IACGD 38

Chapter 38

Clemens, as if nothing had happened, returned to his usual expression and went around greeting people.

“Ah, Julai!”
“Clemens! Hello!”
“Yes, good morning.”
“Really! It feels even better now that the caravan has arrived. Clemens, you wouldn’t know, but every time the caravan comes, they bring all sorts of fascinating things.”

Julai chattered as she walked along.

“By the way, do you know the stableman, Clemens?”
“I’ve seen his face occasionally. Why?”
“He caught a cold. Everyone’s worried about him.”
“Is the stableman really that sick?”
“No. If one person catches a cold here, almost everyone does. Then it spreads to the village too.”

When someone caught a cold here, a few people often ended up dying.

“So he’s going to stay in his room for a few days. That’s a big deal.”

Clemens got a rough idea of the situation.

During times like this, when the caravan was in town, the stableman had a lot of work to do.

He had to take care of the horses brought along by the caravan as well.

The Grand Duke’s residence didn’t have many staff. If the stableman got sick, someone else would have to do his work.

It was understandable that the servants were concerned.

“But in the end! I’m the one taking care of the horses!”

Julai pretended to wipe her tears. This was clearly what she really wanted to say. Sniffling, she clasped her hands together and looked at Clemens.

“If you have time, could you come to the stables? It’s colder outside.”

Clemens chuckled.

“I’ll go take a look. When?”
“Evening! You absolutely have to come!”

After waving goodbye to Julai, Clemens went to Zephyrus.

“You’re late again today.”
“I went to see Rosia first.”
“I don’t even know whose personal attendant you are.”
“Of course, Master’s. Anyway, look at this.”

He handed over the letter Rosia had instructed him to deliver.

Zephyrus read through it silently and then asked,

“Have you read this too?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m not sure what to make of it. I’ve never let someone who’s crossed me go unpunished.”

Zephyrus spoke slowly.

“Perhaps there’s a reason behind it.”
“It says right here. It seems like it’s been planned for quite some time.”

This was a small report from a spy placed on Nerhi before Clemens even arrived in the north. It tracked Nerhi’s odd behavior, noting whom he met.

“He’s meeting the Noven merchant lord frequently. Supporting a wizard, gathering people. Spreading false rumors about His Grace. Making contracts with mercenaries. Secretly meeting other nobles.”

Clemens highlighted several key points from the letter.

“Honestly, I don’t know the difficult parts yet. But if this is dangerous for Master, it needs to be dealt with.”

Dangerous.

Zephyrus understood the underlying implications, which made him even more cautious.

The Emperor was turning a blind eye.

The cadet branches of the Grand Ducal family moving in the capital couldn’t escape the Royal Court’s notice.

No matter how secretly they acted, the Royal Court was the Royal Court. They would know everything happening in their own backyard.

‘Of course. That’s probably why he’s going this far.’

Zephyrus had never met Nerhi. He was practically a stranger. It would be odd to overlook him just because they were related by blood.

What worried him was…

‘That I can’t take the lead.’

He knew that ultimately, everything would only be properly resolved if he stepped forward.

But meeting the Noven merchant lord even in this room was nerve-wracking.

How could he go outside? How!

“Master, are you thinking something strange again?”

Clemens’ question pulled Zephyrus out of his thoughts.

“Strange thoughts? What do you mean by that?”
“Your expression just changed again.”

Clemens lowered the ends of his eyebrows and pursed his lips slightly.

“…I made that face?”
“Yes. When you’re thinking about unnecessary things.”
“Practical concerns, I assure you.”

Zephyrus muttered while looking away, then took a deep breath and straightened his head again.

“For now, keep gathering information. Collect evidence.”

They would continue gathering information but, ultimately, the decision was on hold.

Zephyrus postponed making a decision.

“And the one who shot the arrow at you? How’s that going?”
“Under interrogation! He said he’s lived in the village for quite some time. That’s all we’ve learned so far.”
“You had a fairly loyal person with you, then.”
“He didn’t seem that way.”

Tap, tap!

Clemens tilted his head at the precise knock and clapped his hands sharply.

“It’s about time! Shall we begin training?”

It was the last training they could do before meeting the merchant lord.

“Today’s star is Kael, an apprentice knight of the Prunina Order~”

Few knew about Zephyrus’ curse. Even among the knights, only Gwen did.

Yet there were several reasons Kael was chosen to assist in the training, even while being informed of Zephyrus’ curse.

First, Kael was Gwen’s youngest sibling.

“C-can I come in?”

More importantly, Kael was an ardent supporter of the Grand Duke.

He had fallen in love with him from just seeing a childhood portrait.

When he learned Gwen had helped train Zephyrus, he begged Clemens to let him see the Grand Duke in person.

Eventually, his wish was granted.

The door opened timidly, and a young-looking knight appeared.

Kael hurried in and saluted Zephyrus.

Zephyrus nodded in acknowledgment, but one of his eyebrows twitched almost immediately.

“You’re… truly beautiful.”

Kael muttered this while clutching Clemens’ arm and hiding behind him.

“Ah! I-Ice!”
“Master, what’s wrong? Calm down!”

As Kael and Clemens caused a commotion, Zephyrus closed his eyes. Yet in his darkened vision, Clemens’ arm, gripped by Kael, kept swinging back and forth, testing his nerves.

Screech, screech!

For a while, Kael’s screams echoed through the estate.

“…Are you alright?”
“I am fine. Do not worry too much.”
“How much gold did they paint on the Grand Duke’s face to make him so hard to look at?”
“Mind your words.”

Rumors of decay were spreading, but it was still the Grand Duke’s house. Insulting him in his own courtyard was not wise.

More importantly, Harvey was unsettled by the matron’s welcoming attitude.

They had arrived after the caravan’s peak, even setting conditions on the sale of goods. Yet she seemed completely unconcerned by Harvey’s rudeness.

“Phew.”

Harvey exhaled and brushed his worn, weary face.

“How is Tey’s condition?”
“He’s alright for now.”
“Even though he hasn’t taken all his medicine?”
“Yes, Master. At the moment.”

No one knew when his condition might worsen.

“We have to hold on a bit. If we’re careless, the entire caravan could fall into that man’s hands.”

His only remaining family after losing his son was his grandson Tey. If Tey couldn’t escape Nerhi’s grasp, the caravan was in grave danger.

For now, they had to follow his orders, but that could not continue indefinitely.

Whether it was discovering the medicine’s nature or the illness itself, a solution had to be found.

Even most physicians didn’t know Tey’s condition. Time was needed.

‘To buy that time, we had no choice but to obey him.’

However, the decision to sell goods only if they could see the Grand Duke was purely theirs—or rather, Tey’s—will.

The letter had been sent secretly, without Nerhi knowing.

But the person who would meet the Grand Duke was Harvey.

Having remained unseen for a long time, he would decide then whether to fully open up and solve everything together, or at least take the other faction’s side.

‘I wonder if we’ll even get to meet him during the week we’re here…’

With that worry, Harvey entered the assigned room and sank into the sofa, exhausted.

Then he noticed a note lying on the desk.

He opened it lightly, thinking it was one of the usual welcoming notes left in the room where the caravan passed through.

But it was not.

“Your Grace!”
“Master of the caravan! You can’t do this!”

Harvey immediately ran toward Zephyrus’ room, his face pale as snow.

“Meet him at once! Right now!”