Fish Don't Know About Water - Chapter 23

‘Is that why that self-righteous guy is so helplessly swayed by Miss Cochrun?’

Esca rolled his eyes and fell into deep thought. Phenelity Cochrun was not a secret agent of Aisad, nor was she a woman deliberately placed near Viett by Minister Hinler.

A strange woman who suddenly appeared one day and shook the prince’s life. A woman very different from the agents who acted according to the prince’s temperament under the Minister’s orders. A woman like a rubber ball that could bounce in any direction…

Perfectly suited to knock the sense out of the prince, who had lived a restricted life.

‘Even though they were tied together by an unintentional scandal and unfortunate accident…’

Esca groaned again and furrowed his brows. Minister Hinler’s gaze grew even colder upon witnessing his change in expression.

“You’re having foolish thoughts again.”

“I’m sorry.”

The Minister clicked his tongue briefly and snapped his fingers. The shelf full of military rations slid aside. A hidden space appeared beyond it, just big enough for one person to squeeze into.

Only an old desk and a metal chair were placed there, and several pipes with trumpet-shaped ends were lined up on the front wall.

Esca followed the bronze pipes with his eyes. All the pipes extended into the ceiling.

“This room is…”

“A listening room.”

The Minister explained curtly and pointed to the pipes with the end of his cane.

“These pipes are connected to the reception room on the first floor, and these three pipes are connected to the kitchen, the guest room on the second floor, and the communication room, respectively. That one is connected to the bedroom, so keep that in mind.”

So, he’s telling me not to eavesdrop on the room that will be used as the couple’s bedroom. Nodding and carefully observing each pipe, Esca hurriedly came to his senses.

“Wait a moment. Are you telling me to eavesdrop now?”

“The room you need to eavesdrop on is Prince Viett’s study.”

Hinler pointed to the pipe on the far right.

The study. It’s actually more of an abandoned storage room. It’s filled with cheap pianos, bundles of sheet music, and record shelves left behind by a retired officer who lived in this residence before the prince, along with an old phonograph.

“I plan to turn the study into a safe house for the Little Lady.”

“A safe house?”

“A place to protect the Little Lady’s actions from being exposed in the novel.”

Minister Hinler explained in a nonchalant tone. Esca’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Is that even possible? I understand that the magical typewriter of ‘Evening Whisper’ records every detail of the Little Lady’s daily life…”

“As long as the Little Lady is within the influence of the safe house magic, she can escape the typewriter’s surveillance. However, with my magical skills, it’s impossible to hide her entire daily life.”

With his skills, huh… So, is there someone with better magical abilities than the Master who can perfectly hide the Little Lady’s every move?

Is there a mage on this continent more skilled than the Minister of Magic? Maybe the mages of Easton, but…

Then the Little Lady will never be able to completely hide herself from the public eye. Only the mages of enemy nations could create a perfect ‘safe house.’

That woman’s fate is truly unfortunate. Esca felt sympathy and pity for the Little Lady.

“The creator of the safe house magic supposedly protected the Little Lord by casting the spell over an entire mansion.”

“Who exactly is this great creator?”

“The records about that person have already been completely burned.”

Hinler answered firmly. A bitter expression appeared on his wrinkled face.

“Instead, I barely managed to find and learn the records of how to cast the magic. Though I could only clumsily imitate it like an amateur…”

“Only you, Master, could reach that level in just a few days. Other mages wouldn’t even dare to dream of it.”

Even though he flattered him, Hinler’s dark expression remained unchanged. He turned his gaze to the ceiling where the pipes extended and muttered.

“Prince Viett has had exceptional resistance to magic since childhood due to his unique constitution.”

“Yes. I understand that His Highness was assigned to the Allied Special Forces for that reason.”

Unlike someone who is idling away in a safe position. Esca thought of Crown Prince Minute, who was lazing around in the rear, and gave a bitter smile.

Despite this, one is loved as the Crown Prince, while the other is treated as a problem child and receives only glares. How can the situations of the brothers be so different?

“I plan to use that trait to turn Prince Viett’s vicinity into a refuge for the Little Lady.”

“What if His Highness’s unique constitution renders your magic useless, Master?”

“That won’t happen. I’m not casting the magic directly on Prince Viett’s body.”

Hinler shook his head firmly.

“I cast the safe house magic on a specific target, not a space. And that target will be Prince Viett. With my skills, that was the best I could do…”

Although Hinler spoke with a bitter face, Esca found it impressive.

“If I throw a tempting bait, the Little Lady will have no choice but to become the princess. Even after the wedding, she will have to live under the same roof as Prince Viett.”

Esca looked at Hinler, who was smiling confidently, with curiosity. Miss Cochrun might be unpredictable like a bouncing rubber ball, but is there really a need to distrust her so much?

“Of course, it’s natural for a married couple to live under the same roof. Surely, Miss Cochrun wouldn’t run away as a princess.”

“She tried to flee to the Caribou Republic right before the wedding!”

Hinler slammed his cane on the floor in anger.

“Do you think a woman like that will calmly stay by Prince Viett’s side after the wedding? She’ll definitely run away within half a year!”

“Even if her actions are exposed in the novel, how far can a noble lady run alone?”

“…It seems you’ve grown quite fond of her?”

Hinler looked at Esca suspiciously. Esca awkwardly hardened his expression.

“Of course not. We’ve never even had a proper conversation.”

“Then why do you keep defending her?”

Esca, feeling troubled, lowered his gaze.

Maybe it’s because I’ve occasionally read the novel <Pepe> since childhood. Although not as much as Princess Rosemary, Esca also felt a certain level of familiarity with Phenelity Cochrun.

Anyone in Westenia who has consistently read the novel would feel the same. How can you easily hate someone you’ve watched grow up from the age of two until now?

“I’m sorry.”

Minister Hinler sighed as he glared at Esca, who was trying to slip away.

“Since we need to find out every detail of the Little Lady’s actions that aren’t revealed in the novel, you will eavesdrop on her daily life from now on.”

“Even if Miss Cochrun is a bit peculiar, she’s not someone with subversive thoughts. Is it really necessary to eavesdrop?”

“Are you saying you won’t follow my orders now?”

Hinler looked at Esca with distrustful silver eyes.

Damn it, not only do I have to play the lonely prince’s companion, but now I have to be a hidden rat in the walls too? It looks like I’ll have to do all sorts of useless things. Esca barely suppressed his rising emotions and calmly argued.

“I also have to board the airship with His Highness soon. I don’t have the time to sit here leisurely and focus on eavesdropping.”

“Don’t worry. After you leave, Cecilia Rosti will take your place.”

“What? Is Miss Rosti also here in Costonia?”

“It was Agent Rosti who found the train Hilias Law was on. Without Agent Rosti’s hard work, I wouldn’t have been able to locate Law before he met with the Little Lady.”

Even if it was just a disguised relationship, to Cecilia, Viett was a lingering former fiancé and an object of admiration. At least on the surface.

Entrusting her with the task of monitoring the prince and his bride seemed excessively cruel.

It’s problematic when personal feelings interfere with a mission. Esca pondered for a moment before subtly bringing it up.

“Assigning someone as talented as Miss Rosti to such a simple task is a waste of resources. I suggest deploying one of my subordinates here instead.”

“…You have a point.”

Hinler nodded, deep in thought.

“It’s better for Agent Rosti to focus on monitoring Hilias Law.”

“The family doctor of the Cochrun family?”

Esca barely managed to hide his astonished expression.

“Is there a specific reason to be wary of that doctor?”

“I…”

After a brief pause, Hinler continued in a tightly controlled voice.

“I suspect the relationship between the Little Lady and Hilias Law.”