Chapter 69
“Sorry.”
Carlien was growing weary of Luance, who never seemed to feel guilt and always blamed others. Yet, he couldn’t stop serving him in this state.
“The moment I quit, Duke Greikan might have me killed.”
Carlien had maintained first place at the academy while others were playing, graduating with a full scholarship. Many coveted his competence.
When he first received a scout offer from the Greikan Duke’s house, he had thought long and hard. In truth, he wanted to work at the royal palace, but Daniel’s sweet compensation tempted him. At first, he considered it an honor to protect and assist Prince Luance. He gave his best, and Daniel acknowledged his abilities. It felt like he had achieved his dream.
But a dream is just a dream. He had come to know the cruel nature of Luance and Daniel’s plans for future rebellion. There was no way out. Quitting meant death. Even if only he died, it might be fine, but his family’s lives were held hostage, making it impossible to leave.
Day after day, he thought of it dozens, hundreds of times, but always ended the day by soothing himself with, “Just endure it.”
Daniel and Luance were truly treacherous snakes. They had naturally drawn him into their evil plans. If he could turn back time, he would go back to his academy days—just graduate with decent grades and get a job at some respectable noble house.
Being with Luance felt like being on a cruise ship slowly sinking into the sea.
“Sir Carlien, you must meet Lorencia immediately.”
“Lady Lorencia is currently unavailable.”
Everyone knew what had happened, though they whispered about it. Luance had drawn a sword in Adrian’s office, and Teishar retaliated, leaving Luance beaten until his cheeks were swollen. Normally, Teishar’s extreme response would be discussed, but since Luance had drawn a sword in the Crown Prince’s office, no one could say a word. They decided to let it slide.
Later, in the formal duel with Lorilors, Luance lost in a humiliating and miserable way. Ashamed, he retreated to Greikan territory with Pelena. Honestly, Carlien felt a sense of vindication.
“It’s your job to make it possible to meet her, Carlien. Why can’t you do it? How can you help me if you can’t even do this simple thing, you useless piece of trash!”
“Lady Lorencia is currently with Marquis Spencer.”
“Spencer! Spencer! Why doesn’t that trash fall for my monster! She belongs to me!”
“There is nothing we can do.”
“Every day it’s ‘there’s nothing we can do!’ Don’t just say you can’t! Argh!”
Luance screamed, slamming another object to the floor. Shards scattered everywhere. Carlien watched his outburst with a blank expression, like a wooden doll stripped of emotion.
“Sir Carlien.”
“Yes, Prince Luance?”
“Right now, somehow, separate Lorencia from Spencer!”
Luance kept ordering the impossible. Carlien had to avoid agreeing, no matter what.
“Sorry.”
“You useless, verminous piece of trash! You take the money but don’t work? Do you want to die?”
“Marquis Spencer will prevent Lady Lorencia from meeting anyone.”
“Find a way!”
“Then I will find a way to meet Lady Lorencia secretly.”
Luance walked through the broken objects and grabbed Carlien by the collar, roughly pulling him closer.
“I must see my dear monster. If I can’t, you must meet her and write down the dreams she has been having recently.”
“Dreams, you mean?”
“Yes. Record the dreams of the monster.”
The force in his grip released. Carlien bowed slightly and left the room, sighing once the door closed. He muttered to himself that he wanted to quit, but he couldn’t.
Even just thinking about how to meet Lorencia made Carlien dizzy and nauseous.
“I hope I run into Lady Lorencia while walking down the corridor.”
Just as he was about to walk down the long corridor, someone called from behind.
“Sir Carlien?”
It was Lancelon, a close aide to Crown Prince Adrian.
“Long time no see.”
“What brings you here?”
“I’ve come under Crown Prince Adrian’s orders to check on Prince Luance’s condition.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said I came to see Prince Luance’s condition. Is he in the room?”
“Yes, but the situation isn’t good.”
“That’s fine.”
“Sir Lancelon,” Carlien urgently stopped him from knocking on Luance’s door. If Lancelon entered, he would report the room’s chaotic state to Adrian. Luance had destroyed everything in his anger.
“Is it because the room is in disarray, Sir Carlien?”
“That’s right.”
“That’s fine. I know Prince Luance’s temperament. He wouldn’t lay a hand on me, his aide.”
Carlien’s head throbbed. He sighed deeply.
“Prince Luance is in a bad mood today.”
“It may get worse, so Sir Carlien, step aside.”
Lancelon approached Carlien, smiling as he handed him a small note.
“I’ll go check on Prince Luance now.”
Carlien pocketed the note and later read it alone. It was an invitation for tea.
“8 PM tonight.”
“Could it be that he wants me to do that double-agent thing again?”
Previously, Adrian had suggested Carlien act as a double agent, which he had refused. He could never betray Daniel or Luance because his family’s lives were at stake.
Carlien swallowed the note, thinking it would be good if Adrian understood his situation.
Carlien told Luance about the note he received from Lancelon.
“If Sir Carlien meets Brother Adrian, could you check on Lorencia’s recent status?”
“It’s not certain, but the probability is high.”
“Good. If you’re asked to act as a double agent again, don’t hesitate. Report to me immediately.”
“Understood.”
For Carlien, acting as a double agent wasn’t necessarily bad. It meant he could navigate between two sides, potentially escaping the current dangerous situation.
Life is full of unexpected turns. Carlien arrived at the meeting place on time, only to find someone he hadn’t anticipated waiting for him.
“Pol Heredian’s Lorencia, at your service.”
“Pleasure to meet you. Carlien of Maiolan.”
It was the person Luance desperately wanted to meet—Lorencia. Though Luance called her a foolish monster, her violet eyes held a sharp, intense light.
“Prince Luance worries about me a lot, doesn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“Did he instruct you to ask about my well-being, or check if I’m really seeing Marquis Spencer?”
“He told me to write down the dreams you’ve had.”
Lorencia smiled at Carlien.
“Nothing else?”
“He said Spencer took what belongs to him.”
Carlien’s heart raced. Luance never gave a woman genuine affection; he played with them. Carlien had to handle the aftermath for all the women abandoned by Luance. While the clean-up was tolerable, it was frustrating to act as a garbage bin for their emotions.
Yet, there was one woman Luance truly cared for—Lorencia. His obsession with her was so intense it was more like possessiveness than love.
“I need the dream information. I must know it!”
So Carlien deduced a few things from what Luance said:
“Prince Luance wants you to record Lady Lorencia’s dreams.”
“Of course, he only wants my dreams.”
“That’s right. He treats you as if you can see the future.”
Luance spoke as if Lorencia could see the future. If that were true, it explained his obsession. The ability to see the future is essentially the power to control the world.
“Sir Carlien.”
“Yes.”
“Do you believe there is a person who sees the future?”
“I believe Lady Lorencia is that person. Otherwise, I can’t explain why Prince Luance obsesses over her.”
There was something special about Lorencia’s dreams. That’s why Luance insisted on knowing them.
“Sir Carlien, you are smarter than I thought.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Lorencia looked at Carlien across from her. Having experienced him in her past life, she knew what kind of person he was: a talented graduate of the academy on scholarship and a close aide to Luance. Carlien had Luance’s trust, though he hadn’t realized that trust was built on unilateral violence.
