Steady Gardener (1)

Kleio laughed, hugging Behemoth as he checked how much wine was left in the bag he brought from home. He still had something good.

“Gwibu wine from Ruhra goes well with foie gras, right?”

“You think you can always please me with the same thing?”

“Should I change it up?”

“Give me the alcohol quickly.”

Behemoth, throwing a sharp hind kick to Kleio and flew like a giant flying squirrel to land in front of the wine.

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The Ruhra wine had a golden color that bordered on a bright scarlet, and it felt similar to Tokai wine. It was a noble wine from the border between the Brunnen monarchy and the Empire of Krater, with a sweet and cold taste. The fact that the production center was so far away meant that it was rare, and Kleio only had two bottles. Though it was not very pleasant, he made the decision to save the country and gave one to a messenger.

“Go to the Ketners restaurant, leave this wine to the manager, and ask him to put it in the foie gras and the honey glazed apples.”

“I can only enter such a restaurant if I inform the introducer. May I give master Asel’s name?”

“…Say Lady Dione’s name and tell her to check it over. However, bring me the bill.”

“Yes!”

The servant, who received a generous amount of money for the errand, fled the dormitory on light feet. Two hours later, the food was still hot when the servant boy returned. Behemoth was quick to get up even before the cover bowl was opened. Careful not to spill anything, Kleio opened the remaining bottle.

“Hey, this is amazing!”

Behemoth, drinking the wine with a satisfied look, opened his mouth again.

“Even when the alcohol is mixed in with the honey, it’s not too sweet.”

Kleio, having received half a glass of wine thanks to Behemoth’s generosity, nodded.

“Okay, now do you remember?”

“Let’s see. There was an event from years and years ago when a student got his hands of preserved beast blood.”

“Huh.”

“And another thing. The grass of Ezra’s stylus grows over in the northern mountains of Brunnen. It’s similar to a reed, but it looks large.”

“Yes…?”

“Ezra’s stylus is said to have the effect of chasing evil spirits when burned. What was in the old texts that third-year read…? After mixing rotten beast blood with the grass, it was consumed with ether.”

“The boiled reeds and beast blood in the ether? Ugh. Why?”

“I don’t know. Originally, he was a gloomy guy working with dark magic. It’s said the name of that concoction is ‘Hydra’s Poison.’ Anything coming up from that name?”

“That…what…”

Middle-schooler syndrome was a serious illness, even in a world like this.

“He blew up a building and ran around like crazy.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“After consuming that potion, his eyes and ether became strange. I just saw something similar recently.”

“!!!”

The red eyes of a wizard who had conducted a dangerous experiment were like those of the red eyes of the assassins who attacked Arthur. The chance that the two were connected with this Hydra’s Poison seemed to be high.

“Is the Hydra Poison case famous? Does everyone know of it?”

“No way, it was kept under wraps.”

“But you knew.”

“Yes, yes. You may praise me.”

Behemoth began to clean his fur as Kleio’s blood pressure rose.

“No, if you knew that, why didn’t you mention it earlier?”

“I am a genius, but not a perfect being! It happened about ninety-seven years ago, and I only remembered after seeing it at the theater! If you live long enough, it’s hard to remember!

“I wonder how long you’ll end up living if you’ve already been alive that long. Maybe another thousand at this school?”

Kleio responded sarcastically, but Behemoth ignored him.

“When did I say I lived here when I was younger?”

“You said you lived a hundred years in the school.”

“That’s right. I lived a hundred years by the River Tempus.”

“Then before?”

“I lived near the door. That is my main territory. At one time, that territory was vast.”

“…Mr. Moth, were you always a cat? Excuse me, but your age?”

“Don’t you dare ask a cat for its age.”

“I see…”

The conversation had already deviated heavily. After a long quarrel, the two collapsed on the bed. After catching his breath, Kleio gently patted Behemoth before returning to the main point.

“Are there any more detailed records of that case? The wizard’s experiment, the texts he read, whatever. Could I find them in the St. Patin reading room?”

The St. Patin reading room of the school’s library had gathered all the ancient spells they had. The librarian was always proud that it was the continent’s largest library of magic books.

“It’s not there.”

“Then, where the hell is it?”

“The journal of the incident and that book the stupid child found would be in the king’s library. The guards directly under the king took it at the time.”

“The king’s library? Ah…!”

He heard from Arthur that it was a place only those authorized by the king could enter, as it contained prohibited spells and old books.

“Have you heard of it? The king’s library is the heart of the royal family.”

“Then, I can’t get any copies from the school.”

“It was forbidden to try the magic again, so no copies were left. The lab burned down with his notes, and most of what the guards recovered were half-burnt.”

“So, to find out what that magic is…”

“I must obtain permission from the king or his representative.”

“No way.”

King Philippe was too ill to see, which meant he had to go to Melchior. However, he wouldn’t even grant access to Aslan. Even after listing all the facts, he felt exhausted.

“Is there a way to sneak in?”

“I heard from the lap of the dean’s predecessor, who contributed plenty of liquor to me. There is no way to penetrate the most important place in this country that can be found within my clever head.”

“Haaah…”

Kleio sipped the rest of his wine as he let out a deep sigh.

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Kleio, who came down to the supervisor’s office to make a phone call, hesitated for a while as he looked at the wrinkled paper he held.

-Royal Advisory Attorney Lawrence Kinnear-

It was the direct phone number of his enemy.

‘If I ask to connect to Melchior, I think he will, but I don’t want to stick my head in the lion’s mouth.’

It took a long moment before Kleio picked up the handset and called Kinnear. Soon, he was connected by the operator, and without any further ado, Kleio asked Kinnear to meet Melchior alone. Just twelve minutes later, a reply came.

“Must it be an official meeting?”

“No, it’s a personal business.”

“If so, would tomorrow afternoon be okay? The official schedule is planned for the next six weeks, making it difficult to adjust. But tomorrow is a day of rest, so he said he would allow it if it were an informal meeting at the villa.”

Kleio emotionlessly thanked Kinnear. Even after hanging up, his eyes were still bugging out. Was the crown prince someone that could be met with just one phone call?

‘Let’s tell the others after things are resolved. I know there’s some damned document in the library. If there’s a problem, I have to deal with it on my own. They’re already busy.’

***

The next afternoon, Kleio arrived at the castle alone. The royal palace of Albion had been expanded over a thousand years, starting with the King’s Hall built in the days of Leonid the first. In other words, the buildings inside the fence were more complicated than an ant den.

‘It’s easy to get lost. How does this building look like a maze? If it caught fire, everyone inside would die.’

The driveway and atrium he passed by were the most recently refurbished parts, following the latest trends. However, behind the outer palace connected to the central hall, the buildings still retaining their old appearance were more complicated. It was a strange space mixed with thousands of years of style.

‘Well, it’s not something you could redevelop.’

Jungjin, with his Korean-like sentiments, wondered if it would heat well in the winter. He walked for almost an hour under the guidance of a silent servant. At the last minute, the words asking for a break came up to his throat. Of course, the crown prince was waiting, but wasn’t Kleio in a position to make that regretful request? Finally, the outside space came into view again as the attendant guided Kleio outside.

“The crown prince is waiting in the villa here.”

“You’re not guiding me?”

“I’m sorry, but since this is a place where access isn’t allowed, please understand that such hospitality is inappropriate.”

The attendant, who was polite but cold in manner, disappeared silently.

‘It’s worse that I’m alone.’

Left alone, Kleio reluctantly trudged on, preparing Separation first.

‘A weed field…?’

The garden built in front of the outer palace had a magnificent fountain and statue placed between a maze of plants, but now, what he saw inside the royal palace was incredibly simple.

‘Which building was it again?’

He glanced over the trees and vines, beyond the boxwood fences and slanted wooden lattice gates to see a red roof and brick chimney. It was a small cottage that fit a countryside view.

‘Is that it?’

Kleio moved toward that building, through the terracotta paving stones layered in tessellated shapes with uncut grass raised over it. Wisteria vines tangled above the arches, woven with poor skills.

‘It looks poor compared to the Queen’s Garden.’

As he passed through the arch and turned around the curved path, there were several late-season flowers in bloom next to a lone pond. Kleio was captivated by the petals blowing in the wind, feeling that he himself was a little late in his popularity. He could see someone tall wearing a straw hat to block the sun, old boots, and a tweed vest with outdoor pants.

‘There was someone other than Melchior here… Ugh.’

The man worked in the garden with skillful hands, but then he paused to look back as Kleio realized who it was. It was someone he could recognize even under the shade of the hat.

“You’re here, Sir Kleio.”

“Crown prince.”

Kleio was embarrassed to realize that it was Melchior dressed up in the garb of a gardener.

“Finally, right before I’ve settled the autumn roses. If you were a day or two late, you wouldn’t have seen them in bloom, but you’re lucky.”