Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Serpent and the Forbidden
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The Eastern Duke's mood was low from the morning. His face was paler than usual, his brow furrowed without relaxing, his voice low and subdued.
"Why don't they realize that internal discontent is the greater threat? Troop reinforcements will be discussed after the treatment of discharged volunteers is settled."
"I told you to monitor all reports going to the Cardinal."
"The mainland's end-of-month report is late. Shouldn't they be more attentive when you're away?"
On top of that, his ruthlessly meticulous handling of agenda items. The high-ranking Eastern nobles at the morning assembly quickly sensed their lord's displeasure and busied themselves with caution. The Eastern Duke grilled each noble who brought up an item one by one, and the nobles turned away with sad eyes one after another. *Why is our young lord in such a foul mood first thing in the morning?* they muttered inwardly. But that was purely a misunderstanding on the part of his retainers. Lin wasn't sharpening his temper out of irritation; he was simply fatigued. And he was just acting more rigorously to hide it.
*What's wrong with me?*
After the assembly ended and he was alone, Lin relaxed and leaned back in his chair. His body felt heavy without doing anything, and his mood was sunk low. So he even skipped his daily morning personal training. He always made time to loosen up no matter the situation, so doing nothing like this was extremely unusual and serious. And Lin felt frustrated about his condition that he couldn't tell anyone.
*This is not the time for this.*
It really wasn't the time. Lin pulled himself up to snap out of it. Then dizziness suddenly struck, shaking him. After staggering clumsily several times, Lin finally gave up and sprawled on the sofa. Fortunately, he had a hunch about the cause. If he had to pinpoint it, it was because he'd lingered too long in Lena's consciousness the day before.
*That's all it is.*
Lin muttered to himself. Yes, just that. It had to be just that. It would be too pathetic to be like this because the woman he liked was acting cold. Lin despised his own pitifulness and composed himself. Then he closed his eyes. This really wasn't the time; he had work to do. The Eastern Duke's Authority, Domination, was very subdued compared to the other dukes' powers. So even when activated, it was hard for others to notice. Thanks to that advantage, Lin was using his power without anyone knowing. But the Authority he'd spread out had warped significantly upon contacting Lena's consciousness. With his eyes closed, Lin could sense his Domination had loosened. And they were plotting to escape through that gap. Unacceptable. Lin tightened his slackened Domination again. As always, he bound them, imprisoned them, and ruled them. As he was fixing the distorted parts like that, it happened. His head, which had felt okay for a moment, spun again, and his vision went dark. At the same time, his breath caught.
"Ah...."
Lin panicked at the sudden dizziness. He'd made a mistake. He should have waited longer, but his impatience got the better of him.... Lin exerted all his effort to regain his senses. But his already tilting body wouldn't stop no matter what he did. Lin's faintly blurred pupils were red. But that vivid color soon faded, and Lin lost consciousness just like that.
***
It was a lavish office.
"So?"
And sitting in the center was a flashy man too extravagant to call a cleric.
"Two days ago, the wraiths in the West stirred again. Fortunately, they quieted down this morning, but we can't tell what this portends, and anxiety is growing. Now we really must take measures...."
"They quieted down, didn't they? So what measures?"
Clavis, who had been listening to the priest's report, rested his chin on the office desk and replied. It was clearly a serious matter, but Clavis's attitude was as light as ever. The reporting priest implored him with a face on the verge of tears.
"Your Eminence, the West is also His Majesty's territory, and the people living on its borderlands are His Majesty's subjects."
"Correct. We all belong to His Majesty. In life and in death."
But Clavis's expression remained bright. He even added in a voice as smooth as a serpent's shed skin,
"And our His Majesty is so merciful that he doesn't particularly care whether his possessions are alive or dead."
At the Cardinal's whisper with his scarlet tongue, the priest finally paled. As he stiffened rigidly, Clavis gestured for him to leave, and the high-ranking priest withdrew carrying only despair. Once the priest was gone, Clavis laughed brightly again and looked straight ahead.
"Kept you waiting? Sorry to make you listen to such boring talk."
"Ah, no, Your Eminence."
At Clavis's kind words, the boy replied in a trembling voice. Enji Rubel, the boy summoned before the Cardinal out of the blue, looked a bit frightened. Clavis smiled deeply at that innocently naive face.
"Relax, I didn't call you to scold you. Or do you have something to be guilty about, by any chance?"
At Clavis's jest, Enji's heart sank. The word "guilty" immediately brought his father to mind. Was he called to be questioned about his father's actions? As Enji tensed and glanced warily, Clavis let out a deflating laugh.
"It's a joke. It's fine, so sit comfortably."
Sit comfortably—impossible. But he couldn't disobey the Cardinal's order, so Enji desperately pretended to be at ease. Clavis chuckled again at the pitiful sight, then finally got to the point.
"I hear Enji is well-versed in history. Who did you learn from?"
"Uh, m-mostly from reading old books. In my father's study."
"Impressive. I was surprised last time. To think you knew of Chelleste. I'd completely forgotten the name myself."
Enji scratched his cheek bashfully, and Clavis watched fondly before asking,
"Why do you think people study history, Enji?"
"It's because history repeats."
"Right. Human history repeats. Humans are unchanging, always making the same mistakes. So we must study history. That way, they can know how lowly and wretched they are."
Enji's eyes widened in surprise at Clavis's sharp words. Clavis burst into laughter again.
"It's a joke. Smile."
"Ah.... Haha."
Enji smiled reluctantly. It was grueling. But Clavis seemed satisfied with the dry laugh and continued.
"Moreover, knowledge of the past is more necessary now than ever. That's why I called you, Enji."
"Pardon?"
"I'm forming an investigation team. To conquer the tombs, we need to uncover the names of the remaining kings too. I'd like you to lend your strength to it."
"M-Me, how could I...."
Enji was genuinely flustered. He was just a kid who liked history and knew a bit more than average. Compared to formal scholars or priests who'd studied for years, his knowledge and depth of thought were infinitely shallow. To be asked to contribute to an investigation out of nowhere, even called aside personally like this—it didn't feel natural. And this wasn't something the Cardinal needed to say himself. Enji instinctively felt repulsed. But he couldn't refuse the Cardinal's invitation, so he just moved his lips silently. Clavis smiled and whispered,
"No need to tense up. I'm not forcing you. Do it if you want. I'm serious."
Enji grew more confused at Clavis's kind words. The Cardinal subtly asked the frozen boy,
"But don't you feel frustrated?"
"Pardon? What...."
"Adults' lies."
Enji's eyes widened at the unimaginable words.
"Never experienced it? Adults brushing you off with obvious lies. It's not because they're idiots. They know. Kids won't find the truth anyway."
Enji's chest grew chill at Clavis's whisper. It felt like his inner thoughts had been exposed. But Clavis continued as if unaware of the boy's agitation.
"That's the difference between those who hold power and those who don't. In the end, those in the know learn everything, while the ignorant remain in the dark forever."
Clavis's eyes curved softly. With eyes tender as if melting, he whispered like a serpent.
"The good news is that such opportunities come very rarely. A chance to choose whether to remain ignorant or become one who knows. Which do you want to be, Enji?"
Enji got goosebumps at Clavis's silky question. It felt like a serpent crawling up his arm. He instinctively sensed Clavis knew something. And that the investigation team was just an excuse. Otherwise, there'd be no reason to summon him and say such things. So he thought he should avoid it. His reason screamed not to get involved with this suspicious, irresponsible man. But his body was rooted to the spot, staring endlessly at Clavis. A chance to become one who knows. That was what the boy had always yearned for.
"I...."
Enji hesitated and licked his dry lips. For some reason, he recalled looking up at his sister's room window as a child. The days he had to accept adults' lies while excluded from the truth. Clavis knew that stifling feeling with chilling accuracy.
"Don't you want to know the truth?"
Those words made the boy's fragile heart race. It felt like serpent scales brushing every corner of his skin. And when he came to, a terrifyingly tempting forbidden fruit lay before him.
"Hm? Enji."
At Clavis's urging, Enji, who had been staring blankly, nodded without realizing. Clavis's smile deepened at the boy's answer. Seeing that smile, Enji was seized by both excitement and anxiety. It felt like being ensnared by the serpent and receiving the forbidden apple.
***
"Never thought I'd see a day like this."
A single letter lay before the Southern Duke as he spoke. It was a friendly letter from the Northern Duke. It expressed regret over the incident at Do-um Palace four days prior. The Southern Duke, who had already snarled at the Northern Duke over this, felt a sense of relief.
"I hear Rubel has been placed on house arrest."
The Southern Duke said as he handed the letter to Lena. Then Uni, who was beside her, cut in.
"What about those guys?"
Those guys—the Southern Knights bribed by Rubel. Uni, who had nearly been kidnapped by them, narrowed her eyes and asked. The Southern Duke replied calmly.
"They'll be dealt with under military law."
Normally, the price for betrayal and treason was execution. But this case wasn't fully turning to the enemy; it was aligning with another noble of the same empire, so execution couldn't be carried out. They were called Southern nobles for convenience, but their ultimate loyalty was to the Emperor. Still, the convenient classification was practical too, so the Southern Duke punished them to the level of execution. By confiscating the traitors' assets and expelling them from Southern lands. As Uni nodded, Lena, who had skimmed the letter, spoke up.
"The rift at Do-um Palace has closed— what happens now?"
"It's under discussion. Some say reopen the rift, others urge caution, but it'll come down to the Emperor's will in the end."
The Southern Duke spoke in an irritated voice and rubbed his forehead. The wound from being stepped on by the Emperor still remained there.
"We should prepare, no matter what happens."
The Southern Duke nodded silently, then asked as if something occurred to him.
"Has the Eastern Duke said nothing?"
"Are you worried?"
"Why would I be!"
"Then don't ask—why yell?"
The Southern Duke, ambushed after casually inquiring about the Eastern Duke's condition, snapped in anger. Uni, who had successfully raised the old man's blood pressure, hummed and looked away. Lena laughed at the sight, then remembered she hadn't properly greeted Lin yet. Come to think of it, yes. They'd even danced together, but she hadn't thanked him.
*Yesterday was a mess.*
Lena swallowed a sigh recalling her blunder from the day before. Truth be told, she'd just realized it. That she was the type to put on a stern face when flustered. At least she knew now. Yesterday she hadn't, leading to that mess, but today would be different. With a much lighter heart, Lena waited for nightfall. She planned to meet Lin at night and continue the conversation from yesterday. But that night, no matter how long she waited, Lin never appeared by the lakeside.