Chapter 2
Is the person Princess Camilla is looking for really living in the countryside?
Even though Celine already understood the reason behind the mission, she still asked,
“A sudden order to move to the countryside, Director?”
“Her Highness Princess Camilla has made another prophecy.”
In a world where trains ran on alchemy and all kinds of intelligence devices had been invented, prophecies might sound ridiculous.
But although Princess Camilla’s prophecies came only occasionally, they had never once been wrong.
People said that heaven had given the sickly princess a “golden tongue” in place of a healthy body and strong legs.
Shad served as the hands and feet of the imperial family, including the princess herself.
“Doesn’t it excite you?” Heinrich asked, sounding unusually enthusiastic.
“I wonder how accurate this prophecy will be.”
It was exactly the kind of reaction expected from the man known as the most loyal hound of the imperial family.
Celine asked,
“What is the prophecy, Director?”
Thud.
A file landed on the desk.
“It’s a top-secret mission. Read it.”
Celine opened it.
〔————————-
Security Level: Class 1 Confidential (Imperial Intelligence Only)
Category: Search for a Specific Individual
Date: Imperial Year 550, Month 7
Prophet: Camilla Lune Arsenia
“The child born from the union of the Forest and Gold—the Golden Descendant resides in Elderwick.”
————————-〕
Celine closed the file after reading only that much.
Elderwick was an isolated mountain village, one of the most remote places on the continent.
Its only notable feature was that many of its residents lived unusually long lives.
But there was something even more shocking than the claim that an imperial descendant—the Golden Descendant—was living there.
“…Elves actually existed?”
“And you’re saying this imperial descendant we’ve never even heard of is descended from elves?”
“That sounds unbelievable.”
“The Child of the Forest” referred to the elves.
But the elves had disappeared long ago.
They were nothing more than an old legend.
Heinrich narrowed his eyes.
“Are you calling the prophecy of Princess Camilla—whose words are trusted even by our enemy, the Kingdom of Gautrant—unbelievable?”
“I only believe what I’ve seen.”
“Then it’s time you believed.”
“People think the elves were wiped out.”
“But the late Emperor Faus once fell in love with the last surviving elf.”
“Their child…”
“…was abandoned because the imperial family opposed the relationship.”
Celine had heard rumors before about the late Emperor’s many lovers.
When he was young, before his political marriage to the woman who later died giving birth to Princess Camilla…
…he had been involved with many women.
Even before marrying the current Empress Isabel, he had numerous lovers.
Leah had once told her all of this.
She had also cursed the late Emperor, calling him the worst kind of trash.
“Even if an imperial descendant really is in Elderwick…”
“There isn’t enough information.”
The file contained almost nothing besides information about the village chief.
There was only a short description of the village itself.
“That’s right.”
“Elderwick lies on the same continent as the Arsenia Empire, but it belongs to no nation.”
“It’s a neutral village.”
“They have almost no contact with outsiders except for a handful of merchants.”
“Even our own agents haven’t been able to gather much information.”
“But recently…”
“The village chief posted a notice looking for a school teacher.”
He smiled.
“What do you think that means?”
“You mean…”
“The prophecy has opened the way for us?”
“Exactly.”
“So gather the information yourself.”
“You’re good at quietly getting close to people.”
“No matter who they are.”
His smile widened.
Over hundreds of years, Arsenia’s alchemy had advanced tremendously.
Recently, contact-type Transmutation Tools had even made it possible to verify bloodlines.
Only then did Celine understand why Princess Camilla had specifically requested an agent skilled in infiltration and stealth.
“It’ll take time.”
“Villages like this are very closed off.”
As Heinrich said, places like Elderwick tended to act as a tightly united community.
They distrusted outsiders.
At the same time, they were strongly protective of their own people.
So even Director Walter is willing to be patient.
That means this mission is important enough to be handled by one person alone.
Suddenly, she remembered Leah’s bloodshot eyes.
“No… what I mean is… wherever they send you, just think of it as retirement. At least spend the rest of your life peacefully.”
So Doctor already knew where I was going.
Until now, Celine had believed running away was her only option.
Now…
Another path had appeared.
This time, I’ll follow Doctor’s advice.
Still… I don’t want to spend the rest of my life hiding in some remote mountain village.
Heinrich interrupted her thoughts.
“If you understand, leave immediately.”
She was willing to leave.
But first…
There was something she wanted.
“I have one condition.”
Normally, she would have accepted the mission without question.
Knowing that, Heinrich’s eyes sharpened.
“A condition?”
“When this mission is over…”
“Grant me Special Retirement.”
“This isn’t a high-risk mission.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s only a mission that determines the future of the Empire.”
Celine smiled as she looked directly into Heinrich’s slowly darkening yellow eyes.
Rather than hiding forever…
She chose to complete the mission and earn her freedom properly.
Whatever she did…
She preferred certainty.
Crunch.
As expected, Heinrich ground his teeth.
But he would accept.
There was no one better than Celine at secretly finding the hidden imperial descendant in such a small village.
After staring at her for a long moment, he finally answered.
“…Very well.”
“If you want to live…”
“You’d better succeed.”
“I’ll leave as soon as possible.”
Celine gave a perfect salute before turning away without hesitation.
Even if she only had one day left to live…
She wanted to spend it as an ordinary person.
A miracle had appeared.
There was finally a way to survive…
And retire from Shad.
Even if I have to use every last bit of my remaining life…
I’ll find the imperial descendant.
* * *
However, her determination soon changed.
…Will I even reach the village before I die?
“Cough… Cough.”
As expected…
The Village of Longevity was incredibly far away.
For five straight days aboard the train crossing the vast Empire, Celine coughed up blood.
Thankfully, she’d brought plenty of handkerchiefs.
Buying an entire two-person compartment instead of sitting in the common cabin had also been a wise decision.
“Cough.”
Even while covering her bleeding mouth with a handkerchief, she couldn’t help smiling.
Before leaving on the mission…
She had made Heinrich put their agreement into writing.
〔————————-
1. Upon successful completion of the mission, Agent No. 413 shall become a free citizen and be granted Special Retirement.
2. Agent No. 413’s final mission shall use the codename “Celine Ravens.”
————————-〕
She had even added another condition.
The codename had to be Celine.
Remembering Heinrich’s expression after hearing that made her smile.
Honestly…
It had been even funnier than the time she accidentally let another agent’s target escape during her very first reconnaissance mission.
“So this mission’s codename is…”
“Celine Ravens.”
As long as her first name was Celine, she didn’t care what surname followed it.
Still… having information only about the village chief is a serious problem.
She recalled the only profile she had received.
Village Chief Felix.
Male.
Twenty-four years old.
Occupation: Ordinary farmer.
Celine tilted her head.
That’s unusually young.
Normally, village chiefs in the Empire were elderly people with plenty of life experience.
Well…
I’ll find out when I meet him.
She closed her eyes.
Then something sticking out of her travel bag caught her attention.
A bottle of wine.
When did Doctor put this in here?
The handwriting on the note tied around the bottle was instantly recognizable.
If your coughing gets worse, drink this. It’s expensive. New Mabel, aged 50 years.
What a waste…
Still… thank you.
“Oh…”
Another violent cough burst out.
Instinctively she covered her mouth with a handkerchief.
Fresh blood quickly stained the white cloth.
She folded it in half and wiped her lips.
At that exact moment…
A blond little boy walking through the train corridor looked straight at her.
His green eyes grew wide.
Celine immediately folded up her documents and slipped them into the inner pocket of her white linen jacket.
They were written in Shad’s code and an ancient language.
There was no way the boy could understand them from this distance.
But…
It was always better to be careful.
“The shared seating is over there.”
“Is something wrong?”
Please just keep walking…
Celine smiled as gently as she could.
“Eek!”
Instead, the boy turned pale and grabbed his mother’s sleeve.
“M-Mom!”
“That big sister…”
“She has blood on her mouth!”
“I think she’s sick!”
Ah…
I must not have wiped it off completely.
Celine quietly relaxed the smile she had been forcing onto her face.
