episode_0014

Astia Le Volrun.

She was now putting the sword, which had been stuck in the ground, back into its sheath. She silently watched the retreating figure of the prince, who was staggering away. The prince’s noble attire was now worse off than a beggar’s. It was torn in many places, and the yellowed earth and dust clung to it like bruises. Of course, it wasn’t very visible under the melancholic light of the sunset that had dyed the whole world. It was the result of a duel that had lasted for hours. The prince, who had defeated Rufus Erdante, who had lived on his own pride, in a despicable manner. She couldn’t believe he would challenge her to a duel first. She wondered what he trusted in. In the past, she might not have known, but now, if she set her mind to it, she could kill with her bare hands. If she took up the sword, she might accidentally kill him. That’s why she had decided to fight with her bare hands only. The murmuring knights began to leave one by one. Astia stood alone in the vast training ground as if turned into stone. The prince seemed small like a dot by now.

“Eos.”

It was a name she hadn’t called in a long time. Now, he was the dethroned prince, Eos Caldevrion. He was a childhood friend she had always been with. Even though they didn’t share blood, she considered him family. Was there anyone who knew him better than herself? No. Absolutely not. She had always been proud of that fact. When it came to him, she knew far better than the emperor, the late empress mother, or even his own mother. That was why. During the few days when the palace was vacated by the imperial decree. Even when she heard the story that Eos had killed his mother, she didn’t believe it alone. There must have been some mistake. Even when everyone condemned Eos as a cruel butcher, she defended him alone. Wiping away the tears that flowed endlessly, she was convinced that what he did was impossible. Of course, it was true that Eos had changed. Five years ago, after the empress mother’s death. One day, he suddenly became violent as if he were someone else. Servants, maids, even soldiers patrolling nearby would needlessly suffer his violence.

She no longer behaved as amicably as before.

Even so, Astia knew it well.

Eos was absolutely incapable of killing a person.

So she asked.

And heard.

“I killed them all. Stop bothering me and get lost right now.”

It was a question asked with great courage, but the answer that came back was so despairing that it was unbelievable.

It felt like the sky was falling.

As if the whole world.

It felt as devastating as a house made of mud being trampled mercilessly by children.

She knew in her mind that she had to kill the enemy who betrayed her faith and killed her mother.

Just aiming the trembling blade at Eos’s sleeping neck happened more than five times.

But every time.

The bright and gentle face of the young Eos kept flashing before her eyes, and she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

In the end.

Her heart wouldn’t allow it.

So she gave up her guard.

Every moment in the palace seemed like struggling for life after swallowing poison.

So.

She quietly left the palace, throwing away even the glorious name of the royal knights, which had been a lifelong dream, without regret, and spent four years.

The first two years were spent giving up everything and pondering only death.

The frustrated desire for revenge had turned into a deep self-loathing.

Like a fool.

Driven by righteousness, she couldn’t forgive herself for not even seeking revenge for her mother.

So she cut off even meals and water.

Fearlessly headed towards death.

Then came the moment just before death.

The malicious expression of the crown prince, who had been telling her to disappear with a fierce expression, came to mind.

The malicious look in his eyes came to mind so vividly.

Thinking of that shameless face without a hint of remorse until the end, she couldn’t end it like that.

So she rose again.

If she was going to die anyway.

It was too late, but she was convinced that completing her revenge and then dying was the right thing to do.

She knew that avenging would bring about the death of the crown prince.

She also knew that it would bring about war.

But still, she vowed to kill him.

No matter what the cost or sacrifice.

Mother’s enemy must be repaid, I swore to the heavens.

So for the remaining two years.

I dedicated myself like a madman to training,

meticulously investigating my mother’s death.

I knew about the tragedy from four years ago and sought out anyone involved, gathering as much information as possible.

It was for a revenge without regret,

and to not hesitate at all.

It was to make the resolve to kill the crown prince sharper than a newly forged blade.

I had vowed countless times to kill him without fail.

If Eos truly killed my mother,

I was determined to personally end that wretched scoundrel’s life with my own hands.

However, the more I investigated,

the more oddities surfaced.

The gruesome murder case caused by the then crown prince Eos.

In just one night, nearly fourteen people were killed.

Yet, after that day, there wasn’t a single living witness, which seemed incredibly implausible.

Every servant and soldier who had testified to witnessing the crown prince commit murder with their own eyes, as if by some twist of fate, had all turned into cold corpses within a mere two years.

The strangeness didn’t stop there.

The evidence that pointed to the crown prince as the murderer

was solely based on the fact that he was found sleeping soundly among the dead bodies, holding a blood-stained sword.

It was an extremely flimsy piece of evidence with a high potential for manipulation.

To fall asleep at the scene of a murder?

Amidst fleeing or in the midst of destroying evidence?

Moreover, at that time, Eos had already lost his elven abilities.

His physical capabilities were inferior to those of an ordinary boy his age, and he couldn’t even see spirits, let alone use magic.

No matter how you looked at it, it was strange.

It seemed as if someone had meticulously manipulated the incident to bring about the crown prince’s downfall.

But it was too late to uncover the truth.

There was no evidence, no witnesses left.

There was no longer any way to uncover the truth.

That’s why I returned.

To this cursed palace that remained peaceful despite my mother’s death.

There was only one purpose.

Once again, I wanted to hear a definite answer from the prince.

Is it true that you really killed your mother?

Truly.

I returned to ask this one last time if it’s true that you, with your own hands, killed the person who loved and followed you.

And if he gave the same answer this time, I was thinking of killing him without further hesitation.

Of course, there was nothing I could be certain of.

I still had mixed feelings.

Even seeing his face was not an easy thing to do.

When our eyes met for the first time in four years at the Imperial Palace, it was extremely difficult to suppress the rising anger.

Nevertheless, I asked. While sparring.

Did you really commit that act? That dreadful act from that day?

I urged for an answer in a whisper, meant only for the prince to hear.

While doing so, my fists clenched, and I struck at his abdomen.

I didn’t intend to kill him, but my anger surged, and strength involuntarily entered me.

Whether it was a punch or a kick.

With each strike, the sound of cracking rocks echoed through the air.

And eventually.

After rolling on the ground several times, the prince lay down on his back, his face covered in dust, and answered.

That he didn’t do such a thing.

The moment I heard those words, tears welled up in my eyes.

Perhaps I desperately wanted to hear those words.

No.

In truth, I truly wanted to hear those words.

Of course, there was no evidence to support it.

After the Empress’s death, the prince had done all sorts of terrible things.

So perhaps, even taking a life was just another part of that pattern.

Yet Astia had no choice but to believe.

Despite being beaten black and blue, she looked at him with clear eyes, just as she always had since she was a child.

She wanted to question why he hadn’t told her earlier.

But she didn’t want her choked voice to betray her emotions.

So she had no choice but to force down the words that rose to her throat.

***

It had been a cruel sparring match where Astia took all the hits, and a day had already passed.

And now, I am here.

On the roof of the mansion as night fell.

I was waiting for the lights below to go out.

This place was directly above the study of Gerund, who served the Duke of Shurein.

By the way, Gerund was Glenitno’s father.

I raised both of my arms in a gesture of victory, like a zealot worshiping the moon hanging in the night sky.

The bones hadn’t fully mended yet; the pain still lingered.

As expected, Aku’s healing magic was far inferior to that of Elaine’s. Despite consuming a substantial amount of mana, he couldn’t properly mend the broken bones.

Speaking of which, yesterday’s duel was truly dreadful. Even though I did my best to defend using the spirits, Astia’s combat prowess was overwhelming. Moreover, due to special precautions taken to avoid the spirits’ detection, I sustained quite a serious injury.

Astia. Indeed, as one who would become a comrade of a hero, she possessed truly remarkable physical abilities. Although her appearance was just that of a tall and slender noblewoman, it was baffling how she could exhibit such immense strength.

Anyway, she remained silent at my statement that she didn’t kill the nanny. It was an implicit affirmation that she no longer saw me as an enemy.

At that moment, I decided to propose to her to return as my bodyguard. Though she didn’t give any response, her teary eyes were trembling as much as they were chilled.

This morning, the palace was in an uproar over my glorious victory and devastating defeat. Except for a few minor adjustments, everything had turned out well.

As I waited absentmindedly for a while, I found myself yawning when suddenly the dim light filled my private study.

Well then, shall we begin?

Today’s goal is to obtain evidence of the corrupt practices of Gurund Jajak, the faithful lapdog of the empress, and deliver it to the remaining nobles of the anti-empress faction. After all, in politics, not only power but also legitimacy is crucial. Just that alone should be enough to expose the empress’s faction.