316. Childhood ep – Ice Water

On the breezy stone bridge, while melodramatic theater played out, the problematic gem shone a deep red, unfazed by the pouring sunlight.

Thanks to Marisa’s calming influence, Bart stepped back and stared intently at the gem before opening his mouth.

“What is that?”

Well? Reb answered using Minseo’s expression. He often understood things in ways that were hard to grasp.

“It’s a fragment of Oriax.”

I spoke without understanding it myself.

However, I felt that Bart didn’t have to worry too much about this. Reb continued his speech, stretching his hands toward Hirie.

“Please, give it to me. That’s something you should not possess. I came here to obtain it, and Sir Bart here is actually in the same boat.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all.”

Hirie clutched the necklace tightly. Judging by her posture, it seemed unlikely that she would relinquish it easily. Anticipating this, Reb addressed Palace as though Hirie should hear.

“That necklace must have been a gift from Lord Palace. I bet Lord Palace received that from Duke Rupert Tertan. Am I right?”

Palace looked shocked. However, he calmly questioned back.

“So what of it?”

“I merely pointed out the origin of the necklace. But didn’t the Duke say this when giving you the necklace? ‘Deliver the necklace but reject the betrothal.’ It’s a hassle to say it if he has to reject it himself.”

“…!”

“That’s why the Young Lord delivered that necklace—specifically to annul the betrothal with Hirie. Lady Hirie, what do you think will happen if this betrothal gets canceled? Won’t you be married off to the princes of Orun Kingdom?”

“…That won’t happen.”

Hirie said firmly, sticking closely to Palace. Reb shrugged his shoulders.

“That may be true. Lady Hirie does love Lord Palace. But that’s precisely why things went awry. Originally, Lady Hirie was supposed to go back empty-handed and choose between those two disgusting princes. That’s what the necklace was supposed to serve.”

“…Are you saying my grandfather used me to send that necklace to the princes of Orun Kingdom?”

Palace looked not only perplexed but also angry. Yet, understanding the context well, Reb simply replied, “For now, I can only say it wasn’t the Duke’s will. Now, hand over that suspicious necklace to me. I’m not asking for it for free; I’ll give you a grand present in return.”

“No.”

Hirie replied.

“This is mine. No matter what the compensation is, it’s not a trade item.”

“…I will help you ensure your marriage goes through. Going to the Duke like this will not get you his permission. Think about who originally sent that necklace. And if you really can’t give it up, I’ll just take it by force.”

Reb ominously stated, exuding aura. However, Hirie, a noble who had no reason to fear a knight, retorted.

“What’s so special about this gem?”

“I told you, it’s a fragment of Oriax. Again, I came all this way to acquire that gem. I don’t want to fight with you. It’s unfortunate that Tadian Lofero is dead; I should have rushed more…”

“What is Oriax? And Swordmaster, you speak as if you knew all this was going to unfold.”

Reb chuckled.

“Prince Lean de Yeriel knows everything. I’m just his errand boy. Bringing Marisa Lady here, treating your mother, all of it was his intention. You must have heard about the prince’s news, right?”

Reb decided to rely on Lean’s authority, as his own name bore no weight.

Thanks to that, Hirie was in shock. A prince with the unprecedented Swordmaster as his errand boy! She nodded, while Bart and his companions trembled. Reb gained some composure from their astonishment.

“Prince Lean de Yeriel is planning for the future in the Belita Kingdom. Lady Hirie, he wishes for you and Lord Palace to be united. He wants you to forget the unholy ties with Duke Tertan.”

“…”

“Thank you for the words, but please don’t mumble. You still haven’t explained what Oriax is.”

However, Hirie was shrewd.

She picked up on Reb’s attempt to dodge the explanation, and Reb bit his lips.

There was no way to prove the relationship between Oriax, his apostle Prince Eric de Yeriel, and Duke Rupert Tertan, who became enchanted.

Should I forcibly snatch the necklace? But that was not Reb’s conclusion.

Hirie and Palace must connect successfully. If not, Aton de Lognum and Alzeor de Lognum, those trash princes of Orun Kingdom, would invade the Conrad Kingdom sooner or later.

The Houses of Marquis Gaidan and Duke Tertan must unite for us to halt their ambitions, which is why Reb intervened in Hirie and Palace’s meeting to obtain a means to extinguish Oriax while also ensuring the peace of the Conrad Kingdom.

What should be done about this?

Since the revelation would come soon enough, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to press them down now and apologize later? As he pondered, Reb’s eyes landed on the oddly silent Palace. Reb found his attitude strange.

Come to think of it, why’s he being so quiet?

From Duke Tertan’s perspective, it would be uncomfortable knowing that the prince they had chased away, Lean de Yeriel, was still alive. While it could be said that Duke Rupert Tertan was enchanted, the people of Duke Tertan also had some pride.

At that time, Lean was too young to govern, which is why they supported Prince Eric.

So, Palace should be rebellious, yet he seemed oddly subdued. No, it seemed he might know something.

Without answering Hirie’s question, Reb stared at Palace. As Hirie’s gaze followed, Palace Tertan reluctantly opened his mouth.

His answer was surprising.

“…I know what Oriax is. It’s an ancient evil god sealed by our ancestors along with Saint Azra.”

‘He knew?’

Surprise followed by realization struck him in succession. One was about Oriax, the other…

‘Duke Rupert Tertan! He must have known about Oriax as well!’

The lamentable situation of Duke Tertan.

*

– Clink.

In a charming study. A wrinkled old man was drinking ice water nestled in a high-backed chair. Despite his advanced age being unsuitable for holding icy water.

He continued swallowing ice as if flames of anger were brewing within him, and a young man approached the old man from behind.

“You really enjoy your ice water, grandfather.”

With golden hair.

However, the young man had brown hair mixed like the old man. Duke Rupert Tertan did not respond.

At this point, Prince Eric wandered around comfortably in his grandfather’s study as if it were his own.

He randomly picked a book to leaf through or sat at the table lost in thought, perhaps because this place felt more comfortable than the watchful eye of the palace.

Eric de Yeriel muttered quietly.

“Grandfather. We must hasten the succession to the throne. My brother is alive.”

“…”

That was truly more like a soliloquy. For Tertan Duke was nothing more than his henchman, no more, no less.

“Ah, it’s a question, yet you remain silent again. Please… look at me.”

Though, he should be called quite a bothersome henchman. Prince Eric’s eyes flared red, and only then did the Duke respond.

“What would you have me do? Prince, I beseech you to abandon that misguided faith. It is dangerous.”

His tone betrayed concern for his grandson. Duke Tertan knew what directives his ancestor had received from Saint Azra.

The gem that Azra cast into the sea.

He was given the mission to find that gem, and after parting ways with Saint Azra, the ancestor remained by the southern shore, upturning the ocean floor.

That impossible task had been passed down to his son, and then to his grandson, reaching the current Duke Tertan.

But thousands of years have passed.

In the endless ages, they have forgotten what they sought. It was a gem, yet they could not discern what it was that Saint Azra spoke of, to the point of hoarding strangely shaped stones.

Thus, the lands ruled by Duke Tertan, located on the southern sea of the Conrad Kingdom, were piled high with all sorts of junk. Security was lax, and the people of the Duke’s house had now regarded the mission given by Saint Azra as a legend.

They had spun a plausible story around their business of casting pearls, corals, incense, starfish, and clams from the sea. Duke Rupert Tertan himself used to think that way, too.

Until his daughter went missing while on vacation at the Duke’s estate, and his grandson, Prince Eric, returned with burning red eyes to find her.

Eric de Yeriel smirked. He paid no mind to the advice offered.

“Please kill my father. My brother is alive, and I can wait no longer. Cardinal Berg happens to be away on a pilgrimage, and since my betrothal with Princess Elika de Isadora has been decided, I think the timing is appropriate.”

“Are you asking me to kill the king? That is out of the question…”

“How bothersome.”

Prince Eric bowed his head and stared intensely at his grandfather.

It was the limitation of the ability to enchant.

It wasn’t about controlling people but rather about invoking affection, so it often yielded a refusal to unreasonable or nonsensical requests. Moreover, the Duke knew the situation he was in, which meant the consumption of magical power was unparalleled.

Even with enchantment, they would break free at an impressive speed. Still, he was indeed worth it, which is why the resentfully striking gaze of Eric de Yeriel blazed furiously. Only after pouring in his magical power could he finally hear a satisfying response.

“Very well. Then it shall be dealt with your father… but Lean and Reriana, they are the issues…”

Hmm.

While contemplating, Eric de Yeriel thought there was no need to escalate matters. A path to secure his legitimacy had recently opened up.

Elika de Isadora.

His betrothal with the princess of Aisel Kingdom was secured. The Aisel Kingdom, wanting to engage in a showdown with the Belita Kingdom, could not refuse Eric’s demands.

If things went wrong, they would be attacked from both the west and south. Whatever discussions the Aisel Kingdom undertook internally, the outcome was good—and Eric was pleased.

He stepped out of his grandfather’s study, which had been reduced to a mere henchman’s den, while pondering how to deal with his still-alive younger siblings. Obviously, he paid no greeting.

Left alone in the study was Duke Tertan.

Once a revered tree respected by many for his virtue, he shed tears remembering his lost daughter.

And knowing that he was walking down the wrong path, he worried for his precious grandson, Eric. Within him flowed the power of Oriax, instead of blood.

If only someone would kill me.

The Duke gulped down the ice.