Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 77: The Mechanic's Warning

Empress Sundenelle kos Lindenmorg sighs as she leans back in her office chair, having just finished reviewing and signing logistics orders for various parts of the Empire, including military movements west of Fort Twilight. They've ordered a massive amount of supplies. She's not entirely sure where and why the plan changed to such a large invasion, but if they gain ground in the west, then it's possible the Demons have gotten weaker. The mysterious otherworlder known as Daniel seems to be a wildcard in the war, having apparently defeated a dragon and a moderately high threat rank drake single-handedly in defense of Fort Peony.

There's a knock at the door, and it cracks open with her guard. "Your Enlightened Grace, the maid Seylena has a message to present to you."
"A message?" asks Sundenelle skeptically.

"Yes, your Grace."

"Bring her in." She straightens her posture a bit in her seat, trying to find comfort. The guards open the double-doors fully and escort the maid in. She's a bit nervous, and Lady Byleathea, Sundenelle's mother and Lady-in-waiting looks up from the scroll she was finishing reading.

Seylena curtsies meekly at Sundenelle, and then turns and curtsies to Byleathea. "Your Grace, my Lady."

"What message do you bring?" asks Sundenelle.

"I was given this scroll, your Grace."

The Empress cocks her head. "A scroll?" Sylena shows the scroll, and she offers it to the guard standing next to her, and he looks to Sundenelle. Sundenelle nods, and the guard takes the message and inspects it. "Magically sealed with a tamper seal, but I'm detecting no rigged spells associated with it, your Grace. Would you like me to open it?"

"Who gave you this scroll?" asks Sundenelle. "And, whose seal is it?"

Sylena answers first, "Your Grace, I was at the market to buy linens, and a boy approached me. I thought he was a pickpocket at first, but instead, he gave me the scroll and said it was given to him by a man who was dying, but that the message contains urgent news about the war with the Citadel."

Sundenelle stares at her for a long time, and then looks at the guard captain. He replies quietly, "It does seem suspicious, your Grace."

She nods once, looking to her mother. While Byleathea wasn't the Empress, but an Empress Consort, she has spent much time in and around the Imperial Court, so she's familiar with many things. She replies gently, "What was the seal?"

The captain inspects it, and he replies, "I don't recognize it, myself, I'm afraid."

"May I?" asks Byleathea, who looks to her own daughter for permission.

Sundenelle thinks for a moment. She's curious, but she knows she needs to be careful. If it's a magic scroll, it could be extremely dangerous, and sent by assassins. She still has many enemies in the Empire, not least of which are her family members with weaker claims to the throne and who seemed to relent when she became Empress.

She nods. "Yes. But, you will bisect the letter before opening it and open each half separately."

"A good call, your Grace," replies Byleathea warmly, and she accepts the letter from the captain when he hands it to her. She inspects the seal first, saying, "Hmm... This appears to possibly be a shenwulf, but with peculiar proportions... A girl, perhaps? It certainly belongs to none of the shenwulf clans registered with the Imperial Alliance's Record of Heraldry, which mostly focus on crests with warrior motifs or more basic symbolism."

Sundenelle nods in agreement, inspecting the seal for a moment as well before handing it back. "Please take the discussed precautions and open the letter, Captain."