Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Translation: godsn
While everyone present was engrossed in their own varied thoughts, she remained composed throughout.
The Queen Dowager's expression grew even more severe.
"Are you trying to wriggle out of this? Do you truly need to be punished before you'll speak properly?"
"If you wish to punish me, I shall accept it gladly. However, I cannot tell lies as truth simply to avoid momentary hardship."
Medeia's expression remained dignified.
Even though her private affairs had been exposed, she showed no trace of embarrassment, shame, shock at being reported by a maid she'd trusted, or even betrayal.
Could someone truly be that confident unless they were innocent? Perhaps they had misunderstood something.
Just as people were beginning to harbor doubts, Medeia continued calmly:
"How truly coincidental. Head Maid Cuisine is someone I recently punished severely for violating royal protocol, and Mariyu is a girl who kept causing trouble, so I removed her from duties and kept her at a distance."
"......"
"And it just so happens that these two are the ones accusing me of keeping a man. Grandmother, can you truly be certain they're speaking the truth?"
At this, the Queen Dowager turned her head toward the Head Maid and Mariyu.
"N-no, that's not true!"
They cried out in unison.
"...We have evidence!"
At that moment, in Siseo's office.
Steam rose from a teacup atop the somewhat barren hardwood table.
"So, when are you going to tell me? The reason you came to Valdina."
Cesare, standing by the window, slowly stretched out his hand.
His straight index finger traced the frame where sunlight shattered into fragments.
"Well, shall we say it's because the weather here is beautiful?"
"I'd rather you said you'd gone mad from war trauma."
Siseo snorted.
"My, do you think I lack the sensibility to appreciate beauty?"
"Nonsense."
Siseo set down his teacup.
"If you were that sentimental of a man, you'd have died and disappeared long ago in White Night."
"Whoa, why is everyone like this?"
Gallo, who had been examining decorations above the fireplace, chuckled as he approached.
The Tower of White Night.
An elite academy located at the edge of the continent that accepted only a select few students, with all its curricula classified top secret.
Though its graduates spread across the continent and their activities eventually revealed the tower's existence, most remained hidden beneath the surface.
Even Cesare's origins, age—everything about him was shrouded in mystery. He always wore that peculiar mask, so no one knew his true face.
"Siseo. Aren't you curious about my face? You're the only one who never asks."
"If I were, would you take off that mask?"
"No."
"Then there's no reason to ask a question that won't be answered anyway. It's inefficient."
"Bro. You'd probably tell me to efficiently cut my own coffin to exact measurements later, wouldn't you? Huh?"
"You shut up."
Though their time together had been brief, the three had grown quite close.
And now, years after graduation when they'd scattered without contact, Cesare had returned as the continent's most notorious arms dealer.
Though Gallo was the public face of the Facade Merchant Guild and Cesare was known as his mercenary,
Siseo knew the true leader was Cesare.
'As if anyone could reign above that guy.'
It had been the same at the Tower. Cesare always stood one step back, yet no one could easily surpass him.
Siseo brushed aside the faint nostalgia.
"Explain why Facade's mercenaries are combing through every corner of the Royal Castle. Now."
Public and private matters had to be clearly separated. A cold aura swirled behind Siseo's monocle.
"You know perfectly well it makes no sense to let you stay here during wartime like this."
"And you know I have the authority to smooth that over for a kingdom's Prime Minister."
"Cesare."
"Tell me what you want, Siseo."
Cesare spread both hands.
Though clearly a guest, he carried himself with the ease of this room's owner.
Siseo frowned and pressed between his brows.
"We truly don't get along."
Cesare's eyes remained tranquil, as if to say 'so what?'
"Bro, you think our boss would bat an eye at that? Just curse at him. That'd relieve your frustration more."
"Gallo, your flapping mouth is as bad as ever."
"Aren't you being too harsh just on me?"
As Gallo clutched his chest with both hands in exaggerated shock, Cesare's languid voice resonated.
"Alright, Siseo, this is as far as I'll humor you."
Siseo let out a weary sigh.
Beneath the veneer of leisurely observation, he could feel Cesare's razor-sharp edge.
"We need your support."
Which meant it was time to lay their cards on the table.
Continuing this charade when they both knew the game was up would only make that bastard tear down the entire stage.
"If Facade covers our rear, we can end this conflict before spring arrives."
The prolonged war had pushed Valdina to her limits, both internally and externally.
'And the Regent's influence has grown far too strong.'
With even the nobility flocking to the Regent's side, his faction had become terrifyingly powerful.
'That's why we need to end this war as soon as possible. Only His Majesty's return to the capital can stabilize the wavering royal authority.'
Had Medeia, the King's only sister, fulfilled her role, the situation might have been more manageable. But the young princess had long since fallen for the Regent's ploys, becoming his pawn.
'His Majesty never should have entrusted the royal seal to the princess.'
What was meant to protect his sister had instead become a noose tightening around the King's own neck.
"Dear Siseo."
Siseo turned his gaze.
Beneath the silver half-mask, a smile curved like a crescent moon.
"Does Valdina even have the funds to pay our price? Trying to pass this off as a transaction of friendship would be... problematic."
Had it not been for that icy tone, one might have mistaken the man before him as genuinely amused.
"Besides, that's not all you want, is it?"
The air in the room grew frigid.
Each word fell like shards of ice, sharp and deliberate.
"Why would you refuse the Empire's aid and come to us instead?"
"......"
"Ah. So you want to use my mercenaries as both sword and shield? Siseo, you've planned this quite thoroughly, inside and out."
He'd immediately discerned Siseo's intent—to leverage Facade as a temporary bulwark against Kazen's interference.
"Be grateful for old times' sake. You're probably the only one left alive among those who've tried to use me."
"Then kill me."
Siseo's reply was eerily calm.
"If one head is all it takes to make Facade move according to my plans, then it's a bargain from my perspective."
"Hah."
It was impossible to tell whether the sound that escaped him was a scoff or a sigh. The chill in the air dissipated slightly.
"Hey, boss, doesn't that lump on your neck bother you? Might as well get rid of it, right?"
Gallo interjected with a mocking grin, his expression utterly baffled.
Cesare, leaning against the wall, studied his old friend.
"Siseo. You don't have to offer your head. Just swear allegiance to me, and I'll let you operate as you please."
"My loyalty is sworn to His Majesty the King."
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Siseo's face. Cesare, already anticipating this stubborn refusal from his rigid old comrade, smirked.
"Want to break free from Kazen's interference? Then slaughter the entire diplomatic mission and send their corpses back."
"Are you joking? You want to wage another war? Valdina doesn't have the strength for that. And against the Empire, no less—!"
Through the lenses of his distinctive monocle, Siseo glared at him. Cesare responded with nonchalance.
"The Empire's in no position for it either."
Half-hearted attempts to break free only invited greater pressure from an opponent sensing weakness.
Cesare knew better than anyone that in war, momentum mattered more than military strength.
Had Valdina captured and executed even one member of Kazen's imperial family, they wouldn't be treated with such contempt now.
Siseo exhaled deeply.
"That's exactly why I said we don't mix well."
"Right, right. You always did side with the underdog."
"Underdogs? Have you seen Valdina's cavalry? How can you say that?"
"It's not about strength, Siseo. The world calls those who aren't ruthless 'weak.'"
"......"
Siseo studied his old friend.
"Cesare... you truly... dance on the edge of recklessness."
Had he been an ordinary man, he might have worshipped this cold-blooded genius. It would have been hard not to.
Boundless arrogance—yet backed by such overwhelming talent and ability that it couldn't be called empty bravado. A presence that captivated anyone who witnessed it.
But gambling the fate of a nation on such dangerous stakes was unthinkable.
"Besides, this diplomatic mission includes Kazen's imperial princess, a Grand Duke, and even a general. Massacring them without the Royal Guard's involvement would be nearly impossible."
"Then change the target."
Cesare shrugged.
"What about the First Prince? Rumor has it he's already counting his last days."
"Kazen's First Prince? Are you out of your mind?"
The demon of war who'd conquered dozens of minor kingdoms before even turning twenty?
Siseo thought him impossibly arrogant.
"Ahem! AHEM!"
Gallo coughed loudly.
His eyes darted wildly toward Cesare, flashing with disbelief. Are you insane?
Thud. Thump, thump!
"Your Excellency! Her Highness the Princess—!"
At that moment, the office door burst open.