Chapter 107: Wrong Encounter (2)

“So, the reason you sought me out…”

Katrina spoke as she sliced the bread. She had kneaded and baked it herself. With the rising steam came a delicious aroma.

Yuri nodded.

“Yes. I’ve come to ask for your help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I want to enter the Imperial Palace.”

“The Imperial Palace?”

Yuri nodded again.

“I’d like the princess to invite me.”

The Imperial Palace, where the emperor resided, wasn’t a place just anyone could enter. Though there were limited areas where outsiders were allowed, they were minimal.

To go deeper required either the emperor’s permission or the accompaniment of a member of the imperial family.

“Why?”

“Just curiosity. It’s the most secret place on the entire continent, isn’t it?”

“And why me? I heard you’re close with my uncle.”

“His Highness Ragnar seems to be very busy lately.”

“I’m busy too…”

“I didn’t mean to imply that the princess has free time.”

“I have to bake muffins, make jam…”

“You seem to really like bread.”

“Yes. In fact, I even seduced Cedric with bread.”

“Really?”

“I see you really care about my brother. Your eyes change when you mention him.”

“Because I respect him greatly.”

“How sweet that sounds.”

Yuri thought she was quite a pleasant person. Her words and actions were kind, and her hobbies were simple.

He had never imagined a member of the imperial family baking bread wearing a baker’s cap. His brother really had a good eye for choosing a partner.

“Try it.”

Yuri bit into the piece of bread Katrina had cut for him. The sweet, buttery flavor filled his mouth; it surely had plenty of butter and sugar.

“How is it?”

“It’s really delicious.”

“How much?”

“So delicious that if Jared were to choke on the bread and fall to the floor right now, I wouldn’t care.”

“…?”

Jared looked at him in confusion, but Yuri continued eating without concern. Katrina let out a clear laugh.

“Wow, that really is a compliment.”

“…?”

Jared glanced at Katrina and then quickly looked down. Katrina covered her mouth and laughed for a while, finding it very amusing.

“Alright. I’ll show you the palace.”

“Thank you.”

“But won’t my uncle be upset?”

“I don’t think so. Hahaha…”

Yuri had a reason for asking Katrina this favor. Ragnar was already investigating dark magic. If the culprit was inside the palace, he would know.

And if Yuri entered accompanied by Ragnar, it would only draw unnecessary attention. He preferred his visit to seem like a simple courtesy call, thanks to Katrina’s kindness.

“When do you want to go? Shall we go now?”

“Whenever it suits you, princess.”

“Whenever you like.”

“Hmm…”

“That face tells me you want to go today.”

“To be honest, yes.”

“Then let’s go. It’s not far by carriage. You don’t plan on exploring every corner, do you?”

“Haha, of course not.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Thank you. And feel free to speak casually if you’d like.”

“How kind. I’ll do that once we’re closer.”

Yuri nodded.

“Then, if you’ll allow me…”

“One moment.”

Katrina grabbed his wrist just as Yuri was about to stand.

“Have some more bread before you go.”

“Eh?”

“There’s plenty. Eat while I get ready.”

Yuri and Jared kept eating until she returned, and had to give her their thoughts when she got back.

“Was it good?”

“Even if Jared had died of a heart attack while eating…”

“Hey!”

***

She no longer looked like a baker. Now, wearing a red dress, she radiated the nobility befitting the purest bloodline on the continent. Her shining blonde hair and green eyes matched perfectly with the crimson outfit.

Katrina brought out a luxurious carriage that seemed to have been hidden somewhere in the villa and boarded it with Yuri and Jared.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, the gates began opening even before the silhouette of the carriage was in sight. There wasn’t even an inspection.

Katrina’s escorts stayed waiting at the palace entrance.

“We’re inside.”

Yuri carefully observed the scenery through the carriage window. He had been there before for a banquet, but this was the first time he entered so deeply accompanied by a member of the imperial family.

“What do you think?”

“Exactly what you’d expect from the Imperial Palace. It’s huge and the decorations are very detailed.”

“Right? It’s spacious, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.”

“In this vast palace, what is it that our prince wants to see?”

“Eh?”

Yuri looked at Katrina. She simply shrugged with a smile.

Well, Cedric had said she had a sharp mind. She clearly was intelligent. She likely sensed that Yuri had a special reason for coming to the palace.

Yuri just bowed his head.

“I’m very grateful.”

“If you’re that grateful, tell Cedric to say nice things about me.”

“Of course.”

As they toured the palace interior, Katrina pointed out buildings and described them.

Yuri pretended to pay attention, but in reality, he extended his perception to detect any trace of what he was seeking. He hoped to encounter the hooded figure he’d seen the night before, but didn’t get his hopes up.

Trusting his unusually sharp senses, he activated his mana method. While listening to Katrina’s explanation, he analyzed any signal his inner senses could catch.

“That’s where His Majesty holds meetings. Though more than meetings, they’re one-sided announcements…”

“I see.”

“And over there is where the palace maids stay. I visited once out of curiosity. It was quite nice.”

“Why did you visit?”

“I was curious.”

Suddenly, Yuri sensed something and looked toward a point outside the carriage. Noticing his reaction, Jared quickly spoke to Katrina.

“P-princess, excuse me… I have a question…”

“Yes?”

“Uh… what kind of bird is that flying over there?”

“Pardon?”

While Jared babbled nonsense to distract her, Yuri focused. The energy of the Cut of the Soul and the Heart flowed through his core and into every channel.

His perception heightened, settling into his senses. A perception beyond the five senses began tracking his target.

Yuri smiled faintly.

“Lucky.”

He murmured unintentionally, and both Katrina and Jared looked at him. Yuri continued naturally.

“I mean, lucky to see the famous Imperial Library, even if just from afar.”

Outside stood an imposing building. The upper part resembled a tower, and the base was a solid, rectangular structure.

It was the Imperial Library, where all the empire’s knowledge was gathered. Inside, Yuri had sensed an energy very similar to the hooded figure who sold drugs.

He couldn’t be sure if it was him or something related, but clearly, there was something there.

Katrina asked.

“Do you want to see it?”

“Would that be possible?”

“Yes, as long as we don’t go down to the basement.”

The Imperial Library was famous for its size. The part visible above ground was already vast, but the underground levels were even deeper.

“I’d be very grateful.”

Katrina smiled at his words.

“Ah, so the place you wanted to see was the Imperial Library. You’re not just good with a sword. You’re more like Cedric than I thought.”

She seemed to have assumed Yuri simply wanted to browse books. In reality, what he was looking for happened to be there, but he saw no reason to correct her.

With an ambiguous smile, he reinforced her impression. Following Katrina’s instructions, the coachman turned toward the Imperial Library.

Now and then, palace servants they passed would stop to bow.

“So this is the Imperial Library…”

As they approached, its aura grew stronger.

The main building was imposing, and the tower rose so high one had to look far up to see the top. Carved into its outer walls were the faces of saints, sages, and mages who had left their mark on history.

When Katrina introduced herself, the guards at the entrance bowed respectfully.

“Names must be registered here.”

“Understood.”

The names of some imperial family members and certain nobles were already listed there. Just below, the names of Katrina, Yuri, and Jared were added.

Upon entering, it was dark due to lack of lighting. An elderly man appeared holding a lamp.

“That Her Highness visits us… Such an unusual event.”

“Don’t say embarrassing things.”

Katrina chuckled briefly and pointed to Yuri behind her.

“Actually, I came for this guest. This young man was very eager to visit the Imperial Library.”

“I’m Yuri Briol.”

The old man seemed to be the librarian, and since Katrina spoke to him formally, Yuri did the same. The elder gave a slight bow.

“The prince of Briol has come from afar…”

Then he turned to guide them inside. As they followed him down a corridor, Yuri felt like he was entering a cave. Gradually, the air became saturated with the scent of old books.

Finally, the old man stopped and raised his lamp.

Yuri and Jared couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Ah…”

“This is…”

The inside of the Imperial Library had an incredibly high ceiling, and bookshelves covered the walls from floor to roof. Ladders leaned everywhere, ready to access the highest books.

The place was literally packed with books.

“By any chance…?”

Yuri asked without thinking.

“How do you control the humidity…?”

When air doesn’t circulate, mold grows and insects destroy the books. The library was so closed and dark that Yuri couldn’t help but worry.

The old man gave a faint smile.

“Everything is managed with magic.”

“I see. I worried for nothing.”

Solving everything with magic… how convenient.

“Take this.”

The old man went to an old wooden desk that appeared to be his and handed over an extra lamp and a small notebook. Inside was a general explanation of how the books in the Imperial Library were classified.

“It’s pretty disorganized.”

At Yuri’s comment, the old man nodded.

“There are so many books, and more keep coming, that we can’t keep them sorted. That’s why we don’t even know where everything is…”

The notebook only offered a rough classification, nothing systematic. Katrina spoke to Yuri.

“Do you want to explore on your own? I’ll stay here chatting with Parkinson.”

“Will that be alright?”

“Of course. Just don’t go to the basement. Even with guards, it’s best to avoid trouble.”

“Thank you.”

Thanks to her consideration, Yuri was able to explore the Imperial Library with Jared, carrying a lamp in hand. Once they moved away from Katrina, Jared began to talk.

“Wow, this is amazing, Your Highness. I didn’t know a place like this existed. My head’s spinning.”

“Looks like your tongue’s loosened up.”

“With a princess around, how was I supposed to talk? Ugh…”

“Shh.”

Yuri extended his perception again.

But tracking wasn’t easy. While he could sense the hooded figure’s energy, he couldn’t pinpoint its location. It was as if the energy was bouncing off the walls.

“Is it the magic…?”

The various magical devices installed in the library were distorting his senses. Still, there was time.

Yuri walked slowly, scanning the books on the shelves. All of them were valuable works.

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, he noticed a faint glow among the aligned shelves down the aisle. Yuri stopped. Jared, who had been speaking to himself, bumped into his back and stopped too.

Yuri fixed his eyes on the far end. Someone was approaching with a lamp.

With a smile on his lips, Yuri took a step forward. The hooded figure’s energy was strong.

It was him.

The stranger seemed to hesitate upon seeing Yuri’s light, but soon continued walking toward him. The distance between them gradually shrank.

Under the faint lamplight, Yuri could observe more details. The other person wouldn’t know who he was, so the assessment would be one-sided.

Finally, his face came into view. He was a slim young man.

Yuri narrowed his eyes at the sight. His face looked strangely familiar. The young man also tilted his head with curiosity as they passed each other.

And just as they did—

They both turned at the same time and pointed at one another.

“You!”

“You!”