BBYW Vol. 4 Interlude 10 (WN)

The Empire’s Red Rose 10

【POV: Rossellia Baal】

One day, the trading company elected to provide for the imperial court’s needs was visiting the palace.

In the large hall normally used for ceremonies and balls all sorts of goods were lined up in endless rows.

Party dresses, underwear, cosmetics, accessories, foreign alcohol beverages and confectioneries, even bizarre ornaments and portraits of stage actors.

All of the goods assembled in the hall were meant for women’s taste: thus all the maids working in court were now busy looking around, with stars in their eyes.

Not only the younger workers, always sensitive to new fashions and trends, but the more veteran maids joined them, trying on accessories and holding up dresses to imagine how they would look.

In such a commotion I, Rossellia Baal, the master of the palace, was in a makeshift changing room separated by the rest of the hall with curtain partitions, trying on a dress I had ordered,

“The size…seems a little too big. Should we have it adjusted?”

“No, your stomach is going to get larger anyway, so a little big is just right.”

The dress I was trying on was a new model of maternity dress,

My belly has been growing more and more lately, and none of the dresses I own fit me anymore.

I thus ordered a new dress to the imperial trading company, who jumped up at the opportunity and sent all sorts of unrelated items too,

“Your merchant skills are as trustworthy as ever, I see.”

“Your praise honors me, Your Highness.”

The person who so deftly dodged my irony was the chief merchant in charge of today’s event, the head of the trading company “Full Moon”, a woman named Hazuki.

Full Moon was a newly formed company, which opened up shop in the capital shortly after the recent tumults. Their impressive information network and accuracy in predicting supply and demand trends allowed them to grow significantly in a short span of time, even reaching the coveted title of imperial trader…or at least that was the story.

The true identity of the company was the imperial capital’s outpost of Lord Dyngir’s “Fangs of Steel”. Hazuki herself was an expert in the arts of assassination.

Normally, they only obeyed Lord Dyngir’s orders, but he made a special allowance so that they could be in my service.

(I suppose the real reason is because I bear Lord Dyngir’s child, though…)

“By the way…Lady Hazuki, would you mind if we started talking about work?”

“Oh, yes, of course not. It almost slipped my mind.”

Hazuki covered her mouth with a hand and smiled gracefully, then glanced at the surroundings.

My personal maids and servants were busy with the company’s myriad goods, paying little attention to us two. There should be no risk of someone eavesdropping.

“Firstly, concerning Sargue Dagon, he has been safely sent to his eternal rest. It has been camouflaged as a burglary, so even if there is suspicion, there is nothing leading to Your Highness.”

“Is that so…”

I nodded gravely.

Marquis Dagon planned to use the identity of the child’s father as leverage to make me do his bidding and eventually take over the empire. For the sake of this country, for the sake of my child, I could not afford showing him mercy.

However — the knowledge that my words have claimed someone’s life weighed heavily on my shoulders.

“Regarding the assets retrieved from the marquis’ residence, they will be collected by us, as per our agreement. All evidence of the marquis’ past misdeeds will be delivered to you.”

“I am grateful…Sir Dagon had ties to various nobles and merchants. This will be a good opportunity to get rid of them as well.”

“That is wonderful to hear.”

“So…what about the other matter?”

“Yes…about that…”

“…please, continue.”

Hazuki seemed hesitant. Her response was enough to imagine what had become of the investigation I requested her to do, but I urged her to speak anyway.

“The missing maid has been found in an underground chamber of the residence. She was still alive, but it appears she was tortured…”

“………….”

I bit my lower lip.

The maid found in the underground chamber was one of my personal attendants, who had gone missing about two months ago.

She had gone back to her hometown to visit her sick mother, but her whereabouts were lost on the way there. As it turns out, she had been kidnapped by Marquis Dagon.

“She is currently placed under care in our mansion. I can take her here, if you so wish.”

“No…I wish to leave her with you. The court is no more a place she would want to be in, I am sure.”

“As you command.”

Hazuki bowed politely.

In my heart, I uttered an apology to my former maid.

(I am so sorry, Tia…if only I had been stronger, you would not have gone through such terrible things…)

Marquis Dagon surely had her kidnapped to find out my weaknesses.

If only I had been stronger, if only I had been more careful, she wouldn’t have to be tortured…

“This country has to become a much, much better place…before this child is born…”

“The Fangs of Steel are ready to answer your every command, Your Majesty. All for the sake of our Master’s child.”

Hazuki’s head lowered even more, and she even went on one knee. It was the highest kind of salute, like a knight to their lord.

“Hey, did you see that…?”

“What’s going on there…?”

Seeing Hazuki on her knees attracted the attention of the maids around us, who looked with curiosity and suspicion.

“Ehm, L-Lady Hazuki…”

“Very well, let me take care of the sleeves then.”

Hazuki started folding the sleeves of my dress, as if nothing had happened. Listening to her calm tone spread relief to the tense air of the people around us.

“Please, do not surprise me like that anymore…I did not know what to do.”

“If something like this is enough to put you on the spot, you will never be able to stand at our Master’s side, Milady. Every chance is a chance to grow.”

Hazuki smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

“I have great expectations not only for the child, but for you as well. As a woman living in this country, I certainly hope that your ideal of a world where women will have more possibilities to realize their ambitions will one day become reality.”

“I understand…in order to achieve that, I will need your help, from now on too.”

I let out a deep sigh. I could not see what lay in the depths of Hazuki’s heart, not as a merchant or as a denizen of the underworld.

～

Afterwards, based on documents found in Marquis Dagon’s residence, several nobles of the anti-imperial family faction were purged, which enabled my reforms to proceed more smoothly.

Hazuki continued her duties as a Fangs of Steel spy, but also became a trusted aide for me, assisting me both in the open and in the shadows.

Her presence influenced both my and my child’s reign…but that story is still far in the future.

The Empire’s Red Rose – END