“But why would my brother do that?”
Floria asked, looking puzzled.
“Do you not like sitting in the special seats?”
“It’s not that…”
“You’ll get a much better view of the parade from there.”
“Really?”
“Of course! What if we prepare a special snow-white formal dress? It’ll match perfectly with the snow!”
“Should we?”
Floria quickly got excited and started chattering about the outfit. I smiled warmly.
‘Sitting in special seats, wearing matching formal clothes…’
If rumors like that started spreading, people would definitely find it strange. They’d wonder why Caesar was suddenly so invested in the snow festival.
And that suspicion— I was going to feed it. Using fake information delivered through Olche and Alvin, through the eavesdropping device, straight to whoever was behind the scenes.
‘I’m glad Sir Alvin agreed to the plan so willingly.’
The moment he heard everything, Alvin had asked to hear the strategy without a hint of hesitation. He said he’d do anything he could to help.
He even said that accepting this kind of risk was just part of the job when you’re the emperor’s aide.
‘Now it’s just up to their acting skills…’
I was most worried about Olche’s acting— based on past experience. Fortunately, this time we had a one-month buffer.
The false information would be leaked slowly over that month. Seeping in naturally, so no one would suspect anything.
‘If they hear it, there’s no way they’ll resist coming to the snow festival.’
Normally, nobles didn’t attend the snow festival. But if someone made an appearance this time?
That person would likely be the one who spread the rumors— and the one eavesdropping on Alvin.
‘That’s how we lure them out.’
Rumors and eavesdropping—the first phase was the rumor.
*****
A round table, towering windows that nearly touched the ceiling, ornate chandeliers and tapestries.
Though it looked like an ordinary drawing room, it was layered with multiple security spells. Not a single word spoken inside could escape.
Seated in the darkest part of the room was the host, Viscount Krause. She slouched in her chair, barely visible in the shadows.
“You still don’t know exactly what the emperor’s power is, Viscount?”
The man at the head of the table, the silver-haired Baron Hetchian, spoke. His tone held a veiled criticism of the viscount.
Since Duke Spiegel’s death, Krause had become the de facto leader of the noble faction.
She had been the closest to the late duke.
Still, some nobles continued to doubt her abilities. Her manner and speech seemed too lighthearted, and she didn’t appear particularly capable. Baron Hetchian was one of them.
Krause replied casually.
“No, I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Hmph…”
Baron Hetchian let out a disapproving grunt, but Krause didn’t react.
She was well aware of the noble faction’s opinions about her, but had no intention of correcting them. From the beginning, she only saw these nobles as tools to use.
That’s why she hadn’t revealed who she was secretly communicating with— not even that she’d received the magical eavesdropping device and planted it in the emperor’s aide.
As Krause maintained her nonchalant attitude, Baron Hetchian began dredging up old issues.
“There’s the export matter too… Ever since Duke Spiegel passed, nothing has gone right.”
“…”
“Didn’t you ask to borrow our territory for that? Said it would let Baron Gobet keep his export rights? And what happened? We got nothing but backlash.”
Even in the face of such blatant criticism, Krause didn’t respond. She simply stared back at him.
“And this time as well. Rumors about the emperor have spread, sure, but that alone won’t bring him down. Wasn’t it you who suggested we start spreading them?”
Baron Hetchian glanced around the table, as if seeking agreement. Several nobles nodded, and he continued with renewed vigor.
“You’ve all heard the news, I’m sure— that the emperor and the former princess are going to the snow festival. And yet you claim to know nothing about this strange behavior?”
“What is there to know about the snow festival?”
Baron Hetchian clicked his tongue.
“Isn’t it strange? How many emperors have ever gone to that festival? And now he’s arranging special seats, having formal wear prepared… There are rumors he’s putting great effort into it.”
“And?”
“He must be trying to turn the rumors around!”
Baron Hetchian puffed up his chest as he spoke. At some point, he had casually dropped all formal speech.
“He probably plans to appear affectionate with his sister to counter the tyrant image!”
“Attending one festival isn’t going to undo the rumors. And as I’ve said from the start, we’re spreading these rumors slowly and subtly.”
“Who’s to say it’s even working?”
“If the emperor is attending because he’s worried about the rumors— then that alone proves it’s having an effect, doesn’t it?”
“Hmph… Then what about this supposed power? The power the emperor supposedly has—does it even exist?”
Now that the conversation was turning against him, the baron tried to shift the topic. Krause stayed silent.
The truth was, even she didn’t know the nature of the emperor’s ability. Due to the magical suppression in the palace, magical tools wouldn’t work there.
Emboldened by Krause’s silence, the baron pressed on.
“Thanks to all this talk about powers and such, the rumors are becoming unbelievable! The idea that he has some strange ability is ridiculous.”
“That’s nothing to worry about. We’ll have answers about his ability soon enough.”
“How?”
“I have a reliable source.”
Krause lied deliberately. She had no intention of telling them about the magical tool planted in Alvin’s body.
“And the snow festival…?”
“That’s nothing to worry about either.”
Krause cut him off coldly.
“It won’t be enough to overturn the rumors.”
“You’re saying we shouldn’t attend the snow festival?”
“No. Just ignore it. There’s no reason to draw more attention to the emperor.”
“You’re saying not to attend?”
“Of course.”
At a loss for words, the baron finally fell silent.
Krause looked around the table and then, as if to change the mood, spoke calmly.
“Now, let’s move on and discuss the former princess’s protection.”
*****
A month passed, and finally, the day of the snow festival arrived.
Just as planned, Caesar and Floria’s attendance had been heavily publicized. That was part of the reason why there were far more people than usual at the festival.
When I arrived at the venue, I looked around with wide eyes. Katana, Floria, and even Caesar were just as amazed.
“It’s like the kingdom of snow!”
Just as Katana exclaimed, the entire area was covered in snow-white fields. It looked like it would remain bright even after nightfall.
‘They said there’d be a lot of snow, but I didn’t expect this much.’
We hadn’t come all that far from the capital, and yet it felt like a completely different world here. Aside from the walkways, the snow was piled up to the waist in most places.
The temperature was also noticeably colder. One quick-witted maid from the princess’s palace hurried to drape a thick cloak over Floria’s shoulders.
“You’ll catch a cold like this.”
“Thanks!”
I glanced at Katana.
‘I should probably find something for Katana to wear too.’
Despite Floria’s insistence, Katana wasn’t in a dress or anything fancy. She wore her usual activewear, which looked even thinner than the dress I was wearing.
“Katana, aren’t you cold?”
I asked in concern, and Katana widened her eyes.
“Not at all!”
Then she proudly showed me the necklace hanging around her neck.
“I always use this to keep my body at the right temperature!”
“Oh…”
It must have been a magically enchanted necklace.
‘Guess I was worrying about the wrong person.’
Turns out, everyone except me had come prepared for the cold.
As I stared at the white puffs of breath leaving my mouth and shivered, Caesar came up beside me and asked,
“Eve, are you cold?”
“Huh? Oh, no, I’m fine!”
I quickly waved my hands.
“We’ll be moving to the viewing area soon anyway.”
The seating was set up along both sides of the parade route. From what I’d heard beforehand, the viewing area was enchanted with a warm magical aura.
We just needed to wait here a little longer before heading over.
A few more minutes would be fine.
But Caesar looked at my dress with a displeased expression.
Then suddenly, he started to take off the jacket of his uniform.
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