TOPWL 35

Yudit wasn’t sure how he ran, but after climbing to the second floor of the adjacent building, he stuck his head out carefully and peered toward the banquet hall.

Fortunately, the curtains were still drawn back. Squinting his eyes, Yudit’s lips parted in surprise.

“Oh my…”

Reginald had created a completely different space from the outside world. The walls were lined with tapestries, arranged according to color, the very ones Yudit had wanted to borrow. Armor, spears, swords, and other items showcasing the military power of the Adanauer Empire were strategically placed. The banquet tables were all made of marble, and the chairs were lavishly embedded with jewels.

The most shocking feature, however, was the flowing water in the center. The water ran in the shape of a curved hourglass, and the space was divided into two sections: on the right, people ate, and on the left, people conversed and danced. The water had a deep blue color, almost like lapis lazuli, as if it had been dyed.

Filling part of the hall with water was an idea Yudit had never considered. No wonder the construction had taken so long.

The tables were overflowing with food, all of it exquisite. Traditional Adanauer dishes were placed on the tables, with whole roasted animals on each one. Salads, soups, bread, jams, butter, cheese, a variety of cakes and tarts, juices, and alcohol filled the tables to the brim.

There were also more than ten musicians performing. Judging by the scale of the construction, the food, and the people, this wasn’t something that could be done with only five million kes. Yudit decided to pin his hopes on this.

Then, someone glanced in his direction. Since Yudit could see them clearly, there was a high chance they could see him as well. He hurriedly hid his body lower. His heart raced. If Reginald found out that Yudit was spying from here, it would not end with just a simple conflict.

After some time, Yudit hid his body between the curtains and the wall and peeked across again. Fortunately, the person who had been there was no longer in sight. Having seen the facilities inside, Yudit turned his attention to the people. The emissaries from the desert were also attending the banquet, and unlike before when they had covered their faces with cloth, now they wore only turbans on their heads.

Yudit took out his notebook and began jotting down the characteristics of the emissaries.

There were seven emissaries in total—four men and three women. Most of them appeared to be Beta, though there seemed to be a few Alphas among them. Their skin resembled milk tea with very little milk, and Yudit couldn’t shake the thought that they didn’t look particularly dark for people who had spent their lives under the sun.

Their eyes were mostly brown, but the eyes of the older individuals were gray. Their hair color was hidden by the turbans, making it impossible to tell. Their height was slightly above the empire’s average, and their builds were a mix of slender and bulky.

One of the most notable features was their gaze. The first emissaries to engage in diplomacy with the Adanauer Empire were understandably somewhat intimidated. The appearance of the advanced capital and the lifestyle in the imperial palace were far beyond comparison with any other nation. However, these emissaries were different. Living in a desert where building even a single structure was a challenge, their gaze wasn’t one of inferiority. They clearly knew that their strength could rival anything the empire could offer.

What was it that the Emperor wanted from them? What did they want from the Emperor?

Yudit pondered this for a long time. The Emperor’s desire turned out to be simpler than expected. Beyond the desert were other countries, and while a sea route had been established, the sea was filled with too many dangers. Sending ten ships might result in just two or three reaching their destination in a generation. On the other hand, the overland route only required crossing the desert. Though it might sound easier to travel by land, the empire’s people couldn’t survive the desert. Only the Herut people could cross the desert freely.

Knowing this, the Herut people demanded a huge sum for aiding in trade, and the previous Emperor, enraged by the high costs, severed diplomatic ties with them. He had even stressed in his will the need to cut off relations with the Herut people, and it was easy to understand his anger.

This Emperor, however, had already made great profits from sea trade. The reason he chose to improve relations with the Herut instead of pursuing the sea route was none other than Azil. The Empress’s family, the Crowds, had been exceptional naval commanders who had pioneered the sea route and amassed great wealth through trade. Originally a count’s family, they had been elevated to marquis status after their success.

The Emperor had attempted to suppress the power of the Empress’s family during his reign, but the Crowds had noticed his moves and had managed to drive the imperial navy away. In the beginning, it seemed like the Emperor was holding out, but as the borders became more dangerous and pirates swarmed, the Emperor had no choice but to raise the white flag. Since then, the Crowds had flourished, continuously picking apart the Emperor’s every move. In a way, the Emperor had become little more than a puppet of the Crowds.

The Emperor’s illness was serious. It was a miracle if he managed to survive five more years. He was fully aware of what would happen to Azil and Aisa after his death. Unable to watch the unfortunate future unfold, the Emperor broke his father’s will and reached out to the Herut people.

The Empress wasn’t unaware of the Emperor’s scheme. The Empress, who adored Reginald, didn’t attend his banquet. Yudit turned his gaze away from the Emperor, who was doting on Azil, and then suddenly felt someone cover his mouth from behind.

“Mmph…!”

“Who are you?”

The voice was unnervingly low, filled with murderous intent. He tilted Yudit’s head back and pressed a dagger to his carotid artery. With every beat of his pulse, the sharp, cold sensation of the dagger was unmistakable.

“What were you doing?”

The man searched through Yudit’s chest. He smelled of sand and dry wind. Yudit realized he was one of the emissaries. His notebook, containing details about the emissaries, was within reach. If the man saw it, he would undoubtedly drive the dagger into his throat without hesitation. Yudit deliberately dropped the notebook and kicked it away. It disappeared into the darkness beyond the corridor. In response to Yudit’s defiance, the man growled like a beast.

“You were watching us back at the welcoming party, weren’t you?”

“Ha…”

“Are you a spy?”

Yudit shook his head, with the blade still at his throat.

“I… I…”

Yudit opened his mouth as if to say something, but the man loosened the arm strangling his neck. Air rushed into his constricted throat. Yudit spoke, almost spilling his name out.

“Yudit Friedrich Adanauer. I am the fifth prince of the Adanauer Empire.”

“Huyan!”

At that moment, someone at the end of the corridor called the man’s name loudly. A slender figure with brown eyes—an appearance Yudit recognized.

“I told you, haah, not to go.”

“Then what if we miss someone suspicious?”

“Who is he?”

“He says he’s a prince.”

“Ah, a prince… A prince?!”

The man shouted and then quickly clamped his mouth shut.

“But it could be a lie, right?”

“What if it’s true…?”

“Then I would have to pay with my life.”

The man called Huyan spoke in a determined voice. The man opposite him sighed, raising his eyebrows.

“Why do you always go to extremes?”

“I am a prince. Can you clear this up for me?” Yudit spoke in fluent Herut. The two men looked at him, surprised. After swallowing dryly, Yudit continued.

“My identity badge is in my pants pocket.”

“Check it.”

“Please, don’t.”

The man groaned and reached into Yudit’s pocket. He pulled out the identity badge and, slightly opening the curtains, held it up to the light.

“…It’s real.”

“What?”

“It’s real, so let go of him right now, Huyan!”

At the man’s scream, Huyan withdrew his sword. Yudit coughed, holding his neck. Only then did he meet the gaze of the man who had been strangling him. Huyan, looked at Yudit with a presence that towered over him, seemingly a half-head taller. Maybe slightly shorter than Khalid. He had black hair and light brown eyes. His gaze was firm, with a clear sense of conviction, as he stared directly at Yudit.