DSMBL Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Five days had passed since arriving at the Imperial Capital, and ten days since leaving the North. Count Solovis had not left his mansion once during that time. The knights who had come with Rozwood were all on high alert, sensing something suspicious.

‘What is he plotting?’

Finally, on the fifth day, Count Solovis made his appearance. Unlike his ragged state in the North, he now looked neat and composed. Rozwood clenched his fists in tension.

“We have to follow the Count immediately.”

“You cannot enter the Imperial Palace, Sir Rozwood,” a knight warned.

If a Northern knight were to step into the palace without permission, it would be considered treason and punishable by death. Fortunately, Rozwood had not spent the past five days idly. He handed a note to one of his men.

“Find out everything that’s being said inside. You must reach the north gate of the palace before the Count. Give this note and thirty gold coins to the gatekeeper—he’ll connect you to the servant inside.”

“Yes, Sir Rozwood!”

The chosen knight quickly rode off. Rozwood gripped his reins tightly and followed Count Solovis. The chase had begun.

***

Count Solovis stood before Emperor Carlos.

He had spent the past five days in seclusion, recovering his health after being imprisoned and exiled. The Emperor, seeing Solovis’s worn face, smiled faintly.

“It seems your hosts weren’t very kind, were they?”

“Your Majesty, the arrogance of House Istheria knows no bounds,” Count Solovis said bitterly, bowing deeply.

“They imprisoned me in a dungeon despite your edict and committed countless insults. They even did something unforgivable…”

“And didn’t you also do something unforgivable that shamed me?” the Emperor replied with a smile.

Count Solovis flinched. Emperor Carlos was known for his cheerful demeanor—but also for being quick to tire, quick to anger, and, despite his youth, a ruler who tightly controlled the capital.

To weaken the Istheria’s influence, he had once forced a marriage between a central noble and a member of the Istheria family, even extracting a huge dowry from the duke. At the same time, he had supported the House Solovis as a counterattack, yet deviously.

Count Solovis swallowed hard.

‘Of course, he knows everything.’

Even within his own party, there had likely been spies reporting back to the Emperor.

“They say you poisoned the young duke—the boy who barely escaped death,” Carlos said.

“I—I knew he wouldn’t die! I only wanted to prove something!” Count Solovis cried, slamming his forehead to the floor.

“My daughter was with him. She has divine powers, and I wanted to prove it…”

“So you tried to kill a child?” Carlos asked coldly.

“It was for the empire! To show she could save us in times of danger…”

“Do I look like a fool to you?”

“N-no, Your Majesty…”

“Divine power drains life. Your daughter may not even live much longer. And yet you think she can save the empire? You did it for money, and don’t pretend otherwise.”

The Emperor stood and crushed Solovis’s hand under his boot, emotionless.

“Aaagh! F-Forgive me, Your Majesty!”

Carlos kicked him away and sighed.

“Thanks to your stupidity, Istheria now has a reason to act. But they have graciously chosen to forgive you—for my sake, they claim.”

“Your Majesty…”

“In return, I had to agree to send knights to the North. A humiliating decision.”

“I—I…”

“I don’t think you’re entirely useless,” Carlos said, crouching to Solovis’s level with a chilling smile.

“Then tell me something useful. Give me a reason to spare you.”

Count Solovis, realizing the Emperor already knew everything, decided to speak the truth.

“The Northern Duke… he’s working with the snowbeasts. They’re traitors! Collaborating with the beasts that have harmed our people!”

Carlos narrowed his eyes.

“History repeats itself,” he muttered.

“Your Majesty?”

Carlos turned away, deep in thought. The Northern lands had always dealt with the snowbeasts—creatures once considered enemies. Time after time, the empire would erase the records once the danger passed. Carlos, however, had read those erased records.

‘Things must be getting serious again.’

Every time such a secret alliance formed, it meant a great disaster was approaching. And now, the intervals between these crises were growing shorter.

‘So the North wasn’t exaggerating after all.’

Carlos glanced at the trembling Count.

‘He thinks he’s uncovered some great secret. But the truth is, the North always finds a way to survive—because they face the harsh reality head-on. Perhaps it’s in their blood.’

The Emperor summoned his chief servant.

“Outside, there are Northern spies lurking. Have Orein arrange for them to enter the palace secretly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And as for Count Solovis…”

Carlos looked at the terrified Count. His eyes were cold as ice.

“He talks too much.”

A cruel smile crept onto the Emperor’s lips.

“Cut out his tongue. Let that be the message.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“P-please! Have mercy! I won’t speak a word! Please, Your Majesty!!”

Carlos didn’t even look at the Count as he was dragged away. As always, useless pieces must be discarded—before they cause trouble.