🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 7
The Grand Duke’s pale pink eyes gleamed.
“Sheltered? Are you saying that bastard Aches has been taken in by someone?”
“Yes, Your Grace. And he’s even living comfortably, without any hardships.”
“…Comfortably? But that brat already had every bone in his body shattered. Those broken bones must have torn his internal organs to pieces. Even for the most skilled sorcerer, it would take months to fully heal that.”
Grand Duke Baharman furrowed his brow in disbelief.
Dante shook his head.
“There are ways of healing beyond sorcery. And more perfect than sorcery, at that.”
“That would be none other than the Water Spirit King’s blessing… Don’t tell me?”
The Grand Duke’s eyes widened sharply.
He didn’t finish his words, but Dante bowed his head again, as though confirming the suspicion.
“…Hah. For five years they’ve treated each other like they didn’t even exist, but I suppose being in the same Imperial faction means they still won’t let the other die, huh?”
A bitter laugh escaped Baharman’s lips, but for a fleeting moment, murderous intent flickered in his gaze.
It looked as though he might order an execution immediately, so Dante hurried to speak.
“Your Grace, please calm yourself. We must never make an enemy of a Spiritist. She bears the blessing of the Water Spirit King—if we attempt to eliminate her carelessly, it may be us who are eliminated instead.”
“…Then what are we supposed to do?”
The Grand Duke scowled impatiently.
“We must bring the Spiritist over to our side.”
“Bring her over?”
“Yes. She’s a commoner, so she must be thirsting for status and power. Fortunately, we have Young Master Lloyd—lure her by promising her the title of Grand Duchess.”
The Grand Duke let out a heavy sigh, pressing his hand against his forehead.
“Dante, do you think I haven’t thought of that? If only that brat Lloyd had been cooperative, the Spiritist would already be my daughter-in-law, and that bastard Aches would no longer be alive!”
“…”
“As you know, Lloyd is a womanizer. Forcing a Spiritist into such a faithless man’s arms would only earn her resentment. If we’re lucky, that’s all it would be. But if the Water Spirit King takes offense at her being mistreated…?”
“…”
Dante fell silent. Every word the Grand Duke spoke was undeniably true.
Baharman sighed again and continued.
“Besides, didn’t the Spiritist already heal Aches? That means she’s already chosen Serenia.”
“I don’t think so.”
“…What?”
The Grand Duke froze and turned to look at Dante.
Dante nodded firmly.
“She probably doesn’t know that boy is the Grand Duke of Serenia. She merely saved a dying child out of compassion. The Grand Duke must have used a sorcery tool to transport himself to her home.”
“Indeed… if she knew him as a 25-year-old man, she would hardly recognize him suddenly appearing as a ten-year-old boy.”
Not to mention, the two hadn’t been in contact for five years.
The Grand Duke nodded—then paused, his gaze sharpening.
“But Dante… how exactly did you know Aches went to the Spiritist’s home?”
His piercing stare fixed on Dante.
Aches’s mental age was that of a ten-year-old.
Even if he knew the Spiritist could heal him perfectly, there was no way he would know her exact whereabouts.
Caught by the sharp question, Dante stiffened, but quickly improvised and answered calmly.
“…By analyzing the sorcery waves from the alley where the Grand Duke was abandoned, I deduced that he headed toward the Count of Hyla’s territory. The rest I filled in logically. After all, it’s said that living beings can unleash transcendent power in the face of death.”
“…That makes sense.”
The Grand Duke nodded, no longer probing deeper.
Dante let out a quiet sigh of relief before speaking again.
“Your Grace, under no circumstances should we make the Spiritist our enemy. If she cannot be tied down as Grand Duchess, then use another bait—but she must be bound to us.”
He paused briefly, then added softly:
“…After all, aren’t you destined to ascend the throne one day?”
At those words, the corners of Baharman’s lips curled upward.
Yes, even His Majesty the Emperor treasures the Spiritist greatly. Even if she herself resents it.
Public support for a Spiritist—especially one who has contracted with a Spirit King—is overwhelming.
How could one hope to achieve great ambitions while making such a person an enemy?
“I understand your concern. But we cannot simply allow the Grand Duke of Serenia to keep living. Sir Tailon, Sir Miroel.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The knights called out answered immediately.
The Grand Duke issued his order.
“Send word to the assassination guild at once. Grade A. The target is a black-haired, red-eyed boy of about ten years. But do it quietly—no one must know.”
“As you command.”
The two knights bowed and left the office.
The Grand Duke turned back to Dante, laughing heartily.
“You’ve set my mind at ease, Dante. If there’s anything you want, speak of it.”
“It is my honor, but what I desire is only Your Grace’s victory.”
“You flatterer.”
The Grand Duke laughed louder, wiping tears from his eyes.
“I’ll see to your reward myself. You may go now.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Bowing deeply, Dante left.
Click—the door closed.
For a moment, Dante stood silently. Then, hesitantly, he raised his hand to touch his own head.
Thankfully, it was smooth—no blood, no wounds.
“…I cannot die like that again.”
His body shivered as he muttered.
The roaring waves crashing down, the cave collapsing with a deafening rumble—
The memories were as vivid as if they’d just happened.
He never wanted to feel that helplessness before raging nature ever again.
But it’s far too late to side with the Grand Duke of Serenia now.
He had already revealed his face while cursing the Grand Duke.
Serenia would never forgive anyone who had once bared their fangs against him.
Even if Dante were to swear eternal loyalty and pledge himself as an ally, he would only be exploited until he had no use left—then discarded without mercy.
That was the kind of man the Grand Duke of Serenia was.
So there was only one choice left.
Kill the Grand Duke of Serenia, and bring the Spiritist to his own side.
For that to happen, Grand Duke Baharman must win.
Steeling himself, Dante straightened his robes and walked forward.
One thread of his future death had been cut—now it was time to prepare other traps.
“Einra, have you been well?”
At the gentle voice from beyond the crystal sphere, the gloom on my face melted into a smile.
Soft, wheat-colored hair. Eyes as clear as the open sky.
Reflected in the sphere was my most precious, most beloved favorite—Harnen.
Just hearing his voice melted the knots in my chest.
“Yes, I’ve been well! And you, Harnen? Have you been eating properly?”
His eyes curved gently.
“Einra, you always worry about whether I’m eating well.”
“Th-That’s because…”
I scratched my temple awkwardly, laughing faintly.
It’s just my brain still has a patch of K-culture instincts installed, that’s all…
Harnen chuckled softly at me.
“I’ve been eating well. But keep worrying about me, okay? Every time you do, it makes me happy.”
At those words, I suddenly recalled Harnen’s past from The Tyrant Emperor.
I wept inside.
He lost his parents young, surrounded only by greedy officials hungry for power. No matter how hard he tried, they branded him a tyrant. Later, even a trusted subordinate and friend betrayed him…
Of course he’d be so delighted just because someone asked if he’s eating properly!
