Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Denial (7)
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In the makeshift conference room of the northern hall, not only the conference participants but also countless knights, clerks, servants, and workers had gathered to watch.
"You've been through a lot. Above all, I'm relieved you're safe. You must want to rest, but we don't have much time."
He opened his pocket watch to check the time.
It was around noon. I roughly guessed.
"I've heard reports about what happened here, but hearing it directly from you should be the most accurate. We've already heard from Clemence and Wedin about how you escaped the fortress..."
The White Guard Knight's gaze turned to Clemence and Wedin standing beneath the pillar.
Clemence offered a slight smile, while Wedin wore a tense expression.
"Tell me everything from the moment Barkus mutated into a demon up to what happened by the river."
"...Yes."
I took a short deep breath and began my story from the moment Barkus opened the red flower box.
When I mentioned that a family knight had swung his sword at Barkus's back, Duke Lesis glared at me with blazing eyes.
But he didn't say anything right away.
When I explained that we had to kill Barkus after he turned into a demon by the riverbank, Duke Lesis finally threw a dagger.
"Well done. Very well done. As expected of a Prius mage."
It wasn't praise or surprise—it was sarcasm. My face hardened.
"Duke Lesis. Liberic made the correct judgment and took appropriate action given the situation. Please stop mocking him pointlessly."
Father stepped forward, staring straight at Duke Lesis with sharp eyes filled with anger.
"I'm sorry, Jayden. Let me apologize on his behalf."
The White Guard Knight let out a deep sigh.
Father's expression softened a bit, but Duke Lesis clicked his tongue and added one more remark unnecessarily.
"I meant it as a compliment. If you see that kid take down all the Gatras by himself, you might even mistake who the demon is..."
Thud.
Duke Lesis's reckless remark cut off abruptly with a dull impact sound.
The White Guard Knight had punched him squarely in the jaw.
Duke Lesis's body toppled backward from the swift, precise strike.
"Ozric!"
As the attendees gasped, the duchess let out a short scream and rushed to his side.
Duke Lesis had passed out cold.
The duchess embraced his limp body and glared at the White Guard Knight with eyes full of fury.
"What do you think you're doing! Just because he's your son?!"
"I couldn't stand by and watch your husband insult my son any longer."
The White Guard Knight's calm words echoed heavily through the hall.
"Evela, if you want to stay by his side, leave with him. If you want to attend the meeting with proper etiquette, stay."
The duchess glared at the White Guard Knight with a resentful face but ultimately chose to remain in the conference room.
She intended to push their agenda somehow.
After two Prius knights carried the unconscious Duke Lesis out, the meeting resumed in a much calmer atmosphere.
"So, Evela. Was your plan to pin all the blame on Barkus and the Court Sorcerer?"
The duchess bit her lip at the White Guard Knight's question.
Since Duke Lesis had been carried out unconscious, she seemed to feel she had no one left to support her here.
"It wasn't a plan—it was the truth. Barkus really was a demon. An enemy of Prius."
"We can handle our own enemies."
The White Guard Knight shot a sharp glance at the duchess.
"What I'm wondering is... Evela, are you and your husband our enemies? You kidnapped my granddaughter, our delegation's mage, and the holy sorcerer."
At the question of whether they were Prius's enemies, all eyes turned to the duchess.
"No, that's not true!"
The duchess denied it vehemently, her face paling.
Everyone present except the duchess and Sir Jenard belonged to Prius.
The shadow-like maids were gone, and the shield-like family knights were absent.
Standing alone, the duchess shrank under the piercing gazes.
"Enemies? Please don't say that. We—I was just... cornered."
"Then apologize."
"Pardon?"
The duchess asked again as if she hadn't heard properly.
The White Guard Knight pointed at me, Clemence, and Wedin.
"An apology won't absolve everything. As nobles of Lesion, we'll formally protest all your actions to the Lesion Kingdom and have them handled according to kingdom law. But above all, a proper apology comes first."
"...I understand."
In that brief moment, the duchess seemed to finish some calculation in her mind.
Her expression suddenly composed itself and calmed.
Her glance swept over us, carrying little genuine remorse.
"I'm truly sorry for putting you through this... I was so cornered that no other solution came to mind. I'm also deeply sorry to everyone else for causing this commotion."
Having finished speaking, the duchess's face flushed with humiliation.
Even if her words lacked sincerity, bending her pride to say them must have been no small feat for her.
"We could have died."
As Wedin and I struggled to find words, Clemence spoke up, her face angry and her hands clenched tightly.
"My friends and I could have died too. You tried to use us to get what you wanted, and all you say is sorry? If Barkus hadn't been dragged here, none of this would have happened...!"
Clemence's body trembled faintly as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"Clemence."
I moved closer to soothe her. Wedin placed a hand on her shoulder as well.
"C-Clemence. There was no danger."
The duchess's voice trembled.
She looked utterly flustered, as if she hadn't anticipated Clemence crying.
"Your father said he'd cleaned everything up. That he'd keep you three safe and take you to the capital. I never dreamed the Gatras would appear, or that Barkus would turn into a demon..."
"Isn't a ruined city that hasn't even been rebuilt dangerous? Wedin and Lib only came here because of me—what if something had happened...?"
As Clemence burst into sobs, the duchess fell silent.
Her outstretched hand toward her daughter trembled without reaching.
"Wedin, I'm sorry, but could you take Clemence outside? Some fresh air might help her calm down."
The White Guard Knight, who had been watching the scene with pity, spoke up.
Wedin nodded in agreement and gently led Clemence out.
Before leaving, our eyes met briefly, and Wedin gave a small nod as if to say not to worry.
"So, what were you planning to do with Barkus?"
After Clemence and Wedin left the hall, I asked the duchess.
She had been staring after Clemence with distraught eyes but finally turned to look at me.
"Take him prisoner and hand him over for a noble trial. Most of the council nobles are on our side, so ousting the Court Sorcerer would be no issue..."
"Even if we revealed the truth, it wouldn't stick."
"Prius is allied with the Lesion Kingdom, but you can't interfere in internal politics."
Sir Jenard followed up on the White Guard Knight's words, stroking his chin with a grave expression.
"This incident... as the one responsible for the delegation's safety, it's a grave failure on my part."
Sir Jenard's stern face met mine directly. His upright gaze felt piercing.
"Though it was an urgent situation, I deeply apologize for endangering the delegation members. I'll take full responsibility for my part and actively assist wherever I can."
Sir Jenard's apology carried far more sincerity than the duchess's—enough for everyone present to feel it equally.
"Thank you, Sir Jenard."
The White Guard Knight nodded lightly to him.
"As you said, Prius cannot meddle in Lesion Kingdom politics. We ask that you properly inform the kingdom of the truth."
"Of course... but I'm afraid my meager political standing won't be much help."
Sir Jenard replied with a small sigh.
In the end, it's a political matter.
The political feud between Duke Lesis and Prince Raymond had dragged things this far.
The White Guard Knight smiled and rose from his seat.
"That's fine—it's enough. I'm sick of getting entangled in Lesion politics any further, so let's get to Elgrace as quickly as possible and set everything straight.
Blue Guard Knight, when can we depart again? What's the situation?"
Father stroked his chin with a worried look.
"Many of the family knights are injured. If we take them all, we won't be able to move at full speed."
"We'll have to split up. Leave the injured to Grain."
"Understood."
"Then I'll hurry with preparations as well."
Sir Jenard excused himself first, saying he'd instruct the kingdom knights who came with him to prepare for departure.
Father, the White Guard Knight, Clerk Wilton, and the Silver Guard Knight began devising specific plans on how to divide the knights and delegation members.
There was no place for me to interject.
The same went for the duchess, who had been glancing toward the door Clemence left through ever since.
She finally seemed to realize how deeply she'd hurt Clemence this time.
"Evela, go check on Ozric. We'll depart right after lunch."
The duchess startled and turned at the White Guard Knight's voice.
"Ah, yes."
The White Guard Knight stared at her intently before speaking in a low voice.
"And... stay away from Clemence for the time being."
"...Yes."
The duchess nodded with a dark expression.
The White Guard Knight called knights over to escort the duchess to Duke Lesis's side.
After she left the hall, he issued orders to the rest.
"Blue Guard Knight, Clerk, prepare to depart after lunch. We'll have to ride without stopping until night, so make sure everyone eats heartily.
Lib, Silver Guard Knight, a word."
"Yes, White Guard Knight."
Father and Clerk Wilton dispersed in different directions after receiving their orders.
As Father passed by, he patted my shoulder as if to say good luck.
I followed the White Guard Knight with the Silver Guard Knight to a quiet corner of the hall.
The White Guard Knight perched casually on a table, and the Silver Guard Knight familiarly pulled up a chair to sit.
I hesitated before leaning against the opposite table.
The White Guard Knight thought for a moment before addressing me.
"I heard your story earlier, Lib. I called you aside like this for a somewhat confidential talk."
"Yes..."
Confidential talk. I could roughly guess what it was about.
The White Guard Knight glanced at the Silver Guard Knight, who nodded and spoke.
"I heard from the Blue Guard Knight about the Knot-Solver Key. And that Court Sorcerer Barkus summoned and controlled the Gatras."
The Silver Guard Knight said calmly.
"That's right. Barkus summoned the Gatras, and those touched by his mana mutated into black Gatras."
"If it's true he attacked the Hope Merchant Group targeting the Knot-Solver Key, and if the Court Sorcerer ordered it, we need to confirm their objective."
"Objective... to threaten the seal vault, perhaps?"
The Knot-Solver Key in my inner pocket suddenly felt heavier.
I clenched my fist to hide my anxiety.
The White Guard Knight groaned in deep thought.
"It could be. Barkus was controlling Gatras even before mutating into a demon. If the Court Sorcerer taught him magic, then she's either a demon or someone who can wield that power."
Both the White Guard Knight and I fell silent with serious expressions.
Was the Court Sorcerer after the sculptures inside the seal vault in Elgrace?