Chapter 26
Doubt
Laffite asked with a weary face.
“Since when… since when has the Kleinfelter Family been such a place?”
Lyndon Kleinfelter clicked his tongue at his nephew's incredulous question.
“Does the eldest son not know the reason why it must be so?”
“Even without resorting to such measures, the Kleinfelter Family enjoys paramount power in this small land.”
“Far from it. We enjoy it now precisely because we resorted to such measures. And paramount power? Where did you hear such nonsense? The ruling authority of Nauk is in the hands of some other family!”
“Do you desire that ruling authority so much? Even knowing what indignities Princess Liene, who holds that authority, is suffering?”
“That's all because the ruling authority isn't where it should be. That young thing can't even use what she holds.”
And it was the Kleinfelter Family that made it so, even manipulating the Cardinal.
“The Cardinal must be replaced. Keep that in mind.”
“……”
Laffite looked utterly weary.
“What on earth are you planning to do?”
“Does the method matter?”
The Kleinfelter Family had many ways to commit murder. The only problem was that the target was the Cardinal.
“……I must find a successor quickly.”
No, even that wasn't the problem. For Lyndon Kleinfelter, the more important question was what kind of person to install as the next Cardinal.
“I'm telling you, don't do it. The Cardinal, of all people. How do you intend to handle the aftermath if this is exposed?”
“That's your problem.”
Lyndon Kleinfelter glared at his nephew and sighed heavily.
“You're weak and soft. That's why you had your woman stolen right before your eyes.”
Those words, like a sharp spear, hit the bullseye with precision.
“Uncle!”
As expected, Laffite immediately lost his composure and revealed his emotions.
“She wasn't stolen. I know how much Liene loves me!”
His nephew, who seemed ready to slit his throat, was nothing but pathetic to Lyndon.
“It's because you can't even manage one woman that I'm doing this. Now that the Cardinal has gone over to their side, there's no way to postpone the marriage.”
“I'll create one.”
“How?”
“……”
Lyndon Kleinfelter, as cunning as a snake, seized the moment when Laffite's thoughts faltered.
“If the Cardinal dies, it will take time to select the next one. Of course, there will also have to be a funeral in the meantime. Without a celebrant, there will naturally be no marriage. Do you understand what I mean?”
It meant that he could buy plenty of time. Laffite's face froze.
“Today would be good. The graveyard is dark, after all.”
Darkness was the best device to cover up murder.
“Think about it. How to do it. No, how to make it most profitable.”
“……”
Like the moon in the daytime, a conspiracy bloomed at an untimely hour. * * * The aftermath of the collapse of the temple steps was quite significant. Among them, the most distraught was probably the old beggar who climbed the temple every other day to get a lump of Water bread that the priests ate.
“……”
The old beggar stood blankly, staring at the collapsed steps. Beyond his dirty, matted hair, his one remaining eye looked particularly cloudy today. He had two arms, but the old beggar couldn't fully use one of his hands. The same was true of his legs. His shriveled left foot dragged on the dirt floor whenever the old man used his cane to support himself. It was amazing that he managed to climb those high steps every time with such a body.
“Hey, you there! Move aside, it's dangerous!”
Someone shouted loudly at the old man. It was a mercenary of Tiwakan, who was busy preparing to receive the coffin coming down from above. It was an unusual sight, so one might expect quite a few people to be watching, but surprisingly, the area in front of the temple was empty. The people of Nauk still feared Tiwakan. Most of them believed that they would be beheaded if they even made eye contact. The old beggar, whether he hadn't heard the rumors or had gone mad, was standing in the middle of the road, staring at them the whole time. At first, the mercenaries didn't pay any attention. However, as the coffin began to descend, he was definitely becoming a hindrance.
“That one is……”
Instead of moving aside, the old beggar approached the mercenary and spoke. His hoarse voice, with phlegm bubbling like molten metal, was difficult for anyone to understand.
“What?”
The old man laboriously raised his shriveled hand and pointed somewhere.
The person at the end of his finger was Black, riding a Black steed.
“Who……”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Wh, o……”
Unfortunately, the old man couldn't use his mouth as freely as his hands and feet. But it was clear enough what he was trying to say. The mercenary looked back and forth between the old man's fingertip and Black. The mercenaries of Tiwakan were more brutal mass murderers than anyone else on the battlefield, but they maintained strict rules among themselves. They never killed someone unarmed without a reason or permission. The mercenary was a little dumbfounded that the old man didn't recognize Black, but he gave him an answer. It seemed his eyes weren't working properly.
“He is the leader of Tiwakan and the god of those who bear the name Tiwakan.”
“……”
“If you understand, move aside. You're in the way.”
The old man didn't move. Instead, he stared blankly at Black with vacant eyes.
“Hey, I said move aside.”
It was as if he couldn't hear the words. His lips, hidden by his gray beard, trembled, making inaudible sounds. Is it returning? The sin of Nauk. The blood that couldn't flow completely that day. Is it trying to flow now, at last…? It had been 21 years since the old beggar appeared in Nauk. It was also 21 years ago that the nine waterfalls dried up and the harbinger of extreme drought began. * * * It was time to move to the chapel. Liene, dressed in mourning clothes, adorned her hair with the darkest blooming black rose as a substitute for jewelry. Madam Flambard thought that it made her hair look even more beautiful, but she said nothing as it was a funeral. Today, the gates were wide open. Since the funeral, which should have been held at the temple, had only been moved to the royal chapel, anyone who wished to attend was supposed to be able to do so as before. Liene knew that quite a few people were heading to the royal chapel.
“There seem to be more people than at previous funerals.”
Liene murmured softly, and Madam Flambard nodded once in response.
“Wouldn't you think so? Everyone must be curious.”
“About what? …Ah.”
Liene stopped speaking and closed her mouth bitterly. 'They must be curious about me.' People would think that Laffite Kleinfelter was dead. They meant that they wanted to see how Liene would be, attending the funeral of her dead lover with her new fiancé. What a terrible situation. They might hurl nasty words at Black and Tiwakan. There was also the possibility that the Kleinfelter Family had instigated slander. It had happened several times before. Lyndon Kleinfelter pathologically hated the people of Nauk showing affection for Liene.
“I should give Lord Tiwakan a heads-up.”
“There's no way to stop everyone's mouths, but it would be good to let him know anyway. He'll be less angry.”
“……Do you think so?”
Somehow, that man didn't seem like he would get angry just because someone said something bad about him. Come to think of it, she had never seen Black get angry. Yet, when she thought of him, fear always coexisted with other emotions. …A strange person. She didn't like him, but she didn't dislike him; she wasn't afraid of him, but she was afraid.
“Princess. What are you thinking so intently about?”
Madam Flambard gently tugged at her sleeve and asked as Liene was lost in thought about Black.
“You must look ahead. The road here is not as smooth as inside the castle. You might fall.”
“……Ah,”
Liene was surprised to realize that she had already arrived near the chapel. She had only been thinking for a moment, but time had flown by. It was as if he had stolen the time.
“You're right. I need to pay attention… Oops.”
Thump! As if on cue, something caught on the tip of her foot. She almost showed a disgraceful sight of falling. Liene, who had barely stopped, looked down at her feet. The worn end of someone's cane was sticking out towards her from the roadside, as if on purpose.
“……”
Liene moved her gaze to find the person holding the cane out towards her. It was the old beggar from in front of the temple.
“Madam. Just a moment.”
Liene also knew of the old man's existence. She sometimes deliberately brought food when visiting the temple and put it in his hands. His life was pitiful, but the old man was not an evil being.
“I don't have anything to share today as I'm on my way to the funeral. Will you wait until the ceremony is over?”
“……”
The old man just stared silently at Liene.
“The coffin will be moved along this road soon. Be careful not to get your cane caught.”
“……Daughter of Nauk. …Nauk… Sinner.”
“Pardon?”
His lips, covered in a beard, moved mumblingly. But it was hard to hear what he was saying.
“What did he say?”
Liene bowed slightly towards the old man, trying to hear him.
“Sin… follows blood… past… now… Daughter of Arsak… will soon shed blood…”
“What…?”
Madam Flambard, noticing Liene’s changed expression, intervened and grabbed Liene’s arm.
“Princess! You mustn’t get too close. How can you trust someone you don’t even know?”
“Just a moment. I think he’s trying to tell me something.”
In the meantime, Tiwakan's mercenaries, who were in charge of security inside the castle today, came running from afar.
“Princess! Are you alright?”
Two mercenaries quickly grabbed the beggar and pulled him away.
“Yes, I’m fine. But we weren’t finished talking. Could you please step aside?”
“Ah, is that so?”
The mercenaries readily stepped aside, but their eyes remained fixed on the beggar. Their intention was clear: they were watching him, so he shouldn't even think about doing anything. Liene turned back to the old man and asked,
“Could you say it again? What does that mean?”
The old man’s lips moved.
“…Revenge.”
“...?”
Liene shook her head, wondering if she had misheard.
“What’s going on?”
Turning towards the voice, Black was standing there. She had no idea when he had approached.
“The Princess was speaking with this man.”
The mercenaries answered as Black approached. Their relaxed and casual posture hadn't changed much, but strangely, they seemed to stand straighter in Black's presence. It was clear at a glance what Black meant to them, how they regarded their leader.
“……”
Black’s eyes scanned the beggar. Liene saw the old man’s remaining eye tremble terribly as it met Black’s gaze. In that moment, she knew what the old man had said.
“I see. Do you need more time?”
He was asking if she needed to talk more.
“No.”
Liene quickly turned away. Afraid that her hands might be trembling, Liene grabbed Black’s arm.
“He seems to have trouble speaking properly. If we keep listening, we’ll be late for the funeral, so it’s best if we just go. If you have anything to tell me, come find me later.”
The last words were directed at the old man. The old man didn’t say anything, only his eyelids trembled.
“Let’s go.”
“...If you wish.”
Black placed his other hand on the back of Liene’s hand, which was holding his arm. As a result, she was half-embraced by him. Black slowly took a step in that position.
“Are you alright?”
“...Yes.”
“You don’t look alright.”
She wasn’t alright. The old man had said, “…revenge.” Liene bit her lip and tightened her grip on Black’s arm.
“I’ll be alright once the funeral is over.”
“I’ve given instructions to not let our guard down.”
“That’s a relief.”
It wasn’t a relief. The old man had said, -The Daughter of Arsak will shed blood. The intermittent, murky voice echoed clearly in her head, sending shivers down her spine. -Due to revenge. Who on earth was that old man? How did he know Black? Was the revenge he spoke of Black’s revenge? Did that mean that the person Black was seeking revenge on was ultimately herself?
“……”
Deeng, deeng! Just then, the church bell shook her thoughts. Her mind seemed to be in utter chaos.
