Chapter 78, I, To You (2)

Translator: Lizzz

Editor: Hedge

 

At the very time Kalian and Sillike faced off, Marquis Evan Beurisen surveyed his surroundings with piercing eyes.

 

A drop of blood fell from his tightly clenched fist, splashing audibly onto the floor.

 

An entire night.

 

He had spent an entire night in his bedroom, unable to leave.

 

The day before, Evan had confronted Allan at the Royal Palace, only to learn of Sillike’s betrayal. As a result, Evan had returned to his mansion in a very sensitive state.

 

He had barely managed to control his anger throughout the day, but then, unexpected visitors from Rmain had come.

 

It was the Caera Knights, the King’s Knights.

 

[Of all people, they sent the Caera Knights…]

 

Evan had not felt particularly pleased even when he had first heard that Knights from the Royal Palace were visiting. It was precisely because they were the Caera Knights, the elite force that only engaged with individuals closely tied to the King’s welfare.

 

Rmain’s decision to send the Caera Knights in search of Arsene indicated that he believes the disappearance of the Valkan’s Deputy Commander was closely linked to the King’s safety. It also revealed the significance he placed on Valkan, which was not even officially established yet.

 

[This is clearly a show of power.]

 

By dispatching the Caera Knights to investigate Evan’s residence, Rmain was making a clear statement about the nature of Valkan and who it was intended to serve.

 

Knowing he was being used for such a calculated move made the arrival of the Caera Knights all the more unwelcome.

 

But the problem did not end there.

 

“We have received a royal command to search your mansion.”

 

Declared the Knight standing before Evan.

 

It was Ren Adrian, the captain of the Caera Knights.

 

But Ren did not even introduce himself.

 

He did not even show any courtesy to Evan.

 

Evan, who knew very well when Ren would adopt such a manner, responded in a voice filled with indignation.

 

“You! How dare you treat me like a common criminal? Do you know who I am!?”

 

Ren, wearing the expression reserved for criminals who had inflicted substantial harm on Rmain and necessitated Caera’s direct intervention, gave a curt reply.

 

“Royal command. That’s all.”

 

It was not just Ren who fostered this atmosphere. Every other Knight was fully armed, their expressions uniformly rigid.

 

Only then did Evan realize how gravely he had misjudged the situation.

 

The presence of the Caera Knights was not a mere ‘show of power.’ He had assumed they would simply ask a few questions and leave. But this was far more than that.

 

Ren gestured to the Knights.

 

He did not even bother seeking Evan’s permission.

 

At Ren’s signal, the Knights moved as one.

 

Though their goal was clearly to locate the Mage named Arsene Hertz, the way they searched the entire mansion made it seem as if they were hunting for a tiny coin rather than a person.

 

Unable to contain himself any longer, Evan let out a roar.

 

“Are you accusing me of hiding that Mage here!?”

 

Ren was unfazed by Evan’s fury. His response was as clipped and emotionless as ever.

 

“Go to your room and wait.”

 

With those words, two of the Knights standing behind Ren stepped forward. They then escorted Evan to his bedroom. Evan had to restrain himself from drawing his sword and cutting them down.

 

The interesting thing was that, in this situation,  Evan’s thoughts did not turn to Rmain, but to Sillike.

 

Sillike, who had allied herself with Gray.

 

Sillike, whose actions had embroiled Evan in strange and damaging rumors.

 

Sillike, who had betrayed him.

 

He could not even draw his sword against the treatment he had been dealt by the Caera Knights.

 

“I will never forget this day, Sillike.”

 

Evan muttered through clenched teeth.

 

The search concluded only on the following day.

 

This was due to the sheer size of Evan’s mansion and the unexpectedly thorough search carried out by Caera Knights.

 

The one saving grace for Evan was that they failed to uncover where he had hidden Lannen. The entrance to the basement, well-concealed with special devices, appeared to have escaped their attention.

 

“Confirmed nothing unusual. Rest.”

 

Ren stated curtly before turning on his heel.

 

When the Knights departed, all that remained for Evan was a mansion in disarray, and anger.

 

* * *

 

At the very time Evan was seething with anger.

 

Allan, his face set in a brooding scowl as he stared out the window, finally spoke.

 

“Is this truly meant for my benefit?”

 

He then rubbed his bloodshot eyes and let out a long yawn. Rmain, clicking his tongue at Allan’s increasingly indifferent demeanor, found his glasses on the desk and put them on before answering.

 

“Such grievances from someone so well-fed.”

 

He said and picked up a document to read. Allan continued.

 

“I’m just suspicious because they show no sign of returning.”

 

“Lord Adrian is known for his thoroughness.”

 

Right now, Allan was waiting for Ren, the Captain of Caera Knights.

 

More specifically, he was waiting for Ren to arrive, so he could return home.

 

“It’s not about being thorough. Shouldn’t we be worried that he might have died on the way?”

 

The previous afternoon, Allan had been quietly working in his office when he sensed more than half the Knights stationed around Rmain’s office slipping away. Surprised, Allan had made his way to Rmain’s office, only to hear the man said with composure,

 

“I’ve sent out the Caera Knights, so please watch my back until they return.”

 

After repeatedly unloading his responsibilities onto someone tasked merely with overseeing his son’s education, Rmain now tried to assign guard duty as well. Allan asked Rmain casually.

 

“Are you planning to demolish the Marquis’s house this time, Your Majesty?”

 

“I told you, it’s a search.”

 

“You did. But the number of Knights deployed seems more suited for tearing down a house than a simple search, don’t you think?”

 

“It’s a search with a warning. I’m also concerned about friction. If something happens to get broken in the process, so be it.”

 

Allan laughed.

 

“I didn’t know Your Majesty also knew how to vent your anger on someone.”

 

“Now you do.”

 

Of course Ren had left without knowing this, but Arsene was leisurely enjoying himself at Allan’s house. However, since Arsene was publicly considered missing, Rmain had initially thought of just playing along and ordered a search for Arsene.

 

But just before Caera departed, Rmain changed his mind and decided to send an overwhelming number of Knights to conduct a thorough search of the Marquis’s mansion. As Allan said, he was venting his anger.

 

There was only one reason for Rmain to vent his anger.

 

It was because of the heated exchange between Allan and Evan earlier in the day.

 

“Even though it is only a temporary position, you are now the Commander of Valkan. For him to treat you with such blatant disrespect, I felt it wouldn’t hurt to show what kind of army Valkan truly is. So, I made the ‘search’ a bit more intense.”

 

Under ordinary circumstances, Rmain would never have used a search mission as a thinly veiled warning to Evan. But things were different now, weren’t they? Therefore, Allan thought it would not be bad to let Rmain demonstrate that he had changed.

 

“Hmm… I understand. Since Your Majesty has personally taken steps to avenge me, I’ll stay here until the Knights return.”

 

He settled into Rmain’s sofa, waiting for Ren without saying anything more.

 

One hour passed, then two, and eventually the night passed as well.

 

Then morning came, but Ren still had not returned.

 

Just when Allan started to worry that Ren might be checking even the foundation stones of Evan’s mansion.

 

*Knock knock.*

 

Finally, Ren returned.

 

It was unclear what he had been searching for all night, but Ren entered looking somewhat weary and reported to Rmain.

 

“We couldn’t find Lord Hertz. I apologize.”

 

He then handed over a piece of paper with something written on it.

 

“We discovered that someone is imprisoned in the basement of the mansion. It appears to be Lannen Beurisen.”

 

True to his meticulous reputation, Ren had accessed the entrance to the secret passage, confirmed Lannen’s captivity, and restored the area to its original state. He had returned after finding out Lannen’s location without Evan knowing.

 

Whether this discovery would prove valuable was uncertain, but it was an unexpected gain nonetheless. Rmain thanked him for his effort and dismissed Ren.

 

“Did you say you were granted the title of Viscount in Liberen?”

 

Rmain asked Allan about his title in Liberen. Although it was a somewhat abrupt question, Allan nodded without much thought and answered.

 

“Wherever I go, I’m Archmage Allan Manasil. But yes, I hold the title of Baron in Secritia and Viscount in Liberen.”

 

Since he was not tied to any one country, various places tried to secure his allegiance by giving him titles.

 

Allan, who never really cared much about titles, added with a smile.

 

“Still, I prefer being known as Allan Manasil, the Master of Cyries’s Third Prince.”

 

At those words, Rmain picked up the document he had been poring over moments ago, a smile on his lips.

 

“To think that mouth of yours can truly say things I like to hear.”

 

“It’s a capable mouth; what can’t it not do?”

 

With that, Allan rose to leave, preparing to head back. Rmain, who glanced at him briefly from behind his document, turned his eyes back to the paper and said.

 

“Then in Cyries, you shall be Allan Manasil, the Master of the Third Prince, and a Count.”

 

Rmain knew exactly what Evan might have used as an excuse to challenge Allan’s authority. That was why he granted him a title befitting Allan’s stature.

 

“…I don’t know why you casually bring up such matters on a weekday morning as though discussing the weather.”

 

Allan responded with a gentle smile.

 

* * *

 

[The former Queen Aisha did not die from illness. Did Randel know that Sillike was implicated in Aisha’s death?]

 

Reflecting on this, Kalian concluded that Randel likely remained unaware.

 

This was because, through Bern’s memories, he recalled that the relationship between Cyries and Tansyll had not been particularly strained even after Randel became the King of Tansyll.

 

[If Randel knew the truth, he’d have visited my room and sought an alliance before Plants.]

 

Randel could not possibly sit back and wait for Kalian to expel Sillike while knowing the truth.

 

[So should I tell Randel about this? Or should I just leave it be?]

 

Kalian, burdened with this newfound concern, allowed a brief smile to cross his lips as he looked at Sillike. She was already glaring at him.

 

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

 

When the second hand of the clock had completed its circuit twice, Sillike opened her mouth.

 

“It seems you’ve misunderstood something again.”

 

At her words, a sneer curled on Kalian’s lips. It was a taunt, aimed squarely at Sillike.

 

“Misunderstood?”

 

Kalian muttered and burst into laughter.

 

If Sillike could have seen the expression she had worn when Kalian had posed his question earlier, she would never call it a misunderstanding.

 

Kalian was certain about the cause of Aisha’s death, and Sillike also knew that Kalian would not believe her.

 

Yet she called it a misunderstanding, so he could not help but laugh.

 

After laughing out loud for quite a while, Kalian fixed Sillike with fierce eyes.

 

“Your unpleasant delusion that I would join hands with someone like Gray Beurisen is what I would call a misunderstanding.”

 

With these words, he tapped the table and continued.

 

“I certainly don’t need them. Your kind at least.”

 

At those words, Sillike’s face turned even whiter than her hands when they had been holding the letter earlier. She had not expected such informal speech and rebuke from the Prince.

 

But regardless of her shock, Kalian spoke again, his expression tinged with a semblance of pity.

 

“Judging by the atmosphere when I arrived, it seems even the Marquis of Beurisen, whom I don’t need, doesn’t need you either.”

 

“Kalian. Stop speaking nonsense. You’ve completely lost your mind.”

 

“Not nearly as much as you have. To speak of my mother with that mouth? You’d have to lose your mind to do such a thing.”

 

As Sillike’s hands clenched with all the force she could muster, her body rigid and unmoving, Kalian turned his head away. His eyes roamed the empty greenhouse before he spoke to Sillike.

 

“Don’t bother refilling the greenhouse. You won’t be here for much longer.”

 

Kalian stood up from his seat.

 

Looking down at Sillike with a cold face, he left one last sentence that would leave only Kalian’s name in Sillike’s mind.

 

“I will show you the end.”