Chapter 51
Episode 81: Revelation
➖➖➖ 【Shadow】’s Perspective ➖➖➖
「Alright, who’s your employer in the Empire?」
「Count Victor Barios.」
「Count Barios? The family that’s associated with Stratos, who’s in a party with Celestia-sama?」
「That’s right. The young master is under Count Barios’ orders, gathering information on the royal family and searching for the Heavenly Child.」
「Does Stratos know that Celestia-sama is the Heavenly Child?」
「No, he hasn’t realized it. We didn’t notice either until 【Shadow】 showed up.」
「Just so you know, if our report doesn’t reach the kingdom, it’ll be assumed that the Heavenly Child might be in the last place we reported from.」
「I doubt you’d send a false report. Either way, they’ll figure it out.」
「Tch, so we’re going to be eliminated.」
「That’s not for me to decide. It’s up to the Lady and Celestia-sama.」
Afterward, Brad headed to report the information obtained from the twins to Carmen.
➖➖➖ Celestia’s Perspective➖➖➖
After finishing my conversation with Selen-sama, I headed to mom’s room.
「Celestia, I have something important to discuss.」
「What is it?」
「Brad reported that we’ve captured a spy. The spy is from the Leone Kingdom’s royal family’s direct organization, 【Carved】. Their employer in the Empire was Count Victor Barios… Stratos’ father, whom you know well.」
「What… Stratos’ father?」
「According to the spy, Count Barios has close ties with the Leone Kingdom and has been leaking information about the Empire. Stratos’ mission is to monitor the movements of the two members of the royal family and to search for the Heavenly Child who might have fled to the Empire.」
「However, it seems Stratos hasn’t realized that you’re the Heavenly Child, Celestia.」
「No way… Stratos, who I thought was a comrade, has been working for the kingdom, spying on me, and would report to them if he found out…」
The world around me seemed to collapse. Stratos, someone I believed to be a friend, was actually tasked with finding me and reporting back to the kingdom.
「What will you do? Should we inform Sei?」
「Huh? If he’s been reporting on Selen-sama’s movements too, then yes, we should tell her and decide together what to do.」
「There’s still time. Let’s go to Sei’s room.」
With that, my mom and I headed to Selen-sama’s room where she was sleeping, and we explained everything about the spy and Count Barios.
「I can’t believe it… Count Barios… and even Stratos, betraying the Empire…」
「I don’t know Count Barios, but it’s hard to believe Stratos is betraying us.」
「He’s not betraying you, Ren. He hasn’t realized you’re the Heavenly Child yet.」
「But… the kingdom is my enemy, so if Stratos is connected to them, he’s my enemy too, right…?」
「We have to confirm it. I think we should confront him about reporting on the royal family, without mentioning the Heavenly Child. Brad can play the role of an imperial intelligence officer who captured the spy and interrogated him about Count Barios’ connections to the kingdom.」
「Yes, asking Sei seems like the best plan.」
「Ma’am, please leave it to me.」
The next day, when the three of them come to the longhouse, we’ll detain Stratos and interrogate him about Count Barios’ treasonous actions.
–
Episode 82: Stratos’ Confession
The next morning, we waited for Stratos and the others to arrive as planned. My heart felt heavy… Even now, I wanted to believe that the spy’s information was wrong.
「Good morning!」
「Good morning. It looks like the preparations will be done soon, so please wait a little longer.」
Mom greeted the three of them and directed them to sit on chairs. As soon as they sat down, Mystique-sensei used earth magic to bind Stratos.
「Huh… what’s going on?」
Stratos and the other two were shocked by the sudden restraint.
Once the binding was confirmed, Selen-sama and I entered the room and stood in front of Stratos, with Brad and Mystique-sensei standing behind us.
「Stratos, you know why you’re being restrained, don’t you?」
「Selen-sama, what are you talking about?」
「The twins, Jarmel and Jarmal.」
「…The twins are here?」
「Yes, my bodyguard behind me apprehended them.」
「…I, no, the Barios family has been betraying the Empire. Through my father, we’ve been leaking information about the prince and princess to the Leone Kingdom…」
「That’s not all, is it?」
「…We were also tasked with searching for the Heavenly Child of Sylvania, who was rumored to have escaped to the Empire.」
「Why is the Barios family doing this?」
「The Empire can’t defeat the Leone Kingdom. So, by passing on information and aiding their victory, we were promised our territory wouldn’t be taken.」
「What information did you leak?」
「I shared the prince and princess’s personalities, abilities, and their social connections… As for the Heavenly Child, since we weren’t sure if they were even in this country, I haven’t reported anything yet…」
「Yet? What do you mean by that?」
「It’s Ren. I felt that Ren was a being on a different plane from the rest of us, but since her appearance didn’t match what was described, I hesitated to report it.」
Listening to Selen-sama and Stratos’ exchange, I felt my trust in people begin to crumble…
There’s a hidden side to people you can’t see on the surface.
People like Selen-sama, who show everything, are truly rare…
「But since my father sent Mel and Mal, it means he didn’t trust me. Those twins are from the kingdom’s direct organization the 【Carved】, born of my father’s mistress and handed over as a sign of loyalty.」
「I’ll make sure to confirm whether everything you’ve said is true.」
With that, the restrained twins were brought in.
「Is there anything wrong with what Stratos just said? You can’t lie with those slave collars on.」
「No, the young master spoke the truth.」
「But he wasn’t really hesitating about reporting on the cute girl, right? He knew she was the Heavenly Child and was planning to keep it quiet because he’s in love with her!」
「The Count used mental magic to learn everything while the young master was sleeping.」
As the twins continued to talk, something strange happened to one of them.
「Guh… Ahhh… What… is… happening…」
「Mal, what’s wrong? Are you alright?!」
By the time someone called out, the atmosphere had changed.
「Well, hello there. I am David Leone, Crown Prince of the Leone Kingdom. Finally, I’ve found my Heavenly Child. I can’t wait to make you mine soon.」
With a sinister grin and those parting words, Jarmel had already turned into something no longer human…
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