~Chapter 85~
The curtain separating the balcony from the banquet hall was suddenly pulled open, and Count Winterfall along with Amel’s escort knight, Leon, appeared.
They had rushed over after belatedly hearing that the Crown Prince had taken Amel onto the balcony. Their expressions were not pleasant.
“Y-your Grace the Duke? But I was told it was His Highness the Crown Prince just now…”
Confused, Leon stared blankly at Christan. Likewise, Conrad’s burning gaze was fixed on him.
This brat… what on earth is he doing with my Amel— no. This isn’t the time for that.
He had only just reconciled with Amel not long ago, and nearly started interrogating her again. Struggling to calm his heart, the Count spoke.
“It has been a while since I last saw you, Your Grace. Forgive me for asking, but have you been well?”
“…Yes. It seems you too have been well, Count.”
“I deeply regret what happened before. My worry for my daughter was too great, and I ended up acting rudely toward you. For the sake of my daughter, please forgive me.”
“I understand. If I had a daughter, I would have acted the same as you. So please do not take it to heart.”
“Thank you for your generosity, Your Grace.”
Conrad nodded, then added:
“And though it may be shameless of me to say, you are welcome to stay at our residence again. Please, at your convenience.”
“Ah…”
Christan’s awkward eyes flicked toward Amel. She, too, wore a complicated expression.
“…I appreciate the offer. I will think on it.”
His vague answer made Conrad tilt his head, though he couldn’t guess what had really passed between the two.
“Well then, Amel, let’s go. Your mother is worried.”
“Ah… yes, Father.”
Amel nodded, then turned back to Christan.
“Then, I’ll see you again, Your Grace.”
Her eyes were clear and bright.
They seemed to say: I’ll leave for now, but soon, I will hear the answer you didn’t finish giving me.
Leaving behind that message, Amel disappeared.
“…”
Christan swallowed a breath, then suddenly turned his head. Gerard had quietly appeared and entered the balcony.
“Pardon me.”
Gerard, cautious of Christan’s mood, silently handed over a report. As expected, it contained information related to White Rock Mountain.
Christan, reading it to cool his head, frowned.
“Troublesome.”
The reports from his informants in the Siad territory carried grim news.
Near the suspicious magic circle, monster corpses would sometimes appear. Even after Christan’s visit, the strange phenomenon continued.
Christan suspected that the magic circle either created artificial Rifts or summoned demons from the demon realm.
If it had simply been a broken Rift, he could have led a subjugation. But because it was a magic circle, even someone like Christan was helpless. The Three Great Powers—Aura, Magic, and Divinity—interfered with each other in complicated ways. Only magic could break magic.
“…”
For now, they were only monster corpses. But no one knew when real monsters would emerge. Investigating the Emperor’s faction was important, but he also had to consider the safety of the people in his lands.
“Send requests for mage support to the houses allied with Bellerophon. The reason will be… yes, say it’s to renew waterproofing spells ahead of the rainy season.”
“As you command.”
Bowing, Gerard retrieved the report. As he moved to draw back the curtain and leave, Christan stopped him.
“The Viscount of Siad is here in the banquet hall. It won’t do to attract his attention, so be cautious.”
“…Ah, I see. Thank you for warning me, my lord.”
Hearing this, Gerard glanced at the banquet hall as he exited the balcony.
He saw the Emperor and Empress at the head table, Amel surrounded by her family, Marquis Esmeralda drinking furiously, and—approaching that Marquis—the Viscount of Siad.
“…”
Watching the figure of Viscount Siad, who looked nothing like himself, Gerard Siad smiled faintly, though his black eyes glimmered cold.
For a moment, he wanted to slit the viscount’s throat right there. But the time wasn’t right. More than that, to fulfill his lord’s will—the man who had saved him from death—he had to keep the viscount’s life intact.
You’re lucky, Verus Siad.
Just as Christan bore a grudge against Gaspar, Gerard’s hatred toward the Viscount of Siad ran deep.
He had abandoned Gerard on the roadside like trash, and even summoned him here without permission. It was only natural for Gerard to despise him.
“For now… we must secure mages quickly, before another high-ranked monster appears.”
Muttering to himself, Gerard left the palace and vanished into the night.
Meanwhile, Verus Siad, the Viscount of Siad, stomped angrily toward Marquis Esmeralda. The Marquis and Chiara greeted him.
“Hello, Viscount.”
“Oh! Viscount Siad. You came as well? It feels like it’s been a long time.”
But the viscount didn’t even look at Chiara. He thrust his face at the Marquis instead.
“Do you plan to keep unsettling me, Marquis?”
“Ha, and who is more unsettled than I right now? Don’t exaggerate. You’re not the only one suffering.”
Feigning composure, Marquis Esmeralda walked off with the viscount, leaving Chiara behind.
Chiara frowned in thought.
So this conversation is too secretive to even let me hear it?
Marquis Esmeralda had never been cautious around her before. Since she had no magical talent, he didn’t see her as a threat. Sometimes, he even discussed top-secret matters right in front of her.
Yet now he excluded her? Suspicious. But she had no way to act on it. All she could do was sigh.
“This place will do.”
The Viscount entered another balcony with Marquis Esmeralda. With a soundproofing spell cast, the Marquis spoke.
“Let’s keep it short. I don’t want to linger here.”
“Yes.”
The viscount went straight to the point.
“I regret to inform you, but I can no longer provide assassins.”
“What?”
The Marquis’s brow twitched at the sudden announcement.
The Siad family, under Esmeralda’s influence, secretly trained covert agents. They were perfect for dirty jobs unsuited to noble magicians. Yet now, the viscount said he couldn’t supply any more?
“What on earth do you mean?”
“The assassins you requested were all captured. Our numbers are dangerously low. For now, we must focus on training replacements.”
“If only you had sent more competent ones to begin with. How could you send such weaklings against the Duke of Bellerophon?”
In truth, most of those assassins had been killed by Amel, but neither man knew that, so they continued arguing pointlessly.
“Next time, send only Sword Masters. That should suffice.”
“If so, then at least provide us with magicians. No matter how strong the Duke is, against magic he will be helpless.”
“…I will consider it.”
In reality, the Marquis had no intention of giving mages, but pretended to think it over to keep the viscount cooperative.
Noticing his evasiveness, the viscount narrowed his eyes.
“…Then, are you sure the captured assassins are safe? If word spreads that I sent them—”
“Don’t worry. They’re all locked in the capital’s prison. There’s no chance of leaks.”
Satisfied, the Marquis released the soundproof spell. The business was done, and he wanted to leave this wretched balcony.
“Then I’ll be going first. Stay if you like.”
“…Very well.”
Even so, the viscount still couldn’t ease his mind. Watching the Marquis’s back, he muttered quietly:
“Marquis… I will never die alone. Even if you cut me off, I will cling to you like a curse. I, too, have insurance.”
The imperial palace was filled with schemes and double-dealing.
Behind the glittering summer night banquet, secret movements had already begun.
