Please Be A Traitor

Chapter 63

Dad was very concerned about me trying untested food.

He stated that there is no need to research a variety of food because there are no problems with harvesting or cultivation on Krenberia’s land.

He assumed that my interest in growing crops or making rapanu edible, which I had not been interested in until recently, was to support Salik, who had become unable to study at the Imperial Palace any longer.

That is why he prohibited bringing in the radish, claiming that the plant is not edible, despite the fact that it was used for food in the south.

It was Thalia who told me all the news about the ban on bringing unverified ingredients and also about the rapanu that Salik brought being stolen. I truly believe that something is preventing Salik from speaking, whether the answer from Elysium has already arrived or not.

Though there is a long distance between the territory and Elysium, whether sent by express or pigeon, the answer would not take this long.

Furthermore, magic has already developed in this world.

That implies that the answer is already here.

But it mostly meant that my father wasn’t pleased with the answer. Was he thinking, ‘This isn’t right, shouldn’t we talk in person?’

Because in the original story, the Crown Prince signed an agreement with Elysium in person.

But because the forest elves are forbidden in the empire, I must go to them.

It would be ideal if I could discuss and resolve the Elysium issue with Salik.

Should I go in secret?

Several issues came to mind.

No matter where I go, anyone who sees me would think of me as a little child whom my father would flash up and adore when he was bored.

To the point, if they want to kidnap me, they only need to pick me up.

There is an artifact, but it cannot be used indefinitely, and although there is security magic on the artifact that prevents anyone but me from removing it, it can be removed after dismantling the security magic.

I could never go alone.

I was drained of energy because nothing went as planned.

I locked myself in my room today, leaving the children in the backyard unattended.

On days when there was no elvish language class or no special event, I let them use the backyard.

I craved spicy braised short ribs with capsaicin when I was stressed.

Simply wrap the ribs in aged paper and steam until the flesh separates from the bones, then tear the kimchi and chew it with the meat in one bite, the taste of hitting the top of your head relieving stress and sweat.

Put a soft half-boiled egg in one bite when my mouth was on fire, and the fragrant yolk burst and made me happy.

“Sseeurpp.”

I swallowed my saliva and rummaged through the herb book once more. Salik had only written the Botanical Encyclopedia, so I didn’t have many options.

Isn’t there a folk remedy that says if you mix red pepper powder with your alcohol, you can avoid getting a cold?

Thalia appeared as I was thinking this.

“Are you busy, Ina-nim?”

“No, it’s fine. “What’s up?”

Thalia shook her head.

“I think it’s going to be difficult to find out what you asked me to find out.”

“Ah…… Is that so?”

In fact, if Thalia discovered something, I would try to use it as an excuse to tell my father about the emperor, Krenberia, and Elysium.

If I know exactly what my father had planned, or if he has such a stronghold on me, I’m wondering if I could try to do something right now. So I waited a little longer.

“Are you trying to prove that my father did not take any precautions for the time being?”

Then I reasoned that it would be better to do something and struggle than to die. Thalia, on the other hand, shook her head.

“I don’t believe so. It’s just speculation.”

“Do you have anything?”

“As you mentioned before, Ina-nim, I don’t think the Duke believes in the prince. So I went around to the other side. I deduced it based on the assumption that it was related to the forces that moved when the Duke returned in August 252 of the Empire. There are some hints, but I couldn’t tell you the specifics.”

“What is it?”

“When the Duke visited the Krenberia territory just before his return, he met with Lavaltz Rossell, a member of the Kingdom of Rossell’s royal family. According to the official report, he attempted to negotiate state relations at the time, but King Lavaltz refused, saying, “I have nothing to say with a dog that bites its owner.” After that, the border atmosphere becomes a little more hostile.”

A dog that bites its owner…… It’s unmistakably about my grandfather aiding the current emperor’s rebellion.

The Kingdom of Rossell borders the Krenberia territories but is generally at odds with the Empire of Iverox.

Both countries have their origins in the Holy Empire Camarium.

When Camarium’s cardinals became corrupt, the Paladin Iverox founded the empire Iverox, declaring that humans would not be ruled by the Grumpy Pope who ruled over humans.

The pope and the cardinals were both assassinated, and the remaining believers, who had escaped the heresy judgment, went south with Saint Rossell to establish the Kingdom of Rossell.

As history has shown, the Kingdom of Rosell and the Empire of Iverox did not get along.

Nonetheless, there were emperors who attempted to make peace with the Kingdom of Rosell over time.

It is true that a paladin founded Iverox, so he served the same god as Rossell, and because the Pope and cardinals were corrupt due to their desire for power at the time, there was an emperor who responded positively to Rossell.

Karpel’s grandfather, the former emperor, pushed a peace policy with Rosell and preferred a coercive policy.

My mother, a royal daughter of the Kingdom of Rosell, came to the empire at a young age as a result of the Iverox threat at the time.

Even if the former Emperor worked hard for a friendly relationship, and my mother was Rossell’s princess, the current emperor prefers force, so my father seemed to have difficulty signing an agreement.

Lavaltz Rossell’s insult to Krenberia was clearly recorded in the documents provided by Thalia.

Perhaps it was emphasized more because the Rossel Kingdom was so hostile that expanding military power at the border was necessary.

However, it was not accepted because it was not the royal family’s official position, but rather Lavaltz’s personal opinion.

“However, this is not an official negotiating table, and King Lavaltz is not in charge of diplomacy. But he had previously visited the empire and met your mother, Ina-nim. As a result, we can guess whether personal conversations or transactions were exchanged rather than bilateral negotiations.”

My father’s meeting with Lavaltz was not a formal negotiating table, and Lavaltz maintained contact with my mother throughout her life.

So Thalia was implying that there was a possible agreement between my father and Lavaltz regarding my safety.

“If that’s the case, doesn’t that imply that the Kingdom of Rosell provides political asylum?”

There’s a chance my father traveled to another country and made an agreement with the Kingdom of Rosell that wasn’t mentioned in the novel.

“I’ll look into more asylum cases on Rossell’s side to see if it’s possible. It’s most likely the case right now, but the relationship is pretty bad outside, so it doesn’t seem like a good option…….”

“Indeed……”

The Kingdom of Rossell is just a neighbor who doesn’t get along very well with the empire, but the Empire of Iverox is heretics and renegade people who denied God.

It was unclear whether it was possible because there had never been a case of an imperial aristocrat seeking asylum in the Kingdom of Rossell.

Thalia handed me more papers. It was a summary of the temple’s relationship with Krenberia.

“It’s also worth thinking about the temple side. When the late Duchess came to the Empire, it appears she brought a sacred relic from the Kingdom of Rossell. The temple appears to have promised something in exchange for handing it over. The priests don’t get involved in much outside activity, which is probably why they respond to the Duke of Krenberia’s request.”

“I don’t think the temple can compete with the emperor…… My mother arrived in the Empire before I was born. Looking back, didn’t Rossell’s side come and go because of the sacred relic my mother brought?”

“That is a possibility.”

Thalia’s other documents were details of Krenberia’s transactions or investments that were not particularly advantageous among the published works.

It was quite a lot because it provided social support in a variety of ways. If I had it, I thought it would be useful at any time.

I came across Thalia while looking through the documents.

Until now, I was the only one who was thinking about everything.

It was convenient to have someone think and gather information for me.

Thalia was lost in her thoughts, perhaps worried about the sacred relic, but she soon met my gaze and looked at me.

“I’ll find out what the late Duchess brought as a sacred relic. Is there anything else you’d like to confirm or inquire about?”

Her sparkling green eyes, which seemed to be pleading for my trust, were lovely.

“No, I’ll consult with my father about anything else. Rhaya, thank you for finding out for me.”

“I’m glad it was useful.”

Flowers bloomed around Thalia, who smiled brightly. I almost forgot what else I was going to ask Thalia because I was so taken with her smile.

I scribbled something down and handed it to Thalia.

“Please pass this on to Salik-nim in secret.”

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

In time for my father’s return, I met him at the Imperial Palace. He was waiting for me at the Imperial Palace when I arrived, which made me wonder how he knew I was going to meet him.

“Papa? Why are you already here?”

After I said it, I realized I had called it Papa. But seeing my father smile broadly, it’s better to call him Papa sometimes.

“What has brought you here to meet with me?”

“Because I don’t believe you’ve ever escorted me. Take me out on a date.”

“Ina……”

I went to the shopping center with my father, who appeared to be enjoying the value of raising his child on a date his daughter requested.

After seeing the dessert shop where I was going to work with other children, I went to a large restaurant. I took a seat in a lovely hall with the best view of the restaurant’s garden’s magical fountain.

“The atmosphere is nice.”

“Rhaya recommend me this place. ”

Not only that, but she had also made the reservation for me.

“You must be on the same wavelength. You both appear to be very busy these days.”

“Rhaya is getting ready to make her debut at the coronation ceremony next month. I heard that the Marchioness was unable to leave the mansion because of Her Majesty’s rage. The Marquis’ plan is moving much faster than I expected thanks to you “Did you help him, Papa?”

After seeing the dessert shop where I was going to work with other children, I went to a large restaurant. I took a seat in a lovely hall with the best view of the restaurant’s garden’s magical fountain.

“The atmosphere is nice.”

“Rhaya suggested this location ”

Not only that, but she had also made the reservation.

“You must be on the same wavelength. You both appear to be very busy these days.”

“Rhaya is getting ready to make her debut at the coronation ceremony next month. I heard that the Marchioness was unable to leave the mansion because of Her Majesty’s rage. The Marquis’ plan is moving much faster than I expected thanks to it. Did you help him, Papa?”

“I told Her Majesty the entire story. Perhaps the Empress felt more sorry for the Marquis of Zelude and the young lady because she was close to the Marquis’ mother when she was younger. However, Her Majesty appears to have been more offended by the fact that that lady was not a descendant of Ceres’ family.”

“If the Empress was aware of Rhaya, wouldn’t the Crown Prince be as well?” The day the Crown Prince visited the Krenberia mansion with Lady Zelude was after the Empress expressed her disappointment to the Marchioness.”

“His Highness continues to treat Lady Zelude in the same manner as before because he does not care about people based on their birth. The Emperor says he will wait until the Crown Prince makes a decision. Is Ina hoping for the lady to be the crown princess?”

My head shook.

“Really? I thought you liked her.”

“However, I’m not sure why I should be involved. If Raya wants to then……”

I made a comparison between Shabele and Thalia. It would be far better for Thalia to become Crown Princess, but I never wanted to recommend the Crown Prince as a boyfriend for one of my friends, possibly because the Crown Prince was not my type of man. A man who is kind to everyone.

“I’m still trying to stop her.”

My father made an odd expression when I spoke firmly.

Then he shifted his gaze away from me, looking uneasy.

He appeared to believe that the Crown Prince was a hundred times better than Karpel.

It could be true if he evaluates their personalities objectively, the prince who is kind to everyone and the Carpel who is unfriendly to everyone except me.

For some reason, I feel like a woman who has been duped by a bad guy…

If someone is kind to you once in ten times, you will believe that this is the true side of that person.

A person who is kind once a day, in my opinion, is a good person. But what about the Crown Prince? Still, a person who is kind to everyone, especially young ladies, just……

It might be preferable to have someone silly and humane like Marquis Zelude. Though his sister-complex personality is also a problem.

I stopped thinking about my men’s preferences, shook my head, and changed the subject.

“More than that, Papa, I have something to tell you.”