CHAPTER 73………………………………………..
“Lady Emerne must have been hysterical lately because she was depressed.”
“Miss Aris looks deeply shocked.”
“I wonder if Miss Egrain isn’t sad? She hasn’t shed a single tear.”
I smiled inwardly.
Of course. I’m not sad.
Lady Emerne may have died, but at least Jenny didn’t—there’s nothing but relief in that thought.
‘Not planning to mourn at the late lady’s funeral, huh.’
I watched, with dry eyes, the flowers falling onto Lady Emerne’s coffin.
The day Jenny died had now become the day one of the Laurens family members who had tormented her passed away.
“Stop crying, Aris. You’ll faint if you keep it up.”
Hubert’s eyes met mine as he comforted the sobbing Aris.
Dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, he looked extremely slender and sharp. His gaunt face carried a faint smile.
It wasn’t just me who wasn’t saddened by Lady Emerne’s death—the expression on his face, which should have looked sorrowful, impressed me.
The sight of Aris wailing and Hubert smiling gently almost made me laugh.
Since Hubert didn’t look away, I returned a slight smile.
At that moment, an acquaintance called to him, and as soon as his gaze shifted, he wiped the smile away.
‘Even though Jenny is safe, it’s still uncomfortable, isn’t it.’
A staged death. A contrived funeral dripping with somber grief.
‘This isn’t the end. If anything, it’s just the beginning.’
Seeing the liquor in front of me made my throat dry. Water wouldn’t suffice—I wanted to pour myself a drink.
Only three of us from the Empire had come to this unknown kingdom.
We had no choice but to rely on each other. But then Shinu was captured. Since then, anger had welled up in me at all times.
I wanted to forget Shinu while drinking and suffering, but Jacques clenched his eyes and held back.
‘The kingdom’s soldiers didn’t move. I was watching, I know that well. So who exactly interfered with our operation?’
Giovanni kept coming to mind.
I only half-listened to Aris’ remark that Egrain had tricked us. How could a mere woman obstruct the operations of the Anmak?
‘We have to assume the Fifth Prince noticed us.’
I ground my teeth, wanting to tear something apart.
What hurt the most was that Shinu had been dragged into the royal underground prison.
Only three people had been sent to infiltrate the kingdom. If even one was missing, the future plans would face major disruption.
“Ughhh!”
I turned my head. Sancha was venting his frustration on the priest they had kidnapped.
“Jacques. Shinu must be hurting now, right? Just like this guy.”
“Yes. He could withstand the kingdom’s fools’ tortures for days, but damn it.”
“……”
“In the worst case, we might have to kill Shinu ourselves.”
Jacques ran his hand irritably through his hair.
“No matter how I think about it, we didn’t do anything to get caught. It has to be that woman’s fault.”
Aris Dolencia. Our first target.
[Kidnapping the princess? Don’t even think about saying that again. But what if your companion talks? He’s a retired soldier who completed military training, after all. He won’t make it easy, right?]
Jacques contorted his face.
“Disgusting woman. I’ll use her to the bone.”
Sancha asked,
“What about orders from above?”
Jacques hesitated, then pulled a letter from his chest.
“We failed the mission and Shinu was captured, so there won’t be any good news.”
Thinking of Lodraki’s ruthless nature, my lips dried.
I unrolled the black leather covering, revealing a short sheet of paper as before.
Jacques’ and Sancha’s eyes fell on the words.
A short phrase, but its impact was immense.
Destroy Glory.
In the Empire, Glory refers to only one person.
Giovanni Doberakan.
Lodraki had ordered Giovanni’s assassination.
Crush!
The paper crumpled mercilessly in Jacques’ hand.
“Jacques?”
Sancha glanced nervously; Jacques’ eyes twitched slightly.
“This is worse than expected.”
Ordering the assassination of the Empire’s greatest warrior, Giovanni, was tantamount to ordering him to die.
It was punishment for failing the princess’ abduction.
“Damn it. I have no intention of dying quietly.”
“Jacques, going to do it?”
“Yes. I’ll treat this as an opportunity. The last chance.”
If we failed, we’d die.
My heart, tense with anticipation, hardened, and the venom of a desert warrior flared in my dark eyes.
‘I’ll complete this mission. Absolutely!’
“Do you think you can succeed?”
“In what?”
On a large bed with soft sheets, smoke rose from the long cigarette held by a handsome young man.
A woman, her long hair braided and draped over her shoulder, didn’t flinch as smoke tickled her face. She carefully combed his long, black hair with a thin comb.
She had large, striking eyes and extraordinary beauty.
She was Alaxia Catun, the first wife of Lodraki, heir of the Empire.
“You mean the orders given to the half-bloods of Anmak?”
“Oh, that.”
Lodraki narrowed his eyes and exhaled smoke.
“No, of course they’ll fail. Would my proud younger brother get scratched by those people?”
“……”
“If that had happened, things would have been much easier.”
His thin lips curved into a faint smile.
Though he had the large, sturdy build of an Imperial, it could not compare to his younger brother’s tree-trunk-like frame.
Large, smooth eyes slanted sideways, a tall, elegant nose. His reptilian black eyes, reflecting his irritable nature, paired with cigarette smoke, gave him a decadent charm that drew women more than warriors.
But such looks were of little help in the desert.
“Why not send someone more capable?”
“The others can’t survive in the kingdom, thanks to the damn endemic disease.”
Lodraki twisted his lips.
“Also, if word got out that we tried to kill Giovanni in another country, the warriors would resent us. That’s why those three, who can be disposed of if necessary, are the right choice.”
His gaze grew cold.
“The tribe leaders who like him would make a fuss too.”
“They value tradition.”
“But we can’t contest the Khan’s seat in the traditional way. That’s exactly what his forces would want.”
Lodraki exhaled lazily.
“We have to go a path that can defeat that monster.”
His words, calm yet bitter, were full of inferiority.
Having heard them for years, they no longer surprised me. But a successor to the throne getting used to defeat? Impossible. His heart must already be blackened.
Alaxia hid her concern and carefully massaged his stiff shoulders, like a mother.
Lodraki murmured as he relaxed under her touch.
“But that guy is a weapon without purpose. He doesn’t even know what he wants. If handled well, he’s not dangerous.”
“……”
“We have to provoke him like this to tire him out in the throne struggle. That proud guy won’t even think of stepping in.”
Smoke curled from his crooked lips.
Alaxia tilted her head.
“Why has the Fifth Prince stayed in the kingdom so long? He even sent a letter saying he won’t marry the princess.”
A chuckle escaped Lodraki.
“He was bewitched by a crazy sorceress.”
“What did the sorceress say?”
“That mad woman claimed there’s a secret of prosperity in the kingdom.”
“Is he searching for it?”
“He wants to save the people. Though he could care for them after becoming emperor. Foolish guy. But…”
Lodraki paused, thinking.
“I can’t ignore it completely. I left the half-bloods to the task, but no great results came. Hmm, maybe it’s just nonsense I said.”
“Oh, I see. I wondered if there was another reason the Fifth Prince hasn’t returned.”
“Another reason?”
Lodraki glanced at her. Alaxia covered her mouth with one hand and smiled with her eyes.
Before entering the royal family, she had been chosen as the most beautiful woman in the Empire; her smile was captivating.
“Perhaps he found a woman in the kingdom.”
“A woman?”
Lodraki frowned. Alaxia leaned against his bare shoulder, whispering.
“If that reserved prince has a woman, it could explain why his return is delayed.”
“That’s impossible. He’s never shared a bed with a woman at his age.”
“……”
“I wonder if he can even act like a man. And…”
Lodraki suddenly stopped talking and chuckled. Alaxia, with a seductive smile, hugged his arm, pressing her ample chest against it.
“What’s so funny in your thoughts?”
“Hahaha.”
“Shall I guess?”
Alaxia whispered softly.
“You were thinking about the prince’s secret rumor, weren’t you?”
“Ha, yes. I remembered when he boldly told his father he liked men and demanded to marry quickly!”
Lodraki’s laughter, which had tapped his thigh, abruptly stopped.
A sinister aura darkened his handsome face.
“Of course, it’s probably a lie.”
“……”
“But still. Since he avoids women so much, suspicion is inevitable.”
“……”
“Yes. It’ll be interesting if he finally has a woman. If he loses someone precious, even that proud face won’t remain intact.”
Madness flickered across his face. That was why, despite his noble status and handsome features, people feared him.
Alaxia merely pressed a reverent kiss to his smooth, muscular desert warrior’s shoulder.
“Even such a Kun can be deeply adored.”
Her gaze, looking down at him, was no different from a devout worshipper’s look toward a deity.
