Chapter 99
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 99
A few days later.
On one of the rare days when Curtis Rohan had off, Lahedis came to our home.
At Curtis Rohan's summons.
'I was certain I'd made it clear that he didn't need to come if Curtis Rohan was still uncomfortable with it....'
Rather than being uncomfortable, Lahedis arrived as if he'd been waiting for this moment, and he and Curtis Rohan each claimed a spot on the Reception Room sofa.
I sat between them with an anxious expression.
Curtis Rohan crossed his long legs and folded his arms, scrutinizing Lahedis as he sipped his tea.
'They say you can tell how much someone has opened their heart to another by their posture during conversation.'
Curtis Rohan's posture screamed 'Closed off. Very, very tightly closed!' to anyone watching.
It was Curtis Rohan who broke the deadly silence first.
"You made quite the appointment on short notice, yet you arrived at precisely the right time. Your schedule must be rather light normally?"
"No matter how busy I am, I must come when you call, sir."
Sir.
At that form of address, Curtis Rohan's brow twitched.
Lahedis gazed at Curtis Rohan with a composed smile, yet somehow sparks seemed to fly between the two of them....
"That form of address is rather burdensome."
"Then perhaps the title 'father-in-law' would suit better."
At Lahedis's brazen response, Curtis Rohan's brow twitched even more noticeably than before.
It was a clear defeat for Curtis Rohan.
Curtis Rohan closed his eyes tightly for a moment as if suppressing irritation, then opened them and moved on to his next line of attack.
"What do you do to occupy yourself these days?"
Curtis Rohan set down his teacup and added,
"During my academy days, I saw many who relied solely on the title of heir and grew lazy. I absolutely despise that type."
"I attended heir training diligently, but as you're aware, my extended stay in a foreign kingdom meant I'm still learning through practical experience."
'The skill with which he naturally weaves in that form of address is quite remarkable....'
I watched their psychological warfare unfold with a sense of relief (?) that Lahedis's talent for teasing me hadn't gone anywhere.
"So you're saying you have no other occupation at present?"
"Besides that, I manage a Guild on a modest scale."
"A Guild?"
"Terrak, to be precise. I believe you may have heard of it."
Upon hearing Lahedis's answer, Curtis Rohan's expression shifted to one of realization, and he murmured, 'So that's how he found it so uncannily back then....'
I wasn't sure what 'back then' Curtis Rohan was referring to, but in any case, his expression still suggested he found Lahedis disagreeable.
However, since he was engaged in work, Curtis Rohan didn't press the matter further.
Instead, he moved on to the next topic.
"If you've built a Guild, you must have undertaken quite a bit of dangerous work?"
At that question, Lahedis offered an ambiguous smile instead of a direct answer.
A few days ago, having glimpsed the darkness of the past decade that Lahedis had endured, I could only surmise that there were stories from an underworld I knew nothing of.
Interpreting that smile as an affirmation, Curtis Rohan asked as if he'd been waiting for this moment.
"Then you must be confident in combat?"
"I've never actually lost."
"I haven't lost, but there have been draws."
Huh?
How does Father know that Lahedis has had a draw before?
I looked at both of them with confusion, but they simply exchanged glances.
"I have no intention of pairing my daughter with someone weaker than me."
At Father's next words, I was taken aback.
No, wait... if anyone else said that, fine, but coming from you, Dain Lowswood, isn't that just saying you'll keep your daughter by your side forever?
Just as I was about to stop Father after grasping his intention.
"If Vivian is willing, I would like to formally request a duel with you right here and now, sir."
At Lahedis's ready acceptance, my mouth fell open.
Meanwhile, Father let out a hollow laugh at Lahedis's eager response.
Then he smiled coldly and spoke.
"I accept that duel."
As Father rose from his seat, Lahedis stood as well.
"Wait just a moment!"
Alarmed, I quickly stepped between the two of them.
"I'm not okay with this!"
But the two of them, far from backing down...
"Our princess, worrying about Dad too. Don't worry, Dad will win."
"I told you I'm confident in earning recognition. Don't worry, Vivian."
They seemed pleased that each was concerned for the other, then began eyeing each other warily again.
I blinked in bewilderment.
'Wait, they're not even listening to me—why are they both just thinking about fighting?!'
Just as I was wondering how to stop these two men, someone knocked on the door.
"Lord Dain, may I come in for a moment?"
It was the voice of Butler Liman.
Standing closest to the door, I brightened at the appearance of my savior and opened it.
"What is it, Liman?"
Liman, about to speak immediately, hesitated upon seeing Lahedis standing behind me.
I instinctively sensed that the matter he brought was related to Lahedis.
Lahedis, seeming to pick up on this as well, asked him.
"What is it?"
"Young Master, it would be best if you returned to the Duke's Residence with haste."
At his following words, not only Lahedis but Father's expression hardened as well.
"It has been revealed that the mastermind behind the Hunting Festival incident is the Duke himself."
* * *
Orpen sat alone upon the throne in the empty Audience Chamber.
Whenever his heart grew uneasy, it was his habit to come to this place and gaze down upon the vast, desolate Audience Chamber beneath his feet.
'Yes. The entire Empire lies at my feet—what was there to fear?'
As I gazed down at the empty Audience Chamber, the turbulent emotions that had roiled within me these past few days finally began to settle.
The source of that turmoil was, naturally, Lahedis.
[What has protected me until now is His Majesty's grace in wishing to save my nephew.]
The day Lahedis revealed his identity at the Art Museum opening ceremony.
Before the assembled nobility, he attributed everything—his childhood spent cross-dressing and his feigned death—entirely to Orpen's scheme.
By casting Orpen as a benevolent Emperor determined to protect his nephew despite the nobility's opposition, he had preemptively struck, making it impossible for them to challenge him.
'That cunning little wretch....'
Because of this, challenging Lahedis's very existence would have made my position laughable.
'But if I have justification, that changes everything.'
I was currently waiting for Kaltz.
Days ago, a Dark Mage captured by the Knight Order had identified Kaltz as the mastermind behind the Hunting Festival incident.
It was something carried out under Orpen's orders.
Upon hearing testimony from the Dark Mage that Kaltz was the culprit, the knights obtained my imperial sanction and immediately raided the Duke's Residence.
'By now, my spy should have found the forged documents hidden in the Duke's Study.'
Once Kaltz was dealt with, I could redirect some of the attention focused on Lahedis.
Moreover, the suspicion I harbored toward Dain Lowswood would also disappear.
'Dain Lowswood—if I cannot bind that man, then disposing of the Duke as a troublesome element will suffice.'
Suddenly, the image of Dain threatening me with the Demon King's heart came to mind.
I would have preferred to dispose of him alongside Kaltz in one fell swoop, but he still had too much utility.
Not merely for the Demon King's heart, but as a symbol of victory over the demon race.
'Once I obtain the Demon King's heart, it would be cleaner to dispose of him as well.'
With the Demon King's heart in hand, there would be no reason to wage war against the demons.
In an age of peace, heroes were unnecessary.
'Still, it seems about time the knights should be returning.'
Orpen licked his lips in anticipation of seeing Kaltz kneel before him with a devastated expression.
Yet despite considerable time having passed, the knights showed no sign of returning.
"These days, all those fellows are so sluggish. They move without any vigor—what are they doing?"
It was just as Orpen, growing weary of the lengthening wait, clicked his tongue.
"Y-Your Majesty."
The Chief Attendant's voice came from beyond the door.
Naturally assuming it was the knights returning from the Duke's Residence, Orpen granted permission before the Chief Attendant had even finished speaking.
"Let them in."
The moment his permission fell, the firmly closed doors of the Audience Chamber swung open.
"We found the evidence—"
Orpen, turning toward the door with anticipation, froze mid-breath.
The face that stepped through the open door was....
"It has been a long time, Your Majesty."
The face of the nephew he had killed ten years ago.
Bearing the resemblance to the brother he had feared his entire life.
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------