Chapter 10
_ Aia is fine?
I opened the message and was astonished by it ....
[ Good morning Aia
I hope you are in good health, we may not be able to meet at the inn because of the recent events, and I thought I would come to your room secretly tonight. I think the magic must be continuously injected into your body due to the subsequent effects of the dissipation of your injection yesterday, and since I will be free this evening, may I come...
Note: I can use teleportation to your palace; it will be faster and safer for you than you leaving.
Awaiting your reply.... Raf ]
I felt my ears and face burning, that the words of the message were warm, it had embraced my soul. I felt my heart fluttering and my heart rate increasing madly. I put my hand on my heart to gather my breath, took a deep breath, exhaled, and repeated the process several times until I felt somewhat calm. I put the message in my private notebook, then took a small prepared paper and wrote my reply with great composure ....
[ Good evening my friend Raf
I am in the best of health, and thank you for your deep concern. If the injection of magic is so important, then it is fine for you to come secretly tonight. Nine o'clock will be a very suitable time. I will be waiting for you ...
Aia ]
I carefully wrapped the message and placed it in the bird's belly, patted its head, and sent it off. I leaned back, trying to gather my heart. I shook off the scattered thoughts, took a book, and tried to read it, hoping to forget the mad beat of my heart ...
* * *
Raphael was immersed in work. He looked out the window to see a clear sky, as if the storm of the previous two days was an illusion. He sighed for the seventh time and returned to working on the documents while Roalf and the other aides were working in the shared office in a tense atmosphere. The aide Calvin looked at Roalf, meaning, "Haven't you noticed?" but Roalf ignored the matter as if he didn't know. Roalf sighed because he somewhat didn't know the situation well, but he was certain that the woman the Emperor was corresponding with was very important, to the extent that he had summoned him since dawn to send her a message..
Tsk Tsk Tsk !!!
The sound of knocking on the door broke the profound silence, and the Emperor spoke
" Enter "
Marshal entered and bowed
" Your Majesty, it is lunchtime. Would you like us to place the food in your office or in the dining room?!"
Raphael lifted his head from the documents and said with extreme boredom and a bad mood
" I do not want any. We have too much work ."
Marshal sighed because this habit had been with his master for a long time. He did not care much for food, and rarely ate unless necessary. Then he remembered
" Ah, Your Majesty ... The magic bird is waiting at the window of your private office "
Raphael stood up impulsively and said with impatience
" Why didn't you speak first?."
" I came to inform you "
Raphael's mood changed in a flash. Then he turned to the aides
" Take an hour break for lunch, then you may finish your work. Viscount Timothy, Baron Roalf, after the break, bring the finished documents to my office for review and stamping. Baron Stanley and Count Calvin, arrange the schedule for the incoming and present delegations and inform me "
Calvin spoke quickly
" Your Majesty, you have a meeting with King Nathan in the conservatory at half past three "
" The conservatory?"
Calvin and the rest sensed Raphael's annoyance, because the Imperial Conservatory was not a place that could be a headquarters for meetings, simply because it was the inheritance of the late Empress and no one had entered it except the late Emperor, Raphael, and the gardener who had been appointed by the Empress before her death.
" The Count means the outer conservatory, and we scheduled the meeting there because King Nathan is not in good health, and his doctors confirmed that it is better not to stay in enclosed spaces, and fresh air is good for him. And because the King holds a lot of loyalty to our Empire and to our Emperor, he was keen to participate in the New Year's Eve celebration "
Raphael looked at him with conviction and moved. Marshal turned to Roalf and smiled at him, meaning " Well done ", Marshal felt that Roalf, who had become a close aide to Raphael, understood his master, so he explained the matter briefly and clearly and absorbed the annoying situation ...
The Emperor and his personal servant left to reach Raphael's office, while the aides breathed a sigh of relief as soon as their overwhelming master left. Calvin clapped Roalf on the back cheerily and said
" You saved me, man, I was almost certainly going to die today .."
Roalf laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head
" I didn't do anything ..."
Stanley laughed and said honestly
" His Majesty has a dangerous aura, I feel like I will die if he stays longer "
Roalf smiled gently and said
" His Majesty is a good person"
Timothy laughed and patted Roalf's back and said
" Please say otherwise, you know when I was offered the job I was deciding to join the Knights Order instead of getting involved in work with the terrifying Emperor, more than twenty aides fled in one year because of him ...."
Calvin interrupted him with a laugh
" You know that the person nominated as a First Aide considers it the end of his career, it was torture, so they would flee with their skins, no one stayed for more than a month, you set a record by being the closest since you joined a year ago and immediately started working as a First Aide, you have strong courage, so I respect you my friend"
Roalf laughed awkwardly and Timothy spoke hastily
" Hurry up, we don't have all the time to talk, let's eat before the Emperor changes his mind and comes back "
They moved towards their designated dining room, and Calvin spoke with confusion
" Didn't you get curious to know the message that made His Majesty behave like this?"
" I think the matter is very important, but, I have never seen the Emperor act this way, considering I am the oldest among you "
" Calvin, how are you the oldest when you have only worked with His Majesty for two years "
The rest laughed and Calvin said thoughtfully
" Roalf, what do you think His Majesty is hiding, I mean you are the closest to him "
" Why would His Majesty tell me? "
Roalf spoke with as friendly a smile as possible, he knew that the message concerned that young lady Aia and that his master was in a very bad mood yesterday, and his question grew: what is the link between the Emperor and Lady Aia? He did not dwell on the matter for long, and soon his thoughts returned to being occupied with completely other matters ...
* * *
After Raphael left the office, Marshal followed him quietly, and they reached his private office. Raphael went to the magic bird, and the bird quickly approached Raphael as if it was waiting for him ...
Raphael pulled the message from the bird's belly and read it immediately, his tense expressions smoothly relaxed, rather a small smile crept onto his lips, all of this happening in front of a surprised Marshal. What confused Marshal was the story of the magic bird that had turned his master's mood upside down, not just the bird, but his master's actions in recent times. He started behaving like someone protecting something precious and dear. Marshal thought ' Is it a woman ' his desire was intense for his master to have a heart to feel. Marshal sighed, which made Raphael flinch, he realized that Marshal was present, embarrassment washed over his face then he said in a steady voice
" Bring tea, I do not want food, just bring tea "
" I obey your Majesty's orders"
Marshal bowed deeply and left, Marshal realized that his master still needed time to get used to these feelings, so he desperately wanted to help him ...
Raphael returned to covering his face with embarrassment and laughed like a child caught in the act of playing a prank, he quickly wiped his face and opened the message to read it again, he felt Aia's voice in the message, he felt relieved as if the mountain that had burdened his heart all night long had been completely removed, he remembered the events of the previous day and rearranged his plans for her ...
* * *
"When I headed to my office yesterday, I sat patiently until Roalf arrived and when he entered I spoke curtly with a fierceness and anger that almost crushed my head"
" Roalf, who made sure of the security procedures when I left the palace this morning "
I saw the confusion on his face, so he spoke and said with clear sincerity
" I, Your Majesty, as usual I prepared the carriage and put what you requested: a blanket and a magic stone for warmth "
" Did anyone see you preparing the carriage?!"
" No, Your Majesty, no one was nearby and I was completely disguised"
" Did you leave the carriage unattended even for a moment?!"
" No, I handed it over to Sir Wilton "
" You say you didn't leave it until you handed it over to Casper?! "
" Yes, Your Majesty "
The confusion on Roalf's face increased: what are all these questions, but he answered honestly and without hesitation, looking at me as if to say ' Why does he seem so angry?! '
I sighed trying to calm myself down then the door knocked and Casper and Brian arrived almost panting, it seemed they had rushed here immediately after their arrival. I looked at them and said
" Is there an explanation for what happened today?!"
They bowed in shame then Brian spoke in an annoyed voice
" Your Majesty, we do not know what happened, but we are ashamed of our negligence towards Your Majesty"
" Did you feel strange behavior here, at the inn, or on the road?!"
They both looked at each other then spoke at the same time
" Nothing suspicious ..."
Suddenly Casper opened his mouth
" I don't think it was important or not ... when I was waiting for the Lady, a man passed by me who was running fast and bumped into me ... just that "
Casper suddenly remembered something and spoke simply, I looked at him intently then signaled with my hand
" Come "
Casper tilted his head in confusion and worry and pointed to himself, I took a deep breath and nodded yes, Casper swallowed his saliva and advanced towards me and I simply put my hand on his head, I tried to detect any magic on him, and my intuition was right, I felt Casper's nervousness and fear, so I spoke calmly while inside I was boiling ...
" A tracking spell has been placed on you"
The three opened their mouths in shock and tears rolled down Casper's eyes and Casper dropped to the floor
" Your Majesty ... this is my fault for my laxness, punish me!"
I pressed my temple in annoyance
" You were lax, but what happened, happened. What I want to know now is: who are the ones tracking me? And what is their goal?! "
" Should I send a secret team to investigate?! "
Roalf's words were what I wanted but in a different way, so I smiled coldly while inside I boiled
" I want to use the Shadow Guilds .. "
The three looked at me in astonishment then I took a deep breath and headed to my desk, sitting on its edge, and looked at their astonishment
" If we search in the usual ways, they will know my identity and Aia's identity ..."
I paused to try to resume my speech, I was confused why I had never called her by her name since I met her but just pronouncing it made it a name easy to pronounce and sweet on my tongue. I looked at Casper's refreshed expressions, Roalf's confusion, and the astonishment in Brian's eyes, I knew I had made a mistake so I cleared my throat calmly
" As I said, my identity should not be revealed, and the Shadow Guilds serve whoever pays them, and a contract is concluded not to disclose, they are guaranteed and secret "
The three liked the idea ' They really seem similar '
Casper stood up with the discipline of a knight and looked at me enthusiastically
" Your Majesty, leave the matter to me, I want to compensate for what happened "
I narrowed my eyes at him and said sternly
" I will leave the matter to you, if a mistake happens ..."
" Your Majesty, I will not let you down "
I felt the sincerity in his voice, then I looked at Roalf and said
" Prepare a list of the nobles and all the important information about them, I need it within a week .. "
Roalf bowed " I obey your orders "
I looked at the expectant Brian ' It seems he also wants work '
" Brian! I want you to monitor the inn and give me a report, do not use the Imperial Knights, I will give you permission to request support from the Ghost Knights "
Brian's jaw dropped, even the rest were astonished, and Brian nodded his head and knelt down, he and the rest
" We obey your orders, Your Majesty "
I signaled them to leave and indeed they left, and before Casper and Brian left, Casper asked worriedly
" Your Majesty, it might be rude, is the Lady fine "
I was surprised by the question, but I answered
" She is fine now, but she was harmed by what happened "
I felt Casper and Brian's eyes change, but what surprised me were Casper's words
" Tell the Lady that we always wish her well, and we promise her that we will teach the troublemakers a lesson "
I raised my eyebrow in wonder ' Why do they care about Aia?! ' but I suppressed my question and signaled them to leave ...
* * *
And that night I sent a message to Evan for an urgent meeting, Evan had barely ended the call before he arrived at the private office ..
I was sitting with my hands clasped under my chin, looking at Evan then returning my gaze to the papers, and finally after the suffocating silence that Evan felt, I spoke
" Viscount Wilson, I want to open an investigation about him, I do not want to accuse him of working for the Temple even if he is a spy for the Temple, I want to research the Viscount himself, what is he hiding and is the righteousness he shows a facade for what he hides? "
" Researching corruption cases, are you requesting that?! "
" You always ask questions you know the answer to "
I smiled with satisfaction, and returned my gaze to Evan who was skeptical, but he opened his mouth
" Your Majesty, may I be entrusted with this mission? "
" Do you have a means?"
" The Shadow Guilds "
I raised my eyebrow in astonishment, truly, sometimes I feel that Aia and Evan think similarly, so I suppressed my words, I saw the look of disapproval on Evan's face ...
" Well, that's fine ... I was basically going to tell you to do that "
" Your Majesty, you look different "
Evan's question was logical, I had changed .. and I was not sorry for that, so I said
" Isn't that good?! "
"..."
Evan nodded affirmatively then I added, remembering
" Oh Evan, I want a magic stone .. it must be able to withstand a large amount of energy, it must be solid and strong "
" Well, what do you think of a Dam stone, it is solid and hard "
" No no, the Dam stone is too big and coarse, I want a very small and strong stone "
Evan looked at me with complication then I clarified
" A stone the size of a fingernail or smaller, that is strong, small, and beautiful "
Evan's eyes widened, and he looked at me with skepticism then said
" Your Majesty, what is your purpose for the stone "
" To make a communication and protection tool "
Evan put his hand under his chin then said with crescent eyes
" Is the stone for a girl?! "
Why is everyone excited when the person concerned is a woman, I do not deny that Aia is special, but aren't they exaggerating a little, I sighed and answered him
" Yes, and is the matter strange?! "
Evan was surprised but he spoke with enthusiasm
" Well, there is one type, a small, beautiful, and very strong stone that you can charge with magic, and it works for a very long time, it has many uses, a Mora stone "
" Mora stone?! "
" Yes Your Majesty, it is a beautiful stone and can be polished as a beautiful piece of jewelry and no one realizes that it is a magic stone ... but it is rare and very expensive "
' And why does he care about its price '
" Buy it, and if it is polished, have them make it as a piece of jewelry easy to wear, and can be worn at any time .. "
" Fine Your Majesty, I will send a request for..."
" I want it by early morning "
I was in a hurry to give it to Aia, she might be harmed if anyone knew her identity, so safety first ...
" Your Majesty, don't you know that the matter will be difficult? "
But Evan responded with annoyance to the matter, I spoke firmly
" That's fine, I need to meet her tomorrow, so the magic stone must be ready early so it can be charged "
I saw Evan frown but he controlled himself and nodded yes, then Evan said curiously ..
" Sir, who is that Lady?! "
I looked at him and said coldly
" What is it to you?! "
So Evan frowned then said
" I was curious, but that's fine ... I will know sooner or later "
I laughed at his childish actions then spoke firmly
" Well, get going "
" I will ask for permission now "
Evan bowed and asked for permission and after I gave it, he left by teleportation ..
I sighed then looked at the wall, I was laughing but I was very worried, I hope she is fine
* * * When morning came, I had not slept yet, I could never sleep, the worry still kept me awake, so I kept working all night, at dawn I summoned Roalf to deliver the message to check on Aia, after I sent the message I returned to work and while I was waiting for the message, the gem that Evan presented arrived, he was trustworthy, a necklace of pure silver from which a deep black gem dangled, I looked at it, it was extremely beautiful ' Will she like it?!'
It doesn't matter, it's a protection tool, but she must like it to keep wearing it. Evan sent a note that it usually needs half a day to a day to fully charge, but considering my power is several times that of ordinary sorcerers, it will only need three hours of intensive energy, and that it might be good training for Mana stability ...
And indeed, I gave Marshal a warning that I needed to rest for some time and did not want any disturbance, and I held the necklace in the palm of my hand and closed my eyes, and I poured the pure magic into the gem which received the Mana deeply, and I poured the magic for three hours, protection magic, communication magic ..
When I finished I felt my energy depleted, so I stretched out on the sofa to rest a little, I couldn't sleep but I was able to rest somewhat, I was thinking about Aia, a strange girl who has many hidden things but I feel comfortable and confident, she is a special person I fear losing, so the sleeplessness and fatigue from thinking returned to my head once more, so I returned to work ...
* * *
After receiving the message from Aia, Raphael was very relaxed and had drunk the tea comfortably and stretched out on the sofa and felt a desire to sleep, so he rang the bell for Marshal to enter
" Marshal, I will sleep for only two hours, you must come in and wake me up, I have important appointments "
" Your Majesty, according to your schedule, you have an extra hour, why don't you sleep for three hours "
" Fine, I have a meeting with King Nathan, I must be ready for the appointment "
Marshal wanted his master to rest so he suggested that, but he was surprised by his master's response, and he was happy while thinking
' His mood improved after the message, I've become curious '
" Fine, Your Majesty "
He bowed and left, Raphael felt peace and slept deeply, the worry that had burdened his heart all night was gone, now Aia is fine ...
...... To be continued ......