Ghost of the Divine Tree (4)
He squinted at the dazzling sunlight streaming in, realizing it was morning.
Eunhyeon sat up automatically, got out of bed, and began his preparations. After washing his hair, face, and brushing his teeth, he changed clothes and headed to the living room to make breakfast.
He heated the griddle with a magic tool, melted a pat of butter, placed slices of bread on top, and cracked an egg onto each one. A sprinkle of salt and pepper for simple seasoning, and when the bottoms of the bread turned golden brown, he flipped them, added slices of ham and cheese, and used a single-digit fire spell to melt the cheese.
Transferring them to plates, he sliced them into bite-sized pieces with a knife, added a side of salad, warmed a cup of milk to the perfect temperature, and set everything on the table.
Just then, Illyana emerged from her room, yawning in her pajamas.
"Sleep well?"
"Nope."
Her eyes still heavy with sleep, she yawned through his morning greeting, then shot him a pouty glare in instant rejection. She was still stewing over how he'd teased her a bit the night before.
He suppressed a laugh at her attitude. Eunhyeon pulled out a chair, inviting her to sit. The steam and aroma rising from the food on the table wafted toward her face, stirring the appetite of Illyana, who had only just woken up.
"You think this'll make me forgive you?"
Perhaps because today's breakfast looked especially elaborate compared to usual, she took it as atonement for angering her last night. Illyana snorted at him, oblivious to her own faults. The very act of offering such tempting food to soothe her only made her more indignant.
Arms crossed, fork untouched, she made it clear she had no intention of letting it go yet.
"Nah, I know you better than that."
"Hmph."
Illyana snorted again but finally picked up her fork and started eating.
"We'll settle things tomorrow. Help me out a bit, yeah?"
Still sulking, she nodded reluctantly. She never let personal feelings interfere with official business. Though her expression screamed she wasn't thrilled about it.
"Heading to Riod's today."
"Didn't you go yesterday?"
"It was too late."
He could've gone if he'd really wanted to, but his conversation with Erin had eaten up hours. By then, it was already dawn—too late to visit Riod's mansion.
"Gotta ask him for some help too. He won't turn me down flat, right?"
"Hmph, that guy refusing you? No way. If you asked, he'd cut off the king's head for you."
"Hey, don't say that outside. I'd be the one losing my head for royal defamation."
After finishing breakfast with Illyana and cleaning up, Eunhyeon left the house straight for Riod's mansion.
"Hello."
As soon as he stepped out, a golden-haired girl waiting at the gate greeted him.
"Eira? What are you doing here at the entrance this early?"
"You said you'd visit yesterday, but you didn't, so Father sent me personally."
Eunhyeon swallowed his doubt about whether that was necessary, forcing a wry smile. Last night, as he'd left the library, Illyana had messaged ahead that he'd be coming, but he hadn't shown. Still, sending his own daughter this early to escort him felt excessive.
"Didn't expect you to come yourself. Figured Illyana passed the word along."
In truth, the investigation authority for this case had fallen to 'Riod Olivion,' captain of Artia, the kingdom's strongest knight order. Following the court nobles' meeting, Artia was tasked with fully unraveling the incident and recovering the embezzled funds.
With the Hersha family—centered on Lenion Hersha, the baronet at the heart of the embezzlement—all executed, fled, or missing, even Riod must be feeling frustrated, Eunhyeon figured.
"Um... Is Sir Eunhyeon stepping up like this because of Father's request?"
"Illyana asked me. Didn't even ask whose commission it was. Probably someone from the royal side anyway."
"Ah! The Black Witch..."
Eira looked surprised at first but nodded in understanding.
"Besides, that stubborn lion asking me for help on a big case like this? Hard to picture."
Eunhyeon tried imagining it and pictured Riod's face twisted in wounded pride. He chuckled. Eira gave a wry smile at his light jab at her father.
"I'll lend a hand anyway."
Eunhyeon smiled softly, and Eira beamed back happily. They boarded the prepared carriage, and it didn't take long to reach the marquis's mansion. Leading the way, Eira received greetings from the servants as they entered, and Eunhyeon followed.
"Welcome."
The marquis's wife, Terezia Olivion, was already waiting to greet him. Eunhyeon returned her courtesy with a smile.
"Sorry to drop by when things are so hectic."
"No, my husband is the one handling the hard work. I can only wait anxiously, hoping to be of some help to him."
Terezia accepted his apology with a smile, though she subtly gauged his reaction, carefully choosing her words. His youthful looks and demeanor had initially given her pause around her husband's friend, but Eunhyeon was someone who had helped her husband before and would again. She couldn't treat him lightly and pondered the right level of respect for the young man.
'I told her there's no need to be so formal...'
Eunhyeon thought it must still be tricky for her. Her long golden hair fell to her waist, with a single braid pulled from the center and draped down—an striking style. Even without jewels or ornate makeup, she exuded an air of refined elegance.
'How'd that gruff lion snag a woman like this?'
Riod and Terezia weren't the type to openly shower affection, but to Eunhyeon, they seemed perfectly matched, caring deeply for each other—like lovebirds in their own way. A couple who looked out for one another in every sense. He smirked inwardly, thinking his friend had scored well with women.
"Is your visit today related to the case my husband is investigating?"
Eunhyeon snapped back to attention at Terezia's question, nodding as if nothing had been on his mind.
"I'll take you to him. He's waiting."
"Thank you."
Eunhyeon bowed in gratitude for her kindness. Guided by the marquis's wife to the study, he knocked and entered.
"You're here."
The brown-haired man at the desk, reviewing documents, welcomed him. One of the great heroes who had ended the continental allied war against the Mirvabilla Empire twenty years ago—and Eunhyeon's comrade—Riod Olivion.
"You're too good for him, really."
"Can't argue there."
Instead of a greeting, Eunhyeon teased lightly, praising Terezia who had escorted him so courteously. Riod agreed with a wry smile. After the Arkena Great War with Mirvabilla ended and he'd faced the reality of Eunhyeon's death—the man he'd trusted and relied on— he'd fallen into listlessness and despair. It was Terezia who had pulled him out and pushed him to his current position. Without her, could he have become Pernias Kingdom's strongest knight, fathered children, and lived as he did?
"Straight to business?"
"Yeah."
Riod explained that his knight order was tracking Elvin, who had apparently stolen the gold Lenion had embezzled and was now on the run. The most shocking revelation: Lenion, reported executed, had been found assassinated in his prison cell. Discovered by a patrolling guard mere hours after incarceration—three at most—leaving Riod and Artia in chaos. While tracing the gold, they'd caught wind of Elvin fleeing north and begun pursuit. That was the current status.
"That Elvin guy's a mage, right?"
"Second-year in the court mage corps, Meigers."
"Hmm, a commoner joining that elite group. Must be pretty skilled."
"Decent enough. Word is he's on the cusp of upper digits."
"Whoa, at his age?"
Digit Magic Ranks denoted mages' levels, from one to ten digits. Even reaching five digits put one in the top ten percent of all mages on the continent. Elvin, young as he was, had nearly attained that realm.
"Alright, heard it all. Good intel. Now, I've got a favor to ask."
"What?"
"Need to hook a big one. Bait required."
"Hm?"
"Your daughter. Mind if I borrow her?"
"...Huh?"
Riod blinked at Eunhyeon's request, uncomprehending at first. But it didn't take long to catch on.
"Heh, for that? Sure, anytime."
Eunhyeon was the surprised one at Riod's ready agreement. What father would throw his child into danger? But Riod thought differently.
"Personally, I don't want her becoming a knight. After seeing your work, I've realized the dangers again. I hope she'll quit."
"..."
"Plus, you wouldn't let anything really hurt her. It'll be a good lesson in reality. Teach her a bit about the world."
"Not my place to say as the one asking, but you raise her like such a tomboy. She's got that fresh, pretty look—who'd want her turning into a muscle hunk like you?"
"I opposed her becoming a knight. But if she's joining my order anyway, a taste of reality's for the best. You'll prepare everything, so no real danger, right?"
"Well, yeah..."
Eunhyeon nodded.
"She's a friend's daughter, after all. Won't let her get a single scratch. As her 'uncle,' should I slip her some pocket money?"
"Ha."
They didn't look that far apart in age—friends or siblings might pass, but who else would talk like that? Riod snorted inwardly.
"So, where are we headed?"
With her father's ready permission, Eira followed Eunhyeon out of the marquis's mansion under his orders. Her mother Terezia, briefed on the plan, had looked displeased to the end but didn't protest her husband's decision. She worried about deliberately putting her child in danger to force growth through adversity.
"Adventurers' guild."
"The guild? Why there?"
"Eira, ever been fishing?"
"No?"
"Old saying goes: Fish get caught not because of the angler or the rod, but the bait on the hook."
"So, the bait matters more than skill or gear?"
"Exactly. We're going to lay out some bait."
"And you called me 'bait' to Father earlier..."
"Yep. So, listen up—here's what you need to do from now on."