Since the last time he saw the palace official, Sylas had not seen anyone like her again. It was as if they had never come.
If Sylas were someone who muddled through life, he might even think it was just a coincidence.
But he knew Isolde too well.
The brilliant and mighty Empress of Aethelred never did anything without purpose.
After writing a pile of materials in his room, he patiently waited for Crystal to mention these events.
But Crystal never spoke of it.
She wasn't a girl who could keep secrets; her little mouth chattered nonstop every day.
The fact that this wasn't brought up struck Sylas as very strange.
She would never hide this from him, especially something related to personal safety.
That meant one thing.
Crystal simply didn't know people from Lorynth had come.
If she was unaware, then the problem was more complex.
On the third day, while having lunch with Crystal, Sylas realized the severity of the situation.
The food tasted like wax. The usually delicious meal was utterly unpalatable this time.
Crystal, however, acted as if nothing was wrong, chatting about amusing things around her.
Sylas watched her incessantly moving lips, lost in thought.
If he were to leave, the plans he was devising now couldn't be shared with her.
Telling her would make her an accomplice.
Once clear on this, he suddenly smiled and said, "Lyn, I want to ask you something."
Crystal stopped her rambling and smiled, "Go ahead, Brother. I'm a know-it-all now.
Ask me anything, I'll know.
Ah, I'm doing pretty well as an official..."
Sylas interrupted her self-praise, "If someone asks you about my identity, what would you say?"
"Ask about you? Well... I'd say you're my distant cousin."
"Oh. And what if, say, Isolde asked you?"
"Her? Ask me? Why would she ask me?" Crystal said, puzzled. "I mean, as the Empress of Aethelred, why would she ask me such a question? I have nothing to do with her."
Sylas's mouth twitched.
You say you have nothing to do with her? If 'nothing' won't do it, what will?
He continued to probe, "We're just talking hypothetically. Say if she came and asked about me, what would you say?"
Crystal laughed, "I'd say you're dead! The person here is my distant cousin. Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
"Mhmm, good. And if she asks why you built the road?"
"Isn't that simple? For the benefit of the people."
Sylas couldn't help but praise her, "Lyn, you're so clever. Really. Just say that."
Crystal smiled proudly, "Hehe, right? I feel I've improved a lot. Maybe I can become a general or chancellor someday."
"Absolutely. It'd be a waste of talent if you didn't."
"...Brother, you're not making fun of me, are you?"
"No. I'm sincerely complimenting you."
They were chatting idly when a constable arrived outside the courtyard and gave Crystal a message.
Upon hearing it, Crystal felt as if struck by lightning.
She hurried inside and told him the news: Isolde intended to go to Northspire to escape the heat.
"How can she just come like this? With that big belly, isn't she afraid of a miscarriage?"
Crystal complained, slightly fearful.
You're pregnant; just stay in Lorynth.
What are you coming here for?
To show off your big belly?
Such a nuisance.
Sylas remained silent.
His fingers curled and uncurled.
His face paled momentarily before returning to normal.
Right. This is the Empress's sharpness.
With the slightest clue, she would pounce instantly.
He forced a smile and comforted her, "Lorynth is quite hot. She's probably just coming to Northspire to escape the heat."
"Brother, you guessed that? I hadn't said it yet," Crystal asked, surprised.
Sylas gave a wry smile.
He looked carefully at the dazed Crystal and actively took her wrist.
"Lyn, live happily from now on. Don't overthink things. You're different from them."
Crystal's eyes shone, "Right? I always thought I was rather unique."
Thus, the impact of Isolde's impending arrival to Northspire seemed lessened.
That night, Sylas burned the midnight oil, writing furiously.
Isolde was coming.
It seemed she had sensed something.
Honestly, if he were in her place, he'd know how to investigate too.
Sylas only had two acquaintances in Aethelred.
One was Jade, the other was Crystal.
If the tomb was empty, even if these two were innocent, the investigation would start with them.
The only thing he couldn't be sure of was when Isolde would make her move during this trip to Northspire.
Or was she really coming for him?
Sylas shook his head vigorously.
Even if the possibility was minuscule, he couldn't gamble on it.
It was best to leave immediately.
Head south along the River into the pass.
Henceforth, like a bird entering the forest, a fish returning to the sea, without a single tie left.
Tomorrow, he would go to the river to find a boat.
The next morning.
Sylas put on a black veil, hired a carriage in the county town, and went to the docks.
The process of booking passage was simple.
The boatmaster took the deposit, gave him a wooden token, and told him a ship heading south would depart in three days.
He could board using the token then.
Sylas breathed a sigh of relief.
He could wait three days.
The journey from Lorynth to Northspire took at least ten days.
Isolde was pregnant; she certainly wouldn't travel fast.
During these three days, he carefully instructed Crystal.
This childhood friend had actually treated him quite well.
But fate played cruel tricks.
He simply couldn't face Jade.
Especially since the Memory Orb with Jade was still in Isolde's possession.
It was a humiliation that could never be erased.
The three days finally passed, and July arrived.
On this morning, Sylas dressed neatly, arranged all his materials, and without saying goodbye to Crystal, took a carriage to the docks.
The river was in its flood season, perfect for water transport.
The docks were crowded with travelers, and many goods were being loaded.
But today, the crowd was unusually large.
Sylas, being male, naturally didn't dare speak loudly here.
The atmosphere was clearly different from three days ago. He saw numerous soldiers armed with weapons blocking the docks, with a crowd arguing with them.
People around began to murmur.
"Hey, great. The Empress comes, and suddenly we can't take boats? Isn't this just bloody inconvenient?"
"Exactly! The flood season is the best time for business every year. Now it's all messed up. Goods can't be shipped; business will be ruined."
"Alright, alright, stop complaining. Her Majesty is pregnant. She rarely comes. Just be understanding."
"I should understand her? Who the hell understands me?" The people on the docks were a mixed bag, all sorts.
They were merchants drifting everywhere; why would they care about Isolde?
But Sylas felt his head swelling.
Despite all his calculations, he never expected Isolde would send people to blockade the docks in advance.
The more he thought about it, the colder his spine felt.
He had been just a step too slow, and now he was cornered?