The Fifty-Second Act: Different Choices

"A Cruzian envoy?"

"A man named Donas Bernie. He holds the rank of viscount."

"Wait, I know this man." Brando interrupted Charles, recalling that Veronica had once mentioned this name to him. This man was the Silver Queen's secret envoy. After the disaster in the Dead Frost Forest, the Empire had sent an envoy corps to investigate the First Prince's whereabouts, and this man was its chief officer. Veronica had also told him that the man's true purpose was probably to confirm the First Prince's death. "I know about this envoy corps, too." He finally remembered the matter. The affairs that had come one after another lately—mainly the Autumn Twilight War and Her Highness the Princess's sudden letter—had almost made him forget about it. "Are these Cruzians preparing to return to the Empire? Why did Dirfiel suddenly tell us about this?"

"No, my lord. In fact, the Cruzian envoy corps is still staying in Lantorilan. Their person in charge is someone else now. According to our information, this Mr. Donas Bernie has never appeared at all." Charles replied.

"What exactly is going on?" Brando frowned.

"It's said that the viscount suddenly fell ill, so he returned with the fleet from Deldertar. He never even went ashore at Anlek."

Brando thought it was obviously an excuse. Since the man was the Queen's secret envoy, how could he return without accomplishing anything merely because of illness? His first thought was that perhaps the Cruzians had noticed something. But then he realized that there was no way Dirfiel could know about this. Only a handful of people around him knew about the Broken Sword Knight Order and Prince Lainaret's existence. Suppressing his doubts, he asked, "This is merely an internal matter for the Cruzians. Why did Miss Dirfiel pass this information on to