Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Derga's Secret Letter
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“But are those guys really knights?”
“What?”
Erica reflexively shot back at Ian’s words. Of all people, this was the last question Ian should be asking right now. With suspicions already on the Cheonryeo Tribe!
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Of course. When we captured Derga, I thought we’d taken care of all his knights in the forest. But knights popping up out of nowhere?”
“Ha!”
Can you believe this? Erica let out a scoff of disbelief. But that only lasted a moment.
“What if there’s a traitor among your subordinates, Lady Erica?”
For a split second, it felt like a hammer had crashed down on Erica’s head. Not because she believed there was a traitor, but because she grasped what his words implied.
“Rumors are flying that Mary and Chel survived and fled beyond the territory, especially with helpers by their side. Everyone thinks they escaped safely.”
“You, you…!”
“But if those so-called helpers are traitors trying to put you in a tough spot, wouldn’t they hide the two of them without a trace?”
As someone sent down by imperial order, Erica had a duty to faithfully pursue the pair.
But what if they vanished midway?
She’d at least have to report on whether they were alive or dead. With understandable evidence attached, like chunks of their corpses, for instance.
“You’d better hurry and chase them down with maximum force. Who knows what might happen to them at any moment?”
To a third party, it sounded like concern for Erica’s well-being, but it rang entirely different in her ears.
‘Pull your soldiers out of the mansion right now, or I’ll kill Mary and Chel and hide them. Then you’ll be wandering the mountains for years chasing shadows.’
“This fucking bastard…”
Shing.
Erica spat curses as she drew her sword. But there was that saying: you lose if you get riled up. She instinctively realized she’d fallen perfectly into Ian’s trap.
“Why get so worked up? I’m just giving you advice out of concern, Lady Erica.”
“Where did you find Mary and Chel?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.”
“Ian, do you think you’ll get away with this? I’m the leader of the investigation team under imperial orders. Interfering with me is the same as defying the imperial palace’s solemn decree!”
Erica huffed and puffed, but soon realized her mistake and grimaced. She’d reminded herself out loud. Under imperial orders.
Which meant her duty was to immediately pursue Mary and Chel beyond the territory, and staying here like this was admitting to dereliction of duty.
“Yes, I know full well. So you’d better hurry and arrest those who helped Mary and Chel escape.”
That was the only way to prove ties between Ian and them. As Erica gnashed her teeth and glared at him, the subordinate she’d sent on an errand returned.
“Lady Erica, the stablemaster says two horses owned by House Bratz are missing…”
He trailed off upon seeing Ian there, but it was too late—Ian had heard everything. Ian grinned broadly, as if to say, see?
“Exactly. Horses from the mansion. Definitely traitors.”
“Bullshit. You think I don’t know you’re scheming with the Cheonryeo Tribe? How dare you keep playing innocent?”
“Me? With the Cheonryeo Tribe? How can you accuse an innocent man?”
“Just look at those inhumanly skilled bastards!”
“If you insist, feel free to inspect the Cheonryeo Tribe forces that entered here. Check if there are only two missing.”
“You, you…”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t even verified their numbers? The imperial investigation leader handles things more sloppily than I thought.”
Ian’s words were outright insults, but there was no ground to refute them. Even if she claimed she had, what if they were extras attached outside?
“I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you myself.”
“Please don’t. I’m scared.”
“I mean it. I’m going to kill you.”
It was close to a curse. She vowed to someday behead that insolent lowborn herself. Erica ground her teeth, grabbed her cloak, and stormed out.
Bam!
Left alone, Ian shrugged and glanced around Mary’s room. The madam had definitely said there was something here she’d take…
Slide.
The drawer was half-empty. Jewelry and ornaments of value must have been confiscated by the investigation team. With the massive tax shortfall, all the mansion’s treasures would revert to the imperial palace to cover it.
“What could it be…?”
As Ian clicked his tongue in thought, Erica dashed down the hall with her subordinates and burst outside. She felt sidelong glances from the Cheonryeo Tribe, but had no time to deal with them one by one.
“Assemble the soldiers.”
“Uh, how many?”
“Leave the bare minimum and form the rest into a pursuit unit.”
“B-but if we do that…”
Now that she knew they were Cheonryeo Tribe, regular forces wouldn’t cut it. She had to overwhelm them all at once to prove Ian and the Cheonryeo Tribe had smuggled out Bratz family members.
‘Yeah. I’ll crush your trap, you bastards.’
“Keep an eye on Ian and Kakan.”
“Y-yes, understood.”
“Report immediately if anything suspicious comes up.”
Whatever happened, things wouldn’t go their way. The moment she caught those two Cheonryeo bastards who’d called themselves Derga’s knights, she’d sweep away Ian and every outsider in the mansion.
“Assemble!”
As Erica and the central army grew rowdy, the watchful Cheonryeo Tribe began moving discreetly. One warrior headed to Ner Sarun to report.
“Ner Sarun, sir. They’re moving just as Lord Ian said. Time to send out the falcon, sir.”
“Do it.”
At the warrior’s cue, Ner Sarun nodded in satisfaction. With the pursuit unit at full strength, it was the signal to deal with Mary and Chel.
He scribbled a brief note in Cheonryeo tongue and handed it to his subordinate.
“These rugged mountains—wonder if they’re managing all right. Kids used to nothing but sandstorms.”
“Don’t you trust our kin?”
“Of course I do. They’re warriors. Just worried, is all.”
Warriors knew no defeat. Defeat meant death, and the dead couldn’t comprehend defeat. Even in crisis, they feared no sacrifice. They’d rip out their own hearts before giving the enemy an opening.
“Send the falcon.”
“Yes, sir. Oh, the remaining falcon belongs to Kakan.”
The warrior glanced at the bed behind Ner Sarun. Kakantir lounged in light attire, savoring a peach. He nodded permission.
“Then I’ll send Zeno.”
“Before you do, feed it some fruit. The bird’s been acting off lately.”
“Got it. Rest well, sir.”
Creak.
Once the subordinate left, Ner Sarun turned. Kakantir was still gazing blankly out the window, enjoying his respite. Midsummer had passed, but compared to the desert, it was delightfully cool.
“Kakan, once the central army pulls out of the territory, it’s time to kill Derga and wrap things up. We can’t leave the Cheonryeo away too long.”
“Yeah. Right.”
The Bumart situation was one thing, but the desert garrisons were short-staffed now. The Great Desert’s blessings eased worries, but leaving home too long wasn’t ideal.
“By the way, Ner Sarun. If Ian’s a mana user and catches the imperial palace’s eye, he’ll have to head central someday. Who’ll manage this place then?”
“Who knows. He’ll probably take Berik with him.”
“Even if he leaves him behind, that guy’s not up to it.”
Kakantir glanced at Ner Sarun. Having been at his side so long, a look conveyed everything. Ner Sarun’s brows furrowed.
“No.”
“What?”
“You’re telling me to stay here, right?”
“Oh. That obvious?”
“With me here, it’d benefit the Cheonryeo in many ways. But whether Lord Ian allows it is doubtful, and more than that…”
“More than that?”
Ner Sarun glanced at Kakan then turned away.
“…it’s cold.”
“Ah, yeah. That’s key.”
“It snows. Freezing cold.”
Kakantir chuckled and bit into the last peach. No need to wait for winter. In a couple months, as autumn winds chilled, the warriors’ homesickness would deepen. Everything had to be tied up before then.
“The patent of nobility should be arriving about now, right?”
“Probably.”
“Do you really trust Ian, Kakan?”
“Trust? You mean him being a mana user? Didn’t you see? Berik fighting that knight.”
“I mean, is being a mana user worth enough to overturn a patent of nobility?”
He’d heard of the empire’s magic worship. Like how they followed Winchen, Bariel revolved around mages.
But without experiencing it, he couldn’t be sure. Plus, this was the border. Locals barely knew magic existed.
“Who knows. Doesn’t seem like he’s lying. If someone comes from the palace, we’ll know right away.”
“Still, it’s running a bit late, isn’t it?”
Ner Sarun muttered, counting days on his fingers. It was about time, but no sign yet.
‘What the hell are they doing in the palace?’
* * *
Knock knock.
In First Prince Marib Berosion’s office, the lights burned even at night. The prince wore light attire, his long hair tied back in one.
He set down his glasses at the sound breaking the silence.
“Come in.”
“Prince Marib. Something for you to see.”
“What is it? At this hour.”
Marib wet his lips with cold tea as he asked. The aide presented a crumpled, soiled letter. The prince had already checked it—the seal was broken.
“A secret letter from Border Count Derga Bratz. It deliberately came to me instead of you, Your Highness.”
“Bratz Count?”
Marib blinked lightly. Bratz—hadn’t the emperor just sent an investigation team for tax evasion? Derga was someone he’d seen a few times at state events, no personal ties.
A letter from there?
Intriguing, suspicious, and curiously so.
“No seal.”
“Instead, there was a ring inside with Bratz house words engraved, proving authenticity. Estimated at 10 carats diamond.”
“Hmm.”
Marib admired the ring on the table, not for the gem, but realizing how desperate the count must be to send it.
“To beg leniency, he should’ve sent it to Father. Since he didn’t, it’s something else.”
“Yes.”
The aide set down the neatly folded paper.
Moments later, Marib’s eyes sharpened as he read with interest.
“This is now…”