“Yes, that’s right.”

“Are you suspecting that place? Come to think of it, I believe their king’s name was Calligo.”

“Well…… let’s say it’s one of the candidates.”

“Though it borders our empire, isn’t it completely opposite from where you lived? What connection……”

“Shh! Knowing too much can hurt you.”

Adelia placed her index finger against her lips. She winked playfully while looking at Lucian.

If he pressed further, she would have nothing to say.

As Adelia avoided answering, Lucian sighed deeply and spoke.

“There are too many taverns named ‘mist’ or ‘silence’.”

“They’re common words…… Well, are there any others?”

“Calligo and Bellium are often used as people’s names, so there are several shops.”

“They probably wouldn’t use the king’s name and middle name, so we should skip those.”

People rarely used rulers’ names while they were alive. And it was also a method rarely used in the ‘novel’s pattern’ because it was too obvious.

“And there’s one inn and one tavern named Silentium.”

“Hmm……”

Adelia pondered after hearing Lucian’s words. The possibilities were higher with ‘mist’ or ‘silence’. They weren’t too obvious while carrying appropriate meaning.

But these were such common words that the scope was vast.

“Let’s check Silentium first. If they stayed long, I might sense faint traces.”

“Understood. Let’s go to the tavern first. It’s closer.”

Lucian spoke while pointing the way. Unlike before, this time Adelia followed behind Lucian.

As they entered the slums, there were fewer people. The atmosphere was completely different from the festive commoner district.

“Ugh……”

“Cover your nose with your sleeve, it helps reduce the stench.”

“That’s a bit better.”

“And stay closer. With no people around, being apart will look more suspicious.”

The slums were dark and filled with foul odors. Garbage was strewn all over the streets, and many people lay sleeping haphazardly. All buildings were so old and poorly maintained that it wouldn’t be strange if they collapsed at any moment.

After walking a bit, shops came into view. Occasionally they saw taverns selling cheap alcohol and illegal shops.

“Here it is.”

“Hmm…… This definitely isn’t it.”

After walking a bit more, they came across the tavern named Silentium. It was completely quiet, perhaps closed.

Adelia was certain this wasn’t the place as soon as she saw it.

“I don’t sense any energy at all. Seems they haven’t done business for a while.”

Adelia shook her head.

“Then let’s move to the next location.”

They quickly moved locations. It took a bit longer to reach the next establishment.

The distance wasn’t far, but there were occasional interruptions from people.

『What evil bastards! Their souls are completely corrupted!』

“Shut up. You’re noisy.”

Though they covered themselves with black robes, the fabric itself was high quality, and their extraordinary gait attracted quite a few followers.

Lucian dealt with them instantly. The holy sword, which had been quiet, shouted excitedly upon seeing the corrupted criminals. Adelia watched from a safe place.

She waited for it to end with a composed face, neither grimacing nor showing fear.

Dealing with these people doubled the time it took to arrive.

As they passed through an alley, Adelia grimaced and covered her nose with both hands.

“Ugh…… The smell”

“What smell are you talking about?”

“Don’t you smell the rot? It’s terribly foul.”

“It’s the same as everywhere else.”

Lucian said calmly. His nose had already adapted to the sewage smell present since entering the slums. He didn’t notice any other particular smell.

But Adelia’s face was deeply wrinkled. The terrible smell that had been wafting since earlier grew increasingly stronger.

It seemed like rotting meat, spoiled food, and sewage all at once. In short, it was the most terrible smell in the world.

Though she should have gotten used to it by now, the smell grew more foul as she followed Lucian.

And as soon as they arrived there, Adelia identified the nature of that smell.

“The smell of death?”

Adelia muttered quietly while looking at the inn.

[Silentium]

The letters on the crude wooden sign caught her eye. Though badly damaged and barely visible, it was definitely Silentium.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes. I’m certain. But…… I think that person is dead.”

“What?”

“The foul smell I sensed is the smell of death. And it’s the smell of an unclean death that needs purification.”

Adelia furrowed her brow.

A smell this strong clearly indicated a death from something like a powerful plague. Or something ominous was used that required purification.

Beyond the smell, an ominous energy permeated around the building.

“Shall we go in?”

“No, I think I know who’s behind this without going in.”

“The King of Silentium?”

“Yes. I’m certain. We should tell His Majesty tomorrow.”

Adelia knew about the relationship between the Emperor and the hidden mastermind because she had read the original work, but Lucian didn’t know anything yet.

In the original work, the Emperor held back until the kidnapped imperial princess woke up before revealing his relationship with the hidden mastermind.

‘Is there any need to hide it? It’s just past history, and the Empress is dead.’

This was Adelia’s assessment, knowing all the facts from reading the original work.

The hidden mastermind was acting crazy on his own.

The Emperor and Empress simply loved each other, and the hidden mastermind inserted himself like an impurity. No, even saying he inserted himself was an exaggeration.

‘A delusional patient.’

The hidden mastermind was a childish and pathetic person who had one-sidedly loved the Empress, was rejected alone after she married the Emperor, was abandoned alone, but dreamed of revenge.

“What exactly happened with the King of Silentium?”

“Sometimes there are abnormal people who think something happened even when nothing did. That’s about the extent of it.”

Adelia deliberately avoided mentioning any connection to the Emperor.

She thought it was right to hear about his parents’ past directly from them.

Before Lucian could probe further, Adelia quickly changed the subject.

“I don’t think we can get any more information here. Let’s go. Since we’ve seen lots of unpleasant things, I’ll show you something nice.”

“Something nice? What is it?”

“You’ll know when we get there. Give me your hand.”

Adelia smiled beautifully like collapsing sunlight while closing her eyes.

Though he knew it was a smile to change the subject, Lucian willingly went along with it.

* * *

“This is……”

“What do you think? It’s beautiful, right? You can see the capital’s best views.”

The place Adelia took him to was in the mountains on the outskirts of the capital. Specifically, on a cliff.

The mountain behind the imperial palace was famous for being treacherous, so no one climbed it. Thanks to that, this became Adelia’s secret place.

There was a teleportation stone embedded here, so she could come anytime.

“I found this while looking for land to build the merchant guild. You can see the imperial palace, the market, and the noble townhouses.”

“All the beautiful places in the capital are visible.”

“I often come here to rest since there’s no one around. It was my secret place, but I’m especially sharing it with Your Highness.”

When staying at the Count’s mansion, she would often come here when she felt suffocated. Escaping from the mansion with no soundproofing, she would cry here before returning.

It felt more like home than the Count’s mansion.

Adelia walked steadily and sat on a rock at the cliff’s edge. Sitting there, her legs dangled in the air. It was a precarious spot where one wrong move could send her shoes tumbling down the cliff.

This was Adelia’s designated seat. She had placed a flat rock at the spot with the best view.

“Come over here.”

Adelia, who had been looking forward, turned around. She patted the space beside her, calling Lucian. It was a signal for him to sit next to her.

The rock was large and wide enough for two to sit comfortably. It could easily fit three more children.

Lucian looked back and forth between Adelia and the scenery before walking over. But he couldn’t sit down right away.

The rock positioned at the cliff’s edge looked dizzying. One wrong step and it wouldn’t be just shoes falling down.

Lucian narrowed his eyes.

“It’s not…… dangerous, I suppose.”

Just as he was about to say it was dangerous, the image of Adelia using flying magic flashed through his mind.

Was there any need to worry about someone who could freely fly through the sky?

At Lucian’s words, Adelia smiled with curved eyes.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall either. If you’re still nervous, hold my hand.”

Adelia extended her hand. Today, he had seen her hand particularly often.

Lucian took her hand. He was as careful, like he’s holding soft jelly.

Adelia gripped his hand firmly. Lucian’s hand was hard and rough with calluses.

For a moment, Lucian looked at her with wide red eyes.

“I’m worried you might fall.”

Adelia said playfully. Lucian showed a confused expression briefly before gripping her hand more firmly.

After Lucian sat down beside her, Adelia only stared straight ahead.

The imperial palace stood closest, with the bustling market behind it, alive with festival entertainment. Farther back, the townhouses glowed with bright lights, hosting small gatherings to continue the festivities after the main banquet had ended.

Quietly enjoying the scenery, Adelia spoke in a low voice.

“Do you know why I like this place?”

“Because the scenery is beautiful?”

“That too, but. When I come here, I feel like I’m really alive and breathing. This world feels alive too.”