn’t try something similar again.

“It’s not like that.”

But Rescal remained calm.

“Ah, from your tone, I take it things have gone well with the Empress.”

“There’s still much to uncover, but the Empress acknowledged that she is my fated partner. The sorcerer from Trinidad is needed to understand that process.”

“So it’s true something changed due to sorcery?”

“The body change was real.”

Rescal said it so nonchalantly that both Liyan and Dekan were stunned into silence.

“Ah… wait, what? You mean that literally? Did Her Majesty agree with that?”

“There’s a spell that lets someone switch bodies? Even for Trinidad, that’s something close to divine power, Your Majesty. That’s impossible for humans.”

Rescal simply nodded. No, more than calm—he seemed excited.

“It was possible—for the Empress.”

Liyan looked at Rescal and finally accepted it.

The sense of a bond—of a fated partner—was something only Rescal could feel. Demanding an explanation wouldn’t change that.

Even if Rescal explained it, as a mere human, Liyan wouldn’t be able to truly understand.

“In that case, I accept it too. In fact, we’ve often said Her Majesty seemed like a different person lately. So it’s not so hard to believe.”

“She is someone else. That’s why I want to find a body.”

“Please go on.”

“There should be a body left in Dellarta. The Empress’s old body.”

The cryptic phrasing made Dekan think fast.

“So… what you mean is, you wish to find Her Majesty’s original body—before the switch.”

“I’ll have a tomb built in Elliadon. The body likely won’t be intact after all this time. Keep that in mind.”

“If I may ask, is there any clue that might help identify the body?”

“I know the name.”

When Rescal said that, his expression was unusually soft—so much so that Liyan swallowed dryly.

“Lasilia.”

“Then we’ll search Dellarta for a body belonging to someone named Lasilia.”

“Yes. The Empress should know the exact location.”

“You’re saying I may ask her?”

“Yes. …Ah, but not today. Ask her tomorrow.”

Liyan casually cut in instead of Dekan.

Dekan’s loyalty was too earnest for such personal questions.

“Why tomorrow, Your Majesty?”

“Because tonight, I’m spending it with the Empress. I don’t want to bring up death and ruin the mood.”

“Ah…”

That explained Rescal’s softened demeanor.

Liyan and Dekan imagined that Rescal had likely had a very pleasant and meaningful conversation with the Empress earlier in the day.

In any case, it was fortunate the two were on good terms.

It meant the Empress didn’t love the wrong man. Most importantly, she was his true fated partner.

Unlike someone like Cartagena Piellion, who was utterly unworthy of devotion as Empress.

Liyan could raise a toast every day until he retired from the royal guard.

He barely held back from humming.

He couldn’t wait to share this joyous news with Serben. Though Serben had been demoted to a mere foot soldier and even forbidden to approach the Empress within ten steps—oh well, not his problem.

He was riding high on Rescal’s happiness.

‘We should prepare something delicious for tonight’s celebration.’

Once the orders were complete, Dekan moved first.

“I’ll dispatch three Shields to Dellarta. As for tracking the sorcerer, I can begin that immediately.”

“Do so.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even as Dekan exited the office, Rescal’s hand was busy signing and stamping documents.

Once he finished this bothersome work, he could go see the Empress.