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Chapter 121
Chapter 121
Chapter 121 – Sense of Belonging (2)
“……”
After a moment of contemplation, Duke Serin shook his head.
“That would be difficult.”
“Why is that?”
“Your Highness, are you really planning to entrust your vengeance to someone else? That’s hardly a manly thing to do.”
I was well aware of Duke Serin’s background. I had gathered sufficient information through the Mask of Night.
Despite being young and born an illegitimate child, he had managed to exact his revenge successfully.
“It’s always a challenge to make a change on one’s own.”
These were words born from my own experiences.
“I heard that even you, Your Grace, received significant help from your maternal family to rise to your current position. Isn’t that so?”
“……”
Duke Serin fell silent.
His mother was merely the daughter of a lowly baron. Meanwhile, his father’s lawful wife was of royal blood—a vast difference in social standing.
Yet, his maternal background was not entirely useless.
Since his maternal family was merely that of a baron, no one paid them much mind. Moreover, his brothers were betrayed by those they underestimated at a critical moment.
“Didn’t Your Highness once say that there’s no such thing as kindness without a price? You’re right. I don’t believe my maternal family helped out of mere goodwill. In the end, their choice turned out to be a successful gamble.”
“It’s not so different from my current situation, is it?”
“……”
Another stretch of silence followed.
“……Your Highness, to be honest, I have nothing more to lose. I don’t wish to get involved in someone else’s fight only to end up resented.”
“But haven’t you already gotten involved?”
“That was just……”
“The Meeke Principality won’t consider personal debts between you and me at all.”
I stated confidently.
“I know exactly why you decided to act. Your body moved on its own, didn’t it? It must have reminded you of the past.”
Of course, what I truly meant was entirely different.
You’re a politician. That sense of urgency made your body react before your mind could.
“There’s nothing special about it. Just follow where your instincts take you this time as well.”
“Then, this time, I’ll have to step back.”
“That’s a decision your mind made after careful consideration, not your instincts.”
I intentionally released energy, as if expressing fury from my whole body.
“Do you think I’ll stop here? If I do nothing, situations like earlier, where my life is threatened, will only continue to happen.”
“……”
“That won’t do, right? I will struggle even harder to survive. The more I do, the greater the resentment my homeland will harbor towards you. From now on, whenever they plot against me, your face will be the first they envision.”
Unable to bear it, Duke Serin shot up from his seat.
“I need to clear up this misunderstanding. Now seems like the perfect time, with Your Highness currently confined.”
“It’s already too late.”
Duke Serin flinched and halted in his tracks, looking down at me as I flashed a faint smile.
“By now, others would have already started moving ahead of you, Duke Serin.”
“……Who might that be?”
“The ones who claim to be my patrons.”
***
“……”
The night had deepened, but Duke Veder could not find rest. The same was true for Prince Enzi, who was anxiously pacing in the room.
‘We can no longer expect support from the Hart Kingdom.’
A heavy sigh echoed in the room. Duke Kairos had made it crystal clear. No murders or assaults would be tolerated here.
Given the current situation, what other options did they have?
‘Should we resort to assassination?’
As Duke Veder pondered this grim option with a serious expression—
Knock, knock, knock.
“Your Highness, Your Grace. Some guests have arrived.”
“……!”
“……!”
The two men stiffened.
It was already well past midnight. The only people who would visit at such a late hour……
“Let them in!”
As expected, the lineup of people that entered the room was surprising.
‘Duke Herman, Marquis Foltaine, and even Marquis Milon……’
No less than three of the most influential noblemen from the Hart Kingdom had come.
“Apologies for visiting at this late hour.”
“Not at all. We weren’t able to sleep anyway.”
Duke Veder greeted them in place of the startled 1st Prince Enzi.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Then, if you’ll excuse us.”
As they settled in, Duke Veder asked with a hint of curiosity.
“So, what brings you all here?”
“Though the incident has already occurred, we must tie up loose ends properly, don’t you think?”
A gruff voice cut through the air. It was Marquis Foltaine.
“We just came from receiving a detailed report from the joint investigation team.”
“The investigation results, you say?”
Duke Herman nodded.
“Yes. Regarding the fire at the Twilight Palace. It was confirmed that the envoys from the Meeke Principality were staying in the Guest Palace at the time.”
In other words, the people from Meeke had been cleared of any arson charges.
Though it was undoubtedly good news, Duke Veder and Prince Enzi couldn’t shake off a sense of unease.
“So, given everything that’s happened, we believe it would be best for the Meeke envoys to return home at first light.”
“……!”
It was like a bolt from the blue.
“Wh-What are you saying!?”
As Prince Enzi’s voice echoed with disbelief, Marquis Foltaine stepped forward again.
“It’s not just the Meeke Principality. We’ve decided that anyone cleared of charges should return home in order.”
“What nonsense is this……!”
Marquis Foltaine’s lips curled into a sly smile.
“I fail to see how this is unreasonable. The real culprit is still on the loose—someone who even threatened the former king’s life. How can we be certain they won’t target our guests next? Or would you take responsibility for their safety?”
“But…… Why should we take responsibility for a failure to protect your own palace?”
“That’s why I’m telling you to leave. We won’t ask you to take responsibility.”
“……!”
It sounded reasonable on the surface, but from the perspective of the Meeke envoys, it was unacceptable.
“W-We can help!”
At that moment, Prince Enzi shouted out in desperation.
“Now that we’ve been cleared of suspicion, we’ll do our utmost to assist your kingdom! We can help catch the perpetrator!”
“……”
Marquis Foltaine sneered coldly.
“Does that assistance include continuing your power struggles on our land?”
“Th-That’s……!”
“We’ve had enough chaos as it is. Take your family feuds back home.”
Faced with Marquis Foltaine’s harsh retort, Prince Enzi’s face turned deathly pale. If they were sent back like this……
‘B-Being confined to the palace will be the least of my worries. For sure.’
That was how terrifying his mother, the Queen, was.
“……Please, just wait a moment.”
Finally, Duke Veder, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.
“Has this matter been coordinated with the Empire?”
Marquis Foltaine’s face twisted in displeasure.
“We’re merely sending guests back from our land. Why would we need the Empire’s permission for that?”
“Because it’s a state of emergency.”
“You..!”
Before Foltaine could lose his temper further, Duke Herman intervened.
“This isn’t something the Empire should involve itself in. Three of our great nobles have already agreed on the matter.”
“It’s the law in this kingdom that, during a national crisis, a majority of great nobles can act in place of a royal decree.”
Duke Veder’s lips curved into a subtle smile.
“I’m familiar with your kingdom’s laws. Given that the former king was harmed, I understand the urgency, but His Majesty the current king is still very much alive, isn’t he? And besides, you don’t even have a majority.”
“Do you want us to drag our king, who’s been resting, out of his chambers in the dead of night because of your blunder?”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Marquis Foltaine shouted.
“Enough. Calm down. You’re too old to be getting this angry.”
“Just take a deep breath. In, out. In, out.”
Duke Herman and Marquis Milon took turns trying to calm him down.
Just then.
A sudden voice rang out from the direction of the entrance.
“If it’s about reaching a majority, I believe there’s no problem.”
“……!”
“……!”
“……!”
Everyone turned their gaze to the source of the voice.
“D-Duke Serin?”
Duke Veder’s expression twisted in shock. The suspicion he had feared was now a confirmed reality.
Simultaneously, the others present exchanged knowing glances.
‘You should’ve sided with us earlier. After all, at least on the surface, we’re on the same team.’
‘Heheheh, you sly fox. I can see right through your schemes!’
‘Honestly, I just want to go home.’
Duke Herman, Marquis Foltaine, and Marquis Milon conveyed their thoughts through their expressions.
On the other hand,
‘Why are you doing this to us, Duke Serin?’
‘I never took you for this kind of person…… How could you!?’
The other side bristled with hostility.
“Phew……”
Duke Serin couldn’t help but sigh as he observed the scene.
“……Apologies for my tardiness.”
As dawn broke, five prominent nobles gathered in the royal audience hall.
“……You’ve all come together so early in the morning because of last night’s incident, I see.”
Duke Herman, Marquis Foltaine, Marquis Milon, and Duke Serin. However, he just looked at the rest of the nobles one by one with a meaningful look.
“I’ve heard the gist of it. But first, let’s summon the one responsible for this mess.”
With that, King Terry turned to his attendant.
“Bring that boy here at once.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
Before long, Duke Kairos entered with Ancelot in tow. King Terry stroked his chin with a curious expression.
“Before we get into anything else, I have just one question for you. As a knight, what exactly is your current skill level?”
Ancelot glanced around at the royal guards surrounding him.
“Don’t worry. Feel free to speak your mind.”
“It’s a bit hard to quantify, but……”
“An estimate will do.”
“……I don’t think I’d lose to any of the royal knights of this kingdom.”
“……!”
King Terry’s eyes widened in surprise. The royal guards stiffened, but the other nobles remained unfazed.
‘Haha, such spirit. Was I like that at his age?’
‘Heheheh. Even if the guards came at him in droves, they wouldn’t stand a chance.’
‘This is getting more interesting, Prince.’
‘I wanna go home.’
They all harbored different thoughts.
“Now, should I consider this a blessing for the kingdom……?”
King Terry’s eyes locked onto Ancelot, probing him. Asking if he was going to leave after they’d nurtured him so well.
“I’ve already been abandoned by my own family.”
“Huh?”
“Moreover, I’m the fiancé of Princess Winley.”
A vague answer for a vague question. King Terry’s lips curled into a grin.
“You’re quick-witted.”
“If I do return home, by then I might even be sitting at the same level as Your Majesty.”
“……!”
Ancelot’s voice rang out confidently.
“If things progress that way, the Hart Kingdom and the Meeke Principality may soon call each other brother nations, don’t you think?”
“……Ha! Ahahahahahaha!”
The king burst into hearty laughter.
“A bold son-in-law, indeed.”
“And on that note, Your Majesty, may I request something in return?”
At that moment, Ancelot’s eyes gleamed with determination.
“If you entrust me with catching the arsonist of the Twilight Palace, I will bring them to justice.”
“……!”
King Terry and the assembled nobles held their breath. They all knew who the culprit was. It wasn’t a matter of ignorance, but rather the lack of concrete evidence to act upon.
“……Can you really do it?”
In essence, what King Terry was really asking was:
“Can you prove the Empire’s guilt without getting yourself killed?”
Basically.
“Yes.”
Ancelot nodded resolutely.
“Very well! If you manage to catch that scoundrel, I shall bestow a great reward upon you.”
“Your generosity knows no bounds. There is, in fact, a specific reward I have in mind.”
King Terry couldn’t help but ask, intrigued.
“A specific reward? What would that be? A title? Or perhaps a sword or mana pill that’s been passed down in our family?”
King Terry’s voice was filled with certainty.
It was a reasonable assumption given Ancelot’s young age and his apparent obsession with the sword.
But his response was anything but ordinary.
“Black Swan.”
“……Huh?”
“The remaining half of that barren land. If it pleases Your Majesty, I would like to claim it as mine.”
* * *