Chapter 79……………………………………….
At the mention of death, my expression must have stiffened without me realizing it. Terrence glanced at me and hurriedly added, as if making an excuse:
“No, of course I would prefer to avoid killing if possible. But if, as you say, he poses that significant a threat to me… then it would be wiser not to leave any future trouble behind.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t understand. The struggle for the imperial throne wasn’t a sporting match; no one could demand that everything be done fairly and by the rules. In a world where you never knew when your head might roll, that would be naïve.
Even if the Crown Prince was relatively moderate, there was no guarantee that those surrounding him were the same. More than anything, if Elliot judged that Terrence stood in Riena’s way—or if Riena wished it—he would devote himself entirely to ruining Terrence.
And yet, there was still a psychological resistance in me. If Elliot were to die because of advice I had given… that would weigh on my conscience for a long time. And besides—
“I understand what you mean, Tei. But Elliot is too valuable a talent to lose.”
Toward the end of the novel, a monster wave erupts and monsters flood the land from every direction. It was Elliot who devised the strategy that saved countless lives.
Even in the epilogue, he assists Riena—now empress—in contributing to the nation’s development. Though he acted for one person’s sake, in the end the entire country benefited from him.
“If that talent turns into a blade pointed at us, what good is it? And from what you’ve told me, he doesn’t seem like the type who can be persuaded.”
Terrence had a point. After a long silence, I finally made a request.
“…Will you give me some time? I actually have one idea in mind. I’ll try to change his heart.”
Of course, I added a condition. If I ultimately failed to persuade Elliot… then I would follow Terrence’s decision regarding his fate.
Now, I looked at Elliot, who was still acting smug, with complicated feelings. This really wasn’t the time for him to be like that.
He thinks this whole performance was just to intimidate him? Not at all.
This was Terrence’s test—to measure what kind of man Elliot truly was. Elliot had successfully deduced that this was an annex of the capital’s security bureau. Vineta would surely report that to Terrence.
That would only tilt Terrence further toward killing him.
Honestly, it would have been far better for Elliot’s safety if he had just pretended to be a little stupid here. But with pride that high in the clouds, that was probably impossible.
I felt like clutching my head. Please, just handle this better. I really dislike him, and I’d love to give him a proper beating—but I didn’t want him dead.
Since it’s come to this, whether it becomes porridge or burnt rice, I’m going all in on persuading Elliot!
I steeled myself. If I could bring Elliot to our side—or at least sever his connection with Riena—Terrence and I would be able to breathe easier.
The problem was that it wouldn’t be easy. No—based on how the novel described him, it was close to impossible.
What I told Terrence—that I had something in mind—wasn’t a lie. But it was only a possibility. I believed I had grounds for it, but I couldn’t be certain it would succeed.
Is this the wrong choice? I wondered, then shook my head. Narrowly speaking, Elliot’s life was at stake. More broadly, many lives were. It was worth testing the possibility.
I opened my mouth toward the man inside the cell.
“Elliot, there’s someone you’re going to meet.”
Meanwhile, at that very moment, the security forces had formed ranks in front of the Cassius townhouse. The man at the front shouted loudly:
“Lady Riena Cassius, come out and submit peacefully to investigation! You are currently suspected of violating seven laws in total, including the tax code, trade regulations, and bribery statutes!”
The tightly shut main gate of the mansion opened. Duke Edmund Cassius and his son, Leheim Cassius, appeared mounted on horseback.
“You scoundrels!”
The duke, fury rising to the top of his head, roared.
“Whom do you dare claim you’ll drag away?!”
Faced with a distinguished duke and accomplished warrior acting this way, the captain of the security forces hesitated.
“I stand here under His Majesty the Emperor’s command to carry out official duties. Even as Duke Cassius, you have no grounds to block me.”
“Begone. As long as these eyes of mine remain open, you will not lay a hand on my daughter.”
“Do you intend to defy His Majesty’s order?”
“I will go and speak to His Majesty myself. If my daughter is guilty, I shall bear the punishment in her stead.”
“Do not be unreasonable!”
“What part of that is unreasonable?”
It wasn’t only the duke glaring at the security forces as if they were mortal enemies. Leheim at his side and the Cassius knights behind them looked ready to enter battle at any moment.
The captain bit his lip. A direct clash with the Cassius forces would be disastrous—but he, too, had reasons he could not retreat.
The investigation team had confiscated evidence from Iber only a few hours ago, yet the security forces had moved this quickly. That alone proved how urgent the emperor’s command had been. He had personally summoned the captain and ordered him to bring Riena in before Duke Cassius could send her elsewhere.
It seemed the emperor had already known that the tax investigation targeting the Iber Merchant Guild would uncover something—perhaps tipped off by the Second Prince. How the prince knew remained a mystery.
The captain attempted persuasion.
“Step aside! If the lady is found innocent through investigation, she will be released safely. Moreover, as a member of a distinguished family, she will be afforded the highest treatment possible for an accused.”
“Silence! Who are you calling an accused? We will never hand over Riena!”
“If you continue like this, we will have no choice but to take her by force!”
“Try it if you dare! I’ll show you why Cassius is called the Iron Wall of the Empire!”
“You are needlessly complicating matters!”
Tension thickened between the two sides. In that explosive moment, a voice like a nightingale rang out.
“Stop!”
The owner of the voice—the very cause of this situation—Riena Cassius herself.
“I’m right here.”
Seeing her dressed for going out, both the duke and Leheim shouted in shock.
“Riena! Why have you come out?!”
“It’s dangerous—stay inside!”
The servants who had followed her hurriedly stammered to the duke:
“We’re sorry!”
“The young lady insisted on coming out no matter what!”
Amid the chaos, Riena alone remained composed.
“Father, I’ll go for the investigation. Please don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”
“No! Do you know where they’ll take you?”
“It’s alright. I’m a proud Cassius too!”
“Riena…”
“For generations, Cassius has stood as the Iron Wall of the North, enduring the harsh cold while protecting the Empire from foreign forces and demonic beasts.”
Her red eyes shone with pride.
“I’ve inherited that spirit as well. I’ll overcome a mere obstacle like this with ease.”
She turned her gaze toward the security forces. Unlike the warmth she had shown her family, her eyes were cold and hostile.
“Are you the captain of the security forces?”
“Y-yes.”
The captain shrank back without meaning to. The sheer presence radiating from this young woman who had only just come of age overwhelmed him.
What in the world is this…?
In decades of service maintaining order in the capital, he had encountered many formidable individuals. But never had he felt such a strange pressure—unnaturally strong and vivid.
“If you intend to take me, then do so.”
Riena widened her eyes.
“This Riena Cassius will neither flee nor hide!”
Gasps echoed from all sides. One of her maids began to tear up.
“Oh… My lady! You’re so valiant!”
A Cassius knight standing behind the duke with his sword drawn exclaimed in admiration.
“Such spirit—like a veteran of countless battles!”
Others from the Cassius household began adding their own remarks.
“Sniff… When did she grow so splendidly?”
“As expected, we will follow Lady Riena for life!”
“We shall guard the estate and await your return!”
Leheim dismounted and gripped his sister’s shoulders firmly.
“If you so much as lose a single hair, I’ll overturn the entire security force. Those bastards will be dead men.”
“Don’t joke like that! I’ll return safely, so don’t worry.”
After reassuring her brother, Riena looked to her father. The duke avoided her gaze and muttered:
“Sometimes I resent that you’ve grown up like this. If you had remained a child, I would have kept you in my arms forever.”
“So… you’re permitting me to go?”
“How could I ever break your will?”
“Thank you.”
“Remember this. We have always believed in you.”
A wave of emotion swept through the scene. It was nothing like the confrontation the captain had imagined—but if he could escort the lady without bloodshed, that was fortunate.
There was just one problem.
“…So when are we leaving?”
It wasn’t as though she were departing for a battlefield, yet wasn’t this farewell taking rather long?
The captain’s question faded uselessly as Riena began exchanging farewells with the servants.
