Blood and Empire III
The carriage headed toward the West.
Is it because it's an imperial carriage?
It rattled far less than a standard carriage, making it exceptionally easy to focus my thoughts.
A satisfied smile spread across my face.
Resting my chin in my hand, I gazed out the window.
We would likely have to ride for a few hours and then stay overnight at an inn.
Due to the inherent dangers, the Warp Gate leading to the West was located slightly outside the Imperial Capital.
"Drop dead."
Lady Aran glared at me, her eyes burning with pure rage as I hummed a light tune.
Her voice was low, thick with suppressed fury.
I could feel her tear-rimmed, resentful gaze drilling into me.
I didn't bother to reply.
Lady Aran.
She's proving to be quite the reliable tool. Wait, what was the word for that again? Ah, right. A real workhorse.
There were several reasons why I had dragged Lady Aran into this affair in the first place.
First, the weight of her title as a Duke's daughter. Second, to show her off to Kalupen.
Furthermore, since Aran was already accused of attempted poisoning, she served as the perfect pretext of someone who had turned her back on the Empire.
"Simply perfect," I murmured.
"You absolute demon. What exactly is so perfect?"
"You, of course."
I turned my head toward her with a bright smile.
Lady Aran looked at me with utter disdain, as if she were staring at the worst piece of trash in existence.
She always looks at me like that.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"I already told you that I will speak on your behalf to the Minister of Security once this is over. Why must you keep harboring such animosity toward me?"
"My only regret is that I cannot kill you right this second."
"You are welcome to try. Though it would mean both of our heads rolling together, of course."
I glanced at her sideways, as if asking if she was prepared for that.
My words must have struck a nerve, because Lady Aran's face flushed crimson as she ground her teeth.
The harsh grinding sound echoed clearly inside the carriage.
I won't be held responsible if she chips a tooth.
There is really no need to be so furious.
I would need Lady Aran for what comes next. She really was the ultimate safety net.
Thank you, thumbs-up Aran.
"I still regret it."
"Regret what?"
Her voice trembled under the weight of her suppressed anger, drawing my attention back to her.
I had already finished organizing my thoughts, and I had nothing else to do anyway.
I looked at her with a curious expression.
Grimacing at my casual attitude, she spat out in a low voice.
"Drinking with a bastard like you."
"...Lady Aran."
"..."
My voice dropped to a calm, low register.
Lady Aran flinched, staring at me with a startled expression.
Perhaps she had developed some sort of trauma since that night.
Yet, my face wore the same pleasant smile as always.
"Lady Aran, you attempted to poison the Princess. Is that correct?"
"That was..."
Lady Aran found herself at a loss for words.
As I stared at her calmly, she averted her eyes and muttered an excuse.
"If it weren't for you, I would have succeeded..."
"Regardless of whether you succeeded, it was an act of treason against the Empire. Am I wrong?"
"..."
Unable to refute my words, Lady Aran cast her gaze downward.
A heavy silence settled over the carriage for a moment.
Watching the shadow fall over her eyes, I spoke again.
"Even if you had succeeded, do you truly believe you would have survived? No. Even with the Princess dead, the Emperor still rules. You would have been caught and dragged to the gallows."
"No, I wouldn't have."
"What do you take the Empire for, Aran? The price for turning your back on it, blinded by jealousy, is nothing but death. Instead of accepting that with grace, are you going to keep throwing tantrums like a child?"
Lady Aran shook her head blankly, as if trying to brainwash herself into disbelief.
I watched as her composure slowly crumbled under my words.
Sighing, I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I am offering you a chance. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redeem the mistake you made when you were blinded by jealousy."
"Hawin... I can't trust your words..."
"And what of it? The world is merciless. It remains cold no matter how much you weep and plead. Others aren't even given a choice."
"..."
Her shoulders trembled at my words.
Overwhelmed by the weight of her emotions, Lady Aran hung her head and buried her face in her hands.
A sheltered noble lady who has probably never heard such harsh truths in her entire life.
I wondered briefly if I had pushed her too hard, but I simply offered a bitter smile.
"If you choose to be evil, be evil to the end. If you choose to be good, be good to the end. You must acknowledge and accept everything. Well... I shall stop meddling now."
"Is it true?"
"...What are you referring to?"
A brief silence stretched between us once more.
Lady Aran bit her lip hard.
After agonizing over something for a long moment, she finally spoke with difficulty.
"That this is a chance to redeem my mistake."
Lady Aran lifted her head, a look of resolve in her eyes.
Her voice came out hesitant.
Though she couldn't bring herself to look me in the eye, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor, a sharp venom had returned to her eyes.
"Indeed it is."
I smiled warmly.
The Warp Gate.
While a carriage is the first thing that comes to mind for long-distance travel, the Warp Gate is a close second.
Of course, it costs an astronomical sum, to the point where only the wealthiest merchants, high nobles, and royalty can afford to use it.
The distance from the Imperial Capital to the West is immense. To cross it in the blink of an eye requires a truly unimaginable amount of mana.
But luckily for us, we had the ever-reliable Aran.
"My own money...? Is this why you told me to bring all my funds?!"
Lady Aran stared blankly at the Warp Gate, as if unable to comprehend the situation.
She whipped her head around and shrieked at me.
The look she gave me was filled with a profound sense of betrayal, as if she had been stabbed in the back by someone she trusted.
I calmly processed the payment.
"If we paid with imperial funds, it would arouse suspicion. Just think of it as a generous donation."
"A donation of this size? What on earth is wrong with you..."
Lady Aran massaged her temples, sighing in disbelief at my sheer audacity.
After talking for a few hours in the carriage, we had grown somewhat closer.
We could actually hold a decent conversation now. Since we were partners in treason this time, we needed to be in perfect sync.
"Don't forget, we need to act like siblings."
"Siblings, my foot. Are you going to call me 'sister' then?"
"Hmm? Little sister?"
When Lady Aran clicked her tongue and retorted testily, I cupped my hand to my ear and teased back.
Her face flushed bright red.
"Who is your little sister?!"
"Ah, right, right. My mistake. You can just call me 'brother' then."
Smiling brightly, I stepped in front of the Warp Gate.
I extended my hand and waited. When traveling together, we had to hold hands. Otherwise, there was a risk of being separated or thrown off course.
Lady Aran glared at my hand with disgust, clearly loath to touch it.
"Hold hands with you? I'd rather die."
"Then feel free to die?"
"...You absolute bastard. Go to hell."
"No need to go anywhere, this place is already hell."
Clinging to whatever pride she had left, Lady Aran snorted and finally took my hand.
She must have been nervous about the Warp Gate, as her palm was slick with cold sweat.
I let out a soft chuckle, my lips curving upward in a smirk.
"Are you nervous?"
"No!"
"Then that is fine. Relax, and hold on tight."
Her anxiety showing no signs of fading, Lady Aran watched the gate activate with tense eyes.
She squeezed my hand with a death grip.
It hurt. Quite a lot, actually.
For someone who was far from a warrior type, where did she get this kind of strength?
"If you squeeze that hard..."
"You told me to hold—! Huh?"
BOOM!
The moment she let out a confused gasp, the gate activated.
The world flashed white.
"Hmm..."
Kalupen furrowed his brow in displeasure as he read the message delivered by the carrier pigeon.
I am heading to the West accompanied by Lady Aran.
Lady Aran and I possess information to sell to the Nine Kingdoms, and I have also uncovered a secret regarding the Princess.
The rest of the letter was filled with praise directed at Kalupen himself.
...Why now, of all times?
The suddenness of the message was suspicious enough.
But what bothered him most was that he was bringing Lady Aran. Of course, Kalupen knew that Hawin had coaxed Aran to his side, but still...
"Hahaha! Is something bothering you?"
Aletz von Rein, the Margrave of the West, laughed boisterously and slapped him on the back.
He raised an eyebrow, casting a curious glance as if asking what the problem was.
Two beautiful women clung to Rein's sides.
As a border region, the West should have been struggling with a severe lack of funds.
But the Nine Kingdoms had provided ample support.
The Nine Kingdoms were truly formidable.
They spared no expense in backing those who would lead the new era.
Rein had also read the political winds quickly and aligned himself with the Nine Kingdoms.
His ambition was far too grand to be wasted on a decaying Empire.
It was only natural.
Above all, his decision to approach the young, loyal minister Kalupen showed excellent foresight.
This Empire is corrupt. I must be the one to change it.
Kalupen shook his head dismissively and showed him the letter.
"A man named Hawin is coming."
"Oh, I know him! Isn't he the fellow you praised so highly? I heard he caused quite a stir recently as well."
Rein chuckled, speaking with a grin.
The beauties beside him giggled in agreement.
Kalupen nodded.
There is still cause for suspicion.
While it made sense for a clever young man like Hawin to align with the Nine Kingdoms, the circumstances were somewhat suspicious.
Kalupen poured a glass of wine for Rein.
"To the Nine Kingdoms."
He offered the glass with a warm, friendly smile.
Rein took the wine, clinking his glass with a broad grin.
Clink.
"And to myself. Cheers!"