Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Bewitching Women
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The morning after the first expedition ended, the Southern Duke invited Lena and Uni to breakfast.
“Were you well rested last night, Your Highness?”
“What’s the point of asking? Of course she was.”
“Truly, your manners are as consistent as ever.”
Uni bristled beside Lena as she greeted him, right on cue. But today, the Southern Duke didn’t lose his composure even to Uni’s provocation. His unusually lenient response narrowed Uni’s eyes.
“You look pleased. The day before yesterday, you were just yelling nonstop.”
“Ahem.”
“Learning the world’s harshness like this again.”
Uni sniped once more, but the Southern Duke made no retort. He merely tightened the corners of his mouth, which twitched to maintain his dignity, pretending to be stern. In truth, he was so delighted he wanted to toss that tiny maid into the air, spin her around, and catch her. The reason, of course, was Lena’s exploits.
“You worked hard yesterday.”
“I only did my duty.”
“Such excessive humility. After achieving such feats, to call it mere duty.”
The Southern Duke praised Lena with a satisfied expression. Uni looked dumbfounded beside him, but even that was a minor joy to the Southern Duke. He seated Lena and Uni, then offered the freshly served appetizers as he spoke.
“I heard the Emperor was greatly pleased. This afternoon’s ducal council will review the conquest results, and there’ll be a banquet in the evening. That’s when the Emperor will formally commend your achievements.”
The old man recited the upcoming schedule leisurely, as if already full without eating. Then, lowering his voice, he asked,
“What method did you use, exactly?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play coy. The East and North couldn’t even figure out how to enter the Tomb Fortress. How did you conquer it and retrieve the king’s heart?”
“Well, I was just lucky, that’s all.”
Lena smiled and kept her words brief.
“It’d be too long a story. I’ll explain the details at the council.”
The Southern Duke’s beard twitched slightly. His lips pursed, but Lena pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
“How are the knights doing?”
“Those fools?”
Fortunately, the Southern Duke took Lena’s bait readily. With a displeased face, he said,
“When you said you’d go to the tomb alone, they partied all night with drink. When you returned alone from the tomb, they were terrified. Now they’re holed up, just watching for cues.”
The Southern Duke’s face, which had brightened thanks to Lena, wilted again because of the knights. Rubbing his forehead as if it ached, he continued,
“What will you do about them? Plan to go alone from now on?”
“Well…….”
“There’s still time until the next expedition.”
The Empire’s nobles were extravagant and flashy. They were already planning a month-long revelry under the name of a victory celebration.
“Isn’t it just a month or two?”
But Lena was skeptical about having time. Even with one or two months, turning pampered young lords with fine weapons into real knights would be difficult. As she pondered, Lynn’s alliance proposal came to mind. As much as she hated to admit it, allying with Lynn could fill the gap left by the knights. Seizing the thought, Lena gauged the Southern Duke’s mood. He clearly disliked Lynn—what would happen if she brought up the alliance? Just then, the Southern Duke mentioned the East first.
“True, they’re not the type to improve in a month or two. Still, seeing the gold the East brought made me regret it. They looted the fortress you conquered without lifting a finger—like picking their nose.”
As he spoke of the East, the Southern Duke’s face twisted habitually. He seemed to think the gold the East took should have been the South’s.
“That was their fortune.”
“Yes. It’s in the past now. Best count ourselves lucky there was no clash. He’s a dog that barks at anyone.”
When Lena cautiously took their side, the Southern Duke grudgingly softened and grumbled. Yet he didn’t spare his curses toward the East.
‘What on earth has Lynn been up to?’
Perplexed, Lena clamped her mouth shut and just smiled. Then Uni, munching on egg salad, chimed in astutely.
“Still, he looked decent enough.”
“Who?”
“The Eastern Duke. Saw him passing by. He seemed fine.”
“Fine build, yellow luck.”
“Why? Didn’t he help you before, old man?”
“That was…….”
Uni’s retort left the Southern Duke speechless. He’d been cursing the Eastern Duke freely, but now he stammered like he’d been caught off guard, eventually muttering with deflated vigor.
“Who knows. He’s not usually like that. Must’ve been a whim that day.”
The Southern Duke muttered absently, then turned to Lena as if something occurred to him. As Lena tilted her head to meet his gaze, he deliberately altered his tone.
“Just some old man’s concern. Be careful not to get involved with the Eastern Duke.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re at an age for various exchanges, but not him. Don’t be fooled by appearances—keep your distance.”
“What do you mean…….”
The dye was already mostly faded, but the Southern Duke had the insight befitting his years. He quickly realized that Lena Rubel and Rig-nan Aiterner were objectively beautiful and handsome youths, and that they could easily take a liking to each other. Smiling at Lena’s feigned ignorance, he added in a sterner voice,
“Don’t take it lightly. That man has the power to bewitch women.”
“Pfft!”
Uni spat out the potato soup she’d just sipped. Stunned by the unimaginable words, she dripped soup while staring at the Southern Duke, and Lena blinked with wide, startled rabbit eyes. The Southern Duke felt a subtle disillusionment at the girls’ reactions.
“This isn’t talk for those who’ve lived half as long as half of me…….”
“We’re legal adults.”
“We know everything!”
As the Southern Duke tried to cowardly retreat, Lena and Uni swiftly grabbed him. With uncharacteristic politeness, they awaited his words, and under their expectant gazes, he had no choice but to continue.
“……Do you know what Authority the East received from the Emperor?”
The four Authorities the Emperor granted to the dukes. Among them, the North’s Severance was the most famous. And the East……
“I heard it’s Dominion.”
“Correct. It’s the most secretive among the Authorities the Emperor bestowed.”
As he spoke, the Southern Duke extended his hand over the table. After a moment, with a crackling sound, the candles on the table ignited.
“It still works, huh.”
The Southern Duke muttered indifferently after lighting the candles without tools.
“The Karmic Flames I received, the North’s Severance, and the West’s Debilitation have clear results. Visible right away like that.”
He clenched his extended hand. The candle flames extinguished, sending up wisps of soot.
“But the East’s ability is invisible. Unless he reveals what he dominates and controls, no one can know.”
“Certainly a dangerous power.”
“Yes, dangerous. But more dangerous than the power is his temperament.”
“His temperament?”
“He has filthy city walls. Seducing women and leaving them bloodied…….”
The part the Southern Duke had hesitated to mention finally emerged. In fact, it was as euphemistic as possible. Had Uni not been there, he would have stated it plainly: Rig-nan Aiterner of the East was a madman who abused and raped women. But even his roundabout words shocked Lena and Uni enough.
“……Have you heard such stories?”
“No, I saw it myself.”
It was seven years ago. When a mere fledgling, barely more than downy, visited the palace as the new Eastern Duke. He was only thirteen then. Perhaps because he was so young, or due to his unique heritage as a foreign half-blood, the Southern Duke felt nothing toward him. No, he even faintly pitied the boy’s harsh life. But contrary to the Southern Duke’s thoughts, Rig-nan Aiterner was no pitiful boy. That was proven the first night he entered the palace. The fearless mongrel dragged a lady several years his senior into his bedroom that night. The social gathering had run late, so many witnessed it: the half-naked noble lady fleeing, bleeding, begging for help. And the boy following her with a smile, equally bloodied.
“I heard it happened several times after. Same thing in his own territory.”
The Southern Duke clicked his tongue as he spoke. The memory was still vivid. The boy’s eyes reddened as he hunted the woman. When others tried to intervene, he resisted like a beast, and knights had to subdue him.
“What’s even more outrageous is that no woman was ever forced into his bedroom. How do you think that was possible?”
“Do you think he used his Authority, Your Highness?”
“Exactly. No woman’s a fool—she’d know to bite back, not walk in willingly.”
The Southern Duke’s voice held conviction beyond mere speculation. Thus, Lena and Uni exchanged silent glances. His words were too unexpected, yet it was hard to think he was lying.
“So be wary and don’t get entangled with the Eastern Duke. Best steer clear of rabid dogs.”
The Southern Duke cautioned again, and Lena nodded reluctantly. As she mulled over his bizarre tale, she recalled last night. Lynn had said he couldn’t take a mate. Then he smiled wistfully.
‘Could it be related to this?’
Suspicion arose, but there was no way to confirm. One thing was clear, though. When Lynn smiled like that, Lena inexplicably thought she wanted to stroke his hair. If the Southern Duke knew, he might say she was already bewitched.
***
By afternoon, the Empire’s dukes gathered one by one in the council chamber. Clavis, the Western Duke and Cardinal, arrived with priests; the Eastern Duke with knights. The Southern Duke kept his proxy, Lena Rubel, at his side. With the round table between them, Lena and Lynn ended up facing each other directly. Lifting their heads meant seeing the other’s face first, making it awkward for each for their own reasons. Lynn, after some hesitation, offered a greeting glance first. But Lena pretended not to see and averted her eyes. Whether by mood or real, his pitiful side profile tugged at her, but having not made up her mind, she steadfastly ignored him. Meanwhile, Northern Duke Iura entered the chamber. Oddly, only knights accompanied him.
“No Lord Rubid?”
“He’s recuperating.”
Iura gave a curt reply to Clavis’s question and took his seat. Before sitting, he glared piercingly at Lena, instantly freezing the chamber’s atmosphere.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
Savoring the mood, Clavis opened lightly.
“Yesterday’s expedition results exceeded expectations. I thought we’d need several re-entries, but to conquer it in one go. His Majesty was greatly satisfied.”
Clavis praised only the victors, ignoring the North’s losses.
“First, His Majesty happily accepted the king’s heart the South brought. He’ll summon and commend you separately, so prepare.”
“Understood.”
“The gold the East brought is under investigation by the priests. Seems like a relic, so we’ll inform the East first if we learn anything.”
Lynn nodded in response. Clavis then looked to Lena.
“Now, Lady Lena, your turn. How did you conquer the fortress?”
The dukes’ gazes fixed on Lena, burning with fervent desire. Lena felt a pang of regret. She wanted to monopolize the tomb’s secrets longer. But clinging to an exposed secret was too risky, so she opened her mouth.
“My entry into the fortress was pure coincidence.”
“Coincidence?”
“While scouting the Fortress of the King Who Swallowed the First Cry, the Northern army attacked it. Probably didn’t spot me in time.”
Lena glanced briefly at Iura, who had shot her a look earlier.
“Wraiths poured out from the attacked fortress, and I, nearby, held my breath and watched them.”
“And?”
“Then, by chance, I overheard the wraiths speaking.”
“Wraiths spoke?”
“Not words exactly, but a term. ‘Chelleste.’”
The unfamiliar word darkened the dukes’ expressions further. Then—
“Huh……?”
An exclamation rang out from an unexpected direction. The dukes, listening intently to Lena, turned toward the sound outside the round table. The boy priest who made it clamped his mouth in shock under their stares. Normally, it’d be dismissed as a child priest’s mistake. But Clavis knew he was Marquis Rubel’s son and asked mischievously on purpose.
“Do you have something to say?”
At the Cardinal’s question, Enji Rubel’s face paled. Enji raised his head to apologize, only to lock eyes with Lena at the table. In that instant, a strange sense of déjà vu swept over him.
“……I think I know what that is.”
“Hmm?”
Enji muttered unwittingly, eyes still on Lena. The Cardinal asked softly with a gentle smile, and Enji stated clearly once more.
“I know the word Lady Proxy of the South mentioned.”