Chapter 284

Lloyd is frazzled by a surprise visit from the Second Prince, while Kyle tries to track down Tara...

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Episode 284. About 5 Months (7)

The Count's hair was tousled and he was breathing heavily. The way he hurriedly adjusted his clothes made it look like he had come running.

‘The Count is surprised to see me.'

He was. Lloyd had been resting on the couch in his office in the business wing when Niels informed him of Kyle's visit.

[His Imperial Highness the Second Prince has come to see you, Sir. With four escorts].

[Now? Suddenly? That ba- No. The Second Prince?]

Lloyd asked in surprise sitting up from the couch. Niels replied in a hurry, grabbing Lloyd's jacket from the coat rack in the office.

[Yes, His Highness arrived at the mansion alone, Your Excellency].

[Without his escorts?]

Leaving his escorts behind meant he believed there were no enemies here. Lloyd was stunned because such a gesture was usually only extended to one's closest vassals or friends.

‘When he visited last year he lounged around and stirred up the mansion. Even though we’re on the same side, are we really that close?'

[Yes, Your Excellency. You have drool on the left corner of your mouth. Wipe it off with this, and here.]

Lloyd, dazed as if he'd been hit on the head, wiped the corner of his mouth with the handkerchief Niels had handed him, then staggered out of the office.

[Yes, I suppose I'll go see.]

As he hurried across the lawn to the mansion, he couldn't help but be breathless as he entered the drawing room on the first floor.

***

Kyle and Lloyd sat down across from each other with a pot of lemon tea in front of them.

“I see you're working on Sunday,” the Prince greeted lightly.

“Business has picked up, Your Highness, and I've been rather busy lately.”

"What about your children?"

“Haha, they're all busy. Chloe is at the Capital branch, and Logan, as you know, has taken a leave of absence and gone East to lead a joint training exercise.”

“.....”

The 2nd Prince stared at Lloyd as if he had more to say and tapped the armrest of the sofa.

“Is there something on my face, Your Highness?”

"You mentioned Master Logan."

“Ah! Tara is working holiday overtime at the Palace today. I thought the Permanent Secretarial Division had less work than other departments, but I guess that's not the case. Either that or the Palace doesn't have any good people.... Ha ha ha. Of course I'm not criticizing the Palace, Your Highness.”

“It’s rare to find someone as talented as Second Aide Tara.”

Lloyd looked up from his teacup in surprise.

‘Oh. His Highness thinks highly of my Tara. Haha. But why...?’

Lloyd's pleasant expression suddenly turned solemn.

When the Count hardened his expression as if asking why he'd fired Tara for alleged neglect of her duties, the Second Prince, that bastard, gave a response Lloyd never expected to hear.

“I suppose I was just a little too narrow-minded.”

‘That doesn’t make any sense...!’

While Lloyd was dumbfounded, Kyle lifted his teacup and smiled meaningfully.

“......!”

‘What's with that angelic smile? Is it because he's so charming and handsome that he practically glows like the sun? Huh? Why is he smiling like that? He doesn't usually smile!'

While Lloyd was lost in thought, the Second Prince cut to the chase.

“I came here in a hurry because I had something to ask you.”

“Go ahead, Your Highness.”

“But first, would you please summon your butler?”

“My butler?” Lloyd asked, surprised at the out-of-the-blue request

When Kyle nodded, he wordlessly summoned the butler.

“I heard that there’s a servant named Darren among the Count’s personal servants. Where is he now?”

"He's off today, so he'll be in his quarters right now. Should I call him?"

“Well, he's probably not in his quarters, but you never know. Summon him.”

"Yes, Your Highness."

The butler left and Lloyd looked at him curiously, but Kyle sipped his tea, only saying that the Count  ‘would find out in good time’.

After about 10 minutes, the butler came in, sweating.

“As you said, he's not in his quarters. I've sent servants out to look for him, but he's nowhere to be found. If you give me more time, I'll search more thoroughly.”

“Very well.”

The Second Prince stood up abruptly and slowly looked around the parlor.

“What's wrong...!”

“Shhh!” Putting a finger to his lips, the Second Prince quietly asked, “Are these three doors the only entrances to this drawing room?”

Lloyd replied in a low voice, “Yes. That's correct, Your Highness.”

After a brief nod, the Second Prince moved to the leftmost door and flung it open. It was a washroom, and no one was there.

Then he went to the next door and opened it abruptly.

There was a pile of miscellaneous reception room furniture, and Edgar, the butler's personal attendant, suddenly popped out with a gasp.

"What the... What are you doing in there?" Lloyd bellowed, standing in surprise.

Ed dropped to his knees, his arms and legs trembling.

"P-Please save me, Your Excellency. Please."

“Hand him over to my escort outside. He will take him to a safe house.”

At the Prince's command, everyone looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

“Your mother is alive and in a safe place, go.”

Ed raised his head, his eyes widening in disbelief, then sobbed loudly, like a child who'd fallen on the ground.

The butler and servants dragged him out of the room. As they left, Ed rambled his gratitude, “Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you for sparing my life, Your Highness."

When the two of them were finally left alone, Lloyd gulped down some water and asked.

“Your Highness, what is all of this about?”

“Now that we're allies, I'll tell you. There was an operation last night.”

Kyle briefly explained the situation.

Lloyd gasped several times at the incredible story.

When all was said and done, the Second Prince concluded, "Among those who were taken as hostages was Ed's mother, she explained that her son was being used as a spy here at House Elias."

“That vile bastard knew my family was on His Highness's side and deliberately did such a heinous thing in my house!”

Kyle didn't correct Lloyd's assumption. Ed was actually a mole sent to investigate Kyle and Tara's relationship, but he couldn't tell him that now.

He waited a few minutes for Lloyd to calm down. When he felt that the Count had calmed down somewhat, he finally brought up the purpose of his visit.

“I understand that the Spencer Knights and House Elias are holding a joint training in the East.”

"Yes. Wasn't this training exercise the result of Your Highness's roundabout acceptance of House Spencer's request?"

If he already knew about it, why was he checking?

“Do you not approve of a joint training exercise?”

"Haha. Of course not, but why joint training?"

The Second Prince's eyes, which had previously contained faint amusement, suddenly sharpened. Lloyd swallowed hard.

"I would like you to change the location of the training exercise to the Elias Knights Training Grounds near the Capital."

“....!”

Lloyd's eyes widened in surprise.

The Second Prince had sent out a draft request a year ago. However, at that time, it was during the run-up to the Skandoan war.

Even so, before the outbreak of the war, there had been a brief rumor that the Second Prince's request for knights from each family was a backhanded gesture.

Of course, such speculations were dismissed immediately after the war broke out.

But now, the Prince's order to have the knights of both houses stationed near the Capital could be construed as genuinely treasonous.

After a moment's pause, the Count slowly requested clarification.

"...Why are you giving such an order all of a sudden?"

Knowing full well what Lloyd was thinking, Kyle explained, “The Emperor is aware of everything I am doing, and I am making this request with His Majesty's permission. Rest assured.”

The Emperor's permission was the same as an Imperial order.

In other words, this matter aligned with the Emperor's desires and was not, in fact, treason.

Lloyd breathed a deep sigh of relief and asked again.

“So why has he issued such an order?”

"The Empire may soon be in turmoil, and it needs to be dealt with. Of course, my personal forces and the Imperial Guard will also be gathered near the Capital."

Kyle first began to notice the chaos in the Empire when the garrison stationed near the Principality of Ga'an had been replaced in late April.

The Imperial military had long ago agreed to send forces to the Principality to compensate for their weak defensive capabilities. Typically, the Principality's Defense Auxiliary Forces were required to cooperate with Security Department investigations every six months when the guard was changed.

This had been the procedure every year. When the Defensive Auxiliary Forces changed in April of this year, the investigation report had landed on Kyle's desk and he realized that something was amiss in the Principality.

Lloyd swallowed hard at Kyle's words. Based on his explanation, he could guess what manner of disruption might befall the Empire, but he wanted to hear it directly from Kyle's lips.

“What kind of disruption are you referring to...”

“An attempt to usurp the throne.”

“....!”

It was definitely more shocking to hear about it directly. Lloyd took a hurried sip of his water and breathed deeply.

“Do you wish to make another choice?”

The Second Prince was asking if he was regretting siding with him. Lloyd squeezed his eyes shut and replied with great seriousness.

“Although our family has been estranged from the dealings of the Imperial Court for quite some time, we by no means lack loyalty. Since we have chosen to put our trust in you, we will stand by Your Highness until the end, as long as that faith remains. I will move our knights. It is our honor to be of service in any way we can, Your Highness.”

Lloyd rose to his feet and bowed, and Kyle returned the favor.

"Please take a seat. You are too modest."

"Hahaha. Is that so, Your Highness? Haha. Oh! My God, I have a question for you. May I ask?"

"Of course, Count."

“Will the Consort Selection begin after this operation is concluded? My Tara is being affected by the marriage ban. Hahaha.”

“......” ___

Editor's Notes -

At this point the author is just being mean with these chapter endings!

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