RTM 07

“I will guide you.”

Since neither horses nor carriages were allowed inside the temple, Michael got down from the carriage and walked while holding Kallias’s hand.

Servants followed behind them carrying boxes of offerings. The long line stretched endlessly. People watching the scene were all admiring it in awe. The pile of offering boxes at the central altar of the temple was so large it could easily be mistaken for a small hut.

“Lord Droysen, you must be deeply grieved. Still, with such sincere and devoted offerings, Duke Alexandros and his wife will surely reach heaven.”

The high priest came forward and offered words of comfort.

Normally, an ordinary priest would guide offering prayers, but the scale of this offering was greater than any in recorded history. Thus, the high priest himself personally came forward. Moreover, the contents inside were all extremely valuable items—by worth alone, it was the largest offering ever made.

“Not only that, but the young heir of the Grand Duke personally conducting the prayer—surely even the gods will look upon this favorably.”

The high priest was so delighted he felt like dancing. An enormous offering, and a child only five years old leading the prayer! This would greatly elevate the temple’s prestige.

By tomorrow, rumors would spread throughout the imperial capital, and other noble houses would try to outdo Alexandros with even larger offerings.

For that reason, they were specially guided to the finest prayer room.

Michael entered the best prayer room.

“Michael, just do as we discussed.”

“Yes.”

Michael nodded with a determined expression. Kallias closed the door and entered the adjacent prayer room.

As soon as he entered, he removed the carpet on the floor. A finely detailed mosaic floor was revealed.

It depicted worshippers offering sacrifices to the gods.

“Divine statue, offerings, incense, worshipper.”

When he touched them in order, a passage opened in the floor. It was a hidden route concealed by ancient magic. A chill ran down Kallias’s spine.

‘Just as Robeletta said.’

He went underground, closed the door, and moved through a narrow passage while observing outside. Dim light filtered in, revealing a large corridor with narrow passages leading to each prayer room.

Kallias hid himself in the narrow passage and waited.

—The kidnappers will arrive about ten minutes after entering the prayer room.

Not long after Kallias began waiting in silence, figures appeared in the dark corridor.

Footsteps echoed.

“Wait. Walk more carefully.”

“What does it matter?”

“The kid has a mercenary captain in the next room. Better to be careful.”

“As if that matters. We just grab the kid and run. Get it done fast, get paid, and leave.”

From their voices and footsteps, there were two kidnappers.

According to Robeletta, only a few people in the present day knew of this ancient hidden passage.

The moment the kidnappers moved toward Michael’s room, Kallias struck.

One man collapsed without even managing to scream, struck on the head, and the other staggered back in shock. But he too was caught by Kallias emerging from the darkness.

After knocking both unconscious, Kallias dragged them out to the main corridor.

‘If what Robeletta said is correct, go this way and then turn left.’

Following her instructions, he found the exit door. When he opened it, Deputy Commander Nathan looked at him in shock.

“Captain, so it really came out from there?”

“Explain later. Take these for now.”

Kallias handed over the two kidnappers. The soldiers each took one, bound their hands and feet, and stuffed them into sacks.

“We’ll question them later. See you again.”

Kallias returned, opened Michael’s prayer room, and confirmed he was safe.

“Uncle!”

Michael was calmly spending his time inside the prayer room. Kallias praised him, and after enough time had passed, he went back down the hidden passage.

He waited in case more enemies arrived, but none came. After some time passed, they cleaned up the prayer room and returned to the Grand Duke’s estate.

Perhaps tired from the outing, Michael fell asleep early.

The results of interrogating the kidnappers, conducted by Deputy Commander Nathan, were unexpected.

“The ones who confessed named Count Zeppelin as the mastermind.”

“That is a result I would rather not believe.”

Count Zeppelin was the right hand of Grand Duke Neubergh and one of Prince Henry’s close supporters.

Since he belonged to the same faction as the Alexandros Grand Duke’s household, it meant someone on their own side had orchestrated Michael’s kidnapping.

“They say they don’t know the motive—only that they were ordered to do it.”

The motive no longer mattered. Now that he thought about it, it had already been strange that the Grand Duke couple of Alexandros had been attacked by mere bandits in the first place. Perhaps the prince’s scheme had started there.

If there was an enemy within, even the emperor would not be safe from death.

“We don’t have enough information.”

“It couldn’t be helped. The situation was urgent. You had just lost your family; anyone would have been disoriented.”

At Nathan’s words, Kallias grew bitter. Failing to save his brother from the bandits had been his own mistake. Nathan knew that, which was why he did not blame him and instead comforted him.

“By the way, how did you know about the secret passage? Intelligence gathering is my specialty, but now I can’t keep up with you, Captain! Hahaha!”

“I didn’t. I got it from an intelligence broker I cannot reveal.”

Nathan laughed dryly at Kallias’s straightforwardness. Normally, a commander would have hidden such information. But Kallias had openly told him. With someone like this trusting him so much, Nathan had no choice but to follow him.

“Hold on tight to that broker! Pay whatever it costs!”

Nathan said seriously. Kallias also acknowledged that Robeletta’s information had been useful.

If money alone could secure her, there would be no need to hesitate. Information would be used only as far as its value.

However, Robeletta had asked to be trusted if the mission succeeded.

“Nathan, go and investigate the recent movements of House Alexandros—any families, merchants, or contacts they’ve interacted with.”

“How recent are we talking?”

“Within the last six months. Even indirect connections—gather everything.”

“Understood. That’s not too difficult. I’ll bring the results tomorrow morning.”

After sending Nathan away, Kallias called for the head butler, Adam. He intended to investigate internal information of House Alexandros.

The next day

Kallias frowned at a letter from the imperial palace.

“What does it mean that I am deemed unqualified for a guardianship position?”

Butler Adam, who had spent the night reviewing ledgers and letters, and Nathan, who had returned after gathering intelligence, both rested their chins in thought.

“Perhaps it’s your title…”

“Or maybe because you’re unmarried…”

The two offered different guesses and grew awkward.

“So both are problems, then.”

Kallias rubbed his forehead. How could the emperor be so harsh?

His achievements in the war for the empire were far from insignificant. They should have been enough to grant him at least a count’s title.

“Still, Captain, you should’ve accepted a title. You wouldn’t be looked down on anywhere…”

“Nathan, my achievements were given to Alexandros and to you all.”

“Oh, right. Our men are grateful to you, Captain. That’s why they followed you all the way to the capital.”

Kallias’s mercenary corps was mostly composed of marginalized people. Though individually skilled, they were not from privileged backgrounds and had often been framed or exploited in war.

Kallias had traded his own military achievements to pardon their crimes and take them under his wing.

“More than that, marriage is likely the main issue. No one raises a child alone while single.”

“Still, surely there’s a woman in this empire insane enough to marry me?”

“If you look, there will be.”

Butler Adam smiled so gently that Kallias chose not to respond further.

Adam had always been overly kind to Kallias since childhood.

“Isn’t there already one, even if we don’t look?”

It didn’t take long for the butler’s gentle smile to disappear.

“Nathan, who are you referring to?”

“Who else? The woman who gave the Captain a passionate kiss at the funeral.”

Nathan, who had returned after hearing rumors outside, teased Kallias.