APML 18

Chapter 18

“Are you talking about Baron Hetel’s son? He’s half out of his mind.”
“Is that why the Baron requested a meeting today—because of his son?”
“We searched everywhere but couldn’t find him. It looks like he’ll be asking for your help, Cain.”
“Hmm.”

Cain’s face glinted with mischief.
Jade adjusted her glasses with an expression that said I understand completely.
“It’s probably best to deal with it for the sake of the local residents as well.”
“I will.”
“And for Evelyn too.”
“That woman will be coming to the capital with me, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Excuse me? You really plan to take her along?”

Jade asked, flustered, and Cain looked at her strangely.
“She lost the bet, so I hired her as a permanent employee. You know all about it—why are you acting like this?”
“…Yes, that’s true, but—”

Jade eventually gave up thinking and asked in despair,
“Shouldn’t we at least find a place for her to stay since she has no ties to the capital?”
“I’ll take her to my mansion.”
“Excuse me?”

Jade stopped in surprise.
Cain, however, simply stared at her as if nothing was wrong.
“It’s a personal hire, isn’t it obvious? If anything happens after bringing her to the capital, it’ll be a headache.”
“Even so, isn’t that a bit much? If you insist, I could at least make things convenient for her.”
“Is she my exclusive employee? She’s my permanent staff. Why are you acting like this now?”
“That’s true, but—”

Ugh, I’m the one who’s tired here.
Jade had to try to understand her superior’s strangely logical yet illogical reasoning.
She adjusted her glasses again and muttered,
“Stop worrying about unnecessary things and just do your work. There’s barely any time with the evacuation preparations anyway.”
“…Understood.”

Jade felt a little unfair about having spent her scarce time writing to Evelyn, but she silently followed Cain.
Just before entering the building, she glanced at the garden.
Spring had come noticeably close.

“Greetings, Your Excellency.”

When they entered the reception room, Baron Hetel, who had been waiting, stood up.
He looked somewhat pale, probably from the stress of his son being missing.
“Requesting a sudden meeting—what is this about?”

Cain sat down, pretending not to know.
As he followed, Baron Hetel wiped the sweat from his face with a handkerchief.
Though his son was of the same age as Cain, every time he met him, he felt an inexplicable pressure that made cold sweat break out.
“Forgive me for intruding while you are busy, but I came to earnestly ask for your help.”
“What is it?”

“Your Excellency, my son has been missing for over ten days now.”

Baron Hetel clenched his handkerchief.
“Please help me find him.”

Cain silently studied the Baron for a moment.
With a face full of tension, the Baron could not meet Cain’s gaze and fidgeted with the handkerchief.
“Baron.”
“Yes, Your Excellency?”
“Which do you value more—your family or your son?”

“Excuse me?”

Surprised, the Baron looked up.
Cain’s arrogant smile, which he had seen many times, seemed oddly unsettling this time.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about your son. He’s actually in prison.”
“What?”

The color drained from the Baron’s face in an instant.
“He attacked me during the festival. He had a weapon too.”
“W-what…?”
“You know I was recently attacked by an assassin, right?”
“Yes, I’ve heard about it.”
“It was the same day. Your son was captured along with them.”
“Gah!”

The Baron’s hands trembled.
“That can’t be. Why would my son attack Your Excellency?”
“That’s what I wonder too, but he wouldn’t confess during the interrogation. He’s got quite a backbone.”
“Your Excellency…”

“Regardless of the motive, I can’t just let it slide. As you know, our Duchy rewards well, but punishes clearly too.”

Cain crossed his legs and looked down at the Baron.
“However, considering the contributions of the Hetel family during the war, I won’t hold the family responsible.”
“T-thank you.”

“Forget about your son. Many people have already seen, so covering it up is impossible, and if this reaches your ears, the Hetel family won’t remain unscathed. This is all I can do for you.”

The Baron shut his eyes tightly.
He had already heard of Duke Louis’s temperament.
Attacking the Duke’s only heir…
Letting his son run around unchecked had finally caused trouble.

“What will you do?”

Cain asked, though he already knew the answer.
He preferred not to use the Duke’s authority to solve problems, but this time he made an exception.
“To finish things quickly and decisively.”

“…I will follow your instructions.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill him, though sunlight may be hard to come by.”
“Thank you.”

The Baron bowed, and Cain rose.
“Ah, and—”
“Yes?”
“Don’t try anything rash after I withdraw. I won’t tolerate it.”
“Ah, understood.”

The Baron quickly lowered his head, struck to the core.
Cain gave one last icy look at the back of his head before leaving the reception room.
“There must be more victims than just that woman, right?”
“Yes, even from preliminary investigations, there are several. The Baron covered it all using every possible means.”
“Get statements from that brat about the crimes, make them official records. Then use them to extract compensation from the Baron and repay the victims.”
“Understood.”

“Grandmother, I’m home.”

“Oh, Evelyn.”

Grandmother smiled at Evelyn but froze when she noticed Cain following her.
She smiled awkwardly at Cain, then grabbed Evelyn’s arm and led her to a corner.
“What’s going on? Why did you bring him again?”
“Grandmother, I’m going to the capital.”
“What?”

Her sudden declaration left Grandmother speechless.
“You said you’d be working at the castle last time, right? I got recognized for my skills and landed a job in the capital.”
“R-really? That’s good, but…”
“The salary will be higher than here, and lodging and meals are provided.”
“That’s good. But you’re not going with that young man, are you?”
“Yes, I am.”

Grandmother spun to stare at Cain.
Startled, Cain froze awkwardly.
“So, what’s going on? Are you… romantically involved?”
“No, not at all. He’s a purely professional colleague, or more accurately, my superior.”

Grandmother eyed both of them skeptically but let it go.
“I came to pack my things. We’re going to the capital together during the evacuation.”
“Just like that?”
“Sorry, it’s a tight schedule.”

Evelyn couldn’t tell her grandmother that she had been unable to contact her due to being sick and smiled awkwardly.
“Cain, wait a moment while I pack.”
“Ah, okay.”

After Evelyn went upstairs, Grandmother beckoned Cain.
“By the way, I didn’t ask your name. Cain? Your last name?”
“Just call me Cain.”
“Alright, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”

Cain sat, and Grandmother stared at him intensely.
“…It would be nice if she started the conversation.”

Cain stayed silent, unsure of how to begin.
“Shall I read your fortune?”
“No, that’s fine.”

“Let’s see then.”

Grandmother shuffled the cards skillfully, and Cain picked three cards as instructed.
“Hmm.”

She looked at the three cards with interest.
She tapped the first card.
“The Fool. How interesting. Evelyn drew the same one before going to work at the castle.”
“So you’re both going to make a foolish decision?”
“Possibly.”

Grandmother laughed at Cain’s dry humor.
“It means you’re about to face an important decision. Evelyn has probably decided to go to the capital. And you… well, we’ll see.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Maybe you haven’t realized it yet.”

She flipped the second card.
“This reversed Tower card hints at hardship ahead. Let’s see the last card.”

She flipped the last card.
“Death.”
“So it means that if a wrong decision is made, a crisis comes, and perhaps death?”
“Not necessarily. Death can also mean an end and a new beginning.”

She smiled.
“It could be an opportunity for a new life. Whether you seize it depends on your decision.”

Grandmother locked eyes with Cain, her expression serious.
His red eyes reminded her of someone, and it made her heart tighten.
“However, given the accumulated karma so far, it won’t be easy.”
“Karma?”
“Well, mostly caused by someone close to you, but you might take it on instead. It will be unavoidable.”

Her eyes pierced Cain sharply, as if she wanted to say more but didn’t.
“Who would’ve thought we’d be intertwined like this?”