Chapter 91: Reasons for Survival – 2

“…It’s a miracle.”

Crellin, who was checking Kailo’s pulse, let out a noticeable sigh of relief as he spoke.

The complete collapse of his position in the Rondor family was one story.

Keeping him alive was a completely different story.

The Corrode family, which had lost its main force of the Eight Knights, could no longer be the backer for Crellin, and with the war now breaking out between them, it was even less so.

The entire kingdom already expected this.

If the Corrode family and the Rondor family clashed, the Corrode family would lose.

They had lost their main force of the Eight Knights, and the reason for the war seemed utterly foolish from the Corrode family’s perspective, so the morale of their soldiers must be at rock bottom.

As a result, Crellin, having let go of all his ambitions, was pouring all his energy into securing a title for himself.

And the first step in that process was Kailo’s recovery.

Once Kailo recovered, Crellin would have to leave the Rondor family and return to his homeland, but it seemed as though Crellin had already accepted that future.

He had been checking on Kailo whenever he could, and whether he was trying to end things beautifully in the Rondor family or training a successor, it was clear he was determined.

Today, after checking on Kailo again, Crellin looked at Vivian.

“His body temperature and complexion are returning, and he’s sweating now… It seems he’s passed the critical point. He no longer vomits up food. I think we just need to keep an eye on him… Vivian?”

Vivian blinked, her eyes dazed, and looked at Crellin.

As Kailo’s strength returned, Vivian was noticeably growing more haggard.

It was only natural.

She had been taking on Kailo’s pain in his place.

However, despite her mental fog and physical exhaustion, Vivian couldn’t help but smile when she saw Kailo recovering.

She was proud of how Kailo was gaining strength.

It was a hundred times better than the moments when she could only watch helplessly.

“…You did well.”

Vivian, who could not reveal that the reason Kailo was recovering was due to her own magic, said to Crellin.

Crellin nodded cautiously and left the room.

***

Jade Alan.

First, I sincerely apologize for what has transpired.

The wounds and humiliation inflicted on our guest, Kailo Alan, are absolutely unacceptable, and I deeply recognize that this is a grave matter that goes against the honor and principles of the Rondor family.

During Kailo’s stay in our land, the responsibility for ensuring his safety was undeniably mine.

However, Kailo was caught up in the Corrode family’s despicable and irrational actions, and I know that this has caused great pain to the Alan family.

I acknowledge that this event is the result of the Rondor family failing to uphold the basic trust we owed the Alan family, and I take full responsibility for it.

The Rondor family will not take this matter lightly. We have already declared war on the Corrode family, and we swear we will not stop until this issue is fully resolved and justice is served.

We will hold them accountable for the violence and humiliation they have caused.

I hope this letter conveys our heartfelt apology to the Alan family. I also promise that we will spare no effort in supporting Kailo’s treatment and recovery.

Undefeated Knight, Jade Alan.

I have not forgotten the things you did to our family.

Because of your actions, I was forced to rise up alone to rebuild the family, and the pain and loneliness I felt from that experience still remain within me.

However, I will put that resentment aside, and I want to make it clear that this current issue with Kailo was not our intention.

I sincerely hope there will be no further misunderstanding.

…It is also clear that Kailo Alan will not be returning home as a result of this matter.

Vivian Rondor.

***

Thud~

As Vivian finished the letter, she could not help but acknowledge that the final sentence contained her personal desires.

She had debated whether to include it or not dozens of times.

In the end, she decided to keep it in.

She did not want to hear requests to return Kailo after this incident.

No, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to hear it.

I didn’t mind listening, but I didn’t want to waste time in pointless squabbles over matters with a predetermined outcome.

Kailo couldn’t go.

After all, he had already said he wouldn’t.

So there was no need for further discussion.

Vivian sealed the letter with wax and extinguished the candle.

It was already late.

And, as usual these days, when the candle went out and darkness fell, Elena sat by the window.

“So, the person to kill is Count Corrode, right?”

Vivian nodded.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

“It will take some time. To make it look like a natural death, he has to fall ill.”

If he dies suddenly, rumors may spread that he was assassinated.

It doesn’t matter, but I don’t want to get involved in any troublesome situations.

The best outcome would be for the Count, the last pillar supporting the Corrode family, to fall, and for the Corrode family to surrender unconditionally afterward.

If I spread the right rumors, I could make people believe that the gods punished him.

“That’s actually good. During that time, my position will become even stronger.”

War is, on one hand, the final means for nobility to assert their will, but on the other, it’s also a gamble where the victor gains tremendous honor.

Although it wasn’t planned, Vivian knew that through this event, her position would be further solidified.

The handling of her political rivals.

The establishment of a hierarchical order between the Rondor and Corrode families.

…Revenge for Kailo.

It was a plan to achieve three goals at once.

All Vivian had to do was to spread the war even further.

Since the outcome of the war was already determined, it would be better if more people talked about it.

After finishing her last task of the day, Vivian let out a slow sigh.

She slowly approached Kailo and began to take off her clothes.

Elena, sensing it was time to leave, jumped out of the window beyond the glass.

Vivian sank into Kailo’s embrace, which had become warm again recently.

Lying on his arm, she placed her hand on his chest.

…This must have been what it felt like to be married.

A future that would never come true, but still.

Vivian realized that she had begun to grow somewhat attached to Kailo Alan.

And whenever that happened, she rationalized her choice with familiar excuses.

The price of her family’s life.

A political guest.

The most useful tool she possessed.

…A long-time friend with whom she had shared a little bit of friendship.

It wasn’t because he was the most precious to her in life, but because of these reasons that she hoped for his survival.

smack

Vivian gently kissed Kailo’s cheek.

“…Sleep well, Kailo.”

She licked his blood, and after making a wound on her already injured mouth from repetitive cuts, she fed him her blood, whispering into his ear.

***

plop!

Thud! Thud!

I saw the familiar stones flying through the air.

“Die! Die, you son of a devil!!”

“Kailo Alan!! You have to die!!”

How many years had it been?

I stood among the angry citizens, watching a young boy getting hit by the flying stones.

It was the memory of when he first entered Loctana.

But everything about this situation felt a little different from my memory.

The boy on the horse was crying and huddling, showing no sign of resistance.

He cried, calling out for his mother and father.

I had never acted so pitiful.

Frustration surged, and I shouted at him.

“Fight back, you idiot!”

But either my voice didn’t reach him, or it was drowned out by the loud shouts of the crowd, because the boy just cried.

Numerous memories rushed through my mind like a flash.

When the witch’s curse was uttered, the young boy had covered his ears in fear, and when he was first locked in the dungeon, he had lamented being lonely and hungry.

“Stop whining.”

The boy didn’t listen.

When the servants and soldiers at Rondor Castle gossiped behind his back, the boy would run away in fear.

From the moment he joined the punishment unit, he couldn’t stop trembling every night.

“Stop running away!”

Seeing that, I kept gritting my teeth.

If you’re going to act so pitifully, you might as well die.

… But at the same time, my heart ached as I watched.

It was true that the boy seemed like an idiot, but I also felt an undeniable pity and sympathy for him.

In the end, the boy endured the beating from Valon, Wallace, and Martin until he couldn’t take it anymore.

Those idiots should just take the beating, why is he getting beaten like that?

But the pathetic boy couldn’t say anything and just took the hits.

However, there came a moment when that boy stopped crying.

It was the moment he saw an even more pathetic girl.

The girl who had lost her father, brother, and finally her mother because of my father.

The girl who, like me, was ignored by the adults.

She cried even more pitifully than the boy, weak and helpless, suffering every day without being able to do anything.

She stuttered like an idiot and was a year younger than him.

The pain the boy felt came from the girl, but at the same time, the boy felt a strange sense of camaraderie and sympathy toward her.

The girl, his enemy.

She was the only one who could understand his pain.

“…Are you going to lose to her too?”

I said to the boy.

Finally, my voice reached him, and he clenched his teeth.

He couldn’t lose.

He couldn’t show a pathetic side to his enemy.

At the same time, he wanted to comfort her.

If he could do that, maybe everything would feel okay.

He knew exactly what the girl wanted to hear.

He could feel what she needed.

The boy took a deep breath and stood up.

Then, he approached Vivian Rondor.