Chapter 84: Those Steps (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Those Steps (3)
A massive explosion erupted from the Kairis Royal Palace.
People nearby flocked to the square.
Evan Brissen's carriage, which had been entering his mansion, came to a brief halt.
Euria rushed to the rooftop of the Mage Association building.
Melfir and Tessid shot to their feet and ran to the window.
And Arsen…
…draped the robe of the Valkan Vice-Commander over his shoulders.
*
"You said you would show me the end… what will you do now?"
Hearing Silike’s murmur, the Head Maid turned her head.
The Head Maid didn’t understand who the Queen was speaking to, but she could see a faint smile playing on Silike’s lips as she watched the thick, black smoke.
Having been with Silike all day, the Head Maid had witnessed everything the queen had done.
Why on earth would she do such a thing?
Recalling the day’s events, the Head Maid clasped her hands together to steady her trembling fingers.
It had started a short while ago, after the Commander of Raon came to see Silike.
Having completed her preparations, Silike entered the reception room alone. Just as the Head Maid had informed her, the Commander of Raon was waiting there.
He bowed politely and handed over a black box he had brought. Then, with eyes full of worry, he spoke.
"This is a dangerous item. I do not know why you sought it, but…"
"I…"
Silike cut him off. She briefly opened the black box to check its contents, took one item out, and snapped the lid shut. Then, looking at the Commander with an expressionless face, she continued, "…did I receive anything from you, Sir?"
The Commander of Raon flinched and slowly shook his head.
"…No. Your Majesty received nothing."
Even as he faced her, he couldn't stop doubting his choice.
Queen Silike's tyranny is too severe to overlook. The Knight Orders of Karen and Raon shall no longer follow her commands.
The words from Evan’s letter echoed in his mind.
Knowing the Commander of Karen would surely follow Evan’s orders, the Commander of Raon had sought out Silike in a moment of greed. From the instant he returned after their meeting on Sunday, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake. Now, with Silike demanding such an ominous item and making statements clearly meant to sever ties, he felt a deep, chilling unease.
"Very well."
Speaking in a light tone, Silike stood up, taking the black box with her. She placed it on a side table near the reception room door and addressed him.
"Wait here for a moment. I shall return shortly."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked out.
Leaving the Commander of Raon behind, Silike stepped outside to find the Head Maid and the other maids waiting. Her eyes landed on one maid whose face was particularly conspicuous—the very one who had made a mistake styling her hair.
"Come here."
The maid was utterly terrified.
Her shoulders were hunched, and she seemed unable to straighten them. Her lips were split and crusted with dried blood, and her cheeks were swollen and bruised a deep purple. Two slaps had left her in this state.
Seeing her, Silike spoke in a low voice.
"Oh dear. My hand was too harsh."
Could she actually be admitting her own mistake?
Everyone present stared at Silike, who wore a soft smile, as if she were gently caressing a small animal. Because of this, even the Head Maid, who had watched Silike for so long, could not fathom the thoughts behind that smile.
"I have one favor to ask of you," Silike said, placing the bead she had been holding into the maid’s hand. "Take this, place it in the box by the entrance of the reception room, and then come back out."
Lately, Silike had barely spoken to any of the maids, let alone the Head Maid. On the rare occasions she did, her voice was laced with a venom that seemed to tear at the listener’s heart.
Faced with such a gentle expression and soft voice after so long, the maid couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will."
Pleased, Silike wrapped her own hands around the maid’s, which was still clutching the bead.
And squeezed slightly.
Click.
An ominous sound echoed from within the maid’s palm.
Sensing it, the maid looked up at Silike, who merely smiled as if nothing had happened.
"Go on. Go inside."
Then, she immediately turned and walked away with unhurried steps, looking exactly as she always did.
*
Hearing the explosion from Heisia Palace, Lemain raised his head.
Hurried footsteps echoed through Arpia Palace as the knights of Kaera rushed in to surround him. The window of his office faced the main gate of the Royal Palace, so Heisia Palace, where Silike resided, was not visible from his vantage point.
"It has begun," Lemain murmured, sinking deep into his chair. He closed his eyes, his expression exhausted. He showed no sign of being startled by the explosion, nor did he make any move to investigate its cause or even look outside.
After the Chamberlain, Raul, who always maintained his composure, rushed out with a startled look, Ren, the Commander of Kaera guarding Lemain’s back, spoke cautiously.
"Your Majesty. I shall have Sir Manasil summoned."
"For what reason? I thought all my guards were gathered here. Do I have another guard I am unaware of?"
At a loss for words, Ren fell silent. Lemain continued with the same indifferent expression.
"I do not mind receiving Sir Manasil's help, but I would prefer we do not rely on him."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will keep that in mind."
Before long, the office door opened again, and Raul entered.
"It was Heisia Palace. They say there was an explosion near the reception room. Casualties have not yet been confirmed, but the Queen is safe. However, the thing is…"
Raul hesitated, trailing off. The news he carried was difficult to deliver. Lemain stared intently at him, and Raul, unable to hide his awkwardness, finished his report.
"They say Arsen Hertz attacked the Queen."
Arsen Hertz.
At the sudden mention of the Valkan Vice-Commander’s name, Ren’s eyes sharpened.
Lemain let out a dry laugh.
Then, an unbelievable word slipped from his lips.
"Bullshit."
*
Standing on the terrace, Calian turned around.
Kyrie, who had rushed into the room the moment the explosion sounded, stood by his side with a tense expression. A moment later, Yan entered. He had gone to prepare breakfast but returned with an interesting story instead of food.
"I hear Sir Hertz went to see Queen Silike this morning. He allegedly claimed that Your Highness told him Silike was the mastermind behind the previous attack, and then launched a one-sided assault on her."
Yan looked utterly dumbfounded as he relayed the story, while Alan and Kyrie, who were listening, chuckled.
Calian nodded and asked, "So they’re saying I instigated Sir Hertz to attack Silike."
"Yes. That is the claim."
If I were going to kill her, I would have done it myself.
"I see."
Arsen and explosions. Calian chuckled dryly at encountering this bizarre pairing once again. Since Gray's carriage had exploded, they seemed to think Arsen was fond of using fireballs. They clearly hadn't paid any attention to how the knights of Pavel had died. To the public, however, the explosion of Gray’s carriage and the one in Silike’s reception room would probably look quite similar.
"To think they would drag the missing Sir Hertz into this. They put some thought into it, just as I expected. It seems they even procured a mana bomb."
After all, if the accusation that Calian had instigated Arsen was accepted as truth, not only Calian but also Valkan—and even Alan, its commander—would not escape unscathed.
"They must have realized we wouldn't be able to explain where Sir Hertz was if he were captured. Since they couldn't find him at Marquis Brissen's mansion, they probably concluded I was hiding him."
If Calian’s side had indeed been harboring Arsen, any attempt to provide an alibi for him during the attack would be useless. Since Calian was accused of instigating it, they must have thought no one would believe his word.
Yet, not a single trace of distress could be found on the faces of those present. Calian, looking as unbothered as ever, turned to Yan.
"And what of His Majesty?"
"He says not to be late for Valkan's founding ceremony."
He didn’t postpone the ceremony.
Lemain, too, did not believe Silike’s claim.
*
Snap!
Silike’s fan snapped shut with a sharp crack.
Quite some time had passed since the explosion at Heisia Palace, yet not a single soul had appeared. No one was coming to investigate.
Then, Lemain’s message was delivered.
– Since the Queen is safe, the investigation into the accident will be conducted after the founding ceremony of the Valkan Mage Corps is concluded.
Silike had clearly stated it was not an accident. She had claimed there was an attack and had even provided the culprit’s name.
"An accident?"
Yet Lemain had altered the very nature of the incident by calling it an ‘accident.’ Even after all she had done, he refused to listen.
"Even if, by some miracle, this truly were an accident, shouldn't the event be postponed? His Majesty's intentions are now crystal clear."
Silike's voice trembled faintly. She closed her eyes for a moment to regain her composure, then opened them and spoke to the Head Maid.
"Summon the Vice-Commander of the Knights of Raon and have all of Raon assemble at Wilhelm Hall. If you tell them their Commander is with me, they will obey."
No matter what, she had to seize Calian this time. Since Lemain refused to act, she had no choice but to move herself.
Soon, accompanied by several escort knights and maids, Silike made her way to Wilhelm Hall, where Valkan’s founding ceremony was to be held. As the former hall of the Knight Order Pavel, it was close to Heisia Palace.
Arriving at the venue, Silike had to squeeze the fan in her hand tightly once more.
An explosion had just occurred in the Royal Palace, yet there was no anxiety on anyone's face. They were exchanging perfectly ordinary greetings, their expressions suggesting they had just spent a perfectly ordinary morning. No one even mentioned the explosion.
Pro-Brissen nobles were scattered about, but they remained extremely quiet, offering only a brief greeting to Silike before turning away. Today was the founding ceremony of Valkan, an organization closely tied to Alan. They had stepped back from the ‘conspicuous tall tree’ he had spoken of.
How dare they treat me this way!
Experiencing such treatment for the first time in her life, Silike gritted her teeth.
And then, someone approached her, his voice laced with concern.
"I heard there was an explosion. I am glad to see you are unharmed."
Venom filled Silike’s eyes as she looked at the speaker. Out of the countless people there, the only one to ask about the incident was Calian.
"How shameless of you to ask, considering you orchestrated the whole thing."
Silike’s voice was loud, and the hall fell silent. The eyes of the nobles, the mages in pure white robes, and the other two princes all turned toward her and Calian.
Scanning the room, Calian assumed a somewhat stiff expression. "It would be wise to refrain from making such hasty remarks. Did His Majesty not say he would investigate the cause after the ceremony?"
It was not sarcasm. Calian was speaking as if he were genuinely worried about her. He had never treated her this way before, so Silike knew his behavior was merely an act for the onlookers.
Only she knew.
The fan in her hand creaked under her grip. "Bring that mage here. I saw with my own eyes that it was his doing. He must be brought to me."
Calian didn’t reply, remaining silent.
Just as Silike smiled, thinking he had run out of excuses—
"If by 'that mage'…" a voice spoke from behind her. "…you mean this man, Queen?"
A familiar voice. An all-too-familiar voice.
Silike turned her head.
Evan Brissen was standing there.
And behind him, a mage bowed his head.
"It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time," the mage greeted her politely. "I am Arsen Hertz… 'that mage.'"
Silike took a step back. She couldn’t comprehend why Arsen Hertz was entering with Evan instead of Calian.
Staring blankly at Evan and Arsen, Silike slowly turned her head back toward Calian.
He was smiling.
A question was carried in that smile: Do you see your end now?