Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: You Really
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The cardinal's banquet invitation hadn't actually been on the schedule. The feast had been hastily prepared just a few hours earlier, thanks to a message that had flown into Do-um Palace.
"The South is in an uproar!"
The news that Lady Lena had beaten up a Southern Knight had reliably reached Do-um Palace and the Northern Knights there. A chatty young priest had overheard the story outside and chattered it all to the Northerners. At that outrageous tale, Rubid scoffed, the knights shook their heads, and Marquis Rubel quietly chuckled from a step away—until Clavis approached and whispered secretly.
"Did you have a hand in this?"
The cardinal lowered his voice as he asked, and the question left the marquis feeling a bit weary. This man has too sharp an intuition. With a sigh at the cardinal's piercing insight, the marquis realized there was no point in evasion and gave a faint smile.
"It was necessary, unavoidably."
"You really are..."
At the marquis's admission, Clavis playfully shook his head. The South, fresh from the war's end, was creaking under various problems, including significant discontent from nobles whose sons had been taken for the tomb conquest. Some among them even wanted to abandon the South and join the North. So the marquis had sent someone to egg one of them on, and he'd arranged for salacious rumors to spread once the pretext arose.
"And that's not just for slander, is it."
Clavis muttered as if he knew the marquis's inner thoughts completely, then smiled and asked back.
"Planning to kill your daughter again?"
With the expedition right around the corner, disrupting the knights' unity meant isolating Lena Rubel. The goal was obvious. Caught out once more, the marquis gauged the cardinal's reaction for a moment.
'Does he plan to oppose it?'
The marquis recalled how Clavis had shown thick affection toward Lena. But it was needless worry.
"If that's the case, I'll help."
"You're serious?"
"Of course."
Clavis beamed a bright smile as he said the unexpected words. When the marquis eyed him suspiciously, he nodded cheerfully, as if to say relax. It was obvious what mischief the marquis was plotting. So Clavis wanted to take this chance to confirm it. Whether Lena Rubel had truly become the monster he desired. If she died to a trap this simple, she was meaningless anyway.
***
The atmosphere at the hastily prepared banquet was frigid. Lin and Rubid made no effort to hide their mutual loathing, and Lena Rubel offered only superficial courtesy while occasionally glaring at Clavis, the host, like he was a thug. Meanwhile, the lavish dishes on the table cooled untouched. In the silent chaos, Clavis spoke up with a beaming smile.
"Sitting side by side, you all look like friends. Why not get along while we're at it?"
"Cut the nonsense and get to the point."
Rubid snapped irritably at Clavis's empty words. Lena and Lin shot him agreeing looks, and Clavis finally relented with a sigh.
"So harsh. The point's obvious, isn't it? Lady Lena, Prince Rubid and the Eastern Duke already scouted the tomb today."
"I heard."
"But the tomb's terrain is completely different from the surface. What a mess."
'...What are you getting at?'
Lena sensed something off and looked at Clavis. He smiled even more deeply and continued.
"So I thought, since the place is unfamiliar, why not strike a familiar foe first."
"A familiar foe, you say?"
"Those Who Swallowed Their First Cries."
Those Who Swallowed Their First Cries were the wraiths that had devastated the South. Horrific predators that reacted to sound, earning the war the name "Silent War." To Lena, a former Southern mercenary, it was a name more familiar than any.
"We know them well from fighting so long, and above all, the South needs revenge, right? So they're our first target."
Clavis's decision was rational enough that no one needed to raise objections. Methods for dealing with Those Who Swallowed Their First Cries had been thoroughly studied. As Lena grudgingly accepted it, Clavis spoke before the banquet.
"With that in mind, how about the South takes the vanguard for the first expedition?"
His tone was light, like suggesting a game.
"Lead the North and East from the front, Lady Lena."
Her eyes widened at the direct nomination, bordering on a command. Lin was inwardly startled too. The cardinal couldn't be unaware of the Southern Knights' current state. This was no different from a death sentence. Realizing Clavis's intent, Lin quietly bit his lip. Lena lowered her gaze, as if choosing her words. Just as she lifted her head to reply.
"Who decided that!"
In an unexpected twist, Rubid slammed the table and shouted.
"The vanguard's obviously mine!"
No one—not even Clavis—had anticipated the outburst. Clavis was momentarily speechless at Rubid's interference. Lena and Lin stared at him in bewilderment. But Rubid was adamant. He cared nothing for how things were unfolding; he was simply furious at being pushed from the vanguard spot.
"Prince Rubid..."
Clavis blinked before quietly calling his name. But Rubid looked clueless about what was wrong. It left Clavis a little fatigued. He'd known the fool couldn't tell heaven from earth, but not that he'd be this oblivious to time and place. At least it wasn't hard to rein in this wastrel. Just as Clavis opened his mouth to silence him.
"I will follow Your Eminence the cardinal's will."
An unexpected voice cut in first. It was Lena.
"It's a great honor for the South to lead the first expedition's vanguard."
"Ridiculous...!"
As Rubid started bellowing again, Clavis raised a hand to stop him. He then turned to Lena with a puzzled expression.
'Isn't this a trap?'
Clavis asked with baffled eyes. Lena replied with calm ones.
'I know. Me too.'
'Then why?'
'What does it matter.'
At Lena's cold gaze, Clavis bit his lower lip to stifle a laugh. But Lena ignored his sticky longing and continued.
"That said, I have a request."
"Go ahead."
Clavis nodded eagerly, intrigued.
"First, please consider this the South's voluntary choice."
"Fine, whatever. What else?"
"You said the first sortie is in nine days."
"Want to push back the date?"
"No."
Lena shook her head at Clavis's hasty assumption. Then, with a faint smile, she said the exact opposite.
"Advance it, please. To two days from now."
Lin and Rubid's eyes widened at the unimaginable proposal. Clavis's reaction was similar. But the glee in his eyes was impure, unlike the other two.
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
Even when asked again, Lena's answer held firm. Clavis had to choke back the smile spreading across his face.
'What is this now?'
Clavis peered into her eyes, trying to read her intent. But Lena played innocent, giving no clues. That only excited him more. Just imagining what Lena Rubel might do filled him with aching ecstasy. It felt like falling in love.
***
The night after the banquet was especially dark. With even the moonlight obscured, the lake swallowed by shadows looked pitch-black like a pit. As Lin stared at the inky water in confusion.
"You're here early again. I hurried myself."
The sound of footsteps on grass came with a soft voice. A gentle, quiet one. Lena's voice, now recognizable at the slightest brush. After a hectic day, his tone was as leisurely as ever. So Lin could easily picture Lena's expression hidden in the dark.
"I came out earlier than usual."
"Why?"
"Because I have a lot to say."
"True, it was a busy day."
Lena added lightly with a grumble.
"Meeting you every night feels like writing in a diary."
"A diary?"
"After a frantic day, you ask one by one and sort it out for me. Like a teacher checking a journal."
A diary. Lin let out a chuckle at the innocent analogy. Thinking about it, he always questioned Lena's ideas and actions. From Lena's perspective, it must feel like being graded. But he couldn't stop asking. Lena's presence was too great to brush off casually. So Lin broached with a question today too.
"Why two days?"
"Ask like that, and you think I'll spill everything? ...Kidding, Lin. Don't sulk."
Teasingly countering at first, Lena caught Lin's dejected shadow and switched tones. Then, for the embarrassed Lin, he answered straightforwardly.
"Why two days? Because if there's time, they'll prepare another trap."
"You really are..."
"Really?"
"Weird. ...Take it back. Sorry."
Lin muttered thoughtlessly, then retracted upon seeing Lena's chilly shadow. But the "weird" was sincere. Lena grasped her situation objectively. The traps and schemes around her, all aimed at her every moment. That's why it was hard to understand. The lady's bold moves, reckless even. As she'd said, the vanguard spot was an obvious trap. Yet instead of avoiding it, she'd accepted—on the condition of advancing the already tight schedule by a week. It was a bolt from the blue for the East too.
"Does this put you in a bind too, Lin?"
Lena asked, as if reading his thoughts. Lin couldn't deny it, so after agonizing, he answered.
"Yeah. It does."
"I'm sorry to you, Lin."
"No need. Honestly, I'm more curious than troubled."
"Curious about what?"
"What kind of person you are."
Lin's top priority now was securing the East's position and protecting his knights. Yet he didn't resent Lena for suddenly dropping this bombshell. He believed she wasn't just recklessly causing chaos. At Lin's subtle trust and curiosity, Lena smiled faintly. Then she asked playfully.
"What kind of person do I seem to you, Lin?"
"A weird one?"
"Did you think before speaking?"
"...My heart got ahead of me a bit."
Lena stared at him in disbelief. But seeing only a dark shadow, she imagined his face and burst out laughing.
'You can make jokes like that?'
She'd thought him so proper, but maybe he had a sly side. Laughing unwittingly, Lena bit her lip and gazed at the large shadow. How boring the palace would be without this man? Thinking she'd been lucky to meet Lin, she suddenly recalled how trivial the trigger had been. Pure coincidence. They'd been in the same space by chance, learned of each other through a chance event. What if that coincidence hadn't happened? The Eastern Duke would have bared his teeth at her too. The Proxy of the Southern Duke wouldn't have helped Lin, and their midnight friendship wouldn't exist. That made this moment feel more precious. So Lena asked happily.
"Then another question. What kind of person would you like me to be, Lin?"
"Someone who doesn't do dangerous things."
"Why?"
"Because you might get hurt."
Lin's answer came easily again. But it flustered Lena quite a bit. She stared endlessly at his shadow, speechless, then let out a small sigh.
"You really are..."
In Lin's steady voice, Lena realized. The reason they'd met wasn't trivial at all, nor coincidence. She'd come to know him because he was kind. Everything was possible because he'd watched over her, worried, and helped. Realizing that, Lena felt tormented. The difference between rain falling on the sea versus dry land is indescribable. Kindness is the same. To Lena, who'd endured malice from her father and many others, Lin's casual goodwill was burdensome beyond heavy. It wasn't easy to accept, so she endured for a moment. But Lin didn't know why, just gazing at her shadow. Lucky it's dark, she thought, slowly exhaling.
"Me too."
"Hm?"
"I want you unhurt too, Lin."
In the end, Lena muttered in surrender.
"So listen carefully to what I say from now on."
It wasn't planned, but she could no longer stay silent and opened her mouth.
"It's about the tomb expedition in two days."