Chapter 565: Cooperation

"An apology gift?"

"Yes, an apology gift!"

Viel clapped her hands together, her smile as bright as spring sunlight.

"Well, after the President went back, she kept talking about how terribly rude what she did at House Dion last time was, how terribly it tarnished a princess’s dignity—she was practically to the point where she couldn’t eat or drink tea. Look, as soon as that matter ended, the President immediately had me deliver gifts over to apologize!"

"Y-Your Highness is thoughtful."

Hearing that it really was Her Highness Princess Celicia who had sent someone to apologize, Sharp immediately placed a hand to his chest and gave a flawless salute. Only his gaze still carried a faint trace of suspicion as it fell on those carriages that were much larger than ordinary ones.

He didn’t know what medicine that princess was selling in her gourd, but... an apology?

That arrogant woman, apologizing of her own initiative?

A hint of mockery surfaced in Sharp’s eyes as he said, "Actually, what happened before wasn’t anything big. It was my own lack of composure that made me seem overly impatient. Her Highness Princess Celicia really doesn’t need to apologize, so... please take these gifts back."

"No!"

Viel refused at once.

"Deliver these gifts here. The President said that if you don’t accept them, she’ll feel awful!"

"But..."

Sharp gave a bitter smile. "How about you go back and tell Her Highness Princess Celicia that I never held a grudge. Last time was just a tiny misunderstanding. There’s no need for me to accept such valuable gifts."

"It has nothing to do with whether you hold a grudge or not."

Viel put her hands on her hips and bared her teeth. "This is a bit of Her Highness the Princess’s goodwill. Are you saying... you look down on the Empire’s Third Princess, Her Highness Princess Celicia’s goodwill?"

"..."

Sharp’s cheek twitched.

As expected of that princess’s little tagalong—this hat-placing skill was practically taught by the same teacher.

"Fine. I’ll accept these things for now."

Sharp sighed helplessly. With the words already brought to this point, no matter what medicine they were selling, he could only accept them first.

"What’s inside?"

"Secret."

Viel blinked mischievously.

"Since it’s a gift, it has to be a bit surprising, doesn’t it?"

"Surprising... I just hope it won’t be a scare."

Sharp muttered to himself, then called over the butler and had someone take the carriages away first.

After that, he politely extended an invitation to Viel out of etiquette.

"Since you’re here, how about sitting in the manor for a bit?"

"Sure."

"Not possible... what a pity, I was still thinking... wait?"

Sharp froze. "What did you say?"

"I said sure."

Viel kept blinking cutely.

"Aiya, it’s so hot today, and I worked so hard. I just happen to want a sip of fine tea."

"..."

Sharp, who had only meant to be symbolically polite, stood there blankly with his mouth half open.

"Since you invited me so sincerely, I won’t be polite, then."

Viel patted Sharp’s shoulder like she knew him well, then hopped and skipped her way into the manor on her own initiative.

"Mr. Sharp, you’re really such a good person!"

"..."

Watching Viel’s lively back, the corner of Sharp’s eye jumped wildly. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly summoned the butler.

"Any news from the Inner Council?"

"Not for the time being."

Butler Arno replied respectfully.

"After what happened in the Lower City, it seems everyone’s attention has been drawn to the Second Prince’s death, so the Empire has instead been unusually quiet during this period."

"Quiet... but that Princess Celicia picking this moment to put on this show—what exactly is she trying to do?"

Sharp paced back and forth, thinking quickly. Because of his special position, even though he hadn’t truly participated in the Inner Council’s affairs, the intelligence he obtained was instead far more than most of those Inner Council wine-sacks and rice-bags.

"Right—House Campbell!"

Sharp jolted awake, turning to look at the butler as he asked in a low voice, "Has House Campbell made any moves lately?"

"House Campbell..."

The butler thought for a moment as well, then said, "Likewise, there’s been no movement. After last time’s losses, even that big rat in the Lower City is behaving itself now."

"Are you sure?"

Sharp’s expression turned solemn. "If Celicia really intends to use House Campbell to do something, then it might truly bring us a lot of trouble."

"Of course I’m sure."

The butler answered without the slightest hesitation.

"After the Lower City incident, all of House Campbell’s forces in Berland were basically exposed, and they’re under our tight surveillance. If they truly wanted to do something, it would be impossible for us not to notice in advance."

"What if she wants to use House Campbell’s influence to do something?"

"That’s even more impossible. With the current situation where that Duke Campbell and the duke’s son still haven’t returned, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ House Campbell is still far too weak to influence the Empire’s politics."

"Is that so... am I overthinking it?"

Sharp rubbed his chin and pondered for a while, but in the end he still said cautiously, "No matter what, we can’t relax our vigilance. As for those gifts the princess sent..."

Sharp’s gaze flickered.

"Don’t open them, and don’t look at what’s inside. Destroy them directly!"

"Yes!"

......

......

"Hello. I’m an old friend of the Church. I’d like to meet the Grand Archbishop of Canterbury."

Outside Berland Cathedral, a neatly dressed man who looked utterly unremarkable handed an exquisite badge to a matron sweeping at the entrance.

The elderly matron took the badge. She only glanced at it, but the drowsy look on her face instantly cleared. After carefully sizing the man up, she said, "Please wait a moment."

The matron turned and entered the cathedral. The man waited patiently. Soon, the cathedral doors opened again. The matron held a dim, yellowed lantern in her hand, her voice low.

"Follow me."

"Thank you."

The man followed the matron, turning left and right along the cathedral’s paths. He did not enter that magnificent cathedral famous throughout Berland. Instead, guided by the dim lantern, he was led into an inconspicuous small room.

Inside the room, a faint haze carried a calming fragrance that soothed the mind. An old man in white robes sat leaning back, holding a tome as he silently turned the pages.

The matron left without a word, closing the door behind her.

The man glanced around the room and did not speak to disturb the Grand Archbishop of Canterbury. He simply sat down across from him, familiarly picked up the teapot in front of the archbishop, and poured himself a cup of clear tea.

Mm. Holy City spring tea—still so richly fragrant.

After finishing a cup, the man set the teacup down, just as he met a pair of meaningful, weathered eyes.

"I wonder how it is that you, Sir Honorary Holy Hall Knight—who have been looking quite busy lately—have the time to come visit my church?"

"Even if I’m busy, I still have to make time to pay my respects to Your Grace, don’t I?"

The man smiled slightly, then casually tore away the human-skin mask on his face, revealing a handsome face that made the lamplight seem a bit brighter.

"Of course, to be frank, while I’m here to pay a visit, I’m also here to discuss a cooperation."