POTC - Chapter 54

Dietrich's hand, with its deep blue veins bulging, haphazardly spread out the small bundle.

Inside the package, there was an unexpected item.

“It’s a video stone.”

The guard, wearing a puzzled expression, muttered.

"But I wonder why they suddenly told me to deliver the video stone..."

Literally, it was an object that could play videos.

However, the ore used as a raw material is so expensive that even nobles cannot commonly use it.

What on earth is inside this that they shamelessly told me to deliver it?

Dietrich's hand firmly grasped the round projection stone. Then, without any hesitation, he played it.

Then...

"Please hand over the person. I have come because I have something urgent to give you."

Dietrich knew all too well.

However, the sight of two people who had absolutely no reason to be together appeared.

"Grand Duke Fenrir said that an urgent message arrived from the Imperial House. Could it be that you, the Archmage, were responsible?"

"Did I summon Grand Duke Fenrir to the Imperial Palace for a private audience with Lady Presepe?"

Ivan on the screen laughed.

"That’s quite an interesting story. Also, it is a deduction based on facts in its own way."

It was absurd.

"Do you know about the Western Forest?"

Dietrich listened quietly to Ivan's continuing words. To be precise, he listened to everything Ivan had been rambling on to Presepe about monsters.

"I know that Grand Duke Fenrir took Lady Presepe away under the pretext of protection."

And Ivan from the video, who had suddenly appeared right in front of Presepe, muttered in an utterly sinister voice.

"But if it’s that kind of protection, I can provide it too. Especially if what Fenrir is doing for you includes more than just protection. I’m good at it. Whatever it is."

Ivan's long fingers slickly ran through Presepe's disheveled silver hair.

"Wouldn't I be better off? You won't be disappointed. I promise."

At Ivan's blatantly blunt words, Dietrich's eyes became bloodshot.

"Your, Your Majesty..."

The bodyguard was just as bewildered. The Emperor had been confined to his sickbed for a long time due to poor health, yet he had finally risen. Was it really acceptable to let him rage like that?

However, he realized very quickly that there was no way out. It was the moment he met Dietrich's eyes, which were glaring at Ivan in the video as if he were about to draw a knife and kill him at any moment.

Meanwhile, Ivan kept chattering away.

"For whatever reason, anyone who enters the Forbidden Forest must have their name recorded in the register. Whether found unconscious or, at the very least, as a corpse. However, I saw Lady Vanessa on that list, just before she became the Royal Consort."

At that moment, the corners of Dietrich's eyes twitched.

That's why it was like that.

That's why Presepe asked him about her mother. To test the waters.

She was worried that, just in case, she might really be the child of a monster, as Ivan said.

Dietrich bit his lip tightly, recalling the face of Presepe who had asked him at the flower garden just yesterday.

However, Dietrich was just as unaware of who Presepe's real father was.

That night, when he went to beg them not to kill just Presepe.

He just overheard a conversation he hadn't expected at all.

"..."

Dietrich clutched the video stone tightly in his hand after it had finished playing. Then, he snatched it up and threw it with all his might.

The shattered image stone rolled across the floor as sharp fragments. Dietrich looked down at them with cold eyes.

And he held the letter Fenrir had sent along with the image stone in his hand.

If you have seen the Video Stone, you would know. That the Imperial Palace is not suitable for protecting Lady Presepe.

Dietrich quickly read through the short, very neatly written letter.

Archmage Ivan is no different from Attar Hanan or Noah DeVern. I hope Your Majesty is aware of this, more clearly than anyone else.

"Ha..."

That is the only way to keep Lady Presepe safe.

That was the last letter.

The letter clutched in his hand crumpled unsightly with a creaking sound. Holding Fenrir's letter in his hand like that, Dietrich bowed his head and remained motionless for a moment.

Dietrich was unaware of it, but on that day, Ivan, who had gone to visit Presepe and returned to Magic Tower, was literally utterly crushed by Fenrir.

And so, he went to find Dietrich.

"Your Majesty, do you happen to know about the Book of Prophecy?"

While rambling on about things he was hearing for the first time.

"This is an ancient book passed down through generations in Magic Tower."

"So."

"What on earth does that have to do with me?" Dietrich, lying in his sickbed, listened to Ivan's words with an expressionless face.

Ivan briefly explained the Book of Prophecy, then began to say something that Dietrich had not expected at all.

"... However, it seems that what is written in this Book of Prophecy is Lady Presepe."

A woman born on the day the moon is fullest, destined to be most persecuted in the most dazzling place of the empire while concealing her roots.

Dietrich hesitated at the contents of the Book of Prophecy.

"Without him, the woman will not be able to end her suffering, and without the woman, he will not be able to find peace... Who exactly is this ‘he’ referred to here?"

Ivan did not tell Dietrich all the contents of the Book of Prophecy.

He simply selected and used them purely according to his own taste, choosing what was most convenient for him.

"Grand Duke Fenrir came to see me earlier."

Showing Dietrich the wound on his neck, Ivan chattered slyly.

"During the investigation, he seemed to get angry when I asked if I could ask a few questions to Lady Presepe, the last witness to Prince Attar."

"..."

"He barged in recklessly and brandished his sword, so I used magic to defend myself. However, nothing worked."

Does that even make sense? Someone completely unrelated to magic deflecting an attack from none other than an Archmage?

As if he had seen right through that question, Ivan said.

Perhaps Fenrir is the hidden being spoken of in the Book of Prophecy, the very Demon King said to be connected to Presepe.

Otherwise, how could he have neutralized my magic power like that?

So, wouldn't he be the one who killed Noah DeVern and Attar?

This is especially true when you consider that Noah DeVern was killed by a monster griffin.

"Of course, there are some inconsistencies."

Then, he added.

"Therefore, I think it would be a good idea to send Grand Duke Fenrir to the Forbidden Forest with Siegfried and the Knights."

"...Into the Forbidden Forest?"

"Although the frequency of monster appearances has dropped sharply, isn't that place still the stronghold of monsters and the Demon King?"

"So."

"You may not be aware of this, but monsters never harm other monsters. This is true even for half-monsters. But what about a Demon King? Far from attacking, they would protect him. This is especially true when faced with a situation where they must protect the Demon King. However, since someone with the power to monitor and attack is needed, I am telling you to have Siegfried and the Knights accompany you."

Then won't you find out?

Whether my reasoning was wrong or right.

Ivan laughed as he said that.

"And when Grand Duke Fenrir departs, Lady Presepe will return to the Imperial Palace. To the safest place in Ateloia—yes, Your Majesty's."

That was exactly what happened on that day.

"..."

Dietrich's face was etched with rage as he ruminated on his affair with Ivan.

Anyone could see that the contents of Fenrir's letter had their own reasons, and it was clear that leaving with Presepe was a choice made to protect her.

However, Dietrich sensed it intuitively.

The fact that Archmage Ivan is not the only one who cannot be trusted.

Also, maybe...

The very fact that Fenrir took Presepe out of the palace in the first place... might not have been merely under the pretext of protecting her.

"Archmage..."

A sinister voice flowed from between Dietrich's tightly closed lips.

"Bring Archmage Ivan here, right now."

***

Before she knew it, the night had deepened.

The carriage carrying Presepe drove and drove for half a day, and only stopped late at night.

"..."

Fenrir, standing in front of the small tent, was about to step inside when he meticulously adjusted his clothes and hair. Then, he carefully lifted the tent curtain.

Then, Presepe, who had fallen asleep with a weary expression, came into view.

He could have let her sleep in the carriage while they traveled, but he didn't want to go that far. Besides, this expedition itself was nothing but a lie to begin with, so there was no need to go to such lengths.

Besides, she must have been plagued by anxiety that Dietrich might be chasing her, so letting her sleep peacefully was actually a gesture of consideration.

...And having Presepe sleep peacefully and move freely like this was also more beneficial for Fenrir.

"Do not let anyone in."

"Yes."

After giving orders to the soldiers, Fenrir quietly gazed at Presepe, who was asleep inside the barracks. Then, he lowered the curtain again and began to walk away with heavy steps.

Beyond, at the edge of the cliff.

To a place where no one is.

Previous                Next