Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The Traitor's Usefulness
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"My apologies for interrupting such a pleasant conversation. Your Highness the Fifth Prince, and Your Highness the Seventh Prince, I've come to pay my respects. My name is Escal Kremel."
"Huh? From the Kremel family? If you have important business, you should go see Yursil over there, not me."
"Ah~ I'm not here on important business today. I simply wanted to get closer to that popular gentleman over there as well. How do you do? I was curious about the one who defeated Lloyd."
……
Beonald welcomed Escal with slight wariness.
Firstly, since the Kremel family was also a high noble house, they exchanged greetings and shook hands, but when their eyes met, both realized the other's eyes weren't smiling.
'Indeed, he's no ordinary fellow.'
'Oh, so that seemingly simpleton Kremel family has someone like this. That's why they manage to roll along just fine.'
"I am Escal Kremel. I'm from the Kremel family, but well, I'm not a knight. I'm someone who wanders about outside, doing this and that."
"I see."
Having identified each other as potential threats, the two men began sizing each other up while exchanging light pleasantries. Though they conversed with ordinary small talk, creating an atmosphere of tranquility, the air had frozen cold enough to prick the skin.
"By the way, is Lord Lloyd doing well? I haven't heard any news as I've been recuperating at the mansion……."
"Hahaha, even though the outcome was more or less settled favorably, he ultimately incurred the Duke's wrath. Everyone has entered hellish training. Of course, not just Lord Lloyd, but all the trainees under him are probably rolling around diligently in the territory right now."
"This makes me feel like I can't just stay idle either. Should I go for some martial arts training too? Haha."
"Speaking of which, have you heard the news? News about Her Highness the Princess."
"Huh? What news? Did something happen after she went to the temple?"
Beonald acted surprised with feigned innocence and approached him urgently, asking about the Princess's well-being.
Of course, he had already secured that Princess, disguised her as a slave, and hidden her away, so it was an act of shameless audacity.
However, the acting skills honed over decades were so utterly realistic that Escal, his opponent, failed to notice it was false at all.
"Yes. And do you know the even more shocking fact? The truth is, Her Highness the Princess didn't go to the temple; she was scheduled to marry Count Vanilo. While you were dueling, she was already heading that way."
"That can't be! How!"
Bang!
Beonald slammed the table as if truly devastated, overreacting. Neither the two princes nor Escal sensed any dissonance from his divinely inspired acting.
Beonald slumped down, covering his face with one hand, wearing a sorrowful expression as he began to shed tears.
"Haah... So in the end, I couldn't even... bid her farewell."
Drip... drip…….
Anyone of high noble status must be able to shed fake tears anytime, anywhere.
This display of grief was such a masterful performance that no one could imagine it was fake, so even Escal, who had first dropped the bait, came over to console him along with the two princes.
"Th-that... We already knew that old man was a sinister bastard! How truly cowardly."
"We... we didn't know either! Goodness... I never thought Father would... do such a thing!"
"Hoh... I had no idea you were this sincere. I seem to have brought up a pointless story."
Even Escal, who handled external affairs with nobles for the Kremel family and had a discerning eye of his own, could not surpass the ability of Beonald, who had dominated the noble circles for decades.
To his eyes, Beonald genuinely liked the Princess and was sincerely grieving over being deceived by the Emperor.
'Hmm, I had a feeling, but... was it genuine after all?'
'...He's already taken the bait. Pity, but this is the difference in experience.'
No matter how talented a genius the opponent was, to Beonald, he was just a mid-twenties youngster.
Beonald was the product of the 'Gu Poison' created by Felix von Neumel. The difference was clear, and now all that remained was to figure out what scheme this opponent, who had fallen into his trap, was plotting.
'Anyway, it's a fact that he knows information not many are aware of and tried to use it as bait to unsettle me... So he must have some ulterior motive.'
"But don't be too disappointed. It seems that lady is... also not ordinary, as they say she ran away alone on the road to Count Vanilo's estate."
"What did you say? R-ran away……?"
"She must have disliked a marriage she had no heart for. More than that, isn't it amazing? Escaping in a situation guarded by Imperial Knights and Count Vanilo's soldiers. Anyway, everyone's in an uproar because of it."
"Good heavens, what a tremendous incident. Haaah~ Where on earth could Her Highness the Princess be……."
She was probably cleaning his laboratory about now, but Beonald let out a deep sigh as if genuinely worried.
With gestures and a gaze that seemed to want to set out and search for her immediately, Escal finally began to bare his fangs at him, little by little.
"It's unclear how the situation will unfold, but stay strong. Her Highness the Princess is also a person who has learned aura and swordsmanship, after all. The only problem is what will happen if His Imperial Majesty finds her first……."
"We must... go find her first! Do you happen to know the place from which she disappeared?"
"It's been too long since she fled, so telling you likely wouldn't be meaningful. Sadly."
"I see... Kgh! If it was going to be like this, then why……!"
Beonald suppressed his rage, acting as if he couldn't bring himself to curse the Emperor. To any observer, it would seem deep-seated hatred for the Emperor had taken root.
Since the Emperor had pushed too far, this unprecedented situation of the Princess going missing had occurred. It was as if all his efforts had become meaningless, so it wasn't unreasonable for a torrent of emotions to surge.
"Ah... Umm... So, in times like this, let's have a drink first! I'll pay!"
"Ah, ugh... What should we do? Stay strong. We, we'll help you too."
"Ugh... Uuuuugh!"
The Fifth and Seventh Princes tried hard to console the grieving Beonald.
And Escal, reading perfect hatred for the Emperor from Beonald, finally made an expression as if he had found what he was looking for, but Beonald was one step ahead.
Beonald, pretending to be overcome with grief, covered his face as he slumped over, glanced at Escal, and made a cold judgment.
'What a fool. He's poor at managing his expression.'
"Here! Take a glass. In times like this, having a drink and letting it out is the best!"
"Ah, yes. Th-thank you, Your Highness."
Beonald subtly took the wine glass and downed it in one gulp as if to suppress his anger.
Then he immediately pretended to be weak with alcohol, staggering.
This side of him had many uses, so in his previous life, Beonald had also feigned being a lightweight with alcohol to gain many benefits.
"This damned... world... Gkh!"
"Seeing him like this really breaks the mood. Haha, this friend seems to have lost it?"
"It just means his worries were that deep. Phew~ Huh? It's time to go already? But……."
The two princes were worried about Beonald and tried to help, but Imperial Knights came to tell them they had to leave, as the Third Prince's matter seemed to be concluded.
While they were troubled seeing Beonald completely loose and drunk, Escal skillfully propped Beonald up and helped him stand.
"Don't worry. I will take responsibility and escort the young master of the Valderian family."
"You're not up to any tricks, right?"
"I'm not. The young master of the Valderian family is here too... What trick could I possibly use? I'll just take him over there."
"Understood."
The Fifth and Seventh Princes watched with anxious eyes, but Escal, unperturbed, supported Beonald toward Cedron under their surveillance.
As he did so, he successfully slipped a small note into Beonald's clothes from a direction unseen by the two, then handed him over to Cedron.
"You are... Escal, right? Why is a guy from the Kremel family with that fellow?"
"I didn't do anything. I didn't even know this friend was coming here in the first place; what could I do? Hahaha. Here, take him."
……
Cedron looked at Escal with suspicious eyes, but Beonald's state was clearly just drunk and unable to regain his senses, so there was nothing to be done.
Afterwards, Cedron instructed the knights of the Valderian family to move the unconscious Beonald to the carriage. Hoisted like a sack and laid down in the carriage, Beonald, now alone, took out the note Escal had slipped into his pocket and opened it.
'Hmm~ Let's see. It says to come to the northern outer gate by midnight tomorrow night? For a date invitation, it's quite old-fashioned.'
Of course, he had no reason to like a date invitation from a man, but Beonald was willing to accept this 'date invitation' to uncover his suspicious ulterior motives.
Even a splendid party must eventually end at dawn. Escal Kremel of the Kremel family also finally completed his mission, relaxing his tense body as he entrusted himself to the carriage.
And he was writing something down, his eyes gleaming even in the dark as if composing a report about Beonald.
"Hmm, good. This should suffice. Driver, please stop here for a moment."
"Ah, yes."
"I'll be back in about 15 minutes. Don't go anywhere; wait here."
"Yes, understood."
On the way back, he suddenly stopped the carriage, left the knights waiting, and entered a certain alley alone.
As if it were a frequent occurrence, the knights and coachman waited without any question.
He, who handled the Kremel family's external affairs, dealt with numerous secrets beyond noble families—merchant companies, thief guilds, etc.—and everyone knew that meddling in those matters would cost them their lives ten times over.
'Good, no one's around.'
Knock, knock, knock.
After running through the dark alley for a while, Escal Kremel stopped his steps before a certain door and lightly knocked three times. Then, a sinister voice came from inside.
"The light……."
"...is obscured by shadow."
"The darkness……."
"...illuminates all."
Creeeak…….
After exchanging this coded conversation, the door opened, and Escal Kremel cautiously entered.
Though it was a darkness where not a single candle was lit, Escal Kremel and the person inside had no trouble recognizing each other, conversing, and receiving the letter he handed over.
"So, how was it? That fellow?"
"He seems quite usable. His background is appropriate, and his resentment toward the Empire is at a suitable level. With a little stimulation and drawing him in, he could become a usable card."
"Kehehe, I see. This must all be the blessing of the great darkness."
When the man who laughed sinisterly mentioned the 'blessing of darkness,' Escal smiled, clasped his hands together in a prayerful gesture, and bowed respectfully.
'The Blessing of Darkness.' It referred to the blessing bestowed by the Dark God, who sought to dye the world in darkness and bring about its ruin. In other words, Escal Kremel and the man hidden in this darkness were minions of the 'Dark God.'