#109. From When, To Where, and How
A chill ran down her spine.
Belia let out a sharp breath at the goosebumps rising on her skin. She had to calm herself. She had to think more rationally, more coldly.
“Huu…”
If the assumptions she had just made were true…
“No. They can’t be.”
Belia leaned her elbows on the desk, covering her face with her hands.
Just as Raoul had led the army without a word to Ronica in her previous life, it would be condemned across the continent if someone led a military attack without warning.
So there was no way the current emperor would act like that. Pre-announcing a war before it started was only natural.
But what if secret negotiations with the Yakum Kingdom were already underway?
What if the taking of hostages was orchestrated by Raoul in order to place Khalid in the position of negotiator?
What if the declaration of war wasn’t sudden but planned in coordination with him…?
If we assume Raoul had secretly allied with the Yakum Kingdom, everything fits perfectly.
The current emperor was not the type to negotiate secretly with another country and manipulate events behind the scenes. He was ambitious, yes, but not cunning enough to secretly orchestrate such schemes.
So who would be capable of such covert manipulation…
It must be Raoul, not the current emperor, at the center of all this.
Raoul, now with his memories restored, was acting in a way completely different from before.
He had held the emperor’s throne for over ten years. The difference in experience between a prince close to the throne and an emperor who had ruled the empire for a decade was undeniable.
Belia should have realized it when he united the Eastern nobles and formed an alliance between the South and East.
“…A mistake,” she muttered.
Seeing Raoul call her Empress, she had thought he hadn’t yet regained all his memories.
But for all her assumptions to hold true, it had to be presumed that Raoul had fully recovered his memories.
Belia ran her hands through her hair and leaned back in her chair, tilting her head.
He had regained all his memories…
Even up to the moment he had killed her.
Her hands, covering her eyes, trembled.
From when, to where, and how.
“Empress.”
Then why did Raoul always look at her with such tenderness?
“Belia.”
Raoul’s voice, hauntingly soft, kept whispering her name in her ears.
A few days ago, when she had asked a maid to gauge the atmosphere of the palace, the maid had said that nothing had seemed drastically different.
Although the sudden declaration of war had caused some unrest, nothing felt unusually strange.
Yet there was one part of the maid’s report that Belia could not overlook.
“…Are you certain?” she asked quietly.
The maid looked puzzled.
“Yes. Many of the servants and maids in the First Prince’s palace have changed.”
The news was unexpected, even for Belia. She had only asked the maid to observe in case there were signs of plotting.
The maid’s voice was heavy.
“At first, I didn’t notice. It was natural to familiarize oneself with the faces of new servants. But as soon as Your Highness sent me to observe the atmosphere, it struck me. Most of the maids in the First Prince’s palace recently are new arrivals.”
“What happened to the previous maids?”
“I don’t know. I asked the others, and they said all of them had resigned and returned home.”
The maid bit her lip tightly.
“But you know that can’t be true,” Belia said, closing her eyes.
Why had they all disappeared?
And so quietly, without anyone noticing.
“Ten maids gone in just six months, and even more if you count the servants. This isn’t something trivial.”
Something significant had clearly occurred.
When Khalid returned from his busy duties after the sudden war declaration, Belia told him her thoughts, and he nodded knowingly.
“Perhaps the maids discovered that there was a secret deal with the Yakum Kingdom,” Khalid said quietly.
It seemed he had harbored the same suspicion. That the empire might already have struck a secret deal with the Yakum Kingdom.
“…Were they killed?”
“Most likely,” he said.
Belia let out a deep sigh.
“The maids began changing one by one six months ago. Then perhaps secret communications with the Yakum Kingdom began around that time.”
Raoul’s confession that he had regained his memories had not been long ago. But if it was all an act…
“…Was he testing us?”
“Perhaps. Either way, if a deal with the Yakum Kingdom was made, there will surely be traces. We’re investigating that as well, so something will come to light soon.”
After all, the real war was not the goal.
“To make Raoul crown prince, that must be the objective,” Khalid said, nodding.
“This winter will be critical. And the Duke of Errington must act faster than planned,” Belia added.
“The letters have already been sent. Once winter passes, he’ll come to the capital immediately.”
Belia exhaled.
“We’ve also gathered intel on the Eastern nobles’ alliance, including weaknesses we can exploit,” she continued.
“So the plan is to use that to dismantle the Eastern faction?”
“Yes.”
They intended to turn the weaknesses Raoul held against the Eastern nobles to divide them.
Belia’s expression grew serious.
“This will truly be an all-out war.”
The fight to determine the next emperor would finally begin, shaking the entire empire.
“The battle started the moment he tried to kill me,” Khalid said lightly, as if it were nothing.
“I worry more about you than myself,” he added.
“I’m fine,” she replied.
“Raoul’s obsession with you is abnormal, and the First Prince’s consort’s recent silence is suspicious. Furthermore, the actions of the Cantérif family since that day have been highly unusual.”
Though, frankly, who wasn’t acting suspiciously? But indeed, the Cantérif household had been exceptionally quiet, even after the war declaration.
“…Do you think the First Prince’s consort will target me?”
Khalid held her tightly without speaking.
“I’ll assign knights to stay by your side. For the time being, even if it seems excessive, take them with you when going outside.”
“Understood.”
“Don’t worry, Belia.”
She rested her face against his chest.
Right. Surviving this winter safely is the priority.
They couldn’t beat seasoned veterans on the battlefield or in diplomacy. But winning the hearts of the people and swaying them to her side—that was something Belia could do well.
Based on the memories of her previous life, it would now be difficult to manipulate situations for advantage.
Assuming Raoul had regained all his memories, the informational gap between them was gone.
Now, the one who acted faster and more precisely based on the current situation would prevail.
Belia clenched her fists tightly.
“I’ll do my best with what I can. You, too, must hang in there a little. And don’t get hurt.”
Khalid smiled and embraced her again.
“Of course. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you that would make me worry.”
In the underground storage of the infirmary, firewood and blankets had been stockpiled since early autumn. On one side, dried fruits, grains, and jerky were carefully stored.
“This should suffice for the winter,” the caretaker said proudly.
Belia, aware of how harsh this winter would be, inspected the supplies more meticulously.
“Store the blankets slightly off the walls to prevent moisture. And only release enough food for three months at a time.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he replied.
Belia sighed.
The thought that Raoul had regained all his memories only heightened her anxiety for the winter.
She worried not just about the cold and snow but also about the continental situation following the Yakum Kingdom’s declaration of war.
“Any word from Rain?”
The caretaker, also a Luness officer, nodded gravely.
Derrick, now firmly established in the First Prince’s faction, seemed hard to reach, even for Luness.
Belia had the same concern.
Although she had warned that communication might be limited, receiving no news at all made her wonder if he had betrayed her.
Should I have withheld the healing medicine…?
She shook her head and pressed her palms to her cheeks. No. That couldn’t be.
How could she think that? It was awful.
He had truly been grateful and promised to act for her sake.
“Very well. Then please intensify your investigation of the new kingdom, the Yakum Kingdom, the Ronica Kingdom, and the Ingot Empire—see if any suspicious troop movements or hidden circumstances exist.”
“We’re doing our best,” he said.
“I know it’s asking a lot, but hang in there a little longer,” Belia said with a faint smile before turning to climb the stairs.
“Your Highness.”
Rachel, who had accompanied her to the infirmary, hurried up to meet Belia as she emerged from the underground.
“All the healers agreed positively to volunteer this winter.”
Belia had decided to keep the infirmary closed while continuing the volunteer work.
Although she provided salaries, without income, additional allowances would be negligible. Yet all the healers seemed willing to accept her offer.
“That’s good,” Belia said with relief.
“Any word from Sir Locus?”
“No. Not yet.”
She had expected major preparations at the palace for the winter, but everything was strangely quiet.
And that quiet made her uneasy.
“Tell them to continue monitoring the situation. There’s bound to be some movement.”
“Yes, of course,” Rachel replied firmly.
“Then let’s head back.”
Having finished her schedule, Belia climbed into the waiting carriage, followed by Rachel. Quietly, she whispered to her.
“…Also keep a close eye on the First Prince’s consort.”
Rachel nodded silently.
Elin Cantérif’s continued silence bothered Belia. She exhaled softly, trying to ease her frustration.
But the tight knot in her chest remained.
