It was one of the more abrupt events.
A ball.
They hadn't held one for months now. Well, the nobles are fine with it since it's been years since the Imperial Ball was open to all. This time, it was a different kind of ball.
Pulling a wheelchair from the other side, Ares positioned it in front of her.
Ett remembered this one. It was the wheelchair Akan used whenever they went sightseeing around the academy. Now, it had become her transportation.
"Your 'manual car,' Mistress."
Ares still didn't understand why she insisted on calling it that. She didn't explain. But it seems to be what she likes to name this kind of…assistance.
Ett sat comfortably, pulled the little blanket over her lap, and nodded.
"Let us proceed."
"Yes, Mistress."
She still had to look for Guren's prospects.
Well…just prospects.
If the little guy doesn't want to marry, then don't marry. As for an heir, Ett still thought he was too young, even if people in this era married much earlier. Besides, the female lead hadn't even appeared yet. There was still plenty of time for the story to go off the rails.
Speaking of…
"You did find the girl, haven't you?"
One of the hobbies she had somehow picked up after transmigrating was hunting down the protagonists before they could hunt everyone else.
Ett didn't know the name of the female lead's father. The novel only mentioned that she came from a baron's household, that she was an illegitimate daughter abused like Cinderella, and that it described her appearance. That was all Ett could remember.
The cannon biography ended there.
"We did, Mistress. However…the father is but a commoner."
"…Huh?"
A commoner?
How?
Did I miss another plot point?
"Tell me what you found?"
Since they were still some distance from the ballroom, Ares began his report as they walked.
"The father's name is Dan, and his daughter's name is Alana. The mother passed away. They own a mine that produces decent-quality gems, though only in small quantities. It is located in the southern province, quite far from the capital."
"Was there really no one from the nobility?"
Ares shook his head.
"No one else matched what you, the Mistress, provided other than her."
"I see."
They have a decent mind, so would that be the trigger? No, something is still missing here. She is the baron's illegitimate daughter. Not a commoner father. His father was already a baron when she entered the household.
"A portrait is being prepared, Mistress. It should be finished by the day after tomorrow."
"Lovely."
You really did swindle them.
Very capable.
Very useful.
Still…
Was her memory too blurry? She can't remember most of it. Then, she'll just let it marinate and see how it goes before she can assist. After all, there is not much of a movement on her side.
The hand she wields is less imposing for triggering the relationship cannon. The reports only filled in pieces of the puzzle enough to point her in the right direction, never enough to reveal the whole picture.
If not for Ares, Akan, and Butler Xiwen, she'd probably still be wandering around in the dark.
Then…
What about the male lead?
"Ugh."
She really hated thinking.
She looked up.
The night sky stretched endlessly above, filled with stars, while the moon—far larger than the one on Earth—hung overhead like another world. Too big. Even beneath the darkness, black roses gave the palace an ominous yet strangely beautiful atmosphere.
Feels like I'm inside a gothic movie.
Cough.
"…?"
Something caught her eye.
No, it was someone's shadow.
Ett turned.
"…"
Guren.
Her dear son sat alone beneath the tree with his eyes closed.
It looked as though he'd slipped away from the banquet and chosen the quietest corner of the palace grounds.
Ares instinctively took a step forward.
Ett immediately raised a hand. Then placed a finger over her lips.
Don't.
Following her gaze, Ares noticed Guren's sleeping figure and silently nodded.
No need to wake him.
'Let's go.'
Ett mouthed.
The two quietly continued toward the ballroom through the hidden passage.
Right now, the star of the evening was the daughter of the Ecluss Duchy.
Arandel Ecluss.
Among the names on Ett's list, she had the most potential to become Guren's future bride at least, on paper.
So far, Ett only knew her through reports and observations.
For example, instead of immediately mingling with nobles her own age, Arandel first greeted the older generation. Calm, poised, and professional, she carried herself with neither arrogance nor timidity. Even after the music began, she politely declined every invitation to dance.
"Hmmm."
It would be rather bland if these two met like one of those cliché novels.
Well…
That was a problem for another day.
She still had an entire list of candidates waiting to be observed.
Besides, if she proposed a marriage this early, that little tyrant would probably glare at her until she died from embarrassment instead.
"Ares."
"Yes, Mistress?"
"I just thought of something. Did Butler Xiwen find any records saying the late Emperor or I arranged a marriage for His Majesty?"
Ares shook his head.
"There are no written records. However, Sire Xiwen reminded that the late Emperor once considered marrying His Majesty to a princess of the Jushen Empire. It appears His Majesty's father preferred alliances with foreign royal families over noble houses within the Empire."
"I see.."
So there really was a reason.
That could be one of the reasons Guren was silently observing and infiltrating the Jushen Empire. The fall is drawing near.
Who knows? She can confirm when Ett asks Guren someday.
If he answers, that is.
"There isn't much to see for now."
She looked away from the ballroom.
"Just continue watching the ladies on the list I gave you."
"Yes, Mistress. We have already placed loyal servants around them. They'll continue sending reports."
"Do you wish to hear the latest report?"
Ett immediately shook her head.
"No."
She had no interest in listening to what they ate every morning.
"Just summarize the important parts once a month. Anything unusual, anything worth paying attention to."
"Understood."
"Let's go."
Nothing to watch here.
At least it looks lively.
Healthy competition here. A little political scheming there. Good.
Keeps the Empire healthy and toxic at the same time.
As Ares quietly pushed the wheelchair back through the hidden passage, Ett noticed they had taken the same route as before instead of the shortcut.
"…"
These people.
Doing their little antics again?
Who started this habit?
Butler Xiwen?
Or had everyone begun sharing one brain?
Dearie.
Ett didn't bother asking.
Besides…
There was a 100% chance Guren had already left.
****
"…"
He didn't.
The same figure remained beneath the tree.
Motionless.
"Ares."
"It seems His Majesty is rather unwell…"
Ares' expression stiffened.
Ett just studied Guren's expression.
His head rested awkwardly against the bench while his breathing rose and fell in an almost exaggerated rhythm, as though every breath struggled to climb a mountain before tumbling straight back down.
"…"
Image. Protect the image.
No, forget the image.
"Ares, stay here. I'll call Physician Franz."
"Yes!"
Ares joyfully uttered before stopping himself. It seems that he heard it wrong. The Mistress calling the Physician? Absolutely not!
"Please forgive me, how dare I leave you be. Please, I beg the Mistress to stay with His Majesty instead. Mistress, do not worry, I'll summon the Imperial Physician in haste!"
Before Ett could object, Ares bolted.
"…"
Excuse me.
"I really don't want to do this."
Ett grimaced as she glanced around.
Well, it is what it is. There's nothing she could do about it but adjust.
"It's better to move this guy than let some wandering paparazzi find him."
Ett slowly pushed herself to her feet, getting out of her 'manual car.'
"Good thing no one found you before us."
This guy isn't always cautious. Is he that confident in himself?
Caw. Caw.
A crow suddenly cried from a nearby branch before disappearing into the night.
"Goodness."
At least it's a bird paparazzi.
If it can speak, then they're out.
Ett crouched beside Guren.
"You're paler than me."
Even the dark circles beneath his eyes were impossible to ignore.
"Ugh…"
Guren frowned in his sleep.
"Must be a nightmare."
Or maybe your neck is just killing you.
Look at that posture.
You're folded like a shrimp.
No wonder you're breathing like you're ascending to heaven.
Ett rolled her wheelchair beside Guren.
Could she actually move him?
First…
Let's see if he'll wake up.
She lightly tapped his hand.
"…"
Nothing.
She pressed a little harder.
Still nothing.
Good.
Pivot transfer it is.
Ett carefully slid one arm behind Guren's back while the other supported his neck.
"If you end up paralyzed because of me..."
She took a deep breath.
"I'll be the one buried first."
Not because she cared.
Because explaining that to Butler Xiwen sounded like a nightmare.
"Alright..."
One.
Two.
Three—
"Hah—"
Thud.
"..."
Both of them slumped right back onto the bench.
"...Heavy."
No.
Atlas himself was probably sitting on her shoulders.
SOS.
SOS.
911.
"I knew I should've exercised..."
Ett rested her forehead against the bench, panting.
"...Again."
She adjusted her footing and tried once more.
This time, she lowered herself first before pulling Guren's weight toward her.
"Hah... haaah..."
Every muscle in her body trembled.
Ett's knees shook.
Her back screamed.
Slowly...
Little by little...
She straightened her legs.
"Come... on..."
The moment his weight shifted onto her, Ett immediately cradled the back of his head and neck to keep them from snapping backward.
"If your neck breaks..."
"..."
"... I'm dead."
Another push.
Another breath.
Plop.
Guren finally settled into the wheelchair.
"..."
Success.
The next second—
Thud.
Ett collapsed onto one knee.
"Hahh... haaah... hahhhh..."
What should've taken two seconds somehow took five whole minutes.
No.
An hour.
Definitely an hour.
She looked up at Guren.
"..."
Still asleep.
Good.
Then...
"...Hm?"
The rise and fall of his chest was no longer as strained.
His breathing had gradually become calmer.
"..."
"See?"
Ett snorted.
"I knew your neck was the problem."
Sleeping folded like a shrimp...
Honestly.
Cough.
"Heuk!"
Ett quickly covered her mouth with her handkerchief.
Blood.
"..."
More than before.
Maybe...
Three tablespoons.
"R-Really..."
"...This body..."
She leaned against the wheelchair for a moment before forcing herself back to her feet.
"No choice."
Ett couldn't leave the Emperor sitting in the middle of nowhere.
Grabbing the handles, Ett slowly pushed the wheelchair.
"Yeesh..."
"Such a drag."
One step.
Another.
Slowly...
Slowly...
Crack.
"..."
"Icecreamcupcakesugarspice—"
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Pain.
Pure pain.
Her right wrist throbbed so badly that tears nearly welled up.
"This guy..."
"..."
"Gets heavier when he sits properly."
Hik.
She bit her lip and forced the wheelchair forward another step.
Just a little farther.
"..."
The world suddenly swayed.
Her vision blurred.
The trees doubled.
"..."
Good.
The next second—
Thud.
She collapsed beside the wheelchair.
Ah, Ett surely sees the mirage of the Milky Way galaxy before she fainted.
Guren remained asleep, completely unaware that someone had just spent the last several minutes risking another week in bed to move him to a wheelchair.
No, manual car. Then he was kept hidden from wandering NPCs who could be leads that had the potential for a bad ending.
Who knows.