CPSMBD Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Trip to Quaker

 Brahe, who had gulped down the drink handed to him by Head Butler Dominic, let out a small sigh.

"Ah, I feel alive again. Thank you, ."

Dominic nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief before speaking.

"So... how are the inspection preparations coming along?"

General Chief Aide Kuan, who was overseeing the preparations for His Highness's inspection, responded to Dominic's query.

"They're progressing well."

Dominic shifted in his seat before finally revealing the purpose of his visit to the aide's office.

"Have you decided who will be accompanying the inspection team this time?"

I shook my head, savoring the drink the butler had provided.

"No, we haven't selected anyone yet."

The Crown Prince conducts inspections every two years to assess the living conditions of the imperial citizens. This year happened to be an inspection year.

The area slated for inspection this time was Quaker in the eastern part of the empire, famous for its mineral production. As 70 percent of the empire's mineral consumption came from this region, Quaker was a crucial strategic point.

The aide's office was currently gathering information about the area and methodically progressing with the necessary preparations for the inspection.

Since inspections are conducted in utmost secrecy, only a minimal number of personnel always accompany the Crown Prince to attend to his needs.

Dominic, as the Crown Prince's personal butler, always accompanies the inspection, and one additional staff member from the aide's office joins as well.

Traditionally, the staff member to accompany the inspection is chosen by drawing lots.

Brahe offered to Dominic, "We were actually planning to draw lots for the inspection team member today. Would you like to watch, Head Butler Dominic?"

"Oh, that would be splendid."

Just as we were about to call for Secretary Derek to conduct the lottery, he fortuitously visited the aide's office.

"Good day, everyone. I thought you might all be resting here, so I dropped by to catch my breath as well."

"Perfect timing! We were just about to draw lots for the staff member who will accompany His Highness on this inspection," I informed him.

Derek nodded at my words. "Oh! It seems I've arrived at just the right moment."

Brahe, being the youngest, quickly prepared paper slips for the lottery. As he shuffled them, he said, "I wonder who will be accompanying His Highness this time? I pray it's not me. I've already had my lifetime's worth of hardship during the last inspection."

"Same here. I hope it's not me," Kuan chimed in.

"Likewise. I'd do almost anything to avoid going on this inspection," Derek added.

Brahe, Kuan, and Derek took turns voicing their complaints. I shared their sentiments entirely.

Dominic let out a deep sigh and said, "How do you think I feel, having to accompany every inspection? Frankly, I'm sick of it."

I wondered what exactly happened during these inspections that made everyone who had ever participated react with such dread.

Luckily, I had never been included in an inspection team, despite having served the Crown Prince for six years.

Brahe's lottery slips scattered across the communal table.

With a pounding heart, I picked up a slip of paper.

'Please, not me.'

I fervently prayed that the goddess of fortune would favor me once again.

I had no desire to trudge through the streets with the Crown Prince in this heat.

Even if Quaker, located in the northeastern part of the empire, was much cooler and more pleasant than the capital where the Imperial Palace was situated at this time of year.

It was far more comfortable and beneficial for my mental health to enjoy the leisure of sitting in an air-conditioned office, even if it was hot outside.

Moreover, I had Velasquez as my secret weapon, which made things even better.

And the freedom one could enjoy when the boss was away!

It was truly the sweetest of situations.

Every time the Crown Prince went on an inspection, I felt almost guilty about receiving my salary, given how peaceful the aide's office became.

With a prayerful heart, I carefully unfolded the paper.

Thankfully, my paper was marked with a circle.

It seemed the goddess of fortune had smiled upon me once again!

"Yes! I'm excluded from the inspection team this time too!"

I jubilantly showed my paper to the others, hopping up and down in place, overcome with joy at being exempted from the inspection team.

Caught up in my own emotions, I failed to immediately notice the suspicious atmosphere pervading the aide's office.

When I finally calmed down, I noticed Brahe beaming at me.

Not just Brahe, but Kuan and Derek were also looking at me with amused smiles.

Kuan addressed me in a pleased tone.

"It looks like Violetta will be the one to attend to His Highness during this inspection. It's about time you had the experience of going on an inspection and serving His Highness, Violetta."

Impossible!

I had been eliminated in the lottery, so why should I have to go on the inspection with the Crown Prince?

"What? Why? Look, I got a circle, General Chief Aide," I protested, raising my voice and holding up my paper higher so Kuan could see it clearly.

That's when Brahe spoke up with a grin.

"The circle means you're selected. We left the slips blank for those excluded from the inspection team."

A shock like a bolt of lightning struck my head.

Me?

Am I really included in this inspection team?

No way!

Why me of all people?

Why do I have to accompany the Crown Prince?

There was no way what I had just heard could be reality.

***

Everything felt like a dream.

Why on earth was I, who should have been leisurely enjoying myself in a chair at the Imperial Palace, now heading towards Quaker with the Crown Prince and Head Chamberlain Dominic?

I wished I could wake up from this dream right now.

I pinched my arm hard, but nothing happened. I didn't wake up.

All I got for my efforts was a sore arm.

"Ouch!" I cried out.

The Crown Prince turned to look at me, frowning when he saw nothing amiss.

"What are you doing?"

"It's nothing, Your Highness."

"I suppose you still can't believe you're on this inspection with His Highness," Dominic remarked knowingly.

As expected, Dominic understood my feelings perfectly. He had hit the nail right on the head!

The Crown Prince, seemingly not having heard Dominic clearly, repeated his question.

"What did you just say?"

"Ah, it's nothing, Your Highness," Dominic replied, his shoulders tensing as he quickened his pace to move ahead.

I had hoped Dominic might deliver a sharp retort to the Crown Prince.

'Head Chamberlain Dominic, I'm truly disappointed.'

Left with no choice, I had to continue my lonely battle alone.

Even if it was a fight known only to me.

As I followed behind the Crown Prince, I spoke up again.

"Your High-- I mean, Guild Master, can't we take a short break? I'm exhausted."

Since morning, the Crown Prince, Dominic, and I had been walking non-stop towards Quaker.

Although there was an instant transport portal in Quaker  connected to the Imperial Palace, we didn't use it to completely conceal the inspection team's movements.

Instead, we were enduring this ordeal: traveling with a mage who could use instant transportation to a remote area near Quaker, then walking the rest of the way on foot.

"It's not 'Your Highness', but 'Guild Master'," the Crown Prince corrected me.

The Crown Prince, Dominic, and I were currently disguised as an ordinary merchant guild.

The Crown Prince played the role of the guild master, Dominic the deputy master, and I was assigned the role of the lowest-ranking member, without even a proper title.

'I'm certainly not young enough to play the role of the rookie anywhere else.'

However, being the youngest person on this inspection team, I had no choice.

The Crown Prince's inspections were always top secret, necessitating this kind of disguise.

Last time, we had posed as travelers for the inspection. I couldn't fathom why we were masquerading as a merchant guild this time.

'Thanks to that, we have so much more luggage, making the journey even more difficult!'

I too was currently shouldering a large bag filled with miscellaneous items.

The weight of the luggage pressing down on my shoulders made every movement a struggle.