Volume 6 Chapter 59-2 Isn't This Kind of Secret Exchange Cool？
Dill quickly looked away from the portrait when the maid in front pointed at the door and said, "This way, please."
The door suddenly opened, and Dario appeared from inside.
"Dario..."
"Father..."
Their eyes met for a moment, but Dario bowed and quickly left the scene.
Dill couldn't help but call out, "Dario!"
"What is it?"
Dario turned back in surprise, and Dill couldn't just say he stopped him...
"...Is Chris doing well?"
...he was struggling to find the right words.
"It seems he's still... affected."
Dario emphasized "seems" and looked down again, showing his back.
Dill realized he had been causing Dario discomfort since that day.
Because of the dark side that clung to them, neither Dario nor Dill could talk much.
That was one of their complaints.
Dill sighed in embarrassment and noticed the maid waiting, then went into the bathroom.
Of course, he didn't need to go.
So, nothing happened, but it gave him an answer to his earlier worry.
(I can't go on like this. But I can't just let myself be used, sorry.)
Dill lifted his head, stood up with determination, and opened the door to go outside.
Guided by the maid again, Dill walked through the mansion with a straighter back than before.
It was as if Dill had regained the pride he lost that day, surprising the passing servants.
When Dill returned to the reception room, the butler showed a pleased smile and said, "Hmph."
"It seems you've accumulated quite a bit."
The butler chuckled, and Dill also showed a smile, then noticed something.
"I had the coffee taken away. It didn't seem to suit your taste."
The smiling butler offered Dill a sofa.
"No, I'd like another cup, please."
The butler raised an eyebrow slightly at Dill's expression as he sat down.
"Have you had enough bitter experiences?"
"Let us take your hand and enjoy a sweet cup of tea."
Dill showed a wry smile to the butler's suggestive words.
"Good medicine tastes bitter," they say.
Gustav smiled slightly and nodded, understanding the meaning.
It was his response to Dill's statement about his feverish remarks.
Dill was determined to betray the king and rebuild the country.
It would be a bitter but good medicine for the kingdom.
Gustav, who understood this, called a maid and whispered something to her.
After the maid left, Gustav clasped his hands together and smiled.
"Since we're at it, let's enjoy some extremely bitter beans from the Empire."
Gustav's smile and words made Dill understand the background.
* * *
On the night Gustav and Dill shook hands under the table, Ragnar was on a resort island in the Duke's territory.
It wasn't a completely private resort, but rather a public one, and due to the off-season, there were hardly any people around.
But that's exactly why it was the perfect place for someone of Ragnar's status to hide.
Who would have thought that the Empire's first prince would be on a public resort island during the off-season?
Ragnar took advantage of this psychological blind spot and was elegantly sipping wine in front of a fireplace in a cottage.
"How's it going?"
"The goal has been achieved."
A shadow appeared silently behind Ragnar, who was rocking gently in his chair.
The shadow reported that Dario had delivered a letter, and Gustav had joined hands with Dill.
"I see. That's serious."
Ragnar smiled in satisfaction, but the shadow looked puzzled.
"Excuse me for being rude, but..."
The shadow expressed concern that Dario and Dill might not be of much use.
The Prime Minister, who had been abandoned by the kingdom and had no authority, and Dario, a student who was excellent but untested.
Moreover, Dario might not actually betray the Empire, and there was even a risk of exposing the connection between the Empire and the Duke's family.
Ragnar laughed off the shadow's concerns, saying they weren't a problem.
"Do you think I'd expect anything from those people?"
"Then why..."
"It's just an irregularity. Whether they know it or not, that tiny advantage will decide the final move."
The shadow bowed its head silently, saying nothing to Ragnar's sly smile.
"Well, I've achieved my goal, so I'll head home. Leo's subordinate... the one whose name I can't remember, should be back in the Duke's territory soon."
Ragnar stood up, set down his glass, and left the room.
This move, as Ragnar said, would definitely be a fatal blow to the kingdom.
But──
Gustav, Dill, and even Ragnar are misunderstanding things.
The victory conditions are different from what they think.
And the old foxes of the kingdom are much cleverer than they realize.
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