Chapter 128 – Baron Ancelot (3)
Just as I stepped out of Milon’s mansion.
“Please wait!”
“……?”
Nella, Raven’s disciple, was rushing after .
“Do you have sothing to say to ?”
“Well……”
After hesitating for a mont, Nella took a deep breath.
“First of all, I want to apologize.”
“Apologize?”
“Before I ca here, I heard from Narakas about who your master is.”
“……”
Narakas, from what I’ve seen, is quite tight-lipped. Trust is the foundation of information trade, after all.
If he said sothing, there must have been a reason.
“You’re not angry?”
“I trust him.”
“……!”
Nella’s eyes widened for a split second before reverting back to her usual expression.
“I heard you haven’t known him for long, though……”
“The depth of trust isn’t always proportional to the ti spent together.”
There were plenty of people whose trust lessened the more you got to know them.
“……Well, I can’t help but envy that.”
“Envy?”
“I know better than anyone how hard it is to find soone you can truly trust.”
Though it seed there was more to her story, I didn’t have the ti to dig into it now.
“What is it you want to say?”
“It’s connected to what we’ve just been talking about. I don’t trust people easily. However, the fact that you know my old na, which only a few would rember…… That alone proves you’re the Great Hero’s fellow disciple.”
Now it made sense why Narakas had revealed my identity. Even he wouldn’t have known the old na of one of countless orphans.
He must have asked to confirm her identity, and Nella likely grew curious in the process.
“Are you planning to seek revenge?”
By this point, I had no choice but to ask in return.
“Revenge for my master? Or yours?”
“……”
Nella’s face darkened.
“I see you don’t trust my master.”
“There’s no trust between him and yet.”
I heard he worked for the emperor in the Poison Palace for ten years to protect a daughter I didn’t even know I had.
But now, I couldn’t believe anything without seeing the proof for myself.
“……I understand your reaction.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Well, if soday I successfully create a cure for dwarfism……”
Muttering as she looked at the ground, Nella suddenly lifted her head.
“In other words…… If you’re convinced I’m soone you can trust, then……”
“Then?”
Looking at as I repeated her words, she asked earnestly.
“Would you make a deal with , then?”
After the brief encounter with Nella, I went to et the Marquis Foltaine, as originally intended.
‘I don’t know what kind of deal that kid is talking about, but it must be related to Raven sohow.’
I was curious about what kind of deal she would propose. In any case, I needed to procure the dicinal ingredients quickly for various reasons.
“Why are you here, you rascal?”
Aside from that, the other party seed quite miffed with . He must have heard from his n that assassins targeted last night.
Since I’d stubbornly brought the danger upon myself, his reaction was entirely understandable.
“I apologize for worrying you.”
“Hmph. Why are you apologizing if you’re so bent on risking your life?”
“No matter how recklessly I treat my body, isn’t it a different story for soone who sees as family?”
“……”
Marquis Foltaine glared at like a flatfish.
“You think calling family only when it’s beneficial for you will lt my heart?”
“I was only being honest. I’m always grateful.”
“Oh, gratitude, you say? How about you beco my actual child, then? Then I’ll forgive you for everything.”
A wry smile crept onto my face at his remark.
Look here, friend. If I hadn’t died, we’d be of the sa age. Still, rational thoughts aside……
‘Sohow……’
As soone who had never had parents, I always felt sothing stir in when I saw Marquis Foltaine. A corner of my heart would ache in an unfamiliar way.
‘……If I had real parents, would it feel like this?’
Letting out a sigh, I spoke up again.
“I’ll be leaving for the Black Swan soon.”
“Damn it!”
Marquis Foltaine’s face scrunched up imdiately.
“You apologize, but nothing changes!”
“……”
Being like this brought back mories of my dead Andy.
I regretted being able to play with my son only a few tis.
I endlessly blad myself for not spending even a little more ti with him when I had the chance.
I figured many fathers must feel what I felt now. Caught up with work, busy earning money, or just tired.
For various reasons, they drift further from their children. And before they know it, their kids have grown up too fast.
A wall grows between parent and child during that ti. Tearing down that lifelong wall is no easy task.
‘If Marquis Foltaine truly thought of as his child, he might feel the sa.’
With that thought, I made a suggestion. Or rather, a request.
“Will you co with ?”
“……!”
Marquis Foltaine’s eyes widened as if they’d pop out of his head.
“To that cursed land of death again?”
“If you co with , I’d feel much more at ease.”
“……”
After a long silence, he stared at and then.
“……Heheheh.”
A soft chuckle escaped him.
“This ti, I like what I’m hearing. Fine. Let’s go together.”
Hearing his response, I couldn’t help but smile.
Thank you, Marquis Foltaine. For caring so deeply about soone as unworthy as .
***
The next visit was to Duke Herman’s estate.
“I appreciate what you did at the royal court.”
“Did you co all the way here just to offer thanks?”
Duke Herman asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“I felt that if I didn’t say it in person, you might not recognize my sincerity.”
“As expected of a child beloved by my old friend. Your social skills are already exemplary.”
That old friend, of course, referred to Marquis Foltaine.
“Still, it was your own skill that earned you the title and land. There’s no need to thank .”
“Even so, gratitude is gratitude.”
“Well, if you’re truly thankful……”
Duke Herman’s expression suddenly grew serious.
“Take good care of Princess Winley. If I ever see tears in her eyes because of you……”
“Do you truly think I’m the kind of shaless man who makes won cry?”
“……I’m saying this because it’s you, though? You really didn’t hold back your blows back at the knight’s exam.”
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat awkwardly. After all, I understood what he was feeling. I bet at that ti, he wanted to beat half to death.
His affection for Winley likely mirrored those Marquis Foltaine had for . Perhaps even more so.
‘Since he believes himself responsible for the death of Winley’s mother, the third queen.’
Having already heard the general details from Narakas, I gave him a bitter smile.
“Oh, by the way, I’ve heard from Marquis Foltaine. You’ll soon be heading to your territory, yes?”
“Sorry? You got word already?”
But I’d only just left……?
“Do you think communication crystals are just for show?”
“Ah……”
I don’t know about anything else, but he really is good at taking action.
“I’ll get two of my knight orders prepared. Take them with you.”
“……!”
The Herman family had seven knight orders in total. To offer two was a significant gesture, nearly a third of their forces.
“That’s too much. Now that I’ve seen the area, I don’t think such precautions are necessary……”
“Think bigger. An empty land with no people is too desolate. Security will be a concern as well.”
“There are people, though.”
“You don’t an the Verdant Veil, do you? Are you seriously considering putting thieves in charge of security?”
Since I didn’t know each one of them personally, I couldn’t say that I was going to.
At my silence, Duke Herman smiled slyly.
“Use them well and return them when you’re done. I’ll just consider it a temporary reassignnt.”
“Won’t the knights have complaints?”
“Well, what can they do? Orders are orders.”
Duke Herman, who had responded jokingly, beca serious again.
“This isn’t just about maintaining security. You saw it at the court, didn’t you? The hostile glances aid at you.”
“Ah……”
“You’ve already been targeted once. Soone else might co for you out of jealousy. But no one would dare act rashly when faced with my family’s emblem.”
How could I refuse his generosity when he was going this far to make accept?
‘And they say that a single word can pay a debt of a thousand gold.’
I bowed deeply with sincerity.
“I’ll repay your kindness when I’m stronger.”
“Kindness? If you’re really thankful, just treat Her Highness well.”
No.
That wasn’t enough. True gratitude required direct action.
‘I heard the third queen left a will in the Empire.’
Though Duke Herman didn’t know yet, I did.
‘If Narakas fails to retrieve it, I’ll do so myself.’
Yes.
Even if the Emperor refused to hand it over, I decided I would take it—by force, if I had to.
***
The final eting of the day was with Duke Serin.
“I must admit, I was surprised you chose to help . I never imagined you would.”
“I realized how reckless the prince truly is. Better to align myself with you than risk the madness turning my way.”
“So this ti, I’ll be bathing in my own blood, and not soone else’s.”
“Hahaha.”
Duke Serin chuckled, then smoothly shifted topics.
“Speaking of which, the assassins from last night? They were hired by the eke Principality.”
“Is that true?”
“They spent quite a sum trying to kill you. Given the Empire’s efforts to eradicate skilled assassins, finding competent ones must’ve been a challenge.”
“How did you find out?”
Duke Serin shrugged.
“You underestimate , Your Highness. I’m one of only three dukes in this kingdom, and this is my territory.”
“I never underestimated you, Your Grace. I’m simply impressed.”
Duke Serin leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with expectation.
“Don’t you think you should exact so fiery revenge?”
It was clear he relished testing .
Perhaps he believed we were alike, certain that no matter how I pretended to be different, the end results would be the sa.
He wouldn’t accept that he might be wrong. To do so would an questioning everything he’d lived for.
‘If he needs a turning point…… I’ll give him one.’
“Where are they now?”
“……!”
Duke Serin’s eyes sparkled. He looked delighted. Soon after, he leapt to his feet.
“Follow . I’ll take you to them myself.”
* * *
Reviews
All reviews (0)