Chapter 75: I Will Ask Just One Thing (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: I Will Ask Just One Thing (5)
At first, it felt as if he’d opened his eyes the moment he’d closed them.
It had been night when he arrived at Alan’s house and fell asleep, and it was still night when he woke up. Yet, despite the feeling that no time had passed, his body felt strangely refreshed.
After staring blankly for a moment to get his bearings, Arsen realized that it was actually earlier than when he had gone to bed. It took him another moment to grasp that he had slept through an entire day, only to wake up when night fell again. He had been asleep for over twenty hours.
Growl.
As his mind cleared, a wave of hunger hit him, and his stomach rumbled violently.
Calian had given strict instructions, so Alan had left for the royal palace without waking the sleeping Arsen. Having enjoyed the luxury of waking up on his own, Arsen stumbled out of his room.
The lights in the house were on, but there was no sign of anyone. After a moment’s hesitation, Arsen found a few eggs in Alan’s kitchen and cracked them onto a plate. Then, conjuring a small flame at his fingertip, he cooked them haphazardly.
Soon, Arsen was stuffing his face with the dish—made in a primitive fashion without so much as a pinch of salt—alongside a piece of plain bread. It tasted like it was missing something, but what more could he do when he couldn't even tell if he was eating a chicken egg or a duck egg?
Clack.
A steaming bowl of chicken stew was placed in front of him. As Arsen stared at it, intoxicated by the savory aroma, a scolding voice reached his ears.
“Even the warriors of the Great Desert don’t eat like that, Mister.”
“Ah… thanks.”
It was Veronica, Alan’s granddaughter.
Veronica, who was more mature than the sixteen-year-old Hina, had declared that since they were close now, it was time to speak casually. And so, she treated Arsen with an easy familiarity. Aside from the fact that Arsen was exactly twice her age, it wasn't much of a problem.
“Don’t thank me, thank Grandfather. He told me not to go anywhere and to take care of you.”
Although he had known Veronica for over a month, the word “Grandfather” still felt foreign. He wasn’t used to the fact that Alan, who looked younger than him, had a granddaughter, or the way she called him “Grandfather” without a hint of hesitation.
“He said you looked like you’d starve to death while sleeping your life away.”
She was definitely his granddaughter, alright.
“He said you absolutely must not leave the house, so if you need anything, just tell me. I’ll help you.”
Arsen nodded as he took a bite of the stew.
Veronica sat down next to him and picked up one of the duck eggs Arsen had cooked. A moment later, utterly amazed by his culinary skills—which had managed to produce such a bizarre taste from simply frying an egg—she spat it out.
“It’s not that bad,” Arsen muttered before asking, “Did he happen to mention why I shouldn’t go outside?”
Arsen still didn’t know why he had to stay indoors. He had come as instructed, but he wanted to know the reason. Having heard something from Alan, Veronica nodded.
“He said the Queen would be looking for you. Aside from the royal palace, there’s no place safer than here, so don’t ask any more questions and just stay put.”
Ah.
Though he didn’t have the full picture, Arsen understood Calian’s intentions well enough. He nodded, then began to scoop up the chicken stew again.
So the Queen is looking for me. What a shame.
Arsen grinned, realizing he was about to get a very comfortable rest thanks to this.
* * *
The next morning, Marquis Evan Brissen clutched his head—which wasn’t even aching—after hearing his butler’s report.
He hadn’t even fully grasped the absurd rumor that he was involved in Gray’s injury, and now another problem had surfaced.
“Another strange rumor is circulating, my lord.”
Though Calian hadn’t intended it, more bad news concerning Evan had spread. Arsen Hertz, the Vice-Commander of the Valkan Mage Corps, had been attacked on his way home, and his whereabouts were now unknown.
There was testimony from Arsen’s carriage driver and from Kyrie, who claimed to have been “following him to deliver a message.” The ten corpses strewn along the banks of the Senyu River served as damning evidence. All of them were knights of the House of Marquis Brissen.
Because the wounds on the bodies were so varied, the fact that one corpse had a perfectly severed neck didn’t draw much attention. People simply assumed that if someone could pierce a man with an ice spear, they could also fashion an ice blade to cut off a head.
—Marquis Brissen has kidnapped Arsen Hertz this time!
Thus, a new rumor was born.
Ironically, Lennon’s affair, which Evan had actually orchestrated, hadn’t received much attention. Yet stories continued to spread that he was involved with Gray, whom he hadn’t seen in over a decade, and now even Arsen, whose face he didn’t even know.
To make matters worse, Lemain had mentioned Arsen’s name just that afternoon, drawing everyone’s focus. No one was foolish enough to miss that Lemain had created Valkan to counter Brissen. Yet, as soon as Valkan’s creation was announced, Arsen vanished, and the corpses of Brissen knights were found at the scene.
Even Evan had to admit the situation left no room for doubt.
“We have received word that the knights of Kaera will be visiting this afternoon regarding this matter.”
“To openly investigate a marquis’s residence… His Majesty must believe I’ve touched his forces.”
It was one misfortune after another.
With Gray’s issue on top of this, it won’t do any good to oppose Lemain right now.
With that thought, Evan finally nodded. “Understood. When they arrive, guide them in politely.”
As he spoke, Evan’s brow furrowed deeply. He had just thought of the bastard who was the root cause of this mess.
“But what on earth did Tail have to do with that man to get involved?”
At his heavily suppressed voice, the butler standing before him replied cautiously.
“They say Tail visited the palace during the day. Perhaps Her Majesty the Queen summoned him?”
Though he phrased it as a question, there was no doubt. Unless Silike summoned him, there was no way a dismissed knight could enter the royal palace.
“Silike… Silike again.”
First, she had joined hands with Lennon in a foolish scheme that had left a wound on the family that still hadn’t healed. Now, she was dragging her own father into the abyss. Why on earth did she have to use the marquisate’s knights at her whim and cause this disaster?
Evan stood up abruptly. “I am going to the palace right now.”
“Do you intend to meet Her Majesty?”
At those words, anger flared in Evan’s eyes.
“Do you want to see me kill my own child with my own hands?!”
Right now, Evan was so furious he didn’t know what he would do if he saw Silike. Sensing the terrifying aura radiating from every word, the butler realized his mistake and quickly bowed his head.
“My apologies, Marquis.”
“…I will meet the Prince.”
“Do you mean Prince Franz?”
“Who else would I meet? Randel or Calian?”
“Yes. Understood.”
It was unexpected for Evan to meet Franz in person, but it wasn’t the butler’s place to ask why. He simply bowed once more and said he would make the preparations immediately.
* * *
Calian was staring up at a sky filled with dark clouds.
—The date for the hunting competition has been set. It is this Saturday, three days from now. However, they say it might be postponed if it rains heavily and the ground gets too muddy.
Since the topic had come up during the evening banquet, no one had opposed Lemain’s suggestion to hold the hunting competition that had been canceled last spring. After a few days of settling on a date, the sky had turned overcast as if on cue.
Calian, who needed to meet with the nobles from the knightly families as soon as possible, let out a small sigh.
I hope it doesn’t rain this time.
The spring hunting competition had also been canceled because of a heavy downpour, hadn’t it?
Come to think of it, rain seemed to block his path quite often.
He had dealt with Lennon using money and handled Gray with a club.
But how was he supposed to deal with a sky that was so intent on pouring down rain?
As Calian was lost in these fruitless thoughts by the window, a low voice reached him.
“Are you going to the hunt as well, Brother?”
Since he had just been thinking about it, Calian almost said yes. Barely catching himself, he snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at Franz, who had just spoken. Randel also spared Franz a glance before replying.
“I do not plan on going.”
Randel didn't know why the hunting competition was being pushed forward so hastily. He likely thought it was merely Lemain inviting others to a hunt he had originally planned to go on with Franz alone. Seeing it as a stage Lemain had prepared for Franz, there was no way Randel would attend. Besides, hunting wasn’t to his taste anyway.
“It would be good for you to get some fresh air once in a while, though.”
Seeing Franz urge him again, Calian laughed inwardly. Franz didn’t actually want Randel there; he was only saying it because he knew Randel wouldn't come.
Randel replied in an indifferent voice, “Thank you for your concern.”
One offered concern, and the other thanked him for it.
One would have an easier time finding humanity in Silike than sincerity in their words.
As Calian quietly ate his meal while listening to his two older brothers, Randel’s gaze fell upon him.
“I heard the Vice-Commander of Valkan has gone missing. You must be very worried.”
Calian raised his head and met Randel’s eyes.
He’s bringing up the Mage Corps, which he never used to care about.
Randel didn’t mean Calian would be worried because of a personal friendship with Arsen. Even though Calian was known to have nothing to do with Valkan, Randel was deliberately targeting him by asking if he was worried about the “Vice-Commander.”
Calian thought of Arsen, who had disappeared two days ago and was likely still sleeping peacefully, and replied, “Since he was someone I became quite familiar with during my time in Roselita, I am naturally concerned. However, I believe His Majesty and my master must be far more worried than I am.”
It was probably the perfect answer.
It was of absolutely no use to Randel.
Randel stared at Calian for a moment before nodding. “I see.”
Calian ate some salad to hide his deepening thoughts.
Before he had left for Roselita, the atmosphere hadn’t been this bleak. Whether there was conversation or not, they had never engaged in such a battle of wits at the dining table.
We used to just exchange insincere greetings or talk about the weather.
He couldn’t be sure if the reason was his own coming of age or Franz quitting drinking and starting to dress properly. However, it was clear that a change was slowly coming over Randel.
Calian wondered if Franz, not wanting to deal with Randel alone, had invited him to breakfast for that very reason. With another fruitless thought, Calian finished his meal and was the first to leave the dining hall.
“The carrier pigeon should have arrived by now, right?”
He was referring to the letter he had sent to the Margrave’s territory. Yan, stepping up to his side, replied.
“Yes, it should have arrived yesterday afternoon.”
“Good. Then…”
Nodding at Yan’s words, Calian opened his mouth to continue.
Stop.
He suddenly closed his mouth and stopped in his tracks.
Calian’s eyes turned toward a distant place beyond the walls. He could feel a very interesting clash of presences beginning to unfold outside Chermil Palace.
An immense wave of dread and killing intent were sizing each other up.
In the entire city of Kairisis, there were only two people besides himself who could project such a powerful aura. A soft chuckle escaped Calian’s lips as he muttered, “Why is my master so angry?”
“Sir Manasil? Angry?” Yan asked, a puzzled expression on his face.
Calian smiled as if it were nothing. “I’ll be on the terrace. Please prepare some tea.”
A clash of wills between Alan Manasil and Evan Brissen.
Since two formidable figures were growling at each other, wasn’t it only polite to sit back and enjoy the show?