"Hm?"
"Oh?"
Alice and I noticed it at almost the exact same moment.
From outside the tent came the sound of loud, hurried footsteps.
Accompanied by the clattering rustle of armor, it was a pace so rushed that anyone hearing it would instantly know something was wrong.
"Did something happen?"
"Fumu."
The footsteps were heading straight toward us, drawing closer.
As I waited to see what would happen, the footsteps halted directly outside the tent entrance.
"It is Henry, Your Majesty."
"Umu."
"Forgive me for disturbing your rest, but there is a matter I must bring to your ears."
Through the canvas of the tent, the silhouette of him dropping to one knee appeared almost simultaneously with his voice.
Alice cast a bewildered glance in my direction.
His voice was unmistakably hurried—no, distinctly anxious.
I gave Alice a nod and said, "Enter."
Alice stood, remained silent, and slipped outside just as Henry stepped in.
Late at night, in the Emperor's bedchamber.
In my view, an emperor had no true private time, but I understood that people generally didn't think that way.
For a man like Henry to rush in during such a late, private hour...
Recognizing that this was almost certainly an urgent matter of state or military affairs, Alice departed without a word, trading places with him seamlessly.
After confirming her departure from the corner of his eye, Henry approached me with a grim expression and presented an envelope.
It was unadorned, yet sturdily made and showing signs of having been strictly sealed.
A confidential report.
The phrase crossed my mind.
"This is a report of utmost urgency."
"Umu."
I accepted it and pulled out the paper inside from the opening Henry had already slit.
Unfolding the sheet, I scanned the contents.
"...His Majesty?"
I could feel my brows knitting together tightly.
The confidential report had come from the imperial capital, bearing news that my father, the retired emperor, had collapsed.
I lifted my gaze and looked at Henry.
His brow was furrowed every bit as deeply as mine.
I see, I thought.
Having received this, he couldn't sit still and had rushed straight to my quarters.
I understood his haste all too well.
Quite some time ago, Father had collapsed once before.
Back when I was still a boy, just after being appointed Imperial Prince Minister of Justice.
That time, too, his collapse had caused quite a stir.
Considerable time had passed since then—which meant Father had grown that much older.
Advanced in years—no, it would be fair to call him truly elderly by now.
It was only natural to assume that this collapse was an even more critical situation than the last.
I could readily understand why Henry was panicked.
After a moment's thought, I asked him, "When did this arrive?"
"Just moments ago. As this was not something I could keep to myself, I rushed to report it to you at once."
"I see. Understood. While it says he collapsed, this gives no details. Given the briefness of the text, things likely haven't reached the 'worst-case scenario' just yet."
"Yes, I believe you are entirely correct."
"Then for the time being, make preparations—enough so that I alone can return if necessary."
"Understood!"
Henry bowed deeply.
If we were in the imperial capital or somewhere closer, I would have ridden back on a swift horse, or used an instant communication method if one existed.
Unfortunately, neither was an option.
I couldn't return immediately, nor could I make contact.
All we could do was wait for follow-up reports while staying prepared to move at a moment's notice.
Henry seemed to understand this as well; relieved to have delivered the report and received sound instructions, his furrowed brow smoothed out slightly.
Looking at him, I spoke with a straight face.
"Just one word of reprimand."
"Eh?"
Raising his head, Henry wore a look that asked, A reprimand?
"Henry, you said you came immediately after receiving this, correct?"
"Yes, as I felt it should reach your ears without delay."
Henry still looked bewildered.
I cast a brief, yet deliberate glance toward the entrance.
The entrance of the tent from which Alice had just departed.
"Even Alice noticed it. There must have been quite a few people along the way who saw how panicked you were."
"Yes... Ah."
Henry gasped.
Then his expression shifted to one of sheer regret, realizing he had slipped up. The way his face drained of color was a rare sight, entirely unlike his usual composure.
Raising the hand holding the envelope, I continued.
"Indeed. While this is an urgent dispatch, it was delivered as a confidential report. Had it been an ordinary urgent dispatch, there would be no issue. But when you rush over in such a panic with a confidential report, it diminishes the very meaning of 'confidential' at the final step."
"F-Forgive me!"
Going past mere pallor to a face white as a sheet, Henry dropped to his knees and bowed his head low.
"The news was so overwhelming that I simply—"
"Enough."
I held up a hand, cutting off his apology and defense.
"It concerns the Retired Emperor—our father's condition. Neither as a son nor as a minister of the Empire could you be expected to remain calm."
"Sire..."
"I am not truly blaming you. It is merely a word of advice. Just keep it in the back of your mind."
"Understood..."
Bowing once more, Henry slowly rose to his feet.
Then, composing himself, he looked at me.
"What is it?"
"Your Majesty truly is remarkable. To remain unshakeable even in the face of this, flawlessly fulfilling your role as the Emperor."
"...Henry."
"Yes?"
"I thank you."
"...Eh?"
Henry blinked blankly.
This time, his face showed confusion over my meaning.
Meeting his gaze, I continued in all seriousness.
"An emperor has no 'private self'; there is only the 'public self.' Because you panicked in my stead, I was able to remain calm. Therefore—"
Pausing briefly, I continued with renewed emphasis.
"I am grateful."
"Not at all!...Your words are far too kind."
☆
After Henry left the tent, I stared at the status display hovering in the corner of my vision.
――――――――――――
Name: Noah Ararat
Emperor of the Empire
Gender: Male
Level: 17 + 1 + 1 / ∞
HP: C+A | Fire: E+S+S
MP: D+B | Water: C+SSS
Strength: C+SS | Wind: E+C
Stamina: D+B | Earth: E+C
Intelligence: D+S | Light: E+S
Spirit: E+A | Darkness: E+B
Speed: E+A
Dexterity: E+A
Luck: D+B
―――――――――――
There was no change in my status whatsoever.
The reason I checked was that the last time Father collapsed, my status had undergone a massive shift.
At that time, every value following a plus sign had maxed out.
Though temporary, I interpreted that to mean Father had entrusted the full authority of the Empire to me, taking advantage of even his own collapse.
This time, that hadn't happened.
The full authority of the Empire had not shifted to me.
In other words, Father was still holding on.
While I still didn't know the exact details, I determined that the situation was, at the very least, not critical.
"..."
And yet, I thought.
I understood why someone like Henry had panicked to that degree.
Father was already very old.
At such an advanced age, even if he was stable right now, it wouldn't be surprising if his condition took a sudden turn for the worse at any moment.
I was the former Thirteenth Imperial Prince—his thirteenth child.
When I was born, Father had already reached the threshold of old age.
More than a decade had passed since then; he was far older now.
Thinking that far...
"Your Majesty?"
"Hm? Ah, Alice."
Alice, who had slipped back inside the tent before I realized it, was watching me with a worried expression.
"You look pale..."
"I can hardly speak of Henry, can I?"
I gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
After lecturing Henry, I had let my own face show enough distress for Alice to notice.
I needed to reflect on that.
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I am going to make a swift return to the capital right now, but I don't want anyone to know. Cover for me for a few days."
"Understood."
"I leave the method to you, but... it's two days. Keep up a situation where no one other than you realizes I'm gone for two days."
"Um..."
"Umu?"
I looked at Alice; she seemed slightly surprised and hesitated.
"If something is troubling you, don't hesitate to ask."
"Yes, um... What about Lord Henry?"
"Keep him in the dark."
"..."
Alice's expression shifted from surprise to perplexity.
"Is it truly all right not to tell him?"
"Yeah."
I gave a slight nod.
Though I told her to keep him in the dark, the moment Alice attempted to cover for me, Henry would see through it no matter how skillfully she played her part.
In fact, the better she did it, the more likely Henry would notice.
That was unavoidable, and since burdening her further would serve no purpose, I kept my reasoning to myself.
"So you are keeping it a secret even from Lord Henry."
"...To deceive your enemies, you must first deceive your allies."
Alice was among those "allies" to be deceived first, but naturally, I didn't say that aloud.
"I'm counting on you."
"I understand."
"I leave the excuse to you; anything goes."
"Anything, you say?"
"If you like, you can tell them I bruised my groin and started passing blood in my urine."
I said with a mischievous smile.
It was meant to ease her obvious tension.
"T-That is..."
"I'm joking. Though it's not entirely a joke, either."
"Eh?"
"At any rate, any method will do, as long as it looks like I am secluding myself inside this tent for two days."
"Yes... I understand."
"I will leave two letters behind. One contains instructions in case you are found out within two days, and the other for if you manage to hold out the full two days."
"Yes."
"I'm counting on you."
"Yes!...Eh?"
Alice seemed to sense something and whipped around to look behind her.
Taking advantage of that split second, I slipped out of the tent.
"...Ah."
I heard Alice's voice through the canvas.
It was tinged with surprise and sudden understanding.
She had realized I manipulated her perception to misdirect her gaze.
I proceeded through the encampment, diverting attention with my presence so that no one would spot me.
Moving like a shadow, I reached the picket line where the warhorses were tethered.
I mounted a saddled horse that had been kept ready for immediate riding.
Astride the steed, I rode out of camp.
I kept the horse at a slow walk for a while, but once we were far enough that the sound of hoofbeats wouldn't carry, I pressed my heels into the stirrups and spurred it into a run.
"Apophis."
『——』
In my mind, Apophis responded with a wordless acknowledgment.
"Can you suppress fatigue? Even temporarily is fine."
『——』
An affirmative reply resonated from Apophis.
Apophis could produce medicines and poisons.
Among them were substances capable of temporarily masking exhaustion and pain, exactly as I needed.
I made that demand of Apophis.
Immediately after, the ring glowed, and a large droplet fell slowly before my eyes.
Like a tuft of cotton or a speck of dust, yet descending straight and steady.
I caught it in my hand and tossed it into my mouth.
Instantly, a sharp clarity washed over my senses.
My mind cleared more vividly than after drinking the strongest of teas.
With Apophis suppressing the fatigue of both myself and the horse, I spurred the steed into a dead gallop, racing straight and at top speed toward the imperial capital.