Chapter 86: Second Prince Kaline.
In the center of the first-floor main lobby of the Daphne estate.
Hardin, Malion, and the Maw rcenaries stood blankly, their faces dazed.
“So… tired.”
“I feel like I’m going to die. Seriously.”
Flies buzzed around their bodies, a foul stench rose from their tattered clothes, and their skin was cracked and peeling.
These were the glorious wounds earned after nearly a month of rotting (?) in the Ruslan Mountains.
And before they could even recover properly, they had rushed straight back to the estate, so it was no wonder they were in such poor shape.
‘Still, we made it back to the estate safely.’
A transparent film of tears began to well up in the corners of Malion’s eyes.
When Hardin had suddenly made a deal with Princess deia, he hadn’t thought they’d ever return here again… So standing here alive and proud (?) filled him with deep emotion.
At that mont, Hardin tilted his head and asked.
“Hey, are you crying?”
“No, of course not. What are you talking about?”
“Looks like you’re crying.”
“Please stop saying weird things, brother.”
“No, but…”
While the two were bickering for a mont—
Thud!
“Hardin! Malion!”
A voice rang out from the second floor.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
Cobalt ca storming down the stairs.
It seed he had been in a eting, as the retainers ca rushing down after him.
Hardin casually raised his hand in greeting.
“Ah, Father, it’s been a while.”
In that instant—
Thwack!
Viscount Cobalt suddenly grabbed Hardin’s cheek and moved it side to side as he questioned him.
“Did… did you get tortured or sothing?”
“Excuse ?”
“I knew it! You were tortured, weren’t you!”
What on earth was this man talking about?
Hardin looked puzzled and tried to wriggle out of his grip.
Grab!
The Lord pulled Hardin into a tight embrace with both arms.
“Keugh! Cough!”
“Hardin!”
Caught off guard by the sudden bear hug, Hardin gasped for air.
‘Why is this man so strong?’
The surprise attack snapped him awake.
It sohow felt like he had beco even stronger than before.
Hardin’s face turned pale as he flailed.
Watching this, Malion quietly took a step back and repeated Cobalt’s words in his head.
‘Torture? What’s he talking about?’
anwhile, the Lord’s strength and voice grew even more intense as he hugged Hardin.
“Thank goodness, I’m so relieved. I truly thought you all were going to die out there. Being tortured is awful, but… just being alive is what matters.”
“Young Master, you’ve suffered greatly.”
“We’re truly glad you’re safe.”
Mulgybson and Gadolph, standing nearby, also looked oddly somber as they comforted Hardin.
Swoosh.
Hardin ducked out from the Lord’s arms and spoke.
“No, what are you talking about? Why would we be tortured?”
“Because of the cri of insulting the imperial family, of course. You don’t have to hide it. You all ca back alive, so I, we, can forgive everything.”
“…”
…Why was he acting like this?
Hardin took a small step back from Cobalt and looked around.
From Malion to Mikkelsen and Beryl.
Now he noticed how sunken their cheeks were, and how they looked worse than slash-and-burn farrs.
They absolutely looked like they’d been tortured.
‘…So that’s why.’
Hardin let out a deep sigh and responded.
“We weren’t tortured or anything like that.”
“What did you say?”
“I’m telling you, we didn’t commit any cri against the imperial family, and we weren’t tortured.”
“Huh?”
Cobalt blinked and stared at Malion as he asked again.
“But in the letter Malion sent… it clearly said you t the Fourth Princess deia?”
“Yes, we did et her.”
“Then… you’re saying you weren’t tortured? You didn’t commit any cri against the imperial family?”
“Why would I cause that kind of trouble? It’s not like I’m so wild troublemaker.”
Hardin shrugged as he answered.
‘He is a troublemaker.’
‘…Unbelievable.’
‘How can he say that so shalessly, without even a drop of saliva in his mouth…’
None of them dared say it aloud, but everyone standing behind him silently glared at Hardin as they recalled the disasters (?) they had endured.
Cobalt asked again.
“Then what on earth happened there? Why did it take you so long to return?”
“What do you an, we got an investnt from the princess.”
“An investnt?”
“Yes, she agreed to invest in our family through the Fabione system.”
“…”
Cobalt went quiet with a strange expression, and the retainers around him looked dumbfounded.
‘No way… is he really lying this shalessly?’
It made no sense from the start.
Fabione was a system that royalty could only use once in their lifeti.
And he claid she used it to invest in our family?
For a trade port project that might not even succeed?
“Hardin, that’s a funny joke.”
“Haha!”
Was it because the tension had eased? Or did Hardin’s words sound too shaless?
As Cobalt gave a short laugh, the retainers around him let out a series of dry chuckles.
Hardin and Malion briefly exchanged glances.
In the end, Malion stepped forward and said,
“Father, it’s true.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Everything Hardin said is true. Thanks to his efforts, we safely escorted the princess back to the capital… and as a reward, she promised an investnt. He even received this bracelet as proof.”
Malion grabbed Hardin’s left wrist and held it up to show the bracelet.
‘At this rate, Father should believe us.’
Cobalt narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the bracelet, then let out a short laugh again.
“Malion, you don’t need to go this far.”
“What do you an?”
“I understand why you’d do this out of embarrassnt… but there’s no need to go so far as to lie like this. I’m not so narrow-minded that I can’t forgive a single mistake my sons make.”
“…Excuse ?”
No, sothing… he seed to be seriously misunderstanding the situation.
Malion, clearly flustered, blinked rapidly for a while before adjusting his glasses and replying.
“Father, it’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”
“What?”
“Hardin defeated all the monsters near Ruslan Fortress and rescued the refugees. Isn’t that right?”
As he turned his head and asked,
“The Third Young Master is telling the truth.”
“It’s true, my Lord!”
The Maw rcenaries—or rather, the Maw squad mbers—nodded without hesitation.
Of course, everyone watching this…
‘Looks like they rehearsed this beforehand.’
‘Tsk tsk tsk…’
‘They must’ve thought they’d be in serious trouble for the ss they made.’
They could only look at them with a mix of pity and sympathy.
At that mont, Hardin let out a deep sigh and said,
“No, I’m telling you, it’s really true. Why won’t you believe ?”
“Then, do you have any kind of proof?”
“I showed you already. This is the proof, isn’t it?”
As Hardin once again held up the silver bracelet on his wrist, Cobalt shook his head.
“Not that kind of thing. I an a contract or a letter.”
“R-right. That bracelet could’ve just been bought from a jeweler.”
“…”
These guys…
Hardin scratched his forehead in frustration, then let out a long sigh and said,
“Fine, I’ll show you. Whether this is real or not.”
“What?”
This was actually a magic device.
He’d been told he could contact Princess deia anyti with it, so he just needed to demonstrate it.
Hardin closed his eyes briefly and drew mana from his core.
Imdiately after—
Wooooong.
The silver bracelet began to emit a soft blue glow, and Hardin spoke.
“Ah, Princess. Please answer .”
“…”
There was no response.
This… this is how you use it, right?
Furrowing his brow slightly, Hardin tried again.
“Excuse ? Please respond.”
“…”
Still, nothing but silence.
“Is anyone there?”
How long had he been shouting into the air like that?
Viscount Cobalt gently patted Hardin on the shoulder and said,
“Hardin, that’s enough. I’m just glad you made it back alive.”
“No, I’m serious! Why isn’t she answering? Hello? Hello!”
Hardin slapped the bracelet in his palm in frustration, and Cobalt closed his eyes and opened them again as he said—
“Let’s just leave it at that.”
“I’m telling the truth!”
“Yes, yes… You seem very tired. Go on and get so rest. I haven’t finished the eting yet, so I’ll return to it now.”
“No, wait a second! Hold on, Father!”
Hardin reached out his hand, but Viscount Cobalt and the retainers only climbed the stairs, wearing pitying expressions.
And then—
Thwack!
“Damn it! What is she doing not answering!”
Hardin hurled the bracelet to the floor and fud with frustration.
---
Inside the Fabian Imperial Palace, in one of the inner corridors.
Tiles reminiscent of a chessboard were laid out with not a hair out of place. The walls were adorned with golden ornants, flags, and the sun emblem symbolizing the imperial family.
Long chandeliers hanging above added the final touch to the antique atmosphere.
Sunlight streaming through the windows bathed the corridor in brilliance, making the phrase “Path of the Sun” feel anything but exaggerated.
And in one section of this breathtaking hallway—
“This way, please.”
“Very well.”
A minister appeared and walked inside, followed by a group trailing behind.
Step, step.
Dressed in immaculate formal attire, with straightened backs and confident strides—
“….”
At the center of them walked deia, her silver hair flowing gently, her steps steady and composed. Surrounding her were escort knights, including Lieutenant Benjamin.
Unlike the calm expression on deia’s face, Benjamin and the other knights showed visible signs of tension.
‘We’re going to have an audience with His Majesty…’
‘Phew… this is nerve-wracking.’
After walking down the corridor for so ti, an enormous, gold-gilded door appeared at the end.
The leading minister spoke to the guards stationed at the door.
“This is Princess deia. She has an audience scheduled with His Majesty.”
“Yes, we’ve been instructed to let her in imdiately.”
Creeeak.
As if they had been waiting, the guards opened the doors at once, and deia stepped inside.
A vast throne hall ca into view, with a red carpet stretching down its center.
Step. Step.
As deia walked along the carpet, dozens of gazes poured in from both sides where the retainers were lined up.
Among them…
She also spotted a few of her blood relatives.
“deia…”
“…Hmph.”
The soft-faced First Prince Koredian.
The lanky Third Prince Valfrun.
Second Princess rian, soon to be wed into the House of Shadow…
All of them looked at deia with a mix of pity and sympathy.
All except for one person.
‘Kaline…’
The most handso man standing at the very back, with pale skin.
Kaline Fabian, the Second Prince of the Empire.
With one corner of his lips curled up as if it would split, he waved lightly at deia and mouthed a silent “Hello.”
“…”
For a mont, deia’s body trembled ever so slightly.
Trying not to show it, she clenched her fists tightly and turned her gaze forward again. There, she saw a middle-aged man seated on a tall throne.
With pale skin and sunken cheeks… it would be generous to say he looked healthy.
He was the current Emperor of the Fabian Empire, Leorine.
“You have returned… deia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As deia knelt and bowed her head, the escort knights followed suit imdiately.
The Emperor looked at them for a mont, then continued speaking with a cough.
“Cough! Cough! You… must have suffered greatly. I heard you saved the refugees… and even defeated the beasts behind it all.”
“I rely did what I was supposed to do.”
“No… no. You achieved this without supplies or support, and that outco is sothing that truly honors the na of the royal family. Cough! Don’t you all agree?”
As Leorine slightly turned his head, the retainers who t his eyes gave small nods in agreent.
They all seed to be carefully watching each other’s reactions.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Just then, the sound of clapping rang out from the side.
It was Second Prince Kaline.
“That’s right, Your Majesty. She deserves praise a hundred tis over. What do the rest of you think?”
“...Indeed.”
“I agree as well.”
Only then did the retainers bow their heads and readily voice their support.
Leorine let out a long sigh before slowly opening his mouth.
“See? Everyone seems to feel the sa.”
“I am honored.”
As deia bowed her head once more, Leorine coughed a few more tis before continuing.
“And so… I intend to grant a reward for your efforts. Is there anything you desire, deia?”
“A reward…?”
That was when—
Wooooong.
The bracelet on deia’s left wrist began to emit a blue light.
“…?!”
At the sa ti, a familiar voice rang out.
‘Hardin… Daphne?’
deia flinched montarily and furrowed her brow.
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