Chapter 51: Summons to Yebo Delim
Date: December 21, 2023
Not long after, a letter stamped with the royal seal departed the palace. Once it was delivered to all members of the Grand Assembly, they would convene at the palace to discuss Maximilian’s trial.
The real battle would begin after that.
In truth, evidence and arguments were secondary. What mattered more was who could rally more supporters behind the scenes.
“Please forgive my rudeness in leaving early, Your Majesty.”
Anton sprang from his chair before the king had given permission and stormed out of the reception room with only a slight bow. As he exited, he didn’t forget to shoot a glare at the crouching Maximilian on the floor.
Gabriel was unbothered by Anton’s disrespect. He merely pointed at Maximilian and said:
“Get that filthy thing out of my sight. It makes me sick.”
At Gabriel’s order, the attendants waiting behind quietly approached and dragged Maximilian away. Though no command was given, they opened the windows for ventilation.
Only then did Gabriel’s furrowed brows relax, as if he could finally breathe again. He turned to Leonard and asked:
“Are you certain it’s Embley?”
“I was taught never to speak words I can’t take responsibility for.”
“Hmph. Talk is cheap.”
Gabriel snorted, scanning Leonard from head to toe.
“Still, you survived even after being killed? What are you, immortal?”
“Of course not. I was just lucky.”
“Then from Embley’s perspective, it’s terribly unlucky to have such a monster as an enemy.”
“But why? What reason would Embley have to side with Maximilian?”
It was Diana who posed the question from her quiet seat. That was the answer Leonard most wanted himself. As he simply shrugged, Gabriel waved his hand.
“Let’s save the headache for later. By the way, you said you’re Atillier’s disciple?”
“…Excuse me?”
“How on earth did you manage to persuade that ill-tempered person to take you on?”
The mood lightened as the topic shifted to Cordelia. Gabriel stared closely at her and asked. Cordelia swallowed nervously before answering.
“My teacher happened to come to where I was. We met by chance, and she discovered I had talent for magic. That’s how I became her disciple.”
“How exceptional must your talent be for her to take you in?”
“Why do you keep digging? It’s just… reasonably impressive.”
Leonard answered Gabriel in her place with a bored tone. Diana sent Cordelia an openly curious look.
“Vasquez is truly fortunate. To have Atillier’s one and only disciple—Marquess Vasquez must be proud.”
Proud.
Cordelia gave a bitter smile inwardly. Would her father really be proud if he knew she was a mage?
Even though she knew the answer was likely no, she still had the tiniest hope.
Maybe, just maybe, if he knew she was Atillier’s disciple, he might treat her a little better.
“Oh, that reminds me. I’m holding a banquet at my estate next week. Would you attend and honor us with your presence? Atillier’s disciple—everyone will be curious about you.”
“It… it would be an honor. If you invite me…”
Though caught off guard by the unexpected invitation, Cordelia was delighted.
The banquet of Golden Lion Saracen was known in Eresche as a place only core power figures or renowned artists were invited to. Just the guest list alone could shake up the social scene. It was a place she had never even dreamed of stepping into.
Her cheeks flushed red with excitement.
* * *
“You stupid bastard!”
Unable to contain his rage, Anton hurled everything within reach. Baron Ruson, his aide, stepped back, waiting for his master to cool down.
“If you got caught, you should’ve at least killed yourself! Thanks to that bastard, Embley’s name is being dragged into a trial!”
“Wouldn’t it be better to silence Maximilian before the trial starts?”
“He’s already in the palace! How? If we’re caught, it’s the same as admitting we’re accomplices!”
“We could hire mercenaries, discreetly…”
“What are you talking about, Father?”
Apparently, the wind had blown open the office door. His only daughter, Rosalyn Embley, stood there.
“Maximilian is in the palace? Why?”
“Rosalyn. Go back to your room.”
“Was the Atillier seal that appeared in the sky yesterday Leonard’s?”
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
Anton avoided her gaze and pulled the bell rope. Soon, a servant entered the room.
“Did you call, Lord?”
“Take Rosalyn back to her room.”
“Father!”
“My lady, please allow me to escort you.”
The servant approached Rosalyn. But she shook off his hand and stepped closer to Anton.
“Tell me. Has Leonard Atillier returned? Then what’s going to happen to Maximilian?”
“…Rosalyn.”
“I-is he going to be executed?”
Her lips trembled. No, her whole body shook. As she swayed as if about to faint, Anton grabbed her arm in alarm.
“The Lord Atillier has requested a trial. It’s uncertain how things will unfold.”
“But he tried to kill a Marquess. The outcome will be execution, won’t it?”
“…We can’t rule that out.”
In truth, the chance of a death sentence was extremely high, but Anton softened his words. Rosalyn’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
“Then…”
Tears had already filled Rosalyn’s cheeks. She looked up at her father with amber eyes that mirrored his own.
“Then what happens to me, Father?”
“…”
“What about our child?”
That was a question even Anton couldn’t answer easily.
He remembered every night.
The night his wife entrusted him with their daughter before leaving,
The night the physician told him the little girl’s heart was deformed and wouldn’t last long,
And the night his precious daughter, for whom he would’ve gladly given his own heart, confessed she was carrying Maximilian’s child.
“Go to Angsen. The weather is warm there, think of it as a retreat.”
“Father…”
“It’ll be a better place to give birth too. So forget about Maximilian and start anew.”
That cursed seed of Maximilian was still his beloved daughter’s child.
When Anton summoned Maximilian to demand responsibility, the man readily agreed—but with outrageous conditions.
“I plan to become the Head of House Atillier.”
“Are you mad? Do you even know who your brother is?”
“If the Lord Marquess helps me, there’s nothing I can’t achieve. Shouldn’t Rosalyn share in the glory of House White Lion? The child needs a father too.”
That last line was practically blackmail.
There was no choice. Even as Embley’s only daughter, a noblewoman who gave birth out of wedlock would be ruined socially.
Anton clenched his teeth and allied with Maximilian.
It had always been a reckless plan.
Leonard was the most powerful mage in Eresche. Killing him was a gamble. Fortunately, Maximilian claimed success, but Leonard’s body was never found, and that kept Anton anxious.
But three months passed, and Leonard didn’t reappear, giving Anton peace of mind.
Until yesterday, when the White Lion blazed across the sky.
“Please, Father, save Maximilian.”
“That’s absurd! Forget him.”
“Please, I beg you. You can do it!”
She clung to her father’s arm in tears. But this time, Anton was firm.
“He’s already in the royal prison. How can I possibly save him? Besides, like you said, he tried to kill a marquess. It’ll be hard to avoid execution.”
“I love him. If he dies, how am I supposed to raise this child alone?”
“Don’t worry about the baby. It’ll be registered under my name and raised as an Embley.”
He let out a short sigh as he spoke. Rosalyn clutched her belly and bit her lip.
“So prepare to go to Angsen.”
“Father!”
Anton barely managed to console and send his daughter back to her room. Once she left, a cold expression returned to his face.
“We must stop the trial no matter what.”
“The best way would be for Maximilian to die, but…”
“Not until after Rozie gives birth. She’s already frail. If she miscarries from the shock, she might not survive.”
His daughter’s heart condition wouldn’t withstand a miscarriage. He had already lost his wife to postpartum fever.
Baron Ruson stepped forward from where he had been standing.
“Then how about using nobles from the Grand Assembly and other marquesses to delay the trial?”
“Delay it? On what grounds?”
“We can make up a reason.”
“Hmm…”
Anton stroked his chin. Since protocol and formality mattered, there would surely be something they could challenge.
“Lopez and Saracen will stay neutral as always, and Elfenbaum will back Atillier.”
“Then that leaves Hillurst and Vasquez.”
“We’ll summon them to Yebo Delim and try to delay the trial as much as possible.”
“Yes, I’ll dispatch messengers to Hillurst and Vasquez immediately.”
