Chapter 23
Sian was overwhelmed by the feeling of wanting to tear her hair out. A handsome guy who knows he’s handsome and is bold about it, yet instead of being annoying, he’s just… handsome.
Her aesthetic sense that didn’t dislike that annoying expression was hateful to the point of being sad.
“Hey, Carl. What do you think makes the world beautiful?”
Sian took a deep breath and opened her mouth. Carl tilted his head.
“…What’s with the sudden question?”
“What makes the world depressing?”
“…?”
Carl just stared blankly at Sian, frowning, more than bewildered. His face showed that he hadn’t even properly grasped the intention of the question, let alone an answer.
“Even though the castle walls you worked so hard to build have crumbled like this, and you’re being chased for something you didn’t do, the sky’s still blue and the world keeps turning, right?”
“…”
“One of the lessons I’ve learned in life is that the world is constant. No matter how deep in despair I am, morning comes, and even when I’m happy, night falls.”
Carl was now staring at Sian with an expressionless face.
“In the end, it means that no matter what resolution or desire I have, swept up in my momentary emotions, not much will change. I don’t do things that will hurt myself by getting swept up in my emotions.”
“Why would choosing me be something that hurts you? Because I’m being chased?”
“That’s part of it. I won’t deny it.”
Sian said bluntly. Carl had a complex expression.
“But it’s not just because of that. Nothing in the world happens for just one reason. It’s just…”
Seeing Carl’s expression become heavy as if he had been genuinely rejected, she felt bad for some reason. Sian continued speaking as if making an excuse, then paused, her lips moving slightly.
How much should I say?
“Just?”
While Sian was deliberating, Carl, having lost patience, prompted her.
Sian moved her lips as if about to speak, then suddenly closed her mouth tightly.
“…Even if you’re His Highness the Prince, even if you become Emperor, you really won’t be able to handle the real me. That’s the true reason for my rejection.”
Sian smiled bitterly. Carl frowned with an incomprehensible expression.
“So let’s end this conversation here. For now, let’s rest a bit and wait for late night to move. We’ll probably stand out during the day.”
* * *
‘You got rejected.’
“…Shut up.”
Idelin laughed softly at Carl’s retort.
‘She’s a formidable lady. To dare reject Carlston Klaus.’
Carl clicked his tongue briefly at Idelin’s laughter.
‘I thought spring was coming, but it seems it’s winter again.’
“That’s enough. …Well, I didn’t think she’d open her heart so easily anyway.”
The spirited woman who had boldly rejected Carl, a prince and the lord of Ivarid, saying that even if he became Emperor, he couldn’t handle her, had set out to steal a maid’s uniform, her beautiful platinum blonde hair tied up high.
Carl, left alone in the maid’s quarters with nothing to do, was rolling around like an unemployed person. The capable mercenary woman was doing her job meticulously, making the amount stated in the contract seem not regrettable.
‘Seeing that you’re not that regretful, I guess you had other intentions as the lady said?’
“What other intentions? Do I look like a scoundrel who seduces women with sinister intentions even to your eyes?”
‘It’s the first time I’ve seen you so actively trying to seduce a woman. I just guessed it probably wasn’t serious.’
“…If even you saw it that way, I have nothing to say. I guess my thinking was shallow.”
Carl kept clicking his tongue. Idelin laughed softly.
‘The timing was subtle. To be honest, you don’t fully trust her either, do you, master?’
Carl frowned at Idelin’s pointed remark. It was true that he had questions about Sian’s past, born as a noble but now working as a mercenary. Moreover, the soft mutterings she made while talking to herself when she thought he was asleep.
“…She’s a woman related to dragons.”
Carl was certain. Stretching his imagination to the point of fantasy, he was internally questioning whether she might be a dragon master.
‘But if she were a dragon master, wouldn’t it have been known by now?’
“That’s what I’m wondering about too.”
She’s not even a commoner, but of noble birth.
Even if she had to hide being a dragon master due to some deep circumstances, it wouldn’t have been that easy. For a dragon to choose its master, it needs to leave its nest and reveal itself, and if that happened, rumors would inevitably spread in some form.
‘So in the end, were you trying to get close to her by mentioning personal interest to investigate her background? I want to take your side, but that’s pretty low.’
“Even you see me that way? It’s not just about that, I’m telling you.”
‘Then did Idelin’s master really fall for her?’
Carl cleared his throat awkwardly at Idelin’s words.
“Well… As I said, she’s beautiful. And she’s also the one who saved my life.”
‘Oh my.’
“Besides, as you know, I wasn’t the one who fell first. Why is she openly rejecting me when she was showing such obvious signs?”
‘She seemed like an intelligent woman. Even I would suspect darker intentions first, master.’
Idelin was cold. Carl had to close his mouth, unable to even deny it.
“…There’s something there.”
After a moment of silence, Carl muttered, taking a deep breath.
‘Whether she’s a dragon master or an excommunicated priest, the temple probably knows her identity.’
Carl fell into thought at Idelin’s words. Although they don’t intervene in human affairs, the temple knows everything. Perhaps even about the true culprit who assassinated the Dragon King.
Carl stared expressionlessly at the small window that was worse than not having one. From the pitch-black darkness outside the window, a faint light seeped in.
The castle without its master had been lit up continuously since the night of the Crown Prince’s surprise attack. It was to prepare for any possible future attacks from the Crown Prince.
“Should I meet Alfred…”
Tired of waiting, Carl muttered softly.
‘Can you be sure he’s on your side? I think it’s still dangerous to reveal yourself.’
At Idelin’s dissuasion, Carl bit his lip with a complicated face.
“…It’s a futile thing. I devoted everything to building this castle for over 10 years, and now the only thing I can trust is a contractual relationship with someone whose identity I don’t know.”
‘You should be precise with your words. Right now, you have no one you can trust, master.’
Carl’s brow furrowed at Idelin’s cold correction.
‘The temple won’t be of much help either, Carl. Even if Nathan’s master wants to eliminate you and gain stable royal power, that’s just an imperial matter. For the same reason, even if the temple knows the true culprit of the Dragon King’s assassination, they won’t give direct clues.’
“…I know. But at least the temple will know that I’m not the true culprit. For now, I need someone who believes in my innocence, whether it’s the extraterritorial temple or a mercenary of unknown identity.”
‘…It might be my old woman’s worry, but Carl.’
Idelin’s voice lowered. Carl stared out the window where nothing could be seen. As if he could see Idelin, his only ally hiding in a distant place.
‘It feels like a storm is about to hit.’
Wondering why she was lowering her voice to say this, Carl closed his mouth out of curiosity, then soon held a bitter smile.
“It’s a civil war between the Crown Prince and the Prince. The storm has already…”
‘No, I mean something even bigger than that.’
Idelin cut off Carl’s words. With his lips not even fully closed, Carl narrowed the corners of his eyes.
“…Can there be anything bigger than a civil war?”
‘Of course, a civil war is a big deal. But, it might be my hope, but Nathan’s master probably doesn’t have ill feelings towards you. I think the true culprit who harmed the Dragon King, and the one who wants you and Nathan’s master to wage war, are separate entities.’
There is someone else instigating the civil war. Carl had someone in mind at Idelin’s words.
“It would be someone who benefits from me and my brother waging war.”
The Crown Prince with the right of succession to the throne, and the one who would inherit the throne with the second right of succession if the Crown Prince falls, is Carlston Klaus, Idelin’s master.
If both Crown Prince Hendrick Klaus, who has no heir, and Carlston, the second in line, were to disappear at once, the one with the third right of succession to the throne would be Daniel Klaus, the Emperor’s younger brother who was pushed out of the imperial family and received the new surname Gregory and the title of Marquis when the Emperor, Elena’s master, ascended to the throne.
“…But Uncle isn’t the type of person with such guts.”
Carl’s expression darkened as he recalled the story of his uncle’s dragon frequenting the territory of the Dragon Knight Antonio.
Even when he heard that story, he hadn’t properly put the puzzle pieces together, but he had a vaguely ominous feeling. The reason he didn’t think deeply about that premonition was because of the impression of his uncle that Carl had known so far.
‘It’s the most likely scenario at present. You don’t want the throne, and Nathan’s master knows that well. No matter how well you’ve built up Ivarid, it’s just one territory of the empire. As time passes, the Dragon King’s master will naturally pass away and the throne will become his, so why would Nathan’s master bother to touch you and cause trouble?’
It’s a logical inference. And it was also the part that Carl felt most uncomfortable about in this sudden situation.
“But my brother isn’t such a clumsy person. He must have had some kind of evidence to come here with Uncle and Antonio without even a warrant from the temple.”
‘Of course, we’ll have to confirm that part.’
midori
thanks! oh, he was being a dumbo by coming onto her that strong. ok, gotcha. ayayay the politics, boooring