Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Taylor
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The garden of the Grand Duchess's palace is quite beautiful.
With the long, harsh winter finally lifting, spring's gentle breeze was stirring, and flowers were beginning to bloom here and there.
But why did he call me out here?
It couldn't possibly be just for a stroll.
I had a feeling he'd summoned me at this late hour because he wanted something from me.
Yet the Black Knight just kept walking on endlessly.
Only when my legs were starting to ache did Raoul finally speak, his words coming out with some effort.
"I've heard that the Grand Duchess has great expectations of you, Sir Aiden."
Outwardly, my position was that of Luna's favored retainer.
Which naturally meant a heavy workload.
"That's why I've come to you in the dead of night with a request."
"Pardon?"
He halted his steps and turned to look at me.
"I'd like your help."
A strange chill ran down my spine at the Black Knight's heavy, soulful gaze.
"Help with what, exactly?"
"To cleanse the honor I sullied and become one with her."
"That's..."
Was he asking me to help him get together with Luna?
"Then I'd owe you a great debt."
Pity welled up as I looked at Raoul, who seemed so confident.
Did he call me here to try bribing me?
If so, he'd come to the utterly wrong person.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're saying, Sir. How could a mere retainer meddle in his lord's personal affairs?"
"You could do it, couldn't you? I know. I know you made her dream come true."
My body tensed at his calm tone, laced with an undercurrent of strange power.
"Naturally, I'd compensate you appropriately. Say... a fief in the Grand Duchy."
Luna had already promised me a fief in the Grand Duchy.
To avoid any issues with marrying above one's station, I'd need to be a proper noble with land of my own.
Which meant... his offer was worthless to me.
"No need."
"Then what is it you desire? I might be able to make it happen."
What I wanted from the Black Knight was for him to go find some other woman.
But saying that outright might earn me a Swordmaster's furious blade...
Ah? Wait, this could actually work.
"What I desire... Well, just recently, the Grand Duchess confided in me."
Raoul's expression lit up with keen interest at my words.
"She did?"
"Yes. She said she really dislikes it when you visit, Sir Raoul."
His face stiffened instantly.
"Then... the banquet..."
Ah? Was he pinning his hopes on the banquet?
That was just a ploy to get somewhat acquainted with you.
Either way, I decided to bluff my way through.
"Originally, the Grand Duchess had no plans for a banquet, but I strongly urged her to hold one. It would have been dishonorable to simply send away the renowned Black Knight after he came all this way."
Raoul's face fell in disappointment.
"I see..."
Pity swelled naturally at his heartrending expression.
"Don't take it too hard. It seems you two simply aren't fated."
"No... I can't give up so easily."
He's incredibly tenacious.
Watching him cling to her despite all the insults and scorn from Luna, I felt a pang of masculine sympathy—he seemed rather pathetic.
There are plenty of women in the world besides Luna.
"I don't quite understand your obsession with the Grand Duchess, Sir Raoul. She's beautiful, sure, but she's not the only woman in the world."
If things soured between her and me, I was always ready to bolt.
Heading to the imperial palace to live a life of debauchery under my brother didn't sound half bad.
He wouldn't dump the dirty work on his sworn brother, after all.
"She... Luna is my first love."
But the Black Knight's words...
They struck a chord deep in my chest.
First love—the phrase that tugs at any man's heart.
Ugh... you're truly hopeless.
Guess I'll have to introduce you to some fine women myself.
Just as I resolved to line up high elf beauties and dwarf beauties by tomorrow...
"What are you two doing?"
A woman's voice rang out from somewhere above.
"Ah..."
Luna, dressed in a crisp uniform.
She approached, eyeing me and the Black Knight.
"What kind of plot are you scheming together in the dead of night?"
-Again! What are you up to?!
Her voice was icy, but it felt like I could hear Luna's true feelings.
Still...
"I couldn't sleep, so I asked Sir Aiden for a walk."
Raoul spoke up first.
"It was I who insisted..."
"What were you planning to do by grabbing hold of my man?"
Raoul looked troubled under her gaze brimming with suspicion.
"I wasn't planning anything in particular."
"Please calm your anger, Your Grace. Sir Raoul and I were simply taking a night stroll."
-Zap.
She eyed me and Raoul just like that.
"Understood. Secretary Aiden, come with me."
With those curt words, Luna turned sharply on her heel...
"I'll take my leave then."
"Take care."
After bidding the Black Knight farewell, I followed Luna.
Where to?
Silence enveloped us as I trailed behind her.
This direction led to Luna's office?
She was heading to a familiar spot.
Soon, the knights guarding the office came into view.
They raised their spears in salute to Luna, but she ignored them and flung the door open.
"Come in."
I stepped into the office at her command.
-Boom!
The door slammed shut roughly.
"Aiden... what do you think you're doing?"
I waved both hands placatingly at Luna, who glared at me with narrowed eyes.
"Nothing at all."
"Then why didn't you keep your promise?"
Her sudden mention of a promise caught me off guard.
Promise? What promise?
"Promise?"
"Yes! Today..."
Luna drew closer, step by slow step.
I retreated before her menacing aura.
"Why... why are you doing this?"
Her expression was different from her usual one.
How to put it? She felt downright scary.
I kept backing away from her ominous presence...
Until the bookshelf blocked me.
"Ah?"
-Thud!
Luna's palm slammed into the wall right beside my face.
"Forgot the promise again? Hehe... so that's how it is?"
Eh? Isn't this that thing from dramas? The wall slam?
Though shorter than me, Luna's sheer intensity overwhelmed me.
She reached out with her right arm, wrapping it around my neck...
And just like that, we shared our love once more.
***
A week had passed since the Black Knight arrived in Vain.
Raoul showed no intention of leaving.
Luna hated the sight of him but seemed wary of the backlash if she chased away a guest—it might paint her as petty.
Thanks to that, she summoned me to her office every night to vent her stress...
Though she complained it was hard for her to sneak into my room with him around.
Fair enough, since they were both Swordmasters.
He could probably sense presences.
Anyway, when would the Black Knight finally leave?
Truth be told, after he arrived, I'd introduced him to women whenever the opportunity arose.
But none of them caught his eye.
Not even beautiful high elf maidens or petite, sharp-witted dwarf women...
Wondering if he had tastes as unique as the Crown Prince's, I'd even tried orcs, but all were failures.
Hmm... maybe I should just give up?
As that thought crossed my mind...
A maid came rushing to me, her face ashen.
"Si... Sir Aiden, the Grand Duchess urgently summons you!"
"Huh? What's going on?"
"I... I don't know. She just said to bring you quickly..."
Whatever it was...
"The office?"
"Yes!"
I nodded to the maid and headed for Luna's office.
But what could possibly make her summon me so urgently?
The Black Knight spent his days strolling the palace grounds or occasionally sightseeing in the city—nothing else.
Aside from seeking me out that first day, he hadn't approached me again.
What urgent business could involve me now?
A naughty thought flickered briefly, but she knew better than to mix day and night.
Upon reaching her office...
"Sir Aiden has arrived."
The knight announced my presence to Luna.
-Send him in.
The door opened at her permission.
-Creak.
"You called for me?"
-Bang.
"A... Aiden, we're in big trouble."
I blinked in confusion at Luna's pale-faced panic.
"Pardon? What happened?"
"Taylor's arrived in Vain!"
"What?!"
Taylor—the Tower Lord's Disciple.
In other words, one of Luna's suitors.
"Wh... why all of a sudden?!"
"I don't know! His servant came asking if he could stay at the palace tonight!"
The Black Knight alone was complication enough... now Taylor too?
Taylor was a whole different beast from the Crown Prince or Black Knight.
That guy... was a madman.
With a personality edging toward psychopath or sociopath, I'd hoped to put off meeting him as long as possible.
But what cruel trick of fate was this?
Why show up now, of all times?
"W... well, we have to let him, right?"
"I suppose? Nobles have standards of etiquette to uphold."
If he found out the Black Knight was here too... things would get explosively chaotic.
Could it be...
"They won't start fighting, will they?"
Luna's face twisted with anxiety at my question.
"A... both are top powerhouses, so probably not."
"You sure?"
In the novel, those two didn't get along—nor did adding the Crown Prince make it any better. Knowing that, Luna's reassurance didn't fully convince me.
Luna offered an awkward smile.
"Probably?"
That was when it happened.
-Boom!
A massive tremor shook the ground.