Chapter 40
Chapter 40. Above the Head of the Runner
Vinea’s lips twisted.
For someone who had sent an assassin just two days ago, the welcoming smile spread across his face seemed quite sincere.
Behind him, the faces of the Veshnu nobles lined up in a long row showed clear signs of tension, but the same was true for the nobles of Tessibania.
Who was standing opposite them? The former Emperor of Veshnu. Once the leader of the enemy forces commanding the war at its height.
Grand Duke Gartan took a step forward.
Walking out with a cane, he nodded lightly.
Some believe it’s due to war aftereffects, but his leg, which had once been broken, is now perfectly fine. The truth known only to the Veshnu royal family was that this was merely an act to appease, even slightly, the turbulent public sentiment of those who had lost family members under his command during the war.
“I greet the ruler of Tessibania. I am Gartan Aktavil, leading the Veshnu delegation.”
There were still many in Tessibania who hated Veshnu. As the former emperor who led the war, coming here in person must have been a great risk, yet his purpose in personally leading the delegation was obvious.
‘He must be quite impatient,’ Vinea swallowed a sneer.
How frustrated must he have been to see his cherished niece not only surviving the assassin he sent, but thriving with great fame instead of struggling?
He had come in person to stab his beloved niece in the back, and Vinea was willing to play along.
“I hope you have a comfortable stay while you’re here.”
With those brief words, Tetar instructed Deron, who was standing behind him, to have servants guide the delegation to the palace where they would be staying.
The nobles from both countries showed signs of bewilderment at his attitude, which showed no willingness to engage in even formal conversation.
While everyone was at a loss for what to do, Gartan spoke up.
“I’d like to make a personal request. Could you arrange for me to meet with Her Majesty the Empress before the banquet in two days?”
Gartan’s gaze bypassed Tetar and focused on Vinea standing beside him.
His eyes, cold as a snake’s, shone as he examined his niece, who stood with a calm face showing no sign of joy at meeting family after so long.
“The family back home asked me to convey some messages.”
Tetar looked at Vinea. In response to his gaze asking what she would do now, Vinea curved her eyes roundly, skillfully mimicking the appearance of “Vinea Madretta Veshnu” from before her marriage, as Gartan would remember.
“I apologize for the late greeting, Uncle. Once you’ve rested from your journey, I’ll have someone arrange a meeting tomorrow morning. We can talk in detail then.”
Though his gaze remained searching, Gartan lowered his guard somewhat and nodded.
Following the guidance of the servants, he left with his companions. As Vinea was about to return to the palace with Tetar, someone in the distance caught her attention.
Servants moving the delegation’s luggage were busily mixing with the carriage’s cargo.
Her blue eyes, suddenly narrowed, focused on one of the servants from Veshnu.
Brown hair and black eyes, common features, with round glasses perched on the nose – unremarkable characteristics, yet strangely familiar.
Seemingly tired from the hard work, he briefly removed the hat he had been wearing low, running his hand through his bangs. For a moment, his face, previously hard to see from afar, was revealed.
“…Tch.”
“What’s wrong?”
“We need to redirect some of the troops we increased at the main palace to the auxiliary palace.”
“If it’s for surveillance, shouldn’t there be enough already?”
“Not for surveillance, for protection.”
Tetar, who had been watching the retreating backs of the delegation, frowned.
“Gartan Aktavil?”
Why would I protect someone who deserves worse than being torn apart? Though not spoken aloud, Vinea’s expression answered for her.
“Then who are you protecting?”
“Vante.”
Vante Madretta Veshnu. The Crown Prince of Veshnu. Her younger brother.
Tetar’s brow furrowed deeply at the name of someone who shouldn’t be in Tessibania.
“Tch.”
He called for Deron.
“Have those following take care of the delegation, and move the troops from the main palace to the auxiliary palace. If anyone shows suspicious movement, bring them quietly to the Empress without causing a commotion.”
Deron bowed his head and retreated, then headed towards the auxiliary palace where the delegation was headed, taking the nobles with him.
Tetar, having left the following servants some distance behind, loosened the cravat that had been choking his neck.
“This must be the first time he’s visited Tessibania like this during the Founding Festival period?”
“I gave him some hints, thinking it would be better to look into the clues Sefitiana provided rather than focusing on my uncle. It’s my mistake.”
“He adores his sister terribly, so how much more? We should be quite grateful that he’s not causing an uproar demanding to take the Empress back to Veshnu immediately.”
He should have just stayed quietly in Veshnu enjoying the peace his sister was spoon-feeding him, instead of coming all the way here to complicate matters.
Tetar mentally listed the events that would unfold with Vante’s presence here. Every single one was so troublesome that it would be faster to regress and start life anew.
“Did he not even consider what would happen if he dies here? It’s like parading himself in front of those who aim for his life, begging to be eaten.”
“He wouldn’t have come without any precautions. If he had, his head would have been cut off by my uncle as soon as he crossed the border.”
“How do you plan to handle this? We need to act before Gartan Aktavil makes his move.”
He’s a cunning one. Once an emperor, and one who honed his tactics for victory throughout a lifetime of war. He was equally skilled in scheming.
Even after experiencing seventy-seven regressions, he remained a troublesome opponent each time they clashed.
“I have no intention of dirtying our hands. I don’t want to continue a messy life even after the regression ends.”
“You really believe this life will be the last.”
“I told you I’d make it so.”
That day in the bathtub. After experiencing that vivid and terrible hallucination, she became even more convinced.
By any means necessary, the regression must end this time.
She couldn’t let this man in front of her be trapped in such hallucinations, walking eternally through infinite time without even death.
Even experiencing it for just a moment was so horrifying. And Tetar had probably been enduring these things for a long time.
Losing one’s mind, going completely mad – it might be even worse than the current situation.
“We received a message from the temple this morning. They say they discovered a diary of a priest who guarded the place about 800 years ago during the restoration of the abandoned temple.”
“A diary remained in a completely collapsed temple?”
“It seems the temple also conducted a large-scale search for related documents this time. With the news of the abandoned temple being restored through collaboration between Tessibania and Veshnu pleasing the people, the temple must have thought they needed to find some merit to boast about.”
“Hah. The ones who handed over documents when I invaded with troops have moved quite quickly this time.”
“I heard they had thirty priests search through related documents in the archives where temple materials are separately stored for two weeks straight. I guess their own reputation took priority over the emperor’s power.”
Tetar nodded with an indifferent face.
Wouldn’t it just be obvious legends or content praising the gods? As it always had been.
However, Vinea’s next words were different from his expectations.
“They say there was a woman who brought a stone there.”
“A stone? Could it be Sefitiana?”
“A perfectly round shape, about the size of two child’s fists put together. A dull gray color but with a faint warmth, and it didn’t break under any impact… It’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“That’s certain.”
“The fact that it didn’t emit light is questionable, but the rest matches Sefitiana’s characteristics. The woman in the diary might be the one who first discovered Sefitiana.”
Vinea’s blue eyes shone clearly.
Perhaps, truly, this time they might be able to end the regression – this hope raised excitement from her toes.
Looking at the blue eyes brimming with vitality, Tetar turned his head, erasing the faint smile that had remained on his lips.
“They say it will take some time to restore the diary, so we should check if we have any records from around that time as well.”
“Planning to lock yourself up in the library again?”
“I’m thinking of having someone else do it. So, until we get more information, Your Majesty…”
Vinea, who had stopped in front of the huge doors of the palace, turned towards Tetar and raised her hand.
She closed his open collar and tightly retied his disheveled cravat. Under Vinea’s hands, the cravat gradually regained its original shape.
As if putting a leash on a dog, Vinea made him look tidy again, then lightly tapped the lion-shaped gold ornament, the symbol of Tessibania, decorating his cape.
“…Make sure there’s no disturbance in the palace until the delegation leaves. It would be even better if you play the role of a sane emperor well.”
Tetar created a smile as if painted with his handsome features.
“As you command.”
* * *
The nobles of Tessibania and the Veshnu delegation agreed to have a light dinner together. Given how deep the rift between them had been, this was an attempt to mend relations even slightly before the banquet on the third day of the Founding Festival.
It was a place where various political and economic discussions were taking place. However, Vante, the Crown Prince of Veshnu, was not present.
“Hah…”
His shoulders were stiff from continuously carrying heavy objects while pretending to be a servant. Vante swung his right arm back and forth as he peered out the window.
“How fierce. Are they going to openly surveil us just because we’re from Veshnu?”
The number of troops was excessive for mere escorts. With the gloomy weather on top of that, although it was his first time in Tessibania, it wasn’t leaving a particularly good impression.
His mood was further dampened by the fact that despite his sister being right in front of him, he couldn’t properly acknowledge her.
Although he had become irritable due to the disturbances on the way, he had somehow managed to arrive in Tessibania. His beloved sister was right there in front of him.
“Should I make a move now?”
His uncle had told him not to go anywhere and stay here, but he had no intention of meekly following those words. According to his sister’s letter, there was nothing good in blindly following his uncle’s instructions.
Just as he was about to leave through the back door of the auxiliary palace, pulling his cloak low over his head…
Well-trained knights suddenly surrounded him. A look of bewilderment spread across his handsome face.
“―Take this one away. Quietly, without drawing people’s attention.”
