・・・・・
Benjamin looked at the house of cards that Lucas had meticulously built and said:
"Remarkable. I had no idea you possessed such a delicate talent."
"Talent? Building a card tower is hardly something you’d call a talent..."
He had only stacked them out of boredom, without much thought. Lucas, who always frowned at Benjamin’s words, started to reply irritably but then suddenly scowled.
"... Wait, how exactly have you been perceiving me all this time?”
“I beheld Your Majesty just as you truly are.”
Why did that sound like an insult? But getting angry here would mean denying his true self. Lucas was annoyed at Benjamin, who always managed to slip out of difficult situations so smoothly, yet he had no choice other than to keep his mouth shut.
"Isn't that what they're built for — to be knocked down? There’s nothing more satisfying than toppling something someone else has painstakingly constructed in an instant."
Benjamin exhaled a thick puff of smoke and lightly tapped the bottom of the card tower with his finger. As if on cue, the house of cards that Lucas had painstakingly built over several hours came crashing down. Watching this unfold, Lucas's eyelashes quivered faintly as he spoke.
"I’m sure it would be quite enjoyable to watch you crumble in an instant.”
"Go ahead and try if you can."
“After all, you can't do anything without me,” Benjamin added with a sweet, almost picturesque smile.
Before the hot-tempered Lucas could fly into another rage, Benjamin swiftly placed the documents he had brought in front of him.
"Read this."
After grumbling a few times, the emperor quietly began to read the documents that came into his possessions. The names: Claudia Chamberlain, Felix Chamberlain, Irene Amber and Erica Depilacion, were listed, detailing information about those currently aligned with Claudia.
‘But why did he bring information about someone already dead and gone?’ Lost in thought, Lucas pondered that detail.
"No wonder I thought it was strange.”
A long tail was bound to get caught.[1] Benjamin tossed the documents he had been flipping through into the fireplace and removed the cigarette from his mouth with his fingers. With a fluid motion, he casually pressed the glowing end of the cigarette onto the document Lucas was reading.
"Do not read this. The information has been fabricated."
In a flash, the paper blackened, reeking of smoke. Soon it flared up into fierce flames. Lucas alternated his gaze between the back of his hand, which had been resting on the documents, and the scorch marks next to it, his lips trembling with anger.
"Use your words, crazy bastard! Did you intend to burn my hand?!”
In the first place, it was absurd to give him something to read and then tell him not to.
True to Benjamin’s expectations, Lucas erupted in a furious rage. Looking down at the collar he had been grabbed by at least three times today, Benjamin forced a wry smile.
“Of course not. I was worried that Your Majesty might read malicious information and make an incorrect judgment, so in my haste, I acted impulsively.”
Lucas could bet everything he had that Benjamin had done it on purpose. However, if he voiced his suspicion, Benjamin would undoubtedly concoct dozens of excuses, claiming he hadn’t meant to, and then draw his sword and say, ‘Very well, I shall take everything Your Majesty owns’ so Lucas held back.
He could never win a verbal battle. Instead, Lucas personally practised the saying that the fist was closer than the law.[2] He shook off the blood from his knuckles before speaking.
"So this is fabricated information?"
In response, Benjamin wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand and replied.
"That's right. You know how vulnerable this industry is to such rumours. Silentium is making a foolish move.”
"There's no way to prove it."
"You're right. That's the catch, but how long do you think it’ll last…”
“If this continues, it will inevitably collapse in an instant someday,” Benjamin continued, gesturing with his chin towards the cards scattered across the table.
"Since when and how did you find this out?"
"The ruler of Silentium has always been shrouded in mystery. That person always used a proxy so no one has ever seen them in person. However, I recently happened to learn that the ruler of Silentium is a woman.”
Benjamin added, “I had someone monitor her, and we finally caught her trail.” He mentioned it almost as an afterthought.
"And?"
"The situation became clear to me.”
"What situation?”
Benjamin looked at Lucas with a hint of pity, frustrated by his inability to grasp the decisive clue. However, he was the one who led Lucas to become such a tactless emperor so he sighed and explained kindly.
"The woman seduced by Irene Amber"
“...”
"From the beginning, Silentium has been in Lady Amber’s grasp. I had my doubts, but after seeing this information I bought today as an experiment, I’m now certain.”
Lucas slowly processed Benjamin’s words and then suddenly frowned.
“So you're saying you gave me that information you bought as an experiment and tried to burn my hand, correct?”
Benjamin simply smiled without answering and redirected the conversation back to Irene.
"I initially thought it was just a coincidence that Lady Amber had the Chamberlains backing her.”
"You’re changing the subject..."
"Who would have guessed she was manipulating Silentium? No matter how I think about it, it truly feels like a waste. Instead of dismissing her because I was pressed for time, I should have kidnapped or threatened her to keep her close. This is the first time someone has made me constantly regret my decision."
Certainly, if Benjamin’s words were true, Irene Amber’s abilities were far beyond just being ‘a rough diamond.’[3] She had a knack for skillfully navigating challenges, always making the best possible move within her means. At times, it even made one wonder if she could foresee the future.
"Everyone who gets involved with that woman, even the most rational ones, seem to lose their reason. It's intriguing. I find myself curious about her capabilities and wonder if she could have the same effect on me.”
"Well... You’re welcome to have her.”
However, no matter how exceptional Irene Amber was said to be, Lucas remained unimpressed. If he could fully capture Claudia’s attention, Lady Amber would simply come to him as a bonus. Moreover, he didn’t find her particularly attractive to begin with. Shaking his head, Lucas recalled the pale, round-faced woman who always lingered by Claudia’s side. Women’s tastes were truly perplexing.
"If you get rid of that annoyance, I might forgive you for trying to burn my hand."
"I was already planning to do that.”
"You seem more interested in her than Claudia these days. Have your tastes changed?"
"I prefer people who are useful. At least she’s more helpful than a mere folding screen,[4] wouldn’t you agree?”
Benjamin gestured towards Constantine, who stood silently in the corner of the barracks with his eyes closed, as if deep in meditation. Constantine, who was criticised as being an ornament, seemed unfazed. Despite making the greatest contribution in acquiring the Devil’s bow he remained silent.
Instead, Constantine diligently wiped his sword clean of the blood before sheathing his sword. It was only after roughly tying up his waist-long hair did he finally chose to speak.
"And what exactly have you accomplished other than running your mouth?”
"Your reaction’s rather dull.”
"I merely stated the truth. You should stop treating people like toys. More importantly, there's something that's been bothering me for a while now…”
Constantine’s gaze drifted outside the barracks. It turned out he wasn’t meditating earlier but rather sensing the subtle energy in the air. With a troubled expression, he fixed his eyes on the dark-haired man, clearly unsettled by an unshakeable discomfort.
"Something feels off. I’m talking about that man, Walter.”
Benjamin, who had been drowsily watching him, suddenly perked up and moved closer to Constantine.
"Ah, as expected. Did you notice it too, Sir? I've also felt that something was amiss…”
"What do you mean?"
Lucas stared intently at Walter, who had become the focus of their gaze. Known as the Victor of War, Mercenary of Judgment and Destruction, Walter’s mere presence was enough to boost the morale of the knights and soldiers. His formidable aura commanded respect, so while everyone sent him admiring glances, no one dared to approach him.
Lucas squinted and blinked repeatedly, studying Walter closely. He couldn’t spot any difference from the first time he had seen him.
"What's strange about him?”
“The atmosphere around him is quite different from when we saw him at the banquet hall.”
"In what way?"
“He just feels… strange?”
"Hmm."
Lucas examined Walter carefully for one last time.
"I don't see anything?”
"I was wrong to have any expectations. It seems Your Majesty has poured all your delicate senses into stacking cards."
"You’re being overly sensitive. What do you mean by ‘feeling’? What exactly do you feel?”
For once, Benjamin decided to extend a rare show of patience and kindness toward his lord. Wearing a mask-like smile, he then explained the discomfort he had felt from Walter all along.
“It seems his malice has diminished a bit compared to before. All in all… my instincts have never led me astray."
Constantine also nodded in agreement.
"I used to feel a faint magical energy around him, making me wonder if he had ties to a sorcerer, but today I don’t feel anything at all. In fact, I’m starting to wonder if that thing is even a living being…”
In the end, both of them could only provide vague descriptions of their feelings saying “something’s different,” without being able to pinpoint exactly what had changed. Lucas, blinked in confusion and finally spoke.
"I still don’t get it.”
At that, the gazes of the two men turned sharply to Lucas, simultaneously. It was a look that could kill, their eyes conveyed utter contempt. Now donning an even more impenetrable facade, Benjamin spoke with forced kindness and gentleness.
"Your Majesty, you seem to be in the way, so why don't you go and indulge in your favourite pastime of killing? There seem to be many young and vigorous individuals today.”
"These crazy bastards..."
The pitiful emperor, Lucas truly wanted to execute them.
・・・・・
Felix returned like Cinderella, and the tearful reunion with the Chamberlains came to an end. In fact, the tragedy I had feared didn’t occur. The Chamberlains didn’t reject Felix, who had completely changed. Although everyone seemed quite shocked, it was only a matter of time before they accepted him. As expected, the Chamberlains hadn’t changed at all.
And then, peace seemed to return for a while. The doll intricately crafted by Ilypia went to the battlefield in place of Felix. In the meantime, I found myself with little to do, so I devoted myself to potion-making in the laboratory again.
However, the difference from before was that Felix was right beside me. Felix had an illustrious past as the greatest sorcerer in the Empire. Being with him allowed me to achieve unprecedented success that was incomparable to before.
And since Felix could no longer use magic, he seemed to enjoy researching potions. I paused from stirring the potion and turned to look at him. He was flipping through a book after giving me some advice here and there.
"What are you doing?"
"I’m reading a book."
Just as Felix said that a page tore with a loud rip. It seemed like he was just trying to turn it, but he was having trouble controlling his strength.
"I think the paper is too weak."
Saying that, I paused what I was doing and climbed onto Felix's lap.
"I'll turn the pages for you!”
Felix fell silent for a moment as I boldly declared this while sitting on his lap. He gently toyed with my earlobe using the hand that had just been turning the pages before he spoke.
"It's a bit dangerous to sit here."
Translator's Corner:
[1] Refers to the idea that if you are careless and leave too many traces, you can find yourself in unpleasant situations.
[2] "The law is far and the fist is close" is a proverb that means although the law is the best means of resolving personal conflicts, in reality, the rule of law does not always work and violence is often used as a faster and more effective means.
[3] Refers to the saying "a diamond in the rough" which means someone or something with potential or talent but lacking training or polish.
[4] This implies that the person being compared to a folding screen is simply taking up space and not contributing anything meaningful.
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