The moment he heard Erna's words, Callion doubted himself for a moment. That's strange. The detoxification was almost finished now.
But unless one is insane, there is no way to hear such strange words. If he himself is not insane...
As Callion tried to place his hand on Erna's forehead with a serious expression, Erna quickly replied.
"I'm not crazy, you know?"
“But why are you talking nonsense?”
At Callion's words, Erna grabbed his cheek tightly and let go, saying he spoke so nicely. Usually, Callion would have grumbled about what she was doing, but today, his stern expression did not soften.
Hitting Erna? And mercilessly at that.
Callion is well aware of the extent of his power.
The knights' training includes martial arts. This is because they must fight using their own bodies as weapons even when unarmed. And to this day, no knight in the Order has defeated him in martial arts.
There are those stronger than Callion in terms of sheer strength. After all, strength is derived from innate muscles and bones. However, the reason Callion was able to keep winning in martial arts was not only because he had a good physique, but also because he was skilled in technique.
The strongest blow with the least amount of force.
Since it was something he knew instinctively rather than being taught, Callion would inflict damage greater than that of a sword even when fighting monsters with his bare fists.
If he were to hit her without showing any mercy...
Callion looked at Erna standing before him. She was only about shoulder height at most. Of course, it wasn't that Erna was small, but that he was too tall. Still, in Callion's eyes, Erna was just small and frail.
It’s not just her height. Her wrists, arms, and waist are all so thin. What would happen if he really hit Erna?
Callion recalled the wooden post that had once stood in the training grounds. It was the one that had been driven into the center of the arena for martial arts training.
Cedric shrugged his shoulders, saying that he had made a big effort to get it because the knights kept smashing the training scarecrows, and that it was a very hard tree that takes a thousand years to grow in the forest of a kingdom far to the north.
“Would you like to try hitting it, Grand Duke?”
It was none other than Callion who had broken the most training scarecrows. He remembered hitting one with all his might to show others, only for it to snap like a straw.
When Cedric looked at him with a bewildered expression, he felt awkward and scolded him, asking if he had bought wood that was too soft, but it seemed that resentment still lingered.
Although he disliked Cedric's smug attitude of asking if he would really break even this, he also genuinely wanted to hit him with all his might. So, Callion threw a punch with all his might toward the newly driven wooden post.
Crack!
Then, the wooden pillar, which was said to be so tough that even a saw wouldn't cut it, snapped with a terrible sound.
But what would happen if he struck Erna with such force? A disturbing thought briefly crossed Callion's mind.
“If I hit you with all my might, you’ll die... no, you’ll get seriously hurt.”
He couldn't bring himself to say the words "You're going to die." When it came to matters involving Erna, she didn't want to use any harsh words, even just casually.
“That’s good. You’d need to be at least that good for them to believe you.”
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“What else? I’m going to do exactly as they want.”
Erna recalled the ominous scene at the Grand Duke's castle over the past few days. The poison released by an unknown assailant was infecting the castle's inhabitants one by one.
Until recently, everyone was on good terms, but now they raised their voices, arguing not only about whether they were closer to Erna or Callion, but also about where their wives were from or where their relatives were from.
If only it had stopped there.
Erna swallowed a sigh and said.
“You know rumors are going around that I poisoned you, right?”
“I also know that rumors are circulating that the poisoning incident was my own doing.”
At Callion's words, Erna thought it was a relief that there was nothing more to explain since he already knew everything.
“This incident has given both Havand and Ether a justification to actively intervene in Hessengard. Ether will send troops to catch the culprit and protect you, and Havand will send troops to guard the Princess, claiming her safety is at risk...”
Erna did not want it.
Ten years ago, too much blood was shed on this land when the two kingdoms waged war over Hessengard. Even now, if you leave the capital and head to the provinces, there are many places where the damage sustained back then has not yet been fully restored.
Nevertheless, the people of Hessengard were happy and welcomed Erna and Callion when they visited.
The people loved Erna and Callion simply because they came, and there would be no more wars.
Erna could tell that the war had been so devastating that they welcomed the daughters and sons of the plunderers. But what if an army that reminded them of those times were to enter this land again?
It was not a matter of mood. For the sake of the people of Hessengard, and now as the Grand Duke of Hessengard, she had to prevent it.
“We must appease Havand and Ether. Remember what they wanted? To bear an heir, or...”
At Erna's words, Callion recalled the correspondence between the two nations that he had forgotten for a while. It was to have a child within a year or return to his homeland.
“...You and I returning to our homeland.”
Both countries wanted to get back the excellent wizards and knights, and send more obedient ones to Hessengard.
“If we hand over what they want, things will be quiet for a while. Besides, if we pretend to be friendly to each country and say we are returning, it will be easier to figure out their ulterior motives. But if we suddenly announce our return, no one is going to believe us, right?”
“...So you want me to hit you?”
“You and I were on good terms lately... Don’t laugh.”
Erna pulled on the grinning Callion's cheek.
“Anyway, since we’re breaking up so suddenly, I don’t think they’ll believe us unless it’s to that extent. So, if I’m going to do it anyway, I’d like you to hit me in front of a lot of people.”
At those words, the back of Callion felt a shiver down his spine. Certainly, just as Erna said, if he hit her in front of people, they would believe that their relationship was completely broken.
It was Callion who, despite having killed many people, had never once laid a hand on a woman.
The people inside the Grand Duke's castle were well aware of that fact. So if he hit Erna in front of them... they would really believe that their relationship was shattered.
Callion nodded and spoke, as he could guess the reason why Erna had insisted on hitting him.
"I can't."
"Hey."
Erna glared at Callion, who listened as if he understood but then flatly retorted.
“I’ll find another way. How can I hit you?”
Callion turned away as if to say he would not continue the conversation any further. Erna clicked her tongue and sighed heavily from behind, as if to make sure he could hear. However, Callion covered his ears completely, indicating that he did not want to hear any more.
However, the next day, Callion had to change his mind.
It was because one of Erna's lieutenants was found dead.
It's poisoning.
Erna answered with a stiff face.
Her name was Liana. She was one rank below Orpheus and worked to assist Orpheus, the Chief Deputy. Although she was not a wizard, she had been working in the Order of Wizards since being newly hired five years ago to help with Orpheus's increasing paperwork.
Liana was found dead this morning in a warehouse in the corner of the Grand Duke's castle.
Liana had not been seen since lunch the previous day, so the members of the Wizard Order went looking for her but could not find her. Thinking she might have gone home and not been heard from, her colleagues went to her house after work, but the lights were off, and there was no sign of anyone.
People who noticed that something was wrong went looking for Liana. And this morning, a day later, Liana was found dead inside an old warehouse where people rarely go.
The cause of death was poisoning. The problem is..
“It is a poison similar to the one used on you. If the one you ate was for pain, they say the one Liana ate is meant to take a life quickly.”
Erna rubbed her throbbing temples. Just because the use of magic was forbidden to anyone other than her within the Grand Duke's castle didn't mean things like this wouldn't happen. After all, she could simply feed it to them directly and kill them.
"You cannot stop such movements with magic."
Erna handed over what the doctors had reported to Callion.
Callion quickly read what was handed to him and pressed his fingers against his forehead.
There were no signs of resistance on Liana's body. This meant she had gone there of her own accord, rather than being dragged away. Of course, it was possible that she had been poisoned elsewhere and then moved there. However, moving a corpse carries risks. Therefore, it was highly likely that she had come there on her own, avoiding people's eyes, while she was still alive.
“Who were the people who came into contact with Liana?”
"There are too many."
Erna rested her chin on her hand.
She was a woman who worked just as diligently as Orpheus. There was nowhere Liana did not go. Moreover, recently, she had been taking charge of liaison with the Council, replacing Orpheus, who was on high alert.
More than twenty people had met Liana before she disappeared at lunchtime.
The last thing she did before lunch was, coincidentally, to convey the order to release Adelaide from detention at Erna's direction.
Because of that, Liana met with all of Haband's envoys as well.
And she disappeared.
"How are the rumors spreading?"
Callion tapped the part where Liana's last actions were written with his finger.
It is not a good thing. Liana was so much on Erna's side. If someone like her were murdered...
"Rumors are going around that I used and threw her away, you know."
Erna answered as if it were only natural. However, Carillon did not miss the slight tremor in her voice.
Is this a threat, or has Liana really been colluding with other forces and stealing information from Erna's side all this time?
There wasn't enough time to look into each one individually.
Today is Erna's subordinate. Tomorrow, another person could die.
Callion bowed his head.
"Let's do it."
“...”
Erna did not ask what he meant by that. If Callion was suggesting it in a voice that sounded like he was dying, wasn't there only one possibility?
Right away tomorrow morning.
Everyone in the Grand Duke's castle saw Callion, who had appeared for the first time in a long while. He was the one who had reportedly been recuperating in the couple's bedroom for the past few days. However, his face looked even darker than it had been immediately after he collapsed.
Since only Erna had seen Callion until now, the attendants looked surprised as they saw Carillon appear in a form different from what they had expected. On top of that, their eyes widened even more at Callion's subsequent words.
“Get out of here right now!”
Callion slapped away Erna's hand as she tried to support him.
“What on earth have you been feeding me all this time! It was only when I stopped eating the food you gave me that I came to my senses!”
“No, that’s a misunderstanding...!”
“Cedric! Call the Knights!”
The servants were flustered and at a loss for what to do at the sight of Callion suddenly coming out of the couple's bedroom and shouting. Moreover, the words he spat out made everyone's hearts sink.
What has Erna been feeding him all this time?
The short word most frequently uttered by the people of the Grand Duke's Castle over the past few days flashed through everyone's minds. Poison.
“Callion, calm down! Please listen to me...”
Erna desperately shouted and tried to grab him. Then Callion roughly waved his hands again and tried to push Erna away.
At that moment, although the others did not notice, Erna deliberately threw herself at the hand that Callion was swinging.
Puck!
With a dull thud, Erna's body flew through the air and rolled on the floor.
"Lady Erna!"
“Good heavens! A doctor!”
Erna, having tumbled to the floor, struggled to get up with the help of the servants, holding onto her dizzying senses. She had been struck just once, but as if that weren't enough, one side of her cheek had turned completely red, and the inside of her mouth was torn.
Gulp. Erna spat out red blood and looked back at Callion.
She knew from the start that Callion wouldn't be able to hit her properly. After all, he hadn't been able to do it last night, no matter how much he practiced. So, she deliberately threw herself at the swinging hand a little faster than promised.
It wasn't like he exerted any great force, but his brain shook. Through his blurred vision, she saw the frozen Callion.
'That idiot!'
She told him to spit or curse if she rolled around, so what was she trying to do if he acted like this? If he hesitated any longer, everything was going to be exposed. In the end, Erna had to make a decision.
'Sorry, Callion.'
Erna moved her hand. Short magical letters appeared, and...
Bang!
Callion's body flew through the air and crashed into the wall.
The play that had started had to be finished properly.
But unless one is insane, there is no way to hear such strange words. If he himself is not insane...
As Callion tried to place his hand on Erna's forehead with a serious expression, Erna quickly replied.
"I'm not crazy, you know?"
“But why are you talking nonsense?”
At Callion's words, Erna grabbed his cheek tightly and let go, saying he spoke so nicely. Usually, Callion would have grumbled about what she was doing, but today, his stern expression did not soften.
Hitting Erna? And mercilessly at that.
Callion is well aware of the extent of his power.
The knights' training includes martial arts. This is because they must fight using their own bodies as weapons even when unarmed. And to this day, no knight in the Order has defeated him in martial arts.
There are those stronger than Callion in terms of sheer strength. After all, strength is derived from innate muscles and bones. However, the reason Callion was able to keep winning in martial arts was not only because he had a good physique, but also because he was skilled in technique.
The strongest blow with the least amount of force.
Since it was something he knew instinctively rather than being taught, Callion would inflict damage greater than that of a sword even when fighting monsters with his bare fists.
If he were to hit her without showing any mercy...
Callion looked at Erna standing before him. She was only about shoulder height at most. Of course, it wasn't that Erna was small, but that he was too tall. Still, in Callion's eyes, Erna was just small and frail.
It’s not just her height. Her wrists, arms, and waist are all so thin. What would happen if he really hit Erna?
Callion recalled the wooden post that had once stood in the training grounds. It was the one that had been driven into the center of the arena for martial arts training.
Cedric shrugged his shoulders, saying that he had made a big effort to get it because the knights kept smashing the training scarecrows, and that it was a very hard tree that takes a thousand years to grow in the forest of a kingdom far to the north.
“Would you like to try hitting it, Grand Duke?”
It was none other than Callion who had broken the most training scarecrows. He remembered hitting one with all his might to show others, only for it to snap like a straw.
When Cedric looked at him with a bewildered expression, he felt awkward and scolded him, asking if he had bought wood that was too soft, but it seemed that resentment still lingered.
Although he disliked Cedric's smug attitude of asking if he would really break even this, he also genuinely wanted to hit him with all his might. So, Callion threw a punch with all his might toward the newly driven wooden post.
Crack!
Then, the wooden pillar, which was said to be so tough that even a saw wouldn't cut it, snapped with a terrible sound.
But what would happen if he struck Erna with such force? A disturbing thought briefly crossed Callion's mind.
“If I hit you with all my might, you’ll die... no, you’ll get seriously hurt.”
He couldn't bring himself to say the words "You're going to die." When it came to matters involving Erna, she didn't want to use any harsh words, even just casually.
“That’s good. You’d need to be at least that good for them to believe you.”
“What on earth are you trying to do?”
“What else? I’m going to do exactly as they want.”
Erna recalled the ominous scene at the Grand Duke's castle over the past few days. The poison released by an unknown assailant was infecting the castle's inhabitants one by one.
Until recently, everyone was on good terms, but now they raised their voices, arguing not only about whether they were closer to Erna or Callion, but also about where their wives were from or where their relatives were from.
If only it had stopped there.
Erna swallowed a sigh and said.
“You know rumors are going around that I poisoned you, right?”
“I also know that rumors are circulating that the poisoning incident was my own doing.”
At Callion's words, Erna thought it was a relief that there was nothing more to explain since he already knew everything.
“This incident has given both Havand and Ether a justification to actively intervene in Hessengard. Ether will send troops to catch the culprit and protect you, and Havand will send troops to guard the Princess, claiming her safety is at risk...”
Erna did not want it.
Ten years ago, too much blood was shed on this land when the two kingdoms waged war over Hessengard. Even now, if you leave the capital and head to the provinces, there are many places where the damage sustained back then has not yet been fully restored.
Nevertheless, the people of Hessengard were happy and welcomed Erna and Callion when they visited.
The people loved Erna and Callion simply because they came, and there would be no more wars.
Erna could tell that the war had been so devastating that they welcomed the daughters and sons of the plunderers. But what if an army that reminded them of those times were to enter this land again?
It was not a matter of mood. For the sake of the people of Hessengard, and now as the Grand Duke of Hessengard, she had to prevent it.
“We must appease Havand and Ether. Remember what they wanted? To bear an heir, or...”
At Erna's words, Callion recalled the correspondence between the two nations that he had forgotten for a while. It was to have a child within a year or return to his homeland.
“...You and I returning to our homeland.”
Both countries wanted to get back the excellent wizards and knights, and send more obedient ones to Hessengard.
“If we hand over what they want, things will be quiet for a while. Besides, if we pretend to be friendly to each country and say we are returning, it will be easier to figure out their ulterior motives. But if we suddenly announce our return, no one is going to believe us, right?”
“...So you want me to hit you?”
“You and I were on good terms lately... Don’t laugh.”
Erna pulled on the grinning Callion's cheek.
“Anyway, since we’re breaking up so suddenly, I don’t think they’ll believe us unless it’s to that extent. So, if I’m going to do it anyway, I’d like you to hit me in front of a lot of people.”
At those words, the back of Callion felt a shiver down his spine. Certainly, just as Erna said, if he hit her in front of people, they would believe that their relationship was completely broken.
It was Callion who, despite having killed many people, had never once laid a hand on a woman.
The people inside the Grand Duke's castle were well aware of that fact. So if he hit Erna in front of them... they would really believe that their relationship was shattered.
Callion nodded and spoke, as he could guess the reason why Erna had insisted on hitting him.
"I can't."
"Hey."
Erna glared at Callion, who listened as if he understood but then flatly retorted.
“I’ll find another way. How can I hit you?”
Callion turned away as if to say he would not continue the conversation any further. Erna clicked her tongue and sighed heavily from behind, as if to make sure he could hear. However, Callion covered his ears completely, indicating that he did not want to hear any more.
However, the next day, Callion had to change his mind.
It was because one of Erna's lieutenants was found dead.
***
It's poisoning.
Erna answered with a stiff face.
Her name was Liana. She was one rank below Orpheus and worked to assist Orpheus, the Chief Deputy. Although she was not a wizard, she had been working in the Order of Wizards since being newly hired five years ago to help with Orpheus's increasing paperwork.
Liana was found dead this morning in a warehouse in the corner of the Grand Duke's castle.
Liana had not been seen since lunch the previous day, so the members of the Wizard Order went looking for her but could not find her. Thinking she might have gone home and not been heard from, her colleagues went to her house after work, but the lights were off, and there was no sign of anyone.
People who noticed that something was wrong went looking for Liana. And this morning, a day later, Liana was found dead inside an old warehouse where people rarely go.
The cause of death was poisoning. The problem is..
“It is a poison similar to the one used on you. If the one you ate was for pain, they say the one Liana ate is meant to take a life quickly.”
Erna rubbed her throbbing temples. Just because the use of magic was forbidden to anyone other than her within the Grand Duke's castle didn't mean things like this wouldn't happen. After all, she could simply feed it to them directly and kill them.
"You cannot stop such movements with magic."
Erna handed over what the doctors had reported to Callion.
Callion quickly read what was handed to him and pressed his fingers against his forehead.
There were no signs of resistance on Liana's body. This meant she had gone there of her own accord, rather than being dragged away. Of course, it was possible that she had been poisoned elsewhere and then moved there. However, moving a corpse carries risks. Therefore, it was highly likely that she had come there on her own, avoiding people's eyes, while she was still alive.
“Who were the people who came into contact with Liana?”
"There are too many."
Erna rested her chin on her hand.
She was a woman who worked just as diligently as Orpheus. There was nowhere Liana did not go. Moreover, recently, she had been taking charge of liaison with the Council, replacing Orpheus, who was on high alert.
More than twenty people had met Liana before she disappeared at lunchtime.
The last thing she did before lunch was, coincidentally, to convey the order to release Adelaide from detention at Erna's direction.
Because of that, Liana met with all of Haband's envoys as well.
And she disappeared.
"How are the rumors spreading?"
Callion tapped the part where Liana's last actions were written with his finger.
It is not a good thing. Liana was so much on Erna's side. If someone like her were murdered...
"Rumors are going around that I used and threw her away, you know."
Erna answered as if it were only natural. However, Carillon did not miss the slight tremor in her voice.
Is this a threat, or has Liana really been colluding with other forces and stealing information from Erna's side all this time?
There wasn't enough time to look into each one individually.
Today is Erna's subordinate. Tomorrow, another person could die.
Callion bowed his head.
"Let's do it."
“...”
Erna did not ask what he meant by that. If Callion was suggesting it in a voice that sounded like he was dying, wasn't there only one possibility?
Right away tomorrow morning.
***
Everyone in the Grand Duke's castle saw Callion, who had appeared for the first time in a long while. He was the one who had reportedly been recuperating in the couple's bedroom for the past few days. However, his face looked even darker than it had been immediately after he collapsed.
Since only Erna had seen Callion until now, the attendants looked surprised as they saw Carillon appear in a form different from what they had expected. On top of that, their eyes widened even more at Callion's subsequent words.
“Get out of here right now!”
Callion slapped away Erna's hand as she tried to support him.
“What on earth have you been feeding me all this time! It was only when I stopped eating the food you gave me that I came to my senses!”
“No, that’s a misunderstanding...!”
“Cedric! Call the Knights!”
The servants were flustered and at a loss for what to do at the sight of Callion suddenly coming out of the couple's bedroom and shouting. Moreover, the words he spat out made everyone's hearts sink.
What has Erna been feeding him all this time?
The short word most frequently uttered by the people of the Grand Duke's Castle over the past few days flashed through everyone's minds. Poison.
“Callion, calm down! Please listen to me...”
Erna desperately shouted and tried to grab him. Then Callion roughly waved his hands again and tried to push Erna away.
At that moment, although the others did not notice, Erna deliberately threw herself at the hand that Callion was swinging.
Puck!
With a dull thud, Erna's body flew through the air and rolled on the floor.
"Lady Erna!"
“Good heavens! A doctor!”
Erna, having tumbled to the floor, struggled to get up with the help of the servants, holding onto her dizzying senses. She had been struck just once, but as if that weren't enough, one side of her cheek had turned completely red, and the inside of her mouth was torn.
Gulp. Erna spat out red blood and looked back at Callion.
She knew from the start that Callion wouldn't be able to hit her properly. After all, he hadn't been able to do it last night, no matter how much he practiced. So, she deliberately threw herself at the swinging hand a little faster than promised.
It wasn't like he exerted any great force, but his brain shook. Through his blurred vision, she saw the frozen Callion.
'That idiot!'
She told him to spit or curse if she rolled around, so what was she trying to do if he acted like this? If he hesitated any longer, everything was going to be exposed. In the end, Erna had to make a decision.
'Sorry, Callion.'
Erna moved her hand. Short magical letters appeared, and...
Bang!
Callion's body flew through the air and crashed into the wall.
The play that had started had to be finished properly.
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