Chapter 121
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121
Dazed, Simon caught the insignia with both hands and looked up in bewilderment. Oscar glanced at the wolf beside him and gestured toward the physician.
"Bring him here."
As the wolf moved to obey, Oscar turned his gaze back to Simon.
"Go and finalize the agreement for the Tekan Canal."
Leaning casually against the doorframe, he swept his hair back with a languid, almost bored, air.
Oscar stared at the speechless Simon with cold, unfeeling eyes before shifting his gaze to the physician, who was being practically dragged back by the wolf. A thin smile played on Oscar's lips.
"Think of what else might help her regain consciousness. Ask for whatever you need. And check on her condition every thirty minutes."
"..."
"Do you understand?"
A cold, languid madness rolled off him in waves.
"Y-Yes, yes..."
The terrified physician bowed so low his forehead nearly touched the floor. Straightening up from the doorframe, Oscar addressed the Wolves.
"If any rats try to sneak out of the Rock Forest, catch them. I don't care if they lose a few limbs, but keep them breathing."
The thick, simmering rage beneath his calm tone felt hotter than erupting lava.
"And guard this place well."
The Wolves bowed their heads, and Simon followed suit. Yet even as he did, his mind was a frantic whirl, tossing like branches in a storm.
The insignia Oscar had thrown him was no trivial matter, and neither was the command. Go and meet the Tekan Ambassador? If the task were simple enough to delegate, Oscar would never have come here himself.
What was truly remarkable was that from the moment they were underground in the Rock Forest until now, Oscar had not lost his composure for a single second. Far from losing his mind, he was making decisions with a razor-sharp clarity that surpassed everyone else's.
Oscar knew better than anyone that meeting the Tekan Ambassador in person would yield far better results than sending a proxy. It was simply that something more important had come up.
He surely knew that digging through the collapsed rubble of an explosion was a reckless, life-threatening act. It was simply that something more important than his own life had arisen.
At this point, it was impossible not to see what had become more precious to Oscar than his own life and his entire empire.
Suddenly, all of Oscar's recent, baffling actions clicked into place. His attendance at Sabine's exhibition, the way he had ordered his carriage to turn around and head straight for the Marquisate Residence—it had all been for her.
Having finished giving his orders, Oscar turned back toward the mountain cabin.
Boiled water, clean cloths, and medicine were brought inside. But while the medical supplies were allowed through, not a single wolf was permitted to cross the threshold.
Oscar sealed every entrance, hiding even a single strand of her hair from the world.
"Is His Excellency... planning to treat her himself?"
It was a foolish question, but Simon couldn't bring himself to deny the possibility.
Yet Simon was not the only one in turmoil.
"Your Excellency!"
Though he clearly heard the call, Oscar showed no sign of pausing. He was intent on ignoring it and going inside, but the words that followed stopped him in his tracks.
"How is Seo-ah...? I can nurse her while she rests."
Simon cautiously raised his head, his eyes darting between Abel and Oscar.
Abel had not uttered a single word during the entire journey from the Rock Forest.
He was barely aware of his own breathing. Without so much as a blink, he had stared blankly at his master's back.
The red ribbon, caught between the collapsed stones. Just moments ago, he had been praying her corpse wouldn't be too mangled, only for her to emerge from the rubble, miraculously whole.
Throughout their frantic escape from the Rock Forest, Abel's eyes had been fixed on that red ribbon swaying in Oscar's arms.
But Oscar refused to hand her over to anyone. Since their arrival, Abel hadn't been able to catch a glimpse of her face, let alone a single strand of her hair.
"Is Seo-ah... alright?"
Oscar turned around.
Though his posture was relaxed, Abel could feel the gaze piercing him, as biting as a winter gale.
Abel clenched his teeth and bowed deeply. Squeezing out every ounce of his strength, he spoke.
"Your Excellency, please allow me to fulfill my duty."
"..."
"I wish to fulfill my duty."
A heavy, suffocating silence pressed down on him. Just as it began to stretch, making a single second feel like an eternity, Oscar moved. He strode forward, trampling the dry grass. His sheer presence made several wolves take a step back, but Abel remained frozen in his bow, enduring it.
Sweeping in like a tempest, Oscar grabbed Abel by the jaw and forced his head up. Abel stumbled back a couple of steps before managing to steady himself.
Their eyes met.
Having never dared to look his master in the eye from such close proximity, Abel shuddered as the blood drained from his face.
Oscar's blue eyes, devoid of all light, were a bottomless abyss.
"Your duty..."
Oscar tilted his head, his grip still firm on Abel's jaw. His disheveled hair fell forward, obscuring his eyes and leaving only his red lips visible.
"There is no need."
Abel parted his lips to speak, but Oscar gave him no chance.
"As of this moment, you are relieved of your assignment, Abel Sting."
The low, calm words slashed across Abel's face like a blade. Oscar released his grip, tossing Abel's head aside.
"As for your post, you may transfer to any department you wish."
"That is what you wanted, after all," Oscar murmured, turning away.
But to Abel, left standing in the cold, the words sounded like a warning: You should have limited your desires to that.
The door clicked shut.
Having finally secured the transfer he had desired for so long, Abel Sting could only stare at the closed door with hollow, empty eyes.
* * *
Count Dietrich von Jerome watched with a stern gaze as his daughter, Sabine, stepped down from her carriage late in the evening.
Sabine, who had been wearing a sullen expression, instantly brightened into a radiant smile upon seeing him and ran over.
"Father!"
At the sight of her, the anxiety that had been gnawing at Dietrich's chest receded, if only for a moment. Taking her hand firmly, he led her inside the mansion.
"Wandering about at such a late hour."
"Were you worried about me?"
"Of course I was."
Sabine smiled sweetly and slipped her arm through his. She leaned against his shoulder, chattering happily about her day. Though she was fully grown and on the verge of marriage, to Dietrich, she was still his fragile little girl, so delicate a strong breeze might blow her away.
"Where were you?"
"Just with some friends. Since my wedding is coming up, there are so many little gatherings. Everyone wants to congratulate me."
"Sabine."
"Yes?"
Dietrich walked in silence with her for a moment before asking, "Do you truly wish to marry him?"
"...Of course. Why do you ask?"
"..."
"His Majesty is a truly kind man, Father."
Dietrich stopped in his tracks.
His daughter's eyes were so clear, so innocent. That pure, guileless gaze pierced his heart like a dagger.
It was Dietrich himself who had paved the way for Sabine to become the next queen. He had pushed for it despite knowing that King Leopold looked down on her for the stigma of her illegitimate birth. The King had never hesitated to make his distaste known.
"Your daughter is unfit to be queen."
He was a cruel father for pushing his daughter into the role of queen even after hearing such insults.
"Do not worry about me, Father."
Yet, how could this child remain so blissfully naive?
Sabine smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I love His Majesty. I want to be his wife."
Dietrich pulled his daughter into a tight embrace. As she hugged him back, Sabine whispered softly, almost to herself.
"Just watch, Father. I am going to live a perfect life."
A perfect life.
Dietrich had heard those exact words once before. It was years ago, when Charlotte was preparing to marry the Marquis of Reinhardt, determined to erase her past. Upon hearing the news, Dietrich had rushed to her side in a frenzy.
"Char... you're alive."
"..."
"Why are you marrying Reinhardt? Are you... being blackmailed? Let's go. Let's leave right now. I can—"
"No."
Charlotte had slowly pried his hands from hers.
"I'm not leaving. I am going to live a perfect life from now on."
Charlotte had chosen Reinhardt to secure her perfect life. Dietrich had only been chosen by her after the Reinhardt family was reduced to ruins. Yet even then, his possession of her was incomplete.
Ernst von Reinhardt.
Charlotte was still holding onto that man. Dietrich desperately wished she would let go of Ernst of her own accord.
The only reason King Leopold had agreed to the engagement with Sabine was because of Oscar's impending demise. Once Oscar was dead, Charlotte would inherit his vast fortune, which would then naturally flow to Sabine—her only living relative—and, by extension, to Sabine's legal husband.
"Yes, my daughter. You will live a perfect life."
Dietrich kissed Sabine's forehead.
"Your father will make sure of it."
Sabine gave a sweet smile, wished him a good night, and hurried off. Dietrich watched her retreating figure until her shadow vanished completely. Then, he turned and knocked on Charlotte's bedroom door, from beneath which a sliver of light escaped.
"It's me. I'm coming in."
Though no answer came, Dietrich opened the door and stepped inside.
His beautiful lover stood by the window, staring blankly out into the night. She didn't even turn to look, utterly indifferent to who had entered.