Chapter 74, Let Me Ask Just One Thing (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

At first, Arsene thought he had opened his eyes immediately after closing them.

 

It was night when he arrived at Allan’s house and fell asleep, and it was still night when he woke up. Yet, it felt strange that his body was refreshed as if he had not just woken up.

 

So, after spending some time blankly trying to figure out the situation, Arsene realised that it was earlier than before he fell asleep. He barely managed to realise that he had spent an entire day sleeping and woke up when night came again. In short, he had slept for more than twenty hours!

 

*Growl.*

 

As his consciousness returned, his empty stomach rumbled with hunger.

 

Since Kalian had conveyed his order and Allan had gone to the Royal Palace without waking the sleeping Arsene. Arsene, who had the luxury of waking up groggy only when night fell again, could freely shuffled out of the room without disturbance.

 

The lights in the house were on, but there was no sign of anyone. After hesitating for a moment, Arsene found a few egg-like things in Allan’s kitchen and cracked them into a plate. Then, he created a small flame at his fingertip and ‘cooked’ them.

 

Soon, Arsene began to eat that haphazardly prepared food, which lacked even salt, paired with untoasted bread. It tasted quite inadequate, but what more could Arsene do when he could not even distinguish whether what he was eating was chicken eggs or duck eggs?

 

*Clunk.*

 

Steaming chicken stew was placed in front of Arsene. Intoxicated by the very fragrant aroma, he stared at the stew while a voice resembling nagging was heard.

 

“Even the Warriors of the Great Dunes don’t eat like that, mister.”

 

“Ah… Thank you.”

 

It was Veronica, Allan’s granddaughter.

 

Veronica, who was even more mature than the sixteen-year-old Hina, had declared that now that they were closer, it was time to speak to each other informally. And she was treating Arsene comfortably like that. Besides the fact that Arsene was exactly twice her age, there was not much of an issue with this.

 

“Don’t thank me, thank my grandfather. He told me not to go anywhere and to take care of you.”

 

Although it had been well over a month since he had known Veronica, the word ‘grandfather’ still felt unfamiliar. It was because Arsene was not yet accustomed to the fact that Allan, who looked younger than Arsene, had a granddaughter, or the sight of her casually calling such a young-looking Allan ‘grandfather’.

 

“He said you look like you’re about to starve to death while collapsed in deep sleep.”

 

But she was indeed his granddaughter.

 

“He said you absolutely must not go out of the house, that if you need anything, just tell me and I’ll help you.”

 

Arsene nodded his head while taking a spoonful of stew.

 

Veronica sat next to him and picked up one of the duck eggs Arsene had cooked. Afterward, she spat out what was in her mouth, greatly amazed at Arsene’s ‘cooking’ skills that had created a bizarre taste despite merely putting the eggs over fire.

 

Muttering that it was not that bad, Arsene asked.

 

“Did he happen to mention why I shouldn’t go out?”

 

Arsene still did not know why he should not go out. He had come here as instructed, but he still wanted to hear the reason. Veronica nodded her head and answered, what she had heard from Allan.

 

“He said the Queen would be looking for you. He said that besides the Royal Palace, there’s no safer place than here, so don’t ask any more questions and just stay here.”

 

[Ah.] Although not perfectly, Arsene, who had adequately understood Kalian’s intention, repeatedly nodded his head. Then, he began to eat the chicken stew placed in front of him once more.

 

What could be done if the Queen was looking for him?

 

Thanks to that, Arsene, who was about to get a good rest, grinned.

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

Marquis Evan Beurisen grabbed his head, which was not even aching, after hearing what his butler had delivered.

 

Before he could even grasp the absurd rumor about his involvement in Gray’s injury, another problem had arisen.

 

‘There’s another strange rumor circulating, Marquis.’

 

Although it was not Kalian’s intention, one more unfavourable news about Evan had spread. The reason was that Arsene Hertz, the Deputy Commander of the Valkan Mage Order, had been attacked on his way home and his whereabouts were unknown.

 

There were testimonies from Arsene’s coachman and Kyrie, who ‘had followed behind to deliver a message to Arsene,’ and the ten corpses sprawled along the Senu River served as evidence. All were Knights of the Beurisen Marquis Family.

 

The wounds on the bodies were so varied that the body with a cleanly severed neck mixed among them did not receive much attention. People thought that if one could impale a person with an ice spear, one could also make an ice blade to cut off a neck.

 

In short, ‘Marquis Beurisen has kidnapped Arsene Hertz this time!’

 

Thus, such a rumor was born.

 

Ironically, Lannen’s affair, which Evan had directly handled, was not given much attention. Yet stories about Evan being involved in Gray’s matter, and even Arsene’s affair, whom he didn’t even know, continued to spread.

 

As luck would have it, that afternoon, attention was drawn because Rmain mentioned Arsene. Anyone who was not a fool would know that Rmain had created Valkan in response to the Beurisen. Furthermore, just as the founding of Valkan was announced, Arsene disappeared, and there were corpses of Beurisen Knights at the scene.

 

Even Evan himself thought, [Isn’t this a situation where I would naturally be suspected?]

 

“I’ve been informed that the Caera Knights will be visiting this afternoon regarding this matter.”

 

“To openly investigate a Marquis’ residence. His Majesty must be convinced that I’ve interfered with his Mage Order…”

 

It was one predicament after another.

 

[There’s the issue with Gray as well. Nothing good will come about from confronting His Majesty right now.] Thinking this, Evan eventually nodded his head and answered.

 

“Alright. Guide them respectfully when they arrive.”

 

As he spoke, Evan deeply frowned. It was because he remembered a particular scoundrel who had become the source of this trouble.

 

“By the way, for what reason did Tayle get involved with that man?”

 

At the deeply subdued voice, the butler standing in front of Evan answered in a cautious tone.

 

“I heard Tayle visited the Royal Palace that day. Perhaps the Queen summoned him?”

 

Although he asked carefully with the phrase ‘perhaps,’ it was surely the reason. Unless Sillike had summoned him, there was no way for a Knight of a disbanded Knight Order to enter the Royal Palace.

 

“Sillike… Sillike again?”

 

She had joined hands with Lannen and done something stupid, leaving a wound on the Family that had yet to heal, and now she was starting to push her father into a pit. Why on earth did she arbitrarily use the Family’s Knights and cause this much trouble!?

 

Soon, Evan stood up and said.

 

“I’m going to the Royal Palace right now.”

 

“Are you planning to confront the Queen?”

 

At those words, anger flashed in Evan’s eyes.

 

“Do you want to see me kill my own child with my own hands!?”

 

Currently, Evan was so angry that he did not know what he might do if he met Sillike. The butler, realizing he had misspoken due to the terrifying aura rising from each and every word, hastily bowed.

 

“I apologize, Marquis.”

 

“… I will meet the Prince.”

 

“Are you referring to Prince Plants?”

 

“Then what else would I do? Meet Randel or Kalian now?”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

It was unexpected that Evan would meet Plants directly, but it was not for the butler to ask why. Therefore, the butler simply bowed once more and answered that he would prepare quickly.

 

* * *

 

Kalian was looking at the sky filled with dark clouds.

 

[The date for the hunting competition has been set. It’s this Saturday, three days from now. But, if it rains heavily and the ground becomes too moist, it will most likely be postponed.]

 

When hunting was mentioned during dinner with the Princes, there was no particular opposition to Rmain’s opinion to hold the hunting competition that had been canceled last spring. After selecting a date over several days and confirming the date, the sky clouded over as if such plans were a lie.

 

Kalian, who needed to meet the Nobles of the Knight Families as soon as possible, let out a small sigh.

 

[It shouldn’t rain at this time. But then again, wasn’t the spring hunting competition also canceled due to heavy rain?]

 

Come to think of it, ‘rain’ has blocked Kalian’s path quite often.

 

Lannen was cleared with money, and Gray was cleared with a club.

 

[Then what should one do to clear the sky that needlessly brings rain?] While looking out the window and thinking such unproductive thoughts, a low voice reached Kalian’s ears.

 

“Is older brother going to join the hunt?”

 

Because he was just thinking about hunting, Kalian almost opened his mouth to answer that he would.

 

Barely closing his mouth and escaping from his thoughts, Kalian glanced at Plants, who had just asked the question. Randel also glanced at Plants before answering.

 

“I don’t plan to go.”

 

Randel does not know why this hunting competition was being arranged so urgently. He would probably think it was just Rmain inviting others to a hunt he was planning to go with Plants.

 

Since it would be no different from a gathering Rmain had arranged for Plants, Randel chose not to attend. Moreover, hunting did not match his taste.

 

“It would be good for you to get some fresh air from time to time.”

 

Seeing Plants urging once more, Kalian laughed inside. It was not because he really wanted Randel to be there, but because he knew Randel would not come.

 

Randel answered in an indifferent voice.

 

“Thank you for your concern.”

 

Whether it was the one expressing concern or the one thanking for the concern, finding sincerity in their words would be quicker than finding humanity in Sillike.

 

As Kalian ate his meal quietly while listening to the conversation between his two brothers, Randel’s gaze fell on him.

 

“I heard the Deputy Commander of Valkan has gone missing. You must be very worried.”

 

Kalian raised his head to look at Randel.

 

‘You’re bringing up the Mage Order now, which you’ve shown no interest in?’

 

It was not about how Kalian would be worried due to his personal relationship with Arsene. Despite knowing that Valkan and Kalian had no connection, he deliberately singled out Kalian to ask if he was worried about the ‘Deputy Commander.’

 

Soon, Kalian thought of Arsene, who had disappeared two days ago and was still comfortably sleeping and answered.

 

“Since he was someone I became quite familiar with during the Roselita, I am concerned. But, I think His Majesty and my Master would be far more worried than me.”

 

This should be a good enough answer. Because it was an answer that did not help Randel at all.

 

Randel stared at Kalian for a while and then nodded.

 

“I see.”

 

Kalian ate some salad to hide his deepening thoughts.

 

Until leaving for the Roselita, the atmosphere was not this bleak. Whether there was conversation or not, there was not this game of watching each other’s moves at the dining table.

 

[It used to be just an exchange of greetings or chatter about the weather without any sincerity.]

 

Whether it was because Kalian had become an adult or because Plants had stopped drinking and started dressing properly, he could not tell. However, it was clear that Randel was gradually showing a change of heart.

 

Kalian had another unproductive thought, that perhaps Plants had invited him for breakfast because he did not want to handle such a Randel alone. With such thoughts, Kalian was the first to leave the dining room after he finished his meal.

 

“The messenger bird should have arrived by now, right?”

 

He was referring to Kalian’s letter sent to the border, and Ian, who approached from the side, answered.

 

“Yes, it should have arrived yesterday afternoon.”

 

“I see. Then.”

 

Kalian, who nodded at Ian’s words, opened his mouth to say something.

 

“Stop.”

 

But he suddenly closed his mouth and stopped his feet.

 

Kalian’s eyes gazed into the distance beyond the wall.

 

It was because he felt a very interesting battle of auras was beginning outside Chermil Palace.

 

Boundless terror and killing intent were being unleashed, measuring each other.

 

In Cyriesus, there were only two people besides Kalian who could emit such ferocious auras. Thus, Kalian smiled and muttered.

 

“I wonder why my Master is so angry?”

 

“Lord Manasil? Angry?”

 

Ian, standing beside him, made an expression as if to ask what he was talking about.

 

Kalian smiled as if it was nothing and answered.

 

“I’ll be on the terrace, so please prepare some tea for me.”

 

It was a battle of wills between Allan Manasil and Evan Beurisen.

 

Wouldn’t it be proper to leisurely watch these two great figures face each other and growl?