Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Uni's Master
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Rin had suspected it for a long time. No, he simply couldn't accept it. He had only pretended to go along on the surface, but he didn't fully believe the empire's proclamation that Nihil Grasha had been chosen by the gods. Because nothing stemming from it felt remotely holy or righteous.
He had even told Lena as much. The Authority bestowed by the emperor was too bizarre to call a divine blessing. As Lena had said, how could a curse lurking behind a power be considered a blessing? And if Nihil had truly been chosen by the gods, why had he used that power to trample other nations? Was Grandis Grasha the only one chosen by the gods, and everyone else mere prey? Could such a narrow-minded being truly be called a god?
These were questions Rin had secretly harbored since his boyhood.
But yesterday's experience in the tomb had ignited those long-held doubts.
‘The one who dominated me yesterday was definitely the King with Many Hearts.’
That king of the Wraiths had dominated Rin and spurred him on. And the sensation of being swayed by him felt all too familiar to Rin.
‘Why?’
Was it simply because domination was that king's power, exploiting Rin's weakness? Or was there some other reason?
Rin pondered deeply as he gazed down at his desk. It was covered in words and phrases he had scribbled wildly with a quill earlier.
—Eastern Duke. Domination. King with Many Hearts. And a lecherous disposition.
—Southern Duke. Fire. King of Burning and Char?
—Northern Duke. Severing. Unknown who it corresponds to.
—Western Duke. Weakening. King Who Swallowed the First Cry? It resembled the knights weakened by Clavis and the Unforgiven Ones who had swallowed their first cries.
—The rest: King Who Caged the Lion and Unforgiven King. What of them?
Rin believed the empire's dukes and the Wraiths' powers were strangely similar. Not a perfect match, but strikingly alike in many ways.
He bit his lip as he illuminated the desk with the flickering lantern.
‘If this is true…’
How many people were being played? And if the empire's Authority truly originated from the tomb, what did conquering the tomb even mean?
Rin squeezed his eyes shut against the creeping unease. The image of Naza Aiterner he had seen in the tomb was still vivid. Intellectually, he knew. He knew the things crawling up from the tomb had once been human. That they were beings who had ended their lives yet wandered restlessly. But seeing someone he knew become a Wraith was an entirely different matter.
His birth mother, whom he could never love. The one he thought had vanished in death still existed. There, in the tomb the emperor had ordered conquered.
Rin had no idea what to do with what he had witnessed. Should he reveal it? Hide it? He couldn't decide rashly. It was too dangerous. There were still too many unknowns.
‘Did Lena know?’
Rin's scarlet eyes suddenly narrowed. Lena Rubel. The lady who knew far more about the tomb than most. Would a woman of her caliber have failed to notice the doubts Rin had only felt in the past few days? Absolutely not. Lena already knew. The truth Rin hadn't reached yet—she knew it alone, quietly.
Then what was Lena Rubel really…?
Lost in thoughts of her, Rin suddenly slammed his upper body forward, banging his forehead on the desk. The smooth wooden surface thudded against his brow, but he felt no pain. The shame heating his nape overshadowed it completely.
There was one reason for his sudden self-harm amid his deliberations. The disgraceful act he had committed against Lena in the tomb resurfaced, and he couldn't bear the surging self-loathing. So Rin groaned for another long while, forehead pressed to the desk.
The incident of losing consciousness and assaulting Lena was now too awkward to even mention. Yet it still brought him to his knees several times a day.
And that wasn't all. When he had unexpectedly faced Naza Aiterner with no warning, Rin's legs had nearly given out. But in that dizzying moment, Lena had caught him. It felt like plummeting into somewhere, but she had stopped it. She had silently embraced his helpless form and stroked his back.
Recalling that touch now left Rin utterly flustered. He had shown her one pathetic side after another. So he didn't know if he should feel sorry, grateful, or just mortified.
Only when the embarrassment finally ebbed did Rin exhale a long breath. He straightened up and gazed out the pitch-black window. Night had fallen before he knew it.
To him, night meant time with Lena. But tonight, he couldn't be sure of a meeting. Rain was falling outside.
***
“You won't be able to go for a walk tonight.”
Uni, already tucked into bed, said to Lena standing by the terrace. Lena, who had been staring up at the sky, quickly feigned indifference.
“I was planning to rest anyway.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
“You don't mean resting in Rin’s arms, do you…?”
“Uni…”
“Yes, I know what comes next. Uni will shush.”
Uni cutely covered her own mouth with her hand, and Lena smiled weakly at the sight. It was night. But Lena couldn't go meet Rin. The sky had been overcast all day, and rain had started falling since evening. The steady patter filled the air, a soothing lullaby for sleep.
But Lena resisted the rain's siren song, pacing by the terrace doors. Watching her, Uni asked softly.
“Are you disappointed?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I'm worried he might come out.”
“So you think Rin will brave the rain to show up?”
“Uni…”
At Lena's weary call, Uni giggled and rolled around on the bed. She seemed delighted to tease her lady about Rin.
“Exactly. He needs to show that much sincerity. Especially since he's your fiancé.”
“We're not engaged yet.”
“Right. When will you do it?”
“When the next expedition date is announced, I'll bring it up.”
The atmosphere was already ripe. The Southern Duke's reaction was a slight concern, but the other nobles would welcome the budding relationship between the Eastern Duke and the Southern Duke's proxy like they'd been waiting for it. Once that happened, things would be much easier moving forward. No more need for cautious maneuvering under the pretext of protecting a lover. The North might decry it as a vile alliance, but both Lena and Rin were already at odds with them, so they'd probably find it amusing instead.
Uni nodded at Lena's reply, then suddenly asked gravely.
“If that happens, do I have to call Rin ‘Master’?”
“Would you like to?”
“No, not really.”
“Then just keep calling him Rin.”
Lena answered lightly and turned away from the terrace. She didn't want to give Uni more ammunition for teasing. Besides, the rain was coming down hard now. Rin wouldn't come out in this, so she let go of her lingering hopes and climbed into bed.
As Lena settled into the opposite bed, Uni burrowed under the covers and chattered on.
“Still, not Rin. He's your husband.”
“…Why is he already my husband?”
“By tradition, I'll call him Master.”
“No, why husband in the first place…”
It was then, as Uni grandly ignored her lady's repeated questions to declare her intentions. A fierce gust rattled the terrace doors violently. Rain and wind surged in, drenching the room, and Uni bolted upright in bed at the sudden commotion.
“I'll close it.”
Before Lena could rise, Uni dashed to the terrace and pushed the wide-open glass doors shut. Then, peering outside, she muttered.
“Huh?”
“What?”
“It's Rin.”
“Don't joke.”
“For real!”
Uni gestured to Lena, who approached the terrace half-doubting. Seeing what Uni pointed at, her eyes widened.
A man stood amid the raging storm. It could have been a eerie sight at a glance, but his unusually tall stature and pale face stood out even in the darkness, dispelling any chill. No matter how she looked, it was Rin. And to Lena, Rin was always one of three things: pretty, cute, or pitiful. Standing alone in the downpour like that was overwhelmingly pitiful.
Stunned, Lena ignored the pouring rain and stepped out onto the terrace.
“Rin!”
She called his name softly, unable to shout. Whether he heard or had been watching, Rin immediately noticed her. The youth, soaked to the bone, waved.
Lena was dumbfounded by his bedraggled state. She glanced up at the sky briefly, then decided she couldn't leave it like this and hopped over the terrace railing.
But as Lena leaped down, Rin—who had been standing blankly—suddenly charged forward like a shot. He thrust out both arms and dramatically caught her as she descended.
Thus caught in Rin's arms, Lena flustered again.
“What are you doing?”
“Caught you falling…”
“I jumped down.”
“Oh.”
Rin quickly accepted his mistake and set Lena on the ground. Amused but prioritizing, Lena grabbed his wrist and pulled him under a tree. Sheltered somewhat by the dense branches from the rain, she asked.
“What happened?”
Rin silently gazed at Lena. As he withheld his answer, she pressed.
“In this rain.”
“Exactly.”
“Huh?”
“I was worried you might come out in the rain.”
Rin, short on excuses, came up with a plausible one and secretly sighed in relief. Truth was, he'd come out on a vague hope of seeing her, but admitting that outright would seem pathetic or off-putting. But even this excuse couldn't hide how pitiful he looked. Lena eyed him head to toe, drenched, and let out a long sigh.
“Then I look like a coward for not coming out.”
“You would've gotten soaked too.”
“I did. Because you caught me.”
Earlier, as Rin caught her in his arms, his wet shirt had soaked Lena's nightgown too. Adjusting the clinging fabric, Lena added.
“Still, you found your way here nicely.”
“I kept hoping you'd guide me.”
Silence fell after those few words. They had nothing left to say. The leaves didn't fully block the rain, and amid the dripping, no suitable topic arose.
“It's really pouring.”
Rin nodded at Lena's murmur. Maybe coming unannounced in this weather was too abrupt. He thought of leaving, when Lena said softly.
“Want to come in for a bit, if it's okay?”
...
Uni, who had been more sincere than anyone about teasing Lena over Rin, now found herself deeply conflicted by the sudden turn. Rin had really braved the rain to appear. What she'd said earlier was just a joke, but now that he had, she couldn't help thinking, *You bastard, what are you up to with my lady?*
“Uni, could you bring a towel?”
Lena, who had climbed back up to the terrace with Rin, said. Not as bad as Rin, but Lena was fairly wet too from the brief exposure. Uni glanced between the amicably damp pair, then fetched a towel with a serious face.
Rin, recognizing the girl who handed him the towel, hesitated and greeted awkwardly.
“Hello.”
At the stiff greeting, Uni's gaze sharpened oddly. She glared at him with a complex expression, then replied as if resolved.
“You really came.”
She added with a hint of defeat.
“Master…”