Second Life, I’m Dying Soon Chapter 43

Chapter 43

 

Cecil, in the middle of changing clothes, paused and stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror.

“…When did I change this much?”

He rubbed a finger over the scar. At some point, the first digit of the number had turned into a seven.

There was no way to stop the time that dwindled away day by day. All he could do was steel his resolve even further.

“Lord Cecil, are you ready?”

“Just a moment.”

He hastily straightened his clothes and fastened the buttons. As long as the scar was hidden, Cecil was flawless. No one would notice his secret.

After that, Alexis summoned Cecil frequently.

He was extremely busy investigating the assassination attempt and had no time to meticulously attend to state affairs. Of course, he truly was busy, but a large part of it was also that he deliberately wanted to keep Cecil close and watch him.

Anyone who appeared hesitantly in the office was always handed an important task.

“You assigned this to me again?”

“Yes. His Highness said it’s urgent and asked that it be handled today.”

The Crown Prince who had dumped the work on him was nowhere to be seen, and the office was always occupied only by the chief aide, Tristan Dyke, and a few attendants. Even they did little more than relay the Crown Prince’s instructions.

Whenever Cecil looked at the pile of documents stacked high on the desk, he couldn’t help wondering what exactly was going on. He sat down at the desk as told, but the doubtful look on his face never quite faded.

Ever since the hunting tournament, it felt like his relationship with Alexis had changed a little… It was clearly a good sign for him, yet not knowing Alexis’s true intentions left him feeling awkward.

Cecil reached out and picked up a tightly rolled document. His hesitation lasted only a moment. As soon as he turned his attention to the urgent work at hand, his mind cleared of stray thoughts and slipped into focus. He examined the contents seriously and soon picked up an ink pen as well.

Several hours passed like that. Alexis returned after finishing the investigation into the attempted assassination.

Having spent the morning cooped up in the dank underground prison, Alexis halted his steps when he saw the argument unfolding inside his office.

The chief aide and Cecil were facing off as if they were ready to tear each other apart.

“How many times do I have to tell you? This has to be done my way for it to be right.”

“That’s an outdated approach. It’s inefficient in both time and cost. Stop arguing and proceed with the method I proposed.”

“You can’t just insist like that. This isn’t something trivial, it’s a trade issue. Do you have any idea how great the losses would be if things went wrong?”

“Tristan, that’s exactly your problem. Why do you insist on working only within fixed frames? Can’t you let go of that old-fashioned thinking of yours?”

“You’re calling me rigid? And you, Lord Cecil, are far too reckless!”

“Reckless, my foot! Are you deaf? I explained everything earlier!”

“That’s exactly the problem, that explanation makes no sense! It’s far too risky!”

Fierce disagreement flew back and forth over the documents spread across the desk. Neither side yielded an inch, each busy pressing their own argument.

Tristan Dyke was unusually heated, and Cecil, arms crossed, rebutted each of Tristan’s points one by one.

It was hard to believe they had ever gotten along. When it came to work, the two still stood in opposition, just as they had in their previous lives.

Alexis watched the scene with interest. He had stopped walking altogether to observe their argument, standing on the vague boundary between inside and outside the office like a self-appointed overseer.

Claude, who had entered with him, also had no choice but to stop and watch.

“What exactly… are they doing right now?”

“Can’t you tell? They’re in the middle of an argument.”

“I know that much. What I mean is, why is Cecil acting so out of line here?”

Alexis didn’t answer, merely smiled quietly. Claude looked baffled at the sight of Cecil and the chief aide raising their voices, but Alexis, who had entrusted state affairs to the two of them, found their heated clash rather pleasing.

He soon moved toward his own seat. As he settled behind the most ornate and imposing desk in the office, attendants gathered as if they had been waiting for this moment, swiftly laying out fresh paper, ink, and the fountain pen the Crown Prince favored.

“Bring the investigation report. I have matters to discuss closely with the knight commander.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Though they noticed the Crown Prince’s arrival, Cecil and Tristan only lowered their voices slightly and did not stop arguing. Tristan planted a hand on his hip and stubbornly pressed his opposition, while Cecil, wearing an air of ease, countered each point methodically.

“I truly didn’t expect us to disagree this much.”

“What a shame you didn’t know.”

Claude watched with his mouth hanging open. It was astonishing to see Tristan Dyke, known as a capable speaker, being pushed back in a verbal battle.

“I don’t get it.”

“What don’t you get?”

“I don’t understand Your Highness’s intentions. I’m worried Cecil might mess things up at this rate.”

“There’s no need to worry. Cecil is far more capable than you think.”

At last, the dispute seemed to end, and the two separated. Just then, as Cecil turned around, his eyes met Alexis’s, seated at the desk.

Alexis crooked a finger, and Cecil let out a long sigh before approaching.

Alexis slid over a small plate piled with chocolates. For some time now, his desk had always been stocked with easy-to-eat sweets. Of course, he never touched them himself.

“What were you so heated about?”

“…We weren’t fighting. We were just exchanging a few opinions.”

Cecil replied after calming himself.

Only moments ago, he’d been grinding Tristan under his heel, yet now he was as docile as a puppy with its tail tucked.

Cecil popped a chocolate into his mouth and nudged the plate slightly. Alexis glanced up at him.

“Finish them here before you go. Dyke looks like he needs some time alone to cool his head anyway.”

Tristan Dyke’s desk stood close to Cecil’s seat. When Cecil turned back, he could see Tristan clutching his bangs, trying to suppress his anger. Being drawn into Cecil’s pace and having his opinion overturned seemed to rankle him.

“…All right.”

Cecil answered obediently and put another chocolate into his mouth. In the meantime, an attendant brought over a chair so Cecil could sit comfortably and set a teacup in front of him. In an instant, a tea-time arrangement had been prepared.

While that happened, Alexis continued his discussion with Claude. The smile that had lingered on his handsome face had completely evaporated, leaving only serious conversation between the two. The investigation into the attempted assassination remained at an impasse, with no clear evidence.

“What’s the situation with Baron Rowen?”

“As you ordered, we’ve sent a summons.”

“And his reply?”

“None yet. He keeps putting it off, as if he’s preparing something.”

“We can’t give him too much time. Even if we have to drag him in by force, bring him before me.”

“But we lack solid grounds. We can’t single out the baron as a major criminal just because he attended the hunting tournament.”

Cecil, who had been silently sipping his tea, caught every word.

“Are you planning to summon Baron Rowen for questioning as well?”

When Cecil interjected, Claude turned to him with an unpleased expression. Alexis, however, barely changed his face. Resting his chin on his hand, he shifted his gaze. His blue eyes fixed steadily on Cecil, as if inviting him to say whatever he had to say.

“Yes.”

“The baron is quite knowledgeable about poisons. You should collect and examine all the arrows used at the hunting tournament. It’s possible that the baron’s arrows were coated with a potent toxin.”

“How would you know that?”

A question laced with suspicion came back. Naturally so.

It was widely known that Baron Rowen’s archery skills were exceptional, but his deep knowledge of poisons was a closely guarded secret. Only the baron, the empress, and Cecil knew of it.

“I happened to hear it by chance. I don’t believe the baron actually did such a thing, but it wouldn’t hurt to check.”

Alexis’s gaze remained strange.

“And what do you think about the incident where he collapsed after drinking wine? From what I’ve learned, you were the one who handed him the wine.”

“Well, the wine I gave him was nothing special. I didn’t know the baron was that weak to alcohol. If necessary, you can investigate me as well.”

“You’re willing to be investigated?”

“If there’s suspicion, I believe even royalty should be thoroughly investigated.”

Cecil replied calmly and finished the rest of his tea. Though he readily offered himself up for investigation, another meaning lay beneath his words: that the inquiry should extend all the way to the empress, starting with him.

Alexis fell silent in thought. To be honest, he felt grateful that Cecil had stepped forward to set the stage.

If the baron had planned something at the hunting tournament, it couldn’t be overlooked. This might even be the last chance to prove the empress’s involvement.

“Cecil, are you still taking sleeping pills?”

“I stopped some time ago. Thanks to your advice.”

Alexis smiled quietly. He found Cecil’s audacity deeply appealing.