Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Imperial Family
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“⋯⋯Sigh.”
Felix clicked her tongue as she watched Carlyle step out of the room.
She had burned through one pouch of tobacco, but that wasn’t enough; with a weary expression, she lit her pipe again.
“He won’t let me have my way this time either.”
Somehow, every time she got tangled up with that guy, she never got a satisfactory outcome.
It wasn’t a familiar experience.
She was someone who could obtain anything she set her mind to. Yet this was the first human who strayed so far from her expectations.
‘Tempting, that bastard.’
They say people become more obsessed with what they can’t have.
It was precisely because he exceeded her expectations so much that he stuck in her mind even more.
“⋯⋯.”
Moreover, if he held the key to touching the deepest recesses of her psyche.
The shadow writhed. The entity within spoke to her again.
It felt like some kind of warning.
“I know, I know.”
Felix was well aware that her composure was increasingly shaken whenever it came to that man.
It wasn’t a good sign.
She was the Gray Cardinal. A power broker who could manipulate the entire continent from the shadows.
For someone like her to obsess over a single human would create cracks somewhere.
From a perspective focused solely on efficiency and results, losing her composure was pure poison.
She shouldn’t feel anything. She just had to decide.
Just as she often demanded that of Gray, she too had to maintain that coldness.
“⋯⋯.”
But even from that cold judgment.
The value of that Carlyle Bellfast was off the charts.
She had no idea how many secrets he was hiding, and more than that.
When she pieced together each of those secrets and evaluated the man as a whole.
“⋯⋯I have to protect him. At the very least, he’s next in priority after Gray.”
He was like a treasure trove.
His value as an ally was incalculable.
In response to her words, the shadow writhed.
“Who knows?”
Felix shrugged.
“I like him. Makes me greedy. But it’s not like I’m head over heels or anything.”
The shadow rippled.
“Soon? Bullshit.”
The shadow rippled again.
“⋯⋯⋯⋯Fine, sure, compared to when I first saw him and didn’t care much, things have changed a lot. But that doesn’t mean I’m falling for him or whatever.”
⋯⋯The shadow rippled once more.
“What kind of bullshit prophecy is that? You’re just a half-broken god who lost your divinity anyway.”
The shadow rippled again.
Violently this time.
As if trying to convey the ‘possible scene’ it had witnessed.
“⋯⋯.”
Felix fell silent upon hearing it.
It wasn’t just silence—her ears were slowly turning red.
As if she’d heard something utterly obscene.
But she quickly suppressed it and let out a sigh.
“—Don’t make me laugh. Even if the heavens split, that’ll never happen.”
She rubbed her eyes as she spoke.
“Master? As if I’d ever say something like that.”
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First conclusion.
⋯⋯I absolutely must not let Felix find out.
Absolutely.
No matter what.
The reason was simple. It reeked of extreme danger.
‘Normally, I’d let good things be good things and move on⋯⋯’
If revealing it to her brought along things like ‘obsession’ or ‘regret,’ it was starting to scare me.
Even with just Gray’s ‘possessiveness’ trait weighing on me, her occasional outbursts made my head feel like it would explode. If this woman joined in, it really would be unmanageable.
‘Haaah⋯⋯’
Carlyle let out a deep internal sigh, rubbing his eyes and shaking his head.
Now wasn’t the time to worry about that.
Because something truly dangerous was approaching if he didn’t pay attention.
“Stay quiet as much as possible.”
Gray swept back her hair and spoke to Carlyle and Vespa.
She had an unusually refined and elegant air, not like her usual self. The fact that she was dressed in a suit she rarely wore said it all.
“If you give them any openings, it’ll get annoying, so don’t engage in conversation. Just fulfill the requests and that’s it.”
“⋯⋯.”
It was a shockingly prudent sight.
For her to think about the aftermath to this extent.
And considering the weight of the name following behind, it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.
The 6th Imperial Prince, Vizil Leonhardt.
Even with the long string of middle names omitted, the mere fact that he could officially bear the imperial ‘Leonhardt’ name on the public stage indicated he was a quite powerful royal.
And as the pinnacle of the empire that spanned half the continent, even the Hero had to tread carefully to some degree.
That said, the worries were immense.
‘I hope the Lady doesn’t cause any trouble.’
⋯⋯Gray was the type who, no matter the opponent, would charge ahead and flip the table if things went even slightly awry.
His job here was to watch her closely and do his utmost to prevent any incidents.
[⋯⋯Who knows.]
But the reaction from the Holy Sword felt a bit off.
It seemed itchy, like it wanted to argue against what Carlyle was saying.
[Truth be told, you’re the one I’m most worried about.]
‘Me? Really?’
Good lord.
What an insult.
With the Hero right here, and he was more concerned about me?
[⋯⋯.]
The Holy Sword let out a sigh laden with emotion before speaking.
[You might think you’re fine, but from my view, you’re not exactly safe either.]
‘What do you mean?’
[Sure, you’re usually the one cleaning up after me and the others cause trouble. That’s why I’m saying it—you seem to forget it easily.]
The Holy Sword spoke in a voice thick with concern.
[You⋯⋯ have parts that explode more easily than you think. They’re in places no human could possibly hate, sure. But once you snap, you don’t care about consequences.]
‘⋯⋯?’
I had no idea what it was talking about.
Carlyle considered himself the type who tried to smooth over every situation amicably, barring truly unavoidable cases.
[Exactly. That’s why I’m saying it—there might be one of those unavoidable cases.]
‘Nah, unless it’s really extreme, that won’t happen.’
[You think an imperial prince won’t do something really extreme?]
‘⋯⋯You’ve got me there, but even so, there’s no way I’d—’
As that thought crossed his mind, the parlor door burst open.
The attendants lined up nearby, along with Carlyle and Vespa, all straightened up rigidly.
Only Gray stared at the main door with bored eyes.
“The 6th Imperial Prince is entering!”
With that announcement, a handsome man with his blue hair slicked back appeared.
His full-body silver armor gleamed, and the magic sword at his waist suggested he was a seasoned combatant.
He was a man engraved head to toe with the words ‘arrogance’ and ‘confidence.’
He exuded an aura only someone who had lorded over others their entire life could emit.
Vizil scanned the room upon entering.
And with just that, the nearby attendants began sweating profusely and averted their eyes.
Everyone in the room knew of the royals’ eccentricity and whims. No one wanted to catch his eye needlessly.
And seeing what he said as he strode right up to Gray made their reactions understandable.
“Hero. What is this?”
“?”
“Didn’t I tell you to prepare properly? Can’t even handle a simple request?”
Gray’s eyes narrowed sharply at his abrupt words.
“What’re you talking about? Speak clearly.”
“⋯⋯.”
Against a royal no one wanted to tangle with, this reaction actually left Vizil looking incredulous instead, but Gray stared him down regardless.
Her gaze held a beastly ferocity that could make even a royal concede the stare-down⋯⋯
As evidenced by Vizil finally getting to the point.
“I told you to staff my retinue with women. Beautiful ones only.”
⋯⋯Though whether that point was reasonable was another matter entirely.
“What?”
As Gray incredulously shot back, Vizil shrugged and turned his gaze to Carlyle.
“There’s a man mixed in⋯⋯”
He then swept his eyes over Vespa.
Vespa flinched under his gaze.
Instinctively sensing displeasure.
“And she’s not even my type.”
⋯⋯His following words justified her reaction.
“She looks fun enough for a one-night fling, but⋯⋯ eh. Meh.”
“⋯⋯.”
This fucking bastard?
As Carlyle’s facial muscles twitched, a deep sigh rose from the Holy Sword, as if it had seen this coming.
[⋯⋯⋯⋯Royals, honestly.]
And apparently, it wasn’t keeping that sentiment to itself.
“Hey.”
Gray sighed.
“Cut the bullshit and go rest inside.”
“⋯⋯.”
Faces paled around the room at the peak audacity of her words.
“If you pull any weird shit, I’ll split you in half. Got it?”
⋯⋯She’s the best, my Lady.
From Carlyle’s perspective as he listened, he wanted to applaud like a seal⋯⋯
“Hah. As ferocious as they say.”
Vizil just snorted derisively, though.
Despite his words, he seemed to believe the Hero wouldn’t truly turn hostile against him.
He didn’t look eager to pick a fight with Gray himself, either.
“We’ll meet again tomorrow. The schedule starts then.”
Gray snorted as she watched Vizil leave with those words.
“What a piece-of-shit guy.”
“⋯⋯.”
Then, Gray quietly looked at Carlyle’s face.
“Hey.”
“Yes, my Lady?”
“You okay?”
“⋯⋯Pardon?”
“⋯⋯.”
With that, Gray stared at Carlyle intently.
Intently enough to fluster him.
“⋯⋯Hm, good if it’s nothing.”
“Lady, what—”
“You looked⋯⋯ dangerous. He didn’t notice, apparently.”
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯Go easy. Don’t do anything too big.”
With that, Gray yawned and walked out of the parlor.
“⋯⋯.”
Oh man.
Did she notice that?
He thought he was skilled at hiding his feelings, having been through all sorts of situations.
‘Can’t beat her.’
As that thought arose, another sigh came from the Holy Sword.
[⋯⋯⋯⋯Didn’t you say you wouldn’t cause trouble?]
‘Hey, as long as they don’t cross the line, I won’t.’
[⋯⋯.]
The Holy Sword fell silent.
In other words.
[If they do cross it, you’ll act anytime⋯⋯?]
Carlyle just smiled wordlessly.
⋯⋯To the Holy Sword, it sounded extremely ominous.
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