Chapter 83, Those Steps (3)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

A massive explosion erupted from the Royal Palace of Cyries.

 

People from the vicinity rushed to the plaza.

 

Evan Beurisen’s carriage, which was entering the mansion, momentarily stopped.

 

Euria ran up to the rooftop of the Arcane Enclave Building.

 

Melpir and Tessyd stood up simultaneously and rushed to the window.

 

And Arsene…

 

He draped the robe of Deputy Commander Valkan over his shoulders.

 

* * *

 

“I said I would show you the end. What will you do now?”

 

The head maid turned her head upon hearing Sillike’s murmur.

 

The head maid could not understand whom Sillike was speaking to. However, she could see a faint smile playing on Sillike’s lips as she watched the thick, black smoke.

 

The head maid had been with Sillike all day and thus had to witness everything Sillike had just done.

 

[Why on earth did you cause such an incident?]

 

The head maid clasped her trembling hands together, trying to calm herself as she recalled what had happened.

 

Just earlier, after the Captain of the Roan Knight Order had come to see Sillike.

 

Sillike, having completed all preparations, entered the reception room alone. As the head maid had informed her, the Captain of the Roan Knight Order was waiting for her there.

 

He showed his respect to Sillike before handing over a black box he had brought. Then, with eyes full of concern, he opened his mouth.

 

“This is a dangerous item. I don’t know why you were looking for it, but I—.”

 

Interrupting the Knight captain’s words, Sillike briefly opened the black box to check its contents, took one out, and closed the lid. Then, with an expressionless face, she looked at the Captain and continued.

 

“What did I receive from you?”

 

The Captain flinched and slowly shook his head.

 

“…Nothing. You received nothing.”

 

Even while facing Sillike, he continued to doubt whether he had made a good choice.

 

[‘The tyranny of Queen Sillike is so severe that it can no longer be ignored. The Caera and Roan Knight Orders should no longer follow her orders.’] He kept thinking about the contents written in Evan’s letter.

 

The Roan Captain, knowing that the Captain of Caera would certainly follow Evan’s words, had visited Sillike out of momentary greed.

 

From the moment he returned after meeting Sillike on Sunday, he could not shake the feeling that he had made a wrong choice. But now, as Sillike, who had asked him to bring such an ominous item, spoke words clearly intended to cut off all loose ends, he became increasingly uneasy.

 

“Very well.”

 

Sillike, speaking in a light tone, rose from her seat with the black box. She placed the box on the side table next to the reception room door and spoke to him.

 

“Wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”

 

And she left the reception room without waiting for his response.

 

After leaving the Captain behind and going outside, Sillike saw the head maid and the maids waiting for her. Sillike’s eyes turned to a particularly noticeable maid. It was the same maid who had made a mistake while grooming her hair.

 

“Come here.”

 

The maid was thoroughly terrified.

 

Her hunched shoulders would not straighten. Her lips were cracked with dried blood caked on them, and her cheeks were swollen with dark bruises. Two slaps had left her face in such a state.

 

Seeing this, Sillike spoke in a low voice.

 

“Oh dear. My hand was too harsh.”

 

Was she acknowledging her mistake?

 

Everyone present looked at Sillike.

 

Sillike wore a soft smile as if stroking a small animal in her hand. Because of this, even the head maid could not discern what thoughts lay behind that ominous smile.

 

…Despite having observed Sillike for so long.

 

“I have one favor to ask of you.”

 

Sillike, who spoke thus, handed the small orb she had been holding to the maid.

 

“Please take this to the box placed at the entrance of the reception room and come back.”

 

Recently, Sillike had barely spoken to the maids, or even the head maid. On rare occasions when her mouth opened, a venomous voice that seemed capable of tearing the hearts of its listeners to shreds would emerge.

 

Thus, encountering such a kind face and gentle voice after so long, the maid could not refuse Sillike’s request.

 

“Yes, My Queen. I understand.”

 

A satisfied Sillike wrapped her hands around the maid’s hand holding the orb.

 

And applied slight pressure.

 

*Click.*

 

An unsettling sound came from inside the maid’s hand.

 

Feeling it, the maid looked at Sillike, who smiled as if nothing was amiss.

 

“Go on. Go inside.”

 

And then, she immediately turned around and walked away.

 

With unhurried steps, looking exactly the same as always.

 

* * *

 

Rmain raised his head upon hearing the explosion from Heisia Palace.

 

Hurried footsteps could be heard throughout Arpia Palace, and Caera Knights rushed in to surround Rmain.

 

The window of the office in Arpia Palace faced the main gate of the Royal Palace. Thus, Heisia Palace where Sillike stayed could not be seen from Rmain’s office.

 

“So, it has begun…”

 

Rmain, who murmured quietly, buried himself deep in the chair with a truly tired expression and closed his eyes. There was no sign of him being startled by the explosion. He was not even trying to ascertain its cause, or attempting to look outside.

 

After Raul Hart, the Grand Chamberlain who always maintained composure, left with a surprised face, Ren, the Captain of the Caera Knight Order, who was guarding Rmain’s back, carefully spoke.

 

“Your Highness. I will call for Lord Manasil.”

 

“What for? I thought all my guards had already been gathered here? Do I have other guards?”

 

Momentarily at a loss for words, Ren closed his mouth. Rmain continued with the same expression.

 

“It’s fine to receive Lord Manasil’s help, but I would prefer not to rely on him alone.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will be careful.”

 

Before long, the office door opened again, and Raul entered.

 

“It’s Heisia Palace. There was an explosion near the reception room. The safety of those at the site hasn’t been confirmed yet, but the Queen is said to be safe. And…”

 

Raul fumbled with his words momentarily. It was because he had heard news that was too difficult to deliver. Rmain stared intently at Raul, and Raul, unable to hide his troubled face, concluded his words.

 

“It is said that Arsene Hertz attacked the Queen.”

 

Arsene Hertz.

 

As the name of Valkan’s Deputy Commander emerged from an unexpected place, Ren’s eyes tensed.

 

As for Rmain, he chuckled.

 

Soon, an unbelievable sound escaped Rmain’s lips.

 

“What nonsense.”

 

* * *

 

Kalian, standing on the terrace, turned around.

 

Kyrie, who had rushed into Kalian’s room simultaneously with the explosion, stood beside him with a tense face.

 

After a while, Ian entered.

 

Ian, who had said he would prepare breakfast, brought an interesting story to Kalian instead of a meal.

 

“I heard that Lord Hertz visited Queen Sillike this morning. And after claiming that he heard from the Prince that Sillike was the mastermind behind the previous attack, he unilaterally attacked her.”

 

Ian, who was speaking, had an incredulous expression, while Allan and Kyrie, who were listening, laughed.

 

Kalian nodded and asked.

 

“So, they’re saying I instigated Lord Hertz into attacking Sillike.”

 

“Yes. That’s what they’re saying.”

 

[What a jest. If I wanted to kill her so openly, I would have done it myself.]

 

“I see.”

 

Arsene’s explosion.

 

Encountering this incongruous combination once again, Kalian chuckled.

 

Since Gray’s carriage had exploded, it seemed they thought Arsene was quite fond of using fireballs. Clearly, they had not cared how the Pavel Knights had died.

 

In any case, to the people’s ears, the explosion of Gray’s carriage and the explosion of Sillike’s reception room might appear quite similar.

 

“To think they would bring out the missing Lord Hertz. They’ve used their heads quite well this time, as expected. It seems they’ve also obtained an explosive that would unleash Magic Power.”

 

If it were accepted as fact that Kalian had instigated Arsene, then not only Kalian but also Valkan, and Allan, who was Valkan’s Commander, would not escape unscathed.

 

“It seems they thought about how we wouldn’t be able to explain where Lord Hertz was. Since they couldn’t find Lord Hertz at the Beurisen Marquis Family’s house, they must have concluded that I was hiding him.”

 

If Kalian’s side had been protecting Arsene, then it would be useless for Kalian to try to defend what Arsene had been doing at the time Sillike was attacked. Since it was Kalian who had instigated the attack on Sillike, they would have thought that no one would believe Kalian’s words.

 

But among those discussing such matters now, no one’s face showed any sign of distress. Kalian, still with a face that seemed unconcerned, asked Ian.

 

“So, what about His Majesty?”

 

“He says not to be late for Valkan’s inauguration ceremony.”

 

The ceremony was not postponed.

 

Rmain also did not believe Sillike’s claim.

 

* * *

 

*Snap!*

 

Sillike’s fan made a sharp sound as it closed.

 

It had been quite a while since the explosion at Heisia Palace. Yet, no one had come out. No one came to investigate.

 

And, before long, Rmain’s words were conveyed.

 

– Since the Queen is said to be safe, the investigation into the accident will be conducted after the inauguration ceremony of the Valkan Mage Order has been completed.

 

Sillike had clearly stated it was not an accident. She had said there was an attack and even revealed the name of the perpetrator.

 

“An accident, he says?”

 

Nevertheless, Rmain changed the nature of the incident with the word ‘accident.’ Despite going to such lengths, he chose to ignore Sillike.

 

“Even if by some chance this truly was an accident, shouldn’t the event be postponed? His Majesty’s intentions are now clear.”

 

Sillike’s voice, saying this, was trembling.

 

Sillike quietly closed and opened her eyes to find composure.

 

She then spoke to the head maid.

 

“Call the Vice-Captain of the Roan Knight Order and have all Roan Knights gather at Wilhelm Hall. If you tell them that their Captain is with me, they will listen.”

 

She had to catch Kalian at that moment, no matter what.

 

Since Rmain would not step forward, she had no choice but to directly make the move.

 

Soon, Sillike moved to Wilhelm Hall, where Valkan’s inauguration ceremony would be held, accompanied by several Guard Knights and other maids. Since it was a place previously used by the Pavel Knight Order, Wilhelm Hall was close to Heisia Palace.

 

However, Sillike, who arrived at the venue before long, had to clench her fan-holding hand once more.

 

After all, this was after an explosion had occurred in the Royal Palace.

 

Yet, there was no anxiety on anyone’s face. They were exchanging perfectly ordinary greetings as if they had spent a perfectly ordinary morning.

 

None of those gathered here mentioned anything about the explosion.

 

Pro-Beurisen Nobles continued to catch her eye, but they were all deafly quiet. They just greeted Sillike and turned their heads away.

 

Was this not the day of Valkan’s inauguration ceremony, which was closely related to Allan?

 

So, they had chosen to take a step away from the conspicuous ‘large tree’ that Allan had spoken of.

 

[How dare they treat me like this!?] Sillike, experiencing such treatment for the first time, gritted her teeth.

 

And then.

 

Someone approached and spoke with concern.

 

“I heard there was an explosion, but you seem fine, which is fortunate.”

 

Sillike’s eyes were filled with venom as she looked at the speaker.

 

Among the many people, the only one who had asked Sillike about the accident was Kalian.

 

“How brazenly you ask about an incident you orchestrated.”

 

Sillike’s voice was quite loud, and the surroundings went quiet.

 

The eyes of the Nobles in the hall, the white-robed Mages gathered for the inauguration ceremony, and the other two Princes all moved towards Sillike and Kalian.

 

After looking around at them once, Kalian’s face hardened somewhat.

 

“It would be best to refrain from hasty words. Didn’t His Majesty say he would find the cause after this event?”

 

It was not sarcasm.

 

Kalian was speaking in a tone as if he were genuinely concerned for Sillike.

 

Kalian did not usually treat Sillike this way. So Sillike knew that his current demeanor was an act put on with others’ eyes in mind.

 

However, this was only something she knew.

 

The fan in her hand made a creaking sound.

 

“Find that Mage. I clearly saw that it was that Mage’s doing, so he must be found.”

 

At those words, Kalian did not answer and closed his mouth.

 

Thinking that he indeed could not find words to respond, Sillike smiled when.

 

“By that Mage.”

 

A voice was heard from behind Sillike.

 

“Do you mean this person, My Queen?”

 

A familiar voice.

 

An all too familiar voice.

 

Sillike turned her head.

 

Evan Beurisen was standing there.

 

And a Mage standing behind him bowed his head.

 

“A pleasure to meet you for the first time.”

 

The Mage greeted Sillike in a respectful voice.

 

“I am Arsene Hertz… ‘that Mage’ you spoke of.”

 

Sillike took a step back.

 

Because she could not understand why Arsene Hertz was entering with Evan instead of Kalian.

 

After taking a step back and looking at Evan and Arsene, Sillike’s head turned towards Kalian.

 

Kalian was smiling.

 

A question was seemingly contained in that smile: ‘Now, do you see your end?’