Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 266

A short while later, a carriage slipped out of the Imperial Palace, carrying Raon Hwizen and his party. Yucarte, watching from the window, had a languid gaze. Caribdis, staring at him, wore a heavy expression.

“…What were you thinking, making things this way? Asking the Crown Prince to rescue the girl?”

In the reception room earlier, he had to do his best to hide his expression. He clenched his fists several times to hold back the sighs that almost burst out.

“Why? Wasn’t it quite amusing? I thought it was brilliant.”

Yucarte chuckled lightly.

“A foreign Crown Prince intervening and kidnapping the daughter of a goddess. Nothing could be better for causing trouble. If Isana is there, things will escalate further, and even if not, it will cause enough chaos.”

“The girl will resist.”

“Of course. I hope it’s very fierce. It would be even more interesting if that girl hurt or even killed the Crown Prince. I heard Emperor Narjen cherishes the Crown Prince, the pride of the Empire. I’m very curious to see what will happen if his beloved son is caught up in a war that has nothing to do with him and dies a sudden, violent death. It wouldn’t be surprising if it escalated into an imperial war.”

“Your Highness.”

The more he heard, the more serious the situation became. Caribdis suppressed another sigh, unsure where to begin pointing out the problems.

“It could end without anyone getting hurt and with misunderstandings resolved. If they realize we deceived them, the Crown Prince’s sword will turn towards us.”

“Ah, yes. That could happen. Well, there’s nothing we can do about it then.”

“Is that all you have to say?”

“What else is there?”

“…I don’t understand your thoughts, Your Highness.”

“My thoughts? What thoughts?”

“Lately, when I see you, it seems like you’re not looking back at all. As if you have no attachment to this world.”

*Yes, like those days.*

The empty look on his back, as if he would crumble at any moment, was still a lingering image. That’s why it took so much courage to say these words. He was afraid that his lord would collapse in the same way as before. The anxious feeling was akin to stepping closer to a forbidden line. However, Yucarte, turning around, was smiling brightly.

“Haha, were you worried about that? Don’t worry, Pai [childhood nickname]. I’m not without attachments.”

Caribdis flinched at the sudden use of his childhood nickname. Yucarte, staring into his confused and wavering eyes, drew a full arc with his lips.

“I’m looking at a bigger world.”

* * *

As the day waned, the deep sunset began to dye the palace. It was the time when people who had finished their work left like a receding tide, and the palace became deserted.

Even though a full-scale civil war had begun, daily life in the Imperial Palace had hardly changed. The same work as usual, the same daily routine continued. Of course, that was only the appearance; the internal situation was somewhat different. Even before the civil war began, some nobles disappeared without a trace. Most of them belonged to the Emperor’s faction or were connected to them. Some said they knew the situation in advance and fled, while others said the Grand Duke had taken action.

Whatever the truth, the important point was that the Grand Duke was at odds with the Emperor. He not only refused to surrender to the Emperor’s declaration of war but was also actively retaliating. There were even rumors that he had raised troops from the moment the Emperor disappeared. All of this was a complete reversal of the position he had taken until now.

The Grand Duke had claimed that the Emperor had been kidnapped by rebels, that Duke Carrowell was the mastermind, and that the Emperor was simply misunderstanding him because he had fallen for Carrowell’s tricks. There had been counterclaims due to the activities of the bandit group, but generally, everyone trusted the Grand Duke’s words. That was because the path the Grand Duke had taken so far had been good. But now, everyone was grasping the truth. Even if they didn’t want to know, they couldn’t help but know. The problem was that even if they realized it now, there was nothing they could do.

The nobles who supported the Grand Duke also had their own concerns. Although the Grand Duke was controlling information, he couldn’t completely block the news that trickled in. The fact that the veteran Duke Carrowell had drawn his sword for the Emperor was a considerable threat to them. Every time they received information from unknown sources about how far the Emperor’s army had advanced, or what battles had taken place in which regions, they were anxious that the Emperor might actually return to the palace.

The atmosphere, solidified by each person’s circumstances, naturally extended throughout the palace. Laughter and conversation completely ceased, and no one made eye contact with each other. At gatherings, everyone was too busy protecting themselves, so naturally, only awkward silence flowed.

In this situation, the figure of the man known as the Grand Duke’s sword was particularly noticeable: Pylon de Caribdis. Every time he passed by in his crimson cloak, people shuddered as if they had seen a ghost. Originally, few people approached him, but now they avoided him as if they had met a grim reaper.

Rumors had already spread deeply among the people that he was going around the palace, searching out those who supported the Emperor or opposed the Grand Duke. Although it was different from the truth, Caribdis didn’t care at all. He preferred being alone and didn’t even bring an adjutant. He found it annoying to have people’s attention on him, so he was rather relieved that they avoided him. In fact, recently, he had been so preoccupied with thoughts that wouldn’t leave his head that he didn’t have the energy to pay attention to the gazes around him.

As he walked down the darkening corridor at the same pace as the setting sun, he was deep in thought. He usually viewed the world simply and didn’t dwell on any matter for long. The only times he concentrated and thought deeply were when it involved his lord, the Grand Duke. This time was no different. His head was filled with the image of the Grand Duke he had seen before retreating. The last words he had said remained in his heart like a thorn.

What on earth did those words, spoken with a smile, mean?

The Grand Duke had seemed to be in a good mood lately. Even when he received reports that the operation had failed, he was displeased, but his reaction was milder than usual. He brushed it off casually, but Caribdis felt a sense of unease. Looking back at what he had said, he seemed to understand the reason. The Grand Duke now had something more important than the civil war in front of him. He couldn’t know exactly what it was, but it was clear that he was trying to expand the game significantly.

Was he hoping for a war of conquest? Caribdis clenched his fist with a stern face. He had been willing to follow the Grand Duke without question, no matter what path he took. But lately, he sometimes wondered if this was okay.

Each continent had been building its own independent path, and Swalt was an empire with sufficiently vast and prosperous land. The severe drought was over, and they were just barely entering a period of stability, so there was no reason to wage a war of conquest. Of course, that was only his personal judgment; the world as seen from the Grand Duke’s perspective might be different. Still, he couldn’t help but feel it was reckless.

‘I should talk to him again later.’

The Grand Duke had been fixated on the idea of becoming Emperor his entire life. That obsession had become so strong that he might have reached too far. Once this civil war was over, his excitement would subside to some extent, and he would regain his reason. Caribdis tried to think that way.

Just as he was leaving the main palace building, he inadvertently raised his head to check the sky. The moon had already risen in the darkening sky. The shape forming a gentle curve was fuller than the last time he had seen it. Only after realizing that did he become aware that he hadn’t returned to his residence for quite some time. Originally, he only showed his face when he felt like it, whether it was once a month or once every two months, so it wasn’t particularly unusual. It wasn’t a suitable place to return to in a situation like now, where things could change at any moment. That’s why he felt embarrassed by his own sense of regret.

‘Is he waiting?’

The face of the child who had come out to see him off in front of the mansion on the day he left for the Imperial Palace came to mind. “Come back safely!” He had stared blankly at the hand waving with a bright smile before slowly nodding. He had always been seen off by people when leaving the mansion, but that day, he had felt strangely different. He probably responded unusually because of that. “I will.” Even though it was a curt reply, the child had looked happy. Recalling that image made him even more anxious. Even in a state of emergency, there was no need to be tied to the Imperial Palace all day unless he was immediately going to war. Nobles still went back and forth to their residences for work, and soldiers who had families also occasionally visited.

‘…Family.’

He rubbed his lips at the strange feeling that the word gave him. He could visit once or twice before things got busier. Eventually, he made up his mind and had a soldier nearby bring him a horse.

“Safe travels, Your Excellency!”

The soldiers saluted him with loud voices as he started off as soon as he mounted the saddle. Caribdis nodded to them and quickly left the inner castle. He reached the main gate in an instant, and then, as he was about to leave the final passage, a black carriage came into view, just turning the corner. He frowned as he saw the carriage heading towards the eastern forest. It was too late for someone to enter the palace, and the only thing on that road was a small palace called the Hyacinth Palace. It was a detached palace farthest from the main palace, and almost no one visited it because it was in such a remote location. Recently, it seemed that the Grand Duke was using it to spend personal time, but even he had never been there because no one was allowed to approach it.

“Stop.”

Caribdis spurred his horse and blocked the carriage. The soldiers, who had been wary of the sudden appearance of a person, recognized him and quickly bowed their heads.

“Duke Caribdis!”

“Is this the road to the Hyacinth Palace? What kind of carriage is this?”

“These are priests from the temple. The Grand Duke summoned them.”

“Priests?”

“He said they are priests to assist in performing a ritual for victory.”

The Grand Duke often performed rituals for the gods. There was nothing particularly special about that in itself, so Caribdis casually pulled back the cloth covering the carriage window. He was simply going to check the inside in case someone had sneaked in. However, the moment he identified the figures sitting inside, his eyebrows twitched. The people who looked up, seemingly frightened, were all dressed as priests. But most of them were children who appeared to be in their early teens.

“They all look too young.”

“They are apprentice priests.”

“…I see.”

There were no flaws in the impeccable answer. Caribdis soon lowered the cloth and nodded. The soldiers, who had been nervous, saluted with relieved faces and drove the carriage away again.

Caribdis stood there for a while, watching the carriage disappear smoothly. He felt a sense of unease, but he couldn’t explain exactly what it was. He kept feeling like he was missing something.

“Welcome, Duke.”

As he entered his residence, the butler, Ruben, greeted him with a bright face. He was very surprised by the sudden return of his master, whom he had thought wouldn’t be back for a while. On the one hand, he had an idea why, so he was also pleased. Before even taking off his coat, Caribdis asked the question that had now become a habit.

“Where is Ray?”

“Young Master is in the study.”

“The study?”

“He’s been engrossed in reading picture books lately.”

Come to think of it, he had said he would bring in picture books for the child. After nodding, Caribdis headed straight to the study. As soon as he entered, what caught his eye were the various kinds of picture books scattered haphazardly on the floor. He soon discovered the small child sitting buried among them. The child, who had spread out a book as big as himself, was dozing off without noticing anyone entering.

The light from the lamp gently fell on the downy hair. It was a dreamlike, peaceful scene that harmonized well with the cozy mansion. Caribdis smiled without realizing it. The nerves that had been taut with thoughts of the Grand Duke and the war felt a little relaxed. He carefully approached and picked up the child. The butler, who followed him in, was startled by the sight and approached him.

“Oh my, it seems he fell asleep. Please give Young Master to me. I will take him to his bedroom…”

“No, it’s alright. I’ll do it.”

At that moment, Ray, feeling the movement in his sleep, mumbled and stretched out his arms. The child’s unique high body temperature and sweet milk scent enveloped his neck. Caribdis paused for a moment, then slowly stroked the child’s back. A warm glow permeated his gaze as he looked at Ray, who was sleeping with heavy breaths. A pleased smile also appeared on the face of the butler watching it.

“He has been waiting for the day you return.”

“…The meals. Is he eating well?”

“Yes, he eats well without being picky. Lately, he has adapted to meat, and it doesn’t upset his stomach when he eats it.”

“I see.”

He could tell that the child was healthy and doing well just by looking at his plump face. Caribdis suddenly recalled the day Ray first came. When he first brought him, Ray couldn’t eat anything properly except for soft soup and bread. He couldn’t digest meat, so he would always get sick whenever he ate it. But now, he didn’t. It was just that, but it was strangely satisfying.

“……”

The hand stroking the child’s back paused for a moment. The eyes that had looked up at him, seemingly frightened, seemed to flash before his eyes. Caribdis couldn’t understand why the images of the children in the carriage came to mind at that moment. Perhaps it was because one of the children he had glimpsed was about the same age as Ray. As he engraved a reasonable reason in his mind, he ignored the inexplicably rising sense of unease.