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Chapter 64
“That so-called grand Eastern tour. I told you—bring money if you want to talk.”
Tyburn replied coldly, showing not the slightest hint of backing down. Pressured by the force radiating from him, Kiera involuntarily stepped back.
“Fine, let’s say it was all for everyone’s sake, and none of it was your fault.”
“F-Father…”
“And so you even sold off the Del merchant guild? Then where’s the payment for that sale?”
Kiera’s lips opened and closed without a word.
“If you’ve already opened Katieron’s granaries just to fatten up Aites’ belly, that’s enough. Now decide.”
Tyburn jerked his chin toward the space behind her.
“Are you leaving the children here, or taking them all with you? Oh, of course—it will greatly affect who becomes the successor.”
“Th-The successor is Carte! He’s already being called Young Lord, Father!”
“So what?”
Tyburn’s eyebrow twitched.
“The heir to Katieron is decided by me. Not even the Emperor interferes, and you think you can? By what right?”
He let out a mocking laugh. In it was steeped nothing but contempt for Kiera.
“Decide, Kiera.”
Her eyes trembled. At that moment, Herden appeared at the top of the stairs, his presence sharper than before. The gaze he cast her way was still devoid of all emotion, cold as ever.
Herden watched the scene for a brief moment, then turned away and disappeared upstairs—as though she was not worth even a shred of attention.
Kiera’s heart sank.
“At… At least let me meet Herden, Father. We’re husband and wife.”
“If Herden wishes it, so be it. I won’t stop him.”
She was cornered on all sides. Herden wanting to see her? That would never happen, even if the world ended. She was reminded of that fact once more, just now. Kiera looked around, but there was no one willing to help her. Meanwhile, Carte and Sornya were whining.
“You’re really going to leave us? Right, Mom?”
“Mom! Let’s just go back quickly!”
Kiera took a deep breath. It was time to make a decision for the greater good.
Her body trembled, and the thought of leaving her children behind made her insides boil with rage—but she had no choice.
Katieron was a ducal house. Aites was only a marquisate.
Carte had to inherit the best. And if Carte couldn’t become Duke, that damned illegitimate child would certainly take the seat instead.
“…I’ll leave the children, Father.”
“Good.”
“You’ll treat your grandchildren well, won’t you? Even if you despise me, they’re still Katieron’s blood…”
“You talk too much. Shall I cast out all three at once?”
Kiera bit her lips shut.
“Mom, are you insane?!”
“Mom!”
Ignoring her clinging children, Kiera boarded the carriage alone. Locking the door, she finally broke down in tears.
It was so miserable, so humiliating, she could hardly stand to live. And all because of that wretched old man.
Grinding her teeth, Kiera swore to one day return every bit of humiliation she had suffered.
The sight of Carte tripping and sprawling as he chased after the departing carriage could be seen clearly through the window.
“Young Master, do you think Lord Tyburn sees any chance of redeeming Lady Sornya and Young Master Carte?”
“Redeem?”
Heder came up behind me. At sixteen now, he had grown tall like a full-grown man. Comparing his height with mine was pointless anymore—the difference only grew larger.
According to Hilden, northern men were naturally bigger and taller than average. His face was still youthful, but his body was not.
As Heder stepped closer, a deep shadow fell over me. He stretched out his hand to brace against the window above me, effectively caging me within his arms.
I swallowed hard. I shouldn’t attach meaning to these little unconscious gestures of his.
But my mind wasn’t something I could control. I shut my eyes tight, then opened them again.
Act natural. Act natural.
“Yes, redemption.”
At my words, Heder gave a low chuckle. His voice, deepened by adolescence, was now low and resonant. He was steadily becoming every inch the male lead. A unicorn in the making.
“Who knows. Unless a miracle happens, it’s impossible, isn’t it?”
His quiet voice carried into me.
“It’s not like some fairy is helping those brats.”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Still, Grandfather doesn’t seem able to give up. He believes humans can be fixed.”
Heder leaned a little closer. I thought I could feel his warmth against my back. Trying to appear calm, I busily rubbed the window with a cloth.
“Tch. There are some things in this world not worth fixing.”
“He thinks environment shapes people. He’ll give up soon enough, though.”
With a faint sigh, Heder muttered:
“You’ll wear a hole in that window, Lani. Stop wiping it.”
“The dust just won’t come off…”
My weak excuse made him laugh as he drew back.
Lately, it feels like I’m getting slowly pulled in… Or is that just my imagination?
Ugh, I need to be careful. If I get pulled in, I’ll be the one ruined.
Tyburn finished preparing for his entrance into the palace. After years away, it was time to meet the Emperor, to report what had happened, and to claim what he was owed. His carriage departed.
The mighty gates of the imperial citadel, usually imposing and unyielding, opened without resistance before Tyburn.
When he stepped out of the carriage, three Sword Masters greeted him.
“Welcome back, Lord Tyburn.”
“Congratulations on your safe return.”
“You endured much hardship for a long time.”
Their blunt greetings made Tyburn smile.
“It’s been a while. You’ve all aged.”
“No man can stand against time.”
“His Majesty awaits inside. We’ll escort you at once.”
For all three of the Emperor’s Sword Masters—the so-called Three Swords, who served none but him—to come out together was extremely rare. It was a clear sign of how much the Emperor respected Tyburn.
Walking with them, Tyburn conversed lightly.
“The palace looks the same.”
“It reflects His Majesty’s tastes. It will not change. I hear Katieron has changed much, however.”
“Tsk. His Majesty has been unfair.”
“Do not feel slighted. Even so, His Majesty has still shown Katieron great favor.”
In other words, even while Tyburn was absent, the benefits normally granted to Katieron had not been withdrawn.
Before long, they arrived at the audience chamber where the Emperor awaited. Other courtiers waiting for an audience averted their eyes to avoid Tyburn’s gaze.
Permission was granted immediately.
“Oho, Tyburn! I feared you might never return alive!”
“It seems I survived precisely to ease Your Majesty’s worries. Thank you, Sire.”
Tyburn cracked a joke as he sat, and the Emperor let out a hearty laugh.
“So, where were you all this time? No matter how we searched, we could not find you.”
Tyburn sighed, then asked the others present to withdraw. The Emperor obliged.
“…I entered the Source of Contamination.”
“Inside there?”
Tyburn nodded.
“It was hell itself. There, I saw the root of the monsters, Your Majesty.”
“The root?”
“The massive roots of the World Tree. They were rotting. No matter how many rotten roots I cut away, more remained.”
The Emperor clenched his fist.
The World Tree was said to support the world itself. Its roots spread vast and deep beneath the entire continent. All life force flowed from it, forming the world.
And now its roots were decaying? An unthinkable calamity.
It meant the very foundation of the Empire—no, of the world itself—was beginning to crumble.
