Chapter 83
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Chapter 83
"Yes. It appears we must investigate the circumstances of this incident from multiple angles in greater detail."
Orpen's expression hardened.
'The barrier that was crumbling a fortnight ago is now perfectly intact....'
Unless the barrier had been restored.
"Then this couldn't have been the work of demons."
"They must have learned something from their defeat twenty years ago—they wouldn't move so recklessly now, would they?"
As the possibility of war receded, the nobles who opposed it felt relief wash over them.
Meanwhile, those who had yearned for war fell silent.
Sensing the public sentiment flowing against his intentions, Orpen gritted his teeth and moved to settle the matter.
"Fortunately, the situation hasn't deteriorated as gravely as we feared. Since this incident requires more thorough investigation, I shall adjourn today's assembly here."
The nobles bowed respectfully to the Emperor and withdrew.
Kaltz was just about to leave the Audience Chamber when—
"Duke, remain. I wish to speak with you privately."
Once all the nobles had departed, only Kaltz and Orpen remained in the vast chamber.
"Speak freely, Your Majesty."
Orpen recalled the face of the man he had seen at the Hunting Ground yesterday.
That face overlapped with Kaltz's own.
Orpen clenched his trembling hands and opened his mouth.
"...Rachel. That child. Is he truly dead?"
Orpen had struck at the heart of the matter, yet Kaltz's eyes didn't flicker.
I had anticipated this.
I had witnessed Lahedis lose his composure and reveal his power at the Hunting Ground yesterday.
Orpen, who had suffered from inferiority ever since Leopfried's death, could not have failed to notice it.
But Lahedis had now grown strong enough to protect himself—more than strong enough.
He was no longer a weakness that could be exploited.
Yet separate from that, seeing Orpen—the man who had killed Rachel—dare to speak his name twisted my very being.
"I fail to understand why you would suddenly reopen such an old wound of mine."
"I thought I saw a child who resembled you, that's all."
Kaltz let out a cold smile before countering.
"That child was killed by Your Majesty's own hand, was he not?"
It was Orpen who faltered at this.
He had not believed Kaltz was entirely ignorant of his role in Rachel's death, yet never before had it been spoken aloud to his face.
"Surely you're not seeing ghosts again, are you?"
Not long after Leopfried's death,
Orpen had been plagued by Leopfried's phantom every night for a time.
He had even summoned an exorcist, claiming Leopfried was trying to kill him.
The one who observed this most closely was Kaltz, who had been Prime Minister then.
He deliberately mentioned Orpen's weakness, scratching at his pride.
"If you truly doubt me, why not dig up that child's grave and see for yourself?"
Kaltz deliberately offered an ambiguous answer.
Hoping that Lahedis would endlessly fear and suffer, never knowing if he was truly Rachel or not.
"Given how occupied you must be with this incident, I shall take my leave."
Despite his words, Kaltz's actions remained impeccably courteous as he turned and departed from the Audience Chamber.
The mentor's gaze upon the chamber door—where a child once bound to him by sacred vows now stood—had lost all warmth.
"How can you not see, Orpen, that what torments you is not a phantom, but the karmic weight of your own sins?"
* * *
The world was bathed in the crimson hues of sunset.
I stood before the Lowswide Marquis Residence.
The reason I'd come here during my leave was....
I glanced sideways at the man standing beside me—a man who looked exactly like me.
'Why did Curtis Rohan insist on coming to the Marquis's Residence?'
This afternoon.
While I was searching the Library for information about spirit summoners who could conjure two or more types of spirits, Curtis Rohan suddenly appeared.
And then, out of nowhere....
[Vivian, come with me to the Lowswide Marquis Residence.]
[Huh? Why there?]
[I have something to discuss with the Marquis.]
[What? Even if you're my father, I can't mix personal connections with official matters!]
I refused, suspecting he wanted to use my connections to establish a relationship with the Marquis, but Curtis Rohan was persistent.
He soothed me by saying it was fine since he already knew the Marquis.
'Can I even trust that?'
Curtis Rohan had already lost my trust by leaving only a note before disappearing from home.
I came to the Marquis's Residence only because he wore me down, but I remained skeptical.
Curtis Rohan, oblivious to my doubts, simply grinned away.
As I studied his inscrutable expression, I suddenly noticed something different from usual.
"By the way, Curtis Rohan. Where are your glasses?"
Now that I thought about it, he hadn't been wearing glasses since we met at the Imperial Hunting Grounds.
"Oh."
"Did you lose them? Should I buy you new ones?"
It was lamentable that a grown man would be so careless as to lose his glasses, but there was nothing to be done about it.
That fool was my father, after all.
At my concerned question, Curtis Rohan chuckled and ruffled my hair as he spoke.
"No. I don't think I'll need them anymore."
'Then why did you wear them so diligently all this time?'
As the question formed in my mind, we arrived at the gate of the Marquis's Residence.
"Oh, it's Vivian."
The Knight Guard standing watch recognized me and greeted me first.
"Hello, sir. You must be working hard again today."
"At least I'm doing better since I rested until yesterday. But the Marquis hasn't returned from court yet. What brings you here?"
"I apologize for arriving without notice, but I absolutely must meet with the Marquis."
At that, the Knight Guard's gaze shifted to Curtis Rohan standing beside me.
"And who is this?"
"This is my father. He said he has something urgent to tell the Marquis...."
The Knight Guard's eyes, returning to me, narrowed with suspicion.
He was looking at me as though I were some vulgar social climber clinging to power, scheming to advance my father's career.
'All the image I've built up until now!'
Ugh.
I glared at the culprit who was systematically dismantling my reputation in real time.
But Curtis Rohan, on the other hand....
"I don't believe we've met. Would you fetch Liman for me?"
Not only did he speak casually to the Knight Guard, but he even called out the Butler's name without hesitation!
'Has my father lost his mind?'
I knew bringing him here was a mistake!
"Tell Liman that Dain―"
"Dad, no!"
Panicking, I clamped my hand over my father's mouth to stop him from saying anything more.
"L-let's just go back to the Duke's Residence. We can come back later...."
It was right then, as Curtis Rohan and I were struggling before the suspicious gaze of the Knight Guard.
"What is all this commotion?"
The Butler appeared, apparently having been inspecting the Garden.
Before I could even stammer out an excuse, the Knight Guard whispered the situation to the Butler first.
'It's ruined....'
My carefully cultivated image, my career....
Frustrated, I pinched my father's firm side repeatedly, but he merely greeted the Butler with composure.
"Still the same, Liman."
Now that I thought about it, how did my father know the Butler's name?
As I lifted my head with the belated question, I saw the Butler's eyes trembling without direction as he gazed at Curtis Rohan.
"Could it be...."
The moment the Butler opened his mouth with a choked voice.
The Marquis's carriage appeared.
The carriage came to a halt before the closed gates.
And naturally, it was the Marquis who descended from it.
"Vivian? Why are you standing before the gates instead of going inside―"
The Marquis, recognizing me and approaching, suddenly stopped in his tracks upon noticing Curtis Rohan standing beside me.
"I've told you countless times that the Marquis is a busy man—you must make an appointment before visiting―"
The Aide, who followed behind, also fell silent upon seeing Curtis Rohan.
At the same moment, the Marquis's eyes reddened.
"You...."
Curtis Rohan, toward the Marquis who could not continue speaking, raised his hand with a composed expression.
"It's been a while, sister."
...Huh? Sister?
I turned over the word that had slipped from Curtis Rohan's lips once more, and only then did the meaning dawn on me—my mouth fell open in shock.
So, that means....
'Our father is that 'Dane Lowsweed'?!'
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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