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Chapter 72
“Long time no see, Your Majesty the Empress.”
“Yes, it has been a while. Duke Halbern.”
For a moment, neither of them said anything. Duke Halbern just smiled, and Empress Ajeni forced a stiff expression into a faint smile.
The atmosphere was already a complete mess.
Trying to hold a tea party here would only make it worse.
And the culprit was the man standing right in front of her.
‘If you were going to appear, why not show up earlier?’
Empress Ajeni’s gaze sharpened naturally.
“You’ve come, surprisingly. Honestly, I didn’t expect to see you.”
“Hmm.”
Without further words, Duke Halbern smiled. Empress Ajeni’s expression hardened.
“Since it’s been so long, have you at least paid a visit to His Majesty the Emperor?”
“What do you think?”
“His Highness asked me first, Duke.”
“You probably didn’t even know I had arrived. Would that have answered your question?”
“……”
Empress Ajeni fell silent. That meant this man had come straight here immediately after entering the palace.
‘…I didn’t realize he cared so much for his daughter.’
Though she had sent an invitation stamped with the royal seal to the Northern Castle, she never imagined the intended recipient would actually show up. Reality felt almost surreal.
Empress Ajeni wanted, just once, to slap that handsome face.
That brat’s daughter was apparently so adorable that even her son was completely captivated. Empress Ajeni glimpsed the child out of the corner of her eye and sighed.
“Go see His Majesty.”
“Is that really acceptable?”
“Of course. Upon returning, it’s customary to first pay your respects to the Emperor, isn’t it?”
Putting aside the court etiquette, which would have been useless to mention, Empress Ajeni just wanted to kick out this annoying, irritating man immediately.
Not knowing what he was thinking, nor being able to figure it out, dealing with him tested her patience to the limit.
‘How does Duke Mehen manage under such formalities?’
“I shall follow your orders, Your Majesty.”
Despite Empress Ajeni’s stiff command, Duke Halbern showed no sign of irritation.
“It’s unfortunate that we meet after such a long time, yet we must part so soon, Duke Halbern.”
“Well, there will be another opportunity, Your Majesty.”
“The national founding festival is soon; I hope to see that handsome face of yours in full glory.”
“My face is rather expensive, you know. But if it’s Your Majesty’s request, I will consider it.”
A brief standoff: the Empress, showing no regret, and Duke Halbern, equally without a trace of hesitation.
Everyone else held their breath unnecessarily.
Despite being the last to arrive, Duke Halbern was the first to leave.
The tea party ended in complete failure.
“[Breaking News] Duke Halbern Returns!”
News of Duke Halbern’s return spread rapidly through an extra edition of the Albrecht Times that very day.
Even just the two words “returned” sold like wildfire, and the newspapers reportedly celebrated the sales.
The next morning, the headline of the morning paper read: “Dragon Hunt Success!”
“Sirren Knights Become Dragon Slayers!”
Mehen gave up trying to understand.
‘What on earth is going on?’
He didn’t know. He gave up thinking. Giving up felt easier.
-
Mehen! Listen! Our lord abandoned us and left first!
-
We were abandoned!
The Sirren Knights returned safely to the Northern Castle with not just the dragon carcass but countless monster remains as spoils.
Despite their incredible achievement, the first thing they did was complain—rather than celebrate or rest.
Mehen, unfortunately, was the target of their venting and felt the urge to smash the communication device.
-
We didn’t even know we were abandoned! We spent twelve hours searching, thinking our lord was lost!
-
And he left us to go enjoy a tea party?!
-
Our lord, how could you!
So… what did they expect him to do?
Mehen pressed his throbbing temples.
-
We’re coming! We’re coming!
-
Anyway, just tell our lord we’ll be returning!
-
Understood? We only trust Mehen!
“Sigh…”
Whether returning or not, at least he’d be able to deliver the message in person.
Mehen sighed lightly, staring at the broken communication device. These weren’t the type to listen even if warned, so he left them be.
Dylan laughed heartily.
“The knights are as lively as ever.”
“Probably unnecessarily so.”
Recalling that day, Mehen remembered blood stains on Duke Halbern’s uniform and frowned.
That enemy brat… really.
“Are you returning to the Northern Castle?”
“Well, that’s not my decision to make.”
“?”
The last conversation Mehen had with Duke Halbern before he disappeared briefly:
Duke Halbern laughed and left people confused with his incomprehensible nonsense.
‘What exactly is he planning?’
He had acted as if he would remain in one place for life—so why this sudden movement?
When they couldn’t contact him, they cursed that he hadn’t come; yet seeing him now brought mixed feelings.
“It seems he used spatial teleportation.”
“Excuse me? From there… all the way here?”
They checked all gate and warp records in the capital, but Halbern had no such record.
Yet the distance made walking impossible, and there were no other traces.
There was only one explanation left.
‘He has all sorts of artifacts. He must have used some strange relic.’
“Ah…”
Even in an age of highly developed mage engineering, there were limits. The distance between the Northern Castle and the capital couldn’t be overcome with current mage engineering or teleportation magic.
‘I thought he took a mage with him, but it seems quiet at the Mage Tower too. So it must have been an artifact or relic.’
All this time, he had these items but hadn’t shown himself?
Mehen’s irritation deepened, while Dylan smiled incredulously.
“Heh, truly…”
“Why, Dylan?”
“It’s astonishing. Halbern really… has a lot of secrets.”
Mehen’s expression was familiar. Since childhood, Halbern often brought mysterious artifacts of unknown origin, causing all sorts of trouble.
“You two seem quite close.”
“Who are you talking about? Me and Valer?”
“Yes.”
“……”
Mehen gave a look of genuine disdain. It amused him that someone wanted to be friendly with Duke Halbern, yet made that face.
“Stop talking nonsense. We don’t know when our lord will return, so make sure preparations to welcome him are thorough.”
“Yes, the head butler has been preparing thoroughly.”
“And the young lady?”
Dylan’s smile vanished.
“She… has remained in her room ever since returning from the tea party. The childcare staff say she seems to have suffered a psychological shock… Did something serious happen there?”
Many things had happened.
Far too many things.
Mehen rose from his seat, intending to see the cute and beloved Arelyn.
It was then that someone called.
“Mehen!”
The head butler summoned him with unwelcome news.
The prodigal has returned.
‘No wonder Mehen called me with that expression.’
Only after holding Mehen’s hand tightly and walking to the mansion entrance did he realize.
No wonder the mansion had been so bustling.
“Welcome back.”
With Duke Halbern’s return, not only Mehen but all retainers and servants lined up to greet the master.
Halbern, in light attire and only a coat draped over him—no sign of the uniform—smiled.
“Came out to greet me personally?”
“…It’s been a while since you returned.”
“Your expression says you want to grab me by the collar and hit me.”
Mehen twitched at that remark.
“Stop the nonsense and come inside.”
“Nonsense? I said it out of joy.”
Duke Halbern, speaking kindly, suddenly turned his gaze to me.
Our second encounter.
Even ignoring the stunning face, the scrutinizing gaze made me shrink instinctively.
“Not even greeting me, our daughter?”
Though his words sounded disappointed, the dry voice carried no warmth.
Instead, his cold, curious gaze seemed to peel me apart.
Flinch.
Startled, I hid behind Mehen.
“Mom.”
Clutching Mehen’s coat, I shrank back.
“?”
Halbern tilted his head as if he misheard.
“Hmm?”
Realizing the mistake, Mehen pressed his hand to his forehead.
“Mom.”
Mehen closed his eyes as if wishing he could disappear right then.
“……”
“……”
A sudden silence.
Duke Halbern burst into laughter.
“Stop laughing, you brat!”
