Chapter 26

Episode 26

Hylix chuckled, flashing his pearly white teeth at her words.

“Are you jealous?”

He wasn’t the type to settle down with one woman, but he derived immense pleasure from witnessing jealousy directed towards him. Like now.

“Lady Selendis is indeed quite striking. That classic blonde hair and blue eyes…”

“You sound like you’re about to propose.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know I’ve reserved that spot for you. Just wait until I become Duke. You’ll be addressed as Duchess in no time.”

It was a tempting offer. But Oracle didn’t seem particularly thrilled by the title of ‘Duchess’.

“Who was it that kept saying he would marry me off to Sir Mars as soon as he became Duke?”

“Hahaha, it was a joke, of course. I enjoyed seeing your face contort every time I said it.”

“That’s a terrible hobby.”

Hylix had been concerned about this for a while.

He had sensed a growing distance between them. They had become physically closer as they matured, but their hearts had drifted apart.

But he hadn’t pressed the issue.

He had never truly considered her as his future wife. She was a valuable subordinate, a trusted confidante, but ultimately, just a tool for securing his lineage.

“I encountered O’Brien on my way here. Lady Selendis was with him as his escort. That’s how I recognized him. Does that answer your question?”

“What did you think of Sir O’Brien?”

“I should be asking you that. I heard you visited the Inspection Unit headquarters.”

She had a lot to say about that.

Oracle launched into a detailed account, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“I thought I wouldn’t be able to see him since he was on vacation, but we met by chance. He’s quite handsome, you know? He has a sharp, intelligent look about him. He’s definitely someone to be reckoned with. I can see why he’s so popular.”

Hylix grinned, noticing the spark in her eyes.

They were close friends before they were lord and vassal. He knew what she was feeling.

‘She likes him.’

This was getting interesting.

He had intended to observe O’Brien, to determine if he was a threat or just a minor nuisance. But now, he was leaning towards the former.

Hylix had always been possessive.

He never allowed anyone to take what was his, by any means necessary.

Even if Oracle was just a tool, she was his tool. Even if she was the genius of the Dukedom.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is the great Lord Hylix jealous?”

“You’re turning my question back on me? That’s a terrible habit. Jealous? Why would I be jealous? There are plenty of women in the world.”

“You hate it when someone takes what’s yours. That’s what I’m getting at.”

Hylix, caught off guard, chuckled. He had no response. It was time to focus on more productive matters.

“What about the situation at Viscount Cliff’s estate? Did they accept the mission?”

“I haven’t received confirmation yet. It seems they need Lady Lucia’s approval for external missions. That’s probably why O’Brien was at the inner castle.”

“I see.”

Hylix stroked his chin, lost in thought.

He recalled a certain ‘incident’ he had learned about through secret channels.

It was one of his biggest headaches.

The young heir of Kalisto had been keeping a close eye on his supporters. Baron Roman, Viscount Cliff… no one was exempt.

It was a necessary precaution. He needed leverage to secure his position.

Duke Kalisto, the head of the family, had tacitly approved of his actions.

Then, people started disappearing and dying at Viscount Cliff’s estate. Initially, they had assumed it was the work of monsters. The mountainous terrain was a breeding ground for dangerous creatures.

But as they investigated, a disturbing report surfaced.

The people of House Cliff were secretly conducting a ‘ritual’.

“The people of House Cliff weren’t like this when I was younger… I wonder what happened. Tsk.”

“We have to cut off the rotten branches before they infect the entire tree.”

“I know.”

A perfectly black orb, capable of devouring all light.

Hylix and Oracle suspected that this orb, secretly possessed by House Cliff, was the source of the problem.

How had they acquired it? And how had it corrupted them?

They had no answers.

“That orb is definitely the cause. There are records of similar incidents in ancient texts, where artifacts from the dark arts corrupted entire territories.”

“We have to deal with this before the Church finds out. It’ll be a headache if we’re late.”

“Oh my, our Lord Hylix is worried. Don’t worry the benevolent Lady will surely approve this mission. Alright?”

Oracle, her composure restored, opened the curtains and gazed out the window.

The vast garden spread out before her.

She could see knights training in the distance. Their aura was so powerful that even the barbarians of the North wouldn’t dare to challenge them.

All of this belonged to House Kalisto. It was a familiar sight, yet it always felt new.

‘Being a Duchess wouldn’t be so bad. But…’

She had her own plans. And she would never reveal them to Hylix.

***

An official mission document, bearing Lady Lucia’s signature, arrived.

It was a vague order, instructing us to investigate the ‘unfortunate events’ occurring at Viscount Cliff’s estate.

Jericho frowned as he read the document.

“This doesn’t seem like a simple investigation. ‘Unfortunate events’… Did you hear anything else, Master?”

“I would have told you if I had.”

“Hmm, I have a bad feeling about this. The incidents with the servants feel like a cover-up.”

It was a likely scenario.

After all, the mission had been issued by the ultimate mastermind, Lucia de Kalisto.

The problem was, we had no prior information about House Cliff. I regretted not playing the game.

The information Jericho had gathered was basic and unhelpful.

“This is going to be a difficult mission. I suppose I’ll have to stay behind and provide support.”

“You’re planning to skip out again?”

“It’s a mountainous region. I’m not a fan of hiking. I’ll ruin my knees. And if something happens to me, it’ll hinder the Inspection Unit’s operations.”

That was a new excuse.

“You’re not even thirty! How can you have bad knees?”

“That’s why I need to take care of them. As a doctor, a graduate of the academy with honors, I can tell you that people who overexert themselves at a young age often suffer from joint problems. It’s statistically proven. I can even provide you with research papers. So it’s important to be careful, even when you’re young.”

“Can you say that to Lady Lucia?”

“Oh my, how could a lowly person like me dare to speak in the Lady’s presence?”

He was immune to my logic.

Jericho grinned and led Selendis and me to the table.

“That’s why I’ve prepared some substitutes to accompany you on your journey. First, this potion! It’s a very rare potion, a product of my groundbreaking research.”

“I’m sure it is, considering you graduated with honors. Just get to the point.”

“I’ll demonstrate its effects. Look.”

He retrieved a small, rectangular piece of glass and waved it back and forth, as if to show that it was empty.

“It’s clean, right? But if I apply my special potion…”

*Sizzle*

A dark red stain appeared on the seemingly clean glass.

“See? It leaves a mark. Amazing, right?”

“Luminol solution?”

“Lumi… what?”

“Never mind. It’s a potion that reacts to invisible bloodstains.”

“Wow! How did you know? That was supposed to be my secret weapon!”

How could I not know about luminol? It was a staple of forensic investigations.

The mechanism might be different, but it seemed to be a similar potion. It would be useful if the incidents at House Cliff were indeed crimes, not accidents.

Jericho, his secret weapon exposed, cleared his throat and presented his next item.

“And this is a magnifying glass with a special lens I created. It’s useful for examining small objects.”

“Next?”

“A brush made from Caucasus fur. Perfect for exploration.”

The items neatly arranged on the table suggested that this mission would focus on investigation, not combat. It was a well-rounded kit.

“Do you need any plague masks?”

“It’s always good to be prepared. Pack one for each of us.”

“Yes, Master.”

The next day, we were ready to depart for Viscount Cliff’s estate. I sent a message to Lady Lucia, assuring her of our commitment to completing the mission.

“Have a safe trip. Use the messenger hawk if you need anything.”

Jericho handed me a whistle. He claimed he had trained the hawk himself and boasted about its speed and reliability.

*Tweet!*

I blew the whistle as a test. A moment later, a swift hawk swooped down from the sky.

*Flap!*

It landed gracefully on my outstretched arm.

It was well-trained and had a sharp, intelligent gaze.

“Does it have a name?”

“It’s called ‘Thunder’. Cool, right? It’s as fast as lightning!”

“It’s cheesy.”

But I decided to respect his taste. I released Thunder into the sky and mounted my horse.

“This mission is suspicious, as you said, Jericho. Be prepared for a support request. We don’t know what we’ll encounter.”

“I’ll pray for a smooth mission.”

“If prayers solved everything, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Let’s go, Selendis.”

We spurred our horses forward.