PHATFO 30

Chapter 30

“Um,”

In the end, he spoke to the woman again.

“Did you find a shortcut?”

“No.”

“…Really?”

“I-I’ll go quickly.”

Her response was even colder than before, so he closed his mouth again.

‘Something’s strange… Could this be a scam?’

Then, suddenly, a thought came to mind and he blurted it out.

“By the way, you will really pay the promised money, right?”

The woman shook her pouch slightly. He could see glints of gold coins and hear their clinking sound.

‘Strange. There’s no real problem, but why do I feel so uneasy?’

Normally, he would have trusted his instincts and sent the woman away. But it had been so long since he’d had a long-distance customer, and customers who paid three gold coins at once were rare.

‘Money really is a curse.’

He clicked his tongue, grabbed the reins tightly, and—

“Hyah!”

The two horses pulled the carriage forward at a fast pace.

Bluehole was a tourist spot, but most of the people making money from the location near the beach were locals.

Because the village had no other sources of income besides tourism, they were harsh on outsiders.

Tini and Albert, the couple who owned a restaurant in the shopping district near the main street, had lived in the village since they were children.

So,

Clatter, clatter—

just by seeing the emblem on the passing carriage, they could guess who the owner was.

“What’s this?”

“Old man Hilberton started working again?”

“I heard he finally landed a big job.”

A woman cleaning the next shop replied while holding a cigarette.

“He kept whining that he was old and ready to retire. He must be lucky, huh? To get a customer who tips ten silver coins at the end of his life.”

“Oh my, that’s great. He always said he wanted to send his grandson to the Academy.”

“Do you think money alone will get him in? He needs talent too.”

The man laughed at the woman and asked the neighbor for a cigarette. He smoked it like it was second nature.

“When will customers come to our restaurant? Damn it, just flies buzzing around. I’m dying here.”

He spat phlegm on the ground, and the woman glared at him.

“I told you we should carefully pick the location before signing the lease.”

“How could I have known it would be this bad?”

The man grumbled about being tricked by the broker, and the woman lamented they should have borrowed more money and opened the restaurant on the main street.

The woman cleaning next door ignored their complaints. She had heard the same thing for days.

Then she squinted her eyes. Dark smoke was rising from the distant mountain.

“Look, Enoch’s dad. Doesn’t that look like a fire?”

“What? Is it slash-and-burn farmers?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Who does that at this time of year?”

“Then maybe just kids playing with fire.”

“This village… it’s never peaceful for even a single day.”

The woman clicked her tongue.

Tourists spent money, but they also caused trouble.

Some travelers, trying to save on expensive lodging fees, often camped in the mountains and started fires.

The smoke was coming from the entrance of the mountain, so it seemed likely the fire was caused by something like that.

“Grab buckets. We need to put it out before it spreads.”

“We don’t even have customers, and now we’re doing this?”

“Who said there aren’t customers? We can bring them back while putting out the fire.”

The woman laughed, and the man closed his mouth. It was true; they had made sales before by helping careless travelers.

Though many times, it ended with nothing. Often, travelers panicked and fled, leaving their belongings behind.

‘Whatever the reason, the fire needs to be put out…’

The three of them grabbed buckets and headed toward the mountain.

The closer they got, the stronger the smoke stung their noses. There was no sign of people.

‘Did they run away?’

It was unfortunate they couldn’t bring any customers back, but at least no one was hurt.

The man sighed as they walked.

“Hm?”

“Hey, isn’t that a carriage?”

They found a burning object.

And then—

“That’s Old Man Hilberton’s carriage!”

“Is he inside? Old man! Old man!”

“Put it out! Bring more buckets! Get more water!”

Much later,

they finally managed to put out the flames.

“…Haa. Haa. Where is the old man?”

“He’s not here. Damn it. Did he die?”

All they could salvage were the remains of the carriage. There was no trace of the man they were looking for.

“Now, will you explain what happened?”

Leon, the Young Duke of Dyurnar, sat on the sofa and gestured to the man sitting across from him.

The man wore rags that even commoners wouldn’t wear.

Even though the man looked pitiful, the Young Duke treated him with respect.

It was natural.

“Of course.”

The man sitting across from him was Prince Armian, the only person besides the Emperor who could use the surname Euclide.

To explain how Prince Armian ended up at the Duke’s estate, we had to go back four days.

After leaving the Rohiltern estate through the passage Bella had shown him, he went straight to the Hilton Marquis family.

He wanted to fulfill Bella’s request as soon as possible.

Then,

[If it’s a letter accusing the Rohiltern family, I’d like to deliver it personally.]

He volunteered to be the one to deliver the letter that was tied to the necklace.

[I also have my own grudges against the Rohiltern family.]

The Duke of Dyurnar knew his face. If he met the Duke, he could regain his identity without having to go to the capital.

[Thank you. Ah, I’ll prepare some travel money for you.]

Madam Hilton didn’t suspect him. Because Bella had sent him, she believed he could be trusted.

Armian also didn’t want to cause Bella any trouble, so he quietly accepted the money.

With the money Bella had given him, plus the travel funds, he bought a horse.

But it was his first time visiting the East, and he got lost for a long time before finally arriving at the Duke’s estate.

When he arrived, the Duke wasn’t there.

[Verifying the accuser’s identity is just a formality, so you don’t have to be nervous… Where have you been all this time?]

Instead, the Young Duke was there. He immediately recognized the Prince because he had often accompanied his father to the capital.

And now—

“I had my reasons.”

“I’m sure you did.”

The Young Duke responded flatly. Armian ignored his dissatisfaction.

“I have a favor to ask.”

He handed over the letter that had brought him here.

“Can you send inspectors to the Rohiltern family, as it says here?”

“Of course. It’s my duty to send inspectors to territories suspected of tax evasion. I would have done it even without your request.”

“Good.”

Ahfwyn leaned back on the sofa with a smile.

“While we’re at it, I have another request.”

“What is it this time?”

“There’s a woman I want you to bring here. Her name is Bella Rohiltern. She should be at the Rohiltern estate now.”

“Should we restrain her if she resists?”

The Prince gave him an incredulous look.

“She is not a criminal. In fact, she’s quite the opposite. Treat her as an honored guest, and do not use any force.”

“May I ask why?”

“She saved me.”

The Prince’s voice was calm.

The Young Duke thought for a moment and nodded.

“There must be a story. Fine, I’ll hear the full explanation later.”

“She’s also in poor health, so it would be wise to send a physician with the knights.”

The Young Duke gave instructions to the knights and then turned back to Armian.

“You’ve changed.”

“Me?”

“You were never the type to care about other people’s circumstances.”

Prince Armian was known for being cold and detached.

But that’s what made him fair and able to stay objective.

He was the very image of a ruthless ruler—
and that was why the Duke of Dyurnar had supported him.

“Is that so?”

He took a moment to reflect on himself.

Indeed, the old him would have been grateful to Bella but wouldn’t have felt a special attachment.

He wouldn’t have insisted on finding her to give her rewards and security she never asked for.

‘Maybe I’ve changed.’

And he didn’t dislike the change, because it meant Bella’s existence was precious to him.

‘Yes, I want to see you again.’

“So. Do you think my change is a bad thing?”

The Young Duke returned to the drawing room and sat down.

“I’m not sure yet.”

He gave more instructions to the knights and returned.

“That’s why I need to hear it.”

“…”

“Where were you, Your Highness? What happened to you that changed you like this?”

As your friend. As your supporter. As the son of the man who searched every corner of the capital for you for a year after you disappeared.

“I believe I deserve to know.”