Three days? His Majesty had been collapsing from time to time due to his chronic illness, but it didn't even take half a day for him to regain consciousness.
That's why Dmitry's words didn't feel real at all, like hearing a very old story. At that moment, a creepy hypothesis suddenly came to mind.
As if he had read my thoughts, Dmitry opened his mouth.
“It is known to the outside world that His Majesty is shocked by your disappearance.... but my thoughts are a little different.”
When I barely raised my head, I saw Dmitry's eyes, completely black and dead.
He spat it out through gritted teeth.
“It is clearly the work of Duke Kairak.”
“How about that...”
“At first, on the day Your Highness ran away, you said His Majesty collapsed?”
I barely nodded.
“That’s right. That day, suddenly...”
“His Majesty was fine until I saw him the week before. I even remember that his complexion was perfectly normal. Even if it was a chronic illness, the timing of its worsening was exquisite.”
“However, if it was poisoning or some other reason, the Imperial Palace would have definitely issued a warning...”
Suddenly, as I was speaking, I realized that since His Majesty had regained consciousness, he had been looking for me first, not the palace doctor.
Was His Majesty suspicious of the Imperial Court from the beginning?
“...Surely, there is a connection between the Imperial Palace and Kairak?”
Dmitry nodded.
“He was from the same hometown as the Duchess.”
“...But, ever since the incident where I was poisoned, he's been wary of Duke Kairak.”
“The Duke of Kairak has been appointing his people to various positions in the palace for over a decade. It is easy to overlook someone who was appointed a long time ago. Especially since the Duchess is a distant relative of His Majesty.”
I bit my nails out of an old habit. Time, which had never existed before, seemed to be passing by more and more quickly.
“I need to get out of the capital as soon as possible.”
“The North is no longer safe either.”
“What do you mean? If there’s a war, there should be soldiers guarding it... Since Laskan has full authority, no place can guarantee safety as much as that place, right?”
Looking at the expression on Dmitry's face, I realized that my thoughts had been too complacent.
“The Duke has been stripped of his title of Commander-in-Chief. The Duke of Kairak has brought the Duke of Ashkabad to trial for treason on behalf of His Majesty, who has lost consciousness.”
“This... is crazy...”
My eyes flashed white with rage. Duke Kairak had clearly told me that if I disappeared, he would leave Laskan alone.
I just erased from my memory the moment when I regretted not accepting Duke Kairak's offer.
If I had taken the Duke of Kairak's hand, I would have been found dead the next day.
“Where is he then? Where, where can I go to meet him?”
“...The Duke.”
Dmitry gritted his teeth for a split second, then returned to his indifferent expression and continued speaking.
“Fortunately, they say that the front was quickly cleared before the statement reached the North. If it were true to his nature, he would not have allowed war unless it was a near-perfect operation at the perfect time... but since Your Highness’s disappearance, they say that every operation has been more aggressive.”
"Then..."
“Yes. It is said that the leaders were brought to their knees three days after the war began. On the way back to the capital, after leaving half of the negotiators and troops in the north to end the war, His Majesty lost consciousness and was stranded.”
Moving the army to the capital while the Emperor was unconscious was in itself treason.
Dmitry added shortly.
“So where are you now?”
“Linelli.”
If it were Linelli, it would be a town you could get to in five hours by carriage from here.
“He has been stripped of his position as Commander-in-Chief, but the soldiers who followed him are said to be mutinous. Since it is a position bestowed by His Majesty, I cannot follow it unless His Majesty personally takes it back.”
It was a fortunate thing. It would have been nice if I had noticed this situation a little earlier... but I couldn’t blame Dmitry for not telling me sooner.
In any case, he was in a position to help me, and I don't remember doing anything to the point where I would shamelessly accept his help. Even his rise to the rank of Marquis was due to Laskan's power...
Anyway, now that I know, I just have to try to get the best results.
“...Asha. How about just running away?”
Suddenly, Dmitry said so.
“What does that mean?”
“I... am I absolutely unable to do it?”
I didn't have time to figure out what that meant.
He bent down, supporting the chair I was sitting on with his left hand. I instinctively tried to move backwards, but it was difficult because I was sitting.
My pulse began to beat uncomfortably fast. I tried to push him away, but he was a little faster in grabbing my wrist and pulling it down.
“Asha.”
It was a wet, almost wet voice. He lifted my chin with his fingers.
His thumb pressed against my lips, squeezing them and distorting them. I could barely move my stiff lips.
“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
“...Did you say that to the Duke too?”
His elegant eyes were cast down somewhat sadly.
“Do you love Duke?”
“Please, Dmi...”
He cut me off impatiently, as if he were afraid to even listen to my answer.
His large frame slowly collapsed, and he buried his head in the nape of my neck.
“If not that...”
“...”
“How about you just run away and leave everything behind?”
His hot breath was scattered haphazardly over my skin.
“I would gladly give up my position, my wealth, my family, and even all the futures I had hoped for.”
“...”
“Asha, if you only choose me.”
I was frozen, unable to do anything. His proposal was so sudden, yet at the same time, it was one I absolutely could not ignore.
But... right now, he was like someone holding my life in his hands.
As I bit my lip without saying anything, Dmitry gritted his teeth.
“Asha. You already have no chance.”
“...”
“It’s a case of bribery all the way to the Grand Chancellor. The switched appraisal stone will be in the hands of Duke Kairak, so it will be impossible to secure evidence.”
“...”
“Even if it goes to trial, if there is no evidence...”
“How do you know that?”
I interrupted Dmitry and asked sharply:
It wasn't that I didn't want to hear what he had to say or anything. I felt a sense of awkwardness in what he said.
“I never said anything like that to you...”
Other than telling him that I had checked the identification stone, I never gave him any details about the circumstances of my meeting with the Duke of Kairak.
The rumor that the high priest was involved, and the rumor that the judgment stone was switched... Even I, who saw those two issues in person, had difficulty being certain.
But, Dmitry...
He, who had been frozen, answered with an awkward smile.
“Your Highness said so.”
"No."
“...”
“I never said anything like that to you.”
After confirming the results of the appraisal stone, I was able to guess, to a large extent, that the Great Chief was involved.
But being entangled, being bought, having the results of the appraisal stone manipulated or wrong, and being swapped were different matters.
Moreover, Dmitry's tone was not one of passing judgment, but rather one of conviction.
The conclusion was clear. I managed to spit it out with trembling lips.
“You were a traitor.”
“Asha. You have to listen to me.”
He said, grabbing my arm desperately, but I shook his hand away.
“Since when?”
“Asha, please...”
“Was it from the beginning when you approached me?”
His handsome face was distorted horribly. It was I who had been betrayed, not him.
I was the one who wanted to sit down and cry. I didn't even know he was a traitor, and I lived each day grateful for what he gave me!
“I’ll tell you everything... please.”
He spoke with his large hands trembling. He looked so pathetic that he seemed unsteady, but it did not even give me any emotion.
I stood up from my chair without delay.
“I have to go.”
“Where are you going tonight...”
I knew it was an impulsive decision, but I didn't want to be around this traitor any longer.
I would rather be caught by Kairak... I burst out laughing as I thought about it. No. It’s no different from being caught right now.
As I tried to open the door, Dmitry stood in my way.
“I know you don’t want to see it, but please, just wait a few more days.”
“What did Kairak promise in exchange for keeping me here?”
“That’s not it.”
“I can’t believe a single word you say.”
“...”
“Let me go now. Right now.”
Dmitry's face distorted miserably at my repeated rejections.
I tried to push him away and grab the doorknob. But...
Knock knock.
I hadn't misheard. Right behind Dmitry, there was a knock on the door.
We couldn't help but freeze. I don't know when they started approaching, but... the scuffle in front of the door was going on for quite some time.
Even though I lowered my voice to whisper, if I had gotten this close, he would have probably heard me.
When we didn't answer, the knocking sound was heard again.
Knock knock.
Dmitry nodded toward the back door. There was an escape hatch leading to the outside in the garden connected to the back door. It was there in case someone found out.
Even if the Knights had already surrounded the alley, they would not have discovered this escape route that led straight into the garden of the house next door.
I had no choice. That was when I cautiously backed away toward the back door.
"Your Highness."
Finally, I heard a voice calling out to me. If that voice had belonged to the Knights, or even to one of the noble spirits who had passed me by... I would not have shown any signs of agitation.
But the person who came was someone completely unexpected, and at the same time, very familiar.
"...Veronica?"
Veronica urged, her voice somewhat impatient.
“I know you are inside, Marquis Batistan. Open the door.”
Since it was pointed out like that, it was suspicious enough to even try to evade it.
Dmitry asked cautiously.
“...Princess Veronica. What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I have something I must tell Her Highness.”
Dmitry looked over at me. When I nodded, he asked reluctantly.
“...Did you come alone?”
That's why Dmitry's words didn't feel real at all, like hearing a very old story. At that moment, a creepy hypothesis suddenly came to mind.
As if he had read my thoughts, Dmitry opened his mouth.
“It is known to the outside world that His Majesty is shocked by your disappearance.... but my thoughts are a little different.”
When I barely raised my head, I saw Dmitry's eyes, completely black and dead.
He spat it out through gritted teeth.
“It is clearly the work of Duke Kairak.”
“How about that...”
“At first, on the day Your Highness ran away, you said His Majesty collapsed?”
I barely nodded.
“That’s right. That day, suddenly...”
“His Majesty was fine until I saw him the week before. I even remember that his complexion was perfectly normal. Even if it was a chronic illness, the timing of its worsening was exquisite.”
“However, if it was poisoning or some other reason, the Imperial Palace would have definitely issued a warning...”
Suddenly, as I was speaking, I realized that since His Majesty had regained consciousness, he had been looking for me first, not the palace doctor.
Was His Majesty suspicious of the Imperial Court from the beginning?
“...Surely, there is a connection between the Imperial Palace and Kairak?”
Dmitry nodded.
“He was from the same hometown as the Duchess.”
“...But, ever since the incident where I was poisoned, he's been wary of Duke Kairak.”
“The Duke of Kairak has been appointing his people to various positions in the palace for over a decade. It is easy to overlook someone who was appointed a long time ago. Especially since the Duchess is a distant relative of His Majesty.”
I bit my nails out of an old habit. Time, which had never existed before, seemed to be passing by more and more quickly.
“I need to get out of the capital as soon as possible.”
“The North is no longer safe either.”
“What do you mean? If there’s a war, there should be soldiers guarding it... Since Laskan has full authority, no place can guarantee safety as much as that place, right?”
Looking at the expression on Dmitry's face, I realized that my thoughts had been too complacent.
“The Duke has been stripped of his title of Commander-in-Chief. The Duke of Kairak has brought the Duke of Ashkabad to trial for treason on behalf of His Majesty, who has lost consciousness.”
“This... is crazy...”
My eyes flashed white with rage. Duke Kairak had clearly told me that if I disappeared, he would leave Laskan alone.
I just erased from my memory the moment when I regretted not accepting Duke Kairak's offer.
If I had taken the Duke of Kairak's hand, I would have been found dead the next day.
“Where is he then? Where, where can I go to meet him?”
“...The Duke.”
Dmitry gritted his teeth for a split second, then returned to his indifferent expression and continued speaking.
“Fortunately, they say that the front was quickly cleared before the statement reached the North. If it were true to his nature, he would not have allowed war unless it was a near-perfect operation at the perfect time... but since Your Highness’s disappearance, they say that every operation has been more aggressive.”
"Then..."
“Yes. It is said that the leaders were brought to their knees three days after the war began. On the way back to the capital, after leaving half of the negotiators and troops in the north to end the war, His Majesty lost consciousness and was stranded.”
Moving the army to the capital while the Emperor was unconscious was in itself treason.
Dmitry added shortly.
“So where are you now?”
“Linelli.”
If it were Linelli, it would be a town you could get to in five hours by carriage from here.
“He has been stripped of his position as Commander-in-Chief, but the soldiers who followed him are said to be mutinous. Since it is a position bestowed by His Majesty, I cannot follow it unless His Majesty personally takes it back.”
It was a fortunate thing. It would have been nice if I had noticed this situation a little earlier... but I couldn’t blame Dmitry for not telling me sooner.
In any case, he was in a position to help me, and I don't remember doing anything to the point where I would shamelessly accept his help. Even his rise to the rank of Marquis was due to Laskan's power...
Anyway, now that I know, I just have to try to get the best results.
“...Asha. How about just running away?”
Suddenly, Dmitry said so.
“What does that mean?”
“I... am I absolutely unable to do it?”
I didn't have time to figure out what that meant.
He bent down, supporting the chair I was sitting on with his left hand. I instinctively tried to move backwards, but it was difficult because I was sitting.
My pulse began to beat uncomfortably fast. I tried to push him away, but he was a little faster in grabbing my wrist and pulling it down.
“Asha.”
It was a wet, almost wet voice. He lifted my chin with his fingers.
His thumb pressed against my lips, squeezing them and distorting them. I could barely move my stiff lips.
“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
“...Did you say that to the Duke too?”
His elegant eyes were cast down somewhat sadly.
“Do you love Duke?”
“Please, Dmi...”
He cut me off impatiently, as if he were afraid to even listen to my answer.
His large frame slowly collapsed, and he buried his head in the nape of my neck.
“If not that...”
“...”
“How about you just run away and leave everything behind?”
His hot breath was scattered haphazardly over my skin.
“I would gladly give up my position, my wealth, my family, and even all the futures I had hoped for.”
“...”
“Asha, if you only choose me.”
I was frozen, unable to do anything. His proposal was so sudden, yet at the same time, it was one I absolutely could not ignore.
But... right now, he was like someone holding my life in his hands.
As I bit my lip without saying anything, Dmitry gritted his teeth.
“Asha. You already have no chance.”
“...”
“It’s a case of bribery all the way to the Grand Chancellor. The switched appraisal stone will be in the hands of Duke Kairak, so it will be impossible to secure evidence.”
“...”
“Even if it goes to trial, if there is no evidence...”
“How do you know that?”
I interrupted Dmitry and asked sharply:
It wasn't that I didn't want to hear what he had to say or anything. I felt a sense of awkwardness in what he said.
“I never said anything like that to you...”
Other than telling him that I had checked the identification stone, I never gave him any details about the circumstances of my meeting with the Duke of Kairak.
The rumor that the high priest was involved, and the rumor that the judgment stone was switched... Even I, who saw those two issues in person, had difficulty being certain.
But, Dmitry...
He, who had been frozen, answered with an awkward smile.
“Your Highness said so.”
"No."
“...”
“I never said anything like that to you.”
After confirming the results of the appraisal stone, I was able to guess, to a large extent, that the Great Chief was involved.
But being entangled, being bought, having the results of the appraisal stone manipulated or wrong, and being swapped were different matters.
Moreover, Dmitry's tone was not one of passing judgment, but rather one of conviction.
The conclusion was clear. I managed to spit it out with trembling lips.
“You were a traitor.”
***
“Asha. You have to listen to me.”
He said, grabbing my arm desperately, but I shook his hand away.
“Since when?”
“Asha, please...”
“Was it from the beginning when you approached me?”
His handsome face was distorted horribly. It was I who had been betrayed, not him.
I was the one who wanted to sit down and cry. I didn't even know he was a traitor, and I lived each day grateful for what he gave me!
“I’ll tell you everything... please.”
He spoke with his large hands trembling. He looked so pathetic that he seemed unsteady, but it did not even give me any emotion.
I stood up from my chair without delay.
“I have to go.”
“Where are you going tonight...”
I knew it was an impulsive decision, but I didn't want to be around this traitor any longer.
I would rather be caught by Kairak... I burst out laughing as I thought about it. No. It’s no different from being caught right now.
As I tried to open the door, Dmitry stood in my way.
“I know you don’t want to see it, but please, just wait a few more days.”
“What did Kairak promise in exchange for keeping me here?”
“That’s not it.”
“I can’t believe a single word you say.”
“...”
“Let me go now. Right now.”
Dmitry's face distorted miserably at my repeated rejections.
I tried to push him away and grab the doorknob. But...
Knock knock.
I hadn't misheard. Right behind Dmitry, there was a knock on the door.
We couldn't help but freeze. I don't know when they started approaching, but... the scuffle in front of the door was going on for quite some time.
Even though I lowered my voice to whisper, if I had gotten this close, he would have probably heard me.
When we didn't answer, the knocking sound was heard again.
Knock knock.
Dmitry nodded toward the back door. There was an escape hatch leading to the outside in the garden connected to the back door. It was there in case someone found out.
Even if the Knights had already surrounded the alley, they would not have discovered this escape route that led straight into the garden of the house next door.
I had no choice. That was when I cautiously backed away toward the back door.
"Your Highness."
Finally, I heard a voice calling out to me. If that voice had belonged to the Knights, or even to one of the noble spirits who had passed me by... I would not have shown any signs of agitation.
But the person who came was someone completely unexpected, and at the same time, very familiar.
"...Veronica?"
Veronica urged, her voice somewhat impatient.
“I know you are inside, Marquis Batistan. Open the door.”
Since it was pointed out like that, it was suspicious enough to even try to evade it.
Dmitry asked cautiously.
“...Princess Veronica. What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I have something I must tell Her Highness.”
Dmitry looked over at me. When I nodded, he asked reluctantly.
“...Did you come alone?”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment