Chapter 64

The atmosphere in the office felt as brittle and treacherous as thin ice.

Since morning, Lucien had met with the King, the Finance Minister, the Cavalry Captain, and finally his half-brother, who had somehow managed to force his way onto the expedition. Of all those encounters, the audience with the King had been the most harrowing, even worse than the meeting with his half-brother.

“You didn’t have tea with me.”

The King had begun whining the instant Lucien entered the room. When Lucien demanded to know why he had approved such a thing without consulting him and received that as his answer, he had to fight the urge to smash a teacup over his own father’s head.

“By the way, listen to this, Lucien. That wretched Gaecrux woman seems to be trying to get her hands on the Maleste territory, doesn’t she? She’s even working with the Ithah tribes of the North.”

“The Tower Master? You mean Maleste? What are you talking about?”

“Wouldn’t that mean our Maleste territory is being attacked from above and below? But Bastian, our son, is wise. He has foresight. They say he prepared for this in advance.”

Bastian, our son.

His father always spoke of his eldest son as though Bastian were still a little boy.

“He says he’ll attack the Tower while the Tower Master is away. Then that woman will be struck from behind, won’t she? Isn’t that remarkable? If matters continue like this, it may even be possible to wipe those unruly seeds from this land…”

“Attack the Tower? The royal family would attack the Tower? How can you even say such a thing?”

When Lucien finally reached his limit and raised his voice, the King startled and began trembling like a frightened child.

“D-did I do something wrong? But Lucien, listen…”

Then he had circled back to the same complaint.

“You didn’t… you didn’t have tea with me. How was I supposed to discuss anything with you…?”

Damn it all.

Lucien had left the King’s reception room, abandoning his father to his delirium. That side of the situation was already beyond saving. He needed to focus on whatever could still be salvaged.

“The King’s mind may be clouded, but it was never this far gone. The Tower Master’s intervention is obvious.”

“What about the King’s mage? What has he been doing?”

“He has kept himself locked away ever since the Gaecrux Tower Master arrived. No one has seen him.”

“What could the Tower Master possibly gain from Bastian’s expedition?”

“What if Bastian has been colluding with the Tower from the beginning?”

Voices collided throughout the room, creating a chaotic tangle of speculation.

Lucien merely listened with his forehead resting against one hand. He did nothing but listen.

He had no idea what might emerge from his mouth if he attempted to speak. He suspected it would be something unforgivable. A thousand possibilities and unwelcome thoughts surfaced and vanished within his mind, every one of them laced with something perilously close to a curse.

On the game board, where power constantly shifted and changed hands, Bastian and the Tower Master occupied opposite extremes. There was no discernible connection between them.

Renata’s piercing voice sliced through the clamor.

“Enough!”

The room fell silent.

“Is this truly the time to argue over the cause?” she demanded. “Bastian’s expedition departs in only five days. Focus on our response.”

Regardless of the circumstances, the King had already granted his approval. The existence of a regency did not strip him of his fundamental royal authority. Overturning the decision would require a new decree bearing the King’s consent, and obtaining one seemed remote at best. Resolving the matter within five days appeared all but impossible.

“It is fortunate that we moved our troops to Silbon beforehand,” Renata continued. “Since Your Highness is a knight personally ordained by the King, you possess sufficient authority to mobilize the royal army.”

“That assumes they obey the order,” Lucien countered, his irritation plain.

Renata inclined her head. “In an emergency, we should at least be able to mobilize enough soldiers to delay them. From this moment onward, ensuring that happens must be our priority. Were the decision mine alone, I would involve the Security Commissioner as well.”

As she spoke, Renata rearranged several pieces on the game board.

“And summon my foolish brother back. When it comes to military affairs, he is still more capable than I am.”

Lucien responded with a vague nod and waved one hand in assent. Renata’s brother’s period of penance had lasted long enough.

Renata began clearing the remaining pieces from the board, but her hand paused before the last few. She looked up.

“One final matter… please clear the room, Your Highness.”

Her voice had fallen low. She cast a measured glance around the office, which remained crowded with people.

Lucien’s brow tightened. “Why?”

“I have a report concerning that mage.” Renata held his gaze. “You will not want any word of this leaking beyond this room.”

The eldest daughter of Koherburn, reputed to be the wisest of them all, regarded him with eyes that gleamed with grave significance.

[END of VOLUME 2]