Helper

As Kyle and Sylvia returned to the Imperial Palace together, there was a figure seemingly loitering around the castle gates for no particular reason.

As soon as he spotted him, Kyle’s brow furrowed slightly, but he made an effort not to show it and approached him, speaking.

“Hyung-nim, what are you doing here?”

“I had nothing to do, so I was just taking a look around the Imperial Palace. More importantly, are you two coming back from a date or something?”

“Yes, as you can see…”

“It’s nice to see you again, Ajubeonim.”

As Kyle subtly stepped aside to show Sylvia, Sylvia, who appeared from behind him, peeked her head out and greeted him politely.

It was still an unfamiliar title for the two brothers, and both of their expressions soured simultaneously as if they had made a promise.

“So, how about it? Since it’s a rare occasion, how about we have a drink together tonight?”

As Hasel gestured as if tilting a glass and offered a drink, Kyle made an effort to manage his expression and glanced at Sylvia standing next to him.

Leaving her alone is worrisome in many ways, but there is no good reason to refuse here.

Of course, it’s not difficult to refuse without a particular reason, but it would be more uncomfortable to watch him blather on about how he’s a younger brother who doesn’t listen to his older brother’s requests.

Therefore, Kyle nodded, deciding to hang out for a little while.

“It’s fine. Should I come to your room?”

“No, I’ll go. You don’t have any particular preferences for alcohol, do you?”

“Yes, anything is fine.”

Either way, given Hasel’s personality, he would probably make a fuss about how beer is a low-class drink and bring some fancy wine or something.

Usually, people would bring out expensive alcohol to emphasize to the other person, ‘You are my benefactor.’ But in Hasel’s case, it was the opposite.

Rather, he elevates his own position and shows off by providing expensive alcohol without hesitation.

It truly shows his personality, but anyway, it was a welcome thing for Kyle. After all, he gets to drink expensive alcohol for free.

“Alright. Then I’ll come after dinner, so wait in your room.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

While Kyle greeted him politely, Hasel waved his hand without even making eye contact and left with a somewhat frivolous gait.

Sylvia, who had been watching his retreating figure, asked Kyle with a somewhat puzzled expression.

“Does Ajubeonim often make such invitations?”

She didn’t want to speak carelessly about someone else’s family affairs, but at least the relationship between the two that Sylvia had seen was, to put it nicely, awkward.

To put it bluntly, it was like they were strangers. No, maybe strangers were better. At least strangers would just pass by without acknowledging each other.

On the other hand, when she stayed at Kaintreche Castle, if she happened to run into Hasel while walking down the hallway with Kyle, he would openly express his displeasure by snorting, ‘Hmph.’

Of course, there wasn’t even a light greeting. So much so that Sylvia thought that was just how the Lierde family greeted each other.

“No, it’s the first time. In some ways, he was more distant than my father or mother.”

“Does that mean Ajubeonim has finally acknowledged Kyle?”

“Well. I don’t know about that.”

Kyle shrugged and gave a vague answer to Sylvia’s question, which contained a small hope.

In fact, he was speaking a little euphemistically because Sylvia was right in front of him, but his true feelings were firmly saying, ‘There’s no way.’

Of course, there was the case of Dver, so it would be difficult to speak carelessly about others based on subjective standards, but at least Dver and Hasel, as Kyle had seen them, were fundamentally contrasting figures.

Dver believes that living for the family, dying for the family, and making the family more prosperous is the duty of the head of the family, so he thoroughly ignores even his own son if he is not helpful to the family.

However, conversely, Dver is also someone who can reconsider his thoughts at any time if he realizes that his assessment was wrong.

On the other hand, Hasel, as Kyle saw him, was a very petty and overbearing man.

Basically, he doesn’t like others being above him, has a considerable desire to show off, and enjoys looking down on others.

If such a man were to learn that his younger brother, whom he once thought was incompetent, actually has the ability to be the next head of the family, would he really reconsider his assessment and try to get closer again?

At least Kyle’s thought was, ‘No.’

Rather, he thought that his younger brother, whom he had no doubt was below him, had suddenly taken the position of the next head of the family, so he must be feeling anger and humiliation.

‘Why is that bastard suddenly acting like this?’

Therefore, Kyle felt suspicious of Hasel’s sudden favor, but decided to watch for now.

Maybe he really misjudged the person.

Even if there is a saying that people can’t be fixed and used again, it was hard to say for sure since he himself was clearly a case in point.

If there was a special opportunity, maybe such a change could have come to Hasel as well.

However, he would have to watch and see which way that opportunity would go, and what direction that change would take.

“Anyway, that’s how it is, so it seems like it will be difficult to be with you after dinner. I’m sorry, Sylvia.”

“I’m fine. I’ve always been good at playing alone, so don’t worry about me and have a good talk with Ajubeonim.”

“…You’re telling a sad story so nonchalantly.”

Rather, hearing those words made him even more reluctant to leave her alone, but he couldn’t take back the words he had already spoken, so there was nothing he could do.

Kyle thought he should get drunk and fall asleep early tonight, and entered the Imperial Palace with Sylvia.

＊＊＊

As he was about to return to his room after dinner, someone urgently called out to Kyle.

It was none other than Vermillion, who had unintentionally caused a misunderstanding today because of Sylvia.

At his urgent gesture, Kyle excused himself to Sylvia for a moment and approached him. Vermillion looked around and led Kyle to a place where there were as few people as possible.

“You should be having a good time, so I’m sorry for interrupting.”

“Cut the unnecessary consideration. More importantly, it looks like you’ve found something out?”

Seeing Vermillion open his mouth with a lecherous expression, Kyle felt like his head was throbbing, but he decided to talk about that later and immediately got to the point.

In fact, this was the reason why he had asked Vermillion to accompany him this time.

It was to make contact with the Eyes of Dawn and extract as much information as possible from them.

And if Vermillion called him so urgently and secretly, it was safe to assume that he had gained something.

Therefore, Kyle immediately cast a soundproof barrier around them and decided to listen to his story.

“Yes, it’s not as much as I thought… But fortunately, I got some pretty important information.”

“Oh, for example?”

“First of all, it’s the reason why they want Princess Eleanor, or more precisely, the Evil Eye.”

“You found that out?”

Kyle’s eyes widened at the words that he had brought a clue about the part that he valued the most.

To be honest, even when he first coaxed Vermillion, he didn’t know that he would become such a useful resource.

Moreover, he didn’t even think that he would follow his words with such enthusiasm and sincerity.

Kyle thought that he had a good eye for people and carefully listened.

“Yes, unfortunately, it’s a bit vague. But I could still get a rough idea. It seems like they’re trying to use the Evil Eye as a kind of weapon.”

“…A weapon?”

As Vermillion had feared, Kyle’s brow furrowed slightly at the rather vague answer.

It’s not that he can’t infer anything from that word alone, but it feels like something is a little lacking to get closer to their purpose.

“At least, according to what I heard, it felt like a preparation for killing someone.”

“You don’t know who the target is?”

“Unfortunately. It would be an important clue if I only knew that.”

“Hmm…”

Kyle was slightly dissatisfied with the answer, which was of considerably lower quality than he had expected, but decided to be thankful that it was better than nothing.

If he continues the investigation later and finds out who they are going to kill using the Evil Eye, he will be one step closer.

“And there’s even more important information than this. In fact, this is the main point.”

“What is it?”

Kyle stroked his chin and asked, sensing that Vermillion’s expression was becoming even heavier. He paused for a moment with a face that seemed to not know where to start.

“Actually, there will be an assassin targeting the two of you tonight.”

“…An assassin, you mean they’re going to directly invade the Imperial Palace?”

“Probably so.”

“Those crazy bastards.”

Kyle’s assessment was accurate. Vermillion also fully agreed with that statement.

Perhaps it means that they are that desperate, or that they are impatient to leave him alone even a little longer, having already found out about their existence.

“How many?”

“I couldn’t quite figure that out. However, the number is not important.”

“Then?”

“Actually, there is someone cooperating with them. We have to be careful of that person.”

“Helper?”

Kyle frowned, wondering what this meant.

Could it be that the clutches of the Eyes of Dawn have reached inside the Imperial Palace?

If that’s true, it’s a very urgent situation.

“You seem to know him.”

“Yes, I have no choice but to know. From the beginning, this assassination was decided to be carried out in cooperation with him and me.”

“I see.”

Does that mean they already met face to face and made a plan?

If so, then that helper has fallen into an unexpected trap.

Because the person who should be helping him attempt the assassination turns out to be in cahoots with the enemy.

“That helper is…”

As Vermillion’s lips opened, Kyle’s eyes, which had been narrowed, gradually widened.

Whoosh.

At that moment, a cold night breeze blew past the two of them.

It was a night that felt colder than ever.