"Since when?"
“Our master has been the same person from the very beginning.”
“So, then, our first meeting that day wasn’t a coincidence after all.”
“I’m sorry. We had no choice but to earn your trust, Madame.”
Madame Morco squeezed her eyes shut at the calm confession.
Even though she had been betrayed, she couldn’t bring herself to point her sword at the children.
There were far too many happy memories to simply cut them down without feeling.
'But…'
Madame Morco’s grip tightened.
Though she didn’t know the emperor’s purpose, if she stopped here, Alicia’s life couldn’t be guaranteed.
Moreover, Alicia was not alone — she was carrying a child.
Madame Morco swallowed the rising blood in her throat.
“Emperor! The Emperor — no, His Majesty the Emperor — sent you, didn’t he!? I serve His Majesty, too! So, hurry up and get rid of this woman!"
Veloa excitedly raised her voice.
Instead of answering, Shirin dropped the staff and drew her sword.
“If you were going to do this, you should have stepped in sooner. Given your status, handling that slave would have been easy.”
"There’s a proper order to everything."
“What are you… aaaaargh!”
Veloa let out a scream of pain and tumbled helplessly across the snow.
Drops of blood, not yet wiped off, dripped from the tip of Shirin’s sword.
“Aaaah! It hurts! I said it hurts! How dare you do this to me and still think you can get away with it — ugh!”
“Don’t blame me too much. I’m just following orders.”
The moment Shirin swung her sword again at Veloa, a shimmering sword energy sharply sliced through the air.
“Keugh!”
“It’s not good to overexert yourself, Madame.”
Shirin effortlessly deflected Madame Morco’s attack and clicked her tongue softly.
Her sword was also imbued with sword aura.
“So you were hiding your true skill.”
“I just thought there was no need to stand out.”
"...Whose orders are these? Are you really His Majesty’s person?"
"You don’t need to know, Madame."
After all, dead men told no tales.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Shirin’s lips.
"Madame Morco!"
Alicia let out a desperate scream.
Madame Morco barely blocked Shirin’s sword, but she couldn’t stop the following attack.
Shirin’s sword pierced Madame Morco’s body once again, and red blood embroidered the snow once more.
"Let go! Release me at once!”
"No. It’s dangerous if you intervene now."
“Dangerous? Are you serious? What on earth are you two doing?!”
Alicia struggled to push away Shizuna, who was holding onto her and shouted harshly.
Though not related by blood, Madame Morco had cherished the twins as if they were her own children.
At the very least, they shouldn’t dare treat Madame Morco so recklessly.
“We’re only following orders.”
"I won’t tolerate such an order! Madame Morco cared so much for you!"
"Don’t resist. With my lady’s slender arms, you can’t possibly beat me anyway. You know that, don’t you?"
“...”
“Don’t worry too much. I will protect my lady’s safety above all else.”
"Protect my safety? You?"
“My lady is carrying a precious seed.”
For a moment, Alicia’s gaze faltered.
Their target wasn’t her — it was the child.
Realising that fact, she felt as if icy water had been poured over her, sharpening her mind instantly.
“Don’t even think about it. I dare you to touch it.”
Alicia growled with bloodshot eyes, but Shizuna remained unfazed.
The young maid who used to greet her with gentle smiles was gone.
“There’s someone who wishes to meet you, my lady. Please come with me.”
“No. Why would I follow you?”
“Then I cannot guarantee Madame Morco’s life.”
"Are you threatening me now?"
Alicia let out a short, bitter laugh.
"The madam has sustained a critical injury. If she does not receive prompt treatment, she will truly be in danger."
Shizuna pointed toward Madame Morco with the tip of her chin.
Despite being drenched in blood, Madame Morco got up and fought again and again.
Alicia couldn't bear to look at the horrific scene and let out a rough breath.
“Did you ever intend to spare her from the start?”
"There was no such intention. However, if you were to come quietly, who’s to say what might happen?"
Shizuna tugged on Alicia’s arm.
Even without using much strength, Alicia's body was easily pulled along, clearly showing the difference in power.
"I could easily drag you away by force, but I don't want to be reckless with someone who carries a precious seed. It would be best if you could cooperate just a little, my lady."
“...”
"Since things have come to this, wouldn’t it be better to save a person's life?"
“...”
"Of course, you may resist — if it truly doesn't matter to you whether Madame Morco lives or dies."
"People die far more easily than you think."
Watching Shizuna calmly add those words, Alicia grimaced.
It was an obvious trap, but she couldn't turn away.
・・・・・
"Is there an issue?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
Cabelenus replied briefly, then returned his gaze to the documents.
But, strangely enough, he couldn't concentrate.
It was an ordinary day, yet for some inexplicable reason, his heart was racing.
As if warning him — thump, thump, thump.
In the end, Cabelenus set down the documents he had been looking at and gazed out the window.
Despite it being midday, the sky, filled with dark clouds, was unusually dark.
“Looks like it’s going to snow.”
“Judging by the weather lately, it seems like the hunting season might come earlier this year.”
"We’ll have to deal with the matter concerning Princess Christie before then. It would be troublesome if she stayed under the excuse of the heavy snow."
"Now that you mention it, you're right. I’ll make sure to prepare for her departure as soon as possible."
Gazeff nodded obediently in agreement.
Veloa remaining in Schwarhan was not something he desired either.
No matter how unskilled she might be, she too was one of Zerpheus’s people.
They couldn’t allow her to continue acting as Zerpheus’s eyes and ears indefinitely.
"However, the princess's side will strongly resist whatever actions we take, so this issue should be dealt with by the First Prince—"
“Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
An abrupt, frantic voice interrupted Gazeff’s words.
"What’s all this commotion about?"
Gazeff furrowed his brow and pushed up his glasses, which had slid down.
“The maid from Baroness Morco is here!”
“...”
“...”
Without a word, the expressions of both men in the room hardened.
Cabelenus immediately got up from his seat and swung open the closed door.
“Bring me the maid.”
"W-well, the thing is, that child is currently receiving treatment from a physician. Her whole body is covered in wounds..."
The attendant offered an awkward smile, stealing a glance at Cabelenus.
Even though he was simply following the order to report anything related to Madame Morco immediately, he couldn’t help but feel his heart drop every time he saw the fierce expression of his master.
The master, who was usually unreadable, would change expression multiple times a day — but only when news came from Madame Morco.
“What do you mean? Treatment?”
“It appears there was an attack.”
“...”
"According to the maid’s testimony, an intruder appeared, and Baroness Morco was holding them off. That's why I immediately came to report to Your Highness and request that soldiers be dispatched—"
"Is that all? Anything else?"
Cabelenus’s eyes flickered fiercely as if they were about to ignite at any moment.
The attendant swallowed dryly.
“Oh, she said the intruder seemed to be a mage.”
“A mage?”
“Yes. She also mentioned it was a woman with pink hair…”
"Veloa Christie."
Cabelenus gritted his teeth.
There was only one woman in this castle with pink hair.
“Isn't that the princess? Why would she go after Baroness Morco…”
Ignoring the attendant’s words, Cabelenus immediately dashed off.
His mind was blank.
The heartbeat, which had been racing wildly from earlier, was now beating even more violently.
・・・・・
"So far, four bodies have been confirmed. The damage is so severe that it’s difficult to identify them, but considering various factors, it seems the bodies belong to..."
Gazeff muttered weakly, rubbing his forehead.
He tried to suppress his emotions, but he couldn't ignore the rising emptiness.
He couldn't avoid blaming himself for the tragedy, believing that a small detail he had failed to notice had led to it.
“Princess Veloa, Maid Shirin, [1] Baroness Morco, and…”
It appeared to be the young lady herself.
A defeated sigh escaped from between Gazeff’s clenched teeth.
He was forcing himself to hold it together, but he couldn’t help the stinging at the corners of his eyes.
The blood relative he had always relied on, the maid who had been like a younger sister to him, and even his new master.
No one’s death felt insignificant.
It was unbearably painful.
"I'm sorry. Because of my foolishness, I failed to properly serve Your Highness. Even if you were to kill me right here, I would accept it without complaint."
In the end, Gazeff dropped to his knees right then and there.
The face of the young man, who had only ever known success, was now filled with nothing but guilt.
"...She’s not dead."
Cabelenus muttered softly.
Gazeff’s gaze followed Cabelenus.
Except for the red hair, the severely damaged body was almost unrecognisable, making it difficult to definitively identify as Alicia. However, based on the hair colour, body shape, and the clothes on the body, there were more reasons to assume it was her.
“There’s no way that thing is her. She’s not dead. All of this is just a trick.”
Cabelenus grasped the sword at his waist.
Dark blue veins bulged across the back of his hand as he gripped the hilt.
“Since the body hasn’t been in that state for long, those bastards who did this probably haven’t gone far. Immediately seal off all the borders of Schwarhan, including the castle. Make sure not a single rat can escape.”
“...”
“I won’t repeat myself.”
"Your Highness…"
Gazeff looked up at his superior with bloodshot eyes.
Even at a glance, it was clear Cabelenus was not in his right mind.
His gaze burned fiercely, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
・・・・・
“You don’t look well, Natalie.”
“If it were you, would you be looking any better?”
“Is that so? I’m just glad I get to spend some relaxing time with you after such a long while.”
Zerpheus poured tea into Natalie’s cup with a calm smile.
Natalie stared at the steaming cup and let out a deep sigh.
“…I don’t understand what you’re thinking.”
“It’s okay. Not just you, everyone feels that way.”
“...”
“You all constantly question my true intentions and doubt me.”
“It’s because you act in a way that invites that.”
“I’m simply doing whatever it takes to get what I want.”
After pouring his share of tea, Zerpenus set the teapot down.
The subtle aroma of tea gently filled the room.
“As expected, it’s not as good as the tea you brew.”
“...”
“How about you brew the tea next time?”
“If you’re just going to say nonsense—”
“The First Prince of the Christie Kingdom foolishly believes that by relying only on his inadequate strength, he can become emperor. As soon as he ascends the throne, he’ll proclaim himself emperor and raise a rebellion against the Blanche Empire.”
Zerpheus smiled softly, watching the petals floating in the tea.
“In the meantime, Princess Veloa has died.”
“...”
“The death of Princess Veloa will provide him with a strong justification.”
“Justification? No way, you…”
“A war will break out soon between Schwarhan and the Christie Kingdom.”
Zerpenus took a sip of tea as if nothing was wrong.
His face was completely calm as if they were having an everyday conversation.
“If that happens, do you realise what kind of disgrace will fall on Cabelenus?”
“The man who killed the woman who was almost his fiancée and even destroyed her homeland. With a record like that, wouldn’t it be fair to add another line to Cabelenus’s notorious reputation?”
“Is that how you treat your own brother?”
"I've always done it this way, so why are you making a big deal out of it now?"
Zerpenus smiled slyly and nodded.
"Above all, this is the only way to make my brother act."
“...”
“War only becomes interesting when blood is spilled — be it from the enemy or your own side. But Cabelenus is far too reluctant to shed the blood of those beneath him. Even in a battle where the outcome hangs by a thread, there’s nothing wrong with taking bold risks while you're still young.”
"You, really…"
Natalie grimaced in disgust, wrinkling the bridge of her nose.
“Natalie. Notoriety is not a disgrace. It’s a symbol of power.”
"A symbol of power?"
"I don't need a virtuous ruler. What I need is an absolute sovereign whom no one dares to defy."
If Cabelenus was meant to be cherished like a jewel held close, Zerpheus wouldn’t have thrown him onto a battlefield where life and death crossed paths hundreds of times a day.
After all, it was none other than Zerpheus himself who had built up Cabelenus’s infamous reputation from the very beginning.
Zerpheus gently tilted Natalie's head up with his thumb.
"Do you really think Cabelenus will stay unaware forever?"
"It doesn’t matter if he knows — actually, he probably already does."
"What?"
"He’s a wise child. There’s no way he doesn’t know what I’ve been up to all this time. Just as I know him well, he knows me just as well."
No matter how perfect the imitation, the essence remained unchanged.
Zerpheus was fully aware of his younger sibling’s true intentions — silently playing the part of a loyal hound while patiently waiting for the perfect moment to hunt.
"Even if he knows from the start, nothing will change. Even if he’s going through puberty, my younger brother is too kind to ever refuse whatever I say."
"Say it right. You mean he can’t refuse, and you know that.”
"That’s what makes him endearing. Normally, when faced with an unbeatable opponent, one would tuck their tail and run, but that child always tries to find a way to win, no matter what.”
“...”
"Deep down, he’s dying to drag me out, but since he knows he can’t beat me, he never crosses the line. All to secure victory in the final moment."
Except for one thing — anything related to that woman.
A brief, twisted smile flickered at the corner of Zerpheus’s mouth.
“What a strange woman. Some insignificant pest managed to shake that usually calm kid.”
"You’re the strange one."
Natalie scoffed mockingly.
"What I’m doing is a noble sacrifice for the greater good."
“That’s just your own idea of the greater good.”
"If you want to get angry, go ahead. But it won’t change the outcome that’s already set."
“...”
"In the end, Cabelenus will take up his sword. Even though he knows it was I who killed that woman, he’ll unleash his fury not on me, but on the Christie Kingdom. As he always has, he will trample countless things underfoot and revel in his power, becoming a ruler more flawless than anyone else."
All he had to do was wait for that moment.
Zerpheus let out a soft chuckle as he caressed the handle of his teacup.
Translator's Corner:
[1] The author wrote Shirin, so I'm assuming Shirin and Shizuna must have swapped along the way. Shirin was the one who stabbed and fought Madame Morco while Shizuna held Alicia hostage. (But in the next chapter, you'll sort of see why it's Shirin).
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