That's not a minor Curse.
Bajed stood up and walked to her side.
"How many people have you consulted? Priests, magicians, alchemists, even wandering witch doctors. No one can break the curse."
"So, I need to find him."
Leinas turned around and looked at him with her deep blue eyes.
He is our last hope.
Bajed remained silent for a long time.
He knew what Leinas's Curse was all about.
It was during a monster-slaying operation that a peculiar monster placed Curse on her before it died.
The effect of Curse is simple.
It caused her right cheek to continuously secrete yellow pus, which was putrid and foul-smelling, and could never be cured.
She was expelled from her family and abandoned by her fiancé, transforming from a noblewoman into a monster that everyone avoided.
Only the emperor took her in, gave her a place among the Four Imperial Knights, and allowed her to live with dignity.
But dignity cannot cure the Curse.
Does His Majesty know?
"Have no idea."
Leinas shook her head.
But I don't need his approval. I just want you not to stop me.
Bajed looked at her for a long time. Then he sighed.
I won't stop you. But be careful. That person is no ordinary person.
"I know."
Leinas turned around and walked towards the door. After a few steps, she stopped without looking back.
She pushed open the door and walked out. The door closed behind her.
Bajed stood there, staring at the closed door, and remained silent for a long time.
Then he went back to the table, picked up the sword again, and continued wiping it.
His face was reflected in the sword.
He had a beard on his chin, and his hair was tied into a long braid at the back, giving him a confident and cheerful expression.
But he knew that beneath that face lay a less-than-confident facade.
"Higashino Makoto..."
He murmured the name.
"What kind of person are you, really?"
The carriage moved slowly along the Baharuth Empire road.
Higashino Makoto leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his face and casting a soft shadow on his closed eyes.
Illya sat beside him, her long, silvery-white hair cascading over her shoulders, her purple dress standing out vividly in the dim light of the carriage.
His crimson eyes gazed out the window at the rapidly receding fields and villages.
"Big brother."
"Um."
What's the difference between the Baharuth Empire and Re-Estize Kingdom?
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes, his dark eyes staring at the roof of the car.
"Many differences."
"For example?"
"For example—the emperor of the Baharuth Empire is a true ruler. Re-Estize Kingdom is a feudal system of fiefdoms, where nobles govern themselves and the king is merely the first among the nobles. Baharuth Empire is a centralized system where the emperor's word is law, and the nobles are simply the emperor's subjects."
Illya tilted her head.
"Is Baharuth Empire better than Re-Estize Kingdom?"
"Good."
Higashino Makoto's answer was concise and to the point.
"But it's not much better."
"Why?"
"Because the Baharuth Empire is too dependent on the emperor alone."
Higashino Makoto sat up straight and looked at Illya.
"A capable emperor makes Baharuth Empire strong; an incapable emperor makes Baharuth Empire weak. This system is unstable."
Illya blinked.
"So, older brother, what kind of system do you think is stable?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
There are no stable systems. Systems are created by people, and people always make mistakes. Therefore, there are no perfect systems, only systems that are not so bad.
Illya nodded as if she understood, but didn't ask any more questions.
The carriage continued its journey.
The rhythmic sound of wheels rolling over the gravel road drifted into the carriage.
"Big brother."
"Um."
"What will we do once we arrive in the Baharuth Empire?"
"Let's see. Let's see just how outstanding that 'Bloody Emperor' really is. Let's see the people of the Baharuth Empire, and see if this country needs my intervention."
"What if you need it?"
"Then let's make our move."
What if we don't need it?
"Then let's keep going."
Illya looked at him, a certain light gleaming in her crimson eyes.
"Big brother, you don't seem to have any expectations for the Baharuth Empire?"
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"No, I do."
"Why?"
"The Baharuth Empire is one of the strongest among human nations, at least. It may not need my salvation, nor my change. It may simply need to maintain the status quo. I like a thriving Garden."
He paused.
"Of course, if the Bloody Emperor is willing to talk to me, I wouldn't mind."
Illya tilted her head.
"What does the older brother want to talk to him about?"
"Let's talk about how to be an emperor."
Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly.
"He's more experienced than I am in this area."
Illya smiled. It was an innocent and radiant smile, her crimson eyes sparkling with joy.
"Big brother, you can be really strange sometimes."
"I know."
The carriage continued its journey. Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting golden dappled patterns of light into the carriage.
In the distance, the Royal Capital of the Baharuth Empire was faintly visible on the horizon.
It was a magnificent city. Towering city walls, wide streets, and orderly buildings.
Unlike the Re-Estize Kingdom's Royal Capital, there was no air of decay or the smell of decay here.
There is only one.
Order.
A rigid, cold, and utterly devoid of warmth order.
Higashino Makoto gazed at the city, a glint of light flashing in his dark eyes.
"The Baharuth Empire... interesting."
The carriage entered the Royal Capital in the afternoon.
Higashino Makoto lifted the curtain, glanced outside, and then lowered it again.
"How about it?"
Illya asked.
"Good."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"Better than the Royal Capital."
"Just not bad?"
Higashino Makoto paused, recalling the several countries he had visited.
That's good.
Illya smiled.
The carriage stopped in front of an inn.
Higashino Makoto jumped off the carriage, stretched, and his bones cracked and popped.
Illya followed behind him, her long silver-white hair shimmering with golden light in the sunlight, her purple dress standing out starkly against the drab street.
"Big brother, are we staying here?"
"Um."
Higashino Makoto strode into the hotel. Illya lifted her skirt and followed him.
The hotel wasn't big, but it was very clean.
The proprietress was a middle-aged woman in her forties, slightly plump, with a friendly smile and a heavy Baharuth Empire accent.
Are you two from out of town?
"Right."
Higashino Makoto took a gold coin from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
"Two rooms. Let me know if you need more."
The proprietress's eyes lit up.
"Alright! Please come upstairs!"
She personally led the way, taking them to two adjacent rooms on the second floor, giving them a few instructions, and then went downstairs.
Higashino Makoto pushed open his room door, went inside, and casually tossed his luggage onto the table.
The room was small, containing a bed, a table, a chair, a clothes rack, and a potted green plant of unknown species on the windowsill.
Simple, but enough.