Chapter 2
“Is this… somewhere I’m allowed to enter…?”
Looking at Bern with a bewildered expression, Bern seated Rabian in a chair as if there were no problem at all.
As soon as they entered the situation room, Bern became busy. Rabian watched Bern giving evacuation orders to the servants, then focused on one crystal orb that had been continuously shaking.
Wait a minute. That person… that’s Lord Kallius.
Squinting his eyes at the screen within the crystal orb, he saw Kallius there. Kallius was causing a rampage like someone who had lost his mind.
So this whole situation is because of Lord Kallius?
“Oh my, Master! No fire! Fire is not allowed!”
Even while running around busily, Bern repeatedly called out through amplification magic that fire wasn’t permitted. It seemed to be directed at Kallius.
“B-Bern! Something’s flashing over there!!”
Three mages waiting on the other side of the crystal orb began channeling magic power into the magic circle on the floor all at once.
Rabian squeezed his eyes shut to avoid the blinding light of the magic circle, and when he opened them, a man was standing in front of the crystal orb, watching the scene. He was a stunning beauty impossible to look away from.
The man with roughly swept-back light pink curly hair frowned as if the thunderous noise from upstairs was bothersome. His green eyes, like captured forest light, darkened coolly.
“Why is he having another fit?”
Only Rabian was startled by the man’s quiet mutter. Everyone else here seemed accustomed to this situation.
“You’re here, Lord Irain.”
“Mm. That bastard’s cycles of madness seem to be getting shorter. Since when has he been like this?”
His low voice continued slowly.
“Not long ago. But sparks keep flying through the air. At this rate, really…”
“He’s doing that because he can’t control his temper, so there’s no need to worry. Who would dare play with fire in front of whom?”
Chervan Kallius was definitely the only Grand Duke of the Ratarta Empire. Bern aside, who was this man who didn’t hesitate to speak so rudely to such a Grand Duke?
…Wait, he resembles someone. Lady Ariella?
“Huh? What’s that guy?”
The finger of the man called Irain pointed toward Rabian.
“The peach wine that Lady Ariella used to enjoy drinking, you remember? This is the craftsman who brews that peach wine.”
“Ah, that sweet stuff. You made it? You come too. Follow me.”
“What?!!”
Rabian jumped up in surprise.
Come? Where?
“Lord Irain. But…”
“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. He won’t die.”
Bern tried to stop Irain, but Irain was already walking away.
Rabian looked at Bern, speechless. Bern pushed Rabian toward Irain with a troubled expression.
“He says you won’t die.”
“N-no! Bern! Who is that person…”
“That’s Lady Ariella’s eldest brother. If he says you won’t die, you’ll be safe.”
No wonder he looked familiar!!
Rabian hugged the wooden case containing the peach wine to his chest and followed Irain with quick steps, half on the verge of tears.
They climbed the stairs, swaying several times from the thunderous booming. The closer they got to their destination, the louder the crashing sounds became.
Irain threw open a large door covered with ornate patterns. The room inside was an absolute mess. The floor was littered with broken and shattered objects.
In the center stood something covered in black. That black mass let out rough breathing that seemed like crying or anger.
The man slowly raised his head and looked at the intruders with blood-red eyes.
Rabian nearly collapsed on the spot as strength left his legs. The moment he recognized this as facing death, his breath caught.
The intense killing intent that penetrated to his bones made his knees tremble, and the pressure squeezing his ribs made it difficult to breathe properly.
“I’m not in my right mind either, but you’re really crazy too. What’s the point of smashing everything like that? Hm?”
“…Irain?”
“Oh? Look at those eyes glaring up? Going to attack?”
As the situation became urgent, Rabian gasped. That, that person is Lord Kallius? He could hardly believe it.
Every time he came to deliver peach wine, the Kallius he met had at least looked decent on the outside.
Seeing his lustrous hair, skin showing no signs of roughness, neatly trimmed nails, and perfectly arranged clothing, Rabian had thought ‘he’s doing well’ and felt some relief from his worries.
But look at that man now. Who could look at that man and call him ‘Grand Duke Chervan Kallius’?
Blood-red, bloodshot eyes glared at the intruders. If he moved even slightly, it seemed like he would pounce, so Rabian just stood there trembling. The fierce overwhelming presence pressed down on his entire body.
“Oh right, there was a peach. Stand back for a moment.”
At Irain’s words, Rabian’s body shook and he retreated far from the doorway. The moment Rabian backed away as if fleeing, Kallius lunged at Irain.
Irain deflected the slow hand reaching toward him and struck Kallius’s head with his open palm. Having sent Kallius flying with his palm rather than his fist, Irain dusted off his hands.
“How long do I have to keep cleaning up after you? Hm?”
“Grr…”
“If you keep this up.”
A sharp killing intent flashed in Kallius’s eyes. Meeting Kallius’s gaze, Irain spoke with a derisive laugh.
“Should I take Hari away?”
Those words were the trigger. Kallius attacked Irain with speed on a completely different level than before.
If he were in his right mind it might be different, but Irain could easily subdue Kallius in his half-mad state.
As Kallius hesitated under Irain’s fierce attack, pitch-black magic power slowly rose from Kallius’s left hand. It was ‘Corrosion,’ one of Kallius’s unique magics that made everything rot.
Watching the hand reaching toward him, Irain called Kallius’s name with cold mockery.
“Kali.”
Kallius, gripped by despair and terror, looked straight at Irain. His burning red eyes began to shake violently.
In the Algenfrina ducal family, only Duke and Duchess Algenfrina and their daughter called Chervan Kallius ‘Kali.’
“Ha… ri…”
He whispered Hari’s name in a voice like scraping rusted metal. As the violently moving Kallius hesitated, Irain kicked him in the side.
At the same time, Kallius’s body flew helplessly. The problem was the direction Kallius had flown.
“Ah!”
For the first time, the complexion of Irain, who had been relaxed since opening the door, changed.
In the sudden silence, Rabian, who had been crying while hugging his wooden case, peeked his head through the door wondering what was happening. He could see Kallius collapsed inside the room.
Whether from the impact of Kallius hitting the bed, the white canopy surrounding the bed was spreading and billowing in the air.
“Uh…? Lady Ariella?”
What he could see through it was someone with light pink hair lying on the bed.
‘Ah. This was Lady Ariella’s bedroom.’
Only then did Rabian understand the entire situation. Ever since Ariella had fallen into deep sleep, Kallius hadn’t been in his right mind. He only pretended to be fine; he had been mad for a long time.
“Ah, uh… ah…”
Kallius’s crying broke the silence. Having crawled pathetically to the bed, Kallius pushed aside the canopy with trembling hands.
“Healer!! Call a healer!! Quickly! Bern!!!!”
A great shout erupted. Rabian stared at Kallius in a daze. The only impact to the bed was the canopy being shaken.
Kallius was the one who needed treatment, but he didn’t even look at his own wounds. Only his trembling hands hovered over Ariella.
Fear filled Kallius’s eyes. With a face pale as if he might faint at any moment, he kept calling for a healer.
“Irain!!! What are you doing? Call a healer!!!”
“Ugh, I really don’t know what to do with that bastard.”
Scratching his head roughly, Irain looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Irain’s troubled gaze turned to his sister lying on the bed. Irain’s expression twisted in pain.
Rabian lowered his gaze from watching the room. Somehow it felt like he shouldn’t watch any longer.
“Ah, peach boy. Put that down and go see Bern.”
“What? Oh, yes!”
Rabian set down the wooden case on the flat floor and quietly left the room.
“Hari, Ariella. I was wrong. I was all wrong. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I’m sorry. So… no, no. Hari, sleep more. Sleep as much as you want. You’re tired, aren’t you? I’m sorry.”
Despite Kallius’s desperate and pitiful calls, Ariella didn’t open her eyes. Only her steady breathing indicated that she was simply sleeping.
