Chapter 60
People Who Resemble Each Other
Liene asked.
“What’s the problem?”
“As you know, the Lisebery Treaty is an obstacle to your marriage. You said the temple could overturn it. But now the Cardinal is vacant, and those damned people who signed the Lisebery Treaty can appoint him. So, the answer was that Sectarian.”
That was right. The plan was to reveal that Kleinfelter had Klima kill the Cardinal, cutting off the honeymoon between the temple and the Kleinfelter Family. If Klima disappeared, that plan would be impossible.
“So, please reconsider, Princess. If you forgive him, your wedding may be delayed even further.”
“……Still, he must not be killed.”
“Then, please tell me the reason. The reason why he should be spared.”
“…….”
Liene took a short breath. Klima's life was a non-negotiable issue for Liene as well. Fermos was thoroughly Black's man. So, if it was for Black, he would follow. Liene exhaled the long breath she had taken and began to speak.
“I have never been pregnant.”
“Ah, I heard. Although it wasn't the Lord's child, it was deeply regrettable… Wait a minute. What did you say? Never been pregnant?”
Fermos, who was about to offer insincere words of comfort, realized his mistake and widened his eyes.
“From the beginning… it wasn't? Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Does the Lord know…? Ah, I see. That's why he looked so spaced out and happy… No, please pretend you didn't hear that. As you know, the Lord doesn't usually express his emotions much. Saying he looked spaced out would be shocking only to us; others wouldn't even notice.”
That wasn't important at all. Liene couldn't even imagine Black making a spaced-out expression, but she was sure it would look good in her eyes. He would look gentle and kind. Maybe even happy. …Now that I think about it, I want to see him. That man.
“I was going to continue the lie until the end. I had planned to protect the Arsak Family's rule that way. But….”
“You've changed your mind?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I have become sincere with your leader.”
“Ah….”
Fermos blinked diligently, as if surprised. Every time his eyelid opened and closed, his monocle made a clicking sound.
“It means I no longer have to calculate in front of him, nor begrudge losing anything. I believe that Lord Tiwakan is more than qualified to be the ruler of Nauk.”
“Well, that's obvious… but I'm a bit dazed. It's certainly welcome that you've become sincere, Princess, but doesn't it seem a bit too early…?”
“Do you think I'm lying?”
Liene calmly faced Fermos. There was no lie at all. Liene was only hiding something, but everything she was saying now was true. Fermos was the one who said earlier that Liene was bad at lying. There was no way he wouldn't recognize the expression, the eyes, of someone telling the truth.
“No. Please forget what I just said. Why would I add anything? As someone who has sworn loyalty to the Lord, I am simply grateful.”
“That's why I want to give him everything I can. I want Lord Tiwakan and his future descendants to be the rightful rulers of this land.”
“Hmm, you think that far ahead. I understand. But what does that have to do with covering up the Sectarian's sins?”
“It's related. I believe so.”
“Hmm… You seem to be holding back there.”
“Know that the way to care for someone varies depending on the situation. Me holding back now, and covering up someone's sins, is also for Lord Tiwakan. Right now, that man is all that's on my mind.”
“T-To say such things… I can't refuse at all.”
Being too honest could be a weapon to someone. Fermos felt a pang as if he had been stabbed somewhere, and stuttered for a moment. There was a slight misalignment, but the two were doing the same thing. They had become sincere, and so they were trying to do something for each other. One of those things was keeping the Sectarian Klima alive. Something felt like the two of them were doing the same thing in different ways. But since neither of them was talking, there was no way to know. Fermos scratched his head in frustration. It was said that humans give affection to those who are similar to them, and looking at the two of them, it seemed true. The two, who seemed completely different, were secretly alike on the inside.
“Then I will find another way.”
Then Liene smiled brightly, as if she was truly relieved.
“Thank you.”
“Oh… Yes, thank you.”
For a moment, Fermos was flustered and said the wrong greeting without realizing it.
“What are you thankful for?”
“No, because you're smiling like that, it's a pleasure to the eyes and something to be thankful for… No, never mind. What am I daring to say… I, I'll be going now. I'm sorry.”
Fermos quickly got up and rushed out without even properly bowing.
“……?”
Liene was briefly puzzled by his uncharacteristic behavior. She didn't expect Fermos to be polite every time, but it was strange.
“Then what about Sectarian… No, still, I have to prepare a hiding place for him. If he stays in the temple, the Kleinfelter Family might get to him.”
There was a lot to do. She also had to rescue Mrs. Hinton, who was being held hostage and working as a laborer for the Kleinfelter Family.
“How am I going to do that….”
But it was a worry she didn't need to have at all. Mrs. Hinton was already somewhere else. In a very close and safe place. * * * The news that the Kleinfelter Family had been completely overturned made the remaining five families tremble with anger. Or maybe they were just trembling. Even though Lyndon Kleinfelter was away, the door to that mansion shouldn't have been broken down so easily. It meant that Tiwakan's power was stronger than all of them combined, and therefore, nothing could stop him.
“Damn it.”
Ellaroiden cursed, losing face. Despite announcing his visit, the Rosadel Family's mansion had not opened for over ten minutes. What kind of slow workers were they? Even this much cursing was too polite.
“What are you doing not opening the door quickly! What if they see me?”
It was a crisis for the six families. Not some vague political crisis, but a brutal threat that directly touched their skin. If they stayed like this, they would have everything taken away by the barbarians named Tiwakan. The six families had to unite. They had to do anything to drive out Tiwakan, whether it was war or rebellion. The Kleinfelter Family should have taken the lead in this, but since he was imprisoned, he had no choice but to take the risk and move himself. These days, it was burdensome to even leave the house, as Tiwakan might pop out anywhere in Nauk Castle. Moreover, he had unintentionally committed a crime. He had relayed a message to the errand boy of that house, as Lyndon Kleinfelter had ordered. There was no word yet that the errand boy had been caught, but Tiwakan had already trampled on the house of the Grand Councilman. There was no guarantee that he wouldn't do the same to his house. Whether Princess Liene had returned or not, the remaining five houses were still safe, but that was also uncertain. Bang, bang! Growing impatient, Ellaroiden forcefully knocked on the Rosadel Family's gate. He had left his guards behind and dressed as a worker to avoid the Eyes of Tiwakan, so he had to do things like this himself.
“Open the door! Open it now!”
Thud! Creak! The door finally opened.
“Shhh… You are asked to be quiet.”
The one who opened the door was the Rosadel Family's butler. Ellaroiden flared up in anger.
“If that's the case, you should have opened the door sooner! Why are you keeping people standing outside!”
“The master does not wish to see you. It would be best if you left….”
“What?”
Ellaroiden's face crumpled in anger.
“Daring to… Get out of my way!”
Ellaroiden forcefully pushed the door open and entered.
“No, you can't! Please don't do this! Lord!”
“Shut up and bring Lord Rosadel. Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“The master said he will not come out. Opening the door was to convey this message.”
“Shut up! Lord Rosadel! How can you do this when someone has come to visit! Come out now!”
Ellaroiden continued to walk in recklessly. The butler tried to stop him, but he couldn't use force carelessly, so all he could do was stomp his feet.
“Lord Rosadel! Come out! Do you think you'll be okay if you hide cowardly by yourself? Do you think those barbarians will leave you alone if you hide!”
“Oh, Lord! Please lower your voice. It's not that the master is….”
“If it's not that, then what is it?”
The butler closed his mouth in embarrassment, but then Rosadel appeared.
“Be quiet, sir.”
“……? Sir Rosadel?”
Ellaroiden gaped. His listless gait was already suspicious, but his face had become half its size in the meantime. Rosadel, who had lost sixteen soldiers in one place, had collapsed and been ill as soon as he heard the news. At least one had returned alive. But he had lost an arm, so he could no longer be called a knight. Losing sixteen out of two hundred soldiers might not seem like much, but it wasn't for Rosadel. Those sixteen had been cut off like rotten corn stalks in less than an hour. And it wasn't a group that had attacked, but a single one. Tiwakan was a disaster. It was not something that could be stopped with human power. Rosadel had already lost his will to fight.
“I know why you came, but don't. I'm going to withdraw. …You should go back too.”
“What on earth are you saying!”
Rosadel didn't even let Ellaroiden into the drawing room. He was trying to send him back in the front yard.
“Withdraw?”
“I don't want to fight Tiwakan. It's something I can't do……”
“Get a grip, sir! Do you think Tiwakan will leave us alone if you do that? Already, because you told Kleinfelter's words to the errand boy……”
“Sir!”
Rosadel recoiled and pointed his finger at Ellaroiden.
“Wh, what……! That's something you did alone! I didn't do anything! You were the only one who talked to the Assembly Leader!”
“Do you think the barbarians care about that? There were two people who faced Sir Kleinfelter that day, so that's the end of it!”
“Ah……. No.”
Rosadel collapsed to the dirt floor.
“Oh, master. You mustn't sit in such a cold place.”
The loyal butler tried to lift Rosadel up. Rosadel sat there and shook his head.
“No…… I didn't do anything. It's all the Kleinfelter Family and the Ellaroiden Family's doing……”
Ellaroiden clicked his tongue in disbelief as he looked at the slumped Rosadel.
“Sir, what kind of disgrace is this? Aren't you ashamed of the name Rosadel?”
“I didn't do it…… I didn't do it……”
“Ha, what on earth is this……!”
Ellaroiden clicked his tongue, and finally sighed. He couldn't understand why Rosadel was so frightened, but it was clear that he was useless now.
“Fine. I'll just go back today. But sir, get a grip. How can you protect the name of your family in such a weak state? Now is the time for the six families to join forces somehow.”
“……”
Rosadel kept his mouth shut.
“I'll send someone again. I don't know what happened, but take care of yourself.”
Ellaroiden turned away abruptly. His mind was racing. He had to decide whether to contact the other families except Rosadel, or to pretend nothing was wrong and watch how things went.
“There's still no news about what happened to Princess Liene……. Should I make an excuse and put someone inside the castle…….”
He muttered to himself and opened the gate he had just entered.
“……? ……Ugh, heuh!”
At first, he thought his eyes were deceiving him. What he saw as he opened the gate were men in black armor.
“Ti, Tiwakan!”
