CHAPTER 71…………………………………….
The Tea Time of Two Power Holders
When King Malau kept silent about Clemens’s death, a long silence filled the royal office.
Lost in their own thoughts, King Malau, Shine, and Julmon were brought back to reality by the news that William had requested an audience.
“Come in, Sir William. What brings you here?”
“Prince Mikrok’s return schedule has been moved up slightly. We’ll be leaving for our homeland tomorrow morning.”
“Oh, I thought you’d be staying for a few more days. That’s unfortunate.”
“His Highness Mikrok feels the same. He said he’ll invite you to Fritan Castle next time.”
“I’ll gladly accept whenever that time comes.”
“Thank you.”
After William left, having finished his business, King Malau turned to Julmon.
“Julmon. Go to Harun soon. Start digging around Marquis Uzkal’s circle.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“And if you can, find out who her mother is — whether she ever visited the Gewpa Forest twenty years ago.”
“Understood.”
Watching the king’s growing obsession with Lea, Shine spoke, a little dissatisfied.
“What are you planning to do if you find out? What are you expecting?”
“If, by some one-in-a-thousand chance, she’s my brother’s daughter… then Queen Lea would be my niece — and your cousin. That would mean Malau and Fritan are already bound by royal marriage.”
Shine looked dumbfounded; that possibility hadn’t even occurred to her.
“But… that’s impossible, isn’t it?”
“We won’t know until we find out.”
After Shine and Julmon left the office, King Malau, now alone, pulled out a small box hidden deep in his drawer.
With a reverent care, as though handling a treasured secret, he opened it. Inside was a portrait of Clemens that he had drawn himself when he was young.
The man in the portrait smiled warmly at him.
“Brother… did you truly leave behind blood of your own in this world? Are you really giving your foolish little brother a chance?”
After the final dinner at Malau Castle, Shine invited me for tea.
Perhaps because I’d grown somewhat fond of her over time — and since I likely wouldn’t see her again — I felt a tinge of regret. So, despite Mik’s obvious disapproval, I gladly accepted her invitation.
But since we sat down, Shine had been staring at me so intently it made me uncomfortable.
“Do I have something on my face?”
“What? Oh, no, not exactly… I just wanted to get a little closer to you.”
“Hoho~ You’re quite different from when you saw me back in Fritan Castle.”
“Well, that’s true…”
She looked slightly embarrassed, remembering her past behavior.
“I mean, Prince Mikrok is very impressive, and no man has ever refused me before. So yes, my pride took a hit.”
“I see.”
“I want to apologize for what happened back then — especially for spreading that rumor about you and Count Robbie Stone being lovers. That was cowardly of me. I’m sorry.”
Her candid apology made me smile. In truth, it was a relief that she had finally let go of her feelings; it made things easier for me, too. So I accepted her apology with an open heart.
Looking relieved, Shine spoke more honestly.
“Honestly, both Julmon and I have our doubts… about whether our feelings can stay the same forever. We demons don’t have the kind of certainty about partners that humans do.”
“Well, to be honest, we humans don’t always have that certainty either.”
“Really?”
She looked at me as if she couldn’t believe that. Understandably so — after all, she had seen how passionately we behaved.
“It’s just… we believe in the belief we have today — that he’s my destiny. One day becomes a month, a month becomes a year, and a lifetime follows. That’s all there is to it.”
“Tch, so that’s how it is?”
Our eyes met, and we both burst out laughing.
“I’ve got a question for you too. The Malau people don’t marry, right? So when a child is born, who raises them?”
“Usually the mother. Often we don’t even know who the father is. But since our population is small, the whole tribe takes part in raising the child.”
“Oh! That’s actually a wonderful system.”
“You think so?”
“Of course. The Malau have many admirable qualities — unique fruits, magical abilities…”
I glanced around and lowered my voice.
“And that robe you gave me… it was amazing.”
Shine blushed faintly at my compliment.
“As proud as we demons are, deep down we’ve always wanted to be more like humans.”
“Take the best of both worlds, fill in what’s lacking — that’s how a kingdom thrives. It seems like the Princess of Malau is on her way to becoming a true power in the realm. I should stay on your good side.”
“The one who should stay on your good side is me. After all, the only person who can sway the great Prince Mikrok is Queen Lea.”
We smiled, each seeing genuine warmth in the other’s eyes. I never imagined we’d come to share such a look. Life, it seemed, was full of surprises.
Late that night, Robbie galloped through the darkness, his heart pounding as he clutched an anonymous note.
<Go to Sir Pallet immediately!>
There was no sender listed, but Robbie was certain it had come from Hayley.
“Soon, I’ll have a favor to ask of you. But first, make sure you do this task perfectly.”
That was what she’d told him before giving him his first assignment — to find out about Pallet’s whereabouts. But to be summoned to Pallet’s house in the dead of night? That couldn’t be good.
“Hyah!”
Even at full speed, Robbie urged his horse faster.
After two hours of hard riding, he arrived. Pallet’s house was cloaked in silence and darkness. Robbie, heart trembling, knocked on the door.
“Master! It’s me, Robbie!”
Creak.
The door, which he thought would be locked, opened slowly with a chilling sound.
As he stepped inside, the stench of blood hit his nose, making him freeze.
He lit a lamp — and saw chaos. The tidy home he remembered was destroyed: furniture broken, belongings shattered, blood spattered.
“Master, where are you??”
His voice, now breaking into tears, echoed in the empty air.
Then he noticed a faint light from the bedroom. He rushed there — and froze, clapping a trembling hand over his mouth.
The room was wrecked. Beside the broken bed lay Pallet, covered in blood.
Robbie knelt, trembling, and touched his mentor’s neck. There was still a faint pulse. But his arms and legs — the tendons and muscles — had been destroyed.
Fighting nausea, Robbie pulled a blanket from the bed to cover him. He ran to the door, about to call for a doctor — and stopped dead.
Two knights in black armor and masks stood blocking the doorway.
“In a hurry, are we?”
A bright, incongruously cheerful voice came from behind them. The knights stepped aside, revealing Hayley, smiling sweetly.
“Hayley! We need a doctor — now! Otherwise Master—”
“Don’t worry. I already brought one.”
She gestured behind her. A gray-haired town doctor was kneeling beside a medical bag, bound and terrified.
“…You didn’t… you didn’t do this, did you?”
“Of course I did. Who else could’ve brought me here at this hour?”
She smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Why?” Robbie demanded, anger rising.
“I just need you to write a letter.”
Ignoring his question, Hayley stepped into the bloodstained room, her tone light.
“My, what a mess. Looks like Sir Pallet put up quite a fight. Tsk, tsk… how foolish.”
She motioned for the knights to right an overturned table and chair, forcing Robbie into the seat. Then she handed him paper and a pen.
“Write what you saw. In detail. Make sure to emphasize how badly Sir Pallet was hurt. Then tell Lea to come to Harun quickly — that only she can save him.”
“So you did all this… just to lure Lea to Harun?”
“If it were my father in that condition, do you think she’d even blink? But for Pallet? She’ll run here without hesitation. And she’ll believe your letter.”
Robbie glared at her, fury burning in his eyes.
“This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”
Her smile was her answer.
“Why involve me? You could’ve investigated my master yourself.”
“Because it had to be you. Lea’s misfortune began with you — and now you can never go back to her.”
Robbie’s face twisted in despair. Hayley’s voice was soft but merciless.
“If you write the letter, I’ll let the doctor treat him — at least enough to keep him alive. If not, well… I guess this is where Sir Pallet’s life ends.”
Tears of rage rolled down Robbie’s cheeks as he clenched his jaw and began to write, his hands shaking.
<Lea, Master has been attacked by assailants. His tendons and muscles are torn, and he’s unconscious. Princess of Malau told me you have healing power. Please, come to the Stone estate and save him. You’re his only hope. –Your friend, Robbie>
After writing that, he crossed out the words “your friend” with heavy strokes.
He threw the finished letter at Hayley. She read it carefully, then smiled in satisfaction.
“I’ve done it. Now let the doctor help him.”
“Fine. A promise is a promise.”
At her nod, the masked knight cut the doctor free. Even trembling with fear, the man began tending to Pallet’s wounds.
Meanwhile, Hayley handed the letter to one of the masked knights. Robbie, in a last attempt, spoke through gritted teeth.
“Even if Lea comes to Harun, you won’t be able to keep her there for long. The King of Fritan won’t stand by.”
“Don’t worry. The Emperor already promised — once she arrives, he’ll send the divorce papers and two of the Empire’s most beautiful women to Fritan. That should satisfy the king.”
Robbie glared coldly at her.
“It won’t go your way. I’ve heard the King of Fritan treasures his queen more than anything.”
“Oh? And who told you that?”
Hayley’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Millie did.”
“What? Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho!”
Her deadly expression instantly broke into laughter.
“Millie? That girl would tell any lie for Lea’s sake. And you believed her?”
Still amused, she lightly tapped Robbie’s cheek.
“You’re as naïve as ever, young master Robbie.”
Then, her smile vanished. Her voice turned sharp.
“When Lea contacts you, you report it immediately.”
She turned to leave — then stopped and looked back.
“The Stone estate will remain under watch. Don’t try anything stupid.”
The chill in her eyes froze Robbie’s heart in place.
