Chapter 187: Responsibility (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 187: Responsibility (4)
“Are you cold? Why are you so bundled up?”
I spoke to Lorraine, trying to act casual. I figured it was better than standing around in awkward silence. But it seemed Lorraine didn't agree.
“Wh-What! What's wrong with me bundling up!”
Her reaction was fierce.
What's with her?
Did I say something that warranted that much anger?
Is it because of last time?
If so, I felt a little wronged.
It was true I'd done something harsh, but she had been a willing participant, at least halfway.
If she had truly hated it, she wouldn't have kept challenging me to a duel every day.
“Why are you getting so angry?”
“Because I want to!”
“...I see.”
It seemed a normal conversation was impossible right now. The moment I turned my back to return to the palace, she grabbed my sleeve. I turned only my head to see her looking down, her head bowed low.
“Later... talk to me later.”
“...Later when?”
“When I'm ready... I'll come find you.”
“To answer the summons so quickly. How bold. With such a man as heir, the Kalita Kingdom is sure to enter a golden age.”
The Emperor smiled with satisfaction as he spoke to Lorian, who was kneeling on one knee. Lorian barely managed to keep from scowling.
He must know everything that happened in the Prona Kingdom.
The unequal treaty between the two kingdoms, signed in exchange for his and Lorraine's return.
The trust he had lost from his own nobles.
No matter how brilliantly Lorian ruled, the Kalita Kingdom would struggle to see a golden age. And even if it did, it would never be able to challenge the Prona Kingdom.
The treaty included a poison pill of a clause, ensuring that as Kalita's power grew, so too would Prona's.
The Emperor surely knew this when he spoke.
He was telling Lorian to know his place and act accordingly.
Shoving the deep, burning rage into a corner of his heart, Lorian smiled.
“I have many shortcomings compared to Your Majesty, who led the Empire into its own golden age.”
The Emperor was pleased by Lorian's humble words. Only after flattering him a few more times was Lorian finally released from the Emperor's presence.
As Lorian exited the audience chamber, a middle-aged man who had been waiting outside fell in step behind him.
It was Lorian's aide, Albert.
“You showed great restraint, my lord.”
“My reputation is in tatters. Both at home and abroad.”
“Was that not why you answered the summons? To resolve that very issue.”
“...You're right.”
Due to his failure in the Prona Kingdom, Lorian's political foundation had been severely shaken, and his honor had been dragged through the mud.
Of course, as a Hero, he would still inherit the throne, but…
Wielding the kind of absolute power he had initially planned for was now impossible.
Unable to let go of his desire for power, Lorian saw this summons as his breakthrough.
“The Demon Realm is sure to be full of rare treasures unimaginable on the continent. If you can secure them...”
“I can reclaim my tarnished prestige.”
This world followed the logic of power.
Some people said there were many kinds of power.
But to Lorian, that was all bullshit.
Wealth?
Without the power to protect it from external forces, it was worse than useless.
Charm?
Without power, you would just end up as a puppet for someone stronger.
Authority?
That damned Emperor's arrogance stemmed from the Empire's national strength. If the Empire's knight orders... no, if just the Platinum Knight Order were to disappear, the Emperor's attitude would become much more polite.
In the end, everything stemmed from fundamental power.
The power to protect oneself and crush others!
Lorian had answered the summons to the Demon Realm to obtain it.
To gain power, to crush everything, and to reign supreme.
“By the way... I haven't seen her since I arrived. I heard she was in the Imperial Palace...”
As Lorian's voice trailed off, Albert groaned inwardly. The man who had stood firm against the criticism of the Kalita nobles only ever showed this side of himself when it came to Frillite.
This is a time to focus on the great cause. Why is he so flustered over a single woman?
To call Frillite "just a woman" was an understatement. Her family was powerful, and she herself was a highly skilled Hero. Under normal circumstances, Albert would have been scheming to help Lorian get closer to her, not feeling troubled.
But now was not the time.
Albert suppressed the sigh that threatened to escape.
“I will look into it.”
“Would you?”
“Yes. It would put your mind at ease, my lord.”
Bowing his head, Albert left Lorian's side.
A day later.
“Lady Frillite has said that she would be fine with meeting for a short while.”
“Is that so? When and where should I go?”
“After dinner this evening, you are to go to her room.”
Lorian's eyes widened.
“T-to her room? Did she really say that?”
Albert nodded. Lorian's expression brightened.
“I wasn't expecting a warm welcome, but to think she'd invite me to her room.”
He was so overcome with joy that he even broke into a slightly goofy smile.
Watching his expectant face, Albert's own expression hardened.
Is this really the right thing to do?
He questioned his own decision, but quickly shook his head.
It's better to nip this clumsy crush in the bud.
Lorian would surely be able to endure the pain of a broken heart.
At least, that's what he judged.
After dinner that evening, Lorian headed to Frillite's room as promised.
As he walked down the corridor, he calmly collected his thoughts.
I thought she hated me.
Her past words and actions had led him to that conclusion.
But it seems I was wrong.
He didn't think he had won her favor just yet; he wasn't that delusional. But if she was willing to invite him to her private room, she couldn't hold any ill will toward him, either.
That was enough.
He could build her affection slowly over time. He could use their shared status as nobles. She cared deeply even for commoners, so he could approach her from that angle.
I should lower the taxes in my domain for a while.
He was unintentionally doing something good for his people, but so what? If they were happy, he was happy, and she was happy, then it was a win for everyone.
Walking with a sense of anticipation, he soon arrived in front of Frillite's room.
The knight standing guard in front of her door stopped him.
“This is the guest room of the Hero, Lady Frillite. What is your business?”
“I am Lorian. I believe I have an appointment with Lady Frillite.”
“One moment...”
The knight entered the room to confirm. A moment later, he came out, nodding.
“You may enter.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Lorian, in high spirits, patted the knight's shoulder in appreciation before entering the room.
Inside the bright room, Frillite was sitting at a table, writing. She didn't even glance his way as he entered, but he didn't mind. The sight of her profile, engrossed in her documents, was incredibly beautiful.
After staring at her as if bewitched for a moment, he came to his senses and cleared his throat, making his presence known.
Only then did Frillite's gaze turn to him.
“Ah, my apologies. I intended to read just a little more, and lost track of time.”
“It's quite all right. It happens when you're busy. That's quite a stack of documents... Is it related to the Knight Order?”
“A handover, apparently.”
The answer came not from her, but from another direction. Hearing the voice, Lorian's expression stiffened. He slowly turned his head toward the sound.
On the ornate, massive bed, Cloud was lounging in a sloppy posture.
What is that bastard doing here?
Did Frillite call him to help with her work?
No, that couldn't be it. He wasn't holding a single document.
Then why was that bastard lying there so comfortably, as if he owned the place?
Questions flooded his mind, but Lorian was too stunned to do anything but open and close his mouth. Cloud, feeling frustrated by the sight, spoke first.
“Don't just stand there staring. Say something. Didn't you come here because you had something to say?”
“...Why are you here? Isn't this Frillite's room?”
“Is that what you came here to ask?”
“Of course not! I—”
“Enough. Don't shout. I'm tired, and it's making my head ring.”
Just as Lorian's voice began to rise, Frillite cut in. Seeing her frown and rub the bridge of her nose, Lorian lowered his voice.
“Ah, my apologies. Judging by those dark circles, you haven't been sleeping well. The handover must be quite a lot of work.”
“It's true I haven't slept well, but it's not because of work.”
“Pardon?”
While Lorian looked on in confusion, Cloud got up from the bed, walked over to Frillite, and examined her face.
“You're right. Those dark circles are so deep, it wouldn't be strange if you dropped dead from overwork.”
“And whose fault is that?” Frillite glared at him, displeased.
“...Want a shoulder rub?”
“I'll take you up on that. Let's see you give me a good one.”
Cloud placed his hands on her shoulders and began to massage them with force.
“Whoa, look how stiff you are. How tense are you? This is what you get for sitting around all day. You should get up and stretch once in a while.”
“Somehow, I don't think stretching is the problem.”
“...Right. I am the great sinner.”
“As long as you know.”
Frillite and Cloud conversed as if Lorian wasn't even in the room.
In a way, it was quite rude, but Lorian couldn't bring himself to interrupt.
He didn't know why, but it felt as if there was a wall between the two of them and him.
An unbreakable wall he could never hope to breach.
Something... something was wrong.
An inexplicable anxiety made Lorian's eyes dart frantically around the room, and his gaze stopped on the bed.
To be precise, on the pillows on the bed.
There were two pillows.
“Ah...”
Lorian's mind went blank. His legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed to the floor.