§ 119. Butterfly (1)
“This is the list of missing persons from the Heresy Tribunal you mentioned. Lowering.”
Seongjin said as he took the documents Dasha handed him and flipped through them one by one.
“There are fewer people than I thought?”
“yes. “Compared to the scale of the accident, there were almost no unidentified bodies.”
Seongjin nodded and reviewed the data.
At first, I asked her to investigate Priest Hayes, but even after several days, the results were not as good as expected.
It is said that he came to Seoul with a letter of recommendation from a rural church. And because he had just been assigned to the Heresy Tribunal near the end of the purge of the Dark Church, he was unable to find any contact with the remnants of the Dark Church.
Additionally, Hayes was known as an extremely quiet person. He was completely isolated even within the Heresy Tribunal, with almost no business communication, let alone personal relationships.
‘But, it was never on a scale that could have been committed alone… … .’
Considering Jonathan’s case, there were at least four people in the group, including an inquisitor, two guards who beat him, and a priest who recorded his statement.
Moreover, considering that most of the prisoners in the dungeon were patients with the Gray Plague, there is a possibility that it was not the work of one or two teams.
This means that Hayes clearly had colleagues, or that a separate group unrelated to him existed within the Heresy Tribunal.
‘And since the plan went awry, there is a high possibility that it has already gone awry.’
Now that Cardinal Benitus is working hard to hunt down the dark sect, remaining in the Heresy Tribunal would be tantamount to suicide.
That was why Seongjin paid attention to the list of missing persons.
“Leader Priest Wolfgang, Lesser Priest Clemens, Inquisitor Fabian… hmm.”
After reviewing the list of nine missing people, Seongjin selected five of them and presented them to Dasha.
“Let’s start by asking about them.”
One Inquisitor happened to be missing. It was a list of four priests assigned before and after the outbreak of the Gray Plague.
“Yes, sir. “I’ll get started right away.”
“Uh, actually, I wonder what the point of all this is… … .”
“yes?”
“… Uh, no. “I’m just talking to myself, so don’t worry about it.”
In fact, my motivation for research has hit rock bottom these days.
Seonghwang and the twins probably know the whole story. At the very least, I think Aranza also knows the identity and size of this gang.
However, when I requested information about this through Director Bruno, the answer Aranza sent was as follows.
-It’s not time yet.
Director Bruno, who has only a short career as an Arranger, roughly guesses that there is some kind of reaction to disclosing information that is outside the scope of personnel. And the results that result from that can never be good.
‘So, run as far as you can, right?’
No, what on earth is this, putting the answer aside?
While Seongjin was grumbling inwardly, Dasha, who had been standing up with the documents in hand, suddenly hesitated and looked back at Seongjin as if there was something blocking her.
“Oh, by the way. “This is purely my personal curiosity.”
“huh?”
“You seem to enjoy wearing those clothes these days. “Do you like clothes like that?”
“Oh, this?”
Seongjin asked, pulling on the hem of his clothes.
“It seems a bit loud to Dasha, doesn’t it?”
It’s not that it’s not, Seongjin was currently wearing Madame Justine’s latest creations. It is a brilliant rainbow-colored costume with a colorful swallowtail butterfly pattern.
“It looks a bit weird, but it’s more comfortable than I thought.”
Excluding the banquet dress tailored for the birthday party, this outfit is probably the most recently tailored one.
Madame Justine’s workmanship was so excellent that, even though it had a lot of cumbersome decorations, it was the most comfortable and best-fitting of all of Seongjin’s clothes.
‘Plus, he’s growing taller these days.’
Unfortunately, it hasn’t been long since I got it fitted, but my ankles and sleeves are already showing signs of getting stiff.
So, with the intention of getting as much money as possible, I wear them around Jinju Palace until they are dry and worn out.
“why? “Is it that bad?”
“Oh, no. “I thought it was a truly future-oriented design, so I just asked.”
Dasha takes a step back, drenched in cold sweat.
“You can just be honest, Dasha.”
Seongjin smiled warmly at her.
“You look like a crazy Breton, you look like a clown on the rue de Bertrand, you look like a pagan if you only wear flowers in your hair…” … .”
“… Oh no! If there is any progress in the investigation, we will report it immediately! Rest in peace, Your Majesty!”
As Dasha left as if running away, Seongjin tilted his head and looked at the clothes carefully.
‘Does it seem that strange to you?’
[It’s a bit avant-garde, isn’t it?]
Even to Seongjin, who was clearly unfamiliar with the design field, this butterfly pattern seemed somewhat overly modern.
I heard that Salon de Mercier has a separate staff member who specializes in drawing designs, but who on earth makes these designs?
* * *
“and! Did you guys see it? “Archduke Sigismund visited our dressing room during the day!”
The sewing room is brightly lit like daylight even in the middle of the night.
The employees of Salon de Mercy were chatting diligently today as they worked through the backlog of work all night.
“Aren’t you just as wonderful as I heard in the rumors? “The atmosphere itself was different from that of ordinary people.”
“How can the family wolf crest match so well?”
“I’m really jealous of someone like that as an escort. “I want to be that Isabella Scarzzapino, just for one day!”
Then, a young lady who was quietly listening to their conversation next to her let out a low laugh.
“Hehe. “You guys have nothing to envy.”
“Iseo, aren’t you jealous?”
“Yeah, not at all.”
——————
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The young lady, called Lee Seo, put down the design she was working on and raised her head.
She was an exotic looking girl with black hair and dark brown eyes, a rare sight in Delcross.
“Unfortunately, Lady Scarzzapino’s chance will not come back. “She has the role of a jealous villain.”
“Jealous… “What?”
The employees looked at her in confusion.
Seo Yi Seo. She was a new employee who had recently joined Salon de Mercy.
It is said that it has not been long since she settled in the imperial capital, but perhaps that is why she sometimes says strange things that are difficult to understand with Delcross’s common sense. Employees often pass it off as if it’s just her hometown joke.
“First of all, she is not the Archduke’s type.”
“… How do you know Archduke Sigismund’s ideal type?”
“okay. “The lady of the Scarzzapino family is said to be one of the most beautiful women in the capital.”
Seo Yi-seo responded with a relaxed smile to the questions of the employees who seemed a bit surprised.
“The type of person that kind of person likes is always determined. “A woman who is pure and kind, and who sometimes stands out in unexpected places.”
“… Knock knock? “How do you do that?”
“Hmm, well? “Like falling in front of him at an unexpected time or spilling tea.”
“Huh?”
“Or did you do something like get drunk and cry or suddenly slap him in the face?”
The employees, who had been listening intently to see if any useful information would come out, suddenly made a sound of frustration.
What is that? Are you going to slap the Grand Duke on the cheek?
He is the most promising swordsman on the continent and a great nobleman of the North. It would be fortunate if Daenggang’s head wasn’t cut off on the spot.
“Giggle giggle. “He says really strange things sometimes.”
The employees burst into laughter as if they had heard a silly joke, and then picked up the sewing material that had been lying around for a while.
“Do you remember? Yi-seo was like that during the last victory ceremony. What did you say? Prince Logan, did you say that you are not attracted to him because his face is really nice but his personality is great?”
“What? “Is that real?”
“joy. It’s a personal preference. Please be respectful.”
Seo Yi-seo answered innocently and put her nose back into the design she was working on.
“Then, does Yi-seo like someone like Archduke Sigismund better? “A bad boy type with a heartless vibe.”
“Well, guess what? I saw it today and it looked pretty cool. However, I was a little surprised that the Prince of the Cold North did not have black hair.”
“… … ?”
What on earth is the relationship between the Grand Duke of the North and black hair?
While the employees were confused, Seo Yi-seo burst into laughter as something suddenly occurred to her.
“More than that, I was a bit surprised to see Prince Mores today. There was something very different between reading the description and actually seeing it. In terms of looks, I guess I actually like that one more? “I guess my sub-disease has gotten worse again.”
“What?”
The employees all stopped sewing at once and looked at her.
Is he sane now?
“Do you know what kind of person Prince Mores is?”
“that… “Isn’t there a bit of a difference between a person with evil charms and a worldly asshole?”
It’s been a while since he settled in Delcross, so he doesn’t know much about the situation!
The employees’ sympathetic looks are poured on Yi-seo.
“Hehe, you don’t know that.”
However, regardless of this, Lee Seo started sketching the design again.
“He may act like a bastard on the outside, but if you get to know him, he may be a person who has suffered from deep wounds on the inside since childhood. So he ends up being attracted to a woman who understands his pain.”
“… Hurt inside?”
The dumbfounded employees look at each other and wink.
As the number of times increases, his nonsense becomes more and more diverse.
“Oops! If this continues, the character will collapse. “My mouth was so itchy that I stopped before I knew it.”
“… … ?”
“Well, what’s the use of talking about this now?”
Eventually, she completed another butterfly wing and added with a somewhat confident smile.
“Well, you guys will find out soon after the birthday party is over.”
* * *
Emerald Palace.
This splendid villa where the 2nd Empress Melody lived was a beautiful palace with a large green garden and a small glass greenhouse.
Indeed, Sisley, who had returned to the imperial palace for the first time in a long time and was able to rest, spent the whole morning curled up on the couch in this glass greenhouse.
“Hey, it’s Sisley.”
Melody, who was gently brushing her daughter’s silver hair next to her, spoke as if admonishing her.
“I’m glad I got to spend time with my mom after a long time, but shouldn’t I get ready now? “It is time for an audience with His Majesty.”
However, Sisley, who buried his face in the pillow and closed his eyes, did not even move.
“Today isn’t the only day, right? “You can put it off later.”
“But honey. You’ve been away from the palace for too long, right? “It is a long-awaited audience, but His Majesty will be disappointed.”
“I said hello as soon as I came back. “You’re already busy these days with your audience with the envoys, but I got to see you face to face, so that’s it.”
Melody gave up on persuading her daughter due to Sisley’s extremely stubborn attitude and sighed softly.
“Well, I don’t know when children grow up so quickly. “It seems like just yesterday that I was holding onto the hem of His Majesty’s clothes all day long.”
“… … .”
“Isn’t that right, Sisley? When you were young, you didn’t even try to walk on all fours. I always insisted on being held in my father’s arms. “You don’t know how much His Majesty has worked hard to keep you away every time he enters a political meeting.”
Sisley slowly blinked his eyes as he lay still and received Melody’s touch.
The childhood she remembers is always similar.
The hem of the robes shining white under the sun, and myself walking hurriedly to chase after it.
And from time to time, Seonghwang’s face looks back as if checking on her.
If only I could go back to that time… … .
“Mother Empress, princess.”
At that time, an attendant quickly approached them, bowed his head and spoke.
“This is a letter from the Southern Front.”
Then he politely holds out a small tray with a white envelope towards Sisley.
Melody asked with a smile.
“Oh my, is this Prince Owen again?”
“Yes, this is a letter personally addressed to the princess.”
Sisley got up from the couch and opened the letter with some joy.
-To Sisley.
I heard that he was on a long-term visit. Since her birthday is approaching, she may have already returned to the imperial palace by now.
Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be able to return to the imperial palace for this birthday party. The southern front is stable, but the atmosphere here is still a bit unstable for me to leave.
Interactions with the Volanta tribe have just begun. Chief Chikutarku is quite a decent and wise man, so I think we will be able to have a good friendly relationship in the future.
However, the reaction of other tribal leaders around them is not so favorable, so there is a high risk of clashes again at any time.
I don’t want to say it on behalf of him, but I will send a gift to you and your father soon.
P.s. Always take care of yourself. If anything happens, don’t forget to discuss it with your father.
Melody, who was looking at the correspondence next to him, smiled softly.
“I don’t know how he takes care of you with such sincerity. “I’m really grateful.”
However, Sisley’s face was even darker after reading the entire letter.
Brother Owen, do you know what?
Sometimes I’m so scared of Your Majesty.
fantasy,
