Queen of Revenge - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 107
As they made their way to the Dileto Trading Company, Anastasia gave me a brief overview of the Grain Storage Facility.
“The Grain Storage Facility is an institution all three princes have coveted simultaneously. On the surface, it falls under the Ministry of Interior, but the Ministry of Finance also meddles in its affairs under the pretext of managing the Royal Treasury, and the Military Affairs Bureau constantly interferes on the grounds of securing military provisions.”
“Who currently holds the authority?”
“After marrying me, Leonhilt took control of the Grain Storage Facility under the guise of managing export grain. The Dileto Trading Company, which handles distribution and transport, also falls under the Decart Grand Duchy. Originally, Prince Dietrich had all the Grain Storage managers in his pocket, but after Leonhilt married me, he conducted a massive financial audit and suspended the authority of managers who had been embezzling military provisions.”
“So the First Prince and the Queen have been managing the Grain Storage Facility in practical terms for the past few months.”
“Exactly. Even I find it faster to submit a request to Leonhilt or the Queen before visiting the Grain Storage Facility. However, I’m aware that the Military Forces and Military Affairs Bureau can still intervene. There’s simply no justification to strip them of that authority.”
“I see.”
I slowly retraced what Kairon had told me about the Grain Storage Facility.
“There were some poorly managed warehouses, but overall it was quite well-maintained. Well, the Grain Storage Facility is a place where princes desperately vie for control. When there are multiple masters, certain areas naturally fall into neglect.”
There was nothing suspicious about the circumstances.
‘Yet something feels like I’m missing it….’
The Queen’s gentle demeanor also kept nagging at me.
If she were to cause trouble, she should have done it long ago, so why is everything so peaceful?
“Here we are. That’s the Dileto Trading Company.”
A massive establishment with a grand signboard stood prominently before the Town Square. Lucian waited there as previously arranged.
Upon spotting me through the carriage window, Lucian gave a subtle shake of his head.
I, who had been arranging my dress skirts to step down, slowly withdrew my hands.
“Shall we get out? Iolet.”
“No. I’m sorry, but I think we need to part ways here, Anastasia.”
“What? Why?”
“There’s something I need to check at the Grain Storage Facility first. Go on inside. I’ll be back shortly.”
“All of a sudden? Well… alright. See you later.”
Anastasia waved her hand and entered the trading company.
I held my breath inside the carriage for a moment, then quickly slipped out through the opposite door that Lucian opened.
“Suspicious individuals?”
“About four or so. They’re dressed as laborers, but they’ve been lingering in the same spot for two hours.”
Bara’s eyes narrowed sharply as she too sensed something amiss.
[North]
[There are more]
Without question, they were the Queen’s agents.
But she had never stationed people to monitor me during my outings until now. The fact that it’s happening today is strange. And the way she confirmed my arrival time at the Grain Storage Facility was equally suspicious.
‘It seems like she’s trying to keep me here, but why?’
What is she planning to do at the Grain Storage Facility while avoiding my eyes?
I made a quick decision.
“Lose them. We need to get to the Grain Storage Facility immediately.”
“Yes.”
The Crown Prince’s carriage was far too conspicuous.
Lucian quickly hailed a public carriage on the street and got me inside. Fortunately, there were no other passengers.
“We’ll borrow this for a moment. Here’s the carriage fare.”
“What? Huh? Wait! This is far too much…!”
Lucian pressed gold coins into the coachman’s palm and climbed onto the driver’s seat.
He cracked the whip sharply. The carriage lurched forward and began to race.
The Capital’s scenery blurred past the window. The carriage wound through narrow alleys before grinding to a halt before the Grain Storage Facility’s main entrance.
Security was formidable. I tried another gate on the off chance, but the western entrance was no different—though it had fewer guards than the main gate.
“Who goes there?”
The sentries posted at the gate rushed forward to block the carriage. I opened the window.
“The wife of the Commander of Winterbark Fortress, and the Princess of Elovis. I was originally supposed to visit with the First Prince’s consort, but circumstances arose, so I’m standing in for her. Open the gate.”
“My apologies. By order of the Military Affairs Bureau, none may enter the Grain Storage Facility without proper authorization.”
The Military Affairs Bureau.
An institution under the Military Forces, overseen by Dietrich. All of Dietrich’s authority currently rested with Kairon.
Yet Kairon had never mentioned sealing off the Grain Storage Facility.
“Even as the First Prince’s consort’s representative, I cannot enter? I received prior authorization.”
“The First Prince’s consort is scheduled to visit at four o’clock in the afternoon, so entry before that time is not permitted. Please wait a moment.”
Four o’clock was a time I had arbitrarily changed. By the time I arrived here, the Queen had already sent word to the Grain Storage Facility.
I asked on a whim.
“Then who is currently authorized to enter? Is Commander Winterbark perhaps scheduled to visit?”
The soldiers exchanged glances.
“That is classified. I cannot disclose it.”
From that evasive answer, I became certain.
Only Kairon could enter the Grain Storage Facility. The one who had issued such orders under the guise of the Military Affairs Bureau was surely the Queen.
But Kairon’s next scheduled visit to the Grain Storage Facility to inspect the military provisions was two days away.
He was not the sort of man to obediently answer a summons two days early. What excuse could possibly bring him running?
What matter could make Kairon abandon all caution and rush here immediately….
‘Other than me, there seems to be nothing.’
The moment I reached that conclusion, realization struck me like lightning.
‘It’s not me. The Queen’s target isn’t me!’
I had been so fixated on the revelation that Queen Cecilia was in league with Catherine that I had forgotten the most fundamental fact.
The one the Queen truly hated had always been Kairon.
The threat to me was merely a smokescreen. She had surely been testing whether I possessed sufficient value as bait.
And it had worked.
Throughout his journey to Hespelt, Kairon had grown anxious from the relentless attacks, and he had taken uncharacteristic risks—infiltrating the Queen’s Palace itself.
From that chain of events, Queen Cecilia must have become certain: if my name alone could lure Kairon into her trap, then I was the perfect weapon.
‘Then she must have let word slip to Kairon that I’m inside the Grain Storage Facility right now…!’
I urgently instructed Bara.
“Bara, go now and find Kairon. Do not let him enter the Grain Storage Facility under any circumstances.”
[Yes!]
Bara opened the opposite window and slipped silently from the carriage.
I watched her disappear beyond the street, then opened the carriage door and stepped out.
“That order came from the Military Affairs Bureau, you said?”
“Yes? Yes, of course.”
“The Military Affairs Bureau is an institution under Prince Dietrich’s command, and all of his authority is currently delegated to the Commander of Winterbark Fortress. Would the Commander restrict my entry?”
“That is, well….”
“The request came from the Military Affairs Bureau itself? Did Commander Winterbark make this demand directly?”
As Iolet pressed forward without giving them a moment to breathe, the guards exchanged bewildered glances.
The Military Affairs Bureau’s request had been delivered yesterday, and the specific time had been designated just a few hours ago at noon.
The junior guards stationed at the Grain Storage Facility’s gate hadn’t received detailed information about exactly who up the chain had issued these orders.
“I will send word to the Royal Palace. Please wait a moment.”
One of the guards hastily mounted his horse.
Lucian, having pushed Iolet behind him, lowered his voice.
“Your Highness, please wait in the carriage for now. Rushing inside recklessly would be foolish.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Pardon?”
“I understand the intention is to draw out Kairon, but I can’t fathom why this location specifically. What are they trying to accomplish here?”
It was too crude for an assassination attempt, yet too strange if it were merely intimidation.
If they eliminate Kairon at the grain storage under Dietrich’s management, they’d be killing two birds with one stone—so the intent to kill is certain….
But if that were the case, wouldn’t any location serve? Unless there’s a specific reason it must be here?
Then I need to go in and find out myself.
My eyes blazed with resolve.
“If the target was Kairon from the start, they won’t harm me. They won’t want to complicate matters. So all we need to do is find what scheme the Queen has set in place here—the evidence.”
Lucian sighed as if resigned to his fate. Then he drove his elbow down against the back of a guard’s neck.
The guard collapsed in a single blow. Two more rushed forward, but they soon met the same fate, sprawling across the ground.
“If anything seems even slightly amiss, we leave immediately. Do you understand?”
“Of course.”
I pushed hard against the iron gate of the Grain Storage Facility.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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