[Chapter 96]
At that moment, at the Duchy of Ermenst.
“The reply to the message sent to the prince has not yet arrived.”
“…Send it again.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“So you thought you had changed your mind, and I foolishly let you into the fortress, only for you to summon beasts as you pleased?”
Bang. Unable to contain his anger, the duke slammed his fist onto the desk, making those around him flinch instinctively, careful not to draw his ire. The Duchy of Ermenst was in a state of emergency. Ian had managed to enter the fortress safely on his own, despite being the former lord of the Khan Alliance.
The duke, who had trusted his prodigal son’s return, felt as though his insides were boiling with rage.
“Your Grace… if I may speak cautiously… haven’t I said it repeatedly? Ian is a foolish vampire, not even worthy of bearing the Ermenst name.”
“Silence.”
Seizing the opportunity, the eldest tried to fan the duke’s anger, but the duke merely sat back, pressing his hand against his temple, trying to suppress the throbbing headache.
The eldest prince was right.
Ian was foolish and obstinate. If he were an ordinary vampire, the duke might have already ended his son’s life.
Yet Ian was the duke’s greatest masterpiece. Not only did he perfectly inherit the silver hair and golden eyes—symbols of the Ermenst line—but he also possessed an uncanny sensitivity to the scent of blood. Through it, he could discern a person’s mood, condition, and even what they had recently eaten.
Unfortunately, the vampire closest to pure-blooded abilities had also inherited his mother’s human traits.
‘What is it about that human woman… If you wanted to play at love, why not pair up with one of your kind?’
Sensitive to the scent of blood, Ian ignored vampire women altogether; a half-blood still lacked sufficient blood.
It was then that a voice broke the tense moment.
“Your Grace, a message has arrived from the Khan Alliance.”
The duke rose at once, taking the scroll from the messenger.
“…”
Yet, as he read the message with a faint spark of anticipation, his golden eyes trembled like flickering candlelight.
Father… you shouldn’t lie to your innocent son.
“Della.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The duke’s lips parted slightly as he called his aide. No one noticed, but he suppressed the worsening headache, frowning deeply.
“Was there a traitor in the Duchy of Ermenst?”
In a voice so low it rumbled, his aide glanced around and whispered respectfully, bowing slightly.
“There is no one currently in the duchy leaving a trace of blood scent.”
“…Then…”
Then how had Ian, with nothing but his strong body, sensed the lie? Swallowing quietly, the duke read the anger radiating from the roughly scrawled handwriting on the message. It seemed Ian was aware of the duke’s scheme.
Although Ian had been calmed under the condition of ensuring the safety of Princess Lemoni and the Christina family, the duke, who had envisioned Ian as the next head of the Ermenst family, did not want him swayed by the presence of the princess. Removing obstacles was inevitable. Once the war ended, he had intended to quietly hire an assassin to stage the princess’s death as an accident.
But that was merely the duke’s plan—never spoken to anyone.
“…Della.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Or had he mentioned it before?
Lost in thought, the duke slowly furrowed one brow.
“…Send a message to the Emperor. Tell him I wish to meet as soon as possible.”
When I entered the meeting room, a third seat had been hastily added to the two already there. Judging by the pale face of the servant, he had clearly been startled.
“By order of His Majesty the Emperor, all authority of the Southern Empire within the fortress has been delegated to me. Therefore, the Southern Empire shall also attend this meeting.”
Deon and Ian said nothing from the moment they entered the room until I sat in my chair. They seemed slightly stunned at my appearance and the weapons I carried, as if ready for a fight.
“…Do you think this meeting is a joke?”
But as I handed over the message while seated, Deon’s previously expressionless face creased.
“This is no joke. Don’t you see it?”
“Wow… it’s real,” Ian said, examining the scroll with admiration.
“So, that means the key to this war lies with the princess of the Southern Empire and the prince of the Western Empire? Ah, and of course, that bastard in the Neutral Zone too.”
“Key or not, this was initially a unilateral action by the Duchy of Ermenst. If the duchy retreats, everything resolves itself; there’s no need for the Southern Empire to interfere. Especially you, Lemoni.”
His already deep voice sank even lower. I tried to manage my expression, but the moment I met Deon’s gaze, my shoulders stiffened.
“Attending this meeting without past memories? I don’t know what you did in another world, but the Duchy of Ermenst has always eyed the Neutral Zone. Without understanding the complicated causal relationships, what exactly do you intend to do here?”
“At least Ian is on my side. Not for you, though.”
Even as he said this, I knew there was nothing I could accomplish by attending. But I had to, at least to prevent the two factions from ignoring the Southern Empire entirely. Of course, I was just a college student—someone unfamiliar with politics, either of my world or this one.
“Be honest. What have you two been doing all this time? Arguing again?”
“That would require conversation first. How do you hold a meeting with beasts?”
Trying to change the subject, Ian leaned back comfortably in his chair, lifting his chin slightly.
“Here we go again.”
Deon responded with his usual blank expression, as if dismissing Ian’s words entirely. Ian crossed his legs, smirked, and said,
“You really think you’re normal? A dog who gets aroused just by hearing Lemoni’s voice.”
“By that logic, you have no room to talk either. Better to be a dog than a pervert who gets turned on by the scent of blood.”
“No, at least I’m loyal to one person.”
Deon’s piercing red eyes fixed on Ian, and the atmosphere grew tense. I rolled my eyes, waiting for a moment to interject.
“What do you mean?”
“Annoying to ask when you already know, right?”
“I just wanted to see how much your careless mouth would flap. If you don’t understand the situation, stay quiet.”
“What situation?”
At my sudden question, both men’s gazes turned toward me. My frustration spilled over before reason could catch up.
“…I’ll explain once it’s all settled.”
Deon froze briefly, clearly unprepared for my interruption, but quickly regained composure, trying to end the conversation. Yet I didn’t understand.
“What? You didn’t come to me even once these past few days, laughing and talking with the past Lemoni?”
“Lemoni.”
“Couldn’t you have explained the situation beforehand? Honestly, don’t you think I’d be upset from my perspective? When the Lemoni you knew appeared, you didn’t even show your face to me. How am I supposed to understand this situation?”
“I had things to finalize with the past Lemoni. There were many things I couldn’t say before.”
“What things? Was it so private you couldn’t tell me? I lost my memories, and you didn’t even consider I might feel wronged?”
“This is why I didn’t want to speak. Since you lost your memories, you wouldn’t understand anyway.”
I saw his jaw tighten as he tried to suppress his anger. Yet the one-sidedness of his words made me clench my hands on my lap.
“I’m Lemoni too! Why can’t I understand? Am I really just a shell?”
“It’s because you’re not a shell that I’m angry!”
His chair toppled backward from the sudden outburst. Startled, I instinctively tried to take a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
Not a shell… that’s why he’s angry.
My heart pounded, unsure how to interpret his sudden honesty. That meant he disliked the fact that I was the real Lemoni.
“…Damn it.”
Deon noticed my expression belatedly and wiped his face with one hand, trying to hide his sense of defeat.
