Published: January 4, 2026
In the deepest part of the detached palace, there was a secret archive.
I brought Jiji along and entered the archive.
The door to the archive was about three times thicker than a normal door, and it had five locks arranged vertically from top to bottom.
I personally unlocked all five locks with keys, pushed open the heavy door, and entered inside with Jiji.
“This place…?”
“This is where I store the documents I have signed since my ascension. In other words, it’s the very record of Emperor Noah I’s life journey.”
“I-I see!”
“For example, this one was signed right after my ascension... Ah, it symbolizes that palace as the highest seat of power.”
I pulled the document from the shelf, read it aloud, and handed it to Jiji.
Jiji accepted it and glanced through it, but her expression looked apologetic.
“I’m sorry, Master... it’s just that...”
“You can’t read it, can you?”
“Yes…”
“Don’t worry, that’s expected.”
“Should I learn to read the characters?”
“What I just read aloud is stored here.”
I took the document from Jiji’s hands and returned it to its place on the shelf.
Then I looked at Jiji.
“Can you remember the contents by hearing them, and recall that they are stored here?”
“Yes! I will never forget what my master says!”
“Then that’s enough. Whether or not you can read or write is a trivial matter.”
“Huh…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I thought I had to study reading and writing. Ah! But if it’s for my master, I’ll do it without hesitation!”
“Do you know why children are taught reading and writing?”
“Eh? That’s... to get ahead...?”
“Hmph, not entirely wrong.”
I chuckled softly and gently placed my hand on Jiji’s head.
“To put it simply, it’s to broaden the children’s future. Being able to read and write lets you absorb more knowledge, and that means more futures to choose from.”
“I see!”
“If we get into the details, that’s not your strength.”
“My strength?”
“Your memory, linking my words to the location of these documents, is unmatched throughout the empire. That’s your strength. Don’t throw away your strengths just to force yourself to improve your weaknesses.”
“Strength... unique...”
“If you want to do it as a hobby, that’s fine.”
“No! I won’t! I’ll do my best only for my master!”
“I’m counting on you. Take this as well.”
“What’s this...? The key to this place?”
Jiji’s eyes and mouth widened in surprise.
She was amazed at the bunch of keys I placed in her palm.
“Yes, you should keep them.”
“R-Really? These are very important…”
“I trust you. It’s in your charge.”
“You trust me...?”
Jiji was even more surprised, then hugged the bunch of keys tightly and carefully.
“Even someone like me… Master, you’re amazing. I understand! I won’t lose them even if I risk my life!”
“Yes.”
I placed my hand on Jiji’s head again and gently stroked it.
Live and be useful to me—well, it wouldn’t do to douse her happy mood with cold water now.
I decided to wait for the right moment to say more.
☆
In the first half of the detached palace, the emperor’s office.
I was sitting at the desk holding office work, facing Don.
Jiji was in a corner of the room, a little away from me.
Don was standing across the desk.
He seemed a bit concerned about Jiji, but since it was clear I kept her nearby, he didn’t ask anything.
“This is a report from Lady Jessica.”
“An official document—and this is Fuwawa’s Box?”
“Yes. They arrived almost simultaneously through different routes.”
“Hmm.”
I nodded and first opened the official document to read.
“What does it say?”
“There was a breakaway force from Turbayf’s army, and they successfully suppressed it—right?”
“That’s... somewhat petty.”
“The lower ranks rebelled but I have nothing to do with it—that’s a classic tactic, not bad.”
I smiled faintly.
This is a common pattern.
Turbayf’s rebellion against the empire is certain.
But he still hesitates to confront the empire directly.