Chapter 131: Taimun Marius (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: Taimun Marius (4)
Thirty-five years ago.
The day she became a nanny for the Runcandels, Taimun realized for the first time what "real power" felt like.
It was almost nauseating to see how the power players of Delki—who had once viewed her and her siblings as dogs or mere disposable tools—now didn't even dare to speak to her informally. It was utterly ridiculous.
A life of an entirely different dimension had unfolded before her, far removed from the days of the Moon’s Sacrifice, where she had lived a life lower than that of livestock.
What a charmed life. Some people spend their lives as lone orphans, treated worse than beasts, while this one is born the eldest child of the Runcandels.
Taimun had thought this as she looked at the newborn Luna.
It wasn't exactly envy or jealousy. That world was simply too far above her own, and she was grateful enough just to be Luna’s nanny. More than anything, Taimun was shocked that a newborn could be so warm.
Back at the Moon’s Sacrifice, every infant she had ever held had been nothing but a cold, stiff corpse.
That warmth.
Her heart was stolen by a warmth she had never even dared to imagine. It happened faster than she could believe. Before she knew it, Taimun was pouring genuine affection into Luna.
Well, she is quite cute.
One year, two years, three years... five years.
Watching Luna grow healthy and strong brought a sense of wonder to each passing day. However, other pure-blooded Runcandels were born almost every year. They were Luna’s rivals, and Cyron and Rosa expected Luna to compete with them. These things began to make Taimun anxious.
It won't be a problem. The Patriarch said that only Lady Luna inherited almost all of his qualities. In the end, my lady will be the next Patriarch.
Just as she hoped, Luna drew attention even before leaving the Storm Castle. Once she entered the main house and began formal training, she truly became the focus of everyone’s expectations.
—I beat everyone in the Beginner Class today, Nanny. Even Luntia and Joshua are no match for me. Not even if they team up.
—You did well, my lady. Just keep going like that...
—But I feel a little bad. I just like the sword; I don't like the competition. Everyone gets so depressed when they fight me. I wonder if I should just let them win sometimes.
At the time, Taimun thought it was merely the innocent heart of a child. Even that was considered a sin in Runcandel, but she couldn't bring herself to train Luna the way she had trained the orphans of the Moon’s Sacrifice.
Taimun’s absolute conviction in Luna came when the girl turned thirteen.
—Stay out of my sight, Joshua. It won't end like this next time.
—Luntia, don't sit at the same table as me unless you want to die.
—You challenged me with that pathetic level of skill? You won't even be able to touch my shadow for the rest of your life.
The warmth was gone. Luna was walking the Runcandel’s Path of the Overlord.
But that was merely a phase of puberty.
Exhausted by the family’s constant attempts to sow discord, Luna went through a long, dark adolescence. Cyron, Rosa, and Taimun all mistook this for Luna’s true nature and were satisfied.
Taimun especially.
She wanted to use the power of Luna, the future master of Runcandel, to erase all her miserable memories. She wanted to wield the immense authority of the Patriarch’s nanny to take revenge on the world. There was no way Taimun’s heart, which had been abused for over twenty years in Delki, wasn't diseased.
Once my lady becomes the Patriarch, I will completely erase the Delki royal family from this world...
As long as Luna continued to grow this way, it was entirely possible.
—I heard you annihilated Zipple’s top-class mages at Vales this time? Congratulations, my lady! That’s thirty-seven consecutive successful missions since you became a Flagbearer. You’re widening the gap with your siblings again. The Patriarch was very pleased.
—Nanny, I know I must seem strange. But I’m so tired. I... I just wish everyone would leave me alone. Father, Mother, my siblings. All of them.
—Pardon? What do you mean by that? My lady, did something happen?
—Nanny, you’ll be on my side, right? No matter what I look like, or what position I’m in.
—Of course. I am always your...
—I am never going to become the master of this garbage family.
Nineteen.
Luna’s puberty ended.
And until then, Taimun had never once seen Luna fail to keep a promise she made to herself.
—Are you serious, my lady? Please, think carefully. You were born with the greatest talent since the Patriarch himself. Are you saying you’ll just let that power rot? If not you, then who could possibly lead Runcandel?
—One of my siblings will become the Patriarch instead. I think Dipus or Mary would be fine. Father, Mother, and the elders will throw a fit, but... Nanny, you have to take my side. Ah, my siblings will probably be happy about it.
—My lady.
—And I have no intention of letting my power rot. I’m going to get even stronger. While my siblings are busy tearing each other apart, I’ll become the strongest sword protecting the family and show them that I’m different.
—Ah...
—More importantly, I need a change of pace. Should I go see the youngest? Strangely, just looking at him makes my heart relax. Is it because he’s a baby?
—Ha, haha. Even if you go, you’ll only see him sleeping from a distance. Do you really like him that much?
—Yeah, it makes me feel at peace. My senses are a bit sensitive, you know? It feels like I can hear his soft breathing through the air. Ah, I wish I could hold him just once.
On that day, Luna found a new dream, and Taimun’s dream was shattered.
Luna immediately renounced her succession rights and began wandering the world, earning the alias "White Whale."
The noble white whale of myth.
Was I merely a starving sea devil lingering near that whale?
Emptiness, disappointment.
And the feeling that she shouldn't dare feel such things toward her lady. While Taimun spent her days tormented by these emotions...
The "hunt" by the siblings, who realized Luna had changed, began.
Was it hatred born from the frustration of being unable to overcome the massive wall that was Luna? Or was it an atrocity born from the belief that Luna would never kill them? Or was it simply because that was the nature of the Runcandel succession war?
The siblings' obsession with cutting down, pushing aside, and killing Luna’s people was something even Taimun—who had survived all sorts of secret feuds at the Moon’s Sacrifice—found difficult to handle.
I mustn't tell the lady. It will only cause her pain. I am her nanny...
How can the lady have no idea that these things are happening? Is she just pretending not to know?
If the lady hadn't given up on the throne, would any of this have happened?
To survive, she raised hunting dogs. By then, there was no room in Taimun’s heart for revenge against the Delki royal family; her days were filled only with confusion.
Should I tell the lady now? The hunting dogs are growing too slowly. At this rate, I won't be able to hold out much longer. And that... that is something Lady Luna truly won't be able to bear.
As expected, it didn't take long for her to be caught.
While Luna was away from the main house for training, Runcandel Guardian Knights seized Taimun and dragged her to the underground prison.
—Taimun Marius. The best assassin and instructor from the Moon’s Sacrifice. Why not share that skill and loyalty with me? I can give you what you want.
—I have no intention of betraying my lady. Kill me.
—You’re saying things you don't mean, all while barely suppressing a smile. I can see the rage and joy inside you.
There, Taimun heard the voice of salvation.
* * *
Taimun’s eyes deepened as she briefly recalled those days.
Even so, I still love my lady. Though I have hurt her now, it is because I have been on that person’s side since that day that the lady has been able to remain safe until now.
Taimun let out a long sigh.
"...This must be a great shock to you. I had hoped that you would remain ignorant of these facts, at least until I died... no, even after I was gone."
"Nanny."
"Furthermore, regardless of the reason, it is true that I raised private soldiers behind your back and that they pointed their blades at Young Master Jin. Even if it wasn't by my direct order, the fact that my subordinates touched a pure-blooded Runcandel is a capital crime among capital crimes."
"Nanny."
"I have no intention of escaping punishment. Therefore, I have already confessed my crimes to the main house."
The moment Taimun stood up after saying that.
Clank, clank, clank...
The sound of a group’s footsteps echoed from outside the door.
Enforcement Knights—those who punish those who violate the laws of Runcandel. They had arrived after being contacted by Taimun.
She made her move before my sister and I even arrived. She’s spouting all these righteous words, but Taimun is certain she can survive the family trial. If we had been even a little later, we wouldn't have had a chance to interrogate her at all.
While Jin calculated his response, Luna looked as if she could barely stand on her trembling legs.
"If possible, I would like you, my lady, to take me to the main house yourself, rather than them. If I must die, I want to die by your hand."
Taimun spoke as she stopped in front of Luna.
"Nanny, don't go. Don't go, talk to me more. Please?"
"I have already committed a sin. If I refuse the family’s enforcement that I requested myself, I would be committing another irredeemable crime."
"I said don't go. Please. Just stop. I’ll send them away myself."
"I must go, my lady."
Taimun took another step and passed by Luna. While Luna suppressed her tears, unable to even turn around...
Jin grabbed Taimun’s shoulder.
"Taimun Marius."
"Yes, Youngest Young Master."
"I don't know who is behind you. But there aren't many people with enough power to save you in a family trial."
"You still suspect me."
"No, it’s no longer suspicion; it’s a conviction. Looking at your actions, you are deeply involved with my curse."
"Whatever you may think, the family will judge—"
"Let me give you a piece of advice. Do you really think your master will save you? Especially after you’ve shown such weakness to my sister and me. If you follow them, you will surely die."
"You’re saying strange things. Aside from Lady Luna, there is no one behind me. Do you think I fear death or torture as payment for my crimes?"
"Yeah, it looks that way. For someone prepared for death, you were far too talkative."
Taimun stared at Jin for about two seconds, then shook her head.
"I will say nothing in the courtroom that would trouble Young Master Jin. I believe that is the proper way to act for the sake of my lady."
Clatter, screeeech—!
The manor’s front gate opened, revealing five Enforcement Knights. Simultaneously, Jin activated the Rune of Mul-ta to hide his face.
As Taimun approached them, Jin and Taimun were each thinking their own thoughts.
If Taimun dies, it becomes harder to investigate the curse. Before the transport to the main house is complete, I have to convince my sister to attack the Enforcement Knights and reclaim Taimun.
Heh, he truly is a brilliant one. Yes, that person might indeed discard me. However, even if that happens... the information that the Young Master uses magic and has communicated with Solderet will be what saves me.
And just as Taimun submissively held out both hands to the Enforcement Knights, signaling her intent to be bound...
Jin did not miss the sight of a dagger sliding out from the gauntlet of the Enforcement Knight on the left.
They hadn't come to transport Taimun to the main house.
They weren't planning to take her to court; they were going to kill her right here! No, they weren't Enforcement Knights called by Taimun in the first place—they were assassins in disguise!
They had come to eliminate her.
"Sister!"
The moment Jin shouted as he lunged forward.
The assassin aimed for the nape of Taimun’s neck. Jin drew his dagger almost simultaneously, intending to knock the assassin’s blade away with a throw.
And then.
Slash—!
Luna, moving with the speed of light, was already decapitating the other assassins who had begun to extend their swords toward Taimun.