IBWCD 22

Chapter 22

Cedric’s inferiority complex toward the grand duke, who had distinguished himself in many ways from the time he was born, was a problem.

This was the result of the emperor’s favoritism, not only valuing Kalian more highly than Cedric, but also treating his son like a second son.

If they had the same hair color and eye color, the grand duke could have been his biological father.

The Empress Dowager rang the table bell, and the maidservant who had been waiting outside the door left a piece of paper on the table.

One eyebrow arched, Kalian cast an impassive glance toward the paper.

“What is this?”

On the white sheet of paper was a letter denying him permission to marry.

The Empress, who had sent it back to the North, intending to vote against it at all costs, slammed the table in fury.

“I have made a pact with my brother. I will surely marry you to a woman from a powerful family to offset your “flaws”.”

Claudia is the Empress and a direct descendant of Orpheus.

She inherited her family’s signature black hair, which is the harsh curse placed on the Guardian, which she describes as a “blemish”.

The unassuming Kalian crossed his long legs lazily, as if to see if he could fit in.

“Is there a family in the Empire that goes beyond the name of Orpheus?”

“Is that why I did not personally select the princesses of other nations and present them to you, and you were the one who threw them out.”

“I didn’t see any of them.”

Fixing his gaze on the Empress, Kalian picked up the teapot on the table and poured into an empty cup.

The Empress narrowed her brow as she took the filled cup with a grunt.

“You are well aware that the barbarians across the sea are covetous of Cardassian, and that there is no better bridgehead between the two continents than yours.”

“That is strange.”

The relaxed golden eyes snapped to life like a bird of prey swooping down on its prey.

“Suggested by someone who should know better than anyone that I am not a good bridgehead.”

The intercontinental union had deeper implications than just a marriage of convenience for the nobility.

A couple bound by marriage, the precious fruit of their union, a close union between two continents bound by blood.

It was impossible that the Empress hadn’t realized the fallout that would ensue if she didn’t get her way.

Kalian pushed his teacup forward with a languid touch, as if he knew what she was thinking.

“You do not wish all the blame to fall on me for marrying the Grand Duchess and hiding the fact that I cannot see her.”

At his repeated urging, every knuckle of the empress’s fingers gripping the teacup turned white.

“So, the only thing you’ve chosen to cover up your flaws is a bastard child you don’t even know the first thing about, and it must run in your family to be attracted to a reformed wench.”

Something hot stirred deep in his chest at the colorful accusation. Kalian didn’t hide his displeasure.

“Do not dishonor the family name.”

“You’re the one who dishonored the family name! You’re the one who started a rumor of sodomy for a man who’s not even a commoner.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, the Countess has been blinded by a spell and has lost the ability to speak. Do you think the Elders will accept such a family?”

Kalian, who had been listening, laughed in disbelief.

“As expected, we are no match for the Empress’s wisdom.”

The Countess is currently imprisoned in the temple’s dungeons.

Only three people are allowed to see her face-to-face: the High Priestess, the Emperor, and Kalian.

“I didn’t expect you to know that the Countess’s tongue was stiffened, even as my consort.”

If the Empress had requested to confront the guilty party, he would have gladly granted access, but there was no reason for her to interfere in the affairs of a mere countess.

“The answer is one of three things: personal acquaintance with the Countess, or a request from Count Lawrence.”

The shaped golden eyes studied her, then twitched subtly.

“Or both.”

The Empress’s face stiffened at the obvious sarcasm.

“How dare you, such blasphemy!”

Finally, unable to maintain her composure, she picked up the teacup she was holding and threw it.

Clang!

The gilded teacup hit the wall behind Kalian’s back and shattered.

The sharp sensation of glass against his cheek.

The heavy musk of the tea.

For the briefest of moments, a fragment of memory flashed through Kalian’s mind.

‘Judging by the countess’s impeccable manners, I’m pretty sure she’s a retard.’

The musk was the same one he’d smelled in the dungeon in the eastern spire of the count’s manor.

The same scent that permeated Evelyn’s entire body when he first rescued her.

Which means that it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the person who spoke to the Countess about the Primal Stone was the Empress.

“Whoever it is, please make it clear.”

Kalian pushed himself to his feet.

“Anyone who attempts to bring chaos to the continent, regardless of rank, is a felon whose limbs should be chopped off and buried at the ends of the east, west, and north.”

With that, he stalked out of the chamber, the door slamming behind him, followed by an unintelligible chuckle.

* * *

Back at the mansion, Kalian headed for his office, and Benjamin, who had followed him in, read his discomfort and quieted down.

He hadn’t been in a bad mood until they entered the foyer.

The butler’s report that Evelyn had not yet returned from her outing, despite the Empress’s provocations, shattered the usual good mood.

The low-setting sun bathed the cool chamber in red.

As the fragrant aroma of tea wafted through the air, Kalian sat at his desk and pulled out a stack of papers from a mountain of stacks.

It was a report from the North, from Johansen.

Benjamin, pouring brewed tea into mugs, summarized the report.

“Mostly requests for assistance from estates that have been hit by demonic raids. Sir Viktor has dispatched his knights to deal with them, so don’t be alarmed, and…”

After a pause, Benjamin continued his report.

“The lady is on her way back now.”

Kalian’s jaw dropped, about to ask why he was reporting on a matter he hadn’t been instructed to.

Benjamin was one of his own.

For him to say such a thing would mean that he was transparent.

“Relaxing in the ecliptic, with enemies on all sides.”

Kalian changed the subject, picking up the cigar case on the table with a grimace.

“Tomorrow marks two months since I’ve been away from the estate.”

With a flick of his other hand, Benjamin flicked the case away and retrieved a cigar cutter and a small lamp.

“I can only hope another gate doesn’t open before I return to the North.”

“That sounds terrible.”

* * *

Johansen.

A barren, blizzard-ridden land.

Founded thousands of years ago as a place for immigrants with nowhere else to go by an empire that had absorbed the nations bordering it by force, it had grown with their plight.

Having seen Johansen’s rise and fall, it’s no wonder Kalian has a deep affection for his lands.

Danger to the north had never crossed his mind, but the faces of greedy nobles flashed through his mind.

Among the byproducts of demonic beasts and the rewards of dungeon raids were many rare and valuable items.

The spoils of demons and dungeons were the Knights’ reward for defending the Empire, but some lords coveted even that.

They fear demons, but they don’t want to lose money.

They’re creepy and terrifying, even if they’re the ones who solve their problems.

Of course, the views of the lesser mortals didn’t matter to him. He’s just disillusioned.

How long would he have to do this again?

“What are we going to do about the village of Litchev?”

Benjamin’s question snapped Kalian out of his thoughts and he pulled out a cigar.

“Deal with it. It’s their land, let them deal with it. We’ve lost enough time already.”

Earlier, after cleansing the dungeons of Bellatra, a gate had appeared in the Kairos Desert just before reaching the Shroud of Darkness.

He should have traveled straight north from the desert, but his sudden rampage has once again led the Blackwood Knights to the capital.

They could have traveled through the warp gate, but the loot and supplies they had to transport to the north made that impossible.

The knights’ fatigue had already reached its limit.

“There’s no reason to be tied up in the capital any longer. As soon as we’re done, we’ll head north.”

Four days later, a convoy of carriages carrying the Countess would leave the temple and head for the monasteries of the East.

It was a quick turnaround, considering the gravity of the crime.

His last task before leaving the capital was to interrogate the prisoner in the presence of the emperor and his deputy and finalize the case.

It was then that he sensed a familiar figure in the distance.

When the familiar scent reached his door, he heard a small exhale that he didn’t need to identify.

His tense body relaxed instantly.

He sucked in a breath, and then commanded.

“Come in.”

* * *

Evelyn went straight to Kalian’s office upon returning to the mansion.

The room smelled of unlit cigars, cedar and the familiar scent of his body.

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Benjamin on his way out, then stood in front of the large desk.

“You’re late. Looks like you’re having fun out there.”

He looked up with a reproving sneer and immediately locked eyes with her.

Kalian was staring at her as he loosened the buttons on his tight conquest.

‘Where the hell are you unbuttoning…?’

Evelyn, forcing her head down as if she were being dragged, locked eyes with him and smiled absentmindedly.

“Yeah, I had to meet someone today.”

“Someone you needed to see?”

He tilted his head languidly as he studied her face wordlessly.

Evelyn’s brow furrowed involuntarily at his uncharacteristic mood.