Side Story 9. In the Process of Saying Goodbye

“…Why, why are you here?”

I was so flustered that I stammered.

One thing was certain: today’s date was already ruined.

We came out disguised as commoners, so how did these two know and come here? Moreover, Claude and Mihail were also dressed inconspicuously like us. It meant they knew in advance.

Realizing the same fact, Johann questioned in a chilling voice.

“Who leaked the information?”

No, what information…

While there was an aspect of overreacting, it was serious in some ways. The schedule of the Emperor and Empress had leaked.

Even if it was leaked to Claude and Mihail, it meant there was someone loose-lipped among the close aides.

“Well.”

Claude snickered.

Wow…

How can one word make someone so angry?

That was a talent, if you could call it that.

It looked quite unpleasant even to me, so it was understandable that Johann was provoked. He asked in a cold voice.

“Was it Jesuf?”

I wonder why Jesuf’s name came up first.

Isn’t that too much for someone who’s supposed to be the Emperor’s right-hand man? Mourning the Emperor’s poor trust in Jesuf, I thought about other routes through which information might have leaked.

“Where did you buy the tickets?”

For now, I didn’t want to start by suspecting the close aides.

Johann looked at me and answered.

“I ordered Jesuf to get them.”

“Hmm…”

Was it Jesuf?

Sorry, but given the circumstances, I can’t help but suspect…

As I quietly joined Johann’s suspicion, Mihail snorted, crossing his arms.

“How pathetic of an Emperor to suspect his close aides first.”

“What?”

Johann didn’t hide his irritation as he sharpened his gaze.

Since I had been inwardly suspecting too, I felt my conscience pricking as I listened to Mihail’s following words. I had a hunch. It felt like he was about to give some hint.

Sure enough, Mihail said something meaningful.

“Why don’t you find out who owns this theater?”

“Is it run by you?”

Johann asked with a look of disbelief.

Of course, Mihail wouldn’t be kind enough to answer.

“If it were mine, I wouldn’t have sold tickets to Your Majesty.”

“Stop being insolent and just tell us whose it is.”

“Why don’t you find out yourself?”

Watching the two men growling at each other in an instant, I let out a quiet sigh. I was used to it by now.

By the way, is he really not going to tell us?

Feeling disappointed, I unconsciously muttered to myself.

“I’m really curious…”

“It’s being run by the information guild. Through a puppet CEO, that is.”

“Ah…? Thank you?”

Find out yourself, he said?

Isn’t he answering too quickly?

Johann’s expression twisted sourly at the obvious discrimination, but well, let’s just take the good.

Isn’t it fine since we resolved what we were curious about? It seemed that today’s date schedule was discovered by the information guild digging around.

By the way, to think Cyril even owns a theater. He’s really amazing.

Thinking that I wanted to see Cyril after a long time, I sat facing forward again. The seats were almost full by now.

“When exactly are you two planning to leave?”

That’s when Johann asked, showing his discomfort. I turned my head again to look at the seats behind.

Actually, I was curious too.

It’s been so long since the imperial wedding ended, why are you still not going? How long do you plan to stay?

Both Claude and Mihail avoided answering, pretending not to hear. They seemed to be waiting for the play to start soon.

Is this a waiting game…

Feeling dumbfounded, I unknowingly opened my mouth blankly, and Johann pressed once more from beside me.

“I asked why you’re not leaving when the compass you made so many excuses about has been well repaired.”

“Ah, has it already been repaired?”

Already…

The jeweler spent a whole 3 weeks working diligently on it. And it’s been several days since I received it.

Anyway, Mihail opened his mouth as if he hadn’t known at all.

“The news was slow to reach me.”

“……”

I was dumbfounded.

How can he tell such a lie without even batting an eye, tsk tsk.

He was truly shameless.

He had been going around telling everyone he met that he couldn’t leave because of the compass, so there was no way the news of the repaired compass hadn’t reached Mihail’s ears.

However, as if all these circumstances were none of his business, Mihail wore a relaxed smile.

As for Claude, well.

He was so obstinate that there was nothing to add. Something like it’s up to him how long he stays wherever, so mind your own business.

Just then, an MC came up on stage to announce that the play would begin soon.

Before turning my head forward, I looked at Claude and Mihail in turn, intending to at least give them an eye greeting to enjoy the show.

Huh?

But that expression again…

That day in the spring garden.

It felt like I had returned to the moment when a gentle breeze was blowing.

An indescribable sadness dwelled in the deepened eyes of the two men. As if tearing away something precious…

Ah.

I am truly dull.

Even after receiving confessions from Claude and Mihail.

I think I understood why the two men were still lingering here.

It seemed they were in the process of saying goodbye.

* * *

“I’ve heard there are many precious relics in Sahar. Weap*ns imbued with magic stones will add strength to the knights’ valor, so Sir Andantino, by imperial order, select the best ones and provide weap*ns to the Northern Knights!”

The actor playing the Emperor shouted solemnly, wearing a silver wig.

Then another actor wearing a golden wig thrust his sword vertically into the ground and knelt on one knee with a disciplined motion.

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

I inwardly let out an astonished groan.

Is that supposed to be Mihail?

This is crazy.

The commoners, having no chance to meet the three heroes up close, were depicting their relationships based solely on imagination.

I wondered how Mihail, who had never knelt before the Emperor, was feeling as he watched this play. One thing was certain: it wasn’t in a good way.

Why am I breaking out in a cold sweat while watching a play…

Sensing the ominous aura emanating from the seats behind, I fixed my gaze even more firmly on the stage. I might catch some flak if I turned around carelessly.

As it was, Claude was already chuckling as if he found it hilarious to death.

That’s right.

The play titled ‘Morning Star’ was about the three heroes defeating the original dragon. I still don’t know why it’s titled ‘Morning Star’ though.

Anyway, there were many parts of the play that differed from reality.

For example, the current setting on stage was Sahar. Originally, it was Jesuf who pressured the museum to hand over the artifacts, but Jesuf didn’t even appear as an extra.

The setting where Johann and Mihail put 128 relics in a cart and pulled it was also a mess. However, the overall flow strangely matched up.

Well, the basic content was about everyone joining forces to fight against the original dragon, after all.

“We’ve arrived at the Grodes Mountains!”

The actor playing the Emperor shouted valiantly.

Perhaps finding the exaggerated shout ridiculous, Johann grumbled discontentedly, “I’m more handsome than that.”

I failed to hold back my laughter and ended up giggling softly. He was the one who suggested coming to watch, but it seemed he was more than a little embarrassed.

Anyway, I was having so much fun. At first, I was disappointed that I didn’t appear, but now I felt it was fortunate. If I had, I would have watched with a nervous heart throughout, just like Mihail or Johann.

Perhaps because the setting changed to the Grodes Mountains, I could feel Claude, who had been giggling until now, becoming tense.

How do I know?

He suddenly became quiet.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

A black-haired man appeared from one side of the stage, making exaggerated footsteps.

“The Northern Knights are the strongest knight order that beats the undead most fiercely at the forefront. We don’t need this kind of help!”

With that, the actor who was clearly playing Claude kicked the cart with his foot. As a result, the weap*ns spilled onto the floor with a clatter.

This was a part where you could see what image Claude had among the public. He is famous for having a bad temper, after all.

“…Pfft.”

Finding it too hard to hold back my laughter, I lowered my head deeply and trembled. It was my limit.

“Guardian of the North. I brought these thinking of you. Let’s pick them up together, quickly.”

The actor playing the Emperor gestured to the actor playing the Holy Knight Commander. The two crouched down and began to put the fake weap*ns back into the cart.

“When did I ever…”

Johann’s expression twisted. From the tone to the expression and actions, there wasn’t a single aspect similar to reality.

“Just watch, just watch.”

I whispered to him soothingly.

In truth, I felt like I was going crazy from how funny it was. I’m glad we came to see this.

“The sincerity in picking them up is touching. I can’t help it. I’ll use them well.”

“Thank you, Guardian of the North. In return, as these are precious assets of Sahar, you must use them well and be sure to return them.”

I could hear Claude and Mihail cursing under their breath from behind.

I’ll say it again, but I’m really glad I’m not in it.

“Let’s all join forces and defeat the original dragon!”

The actor playing the Emperor raised a sword high and shouted after putting all the weap*ns back in the cart. Then someone hidden behind the stage narrated.

“Thus, the ‘128 Relics Treaty’ was formed. The Northern Knights swore before the Emperor to use Sahar’s relics well and return them.”

Wow…

This is how it gets distorted.

It seemed the content turned out like this after they added flesh to a few pieces of information they had picked up.

“Waaah!”

That’s when it happened.

Suddenly, cheers erupted from the audience.

I opened my eyes wide in surprise.

Because…

“Empress! Empress! Empress! Empress!”

“The strongest purifier!”

“Our great hero, the Morning Star!”