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Chapter 70
Soon, the First Prince, Calvin, and the Second Prince, Redro, entered.
The twin sons of House Jipino, whom Eshedwa had summoned, followed right behind.
On the surface, it looked as though they had been called because the matter was of great importance and high-ranking nobles were needed. In truth, however, Eshedwa had predicted that the twins—who were favorable toward Inerra—would be enraged at the Lumon Empire.
The Emperor nervously turned to his second son.
“You must have heard on the way here. Redro, was it you who orchestrated the abduction of Duke Mertiel?”
“No! That’s nonsense! They’re framing me!”
But this was not a game Redro could win.
“My lord was abducted at an information house secretly run by His Highness the Second Prince. The informants I captured confessed to Your Highness’s crime.”
Kiscel growled, pouring emotion into every word.
“If you wish, you may question the informants I brought.”
At that, the Emperor turned again toward Redro.
Before he could speak, His—Jipino’s young master—shot to his feet.
“What did you just say? Who was abducted?!”
There was no courtesy, no decorum.
This was a place where nothing restrained one from speaking freely.
The Emperor slammed his armrest.
“Lord Jipino! Unless you mean to insult the Lumon Empire, sit down and calm yourself! We are in the middle of discerning right and wrong!”
“Hah! Very well, Your Majesty. But if what that duke’s servant said is true, you won’t be able to stop me then.”
His clenched his fist and sat back down.
Even behavior unbecoming before another empire’s Emperor was, in this situation, no stain at all.
The conversation dragged on.
Emotions flared, the discussion swerving this way and that, but the more they talked, the more the Emperor could only grind his teeth.
When the men Kiscel had captured confessed, and it was revealed they were indeed men under Redro…
The situation grew worse for him, until Redro, unable to contain his anger, raised his voice.
“Father, please listen to me! Why would I ever abduct a duke of the Libedro Empire?!”
At that, Calvin slowly raised his hand.
He covered his mouth as though he were about to burst out laughing, but when attention turned to him, he composed his expression.
“These words are irreverent before Father, but… perhaps it is because I was arranging, on my own, a marriage between Duke Mertiel and Redro.”
Though his tone was solemn, as if confessing sin, Kiscel was not fooled.
A serious expression could be faked as much as one liked.
What mattered was Calvin’s words.
They lent credibility to the notion that Redro might have committed the crime.
No one here was foolish.
Why would the First Prince push for marriage between his brother and the duke, and why would the Second Prince resent it so much that he’d go so far as to abduct the duke?
It was a perfectly plausible explanation.
His and Hian could not hold back either.
“We heard that as well. Yes, we certainly did. We are close friends with the duke, after all.”
“What talk do you mean?”
“The talk that the duke might marry the Second Prince, of course.”
“Young lord!”
“What criminal ever confesses to his crimes so plainly, Your Majesty?”
Though his tone was irreverent, His continued in a voice perfectly measured.
“As His young master of Jipino, I, His Jipino, demand a proper investigation into the Second Prince, Emperor of Lumon.”
Hian added calmly.
“As the younger Jipino son, I, Hian Jipino, share the same demand.”
The words of House Jipino were not easily dismissed, not even by an Emperor.
The Emperor swallowed hard.
It was easy to accuse; far harder to clear one’s name.
Kiscel had merely taken advantage of that truth.
“All this, just because he couldn’t stomach one young lady?”
At the twins’ muttering, Redro leapt to his feet.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the most suspicious thing of all? Those so-called witnesses just now! You caught them alone?”
Redro’s sharp gaze turned on Kiscel.
But Kiscel’s expression did not even twitch.
The plan was flawless.
“And a mere viscount’s son, with no title or position of note, though a duke’s aide, could do this? It seems more likely you contrived some trick to stage it yourself!”
But such sudden schemes are bound to have cracks.
And Redro’s pointed question was one of them.
So Kiscel replied—
“I did not catch them through trickery.”
He picked up a pen lying on the table.
Vvmmm—
A deep indigo aura flared around the pen, wrapping it in a sacred light.
The Lumon royals, and even the Jipino twins, reacted in surprise.
Even Eshedwa, who had merely been observing, raised his brows in astonishment.
“It was possible because I am a Sword Master.”
The dangerous, shimmering aura that only a Sword Master could wield blazed.
A Sword Master could be granted rank up to Count.
“As a Sword Master of the Libedro Empire, I too demand this: Emperor of Lumon, hold the Second Prince accountable so that our duke may return safely.”
Kiscel, who had long hidden his power, judged this the time to reveal himself.
✦ ✦ ✦
A compromise was reached.
The Second Prince would be temporarily confined. However, the coronation banquet would proceed as planned, and with Eshedwa’s aid, the matter would be covered up for the time being—at least until the truth came fully to light.
Since this was also what the Lumon Empire wanted, the Emperor accepted, and the First Prince Calvin naturally agreed as well.
Once outside the chamber, Eshedwa turned to Kiscel with his trademark gentle smile, after ensuring no one was nearby.
“If the Second Prince fails to clear his name and ends up punished, we’ll be able to wring quite a lot from it.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. Even if it meant granting some benefit to the Libedro Empire, the First Prince wanted his brother gone. My beloved is impressive indeed—throwing himself into the fire for what I desire.”
Kiscel disliked how lightly Eshedwa treated the whole affair.
Adjusting his disheveled collar, Kiscel spoke from behind him.
“May I say one thing, Your Highness?”
Eshedwa nodded as if to grant permission.
Kiscel drew a deep breath.
The only reason everything had gone so smoothly was not just thanks to the Lumon First Prince—it was mostly due to Eshedwa.
He had used his crown prince status to side with Kiscel and protect Inerra.
But if…
If he truly…
“Our duke has been abducted. Do you not feel even a shred of concern?”
If Eshedwa had even the smallest bit of worry for Inerra—
He could never have acted this way.
What mattered most should have been her safety.
It would have been impossible to corner the Second Prince like this otherwise.
“Not once have you asked where our lady is, Your Highness.”
Kiscel clenched his fist, recalling Inerra’s faint smile as she gave her instructions before sleep.
Even when she risked everything—when things could become complicated or even dangerous if Eshedwa did not react as she predicted—she was certain.
Certain of what he would choose.
Eshedwa slowly shifted his gaze toward Kiscel.
“You say interesting things.”
He chuckled and stepped close.
Those vivid, deep blue eyes…
“Did Inerra tell you that I would worry for her?”
Such words did not suit this man.
“As if I ever would.”
Kiscel barely—truly barely—restrained his anger.
“You are not fit for my master.”
And yet, this man only smiled knowingly.
“Do you think, after all this time by her side, I wouldn’t know what you’ve done to her?”
“What I’ve done?”
Indeed, it was because he didn’t care. That was why he could treat her like a tool, whenever convenient.
“She’s already someone scarred. Even without you, she suffers enough.”
And yet, Eshedwa surely wouldn’t understand.
He wouldn’t even care.
Turning away, Kiscel muttered his last words.
“It seems you cannot see that.”
