MTM 94

Harto decided to hurry and meet Isadora. Today, at least, he wanted to explain the situation and ask for help. He hadn’t yet decided on what to ask for or how to ask for it, but he hoped that once he started talking, some kind of clue might emerge.

“Mister Harto? What brings you here?”

Just as he passed the entrance to the annex, he ran into the butler. He had a gentle expression and a polite demeanor, as if he were telling Harto to feel free to talk about anything.

“I was wondering if Lady Isadora was at the mansion.”

“Yes, the young lady finished her meal early and is now in the study. Would you like me to show you around?”

“Yes, I would appreciate that.”

Harto nodded and followed the butler to where Isadora was.

As he walked down the long hallway and up the stairs, Harto admired the portraits of Isadora hanging throughout the mansion. They depicted her in various capacities, from her infant days to her rise to the status of a splendid knight in the Royal Knights. Among them, the one from her Academy days particularly caught his eye.

In the portrait, the first thing that caught his eye about the Academy uniform was the deep purple cloak covering one shoulder. The gold thread patterns adorning the shoulder and chest were each depicted as if they were alive, radiating a subtle sheen like real gold thread.

The delicate depiction of her face, with its subtle shading and even the unique texture of the silk worn, was so precisely captured that it was hard to believe it was a painting. The splendor alone made it clear that this attire was a ceremonial garment reserved exclusively for the imperial family and the highest nobility.

“That painting is an official portrait painted directly by the Academy. It’s said that each graduate is traditionally given one.”

“I see….”

If so, then he thought that since Ares Carseon also graduated from the same academy as Isadora, his portrait must exist somewhere.

“This way.”

As he climbed up to the fourth floor, admiring the paintings in the frames one by one, they arrived at the door to the study.

Knock knock.

The butler knocked twice and then spoke politely toward the door.

“Young Lady Isadora, Mister Harto wishes to see you.”

“You may come in.”

With permission granted, the butler opened the door. Inside, the study was crammed with books, like a small library. Standing before it was Isadora, smiling brightly.

“Welcome. I hope you had a good night.”

Isadora’s aura was quite different from when she wore her armor. She was wearing a light chiffon blouse and loose ivory trousers, a comfortable outfit that suited her perfectly. She exuded both strength and gentleness.

The butler said he would bring the tea, then quietly closed the door and left.

“Come here and sit down.”

Isadora gestured to the sofa in the study. As Harto carefully sat down, she tidied up the books spread out on the desk and spoke.

“So, is it true that you came here because you wanted to ask me a favor?”

“Huh… How did you know that….”

Now that he looked at it, Isadora was even more of a perceptive person than Reina. Or was it just his face that showed it all? Harto felt embarrassed and touched his cheek. The reason he’d come here in the first place was to ask for necessary testimony regarding the illegal auction.

Looking at Harto like that, Isadora smiled gently as if she knew what he was thinking.

“I heard the whole story from Ser last night. So there’s no need to feel unnecessarily burdened.”

“Oh, I see….”

Perhaps Isadora and Ser had been talking to each other while Harto was crying and sleeping in the annex at dinner last night.

“If you have any further questions, feel free to ask.”

Harto hesitated for a moment at Isadora’s generosity, then asked cautiously.

“Then… have you found out why His Highness the Crown Prince arrests people with blond hair?”

Harto was curious about the background, including the kidnapping of Ser and Reina in the Crown Prince’s carriage, the auctioning off of blondes as commodities in <Black Crown>, and the fact that the Royal Knights raided the illegal auction house in connection with it.

Isadora remained silent for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts, before opening her mouth.

“To cut to the chase… It’s true that the Crown Prince is obsessed with blonde hair. But it’s not just a hobby or a preference.”

It sounded like the Royal Knights were not taking the matter lightly, and that they had been investigating it for quite some time before reaching their conclusion.

“At first, rumors circulated that the Crown Prince was searching for the missing Ares Carseon. But I didn’t believe it. I know the imperial family well. The imperial family of Regnovar is generally selfish. But Ares, the Seventh Prince, was different. He inherited the bloodline of the Sacred Kingdom of Carseon.”

A brief flash of reminiscence crossed Isadora’s green eyes. Harto sensed a longing for those days. Perhaps that’s why she spoke of Ares Carseon for a while.

During her time at the Academy, her connection with him changed her perspective on monsters, and upon her visit to Silpirnoa, she discovered that there were monsters with hearts as kind as spirits. This explains why she was not surprised and remained polite even when she saw Harto in his black slime form.

“Of course, this is my first time encountering a monster as social and intelligent as you. It’s a bit confusing, but just because I haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean it’s strange.”

Isadora certainly had only minor doubts about monsters and Harto, much like Zed.

“It’s unfortunate, but… we still haven’t discovered the exact reason why the Crown Prince is obsessed with blondes, or why he’s arresting innocent people. But it’s clear this isn’t just a rumor. That’s why the Royal Knights have been fully mobilized.”

“I see….”

Isadora believed that if she protected the blondes and followed the traces of the incident, the reason for the Crown Prince’s actions would naturally be revealed sooner or later.

“So, what is this request?”

“Ah… that’s….”

Harto hesitated for a while, his lips quivering, before finally mustering up the courage to speak.

“I… got separated from my group in the desert while heading south.”

“In the desert? I heard you were in the Crown Prince’s carriage with two people. Could that have something to do with it?”

“Ah….”

He was at a loss as to where to begin his explanation. But this time, he couldn’t afford to be vague. With a story he absolutely had to tell, Harto steeled himself and opened his mouth again.

“That is….”

Shhhh-.

It was then that the communication orb on the desk in the study flashed and made a noise.

“Please wait a moment.”

Isadora immediately activated the communication orb.

“This is Commander Isadora. What’s going on?”

“Commander Isadora, we’re in trouble! His Highness the Crown Prince is on his way to the Count’s residence!

“What…?”

It was an unexpected, urgent message. Harto, too, was startled and stared at Isadora with wide eyes. She briefly acknowledged the message to the person who had delivered it, then disconnected the orb.

“…I didn’t expect him to move personally like this.”

Isadora took a moment to catch her breath, muttered, and then immediately stood up.

“Harto, I’m sorry, but I have to take care of this first. If it’s urgent, you can tell Robert in advance.”

“Ah, it’s fine…!”

Harto also stood up abruptly and shook his head. Isadora smiled quietly and stroked his head.

“Good. Then I should go first… Oh, would you mind staying in the annex while the Crown Prince visits?”

“Yes, I will.”

Isadora seemed satisfied with Harto’s answer, patted his head once more, and then left the study in one breath.

“Has he noticed that Ser and Reina are here…?”

Left alone in the study, Harto muttered with a worried expression on his face.

“Uh…?”

Hoping it would pass without incident, Harto was about to leave the study when his steps stopped. His gaze was drawn to something.

A pure white butterfly fluttered its wings as it flew by. For a moment, a scene from his dream flashed through his mind, and his heart sank.

“…….”

Hart hesitated for a moment, then, as if drawn by something, stepped into the study. Instead of books, the shaded inner shelves were filled with frames and paintings. A butterfly perched on one corner of a cloth-covered painting.

Beneath the canvas in the painting, Isadora’s Academy uniform was faintly visible.

“Academy… portrait….”

His heart pounded faster and faster. A sense of foreboding crossed his mind, as if he shouldn’t look, but strangely enough, he wanted to check. Finally, with trembling hands, Harto lifted a layer of the cloth.

“Lord Harto?”

It was at that moment. The butler’s voice was heard from behind.

“Ah! Oh, this… I was just curious… I am sorry…”

Harto flinched, pulling his hand away from the cloth and backing away in a panic, as if he’d been caught doing something bad.

“Oh, that’s fine. I’m just going to organize them… These are all paintings that will be discarded.”

“I see. By any chance… this is also a portrait?”

“There shouldn’t be any portraits. Hmm… Was there a portrait I didn’t check…?”

The butler tilted his head and absentmindedly pulled back the cloth that Harto had been trying to examine.

“Oh…!”

The butler, who had checked the picture, raised his voice and then spoke as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, now I remember. Prince Ares received this portrait at his graduation ceremony. His Highness the Crown Prince’s ceremony overlapped with his, so he couldn’t attend. So, Young Lady Isadora received it in his stead… I thought I had given it to him, but I forgot. My fault…”

The butler muttered with an embarrassed expression, then belatedly noticed Harto standing frozen.

“Master Harto?”

Harto stood for a long time, his face pale and bloodless, staring at the portrait. He didn’t even respond to the butler’s call.

“Zed….”

Harto called the name with a blank expression. Ares Carseon looked exactly like Zed.