“… I’m sorry I couldn’t resolve all your questions.”

Papyrus bowed his head politely to me until the end. I was still not used to someone older and of higher status than me doing this.

I also smiled awkwardly and bowed my head to him.

“No, it’s fine. Although new questions have arisen, it was still productive.”

It was strange that I came to resolve my curiosities, but I was leaving with new questions. However, it wasn’t entirely unproductive.

Papyrus continued to smile benevolently at my response and nodded as if relieved.

“If you have any more questions in the future, please feel free to visit anytime.”

“…By any chance–”

“If it’s about the content of the text, I’m afraid that’s difficult to discuss. And even if I did tell you, it wouldn’t be very useful.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the content of the text changes. From the moment you know about it, the text will change again. Certainly.”

Reading the text that Papyrus was talking about literally meant reading the future.

From the moment I read the future, it changes again. Is that what he means? Even if I didn’t fully understand, I nodded my head.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“I’m more grateful.”

“While I may not be able to treat you this politely in official settings, I would be grateful if you visit anytime.”

“…Yes.”

In fact, if someone of Papyrus’ status treated me this politely in official settings, it would be rather embarrassing for me.

Unaware that I was inwardly sighing with relief, Papyrus smiled apologetically.

“Instead, if you ever need my help, I’ll gladly roll up my sleeves.”

“…Thank you.”

“Just as when you arrived, our butler will guide you out. I apologize that I can’t see you off personally.”

“Of course. I will never forget today’s help.”

“It’s nothing.”

In fact, just the information he shared was a great help to me. Simply because I was the protagonist of the world, he had done so much for me.

I’m not sure how much I can repay him… but it’s better to remember at the very least.

Duke Papyrus smiled brightly at my words and bowed deeply once more. I also bowed deeply in return and left the reception room.

As the door creaked open, the old butler who had brought me here quietly awaited me.

“…”

“Did you enjoy the meeting?”

“Yes, it was very helpful.”

“I’m glad. Then, I’ll escort you this way.”

The old butler, who had politely greeted the Duke, also greeted me and courteously guided me.

Perhaps he was standing in front of the door because he feared someone might eavesdrop on my conversation with Duke Papyrus.

In fact, he looked at me with an expression as if he hadn’t heard anything, even though he might have heard the entire conversation by being at the door.

Duke Papyrus must have known this too, so he didn’t say anything to him.

Following the old butler out of the mansion and sitting back in the luxurious carriage I had ridden earlier, I exhaled deeply. Today was a day full of sighs.

***

Duke Papyrus moved immediately after Felix left.

The leisure time he was allowed was extremely short, and since he had used all of it to meet Felix, it was time to move quickly again.

As the old butler who had seen Felix off returned, Duke Papyrus spoke to him while changing his clothes with the help of maids.

“Alfred.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I’m going to the Imperial Palace. Prepare the gate.”

“Understood.”

In fact, Duke Papyrus shouldn’t have left the Imperial Palace empty in the current situation. He should have stayed at the center of the massive purge taking place in the palace.

But he had only briefly left his post with Crown Princess Ashillya’s permission. Of course, she readily agreed when told it was related to Felix.

Anyway, time was of the essence for him.

“How far has the current situation progressed?”

Step, step.

Unlike when he was talking with Felix earlier, Duke Papyrus asked the old butler with a blunt and cold expression.

The old butler also accepted this as if it were natural and answered his question.

“The involved nobles are all being arrested for their crimes. Only the heads of families have been charged, and all those families are undergoing rapid succession of heirs.”

“What about the Second Prince’s side?”

“His Highness the Second Prince is still completely denying the allegations. Her Highness the Crown Princess is pressuring him by submitting evidence along with the Holy Kingdom.”

“…I see.”

Only a few families in the Empire have gates leading to the Imperial Palace within their mansions.

The Geyrus ducal family, loyal to the Empire and one of the most powerful, also had such a gate. Heading towards the gate while receiving the report from the old butler, Duke Papyrus nodded.

“The Crown Princess has prepared a lot. If she pressures His Highness the Prince along with the Holy Kingdom, it won’t be easy for His Highness to escape.”

“What will you do?”

“…We always follow the wind. This time, it’s the wind of Crown Princess Ashillya that’s blowing.”

The Duke Geyrus family always conformed to the wind.

They were not those who created the wind. They simply followed whichever wind blew because that was the way to protect the Empire and the role of the observers.

The old butler also knew this, so he nodded at Duke Papyrus’s words.

“They say it’s ready.”

“…Alright.”

Duke Papyrus, who had stepped onto the teleport gate, nodded at the old butler’s words. The old butler also stepped onto the gate, following him.

Duke Papyrus took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and opened them, and soon, the sight of the Imperial Palace appeared. He briefly took in the palace, which seemed to have a faint smell of blood, and then began to move.

The palace knights recognized Duke Papyrus and did not stop him. The Duke entered the palace with calm and leisurely steps.

The voice he heard the moment he entered the palace was:

“I, I was wronged. Your Majesty!!”

“…”

It was the sight of the Second Prince crying out that he was innocent, and Crown Princess Ashillya looking down at him coldly.

The Emperor was just looking at his children impassively. Duke Papyrus, noticing that even the Emperor had withdrawn his hand from this situation, knelt and paid his respects.

“Your Majesty, your humble servant has returned.”

“Welcome, Duke Geyrus.”

The Emperor, looking at them impassively, gave Duke Papyrus a faint smile. He received that smile with a bow of his head and paid his respects again.

“Crown Princess, Second Prince, this humble servant of the Empire greets the suns of the Empire.”

“…”

There was no response.

The Second Prince, Jeffrey, seemed to lack the energy to respond to his greeting, and Ashillya merely nodded slightly.

Understanding the situation, Duke Papyrus bowed his head and stood up.

“Duke Geyrus.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Did the errand go well?”

She asked this because she knew where and why Duke Papyrus had gone.

Noticing that she was speaking indirectly because it wasn’t a matter to be discussed openly, Duke Papyrus nodded and answered her.

“I’m not sure if my humble wisdom was of help, but he seemed to be finding his answers.”

“I suppose it is for the best. You’ve done well.”

“I am deeply grateful for your kind words.”

In fact, Felix had left with questions he needed to resolve himself, so Duke Papyrus’ words were not wrong.

Although he couldn’t provide direct help, Ashillya also seemed to understand this.

“Are you so infatuated with that man that you would try to kill your own brother, Sister!!”

The atmosphere that had briefly relaxed due to the conversation between Duke Papyrus and Ashillya was broken by Prince Jeffrey’s cry.

At his voice, Ashillya’s expression hardened coldly again, and she turned her gaze to him.

“How dare you try to shift the blame for the crimes you committed onto others, Brother.”

“I did not do it!!”

“I,”

Ashillya looked at him with low, cold eyes. Jeffrey, who was about to cry out something, had to close his mouth at her icy voice.

“I clearly gave you all a chance.”

“…”

“I didn’t intend to do this when I became the Crown Princess. No matter what others might think.”

Ashillya exhaled deeply, her cold expression unchanged.

To Duke Papyrus’s eyes, that appearance somehow seemed sorrowful.

“Not only because thou art noble members of the imperial family, but my family.”

“…Then!!”

“When the First Prince, my elder brother, left. I also knew how much Mother suffered, so I gave you all a chance.”

“…”

“But thou has crossed the line. If thou did desire to live, thou should have ceased when I became the Crown Princess.”

If you desired to live.

The moment he heard those words, the Emperor closed his eyes.

The moment he heard those words, Jeffrey, who had received his sentence, took a deep breath.

“Thou darest attempt to assassinate the Crown Princess, and not content with that, thou even tried to slay my loyal servant. How shalt thou pay for such treachery?”

Red eyes gleamed ominously.

“With that clever mind of thine, ponder carefully.”

With those final words, Ashillya turned her head.

With this, the storm that had been blowing in the imperial family had come to an end.

___________________________

Translator’s Corner

Posted this chapter so I can genshin in peace later.