Chapter 34

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Unexpected Visitors
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“...Brother.”

The Empress, walking along the corridor, called out to Marquis Luseik. The gentle smile she had worn in front of Killian vanished the moment she stepped out the door, and she was now biting her lips.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Gale told me. Killian used a barrier.”

The Marquis's face stiffened for a moment. The Empress continued speaking without noticing.

“He's a child I taught nothing, not even how to read. For such a child to be excellent in martial arts and even use magic… If that's the extent of it even after sending medicine to suppress him…”

“Your Majesty.”

“…I truly almost lost him. Though it was a deviation born of frustration, and he returned on his own because he's still naive, he nearly slipped from my grasp.”

The Empress's voice began to grow agitated.

“It's meaningless. Even if he were to accidentally leave, who would remember the Second Prince?”

“He must not leave by mistake. From now until then, he must be careful not only outside the Imperial Palace but also not to be seen by anyone within it. That child must simply remain physically unharmed and just breathe.”

Her pale face gleamed coldly. The Marquis flinched, trembling at his sister's eyes, which gleamed with persistent thought.

“Your Majesty, to that extent…”

“He is a child who exists to make Calein shine. I've put in effort for eleven years, but he grew up faster than I expected.”

The Empress's lips trembled.

“That plan… it's nearing completion, isn't it?”

Marquis Luseik glanced around, then spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.

The Empress took a deep breath, as if trying to control her emotions.

“Killian's death must become a legend, but his life must be forgotten by all.”

Curse-like words were uttered from her elegant lips. The Marquis trembled once again.

“Because that is why Killian is alive.”

***

“Your Highness.”

Nell looked at Killian with concern.

“It's a relief it ended with just this, Your Highness.”

“Nell.”

Killian opened his mouth, his eyes fixed on the direction the Empress and the Marquis had departed.

“…Do you know what kind of banquet the Rostian Count Family is holding?”

“Pardon? It's held annually for business purposes… Why do you ask about it so suddenly?”

Nell asked back, as if she couldn't understand Killian's sudden question. Killian turned his head to her with a serious expression.

“If the nobles of the Imperial Capital gather… then the Luperne Ducal Family, who frequently visit the Imperial Capital, will come too, won't they?”

“It's not guaranteed, as not everyone gathers, strictly speaking. However, since they used to have frequent dealings with the Rostian Count Family, there's a high chance they'll attend.”

“Will children come too?”

“There's a young lord of Your Highness's age in that house, so it's possible, but…”

Killian's dark green eyes sparkled. As if he had completely forgotten the chilling interview with the Empress just moments before, a small smile played on his lips.

“I'm going out.”

“Your Highness! If you run away again, this time…”

“It's not running away. This time, there's someone I need to meet. And something I need to confirm.”

Nell's eyes widened.

“…If you break the promise you made to Her Majesty the Empress, it will be a grave matter.”

“Break it?”

Killian quietly shook his head. The smile on his lips had twisted into something crooked.

“‘I will engrave your words in my bones’ doesn't mean I'll follow them literally, does it?”

He looked up at Nell, a sneer on his face. A strange light, rising in his dark eyes, was spreading wider and wider.

Deep wrinkles formed on Nell's brow, and a heavy sigh escaped her lips.

“I'm going.”

“…How do you plan to get out of the Imperial Palace?”

Killian's gaze drifted towards the window, aiming for the area between the Imperial Palace's South and East Gates. Nell followed his gaze, an uncomprehending expression on her face.

“…I was just about to test a new path. My mother won't be coming back today, so it's the perfect day.”

“A new path?”

Nell asked again, as if she had received a shock.

Killian did not reply further.

He was going to venture out to test the path a girl he had once met had told him about. If it worked, he would take the opportunity to meet her. Perhaps she could offer more help.

This was, in fact, an excuse. He simply wanted to see Harper one more time.

Harper was special. Ever since that day.

Excluding Nell, she was the first person to offer him a helping hand, the one who looked directly at him when he had lived isolated, like an invisible man.

He wanted to meet Harper Luperne again. He wanted to talk to her again, even if just for a moment.

In a dark life where he could find no meaning beyond survival, it felt as if a small spark had finally ignited.

After dismissing the hesitant Nell from the room, Killian quietly opened an old drawer in a corner of the room.

Drrrk—

Inside the always-empty drawer, something small and purplish glittered.

It was a ribbon. An item the girl had dropped.

He had carefully kept it, never showing it to Nell, and would take it out to look at it whenever he missed the girl.

As a result, he ended up taking it out dozens of times a day.

“Harper Luperne.”

He pronounced its owner's name once more.

That name, spoken in the cold air of the dark room, seemed to bring a small warmth to Killian.

***

Clang—

The silver goblet the Countess Rostian threw clattered loudly as it landed at the Count's feet.

“You infuriating man!”

“Wife! Compose yourself!”

“You compose yourself!”

The Countess glared at the Count with blazing eyes. Count Rostian recoiled.

“My father-in-law is ill, so let's set that aside, but what's this ‘business sickness’ that's making you hold a banquet amidst all this? Are you trying to pull out the very foundations of our house?”

“It's not that… We've already started this venture, so we can't not accept investments, can we? If only today's banquet goes well…”

“It's not going to go well!”

The Countess cried out, clutching her chest.

“What do you or I know about the silk business my father-in-law used to run? We should have just avoided squandering what was left…”

She sighed heavily, pressing a hand to her forehead.

Three years. In just three short years, the once-wealthy Rostian family had come to the brink of ruin.

It all began with the gambling of the former Count, Eustis Rostian.

The former Count, once renowned as a born businessman, had greatly expanded the silk business passed down through generations, amassing immense wealth.

Thanks to this, the Count's family had completely relocated their residence to the Imperial Capital, neglecting their dominion while enjoying the accumulated wealth.

It would have been good if that opulent life had continued, but three years ago, the former Count became addicted to a strange drug after frequenting gambling dens.

Consistently taking that drug, which caused agony if discontinued and led to a loss of all control if continued, he eventually became addicted to gambling as well, squandering half of the fortune he had accumulated throughout his life.

“We should have just returned to the dominion when he handed over the title…”

The Countess murmured.

The Count's family's misfortune did not end with the squandering of half their fortune.

The current Count Rostian, Gabriel Rostian, who had inherited the title earlier than planned due to his predecessor's situation, had far less business acumen than his father.

He tried to revive the family business somehow but ended up squandering even more wealth. After several repeated failures, he could no longer attract investors.

“What banquet are you even talking about! How much are the preparation costs…”

“Precisely. If we don't do this, we'll have to sell the mansion…”

Count Gabriel Rostian also sighed, following his wife's lead. He, too, did not trust his own abilities.

It was simply that no other method for repaying the existing debts came to mind besides continuing the business.

“If only my father would come to his senses…”

He murmured helplessly.

The former Count, now just over fifty, had the ability to revive the family business if not for his strange addiction.

If he were to simply appear at the banquet and show his vitality right now, investments would pour in like a flood. If only his face weren't crimson from the addiction.

“Hmph… What can we do about something already set in motion? If this fails again, let's just liquidate everything, wife.”

The Count said, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. The Countess, who had been throwing things just moments before, now wore a gloomy expression and shook her head repeatedly.

Just then, an attendant carefully called out to the two of them.

“Excuse me, Count and Countess.”

“What is it?”

“We have visitors.”

The Count and Countess blinked, looking at each other. The Count asked the attendant again.

“The banquet is in three days, so visitors now?”

“Theon Arpen, Butler of the Luperne Ducal Family, and another guest have arrived. When asked their purpose, they said they would state it directly…”

“Theon Arpen?”

The Count asked, startled.

“Isn't he the one who, since his youth, was said to bring in ten times or more profit whenever he invested in a business? When I asked him to just lend his name to the silk business, he acted as if he hadn't even heard me…”

“Oh, oh, tell them to come in at once!”

Hearing the Count's words, the Countess, who had buried her face in her hands, lifted it and waved her hands, urging the attendant. The attendant hastily nodded and headed back outside.

A moment later, Theon appeared, guided by the attendant.

“Welcome, Butler Arpen. Please, have a seat here… Wait?”

The Count, who had stood up to greet Theon without looking, widened his eyes. This was because another small guest entered, holding Theon's hand.

It was a blonde girl who looked to be about eight years old.

“Greetings to both of you. Please, just call me Theon.”

Theon bowed respectfully, his expression completely unfazed.

The child who had entered with him also began fumbling with her dress hem, preparing to bow. Her hands were small, so it seemed to take some time.

“Your face looks so young I didn't realize, but do you already have a daughter?”

The Countess, quicker than the Count, asked kindly. Theon's eyebrows twitched, as if he were flustered.

“It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Harper Luperne.”

The moment the Countess was about to say something more, the child, who had finally managed to properly grasp her dress hem, bowed to the Count and Countess. Both their eyes widened.

“Luperne? Then this young lady…”

“Was there another young lady in the Luperne Ducal Family?”

“Yes. She is their second young lady.”

Theon, having regained his composure, replied.

The hope that had briefly flickered on the Count's face swiftly drained away.