I Picked Up a Witch With Amnesia

4. Island Lumentium – 03

“Your Majesty, now that Cain isn’t here, can you tell me your Majesty’s true intentions?”

The Hall of the Sun, where only the two of them are left after Cain and Iris leave.

There, Duke Estelle unknowingly sighed at the emperor and spat out those words.

“True? You say something quite funny, Franz. Are you sure you want to say that Jim deceived you and played with you?”

“Isn’t your Majesty well aware that I’m not saying that in that sense?”

When the emperor replied with a smirk on his face, Duke Estelle clicked his tongue as he looked at the vacant seat of Cain, who had now disappeared.

“Why did you allow the marriage breakup? Wasn’t the engagement between Cain and Count Sernard’s daughter part of His Majesty’s own plan? To be more precise, Count Sernard’s…”

“Stop, let’s talk about that. Duke Estelle. This place is royal, but at the same time, it’s not a place that can be said to be safe. If you talk so loudly, the possibility that the sound will leak out is not zero.”

At the emperor’s advice, Duke Estelle was finally able to keep his mouth shut. It was as the emperor said. Cain’s engagement was not a simple engagement, but a kind of ‘work’ with many circumstances intertwined behind it, so it was not something to be excited about and talk about loudly. More than anything, he seemed to have to admit that he was overexcited.

“It’s true. Actually, I didn’t intend to allow the marriage between the Duke of Estelle and Sarah Cernard to be broken. I thought I would be able to catch their tail, but losing Sarah Cernard at this point is a bit much. It was clear that it was a pity.”

“…Then why did you allow the marriage to be broken off? Of course, as the father of a child, breaking off the engagement with them would be heartbreaking, but as one of the dukes of the empire, it is not a wise policy. I don’t think so. At least, if we’re going to break up the marriage, I thought it would be first to spend a little time and closely understand their appearance.”

“I agree with you, Jim. However, circumstances have arisen on this side as well. That is, such a situation that I can’t just shake off and refuse.”

“…Ejaculation, are you talking about it?”

At the emperor’s excuse, Duke Estelle gave a rather bewildered expression. What is the identity of such a situation that he claims to be helpless when he holds all the power of the empire in one hand and can achieve what he wants?

“I’m sorry, but it’s a matter that I can’t really reveal to anyone. If I could give you one hint, I’d say it’s a similar situation to what you’re currently here. So, I hope you’ll forgive me a little. It’s no joke.”

Saying that, the emperor trembled as if he were indeed getting goosebumps. And through the emperor’s words and actions, the Duke of Estelle was able to make a guess, and soon realized that that guess was the one correct answer that penetrated all current situations.

…but it must have been nonsense at the same time. As far as the duke knew, the two had never met face-to-face since they were born until now, and today’s meeting must have been their first meeting. The guy he knew, Cain von Estel, was a person who was extremely annoyed at going outside, so there was no way he would have gone out without his knowledge.

“…..”

Duke Estelle stared blankly at the empty seat next to her without realizing it. And likewise, he looked at the empty seat to the emperor’s right.

“…what the hell happened? You mean you can’t even explain it to God?”

“That’s rather what Jim wants to ask you. Jim also wants to have Duke Estelle sit here and interrogate him in detail. What kind of trick did Duke Estelle do to make the child make such a request?” Let’s talk about what it is.”

The emperor, who had clicked his tongue, immediately stared at the empty seat next to Duke Estelle with a look that he really didn’t like.

“In a way, you can say that the Duke of Sojo is also quite remarkable. It is not enough to have made a link with the imperial family in an area that even luggage cannot understand, and to make personal requests to members of the imperial family. Since you are also the father of a child, you are here. Didn’t you say you came to see me? Jim is the same.”

“Because Jim is also the father of a child, he gave permission to break off the marriage between the Duke of Estelle and Sarah Cernard of Count Cernard. Because there is no father in the world who wants to be hated by his daughter.”

****

“Sir, I have brought you a car. Please eat before it gets cold.”

“…Leave it there and go away. Now I have something to think about.”

After Iris issued a congratulatory order to all the servants in the room, she stood alone by the window and stared blankly out the window. Outside the window, the sun had already slanted completely, making it dark all around. The constellations in the night sky come to mind and fill the sky with a brilliant sight that catches her eye. Iris’ pupils were full of constellations in the sky, but her mind was recalling one night in the past that had already disappeared. Even then, it was the same. At that time, she, like now, had the stars in the night sky in her eyes. But at that time, she was not alone.

– Cain.

– … Princess.

“…Ahh.”

The constellations he looked up at with him that night were truly beautiful. It was a truly beautiful sight. And that beauty became a painter and lived forever in her heart. Then, she realized. How wonderful it is to see beautiful things and evaluate them as beautiful. What a joy it is to be able to share your appreciation of beauty with someone else. What a precious experience it is to look at a place like this and have the same impression.

‘Cain.’

Iris quietly rolled the name off the tip of her tongue. It was a name that was nothing special. However, for some reason, it was also a name that was all too familiar to her. I thought it was a familiar name, as if I had called it thousands or tens of thousands of times.

‘Cain von Estel.’

However, it was not currently. She and that man were nothing more than strangers with no one-on-one acquaintance. He and the man had no relationship whatsoever. I heard that he had never left the system since he was born, and the man had never left the Duchy of Estel either. So, it is clear that he and he had never met before. Everything must have been just a dream.

‘Cain.’

Yes. It must have been. Cain von Estel and Iris El Devhardt had no relationship whatsoever. They were perfect strangers. There was no point of contact between them.

However.

“…don’t like it.”

But to Iris, that fact was not important. The only thing that mattered to her at this moment was the fact that she knew him. That one fact alone was the factor filling her heart. So I couldn’t stay still. She realized that if she stayed here like a coward and did nothing, she would regret it someday. After regretting and regretting and regretting, there was no doubt that there would be more regrets. Her intuition as a woman whispered in her ear that it was bound to happen.

“……”

The thought was long, but the judgment was fleeting. Having made up her mind soon, she quietly opened her mouth.

“Kris.”

As Iris silently recites the name, a figure pops out from the corner of her room. It was her escort driver, Chris.

“Yes, Princess.”

As Chris stood in front of her and bowed her head, Iris spoke quietly to him.

“There is someone who wants you to watch over me instead of me tomorrow. Observe his every move and report to me.”

“…Who is the target?”

Although it was a rather sudden order, Chris did not have any doubts and only asked the princess who the target was. To him, the princess’s order was close to something absolute.

“Cain von Estel.”

Iris continued talking with a slight smile on her lips as if the act of putting that name into her mouth was the most enjoyable.

“He’s a person you might serve in the future, so be careful about what you call that name in the future.”