Chapter 244, Don’t Stop (6)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Lannen’s face contorted.

 

Dmirea frowned.

 

Soon Dmirea moved her arm behind her back and spread her palm. All fingers pressed together, extended straight. It was a Siegfried hand signal.

 

It meant, ‘standby’.

 

It meant to wait without attacking, but the reason for showing it was slightly different from usual.

 

‘Don’t act rashly in anger or charge forward. Wait.’

 

Lannen lowered his head.

 

Laughter was leaking through his contorted face. Very small, but unmistakable laughter escaped, as if he could not contain it.

 

A common occurrence among Nobles.

 

However, it was a situation the Knights who had spent long years in Siegfried had never experienced.

 

“Ah!”

 

A small exclamation flowed out like a whisper.

 

Having received news of Evan Beurisen’s death, Lannen was rejoicing.

 

That was why Dmirea ordered her men to standby.

 

She did so because she was concerned that the Knights, faced with a reaction they could never have imagined in Siegfried, might waver and draw their swords.

 

“Viscount Beurisen. Shouldn’t you first confirm whether my words are true?”

 

“Ah, yes indeed.”

 

He was so delighted, he could not help it.

 

Dmirea, who had been watching Lannen’s behavior, instructed something to a Knight behind her.

 

Soon, a corpse covered in different black cloth, not Kalian’s, was brought between Dmirea and Lannen. Lannen briefly opened the cloth to check Evan and frowned at the sight of the blood-soaked body.

 

Someone beside Lannen whispered in his ear. After hearing those words, Lannen firmly closed his mouth as if he would no longer let laughter escape.

 

“I’ve confirmed that my father was harmed under Siegfried’s blade.”

 

Instead, he said this, and the person who had just whispered to Lannen nodded.

 

Dmirea, thinking he must have placed someone capable of thinking on his behalf nearby, stared at Lannen and asked.

 

“To point at us immediately. Your judgment is too hasty.”

 

“While you people blocked the mansion, my father died. Who else would I suspect?”

 

“Your tongue is loose, Viscount Beurisen.”

 

“Speak properly, Lesser Duchess.”

 

[After all, I am now Marquis Beurisen!] Lannen, who had been about to add this with an excited face, suddenly opened his mouth as if something had occurred to him.

 

“Ah. Now that I think about it, there should have been a child. Where is she?”

 

“… A child, you say?”

 

“My daughter is in this place. I think she’s about 6 or 7 years old… around that age. Is she dead?”

 

A question asked as if it were nothing.

 

Dmirea had to spread her palm behind her back once again. She commanded ‘standby’ toward the Knights, and toward herself as well.

 

“Was there a young child in the mansion?”

 

And she said this as if searching her memory, creating time to think.

 

[Something is strange. But what is so strange?]

 

[There’s no reason for Marquis Beurisen to suddenly support the Viscount’s Merchant Guild activities. He hated it enough to threaten expulsion from the Family just for establishing a Merchant Guild with Beurisen funds, yet suddenly giving him a Viscountcy and fully supporting the Merchant Guild. This doesn’t make sense.]

 

[Since Lannen Beurisen cannot use a sword, perhaps he created a way for him to live. They are different from us. There are too many unclear points to think through.]

 

Then suddenly, she remembered a conversation between Seri and Ian from long ago. At the time, Dmirea had been too young to understand yet she remembered the entire long conversation. Strangely, in this situation, it came to mind.

 

That young girl Kalian had said would probably be Beurisen’s heir.

 

“I didn’t know the Viscount had a daughter. I didn’t even know he was married.”

 

“There’s no reason for the Lesser Duchess to concern yourself with my circumstances. So, was there really no child?”

 

It was not even known that Lannen was already married. So no one had thought Lannen would have children. He was not someone who would marry without rumors, so it was probably a child born before marriage.

 

[To think Evan made such an unexpected choice.]

 

The poor relationship between Gray Beurisen and Evan Beurisen.

 

Evan, who couldn’t make either Gray or Lannen his heir.

 

Gray Beurisen had also walked the path of the sword.

 

The fact that Evan did not want his children to walk the path of the sword was already well known. Not all Family heads who had led Beurisen had walked the path of the sword, so he simply hoped they would grow up moderately.

 

But Gray walked the path of the sword. Upon learning this, Evan made Gray a Count and drove him far away.

 

[Gray was said to have a son. I knew he was wary of Gray, but I didn’t know it was to the extent that rather than making Gray or Gray’s son his heir, he would bring Lannen’s hidden daughter and make her his heir. Enough to make him a Viscount and support a Merchant Guild in exchange for taking Lannen’s daughter and keeping it secret.]

 

Evan, who had shown such an averse reaction to Kalian’s Bloodline, was truly planning to make a child born in secret his heir. It was truly surprising.

 

[In that case, what became of the one who bore that child?] Dmirea, who briefly had this thought, slightly shook her head.

 

Even now, Lannen was not married. It was obvious what Beurisen, who had most reliably executed the most reliable method for maintaining secrecy, would have done.

 

Having finished her thoughts, speculation, and certainty, Dmirea made a decision.

 

“There was no child.”

 

She said this because she could not hand that child back to someone who had sold his own child and lived well up till now. Moreover, Lannen would soon…

 

“I see.”

 

Lannen, thinking he could find the child himself, nodded. Then he opened his mouth with a face that seemed to expect something.

 

“Anyway, those magnificent Elephants will also meet their end today.”

 

Dmirea said nothing else.

 

There were no corpses that died with their backs turned.

 

There were no ordinary servants among the corpses.

 

Only Evan Beurisen died from more than two attacks.

 

Even if the head was a bastard, they were people first of all, so Kalian had left alone those who fled, left alone the civilians, and killed only the Knights who charged at him and Evan. He let all the survivors escape the mansion. He must have worried that they would talk, yet he let them go.

 

That was why Dmirea had not drawn her sword until now. She had endured for the time being.

 

“Lesser Duchess.”

 

Then someone approached Dmirea’s side. It was Knight Yuran.

 

Without other words, Yuran gave Dmirea a slight look. Dmirea exhaled a soundless breath and nodded. A small smile lingered on her face.

 

She understood it meant Kalian had been safely extracted.

 

Which meant, in turn, that she no longer needed to listen to that bastard’s words.

 

“Lannen.”

 

Called only by his first name without title nor his Family name, Lannen’s face wrinkled.

 

“I will regard your statement as a dishonorable attempt to slander my Family with groundless evidence.”

 

Strength entered Dmirea’s fingertips.

 

She clenched her fist and showed it.

 

The Knights who had been lined up behind her all moved at once and spread out in a long line. Then they took a stance ready to draw their swords at any moment. Seeing the Knights in black chainmail who had completed their battle formation in an instant, Lannen unconsciously took a step back.

 

‘Thank you for helping, Dmirea. If you announce the Marquis’s death and scare him a little, Lannen will retreat on his own. I’ll handle the rest.’

 

Killing intent flowed from Dmirea.

 

Lannen didn’t feel it, but the private soldiers and Knights with him definitely did.

 

“Don’t kill anyone.”

 

“Yes, Lesser Duchess.”

 

“As long as you don’t kill them, I’ll allow you to cut wherever.”

 

“Yes. Lesser Duchess.”

 

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

 

As Ronankite answered, the Knights’ swords were all drawn at once with a cheerful sound. Lannen Beurisen’s face turned deathly pale.

 

Dmirea looked at Lannen.

 

With terribly angry grayish blue eyes looking at Lannen, Dmirea opened her mouth with a growl.

 

“I will face Lannen Beurisen alone.”

 

*Clang!*

 

A silver sword was drawn.

 

* * *

 

[What light green thing? The color of my eyes?]

 

[What round and fresh? Can you even taste it? Is it sweet or tasteless?]

 

[*Haa…* I shouldn’t have come…]

 

“Um…”

 

[‘What the hell did that crazy younger brother just attach to me?’ If I say that…]

 

[The Knights who were speculating about the meaning of that bastard’s babbling would become certain. Seeing how urgently they’re turning their heads, it seems already quite late, but if I even get angry here, there’s no way to turn back. It even became rumored that I can’t eat green peppers and raw onions, so this can’t go any further.]

 

[Let’s just pretend I didn’t hear it.]

 

Plants, who had finished thinking a bit faster than when he received the poison pouch, closed his mouth that had been open and squeezed his eyes shut then opened them.

 

As if this was the only opportunity, Plants looked at his younger brother who had barked with literally all his might as soon as they met, then passed out with a face like someone who had accomplished the great task of a lifetime, looking completely insane, and briefly looked at the sky.

 

… All the stars dotting the sky seemed to look like peas, so he gave up and looked ahead again.

 

After all.

 

[Who would be angry at whom?] Having this thought, Plants finally let out a short sigh and brushed off his emotions.

 

The one person who must have heard Kalian say such things all along acted as if he had heard nothing.

 

Kyrie.

 

In fact, it would be correct to say he had no mind to react.

 

Kyrie supported Kalian and placed him on Raven’s saddle with a touch like placing a baby bird that had fallen from a tree back in its nest. Raven, who had bent his knees to help Kalian mount well, made a purring sound.

 

Plants, keeping his gaze on Kalian, said.

 

“Cover him before you go, since there are many watchful eyes.”

 

Speculating who was slumped over Raven and seeing with one’s own eyes and being certain it was Kalian were completely different matters, weren’t they? Moreover, although the Nobles had all closed their gates, it was certain there would be more intelligence agents than usual to serve as their eyes and ears.

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

Instead of saying he had already planned to do so, Kyrie gave a short answer and tried to remove his own robe, but Plants frowned slightly.

 

“It would be better if you also weren’t so visibly exposed.”

 

“I came out in a hurry and didn’t prepare anything else.”

 

Delaying time here would do Kalian no good. Therefore, Plants, as if there was nothing more to consider, unfastened his cloak and handed it to Kyrie.

 

Neither Plants nor Kyrie knew that there were about two more spare pitch-black robes that could be used at any time in the bag tied to Raven’s saddle.

 

A pure white cloak with gold embroidery.

 

Kyrie, who received it without other words and covered Kalian with it, opened his mouth.

 

“Please ride my horse to where Prince Plants’ horse is. I will escort you together.”

 

Instead of nodding or mounting a horse, Plants gave orders to the Knights who came with him.

 

“Five remain. The rest return with Prince Kalian.”

 

The ten Knights corresponding to ‘the rest’ bowed their heads slightly. Kyrie asked with a bewildered face.

 

“Why are you dividing up the Knights?”

 

Plants looked at Kalian slumped over Raven, then, filled with the earnest wish ‘please open your eyes even for a moment and listen to my words,’ spoke at length.

 

“My younger brother is so weak like that. As his older brother, I cannot send such a younger brother without an escort.”

 

Kyrie, who had forcibly dismissed the feeling of having somehow gotten caught up in what seemed like two children grabbing each other’s hair and fighting over something trivial after competing in strength, looked at Plants.

 

“Are you not planning to return immediately, Prince Plants?”

 

Plants only nodded without words.

 

Kyrie, who had been looking at Plants in an outfit as if he had come here confidently from the beginning with no intention of covering his face, asked again in a subdued voice.

 

“May I ask why you came here?”

 

“Killing two birds with one stone.”

 

Plants, who had uttered words Kalian would really like, turned his head and spoke in a low voice.

 

“To retrieve what is mine.”

 

Below the hill where the light green eyes’ gaze reached, a massive mansion was sunk in silence.

 

* * *

 

Overwhelming.

 

Though dressed like Knights, they had been private soldiers, not Beurisen Knights from the start.

 

Meanwhile, on the other side, there had only been Siegfried’s Elite Knights from the start.

 

After Yuran went down.

 

In the short time after Plants, who had climbed the hill, sent Kalian to the Royal Palace, the suppression of Beurisen’s soldiers was completed.

 

The number of Beurisen’s soldiers was far greater, and all were holding swords, but it was useless. Every swing was blocked, and after being blocked, they lost their swords. They could not withstand even five strikes from the Siegfried Knights before dropping their swords. Or being cut.

 

The battle that erupted in an instant subsided in an instant. And Lannen had a completely terrified face while looking at a sword that had stopped precisely before his throat.

 

*Thud thud thwack!*

 

Three short strikes.

 

With those three heavy strikes, both ankles broke and he fell to his knees.

 

And with a *swish* sound, when he opened his eyes that had been tightly shut, a flashing silver blade was aimed at his throat.

 

“Situation cleared, Lesser Duchess.”

 

“Are there no escapees?”

 

“Yes. Confirmed no one escaped toward the hill or toward the road.”

 

Because it was too regrettable a situation to say good work to Lannen Beurisen, who seemed to have thought everyone was a Knight if dressed in Knight armor, Dmirea just nodded.

 

Soon, Dmirea turned her head back toward Lannen.

 

Lannen, in the midst of pain, pondered for a long while what he should say first: ‘did you think you would be safe even after this’, ‘did you forget who we are’, or ‘why are you all suddenly acting like this?’ Then, he finally decided on one thing and opened his mouth.

 

“Count Gray Beurisen won’t stay still after you’ve harmed Marquis Beurisen. He will bring an army here.”

 

“Whatever happens, you won’t be in this world anyway at that time, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

 

“Do you think you will be safe? The Royal Palace will definitely ask about the crime of this matter, Lesser Duchess.”

 

Dmirea just nodded. It was because she did not want to exchange words anymore.

 

Instead.

 

*Thunk!*

 

Something was thrown down in front of Lannen, conveying an answer in place of Dmirea.

 

“I don’t know who you mean is asking whom about crimes.”

 

A low, low voice directed toward Lannen.

 

What fell on the ground was a black pouch quite familiar to Lannen. It was always Lannen who prepared the poison, and such role division was no different this time either.

 

Lannen, with wide-open eyes, looked ahead and quickly picked up the pouch, trying to say something. But the words of the one who had just arrived came a bit faster.

 

“My younger brother said the Royal Palace shouldn’t intervene.”

 

Unfamiliar clothing.

 

A pure white jacket embroidered with gold thread, reaching down to the knees. Cyries’s emblem was engraved near his chest.

 

And…

 

A clear mark of Valkan engraved on one forearm, not on the back.

 

“Because I don’t listen well to my younger brother.”

 

He was now not the tedious Prince of every day.

 

Plants, who had come as Valkan’s Deputy Commander, was looking down at Lannen Beurisen.

 

Along with that,

 

*Kwaaaaang! Kwaaang! Kwang!*

 

A roar burst forth, shaking the earth.

 

The mansion began to burn.

 

As if to bury forever whatever had happened inside.