The Princess is Going on Strike - Chapter 6
Chapter 6
“Sir Velfor. First of all, I will not be apologizing.”
His eyes flickered in surprise. Perhaps, he was curious about what I was going to say next. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the wall behind him. It was an arrogant posture, but it suited him quite well. I continued as he kept his eyes on me.
“Whatever my father, Oledin, has told you, I’m sure Sir Velfor has already investigated this incident. And I’m sure you’ve also taken a look at the designs, correct?”
“Yes, and we’ve checked the draft blueprints, as well.”
“What were your thoughts on them?”
Velfor tilted his head.
“Do you believe that there’s a connection between your father’s remarks and the draft blueprints? Most causes of water leaks are either due to abrasion or the finishing process. However, it doesn’t make sense that they would be caused by abrasion as the armors were made less than a year ago. Which comes to the conclusion that the problem lies in the finishing. Of course, it could also be a problem with the quality of the ore or the manufacturing process itself.”
“What is it that you’re trying to say?”
“It’s quite simple.”
Oledin was completely off the mark when he thought that I would do what he said. Not a single person would’ve known whether I’d tell Velfor the truth or lie, except for me. Oledin should never have sent me out that day. It actually wouldn’t have come to this if he left me to stay in bed. I chuckled as Velfor looked at me with interest.
“There might’ve been an irregularity in the manufacturing process. I’m sure a high-ranking military official was involved. Find him.”
Velfor lifted his chin slightly without commenting on my reply. He looked around a few times then back at me with a sharpened gaze.
“Is that a theory or an assumption?”
Of course not, it’s neither.
I took a step back. The conversation was over as there was nothing else to talk about. But I did add one final piece.
“Whether it is an assumption or truth will depend on what you do.”
I knew, at least, that Velfor was someone who was far from an egocentric person to deal with things in a sloppy fashion. He may not have any interest in others, but he was extremely impartial.
I guess you could even say he was righteous.
Since I gave him a hint, it was up to him whether he’d be willing to take it or not. I patted his shoulder. When a lady pats a knight’s shoulder it means one thing.
I believe in you.
Of course, it means something else between lovers, but since that had nothing to do with us there would be no misunderstandings. I smiled underneath my mask and withdrew my hand.
“If you gain merit for this then treat me to a meal later.”
I turned and left.
* * * * * * *
I wondered how long it would take for him to take the bait. Since I provided the competent Velfor a hint, I was sure that he’d figure it out quickly. The problem was when Oledin would be informed of it.
The Auslante Empire was currently in an armistice state as it has only been 30 years since they entered a ceasefire with the neighboring Dhislavan Empire. But because the two nations had been in an all-out war for a very long time, they still coveted one another. Auslante desired the vast and fertile granaries of the Dhislavan Empire for their own, while Dhislavan had their eye on Auslante’s numerous mines, which bordered the Kalvarian Mountains.
In this situation, the Empire had no choice but to focus on building up their military force, which is why they always had 200,000 soldiers on standby. This caused more than half of the Empire’s annual budget to be spent on maintaining the military. Thus, as their financial situation was tight, military-related issues in the Empire were dealt with quite strictly. So even if the Brixia family was one of the founding nobles of the Empire, they would not be able to avoid being reprimanded if they were involved in this incident.
Honestly, it wasn’t bad for me if another noble replaced Oledin in power, but it’s not like I could do anything at the moment. It was only a matter of time before Oledin heard the news and came to slap me for it. Of course, I wasn’t planning on getting hit quietly, but I did need to think of some sort of plan before then.
I was good at organizing documents and writing down my thoughts was a long-standing habit of mine. But despite writing about my current situation late into the night, I couldn’t come up with an answer.
Was it magic or a miracle?
I think I remember hearing about magic or a divine spell which can turn back time. Being able to return to the past was quite appealing since knowing the future was power in itself. This is why so many people have devoted themselves to researching it for many years. In fact, it was known that high-ranking mages would never go out because of their obsession in that research. But I’ve never heard of anyone succeeding in actually turning back time. Given the boastful nature of mages, it only proves that this research was still incomplete since there have been talks about it yet.
Then what about me?
I spread out my fingers and stared at the place where I normally had worn a small ring.
Why?
I don’t remember taking it off and even if I did, I do not recall anything special on that day.
Sebeth Ludin. He was my only friend and known as the Sage of the Century…..
He might know what’s going on with me.
[Creak]
The chair scraped against the floor as I pushed it back. I lazily leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. I felt uneasy as if something was missing because I wasn’t wearing my mask, but at the same time it was refreshing.
Why did my spot disappear? If I had just returned to the past, then why did it disappear?
But no matter how much I contemplated the situation, I couldn’t think of the answer. Besides, the Duke won’t be able to handle the situation and self-destruct if I don’t do anything. So just sitting back and watching things unfold is enough to satisfy my revenge. Until then, it was more important for me to lay the groundwork for me to survive on my own.
The achievements of the Brixia family over the centuries definitely deserve praise, however if the Imperial Court discovers the corruption committed by the family through monopolizing the military armaments, then they would most likely reconsider things.
I looked out the window. My face reflected off the panes as it was being lit by the flame of a red candle. The skin was white without a single blemish. It was the “normal” skin that I had always longed for. A human face. I stared at the face that felt as if it weren’t mine, then covered it with my mask.
“It’s not time yet.”
It wasn’t time to take off my mask.
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