Chapter 33
All the countries were thrown into turmoil. It was because of the letter sent from the temple. The Imperial Palace of the Pelles Empire was no different.
“A divine oracle?!”
Emperor Declan exclaimed in a voice full of astonishment as he read the urgent letter from the temple. The Imperial Crown Prince, who had read the letter beside him, also groaned and muttered,
“A human has been brought to our world, it says…”
At their words, the attending ministers also gasped in shock.
“Your Imperial Highness, a human, you say?”
“…The oracle says that the race which takes possession of the human will, as always, enjoy a longer history than the other races. What on earth does this mean, Your Majesty?”
At his son’s question, Declan fell into serious contemplation. Then he recalled the records that only the emperor could access. Perhaps he could find some clue in the records left by the previous emperors.
“First, we’ll need to find out where the human is.”
“Wasn’t there anything in the oracle about the location?”
At a minister’s question, Declan shook his head with a grim expression. There was not the slightest hint about the location. Only mentions of gain and loss, and blessings.
Forgetting even the murmuring around him, the Emperor fell deep into thought. Just what was the ‘gain’ and what was the ‘loss’?
“In any case, we must not allow another race to find the human first. You are to convey the contents of the oracle to each of the lords. Also, tell them that I will reward the lord who claims the human first.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. We will obey your command.”
“The Crown Prince will come with me.”
“Yes, Father.”
The figures who had gathered to confirm the urgent letter from the temple dispersed to carry out their respective tasks.
The Imperial Crown Prince, Louis, followed the hurrying Declan and asked what he had been wondering.
“Your Majesty, do you know why the deity went out of their way to bring a human?”
“That is exactly why we are going to the imperial archives now.”
“…Isn’t that a place only the sovereign of the Empire may enter?”
“That’s correct. But in a situation like this, where the prosperity of the Empire is at stake, it is acceptable for you as Crown Prince to enter as well.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Louis’s heart pounded, feeling as if he had finally been acknowledged by his father as the rightful successor. He found himself wondering what kind of person this human, who had created such an opportunity, would be.
Whether the protagonist of this long-awaited oracle was male or female, he could only hope that the feline clan would be the ones to discover them.
* * *
Ever since Nox became aware of his love, he had begun to show open interest in Sia—whether in his human or animal form, whether in the office, the hallway, the garden, or in a corner of the rear grounds.
“Sia, could you bring me a new quill?”
“…Did it break again?”
Standing right beside Nox as he worked, Sia tilted her head and looked over the quill in his hand.
“Hmm…”
It looked perfectly fine, but if he was asking her to change it, there must be a reason, right? Surely he wasn’t just pestering her…
“I’ll bring one right away.”
“…Just sitting here has made my back sore.”
Before she could move, Nox threw out a casual comment, glancing at her sidelong. As expected, Sia responded right away.
“It’s never easy doing a desk job. Not just Lord Nox, but the aides should get up and stretch, too.”
At her suggestion, the aides, who had been slumped over their desks, all immediately raised their heads. Ever since she had preached the Korean ppalli-ppalli (hurry, hurry) spirit at them, they had obeyed Sia without complaint.
Because she hadn’t been wrong.
Since that incident, the aides had worked with new fervor, afraid they might be dismissed. At last, papers had begun to pile up on the duke’s desk, and they rejoiced inwardly. But because Nox was even more efficient than they were, working hours had only grown shorter, and the aides had to squeeze out as much efficiency as possible within that time.
After a few experiences, they realized that finishing work quickly wasn’t so bad after all. The duke was not the type to bring forward the next day’s tasks just because today’s work was done.
When they returned home early, their wives and children welcomed them. Having experienced their families becoming happier, the aides, though still uneasy about the inauspicious black-haired Sia, found themselves unconsciously beginning to trust her.
They also realized that the duke they served was, in fact, more ordinary than they’d thought. Well, calling someone with his looks and ability ‘ordinary’ might be a stretch, but still, he was just as much an ordinary werebeast as any of them.
Even now, wasn’t he, just like other males his age, shyly courting a female?
“…Well, it’s a little early, but how about a break? It would be even better for His Grace to go out for a walk.”
And so, one aide unconsciously offered to help Nox. He worried afterward if it was too presumptuous, but Nox welcomed it, as if he had no such concern at all.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.