~Chapter 116~
Then Ricardo spoke.
“Erkessian is probably planning to use that woman.”
“That woman?”
“Th–that is…”
Ricardo hesitated, his eyes darting around nervously. I frowned and stepped closer, not hiding my irritation.
“Don’t tell me you still think I care about the past?”
Hadn’t I already yelled at him about this before?!
“N–No! Of course not!”
Startled, he stumbled back.
“It’s Idette. Idette, Idette, Idette.”
“Y–Yes. That woman, Idette.”
Only then did I stop walking toward him.
“…But I don’t understand what you mean by ‘use.’”
“The Empire wants Ailins. If they plan to strike Orphen, there’s only one answer.”
It felt like someone had smacked me in the back of the head.
“They know what Orphen has been doing, and still they’ve decided war is unavoidable. But that path can only lead Carpea to ruin.”
…So they meant to transfer Ailins’s power to Idette.
Because the Empire didn’t need Ailins herself. What they wanted was her magic.
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only explanation.
But Erkessian?
I had never once imagined such a result.
At the very least, I believed his love for Idette was genuine.
But if not this way, then what other plan could Carpea possibly have to win a war?
“Then… is Lady Idette with you right now?”
I grew uneasy. She truly believed in her relationship with Erkessian. She thought he was the one who would give her the future she dreamed of.
“No. She slipped away and hid, avoiding their surveillance.”
My heart sank.
“…But I have a guess where she is.”
“Not long ago, she sent me a letter. She must be somewhere not far from the capital. It won’t be hard to find her.”
So close. Right near the imperial palace.
If I were Idette… I’d go straight to Erkessian.
To confirm the truth with him myself, rather than through Ricardo.
I clenched my fists.
“Oh, and Ricardo.”
“Yes, I’m listening.”
“It’s about my brother Leon.”
At the name, Ricardo’s face instantly stiffened. Before his emotions could spiral, I rushed to finish.
“We’re like family. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“…!”
“I’ve never had feelings for him. Not even once.”
Ricardo’s lips parted as if he couldn’t believe his ears. Then, with a trembling voice, he asked:
“Could you… say that once more?”
“We’re not like that.”
“Just once more…”
“I said we’re not!”
Ricardo’s lower lip trembled. Then, with a sharp exhale, he covered his face with his hand.
The tips of his ears were burning red.
I rubbed my arms and continued casually.
“I thought, with Lady Idette at your side, it wasn’t worth explaining.”
“…You really picked the perfect way to break me down.”
Flustered, I looked away. Ricardo slowly lowered his hand.
“Truly, you’ve taken your revenge in a flawless, cruel way.”
At last, the emotions he had been holding back burst out.
***
After Penny and Ricardo left together…
Peril used the items Ricardo had left behind to craft dolls that looked exactly like him.
How pathetic of me…
The doll stared at him with the same arrogant expression as the real Ricardo. Seeing that haughty figure only made Peril feel worse.
With a sigh, Peril stretched out his hand, detonating prepared magic circles with loud explosions.
It was enough to sound like a major battle had broken out.
Then he cast a binding spell on the Ricardo doll sitting before him.
The Tower Master, who had come under Erkessian’s orders to capture the traitor Ricardo—if there had been signs of a huge fight, it would only make sense that Ricardo appeared beaten.
This much should be fine.
With that thought, Peril branded more spells onto the doll without hesitation.
For him, this was the most enjoyable moment of the day.
***
“Don’t you even trust our contract?”
Peril glared at Erkessian, but the prince only smiled coolly.
“Of course not. Someone already broke their leash and ran. Suspicion is natural.”
Ricardo, his right arm lost, declared defeat before Erkessian. His face was still proud and overbearing, but what could he do?
“You can’t do anything now.”
Erkessian remembered his conversation with Harness and smirked briefly.
When the empire branded Ricardo a traitor and sent Peril to capture him, Ricardo had already abandoned even his grandfather and fled.
〈We cannot let a great hero’s end be so pitiful. In the name of Carpea, the empire promises to grant you vengeance.〉
〈…!〉
〈If you cooperate, not only will we keep our word, but we’ll also preserve your honor.〉
It had been perfect.
The so-called great hero, blinded by hollow revenge, confessed his grandson’s hiding place and even the secret plans he had overheard.
Imperial forces alone wouldn’t have been enough to capture Ricardo. But once the Tower Master feared losing his place, he readily obeyed the empire’s command and caught him.
Even Ricardo’s knightly forces were discovered. Everything was going perfectly.
“The Tower Master’s power amazes me every time. Isn’t it a waste to let such strength lie dormant, like you’re already dead?”
“Who knows.”
Peril tightened the magic circles wrapped around Ricardo.
The fight must have been tough, because Peril’s treatment of him was unusually violent for a Tower Master.
Ricardo gasped, struggling for breath under the suffocating bind. Still unsatisfied, Peril repeatedly kicked him in the stomach.
So I was the fool, thinking the two of them might have already allied.
Erkessian lifted his eyes to the sky. The breeze brushed gently against his face, not unpleasant.
Victory was within his grasp. That much was certain.
But he didn’t like the way things were unfolding—step by step, too neatly.
“That’s enough.”
Even at his cold order, Peril’s foot still lingered near Ricardo. Erkessian let out a quiet sigh and turned away.
…I must be missing something.
Clearly there had been a fight between Peril and Ricardo. But still, unease bloomed in his chest, growing stronger and stronger.
His eyes narrowed. Then Erkessian murmured softly:
“Bianca, was it?”
“……”
“Yes, she was there too.”
The only one who had ever made Ricardo look pathetic.
***
As soon as I got home, Atticus rushed up to me.
“Lord Harness…”
But his words were drowned out by Allen, who came running down the hall.
“My lady!”
From his frantic expression, I felt a wave of dread.
“The imperial knights.”
I shut my eyes tightly.
“This isn’t ordinary. His Highness himself came, leading the knights.”
Allen’s hand went to the hilt of his sword. My heart pounded violently, but I forced myself calm and opened my eyes.
“We’ve done nothing wrong. As long as we stay strong, it’ll be fine. Let’s go.”
Allen hurried after me as I gave Atticus a quick nod.
“Steward, contact my brother immediately.”
We rushed down to the main hall, where intruders had already forced their way into the mansion.
Grandfather mustn’t hear this.
In this fragile state, stress would be too dangerous.
And there, I saw Erkessian.
“How dare you be so insolent!”
He only smiled, as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“Oh? The Marquis is away? Then you’re the acting head. That makes this easier.”
With a flick of his eyes, his knights scattered throughout the estate.
Clenching my fists, I descended the stairs and stood before him.
“You barge in without so much as an explanation.”
“You’ll see soon enough. If what I’m searching for is found, then you’ll be the one to explain.”
The sounds of knights tearing apart the house rang all around.
“I wonder how you’ll explain it away.”
Then, some knights rushed up and whispered urgently into his ear.
“Ah. Too late, was I?”
He chuckled, as if he had expected this, then turned to me with a sharp smile.
“Where did you hide Ricardo?”
I tilted my head innocently.
“You’re asking me about the whereabouts of a fiancé who already broke off our engagement?”
“……”
“You really do enjoy being cruel.”
At that moment, Erkessian’s face turned icy cold.
