IWMHWD 50

Chapter 50 – To Forecast Delrim
Date: December 20, 2023

“Being a king isn’t all that impressive. It’s just a role rotated among our eight noble houses.”

“But House Vasquez has only held the throne once in the past five hundred years.”

“Oh dear. Try harder, Vasquez.”

“Oh, come on.”

The reply was so indifferent it bordered on absurd. Cordelia couldn’t help but laugh, and the tension she’d been holding onto loosened—if only a little.

At that moment, the carriage came to a stop, and a royal palace attendant opened the door.

Cordelia’s body immediately stiffened again. Clicking his tongue, Leonard stepped out first and then offered his hand to her.

“Come on.”

Cordelia quickly wrapped her arm around his, clinging to him so tightly she was practically leaning half her body against his. Even so, her legs were still trembling with tension.

“Could you back off a little?”

“Let me borrow your arm for a moment.”

“You’re not borrowing it—you’re about to rip it off.”

“Ahem. His Majesty awaits you inside, Lord Elector, my lady.”

The attendant looked surprised to see a woman treating Leonard so familiarly. That she had even entered the palace with him was shocking.

More shocking than the fact that Leonard—long presumed dead—was alive, was the fact that he had entered the palace with a woman.

“By the way, do you see a box behind the carriage?”

“Excuse me? Ah, yes.”

“It’s a gift for His Majesty. Handle it with care.”

“Yes, sir.”

Following the attendant, they walked deep into the palace. The garden, filled with freshly blooming flowers, and the interior, adorned with gold and jewels, were truly beautiful—but Cordelia saw none of it.

At last, only one door remained between them and their destination. As the attendant reached to open it, Leonard pushed ahead and opened it himself without waiting. Cordelia took a deep breath and followed him inside.

“So the crest of the White Serpent was not a lie.”

“Elector Atilay.”

“…Atilay.”

Inside the reception room were not only King Gabriel of Ersche, but also Diana Saracen, head of House Saracen, and Anton Embley, head of House Embley.

Gabriel, seated at the head table, sighed at the sight of Leonard standing there completely unharmed.

“I never thought I’d live to doubt my own eyes. Is it truly you, Leonard Atilay?”

“It is, Your Majesty. And it seems this is not a private audience after all.”

Leonard’s gaze swept over the Electors of Saracen and Embley. Diana, staring intently at Leonard’s face, spoke next.

“I was quite curious if the seal you shot into the sky last night was real. His Majesty graciously permitted Anton and me to enter the palace with him.”

“I don’t mind. It’s only been four months for Saracen, but it’s been ages since I’ve seen the Elector of Embley. Have you been well?”

“…There’s no reason I wouldn’t be.”

Anton Embley avoided Leonard’s gaze with a look like he’d bitten into stone.

“If you’ve been alive and well this whole time, why haven’t you shown yourself?”

“Before that, there’s someone I must introduce to His Majesty.”

Cordelia, who had been standing behind Leonard, was shaking in her shoes. Leonard placed both hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her forward.

Recalling the etiquette lessons she had rushed through the day before, Cordelia bowed before the king.

“It—it’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. I’m Cordelia Abrams. Formerly of House Vasquez.”

“Vasquez?”

A name he hadn’t heard in a long time. The once-glorious sword of Ersche now barely maintained by name alone.

Gabriel had nearly reigned for ten years and could count on one hand the times he had seen the Elector of Vasquez. Unless the previous Elector had passed, this woman must be his daughter.

Gabriel looked at Leonard as if to ask why he was introducing her now. Leonard stepped forward and spoke.

“She’s my student.”

Short as it was, those words sent ripples through the room. All three seated nobles wore shocked expressions.

“What? Atilay, you took a student?”

“Unbelievable. Atilay’s student? Even the Grand Duke of Leviche was refused, wasn’t he?”

Any mage would have dreamed of being Leonard’s disciple, but his refusal to take one had been famously known.

And now he had suddenly taken on—not a child, but a fully grown woman?

Everyone’s curious gazes turned toward Cordelia. Overwhelmed by the attention, she bowed her head deeply. Fortunately, Leonard took a seat, and she quickly sat beside him.

At that moment, a light knock came from outside, and the king’s attendant approached Gabriel and whispered something into his ear. Gabriel frowned and asked again.

“Atilay brought what?”

“It must be the gift I mentioned for Your Majesty.”

Gabriel gestured for them to bring it in. Two strong men entered, struggling to carry a large box.

For the first time since arriving at the palace, a faint smile appeared on Leonard’s lips.

“You asked why I haven’t shown myself until now?”

Standing beside the box, he clenched his fist in the air. With a loud crack, the box shattered into pieces. A foul stench quickly filled the room.

“This is your answer.”

“Ugh.”

“Good heavens, what is that…?”

“What did you bring into the palace?”

Among the broken remains of the box was the barely recognizable form of a man.

His matted hair, skeletal frame, and torn clothing were so pitiful that even Cordelia didn’t realize at first it was Maximilian.

“What is this supposed to be?”

Gabriel asked, covering his nose with his sleeve. Leonard dragged his brother from the box and tossed him to the center of the room.

“The murderer who killed me. My younger brother, Maximilian.”

“…What did you say?”

The king’s jaw hung open, speechless. Anton Embley stared, unable to believe that this filthy creature was Maximilian.

Maximilian, blinded by sudden light, squirmed across the floor, unable to open his eyes.

“Grrrgh…”

“My brother dug up our mother’s grave, used her remains as bait, and lured me into a trap to kill me. That’s why I couldn’t show myself.”

Saracen looked between Leonard and Maximilian, her face filled with disbelief.

“Killed you? Do you mean you were critically wounded?”

“No. I mean he literally killed my physical body.”

“Then… are you some kind of ghost?”

“When Maximilian stabbed me, the bond between my soul and body weakened. At that moment, I cast a soul-transfer spell, moved my spirit to another person’s body temporarily, and eventually returned to my original one.”

“Soul… what?”

The three others, except for Cordelia, failed to grasp even a fraction of his explanation. Leonard waved a hand as if the explanation was too much trouble.

“Just understand that bastard killed me, and I came back to life.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Don’t ask again, Saracen. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.”

Despite the blatant insult, Saracen nodded with little offense.

“Well, it’s not really the point, is it?”

“Indeed. Fine. I get it, Elector Atilay. You’ve had a rather unpleasant three months. But why bring him before me? You could have handled it yourself.”

“I intend to put my brother on trial. Please convene the Council and open court proceedings.”

The Council met regularly every three months, but to hold a special trial, the king had to summon them himself.

The mention of a trial made each of the three nobles react differently. Gabriel sighed in frustration. Saracen looked puzzled. Embley glared daggers at Maximilian.

“A trial, huh… Must we really do that?”

“Yes.”

“You want to go through a year of lawyers, evidence, and endless tedious procedures?”

“Yes. I will.”

“Why, exactly?”

As Leonard stood firm, Gabriel gestured lazily toward Maximilian.

“Just take him and kill him. I don’t care if you behead him and mount it in the Atilay estate or skin him alive.”

“That would certainly be faster and easier, but if I want to take down the accomplices who helped him, there’s no other way.”

“Accomplices?”

“What do you mean?”

For the first time in a while, Anton Embley spoke. Leonard met his eyes without flinching. A tense silence fell between the two men.

“I mean someone insane enough to help Maximilian interfere in the Atilay succession.”

“…”

“I intend to make him pay with blood.”

Anton bit the inside of his cheek hard. Since Leonard had blatantly stared at Anton while saying that, everyone’s gaze turned to him—it was obvious who Leonard meant.

But instead of naming names, Leonard turned back to Gabriel.

“For that reason, I request a trial, Your Majesty.”

“…Very well. In accordance with Elector Atilay’s request, I will convene the Council.”

Leonard’s request was legitimate. There was no grounds to refuse it. In the end, Gabriel declared the Council would be summoned—his face the picture of pure annoyance.