As I waited there with Jean, his subordinates—who had gone to apprehend the ones plotting Ivan's assassination—returned.
Leading them was a man around thirty years of age, dressed in a knight's attire.
Dropping to one knee before Jean and me, the man offered a knight's salute and began his report.
"Following Your Highness's guidance, we breached the premises and captured five individuals."
"Alive?"
Jean leaned forward as he asked. His reaction made it clear that this was his greatest concern right now.
"Yes... However, for reasons unknown, all the culprits had already collapsed by the time we breached the hideout. Upon examination, they were completely paralyzed by an unidentified poison."
"Poison? Don't tell me they took their own lives?!"
Jean leaned forward even further.
It was a natural assumption, but the knight slowly shook his head.
"No, it was not lethal—merely a poison that leaves the victim immobile."
"Why would such a thing be...?"
"Ah, that was my doing."
"Eh?"
Astonished, Jean looked over at me.
Linking with my ring, I manifested Apophis.
Upon the palm of my hand appeared a serpent with a dull, metallic sheen, its tongue flickering in and out.
"The Third Prime Minister probably knows this already, but during the rebellion in Almeria, I struck down the ringleader from a distance."
"Yes. I remember hearing the tale and verifying the details numerous times."
It had sounded that unbelievable, Jean's tone silently implied.
I nodded and continued.
"It was the same as that. While guiding the way, I remotely injected poison using Apophis. If word had leaked, there was a risk they would commit suicide, so I paralyzed everyone present on the spot."
"I see! Truly magnificent, Your Highness!"
Jean's eyes gleamed with realization, his face lighting up with understanding.
"On top of that—"
I began to say, then turned to the knight.
"Did the culprits say anything?"
"Yes, precisely as you might expect... Every last one of them is groaning and screaming, 'Kill me!'"
"What is the meaning of this, Your Highness?"
"It's the same thing—poison. After paralyzing them, I injected a toxin that makes their entire bodies relentlessly itchy. As for the effect... well, imagine being covered in mosquito bites from head to toe, yet being utterly unable to scratch."
Hearing my explanation, Jean and the knight shuddered in unison.
"Many men are trained to endure pain, but few are trained to withstand an itch—especially one they cannot scratch."
"You are entirely correct. Goodness, to think of weaponizing an 'itch' like that... Truly, you never cease to amaze, Your Highness."
"And that's how it stands."
Turning back to the knight, I said:
"They ought to spill everything right about now. Go and interrogate them thoroughly."
"Sir!"
The knight bowed his head to me, then glanced at his master, Jean.
With a faint nod from Jean, the knight rose and departed.
I waited while exchanging casual small talk with Jean.
Given the state they were in, I was confident they would confess before long.
Sure enough, my prediction was spot-on.
In less than an hour, the knight returned.
Just like before, he knelt before us.
"How did it go?"
"Yes, they have confessed everything. In all likelihood, they are telling the truth."
"Humph. So, who pulled the strings?"
"They are operatives from the Russi Kingdom."
"Russi, was it?"
"Yes. Their aim was that if the envoy from Russi Tsari were to die in the capital, diplomatic relations would rupture, causing trouble for the Empire."
"Hmm."
"I see. From the perspective of the Russi Kingdom, Russi Tsari are rebels. By instigating conflict between them and the Empire, the Russi Kingdom could sit back and reap the benefits."
"That is precisely the case."
Once laid bare, it was a simple matter.
Not only the knight who conducted the interrogation, but Jean and I as well felt that this was indeed the truth.
"For now, continue the interrogation just to be certain. There is no need to execute them immediately."
"Understood."
"Also... Third Prime Minister."
"What is it, Sire?"
"Increase Ivan's guard detail. Ensure at all costs that he returns safely to Russi Tsari."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
☆
The following day, I left my mansion and visited Cobalt Street for the first time in a while.
People are treasures.
At the same time, among treasures, there are true gems to be found.
To search for such treasures, I spent the morning strolling along Cobalt Street.
However, I found nothing of note, eventually winding up at Alan's usual shop.
"I am terribly sorry. A treasure worthy of Your Highness's discerning eye is quite difficult to come by..."
Alan spoke with an apologetic expression.
"No, it's fine. If it were easy to find, it wouldn't be much of a treasure."
"Thank you, Sire. If it is novelties you seek, however, there is something."
"A novelty?"
"Yes. Word has it that in a town called Sorel, located a short distance from the capital, a curious infant was born."
"Curious how?"
"Apparently, the baby was born clutching a gemstone."
"...Oh?"
That was, how should I put it... yet another fishy tale.
A human infant born clutching a gemstone?
In short, that would mean a pregnant woman formed a gemstone inside her body.
It sounded just like a pearl oyster.
"The moment the child was born, that gemstone illuminated the entire room with dazzling light. Everyone is gossiping that it must be an extraordinary omen of good fortune."
"..."
Though it sounded dubious, it piqued my interest.
An omen of good fortune, as Alan called it.
That meteorite that erased my "+" not too long ago had also been presented to me as an auspicious omen.
An omen, huh?
After pondering for a moment, I asked Alan.
"Do you think you could acquire that gemstone?"
"Eh? Yes, well, I should be able to."
"All right."
I reached into my coat and pulled out a leather pouch.
I handed over all the money I had brought with me today to Alan.
"There are 1,000 Rien in here. Obtain it for me. If it's not enough, just let me know."
"Leave it to me!"
Alan thumped his chest, replying with utter confidence.
Leaving word that I would return, I stepped out of the shop.
Leaving Cobalt Street behind, I intended to head back to the mansion.
Suddenly, I came to a halt.
What caught my eye—or rather, what entered my awareness—was a brand-new shop.
Its construction was slightly different from that of an ordinary establishment.
From inside drifted an aroma that smelled like cooking.
I could tell it was food, but I couldn't tell what kind of dish it was—it was a scent I had never encountered before.
Curious about what kind of shop it was, I stepped inside.
"Welcome!"
"What kind of place is this?"
"First time here, customer?"
The man dressed as a clerk who greeted me replied with a confident look.
"Our owner hails from the Russi Kingdom, you see, so we serve authentic Russi cuisine."
"I see. Then bring me a standard serving for one. Two kinds of meat dishes and two kinds of vegetable dishes."
"Right away! Please come this way."
Shown to a seat, I tasted the food that was brought out.
Russi cuisine—perhaps because it originated from a northern country—consisted mostly of rich, hearty stews that warmed the body.
The flavors were strong, but not bad at all.
At the same time, while eating, I probed the shop's atmosphere.
Given yesterday's events, hearing "Russi cuisine" had caught my attention slightly, but the people in the shop harbored no hostility or malice whatsoever.
They seemed to be ordinary merchants; I had simply overthought things.
In other words, there were no problems at all—until I finished the meal.
After relishing the food and determining the shop was harmless, the moment came to settle the bill and leave.
That was when I realized I was penniless.
"...Ah."
I suddenly remembered that just a moment ago, I had handed all the money I carried today over to Alan.
As a result, I had no cash on hand and couldn't pay for the food.
Seeing that nothing came out no matter how much I searched my coat and pockets, the clerk, who had been smiling until a moment ago, furrowed his brows in anger.
"Hey, kid. You're not planning on dining and dashing, are you?"
"No, that's not it."
"Then pay up. It's exactly 1 Rien."
"..."
This was troublesome.
I tried to think of a way out of this.
However, the clerk seemed to be quite impatient.
He gave me no time to think.
"If you can't pay, I'm handing you over to the police officers."
"..."
That would be bad. It was completely unbecoming of a noble.
Just as I was growing thoroughly cornered, a man spoke up from behind.
"I'll cover the kid's share too."
"Eh?"
"Hmm?"
The clerk and I turned to look at the man at the same time.
He had a gentle, good-natured look about him.
"With mine, that's about 2 Rien, right? Here."
Saying so, he handed 2 Rien to the clerk.
"Yes, thank you for your patronage!"
Receiving the payment, the clerk immediately plastered a business smile back onto his face.
As long as he was paid, nothing else mattered—a true paragon of merchants.
I turned fully toward the man who had bailed me out.
"Thank you. You saved me."
"Don't worry about it. I forget my wallet from time to time, too. You really panic at times like that, don't you?"
"...Yeah, I panicked terribly. Could you tell me your name? I'll pay you back right away."
"I'm Rellick. I live on Tyler Street."
"Rellick of Tyler Street, then. Got it—"
"—Lord Noah!"
From behind, a familiar voice called out.
Turning around, I saw Shirley heading toward me.
"Shirley, you came at a good time. Do you have any money on you?"
"Eh? Ah, yes! Only about this much, but..."
"Let me see..."
I looked at the leather pouch Shirley took out. There was roughly 500 Rien in there.
"I'll borrow this for now. I'll pay you back once we return to the mansion."
"Yes, anything at Your Highness's command."
Saying so, Shirley presented the leather pouch to me with both hands.
I took it and handed it straight to Rellick.
The entire thing—I handed over all 500 Rien.
"You really saved me earlier. Thank you."
Looking at the leather pouch, Rellick blinked in astonishment, utterly bewildered by what was happening.
I pressed the leather pouch firmly into his hands.
☆
Leaving the shop, I walked alongside Shirley.
"Y-Your Highness."
"Hm?"
"I overheard Your Highness's exchange with that man earlier, but isn't returning 500 Rien for a loan of 1 Rien a bit excessive? Not even the worst loan shark would go that far..."
"That was a water vendor in the desert."
"Eh?"
"If I were collapsed and dying in a desert, even if water normally worth about 1 Rien were priced at 500 Rien, I would gladly buy it."
That was how much Rellick had helped me.
I could have revealed my identity as an imperial prince back there.
However, that was something that should have been stated beforehand.
Claiming to be an imperial prince only after falling under suspicion of dining and dashing would severely tarnish the name of nobility.
It was an unacceptable disgrace.
Depending on the noble, it was a matter so humiliating that one might even take their own life over the shame.
The 1 Rien that Rellick lent me held that much value.
"Even if the favor received is merely a single drop, when returning it, one should repay it as a spring."
"I see... Truly magnificent, Your Highness!"
Shirley looked at me, her eyes filled with boundless admiration.