Chapter 102…………………………………
The army of the alliance, surrounded by the knights, chose not resistance, but surrender.
Without anyone leading the way, they raised both hands, knelt, and shouted:
“We did nothing. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
It was a lackluster reaction from the New Empire Alliance, which had been shouting about the destruction of the empire and the downfall of the nobility.
In fact, the knights, still brimming with energy, were momentarily confused, unable to immediately grasp the situation.
“What the… are these guys serious?”
Even as their bodies were bound and black hoods placed over their heads, the men only repeated that they had done nothing.
A knight overseeing the situation helped a boy who had been beaten to his feet and asked:
“Are you alright?”
His face was already swollen from the blows he had taken in such a short time.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
“I’ve been watching you. You were brave.”
The knight took a small pouch from his pocket and handed it to the boy.
“If you had done as they said, you would have been captured too. This is a reward for your courage.”
“I cannot accept it. It was my duty, after all.”
“It’s fine. Take it. I know you came here because you needed medicine for your mother. Asking for help when it’s needed is also courage.”
The knight looked at the boys trembling deeper in the alley and said:
“I’m not telling you to go alone. Share it with those children. They didn’t follow those men either.”
The boys’ eyes sparkled as they looked at the pouch of money.
“How did you know?”
“You mean about the medicine?”
“Yes.”
“Take this and treat your mother, then go to the enemy knights.”
“The enemy… knights?”
The knight lowered the black cloth that had been covering his face and answered:
“Yes. And find Alfred Kiyor. If you come to me, I’ll tell you how I knew.”
“Your Excellency Kyle, there’s a message from the palace.”
Ventus lightly knocked on the open door of the reception room.
“Come in.”
Kyle was drinking tea after breakfast with Everett.
He read the letter he received from Ventus and handed it to Everett.
“The emperor will be in a very foul mood today.”
Everett nodded.
“It’s fortunate that Marquis JojoBa appeared at just the right time.”
“I don’t know how quiet it will be, but for now, they probably won’t bring up the mercenaries again.”
Kyle looked at Everett with a sweet smile.
“It’s thanks to you, becoming Edette’s saint and gathering information.”
“Oh, it was nothing. I was lucky. And the clever child who noticed that you might make the wrong choice helped too.”
“That’s also because you spread the word that you were gathering information.”
Everett, embarrassed by Kyle’s praise, absentmindedly fiddled with her empty teacup.
“I’m glad I could help.”
“Now, shall we talk about your wish?”
“Excuse me? My wish?”
“Don’t you remember? We made a bet on which noble’s house to raid. I think I said it would be Marquis JojoBa’s residence.”
Everett blinked rapidly, her eyes wide.
“Ah…”
Kyle let out a small laugh at the sight of her rolling her eyes.
“Well, a promise is a promise. What wish shall I grant you?”
He spoke as if deeply contemplating a serious matter, elongating his words dramatically.
“I cannot use such a precious wish lightly. I’ll think carefully and tell you.”
Though his tone was serious, Kyle’s cheerful expression made Everett smile silently.
“But Kyle, how did you make Marquis JojoBa late? He’s known for being punctual.”
Kyle pulled a small glass vial from his coat and shook it.
“What’s that?”
“The reason he’s late.”
Inside the vial, a clear liquid sloshed.
“It’s a potion that makes him constantly need the bathroom.”
They needed Marquis JojoBa to arrive at the palace at the right time, but in a way that wouldn’t suggest sabotage. After some thought, Kyle chose a method of stomach ache and diarrhea. Spending time going back and forth to the bathroom would naturally delay him.
“The frontier has rough food and scarce water. It’s always hard to relieve yourself. If you mix this in water, it solves the problem all at once.”
A laxative.
Everett couldn’t help but laugh at such an unexpected method.
Her laughter deepened the fine lines around her eyes, and Kyle, watching her fondly, found his own lips turning upward.
“Fun, isn’t it?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s not really something to laugh about…”
They used the elderly Marquis JojoBa to quell the mercenaries’ greed. Everett knew she shouldn’t find it funny that he secretly gave him a laxative, but she couldn’t stop laughing.
Kyle couldn’t look away from her reddened cheeks and deep dimples. Seeing her shining face made him want to cradle her soft cheeks.
“Ah… I’m sorry, Kyle.”
Everett quickly took a sip of tea to calm her laughter.
“I didn’t know you liked this sort of thing. I’ll use it more often in the future.”
Everett pressed her lips with her hand, swallowing the laughter that wanted to burst out again.
When her laughter subsided, Kyle spoke.
“Everett, I told you before about the secret passage I found.”
“Yes, you did.”
The secret passages in the palace, created by Ruber, connected the study, bedroom, and grand hall.
Kyle had only told Everett about the passage to the study and kept the rest a secret.
“The emperor only drinks tea alone in the study. I confirmed that the maid delivered it through the passage.”
Kyle waited. Perhaps someone would eventually appear who brought poison instead of tea.
“Did you see who it was?”
Everett asked expectantly at Kyle’s satisfied expression.
“Duke Bacard.”
Everett let out a short, quiet “Ah.”
It was the person she expected. Ever since she learned that the money of Viscount Kestalik had gone to Baron Arcot, she had been certain.
“As expected, the true master of Bartman is Duke Bacard.”
“I knew his influence was great, but I didn’t think he would poison the emperor himself…”
“Perhaps Bartman has been under his control longer than we anticipated.”
It became clear that the person they had to fight was not the emperor but Duke Bacard.
Everett wondered how Duke Bacard would use the poison from the rural healer Kyle had mentioned. The only way to find out was to get close to Duke Bacard.
At that moment, she heard Kyle put down his teacup.
“Everett, we should head into the palace now.”
“Already?”
Normally, Kyle would find excuses to stay by her side even if told to leave.
Seeing her surprise, a faint smile appeared on Kyle’s lips.
“Do you want me to stay a little longer?”
Everett, flustered, shook her hands in front of her.
“Oh, no. That’s not what I mean…”
Kyle’s pleasant laughter made her face flush.
“I’ll, I’ll escort you out.”
Everett quickly stood, grabbing the door handle. Kyle gently took her arms and turned her to face him.
Seeing Kyle face-to-face, Everett swallowed hard. Her face flushed, but Kyle’s eyes were filled with concern.
“Everett, from now on, you have to be very careful.”
“Huh?”
“Soon, everyone will know that Everett Gronzy is the heir to Viscount Kestalik.”
Everett nodded once. Realizing he had little time left, Viscount Kestalik had arranged through a legal representative to transfer his estate to Kyle. At that time, Everett suggested making herself the heir. Kyle opposed, fearing for her safety. But there was no other way—he could not reveal himself yet.
The only condition the Viscount requested for inheritance was Chad’s life. Everett predicted that if he were executed, attention would shift to the Kestalik family and the heir.
From that moment, Kyle had always been anxious and fearful.
“Everett, Duke Bacard will also learn of your existence soon. I’m worried you might get hurt…”
Too fearful. Kyle swallowed the last words he could not speak.
“Kyle, don’t worry. Ventus is here.”
Everett smiled brightly, and Kyle couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“And I’ve now become the wealthiest young lady in Bartman. No one will dare touch me carelessly.”
Though her voice was cheerful, Kyle’s chest tightened. He had wanted to become emperor to protect her, but the situation was pushing her into danger. All he could do was watch, sighing deeply.
“I always want to protect you…”
Kyle’s low voice trembled with unease.
“I’ll be careful.”
Everett looked up at his worried face and said,
“Kyle, you have to go to your battlefield.”
Kyle instinctively let go of her arm. Long ago, before the final battle, Anish had told a distraught Ruber:
“Your battlefield is out there. Everyone is waiting for you. Go to your battlefield.”
Memories of Anish, suddenly surfacing, confused Kyle. He rubbed his dry face with both hands and wondered if he should find her. The return of Ruber’s memories meant Anish’s foresight had manifested. Thinking of her made his heart ache, but Everett was right in front of him.
If Anish found him first, could he give up Everett?
“Kyle, are you alright?”
“I… I’m fine. I guess I’m nervous thinking about meeting the emperor.”
Kyle avoided Everett’s gaze. A lie.
He no longer feared the emperor. Her expression alone revealed it. What worries him to make that face? He had said he would share everything with her, but now seemed to hide more than before.
“Will you tell the emperor about that?”
“Yes. Since there was trouble with the nobles, today is the best time.”
Everett looked at him with eyes full of concern. Kyle brushed aside her hair falling over her face and gently stroked her cheek.
“I’ll be careful.”
