The crown i will claim — Chapter 27

UGH!

I YIELD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GUIDANCE, MY LIEGE.

YOU'RE PUSHING YOURSELF TOO HARD.

I KEEP TELLING YOU, IT'S BEST TO MOVE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

HERE, DRY YOURSELF OFF.

I'M FINE. THIS IS NOTHING.

ANYTHING ON THE BOOK OF THE SAGE, CARLO?

I LOOKED INTO IT, AND IT SEEMS THE LORD PROTECTOR DOESN'T HAVE IT ANYMORE.

APPARENTLY, HE HANDED IT OVER TO MINISTER ETIENNE TO SMOOTH OVER WHAT HAPPENED RECENTLY AT THE BANQUET.

AS FOR MINISTER ETIENNE... HE'S BEEN TRANSFERRED TO A MORE SECURE PRISON UNDER THE QUEEN DOWAGER'S ORDERS.

AT THIS POINT, EVEN THE LORD PROTECTOR CAN'T DO MUCH FOR HIM ANYMORE.

THEN THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE IT'S STILL AT ETIENNE MANOR.

UH... BOSS,

DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE PLANNING TO GO THERE YOURSELF IN YOUR CONDITION!

I AGREE. DIDN'T YOU SUFFER ANOTHER SEIZURE NOT LONG AGO?

ENOUGH. I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

THE IMPERIAL CONSORT'S SHADOWS HAVE ENTERED BALDINA.

THEY'VE BEEN TRACKING YOU RELENTLESSLY, AND IT SEEMS THEY FINALLY MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT YOUR WHEREABOUTS.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY HAVEN'T STORMED IN ALREADY?

THEY'RE WAITING FOR YOU TO STEP OUTSIDE!

THEN I SUPPOSE I'LL BE SEEING SOME FAMILIAR FACES.

BOSS!

OH, COME ON...

CESARE!

ETIENNE MANOR IS PRACTICALLY AN ABANDONED TREASURE VAULT RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL MOVE IN BEFORE ANYONE ELSE GETS THEIR HANDS ON IT.

IF WE HESITATE, EVERYTHING WILL BE STRIPPED CLEAN.

CARLO, YOU'RE COMING WITH ME.

WE'RE HEADING TO THE MANOR RIGHT NOW.

Episode 27

ETIENNE MANOR

DO YOU THINK WE'LL EVEN GET PAID THIS MONTH?

I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE SAME THING.

EVEN THE BUTLER, MR. UMBERTO, DISAPPEARED...

WE MIGHT NEED TO START LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB TO SAVE OURSELVES.

THIS IS REALLY BAD...

THE MANOR'S IN COMPLETE DISARRAY. THIS MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO SNEAK IN.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THE MINISTER'S OFFICE IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

THE LAYOUT IS LIKE A MAZE, SO ONLY THOSE FAMILIAR WITH IT CAN NAVIGATE IT.

WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THE MEMORY OF BRIEFLY HIDING HERE WITH JASON...

...WHILE FLEEING TO THE EMPIRE WOULD COME IN HANDY LIKE THIS?

IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, IT WAS THE SECOND BOOKSHELF FROM THE END.

THERE'S A TELEPORTATION CIRCLE HIDDEN BENEATH THE CARPET IN FRONT OF THAT BOOKSHELF.

YOU CAN ENTER THROUGH THERE,

BUT IF YOU INTENT TO RETRIEVE THE SIGNED DOCUMENT, YOU'LL NEED TO BRING MORE PEOPLE WITH YOU.

WHY?

WELL... BEYOND THAT...

HE NEVER TOLD ME WHAT LAY BEYOND THAT, BUT I CAME MORE THAN PREPARED ANYWAY.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN...!

AGH!

SILVER HAIR...?

UGH...

I JUST NEED TO MAKE IT INTO THE MAGIC CIRCLE FIRST!

MOTHER MOVED COUNT ETIENNE TO A MORE SECURE PRISON?!

YES, THE SECURITY IS SO TIGHT THAT GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR HIM IS IMPOSSIBLE.

DAMN IT! THEN ALL OUR EFFORTS WERE FOR NOTHING!

DAMN... WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO ABOUT THE COUNT NOW...?!

MAYBE THIS IS FOR THE BEST. NOW I FINALLY HAVE A REASON TO CONVINCE FATHER.

FATHER, PERHAPS IT’S TIME WE CUT TIES WITH THE MINISTER.

WHAT?

WE CAN’T LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE. HE KNOWS FAR TOO MUCH.

YOU ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE MINISTER’S GREED.

THERE’S NO WAY HE’D GIVE UP SO EASILY--

WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT MAKES HIM DANGEROUS.

HE HAS THE SIGNED DOCUMENT.

IF IT MEANS SAVING HIMSELF, HE COULD VERY WELL SELL US OUT.

STILL, IT'S TOO SOON TO KILL HIM. WE DON'T KNOW HOW THINGS WILL TURN OUT YET.

THAT MAY BE TRUE, BUT WE STILL NEED TO DESTROY THE EVIDENCE BEFORE THAT BASTARD SISAIRE FINDS IT.

WE SHOULD BURN THE COUNT'S MANOR TO THE GROUND,

INCLUDING EVERY MAGIC CIRCLE LEADING TO THE SIGNED DOCUMENT.