Chapter 63: Departure to the North
Sushia had made up her mind.
She decided to reveal her hidden secret to Ascal.
“Minister-nim... The truth is...”
“What’s the matter? If you want a snack, come and take one. Since when did you bother with such formalities?”
But it was not easy.
Even for Sushia, the words would rise to her throat, only to get stuck there.
However, Sushia was a lady of the dukedom.
She had been accustomed to high-class education since she was young.
She possessed a trick or two for situations like this.
A strategy known as ‘Boiling Frog’.
Starting with a minor secret, gradually increasing the intensity to reveal a more significant one.
“Minister-nim, I once secretly ate cookies when you were not around...”
Ascal looked at Sushia with disbelief.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”
“Are you forgiving me?”
“No. You’ll be docked pay equivalent to the cookies you stole.”
“How could this be.”
Nonetheless, she had passed the first step.
Though it came at the cost of losing 20% of her salary.
Sushia decided to escalate further.
“I’ve secretly criticized your fashion sense in our office, calling it outdated.”
“Sushia.”
“Yes?”
“Is this some kind of patience test? I lose if I get angry?”
Ascal spoke nonchalantly.
Then he returned to his work.
Sushia sighed with relief.
She had safely passed this stage too.
Raising the water temperature seemed to work so far.
The next day, Sushia decided to increase the temperature further.
“You know, when the ladies were chasing after you, I actually sold them your unused items, like old feather pens. It was quite profitable...”
“Guard!”
“Eek! I’m sorry! Minister-nim! Please forgive me this once!”
Ascal looked at Sushia being dragged away with disdain.
Sushia didn’t know.
In reality, a frog jumps out when it finds itself in boiling water.
“Sob, sob. I won’t do it again.”
Sushia cried, holding onto the bars of a makeshift cell (something like an animal cage).
Fortunately, Sushia was released on probation, at the cost of an entire month’s salary.
Sushia sighed.
There was probably no need to reveal the secret after all.
****
The Empire’s North is cold.
With its rugged terrain and harsh weather,
Subspecies of animals adapted to this climate, commonly referred to as monsters, roam around, and from time to time, tribes looking for warmer lands knock on the Empire’s gates.
It’s a place not for the faint-hearted, but for warriors.
Yet, the Empire did not fear for the North.
For it was guarded by the Iron-blooded Swordmaster, the impenetrable shield of the North, Duke Felix.
“This is serious.”
The Crown Prince let out a sigh upon reading the missive from the North.
The message, brought by an eagle, contained just one word.
<Help.>
Had Duke Felix ever called for help before? Had he ever even hinted at being in distress, even in passing?
Never.
This was undoubtedly an emergency.
The Crown Prince urgently convened a meeting.
****
“There are dwarves, the Stonehead tribe, in the North. Could they have invaded?”
“Nonsense. Why would they suddenly invade the Empire after centuries of peace? And if that were the case, the message would have mentioned dwarves.”
“Or not.”
It was an emergency meeting.
Even the ministers who usually found excuses to skip meetings had no choice but to attend.
Watching them throw in their two cents, the Finance Minister Sorbe pressed his temples.
These people, their absence would be more helpful.
“Could Duke Felix be gravely ill?”
“That’s a possibility.”
“But what exactly does ‘help’ mean in the message? I wish it contained more detailed information.”
Minister Robin of the Magic Department speculated.
“Looking at the seal and handwriting, it’s definitely from Duke Felix. He’s a very pragmatic man. If he only wrote ‘help’, there must be a significant reason.”
“So, we have no concrete information yet?”
“Seems like it.”
Hearing the exchange between Robin and Sorbe, the Foreign Minister Rampon chimed in.
“Let’s just wait. With what we have, there’s nothing we can do right now. Let’s wait for the messenger.”
That was somewhat a valid point.
Though it likely stemmed from a desire to avoid hassle, the statement wasn’t wrong. Robin was about to retort but then held back.
At that moment, as the meeting was about to be adjourned with no resolution, Ascal spoke up.
“I will go to the North.”
“You will?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Ascal.
“This is the message sent by Duke Felix. If this matter requires urgency, it might already be too late. Please send me to the North.”
“Hmm...”
“Would you go to such lengths...”
Robin was impressed.
To think that someone so young, in such a high position, could remain so devoted to the Empire, instead of becoming arrogant or lazy.
‘I knew my judgment was right.’
Robin had been evaluating Ascal since he was a mere civil servant. Although he hadn’t been able to bring him into the Magic Department, seeing him shine in the Empire was gratifying.
“I object.”
The Crown Prince dismissed the idea.
“Let’s be direct. If the North is in a state of emergency, what can a single person do there?”
It wasn’t a wrong assessment. Ascal was neither a Swordmaster capable of facing hundreds alone nor a Great Mage. In the cold North, he would be no more than an ordinary man.
“And if... if we were to lose Ascal in the North, the Empire would suffer an unimaginable loss. That’s something I don’t even want to think about.”
“I agree.”
“Hmm.”
At the same time, the Crown Prince looked at Ascal with warm eyes, as if to say, ‘I recognize your passion for the Empire, now leave it to me.’
‘I’m cornered now,’ Ascal thought, sinking into deep contemplation.
‘The direction of fate points north, north. That way, your wish might just come true.’
Ascal recalled the prophecy.
No sooner had he heard such a prophecy than bad news arrived from the North?
This situation in the North was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
‘I didn’t want to involve him if I could avoid it...’
Ascal glanced at Bernstein sitting next to him.
Bernstein, looking as if wondering what Ascal had gotten into, stared back at him and then seemed to realize something, nodding his head.
Their eyes met.
- Could it be the North?
- Yes. There might be a chance to escape there.
- Are you sure?
- Just trust me.
The Minister of Development and Innovation, Bernstein, spoke up.
“It would be meaningless if only the Minister of Evaluation goes. But if I, a technician, were to go, it would be a different story. I, too, will go to the North.”
“Hmm...!”
The Crown Prince let out a sigh once again.
Honestly, he wanted to dissuade them.
What kind of country sends its top officials to a dangerous area? It really should have been the underlings who were sent.
Yet, at the same time, he wanted to honor the loyalty of these two passionate young men.
“Give me a little more time.”
****
The Crown Prince was deep in thought in his office.
Was it right to dispatch Ascal and Bernstein to the North? Given their history of performing miracles, they might achieve beyond what anyone could imagine.
But what if they were lost? A dark cloud would loom over the Empire once again.
‘It’s not feasible.’
The risk was too great.
Curbing youthful recklessness was also part of a superior’s role. Just as the Crown Prince was about to make his decision,
“Big brother, I have a favor to ask.”
“Good heavens!”
Suddenly, Yulia appeared, catching the Crown Prince off guard, nearly causing him to stumble.
“Please send them to the North.”
Regaining his composure, the Crown Prince, instead of addressing Yulia’s impudence, was curious.
“It’s been a while since you’ve asked for a favor. But why? Yulia, you wouldn’t want Ascal to be in danger either.”
“I will go with them.”
“You?”
The Crown Prince thought reflexively. Was she seeking an opportunity to be alone with him? Yet, he decided not to voice this thought.
“Having you there would indeed make it safer, but that makes it even less permissible. Do you want to make me out to be the bad brother who sends his sister to the cold North?”
“Is it not possible?”
“Yes. I plan to send reliable talents to the North, but not you.”
Yulia turned her head sharply.
“Are you upset?”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince was a bit taken aback. His sister’s emotions seemed to have become more varied recently. Whether this was good or bad, he couldn’t tell.
“Your Highness! Another message has arrived from the North!”
This message was slightly different from the first. The Crown Prince let out a sigh, the third one for the day.
It contained a name.
<Send Ascal to the North.>
This time, it was an official request.
Even for the Crown Prince, it was difficult to ignore a request from the Duke of the North.
Yulia spoke up.
“If you’re that worried, why not send someone else along with them?”
“Who are you suggesting?”
“...father...”
“?”
****
Eventually, the individuals to be dispatched to the North were decided.
Minister of Evaluation, Ascal Erindale.
Minister of Development and Innovation, Bernstein.
“Ministers, please board the carriage!”
It was an impressive procession. Traveling to the North was no easy task. Carriages loaded with supplies and soldiers lined up for the escort.
“I’m not sure if this is the right decision.”
“Bernstein.”
“What?”
“If we fail this time, I’m thinking of giving up... This is my last earnest attempt.”
Ascal gazed into the distance as he spoke, and Bernstein’s eyes slightly reddened.
“Let’s succeed, no matter what. Ascal.”
“Ah... Bernstein.”
As the fists of two unlikely allies were about to meet, another significant figure appeared. Ascal’s pupils dilated in shock upon seeing this person.
“Her Highness Princess Yulia Barba is here!”
Ascal was taken aback. Yulia had clearly taken a leave of absence. Why was she here in person?
“This carriage is not meant for Her Highness!”
“Be quiet, you lowly creature.”
“...?”
But there was something off about her aura.
Yulia, having boarded the carriage Ascal was in, scanned the interior with a languid gaze.
“Quite a smelly carriage, isn’t it?”
Was Yulia always this toxic in personality? Well, yes, but...
While Ascal was lost in thought, Yulia took a seat in the carriage.
And then,
“You always seem to be running away.”
Yulia played with her hair, stroking her platinum locks that fell over her shoulders, and eventually rested her chin on her hand, looking at Ascal.
“If that’s the case, I have no choice but to come and catch you myself. No matter how many times it takes, even dozens.”
Ascal broke out in a cold sweat.
‘Is this really Yulia?’
****
“Minister-nim! I’m finally ready to confess! The truth is...”
No one was there.
Sushia tilted her head in confusion at the sight of the empty office.
A staff member who came to clean said,
“The minister left for the North yesterday.”
“How could this be...”
Sushia collapsed to the ground in dismay.
