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Chapter 41
Late at night, the inn was thrown into chaos when the dispatched guards arrived.
However, thanks to the Imperial Guard that appeared shortly afterward, Arteon was able to escape an awkward situation.
“To think someone would attempt to assassinate a person recognized by the Imperial Family. That bastard’s got some nerve.”
After confirming the corpse, a soldier of the Imperial Guard approached Arteon.
“I am Veroiten of the Imperial Guard. I came under Lord Taork’s orders. Are you injured anywhere?”
“No, I’m fine. More importantly, do you know who these people are?”
“Hm… It seems they left absolutely no clues we can speculate on. We’ll have to investigate to know for sure, but since the one whose identity we needed to uncover is dead, it won’t be easy to find out which group they belonged to.”
“I see.”
Arteon nodded.
He had obtained information about the organization called Nocturne, but now was the time to keep it hidden.
I have to make sure they don’t find out that I know who they are…
If word reached the Imperial Guard, it would inevitably reach the ears of those who had sent the assassin.
“There is an inn managed by the Imperial Family. You should stay there.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Following Veroiten, Arteon headed toward an inn in the central district.
He had expected something decent, given that it was under imperial management, but—
“…Wow.”
He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration at the sight, which far exceeded his expectations.
“You won’t need to pay anything, so please make yourself comfortable. If you need anything, contact the Imperial Guard immediately.”
“Thank you.”
Soon after, Veroiten returned to the Imperial Palace with the other guards who had accompanied him.
As the top contributor at the merit-awarding ceremony personally attended by the Emperor, ensuring Arteon’s safety until he left the capital was also a matter of imperial dignity—something they could not neglect.
This incident would surely have spread throughout the entire Imperial Court.
Perhaps an investigation had already begun.
Either way, a lot of the wrong bastards are probably going to die because of this.
But it didn’t matter.
They were nothing more than vermin that hid in the shadows and gnawed away at people.
Arteon went up to the room that had been assigned to him.
Since it was a place where just anyone couldn’t enter, security was strict and thorough.
For the first time in a long while, he was able to sleep with peace of mind.
But the next morning—
“…Pardon?”
Arteon’s eyes wavered 크게 at the words spoken by a man who had come to see him early in the morning.
For a moment, he doubted his own ears.
“Who did you say wanted to meet me?”
“Count Adrian Valenruke wishes to see you. Prepare to go out at once and come outside.”
The neatly dressed man spoke to Arteon with an arrogant expression.
Judging by his tone and expression, Arteon wanted to tell him to get lost, but—
…A count?
An imperial noble.
And not just that—if he dismissed a messenger sent by someone of countly rank or higher, the aftermath would be impossible to handle.
He didn’t know what that man was thinking in wanting to meet him, but—
“I’ll prepare and come out shortly.”
For now, he had to accept the invitation.
Arteon then put on his clean military uniform.
The ornate clothes he had worn at the Imperial Palace were fine, but this outfit suited him best.
When Arteon came out, the man frowned slightly upon seeing him.
There was nothing particularly wrong with his appearance, but it was extremely plain.
“Are you aware that you are going to meet Count Valenruke?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“…No. Please follow me.”
Arteon boarded the carriage that had been prepared.
The carriage soon sped through the streets, and before long, they arrived at the location of the count’s estate.
“……”
Arteon lifted his head and looked at the mansion.
On the northern outskirts of the capital, Folkerov.
The estate of Count Valenruke, built atop a hill, radiated an imposing presence from the outset.
Outer walls adorned with black marble.
Sharply carved spires.
A massive iron gate that pressed down like a sanctuary left a strong impression.
As though it carried the chill of authority itself.
Arteon’s eyes narrowed.
…I think I can roughly guess what kind of bastard he is.
Just by looking at the estate, one could tell how much Count Valenruke valued “authority.”
Arteon got down from the carriage and approached the gate. The man guiding him spoke as he looked at Arteon.
“I trust you’ll conduct yourself properly, but please be careful not to say or do anything that might displease the count.”
“…Understood.”
Arteon followed him, forcing a calm expression.
Only now did he realize that there was a strange fear underlying the man’s words.
Step. Step.
Upon entering the mansion, the walls of the corridor lined with red carpet were filled with tapestries bearing the family crest, woven with gold and silver threads.
It was a quiet yet suffocating space.
“This way.”
Following the man’s guidance, Arteon headed to the reception room.
A windowless reception room.
Only the chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast light throughout the room.
And at its center—
“So you are Arteon, the one who received an award at the recent merit ceremony in the Imperial Palace?”
Dark brown hair, nearly black.
His hair was neatly slicked back, and he wore a silver-white suit impeccably.
His eyes looked gray at a glance, but were closer to the color of weathered steel.
With a sharp jawline and thin lips, his gaze completed an even colder impression.
Arteon replied,
“That is correct.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Adrian Valenruke, the master of this estate. Have a seat.”
Adrian slowly rose from his seat and walked over to the sofa in front of him.
Once Arteon sat down, Adrian looked at him from the seat of honor and spoke.
“Your attire carries the rough air of the North. Would you like a glass of wine?”
The casual condescension was irritating, but for now, there was an insurmountable wall of status between them.
No—if this were the Arteon of the past, he would have had to kneel before a noble.
Arteon stared at him silently.
Adrian chuckled softly and said,
“No need to be tense. I simply called you here because I was curious about you.”
As Adrian lifted an empty glass, the maid standing beside him carefully filled it.
Lightly swirling the glass filled with brilliantly red wine, Adrian continued.
“I hear that thanks to this merit ceremony, you’re able to move to a posting other than the North… Have you thought about where you’d like to go?”
“…I haven’t thought about it yet.”
“Is that so? Usually, the moment someone hears that, they start thinking about leaving the North immediately. I can’t tell whether you’re dull or simply thoughtless, haha.”
After taking a sip of wine, Adrian set the glass down and said to Arteon,
“I won’t beat around the bush. Come here. If you do, I’ll use my discretion to have you admitted to the Carseia Knight Academy.”
The Carseia Knight Academy was the finest knight academy in the Empire—graduating from it was practically a guarantee of one’s future.
Most members of the Empire’s strongest knight orders were alumni of the Carseia Knight Academy.
The corners of Adrian’s lips lifted.
No matter how much of a country bumpkin stuck in the North he was, he would surely have heard of the Carseia Knight Academy.
But Arteon answered bluntly, without even needing to think.
“I am deeply grateful for your offer, Count, but I believe I need to give more thought to where I will be stationed.”
“…What did you say?”
He had never even considered the possibility of being refused.
He had expected Arteon to leap to his feet, bow deeply, and exclaim, Thank you! Truly?
Adrian furrowed his brow slightly and asked,
“Did you properly understand what I said? I told you I would have you admitted to the Carseia Knight Academy.”
“Of course. However, regarding my posting, I believe I should also discuss it with Commander Belkane. And… more than anything, there are still things I need to do in the North.”
“…Hah.”
Adrian’s gaze settled into calmness.
To think there was a madman who claimed to have things to do in the North.
No—more than that…
“Are you saying you’re refusing my offer?”
“I apologize.”
“It would be wise to think very carefully before answering again. Depending on your response, your future life may change.”
His gaze, now ominous, flew toward Arteon like a dagger.
A threat disguised as an offer.
That his life might change—
It could be a rosy future…
But if he refused, there was a clear will to turn it into one the color of dirt.
But even so—
“I apologize.”
Arteon politely declined Adrian’s offer.
Adrian then stood up from his seat.
“I thought I’d take you in since you seemed fairly capable… I suppose I’d forgotten. Everyone in the North is out of their mind.”
With those words, Adrian left the reception room.
The man who had guided Arteon earlier rushed in afterward, furious.
“What is the meaning of this insolence?!”
“I have committed no insolence. I was given a fine offer, but it didn’t align with my intentions, so I declined.”
“How dare a soldier who crawls around like a worm in the North reject the count’s offer? Do you think you’ll get away with this?”
“Are you planning to kill me on the very day I received an award directly from the Emperor?”
Arteon no longer stayed silent.
As mana began to ripple around his body, the thick killing intent seen only in the North seeped out.
“H-Hrk!”
Overwhelmed by the pressure that felt as though his breath would be cut off by Arteon’s gaze alone, the man collapsed onto the floor without realizing it.
Looking down at him, Arteon said,
“I’ll see myself out, so I won’t need an escort.”
With that, Arteon left the reception room and exited the estate without hesitation.
Guards who seemed to be on duty watched him as he came outside, but—
…In the capital right now, they can’t openly do anything to me.
That was why those who wanted him dead had sent an assassin instead.
Rejecting the count’s proposal could cause trouble later, but that was a problem for another time.
There was only one thing that bothered him now…
—
“I thought I’d take you in since you seemed fairly capable…”
—
The words the count had spoken at the end.
What did he mean by that…?
Did he judge Arteon as capable because of his achievements in reclaiming Helikel Gorge?
Or…
Could it possibly be related to this assassination attempt…?
Arteon shook his head.
“No, that’s probably just paranoia.”
There was no reason to try to recruit someone you had tried to kill…
—
“Fairly capable…”
—
Damn it, those words from Count Valenruke wouldn’t leave his head.
If it really was related to that…
I’ll have to find out.
It seemed he would have to go see that bastard sooner than he had expected.
And at the spot Arteon had just left—
“……”
Someone was secretly following after him.
