“The crowd’s cheering is remarkable.”

Blair looked out the window at the mass of people gathered like clouds and said it in surprise.

“The longer and grander the procession, the more people come out. It’s even more so because of Willer Brienne making such a spectacle.”

Kalintz gestured with his eyes toward the window on the opposite side.

Sure enough, not far away was an ornate carriage bearing the crest of House Brienne.

Nearly the size of a royal carriage, lavishly decorated in gold. A carriage that displayed the duke’s power without any attempt at restraint.

“I wonder how people would react. If they knew the duke’s true face behind that mask.”

Public sentiment would be badly shaken, and the royal family that had allowed such a man to hold power would not escape criticism either.

“How touching, that the princess consort worries so for the country and the crown.”

“When did I say I was worried. I’m just saying.”

Blair stuck out her lip and grumbled at Kalintz’s teasing tone.

“I’ll be heading down to Lis in two years anyway. Oh, it’s less than two years now.”

Even as she said it, something ached quietly in her chest.

“Is that so.”

Kalintz replied in an indifferent tone.

“For someone who says that, you seem awfully invested in driving out Brienne.”

“Of course I am. Your plan is to remove him and pass the throne to Princess Lina. I agreed by contract to help with that.”

These days Blair reminded herself several times a day that she and Kalintz were bound by a contract.

She did not want to lose herself in feelings and be swept away. One experience of letting emotion lead and losing something precious was enough.

“And I made a promise to Queen Rhea as well.”

“What promise?”

“Just…… to do my best.”

Kalintz watched her with a displeased look, then let out a quiet sigh and said,

“Fine, but don’t do anything dangerous. Don’t try to handle things on your own. Stay by my side the entire time we’re in Valia.”

“……All right.”

Why did those words do that. Blair turned toward the window and answered quietly as her heart grew louder.

“Oh, come to think of it, what about the tea Sir Werner found?”

Talking about Duke Brienne had reminded her of what Ernst had said some time ago about finding a suspicious tea.

“That turned out to be a bit ambiguous. There was nothing wrong with the ingredients at all. No toxicity either.”

“Really?”

What Ernst had found was a health supplement tea brewed from an herb known in Valia by the folk name ‘Leaf of Youth.’

But this herbal tea was a folk remedy circulated in Valia, not even in Eiron. And the fact that it was being given to King Rubens despite having no proven efficacy was deeply suspicious.

“No matter how I look at it, something is off. When tea is imported, it normally comes in leaf form. That’s the standard, for preservation and quality.”

Blair nodded at Kalintz’s words.

“But this one is coming in already steeped. I’ve almost never seen that.”

Kalintz stroked his chin and continued.

“And recently, my father has been…… showing occasional signs of delirium. Very mild, but still.”

“Pardon? Is that true?”

Blair asked in startled disbelief.

“Almost no one knows yet, but with a mental condition, there’s no telling when it might worsen.”

“Good heavens…… so what’s being done about the substance now?”

“We’re having it quietly swapped out through a trusted subordinate. Brienne’s side cannot know we’ve caught on.”

“Otherwise he’ll cover his tracks again.”

The critical thing was making sure Duke Brienne did not learn that his plan had been disrupted.

“He’s sharp. It won’t hold for long. We need to find out what this substance actually is before then.”

Kalintz took a small vial from inside his coat. Blair narrowed her eyes at the colorless, odorless liquid.

“Is it safe to leave the chief chamberlain as he is?”

As Mediang had said, herbs and ordinary teas taken simply for general health, rather than for treatment, were managed under the chief chamberlain of the central palace, who answered directly to the king.

And according to Ernst, the person who had been bringing in the ‘Leaf of Youth’ tea was none other than the chief chamberlain of the central palace, Baldin.

The very reason it had been able to reach the king’s lips was that someone of the chief chamberlain’s standing had been the one presenting it.

“To think that he, of all people, would be one of Brienne’s men……”

Chief Chamberlain Baldin had served King Rubens since the days when he was still a Grand Duke. His closest aide.

There was no knowing when exactly he had turned, but what was certain was that his grandson had recently taken over ownership of a small trading company owned by Duke Brienne.

“If not for this, we might never have found out.”

Even Kalintz, who had known the man for years, looked bitter.

“It’s safer to leave Baldin alone for now. At least until we’re back in Eiron.”

“Either way, there’s nothing for it but to find as many leads as possible while we’re in Valia.”

Kalintz nodded and opened his mouth.

“Blair, as I said before—”

“I know. I’ll stay by your side.”

It was nothing more than repeating what he had already said, yet saying it out loud felt strangely new.

Blair tried to redirect her attention, which kept drifting in one direction, and turned her gaze out the window.

❀❀❀

The journey to the Valia Duchy was quite long.

A week to reach the desert borderlands. Four more days of travel after that before they finally arrived at the Valia Duchy’s capital.

“We made fairly good time.”

“If I ever have to come again, I’m never taking a carriage.”

It was Blair’s first time traveling such a distance by carriage, and she could barely feel her seat.

“A saddle would be far more comfortable for you.”

“I’ve never missed Fitz this much in my life.”

At that, Kalintz let out a small laugh.

“It won’t be Fitz, but there will be chances to ride. Riding is so popular in Valia that even commoners enjoy it.”

Valia was also a society of rank, but the general atmosphere was far more relaxed than the Kingdom of Eiron.

Perhaps because of that, there were often things that were the exclusive domain of nobles in Eiron but enjoyed by commoners in Valia as well.

“The atmosphere really is different.”

Blair murmured, taking in the view of Valia’s capital, Lamern, through the window.

The rooftops were mostly low triangles or flat, and the temples had great domes where spires would have stood. Looking at the domes gleaming like gold, she could not help but feel a sense of wonder.

Absorbed in the unfamiliar scenery, she noticed a grand drawbridge ahead before she knew it.

The trumpeters assembled to greet them sounded their horns all at once.

“It’s really nothing like the Eiron palace.”

Blair looked at the delicate relief carvings on each stone pillar and said it. Where the Eiron palace pursued restrained, balanced beauty, the Valia palace displayed a flowing, ornamental splendor.

“It’s a country where the sun beats down all year, so the structures are open.”

Just as Kalintz said, most of the corridors in the Valia palace were open colonnades without walls, and the landscaping outside had been carefully arranged to create shade throughout.

“You must have come to Valia often.”

“This is my third official visit.”

“And unofficially?”

“Well. More than I can count on one hand.”

The way he said it without a moment’s hesitation suggested he really had come and gone many times.

“……You said you’d join a mercenary company later.”

Blair murmured quietly, remembering a plan he had mentioned once. After faking his death and shedding his identity as a prince, he planned to live in Valia as a mercenary.

“It won’t be easy to adjust.”

“I’ve already laid some groundwork, so it should be fine.”

“You formed your own mercenary company?”

“It’s small. Only one person knows my real identity.”

The thoroughness of his preparation struck her again, and Blair felt her mood quietly sink.

It was driven home once more that after the contract ended, they would truly have no reason to see each other.

“……That’s good, then.”

The words came out contrary to how she felt, and by the time they did, a grand arched gate had appeared ahead.

“This way, please.”

Led by someone who appeared to be a chief chamberlain, they entered the reception hall.

To the fanfare of an orchestra, the Valian nobles and officials gathered in the reception hall welcomed them with applause. Among them were a few familiar faces: Count Jake Roman, who had come as a diplomatic envoy during the Founding Festival, and the alchemist Ariela.

Ariela was looking their way with a friendly smile. Blair glanced sideways at Kalintz and walked beside him along the red carpet.

At last, a man with pale blond hair came into view, seated on the throne.

The ruler of the Valia Duchy and Queen Rhea’s father. Grand Duke Kazhar Clovitz.

“Welcome to Valia. You must be tired from the long journey.”

He came down from the dais to greet them, showing a warmth that went beyond formality.

“We are honored to meet you, Your Grace the Grand Duke of Valia.”

Following Kalintz, who gave a flawless bow as always, Blair offered her own respectful greeting.

“Your distinguished appearance has only grown more so, Prince. I have long heard that you found your soul’s match.”

Grand Duke Clovitz turned his gaze to Blair. Meeting his grey-blue eyes, Blair had the strange feeling she was looking at Queen Rhea.