Chapter 70
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Chapter 70
Late into the night.
A man walked through a sparsely populated back alley.
Glimpses of silver hair and unsettling golden eyes visible between the hood pulled low over his head.
It was Dias Hessen.
And there was another man walking through that alley.
A shadow that had been pursuing Dias Hessen for some time now.
Dias Hessen, observing the shadow's movements from the corner of his eye, turned into an alley devoid of people.
The shadow followed in his wake.
But when the shadow rounded the corner in pursuit, Dias Hessen had vanished without a trace.
It was then that the shadow began searching frantically for any sign of Dias Hessen's whereabouts.
From behind the defenseless shadow, Dias Hessen emerged, dagger in hand.
In the moment Dias Hessen approached silently and swiftly, raising his blade toward the shadow's throat—
Clang!
The dagger struck a magical barrier and bounced back.
'A mage, then.'
Dias Hessen quickly drew his longsword and began his assault on the shadow.
Yet the shadow's magical defenses were equally formidable.
Dias Hessen's brow furrowed.
An ordinary mage would be unable to withstand him in close combat like this.
The fact that this shadow was blocking every strike meant they possessed considerable skill.
'This is becoming troublesome.'
It was then that Dias Hessen tightened his grip on his sword and moved to close the distance for another attack.
The shadow swiftly created distance and spoke.
"Vivian is deeply concerned about you."
Vivian.
At that name, Dias Hessen's fierce assault halted.
"Who... are you?"
I knew that those sent by Kaltz were searching for me.
But until now, no one had ever found me.
The shadow, Lahedis, continued speaking instead of answering the question.
"Vivian still needs you."
"..."
"Please stop this and return to her."
From Hector, who had been investigating Dias Hessen's movements, I learned that he had been watching the Emperor's every action.
I didn't know exactly what Dias Hessen was plotting, but it wasn't difficult to surmise that it was something quite dangerous.
Dangerous enough that he would never want to see Vivian again.
So I desperately hoped he would abandon all the plans he had devised and return to Vivian.
Not only would it be difficult for me to subdue someone as skilled as Dias Hessen, but even if it were possible, I had no desire to injure someone precious to Vivian.
Dias Hessen listened to Lahedis's words in silence, but that was all.
He turned back down that path.
Suddenly, Lahedis's words from moments ago overlapped with a memory of hearing something similar long ago.
[Dain, Vivian still needs you. So....]
[....]
[Live for her.]
[...Serenia.]
[Live on, and love our daughter deeply. For both of us.]
I had survived all these years for one reason alone—the final promise I made to my wife.
So when Vivian grew up.
When that child could live in this world without me.
That was when I would plunge a blade into the heart of the man who killed my wife—that singular obsession had kept me alive.
Perhaps... that perceptive child had dimly sensed my reluctance to die, my mere survival.
[I won't get married or anything! I'll live with Dad and Rachel forever and ever! So you can't make me move out and be independent, right?]
So that was why she had been so anxious.
[Vivian is very worried about you.]
The moment I heard Lahedis's words, the emotions I thought I had perfectly suppressed burst forth.
'...Vivian.'
I missed that child so desperately.
Just one more time, at the very end.
But the barrier of the Demon Realm was gradually weakening.
Once the barrier disappeared entirely, the Emperor would surely find some pretext to invade the Demon Realm again.
I had to kill the Emperor before then and prevent the war.
For the sake of her country, which my wife had sacrificed her life to protect.
For the sake of this world where my daughter, born of demon blood, would have to live.
'Vivian cannot be revealed as my daughter.'
Whether this plan succeeded or failed, I would become a traitor.
I could not drag that innocent child into my revenge.
And more than anything else....
If I saw Vivian coming into my arms, I feared I would abandon everything I had planned and choose to live by her side instead.
Whether it's a future where you meet a good person and have a blessed marriage, or a future where you stay by my side as you wished....
I'm curious about your future.
But that was a future I had no right to desire.
Dias paused mid-step, closing his eyes as he suppressed the surging emotions once more.
Having extinguished his feelings, he arrived at an abandoned house located on a desolate street.
As he entered the creaking structure and descended into the underground chamber, men who had been waiting greeted him.
They were people who had come together for this endeavor, each with their own reasons.
"I think we should accelerate the plan ahead of schedule."
At Dias's bombshell announcement the moment he arrived, all the men flinched.
Dias announced his revised plan.
"We strike the Emperor at the coming Hunting Festival."
Since Vivian's person had found me, I had to achieve my goal as quickly as possible and disappear.
So I wouldn't become a blemish on that child's life.
* * *
"Ugh!"
The moment I woke and caught my reflection in the mirror, I let out a scream.
Last night, after crying my heart out at the Clock Tower, I'd fallen asleep without even washing....
"Am I a fish or a person?"
My eyes had swollen grotesquely. Damn it!
The only saving grace was that today I had the day off from the Guard.
Looking at my hideous appearance, I found myself thinking of Lahedis, who must have foreseen this state last night.
After crying like that, facing him today felt awkward, but still....
'I'm glad I told Lahedis.'
Perhaps because I'd poured out all the emotions I'd been holding back, my heart felt considerably lighter than before.
I splashed my face with cold water as much as possible, then applied moisturizer generously.
After that, my face looked reasonably presentable.
'I wonder if Lahedis has already gone to the Dining Room?'
Worried I might run into him in the Corridor, I cracked my door open and peeked out before leaving, but the Corridor was empty.
Only then did I slip into the Corridor and head toward the Dining Room, though I kept glancing back.
Then a question suddenly occurred to me.
'But why am I avoiding Lahedis? Like I've committed some crime.'
Aware of my hesitant behavior, I stopped looking back and headed straight to the Dining Room.
But why was it.
As the Dining Room drew closer, I felt both the urge to flee and a strange, tingling excitement.
Confused by these bewildering, indescribable emotions, I arrived at the Dining Room entrance before I knew it.
The Butler was waiting by the Dining Room entrance, as always.
"You seemed quite exhausted yesterday, but today you're back to your usual self?"
I tilted my head, not immediately understanding the Butler's words, but soon felt embarrassed as I remembered how I'd returned to the Estate last night.
"Um, Butler. How did I get to my room yesterday? Did the Escorts perhaps carry me...?"
"Lahedis brought you back."
At this completely unexpected name, I went blank.
'Lahedis, carried me....'
For some reason, my heart raced and heat flooded my face.
I'd been feeling genuinely confused and strange since earlier.
"I, I see."
"When the Duke heard that, he said your stamina seemed weak, so he ordered me to prepare a menu today that's good for your health."
The Butler said this and pulled open the Dining Room door.
"Wait—!"
I tried to check my hair and face one more time before entering.
But the experienced Butler was faster.
And yet....
"Why are you so flustered? Come sit down at once."
The Duke sat alone in the Dining Room, greeting me with a welcoming expression.
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