novelraw Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149 : Chapter 149
Chapter 149: The Dethroned Prince (1)
Ellen got off the coachman's seat.
That was already a few days ago.
Ellen's footsteps were heading towards the capital of the Empire.
Her pace was as fast as when she had first headed from the North to Premont.
“Why am I going to the capital…”
Ellen kept muttering on the way.
Even though she was the one who was invited.
“Why am I the Grand Heir…”
She said such things too.
‘How tenacious.’
I praised Ellen's acting.
She was becoming more shameless by the day.
‘By the way, she had no intention of going in the first place.’
The mage who had told Balbebron and Alena about the sea route.
Ellen had wanted to confirm that mage.
It was for Harad, who wanted to find the glacier.
So, honestly, I had expected Ellen to go to the capital after she had finished her business.
She had a naturally curious personality, and the capital and the imperial family were certainly words that stimulated curiosity.
“Why am I going to the capital…”
But Ellen was muttering like that.
It meant her trip to the continent was purely for my sake.
That's why Ellen had accepted the imperial family's invitation.
It was a grateful thing, but not to the point of being moved.
She had only accepted the invitation; Ellen had no actual intention of going to the capital.
‘It's a good thing, though.’
It was something the Grand Heir Elaine of the past life would have never imagined.
Certainly, Ellen was changing.
“Don't you dislike it?”
“What?”
“The capital. It's dangerous.”
“Well. I'm fine.”
The regressed Harad was confident that he would not be discovered as a mage by anyone.
“Would you rather wait nearby?”
Ellen clapped her hands as if it were a good idea.
She seemed to have recalled a dream she had once.
In her past life, Elaine had not taken Harad to the capital during her Grand Heir days.
She had dragged him along and made him wait nearby.
It was a fitting treatment.
The Harad of that time had been lacking in many ways.
It would be a different story if it were when Elaine ascended to the Grand Duke's position.
It was around that time that the Harad of the past life had experienced the capital.
“You don't have to worry about me. I'll just accept the thought.”
“Tsk.”
Ellen clicked her tongue.
‘It wasn't just about my worries.’
If she went, Ellen had to disappear.
And Elaine would appear.
Ellen seemed to be more worried about that.
‘It would be troublesome.’
How would Ellen handle it?
Unlike in the North, there would be no suitable excuse in the Empire.
“By the way, the Grand Heir is a disappointment too.”
I shook my head from side to side.
At that, Ellen's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Isn't it? He said he was going to the capital, but not only has he not arrived, but there has been no news.”
“Something must have happened.”
“Not playing around?”
“What are you talking about? The Grand Heir isn't like that.”
Ellen earnestly defended herself.
“It's not that something happened, nor is he playing around. The Grand Heir must have already arrived in the capital.”
“But the Intelligence Bureau doesn't know?”
Ellen scoffed.
“Because the Grand Heir is amazing. He must have arrived in the capital without anyone knowing.”
“But why isn't he meeting the imperial family?”
“He must want to screw them over. No Serzila likes the imperial family.”
Ellen, who had said so, nodded her head with a satisfied face.
It seemed to be a satisfactory answer even in her own opinion.
“You too?”
“That's true, but I'm not going to think rashly.”
“Why?”
“I haven't experienced it yet. I have to experience it and then judge.”
Elaine would surely be the same.
I smiled warmly. It was his influence.
It was also Wimar's influence.
Internally and externally, that woman was growing.
“Will you get angry for me in the capital too? So much that I'll be embarrassed?”
“If such a thing happens.”
Ellen had a matter-of-fact face.
“If you're not there?”
“...Why wouldn't I be there?”
“You never know, the Intelligence Bureau Director might call you.”
I nonchalantly gave her the answer.
Ellen's face brightened slightly.
It was a subtle change that only a close person would have noticed.
“Then the Grand Heir will get angry for you. I'll tell him to do so.”
“You must be very close.”
“Because we're from the same Serzila.”
They are the same.
“What do you think? About the Emperor.”
Ellen asked out of the blue.
She would experience it and then judge.
But she seemed to want to hear my thoughts before that.
“The Emperor? A scarecrow.”
I answered immediately.
“The Enverques are idiots.”
Enverque.
That is, the imperial family was idiotic.
“It's not a matter of bloodline. It's just how it is now.”
Ellen had a somewhat surprised face.
“This is the first time I've heard you talk like that about anything other than the Otherworld.”
“Well, that's my thought. Maybe it's not.”
Perhaps there is one Enverque in the capital who is not an idiot.
At least, that's what the Harad of the past life had heard.
* * *
The imperial capital, Enverna, is a very glamorous city.
The buildings were high and dense, and the main roads were so crowded that it was difficult to walk. Nevertheless, the smell of perfume, not body odor, pricked the nose from all directions.
If you grabbed a random person on the street and asked, there was a good chance they were a rich person, and a low chance they were a noble.
Enverna was the city with the largest population and the most money.
Ellen no longer acted like a country bumpkin.
It was thanks to having been surprised once in Premont.
Of course, compared to Enverna, Premont becomes a shabby city.
“There are no buildings higher than the watchtower here either.”
The Watchtower of Fire had become one of Ellen's standards.
Even a mere watchtower is so high, how amazing must the cities of the Otherworld be.
Thanks to that thought, Ellen was no longer surprised by the development of the continent.
“Where do you think the Grand Heir is?”
“Hmm.”
At my question, Ellen stroked her chin and pondered.
“Where do you think he is?”
Ellen naturally passed the question on.
“I know he enjoys alcohol and cigarettes like you do.”
“Hey. No way he'd come all the way to the capital just to drink?”
“If he's thinking of screwing over the imperial family, it's a good option. It means that cheap alcohol is more important than the imperial family.”
“Oh.”
Ellen pursed her lips.
“Then there's a high probability that it's a deserted and unpopular tavern, right? Since there's been no news.”
“That would be it. Such taverns are usually in the north.”
The Imperial Palace is located in the south.
Ellen didn't ask how he knew such things.
Because she knew that I would answer that it was a secret anyway.
“Then shall we head that way for now?”
Ellen turned towards the north.
After some time, Ellen bumped into a passerby and her shoulder was pushed. I found that sight quite awkward.
‘That shouldn't be possible.’
Ellen would be fine even if a carriage crashed into her.
“He's an Intelligence Bureau agent.”
Ellen whispered.
“I see. What did he say?”
“The Intelligence Bureau Director, that is, my mother, has summoned me.”
“Is the Intelligence Bureau Director in the capital?”
“I don't know. It could be my mother, or it could be my mother's representative.”
The location of the Intelligence Bureau Director is a secret.
Ellen added.
“I think I have to go.”
“I'll go with you.”
“...She told me to come alone.”
Ellen had a thick skin.
She had a talent for magic.
“Then I can't help it.”
I took a step back.
There was no reason to provoke her further here.
The identity of Ellen was very useful for providing stimulus.
“Will you be okay?”
“If the Grand Heir is in the north, then well.”
“He will be.”
“He'll be in the oldest, and dirtiest tavern.”
I decided on a meeting place.
‘Do you have a change of clothes? Ah. There must be a safe house nearby.’
It is the city where the imperial family is located.
It was one of the places the Intelligence Bureau had put the most effort into.
“I'm sorry.”
“It's fine. I understand.”
“I'll be back soon.”
Ellen said so and disappeared into the crowd.
‘Is she meticulous, or careless?’
Ellen's confidence was too much.
Of course, it was a magical item that couldn't be helped.
No matter how careless she was, there was no way she would be discovered.
‘Born a woman, acting as the Grand Heir, and finding the Grand Heir's life stifling, she goes around playing as a collateral branch.’
Who could suspect that Ellen and Elaine were the same person?
In my opinion, only a regressor could come up with such an idea.
‘Shura can see it, so.’
Ellen would not be able to thank Shura enough. That girl was very kind.
“The oldest, and dirtiest tavern.”
In fact, I don't know the details.
I had to start looking for it now.
* * *
It is the most glamorous city on the continent, but there is a dark side everywhere.
If there is a large population, there is a lot to do, and if there is a lot of money, you can hire people.
The people who work for money are usually concentrated in the north.
It was a district where mercenaries and other contractors held sway.
-Do you know something? There's a guy in the capital who shits in the middle of a tavern.
-Where on earth did you go?
-I told you, a tavern.
-I mean, which tavern.
-I don't remember the name.
It was the oldest, and dirtiest tavern.
I explored the surroundings, recalling the conversation from my past life.
-That shitting guy was a big shot.
-Anyone would think so.
-No, really.
I didn't have many memories of the capital.
To the Harad of the past life, it was a burdensome land.
It didn't bother me later, but it was like that when Elaine was the Grand Heir.
To do something in this era, I had to rely on the conversations I had with Elaine.
I walked leisurely, scanning the surroundings thoroughly.
I had to give Ellen time to change into Elaine.
By now, she must have finished changing and be looking for the oldest and dirtiest tavern.
In the past life or now, Elaine is ultimately Elaine.
Her eye for things wouldn't be much different.
‘I think it's over there.’
It was a tavern with a precarious sign.
I waited for a while in the alley across the street and then went inside.
“Oh!”
As soon as I entered, someone exclaimed.
It was Elaine.
“Harad! You really came to the capital!”
Elaine was as happy to see me as if we had met after a long time.
I was happy to see her too.
Just as he had, Elaine had also chosen this place as the oldest, and dirtiest tavern.
‘They say you become like those you spend time with.’
Our perspectives had become similar.
‘Or am I the one who’s accommodating her?’
Leftover food and a half-empty bottle of alcohol were on the table.
‘Did she eat that much in that short time?’
Elaine was serious about her acting.
“Why are you here? The imperial family must be waiting.”
I immersed myself in the role.
“Well. I said I was going, I didn't say I was going as soon as I arrived.”
Elaine answered vaguely.
‘Come to think of it, was the answer that she wanted to screw over the imperial family not so good?’
Ellen had said she would experience it and then judge.
Elaine had to do the same.
“Are you disappointed?”
Elaine glanced at my expression.
“Why would I be disappointed? I'm not.”
“I heard from the Intelligence Bureau. That there was a lot going on in Ekampote.”
Elaine chose to face it head-on.
For me, it was a welcome shamelessness.
The reason to waste my breath had disappeared.
“Is it delicious?”
I didn't ask questions that would be difficult for Elaine to answer.
That was better for both of us.
“Hmm. It's worth eating in secret.”
It meant she wouldn't have come if it weren't for the conversation on the way.
“You have some too.”
“I've already eaten.”
“You haven't, though?”
I ignored her.
Although I eat anything, but… really?
Just looking at the food made me feel sick.
“If you want, we can go now.”
“We don't have to go now. Finish your food.”
“……”
I sat across from Elaine.
The chair creaked. The table was clearly marked with sauce stains. Some of them even had mold.
‘I don't think there's a dirtier place than this.’
The management was a mess.
I glanced at the bar and the owner was nonchalant.
This must be his daily life.
“Aren't you eating?”
“I'm full.”
Elaine only drank alcohol.
I continued to look around. Cheap food and alcohol, the stench, beggar-like people, low-class mercenaries, and among them, a tall beggar shitting on the floor…….
-Why did you go to the shitting tavern?
-It was by chance. As soon as I arrived in the capital, someone started following me, so I wanted to test how far they would follow me. It must have been someone from the imperial family. They didn't follow me into that tavern.
In the past life.
The only person Elaine could call a friend was me.
-He was a funny shitter. We hit it off well. So I often met him whenever I went to the capital.
But it wasn't that there was no one who could have become a friend.
“What a madman.”
Elaine furrowed her brow and turned her head.
The tall beggar had finished shitting and was cleaning up.
“He seems to be a good match for the Grand Heir.”
“What?”
Elaine's face contorted even more.
“Me? With that madman?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of crazy talk…”
“He's an Enverque.”
Just then.
“The Emperor is a son of a bitch!”
The tall beggar shouted.
“The Emperor is a mage!”
“...That?”
Elaine was incredulous.
“That's why he was dethroned.”
The capital, Enverna.
In a corner of that glamorous city, lives a dethroned Enverque.
A crown prince suffering from madness.