"Your Majesty!"
Ivan turned as if a sudden thought had occurred to him. Rodan followed the man briskly down the hallway.
“Where are you going!”
And then, irreverently, he blocked Ivan's path.
“Get out of the way, Rodan.”
“No. Please...”
Rodan made a desperate plea. Even though he had wiped out the three great noble families that dominated Escliff, Ivan's prolonged absence at this point was not a good idea.
“You should think about His Highness the Crown Prince, too.”
“...”
“If Your Majesty is not around, he wakes up and cries all the time.”
Rodan quickly used Ian as an excuse. Ever since Amelia left, Ivan had been acting like he was out of sorts, but whenever Ian was brought up, he would come to his senses. To Ivan, Ian was that kind of person. Of course, his affection was born from a sense of guilt and love for Amelia, but that doesn't mean it's fake, does it?
“...”
As expected, Ivan's face calmed slightly upon hearing his son's name. He didn't look like he was about to push Rodan away like he had just done.
“I sent those who would follow Lure Chandler anyway.”
“...”
“It’s been almost four months since they left, so they’ll come back with meaningful results.”
Ivan squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.
“He doesn’t know everything, right?”
"That's probably true. At best, it's just a hasty assessment by one of those on board."
Rodan quickly erased his trust in the source of the news he'd heard. Ivan's face still showed a faint sense of unease, but it was a look of acceptance.
“When those you sent return.”
“I will report immediately.”
Rodan interrupted Ivan's words and immediately replied. It was a sarcastic remark, but Ivan didn't seem to have the presence of mind to continue speaking.
"...Yes."
Ivan answered lukewarmly. He was carrying so much on his shoulders that he couldn't move rashly, but it seemed as if he had already instinctively sensed something was wrong.
Things were out of hand.
"They say there were people in that land with black hair and dark eyes, but unlike the false Priestess, their skin was dark. There was no gold or jewels on the land, and the island was so small that there wasn't much to see. That's why they didn't go on the second voyage."
Ivan kept recalling the voice that had been conveying his assessment of Lure Chandler. It had to be false. It couldn't be. While denying it, he still agreed that Lure Chandler wasn't a very trustworthy person.
What made him believe that he had entrusted that woman to him?
Ivan finally reached that conclusion. At the time, Amelia was insisting on dying, and with the execution date fast approaching, he figured he had to somehow get her out of this land.
When she's not trembling with anxiety, when she's not consumed by emotions, when she's alone and thinking, her mind will clear. She'll realize that her desire to die or leave him isn't true.
“...”
It'll be okay. It'll be okay. Of course, even if the land Lure Chandler discovered was a lie, it wouldn't affect Amelia's life.
But what is this anxiety...?
He felt like biting his fingernails, almost out of his mind. It was something he hadn't done since he was very young. He was helplessly consumed by anxiety, a hope that something might happen. Even if he tried not to, it was inevitable. There was a reason Ivan had tried so hard not to harbor such feelings.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you some wine.”
A servant arrived with a flask and a glass on a tray. Instead of biting his fingernails like a child, Ivan opened the flask and downed the strong drink in one gulp. Ironically, it was only then that he felt his senses return to normal.
"...Ha."
Ivan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Lure Chandler, who had something to receive upon his return, would have disembarked Amelia and the others on that land, as per Ivan's orders. Even if he lied, Ivan wouldn't have known. He would definitely return to Escliff to claim his reward.
In that case, Amelia and the others would remain on the island. Those sent by Rodan would bring Amelia back. There was no reason to be anxious or afraid.
“Your Majesty, I have heard of Lord Rodan.”
Ivan commanded in a somewhat relaxed voice. Soon, Rodan, hurrying over, informed Ivan that those he had sent had returned.
“Are you at the palace now?”
“Yes, I brought them up right away.”
“Come in.”
Ivan gave the order. Then the door opened, revealing a group of men, their faces somewhat worn, though still lingering from the aftereffects of the toxin.
“Tell His Majesty everything you have seen.”
It was a navy Ivan had never thought of using. Ivan stared blankly at the epaulettes on his uniform, glittering in the light.
“On the 63rd day, we discovered the island that was the destination of the route.”
“Was it an island, not a continent?”
“Yes. It was a small island, and its inhabitants were small.”
A smooth reply followed. A bluish vein bulged across Ivan's hand as he gripped the chair's base. One thing was clear: Lure Chandler had swindled him.
"And?"
"Yes?"
“What else have you discovered?”
Ivan asked. His face was expressionless, but the question seemed somehow anxious. Rodan gave him a hint.
“There was no one else on the island except the natives.”
Finally, the answer came. But it wasn't what Ivan had wanted.
“There was no one there but the natives?”
Ivan muttered back.
“I couldn’t communicate with the natives, so I went around the island myself, but they were the only ones there.”
“...”
“When I asked if there were any people like us, they drew a picture for me.”
Rodan received the neatly folded paper and presented it to Ivan. Ivan unfolded it without hesitation. It was difficult to make out the entire picture, but the presence of those with black hair and dark eyes was clearly visible even within the picture.
"From the picture, it appears he did indeed visit the island a second time. However, as depicted, there was a major fight with those attempting to disembark him, and he reboarded the ship."
Ivan's gaze remained fixed on the paper. A hazy, misty haze obscured part of the half-tilted ship.
“After that?”
Ivan barely managed to ask in a subdued voice.
“They saw the ship rocking back and forth with a loud noise, but it seemed to have disappeared into the thick fog that day and was never seen again.”
Even though he was trying not to, the corners of the paper were crooked because his hands were so tense.
"The weather was fine when we visited, so we stayed and observed the terrain. It's a region with many reefs and whirlpools, so caution is advised. However, at the time, the fog was thick, so we probably couldn't see them."
Having heard the story up to that point, Rodan closed his eyes tightly. He could roughly predict the outcome of this report.
“Nearby, we found the broken figure of the imperial statue that adorned the bow of the ship, along with fragments of the ship itself. Perhaps after striking a reef...”
“No way.”
Even in the face of clear evidence, Ivan denied it. He probably didn't want to believe it.
“Everyone, please step back.”
Rodan hurriedly withdrew his navy. After hastily driving everyone away, only Rodan and Ivan remained.
“Rodan, how could that be?”
"They must have been mistaken," he muttered faintly. The denial simultaneously conveyed both the truth and his despair. Rodan, unable to speak, clenched his jaw and lowered his head. Neither affirmation nor denial was easy. He couldn't say it wasn't Ivan's fault. He didn't dare to face the confusion and pain of his master, whom he had served his entire life.
“Get out, Rodan. I want to be alone...”
Ivan barely managed to open his mouth. Rodan walked away without saying a word. Ivan was left alone. From sunrise to sunset, he simply stared down at the unrealistic painting in the same posture.
It was unbelievable, but he couldn't deny it. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Lure Chandler to not return.
You died. You died in the place where I sent you away to live.
Ivan blinked slowly. A sudden wave of nausea washed over him, unbearable. He leaped to his feet, ran to the bathroom, and began to retch.
My love ended up killing you...
Ivan squeezed his eyes shut against the excruciating pain that clawed at his neck. But an even more intense pain was felt in his chest. It felt like someone was squeezing and pounding his heart.
"Ugh..."
The moment he realized the complete loss, tears flowed through his closed eyes. They fell and shattered like broken glass on the tiles, translucent.
He wanted to die.
Ivan turned as if a sudden thought had occurred to him. Rodan followed the man briskly down the hallway.
“Where are you going!”
And then, irreverently, he blocked Ivan's path.
“Get out of the way, Rodan.”
“No. Please...”
Rodan made a desperate plea. Even though he had wiped out the three great noble families that dominated Escliff, Ivan's prolonged absence at this point was not a good idea.
“You should think about His Highness the Crown Prince, too.”
“...”
“If Your Majesty is not around, he wakes up and cries all the time.”
Rodan quickly used Ian as an excuse. Ever since Amelia left, Ivan had been acting like he was out of sorts, but whenever Ian was brought up, he would come to his senses. To Ivan, Ian was that kind of person. Of course, his affection was born from a sense of guilt and love for Amelia, but that doesn't mean it's fake, does it?
“...”
As expected, Ivan's face calmed slightly upon hearing his son's name. He didn't look like he was about to push Rodan away like he had just done.
“I sent those who would follow Lure Chandler anyway.”
“...”
“It’s been almost four months since they left, so they’ll come back with meaningful results.”
Ivan squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.
“He doesn’t know everything, right?”
"That's probably true. At best, it's just a hasty assessment by one of those on board."
Rodan quickly erased his trust in the source of the news he'd heard. Ivan's face still showed a faint sense of unease, but it was a look of acceptance.
“When those you sent return.”
“I will report immediately.”
Rodan interrupted Ivan's words and immediately replied. It was a sarcastic remark, but Ivan didn't seem to have the presence of mind to continue speaking.
"...Yes."
Ivan answered lukewarmly. He was carrying so much on his shoulders that he couldn't move rashly, but it seemed as if he had already instinctively sensed something was wrong.
***
Things were out of hand.
"They say there were people in that land with black hair and dark eyes, but unlike the false Priestess, their skin was dark. There was no gold or jewels on the land, and the island was so small that there wasn't much to see. That's why they didn't go on the second voyage."
Ivan kept recalling the voice that had been conveying his assessment of Lure Chandler. It had to be false. It couldn't be. While denying it, he still agreed that Lure Chandler wasn't a very trustworthy person.
What made him believe that he had entrusted that woman to him?
Ivan finally reached that conclusion. At the time, Amelia was insisting on dying, and with the execution date fast approaching, he figured he had to somehow get her out of this land.
When she's not trembling with anxiety, when she's not consumed by emotions, when she's alone and thinking, her mind will clear. She'll realize that her desire to die or leave him isn't true.
“...”
It'll be okay. It'll be okay. Of course, even if the land Lure Chandler discovered was a lie, it wouldn't affect Amelia's life.
But what is this anxiety...?
He felt like biting his fingernails, almost out of his mind. It was something he hadn't done since he was very young. He was helplessly consumed by anxiety, a hope that something might happen. Even if he tried not to, it was inevitable. There was a reason Ivan had tried so hard not to harbor such feelings.
“Your Majesty, I have brought you some wine.”
A servant arrived with a flask and a glass on a tray. Instead of biting his fingernails like a child, Ivan opened the flask and downed the strong drink in one gulp. Ironically, it was only then that he felt his senses return to normal.
"...Ha."
Ivan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
Lure Chandler, who had something to receive upon his return, would have disembarked Amelia and the others on that land, as per Ivan's orders. Even if he lied, Ivan wouldn't have known. He would definitely return to Escliff to claim his reward.
In that case, Amelia and the others would remain on the island. Those sent by Rodan would bring Amelia back. There was no reason to be anxious or afraid.
“Your Majesty, I have heard of Lord Rodan.”
“Tell them to come.”
“Are you at the palace now?”
“Yes, I brought them up right away.”
“Come in.”
Ivan gave the order. Then the door opened, revealing a group of men, their faces somewhat worn, though still lingering from the aftereffects of the toxin.
“Tell His Majesty everything you have seen.”
It was a navy Ivan had never thought of using. Ivan stared blankly at the epaulettes on his uniform, glittering in the light.
“On the 63rd day, we discovered the island that was the destination of the route.”
“Was it an island, not a continent?”
“Yes. It was a small island, and its inhabitants were small.”
A smooth reply followed. A bluish vein bulged across Ivan's hand as he gripped the chair's base. One thing was clear: Lure Chandler had swindled him.
"And?"
"Yes?"
“What else have you discovered?”
Ivan asked. His face was expressionless, but the question seemed somehow anxious. Rodan gave him a hint.
“There was no one else on the island except the natives.”
Finally, the answer came. But it wasn't what Ivan had wanted.
“There was no one there but the natives?”
Ivan muttered back.
“I couldn’t communicate with the natives, so I went around the island myself, but they were the only ones there.”
“...”
“When I asked if there were any people like us, they drew a picture for me.”
Rodan received the neatly folded paper and presented it to Ivan. Ivan unfolded it without hesitation. It was difficult to make out the entire picture, but the presence of those with black hair and dark eyes was clearly visible even within the picture.
"From the picture, it appears he did indeed visit the island a second time. However, as depicted, there was a major fight with those attempting to disembark him, and he reboarded the ship."
Ivan's gaze remained fixed on the paper. A hazy, misty haze obscured part of the half-tilted ship.
“After that?”
Ivan barely managed to ask in a subdued voice.
“They saw the ship rocking back and forth with a loud noise, but it seemed to have disappeared into the thick fog that day and was never seen again.”
Even though he was trying not to, the corners of the paper were crooked because his hands were so tense.
"The weather was fine when we visited, so we stayed and observed the terrain. It's a region with many reefs and whirlpools, so caution is advised. However, at the time, the fog was thick, so we probably couldn't see them."
Having heard the story up to that point, Rodan closed his eyes tightly. He could roughly predict the outcome of this report.
“Nearby, we found the broken figure of the imperial statue that adorned the bow of the ship, along with fragments of the ship itself. Perhaps after striking a reef...”
“No way.”
Even in the face of clear evidence, Ivan denied it. He probably didn't want to believe it.
“Everyone, please step back.”
Rodan hurriedly withdrew his navy. After hastily driving everyone away, only Rodan and Ivan remained.
“Rodan, how could that be?”
"They must have been mistaken," he muttered faintly. The denial simultaneously conveyed both the truth and his despair. Rodan, unable to speak, clenched his jaw and lowered his head. Neither affirmation nor denial was easy. He couldn't say it wasn't Ivan's fault. He didn't dare to face the confusion and pain of his master, whom he had served his entire life.
“Get out, Rodan. I want to be alone...”
Ivan barely managed to open his mouth. Rodan walked away without saying a word. Ivan was left alone. From sunrise to sunset, he simply stared down at the unrealistic painting in the same posture.
It was unbelievable, but he couldn't deny it. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Lure Chandler to not return.
You died. You died in the place where I sent you away to live.
Ivan blinked slowly. A sudden wave of nausea washed over him, unbearable. He leaped to his feet, ran to the bathroom, and began to retch.
My love ended up killing you...
Ivan squeezed his eyes shut against the excruciating pain that clawed at his neck. But an even more intense pain was felt in his chest. It felt like someone was squeezing and pounding his heart.
"Ugh..."
The moment he realized the complete loss, tears flowed through his closed eyes. They fell and shattered like broken glass on the tiles, translucent.
He wanted to die.
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