Chapter 109 - Is that man actually crazy?
Translator: Yonnee
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"...Is that so?"
But why's he making such a dumb face?
As Ciel was sitting opposite me, I looked at him with disapproval lacing my gaze. When I told him to come in earlier, he gazed at me with such wide, puppy dog eyes, but why was he looking like the world was about to end now? In front of me, too.
"So, what did my parents say? I haven't heard anything from them either."
Mom came into my room earlier and only told me to get ready. With a hint of gloominess in her voice, it sounded as if she was holding back her tears. So if I had to guess, did Ciel coerce my parents into giving their permission?
I knew him only as himself in the past, so I wondered if he was different in this life.
This world was mandated by an even stricter social divide, and Ciel was near the pinnacle of the hierarchy. After all, he was a duke, and it was the highest class amongst the aristocracy, barring the imperial family.
Feeling more suspicious the longer he remained silent, I narrowed my eyes as I looked into his blue eyes, which started to tremble.
"...Why aren't you saying anything? Don't tell me-"
"Ah! I nearly forgot! There's something urgent I must attend to."
"...Pardon?"
Ciel sprang up from his seat like a man being chased after by someone. I couldn't figure out why he was acting like this. I stood up as well, but I was gently sat back down by his wind.
"What are you doing?"
Don't use your ability for something like this!
I'm the one who's gonna have to guide you later!
"That, um, His Highness. I forgot that he contacted me. Oh, good heavens. I nearly committed contempt against the Imperial Family!"
Ciel then went on to rush out of the room. However, before disappearing completely, he paused for a moment and looked back at me. This grown man shouted at me, tears glittering at the corners of his eyes.
"I-I'll be right back, Honey!"
And to finish it off, he's even calling me 'Honey'!
His abrupt change in demeanor was a complete mystery. What's wrong with him?
Is that man actually crazy?
* * *
Jace searched desperately for the missing saintess all over the palace. However, in the end, he fell into despair. He couldn't find her anywhere at all.
"If only I had delayed my work that day..."
"Your Highness, please punish me for my transgressions!"
The chief attendant cried out as he prostrated in front of the crown prince.
Jace had declared proudly that he was to take care of the saintess at the palace, yet the saintess had disappeared on his watch.
And, inside the palace.
He interrogated each and every servant who had been next to the saintess at the time she had disappeared, yet they all answered the same thing-they did not know where she was. Not a single trace had been left. It was as if she had vanished right then and there.
"If she had been kidnapped, there must be a trace of it somewhere."
"The knights of the Imperial Guard will definitely find her, Your Highness."
"For such an absurd thing to happen..."
It already felt like a dream when the saintess was with him in the palace. Had it been a mere illusion in the end? All traces of her had disappeared, as if she truly had never been here.
"I need to call Ciel."
"Shall we send a missive via the emergency contact network?"
"Yes. Tell him to return to the palace right now."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The chief attendant hurried out of the office. Jace could not keep still. He jumped out of his seat and headed towards the bedroom where the saintess had once stayed, going straight to where the thickest of her traces still remained.
"Your scent is still so thick, yet where in the world have you disappeared off to?"
Skittish as he was, he paced around the room constantly. In the meantime, the chief attendant returned.
"Your Highness!"
"Yes, have you reached Ciel?"
Jace inwardly cursed. Why, of all places, was Ciel at the Closch Barony right now?
"T-That is to say..."
"Did he say that he's returning right away? You should have told him to hurry even more."
As the crown prince urged him to answer quickly, the chief attendant hesitated before replying.
"I was told that there's a monster wave at the Closch estate, so His Grace can't come to the capital right now..."
Jace was incredulous as he listened to what the chief attendant was saying. Unable to stand it, he personally headed towards the knight order's base, where the emergency contact network was stationed.
"Your Highness, if you're in such a hurry..."
"You goddamn cur!"
"Heavens, Your Highness. Please refrain from uttering such vulgar words."
"Why the hell is he hiding like a rat at the Closch Barony! I've commanded him to come, yet he dares disobey me?!"
As Jace entered the knight order's base, the knights inside jumped up to greet him formally.
"Greetings to Your Highness!"
"Greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince, the small sun of the Empire!"
However, Jace merely ignored them all and headed straight for the vice captain of the order.
"Connect to the Closch estate right this instant."
"Yes, sir."
Various colors began to appear in the crystal ball that's as big as an ostrich egg. As they mixed and amalgamated for a while, the colors soon settled down and sank to a blue shade.
-Yes, this is the Closch Garrison.
A bored voice came through to the connection. Jace urgently gave his orders.
"This is the Crown Prince's order. Tell that damn duke to get here right now. My patience is running out!"
-Your Grace, you heard, yes? So why did you ask me to take the call...
Hearing those words from the connection, Jace became dizzy with fury.
Why in the world did his childhood friend change so much?!
