Chapter 249

Chapter 250. You Can’t Pass (5)

Humans believe that elves are born from trees. If the elves knew, they would laugh. Elves also give birth and raise children through mating, just like humans.

But there are indeed elves born from trees. High Elves. These beings, known as the primordial elves, are born as fruits of the sacred tree called the World Tree.

And—

‘Kadia Igradsil.’

She, a High Elf, is called the savior by the elves, but at the same time, she was Keter’s third wife.

The Dark Elf Lilie had never once strayed from her position as the Royal Sword Instructor and her role as a supporter of the Second Prince. But this time, as an elf, she confronted Keter.

“What did you do to Kadia? There’s no way she would have bestowed her blessing on a scoundrel like you.”

“Blessing?”

Keter genuinely didn’t know, but to Lilie, it seemed like he was evading. She placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Other elves might not know, but you can’t deceive my eyes.”

Swish.

Lilie ran her finger over Keter’s right eyebrow.

Then, an emerald-green spot appeared. Though invisible to the eye, Keter could feel something burning, allowing him to sense the blessing Lilie spoke of.

“Whoa. What’s this? I didn’t know I had this.”

It was a secret even from his past life. Yet, it was revealed in the royal palace, by the hand of a Dark Elf he had never met before.

Seeing his reaction, Lilie’s face filled with confusion. Keter’s expression showed he was genuinely seeing it for the first time.

“You didn’t even know Kadia had bestowed a blessing on you? That’s….”

She stopped mid-sentence, realizing her position and the current location.

Many lords were watching. No matter how softly she spoke, this wasn’t a place for casual conversation.

“You, follow me. Let me be clear, this isn’t a request.”

“I can’t. I have to guard the bridge.”

“Are you really going to keep up this ridiculous act even in front of me?”

“Who said it’s an act? Is it because I’m an elf, or because I’m part of the royal family, or both? You’re not in a position to make requests.”

“As an elf and as a member of the royal family, I’m not in a position to request anything from you. You’re in a position to follow my orders.”

“If we had met somewhere else, that might have been the case. But not in this situation.”

At Keter’s sly words, Lilie bit her lower lip.

Why was this Dark Elf staying in the Lilian Kingdom?

Why was she, as the Royal Sword Instructor, teaching the elves’ precious swordsmanship to humans?

Why was she meddling in human politics, supporting the Second Prince?

It was all to find Kadia. To her, Kadia was both light and salt. She had spent decades trying to find Kadia, who had gone missing in the Lilian Kingdom.

But there had been no progress. Even with the Second Prince, Rakan, actively helping. So, she was half-giving up.

Then she met Keter.

At first, it was just to deliver Rakan’s message. A warning to stop destructive acts in the sacred royal palace.

But what a coincidence. The moment she saw Keter’s face, she felt it. The trace of Kadia she had been searching for so desperately.

The sudden encounter brought uncontrollable excitement and joy. That’s why she acted hastily. Lilie admitted it.

‘Keter, this cunning bastard. Why would Kadia bestow the one and only blessing of nature on someone like him…’

If the time and place weren’t now, as Keter said, he would have no choice but to follow Lilie’s orders.

Lilie is a close aide to the Second Prince and a member of the royal family. No matter how prestigious a family is, they can’t ignore orders.

But the current situation clearly showed Lilie’s urgency. With both the Second Prince and the First Prince watching, she couldn’t waste time arguing with Keter. If she did, not only would the princes’ sharp gazes fall on her, but the lords would also find it suspicious.

‘If I let Keter go now, will I ever see him again?’

There were still four days until the lords’ assembly. Time-wise, it was enough, but Lilie shook her head.

‘Keter, this guy is insane. He could guard the Queen’s Bridge for four days. No, he’s more than capable of that.’

Once the lords’ assembly period ends, the royal council will begin. By then, she might never see Keter again.

This chance encounter, under the Second Prince’s orders, might be the last opportunity. No, the probability was very high.

Convinced, Lilie raised her head and signaled to the Second Prince, who was watching her.

‘Please give me some time.’

The Second Prince, who had been watching, was surprised. He had been with Lilie for decades, but this was the first time she had made such a sudden request.

‘Is Keter that special?’

The Second Prince had seen it all. The way Lilie and Keter whispered secretly. He couldn’t tell what they were talking about, but if Lilie was making a request, it must be something very important.

Nod.

Rakan granted Lilie’s request. Immediately, Lilie turned her back and shouted to the lords.

“Until noon tomorrow, crossing the Queen’s Bridge is prohibited. This is by the order of Prince Rakan.”

“……?!”

The sudden prohibition left the lords bewildered.

Then, Keter stepped forward and said something to Lilie, who sighed and added.

“The Aegis family may cross the bridge.”

“Hmph! I’ll go first.”

Enoch, the lord of the Aegis family, pushed Minerva’s back. Minerva passed through the bridge with Enoch, glaring at Keter.

But unfortunately, Keter didn’t look back at Minerva. Their gazes missed each other.

Seeing this, Enoch made a complicated expression for a moment, then pulled Minerva’s hand and said.

“Minerva. I heard there’s a shield from hundreds of years ago in the royal armory. Let’s go see it.”

Thus, the Aegis lord entered the royal palace’s main gate with Minerva, while Keter followed Lilie through a hidden side door into the palace.

* * *

“What’s happening now?”

In front of the Queen’s Bridge.

The middle-aged men gathered here were all lords responsible for their respective families.

Respected by hundreds, even thousands, and kings of their regions, they were now mere spectators.

“The Royal Sword Instructor personally taking Keter away… I can’t believe my eyes!”

“Rather than taking him away, it’s more like escorting him, isn’t it? She stopped him from blocking the bridge, even invoking the Second Prince’s orders!”

“Huh, so the Second Prince is after Sephira…?”

The lords whispered and exchanged opinions when a carriage arrived.

The lords didn’t care who arrived. They weren’t in a position to be intimidated. But when they saw the carriage’s flag, they hurriedly made space.

The golden lion emblem symbolizing the First Prince. Additionally, three hawks were intricately carved, appearing alive. It was the symbol of the prestigious Forte family from the west.

In this world, where there’s a first, there’s a second. The Forte family was the second most powerful noble family after the Brownings.

Click.

While ordinary nobles’ carriages were opened by someone outside, the Forte family’s lord opened the carriage door himself and stepped out.

The Forte family’s lord, with a slender build and a playful face that didn’t match his middle age, looked around and said.

“I came quickly after hearing that Sephira’s thunderous brute was blocking the bridge… but all I see are gloomy faces?”

The Forte lord had come alone, without guards or aides, so no one responded. Only Durian, who was acquainted with the Forte lord, explained the situation.

“Keter just entered the palace with the Sword Instructor, Lilie.”

“Ah, Lord Durian. Thanks for the explanation. But tell me, why is everyone standing here without crossing the bridge?”

“That’s because the Second Prince ordered that no one cross the bridge until noon tomorrow.”

“Huh, why?”

“It’s just speculation… but it seems to be for Keter.”

“Blocking the bridge for Keter? So, Keter blocking the bridge was the Second Prince’s intention, is that how we should interpret it?”

At the Forte lord’s deduction, Durian, despite his large frame, hurriedly waved his hand.

“I only reported what I saw.”

“Hahaha! Why so surprised, Lord Durian? I was just speculating. Isn’t that right, everyone?”

The lords awkwardly laughed and nodded.

The Forte lord seemed like an easygoing person. He laughed often and spoke casually.

But no one in this kingdom was unaware of his cruelty.

“Hmm, but it’s strange. If the Second Prince supports Sephira, shouldn’t Hisop, who came as Sephira’s representative, be treated better?”

As the Forte lord crossed his arms and expressed his doubts, the other lords chimed in.

“Listening to Lord Forte, it does seem strange. Why did the Second Prince call Keter separately? And right in front of us.”

Technically, it was Lilie who called Keter, but to the lords, it seemed like the Second Prince had summoned him. After all, Lilie was the Second Prince’s close aide.

The answer was already clear. The lords just didn’t say it, watching each other’s reactions. Then, the Forte lord spoke in a tone suggesting it was no big secret.

“It seems the Second Prince doesn’t need Sephira, only Keter.”

“Huh!”

“Ahem, that’s the only way to interpret it.”

Anyone with eyes and ears couldn’t miss it. Keter’s exploits at the Southern Sword Tournament and the party venue were impossible to hide.

Of course, Sephira was behind Keter, but Keter’s divine power was overwhelming, and his words were so impactful that Sephira seemed like just a passenger.

Some in the world say Sephira made Keter, that Sephira is more impressive, but the impact varies depending on who says it.

When the second most prestigious family, the Forte family, subtly insinuates that “Sephira is just the shell, Keter is the core,” the lords believed it to be true.

If these words spread as if they were facts, the news would soon reach Hisop’s ears.

“I’m looking forward to how Hisop will react. Hehehe.”

With just a few words, Forte had sowed discord between Keter and Hisop, imagining Hisop doubting and envying Keter.

* * *

The royal palace’s interior was like a maze, so complex that even those who had visited dozens of times would get lost without a guide.

In such a palace, Lilie guided Keter to a secret room unknown even to the guides.

It was a space so narrow that four people could barely fit. No desk, no chairs. Just a space to stand. The air was stuffy, with no ventilation.

Of course, there was no light, but that wasn’t a problem for Keter or Lilie.

“It’s even harder to see in the dark. A nature-friendly stealth technique.”

Keter’s joke didn’t make Lilie laugh.

“This is a space even the princes don’t know about. No magic can find it, and there’s no worry about leaks. So, tell me. No, I’m begging you.”

Thud.

Lilie tightly grasped Keter’s hand. Her desperation was palpable.

“Tell me where Kadia is. Where did you meet her? Where is she now?”

“Hmm……”

Despite her dark skin, Lilie was a beauty. It’s not easy to coldly reject such a beauty’s desperate plea.

Of course, Keter wasn’t troubled by that.

“I can’t just give away my wife’s information. You’ll have to prove yourself.”

“Prove?”

“Prove how close you are to Kadia. To put it your way, there’s nothing I don’t know about Kadia. At least physically?”

“She has a mole above her right breast.”

“That’s correct, but it’s a spot anyone could know.”

“There’s also a burn scar on her inner thigh.”

“What shape?”

“That depends on perspective. From what I remember… a spiked rod?”

“Close enough.”

“And also……”

“Wait.”

Keter, who had momentarily stopped Lilie, recalled Kadia. Including his past life, it had been so long that it took some time to remember their memories.

“If you know what Kadia used to say habitually……”

“It’s annoying.”

Lilie’s immediate answer made Keter shake her hand as if in a handshake.

“I didn’t expect to meet Kadia’s sister here. Nice to meet you, sister-in-law.”

“I’m not her sister. Our skin colors are different.”

“Well, there’s a story there. Anyway, what do you want to know about Kadia? Just ask. I’ll tell you everything.”

As Keter acted like he would tell her anything, Lilie’s eyes lit up.

“Where is she now?”

Lilie was ready to leave the palace immediately if she knew where Kadia was.

Keter didn’t hesitate and answered directly.

“I don’t know.”

“…You didn’t know?”

“I said I’d answer, not that I knew.”

At Keter’s shameless reply, Lilie’s small fist trembled.