――According to historical facts, all members of the Imperial family of the fallen Great Faris Empire have been confirmed to have been executed, with the exception of Cornelia Faris.
However, it is also a country that was extremely attached to lineage by nature. For that reason, the one who became the flag of the rebellion coup was also a young man from a Duke family whose mother was a Princess who had surrendered.
At the same time that the Empire was dismantled, he was installed as the new King, and thus the new Faris’s Royal family gave birth to a new baby.
And that precious bloodline has been handed down without fail to this day.
[Prince Ulysses…?]
[Yes. I’m sure he should be around nine years old now.]
Randolph had a difficult expression on his face. Connie also unintentionally raised her eyebrows.
Scarlett was the only one who didn’t seem to have much interest in the situation and was sitting on a hedge that was about the same height as Connie’s shoulders.
『If he’s still nine, he is still just a child, isn’t he? Perhaps he’s lost somewhere? 』
Adelbaid’s Royal castle is vast. Even if it’s just one of the two detached Palaces, the site is still large enough. Since the Prince is only nine, he’s probably still in the prime of wanting to play freely. It was certainly possible.
[If that’s the case, how long has he been missing…]
『Since yesterday.』
[…Hm?]
『According to that thin balding man, this Ulysses had already disappeared since at least yesterday evening.』
[…..Hmm?]
『What? 』
[No, it’s definitely not a lost child…! Something must have happened…!]
When Connie hurriedly told Randolph, the wrinkles between his eyebrows became even deeper.
[Yesterday?――――If that’s the case, then why didn’t the delegation from Faris say anything? In the first place, I didn’t hear that the Seventh Prince was participating in this visit. The one who was scheduled to go was His Highness Jerome, the fifth Prince. I heard that he fell ill right before he left the country and was forced to undergo medical treatment, and that’s why their arrival here was delayed…]
He narrowed his azure eyes slightly and turned around with a stern face.
[I’m sorry, Miss Grail. But I am going to have to——]
[Return to the General Headquarters, right?]
Randolph blinked his eyes when Connie completed his sentence. Connie herself was taken aback by his unexpected reaction.
[Umm, was I wrong?]
[No, you weren’t, but…]
[Then, please go immediately!]
There is no time to bother in a place like this. This involves a nine-year-old kid. Connie doesn’t know what happened, but she’s sure that he must be feeling very lonely. If possible, she would like Randolph to find him as soon as possible.
[…Yes. Miss Grail, about Cecilia.]
[I’ll be careful.]
Connie nodded firmly.
[I’ll keep my eyes open so that I don’t become a knothole, and I’ll do my best not to scoop my own feet. But it might be impossible, so if it comes to that, I’ll borrow Lady Abigail’s authority, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll use Your Excellency’s name as a shield. …..Although, I might not still be her opponent at all…..]
As Connie said that, her initial momentum began to wane. When she finished, Connie swore that she heard Randolph letting out a small and short laugh. She raised her face in surprise, but after all, there was just the usual expressionlessness there.
However, Randolph Ulster’s eyes softened somewhat more than usual, and he opened his mouth.
[―――you’ll do just fine.]
=====
『To sum up their stories――――』
Randolph returned to the General Affairs Bureau, and Connie decided to head to the Elbaite Palace alone. On the way, she had a conversation with Scarlet. Of course, the topic is the same as before.
『It is certain that the child was in the Palace until yesterday. Yesterday, that means the 9th. By the way, on that day, there was no official entry of visitors in the ledger at the main gate.』
[How do you know?]
『Why you ask…Connie, you’ve seen it as well, haven’t you? You were the one who actually registered. I was just peering in from behind.』
[I see…..]
Scarlet memorizing ability is still as precise as usual.
[So someone sneaked into the Royal Palace…?]
『I don’t know… I thought about it the other day, but I feel like this place is much more crowded than it was ten years ago. Are there always so many guards? Or is it because there’s an envoy from Faris? But even if you did that――』
Connie shook her head saying she didn’t understand. She rarely comes to the royal palace. So, she thought that it was normal to see a lot of guards around inside the Palace.
『…a lot has changed in ten years.』
Scarlet muttered quietly as if she was sinking into her memories. When she turned up again, a perfect smile returned as if to make up for it.
『Well, there are many other ways to do it without taking the risk of intrusion. You don’t have to enter through the main gate.』
―――Eh, how?
As Connie twisted her neck, Scarlett curled her lips in amusement.
『There’s no way food and dresses in the Royal Palace just fall from the sky, right? Besides, if you want to secretly summon someone for personal reasons, wouldn’t it be troublesome to go through the main gate? ――There must be a passageway for the comings and goings.』
===== ◇◇◇
[A gift, you say?]
A small gate is located behind the Royal Palace. Connie looked at the reception desk, which had a simple appearance compared to the main gate, lowered her eyebrows, and called out to the man at the reception desk, looking troubled.
[Yes. I was invited to a tea party by Crown Princess Cecilia, so I prepared a selection. However, it was quite bulky, so I asked a vendor to send it to the Royal Palace in advance…]
[I’m sorry, but that kind of thing is probably at the main gate.]
The person who responded was a serious-looking man with glasses. Of course, the answer was already expected―――to Scarlet, not Connie. So she continued speaking without getting upset.
[Actually, I was already told that it hadn’t arrived over there. The receptionist―――well, I think it was mister Jannick―――he mentioned that it might have been delivered through here instead.]
It’s the truth. Because she went all the way back to the main gate to ask the same thing. The moment Connie was told that the package hadn’t arrived, she put her hands on the floor and acted as if it was the end of the world. Of course, there was some guidance from Scarlet.
[Jannick did?]
The bespectacled man looked up as if he didn’t expect to hear his colleague’s name. What is floating there is the expression that it can’t be helped.
[…I don’t think it’s possible because I wasn’t on duty yesterday. If that’s the case, let’s investigate. When?]
[On the 9th.]
The man took out a ledger from the desk drawer. Scarlet flew softly and smiled behind him.
[The ninth, the ninth… Ah, this is it. Please check again with your dealer. I am very sorry, but there is nothing more we can do for you. Please check again with the contractor who made the request.]
=====
Connie arrived at the Elbaite Palace exactly on time. Heading to Cecilia’s room while being led by the maid of the Crown Princess.
[―――So, did you find out anything?]
Scarlett’s eyes rolled around when Connie asked her as they walked through a long hallway.
『Meat wholesaler, tailor, jeweler. There were a lot of things, but well――』
Her voice sounded bouncy as if dancing.”
『―――A merchant named Badd from the Soldita Republic.』
Scarlet whispered into Connie’s ear. For some reason, Connie felt an unknown fear, and her upper arms froze. Looking down at Connie, Scarlet tilted her head gracefully.
『For now, let’s start with this guy, shall we? ‘Cause, Its.ju.st.ri.gh.t. 』
“We’ve arrived,” said the young maid quietly. If you ask from outside, you will hear a bottomlessly bright voice from inside.
The door slowly opens. At that moment, Scarlet Castiel smiled brightly like a flower in full bloom.
『The destination of the man’s visit is the Elbaite Palace―――he was here to see Cecilia.』