RGS Vol 5 Part 23

Crash-clang!!

The dishes on the table fell to the floor as they were pushed by someone’s hand. Then, a scream was heard.

“Something else, bring something else!”

When Norhox’s angry voice shook the mansion, several trembling servants ran out as if fleeing. Despite having an uncomfortable meal in the palace, Norhox ordered them to bring food as if he were starving. This had been the same for several days. No one could handle Norhox, who ate like a madman, regardless of what had happened at the palace. Only when he finally got food to his liking did a semblance of calm return to the mansion.

Clatter, munch, slurp.

In the past, no matter how urgent the situation was, maintaining dignity was his priority. However, as soon as the servant set down the food, he buried his face in it and ate the food more vulgarly than the war profiteer he despised. After a while of stuffing his mouth with food, Norhox finally stood up from his seat, seemingly satisfied.

The servants, watching him with terrified eyes, quickly moved away from him. It wasn’t just one or two who had suffered merciless beatings for no reason just because they were in front of him. Fortunately, Norhox, with his hunger gone, was somewhat capable of having a rational conversation. The subordinate, who had been waiting near him, approached to report about a visitor who had come. The person claimed to be a Regas who had arrived in a disheveled state.

“He said his name is Erei.”

Erei?

Norhox snorted, thinking of the guy who had failed to perform his job properly at the Marquis’ house.

“Hmph, kick him out.”

Norhox waved his hand dismissively but then changed his mind and changed his order.

“No, bring him in. I need to hear what excuses he’s making.”

He had been caught off guard by Truyde because of that useless fool.

How could he have been next to the Marquis and not noticed anything?

That idiot.

As Norhox waited for Erei, he approached the fireplace and grabbed a poker.

Soon, the door opened, and Erei entered, guided by a subordinate. He was in such a disheveled state that no one would recognize him unless he declared his name is Erei. Half of his face and part of his hair were horribly burnt, so he was hideously disfigured, and as soon as he saw Norhox, tears welled up in his eyes.

“L-Lord Norhox, why didn’t you come for me?”

When Erei’s words of resentment spilled out first, Norhox twisted his lips and approached him, gripping the poker tightly.

“I didn’t come?”

Norhox asked in a soft voice, causing Erei to raise his one barely open eye.

“I-I’ve been waiting. I contacted you… ugh!”

Thud!

The poker that Norhox swung struck Erei’s shoulder hard. Erei immediately collapsed to the ground, looking up in fear.

“Why, why are you… Ack!”

Before he could even ask why, Norhox’s beating began. With an expressionless face, Norhox beat the disfigured Erei until he was a bloody mess.

It was because of this worthless fool that he ended up in this situation.

This useless guy!

Everything was the fault of his subordinates who couldn’t do their jobs properly. Norhox continued to beat Erei until he was out of breath, finally stopping when his arm grew tired. Erei lay motionless, seemingly dead, but as Norhox turned away, a faint voice was heard.

“…Why… I sent a letter….”

“What letter?”

Norhox turned to look at him and asked, but Erei, having fainted, did not respond. Norhox swung the poker again.

Whoosh—

The thin iron rod cut through the air and struck Erei’s body sharply.

Flinch. Erei struggled to open one eye and opened his mouth.

“Th-The Marquis’ treasure is related to… trees… So, I waited… But the next day who came was… Duke Truyde….”

Truyde?

Erei had sent him a letter, but Truyde appeared at the Marquis’s mansion?

D*mn it, he stole the letter.

Norhox gritted his teeth, thinking of how Truyde had driven a wedge between him and the Marquis, likely mocking them as fools. Then Erei’s faint voice continued.

“When the Marquis died… I saw it. He took out a palm-sized wooden piece… from the ground… saying it must not be given to the emperor… and burned it. But Duke Truyde’s men… took the remaining piece.”

Thud.

Erei’s head dropped, unable to continue his words, but Norhox didn’t care. He had heard enough. As expected, the Marquis’s death was Truyde’s doing. Now, he realized he would be the next victim. The war profiteer was, after all, Truyde’s loyal dog.

Norhox clenched his teeth hard enough to make a cracking sound. Whatever the reason, the Marquis had foolishly died for the King’s Heart, but he wouldn’t. Surviving was more important than the King’s Heart. If necessary, he would make Truyde his enemy.

But how? There was only a week left.

“What should we do with this one, who’s still alive?”

Norhox answered his subordinate’s question indifferently as he left the room.

“Dump him anywhere.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

He expected Ashler to get angry. He thought Ashler might scold him in a low voice, even if he didn’t scream or cry like Melmond and the butler did. However, contrary to Abel’s expectations, Ashler, who came late at night, merely looked at him with serious eyes. As the heavy silence continued, those around them became more and more anxious. Naturally, Abel was the most uneasy.

“Sir Ashler, I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”

Abel bowed his head, repeating apologies he had already made several times. Melmond, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t hold back and intervened.

“Sir Ashler, I understand you are angry, but Abel is bowing his head like this, so please just let it go.”

“Yes, Sir Ashler. We’re just so happy that our young master has returned alive.”

The butler interjected, wiping away his tears. Abel had already revealed that he had confirmed the Marquis’ treasure at the Marquis’ estate and that it was the wooden pendant he had given to the prince. However, instead of showing surprise, Ashler maintained a stern expression. The silence continued.

With no response from Ashler, Melmond and the butler turned their gaze sharply to Nani, who had come with him. They looked at him as if to say, “You say something too!” The indebted Nani quickly followed their lead.

“Sir Ashler, from what I’ve heard, Lord Abel has gone through quite a hard time…”

“Lord Abel.”

Ashler opened his mouth for the first time, cutting off Nani’s words. His voice was calm as if he had organized his thoughts for a long time. However, he said something no one had expected.

“I don’t think you should meet His Majesty right now.”

What does he mean?

Abel, including everyone around him, widened their eyes, thinking they had misheard. They had expected Ashler to take Abel to the emperor as soon as he saw him, but now he was saying they shouldn’t meet?

“Sir Ashler, are you saying this because you’re angry?”

“No. I am not angry.”

Ashler shook his head and examined Abel’s appearance. Black-dyed hair, shabby clothes. He hadn’t heard the full details, but if it was Abel, there must have been a reason he showed up only now. He certainly didn’t hide out of convenience. He must have done something for the emperor.

“Meeting His Majesty right now would be dangerous for you, Lord Abel.”

“D-Dangerous for me?”

It was an incomprehensible statement. Abel looked at Ashler, seeking an explanation, but he did not speak easily. Only when everyone seemed curious did he finally begin to speak.

“Do you know what game His Majesty is playing with the King’s Heart right now?”

As Abel nodded with a worried expression, Ashler coldly continued.

“I believe His Majesty abruptly changed his plans after you were presumed dead.”

Though it wasn’t an accusation, Abel lowered his head for a moment.

“Yes, it’s certainly my fault. That’s why I want to meet the prince quickly and explain everything.”

“It is not just His Majesty’s plans that have changed. A little while ago, His Majesty said something quite alarming.”

Ashler, looked into Abel’s tense green eyes, and repeated Karas’ words as calmly as he could.

“‘Abel will come back. He won’t be able to bear the terror of everyone dying,’ that’s what he said. To His Majesty, the fact that Lord Abel was dead no longer seemed to matter. He had a way to make you come back.”

Was it that everyone would die?

At first, those around Abel, except for him, froze, and then their eyes suddenly filled with fear.

What in the world was he thinking?

How could everyone’s death be a way?

And who did “everyone” include?

Surely not everyone?

The chilling thought crossed their minds, however, Ashler had a lot more to say.

“But the real issue was his following words. He told me he would make sure I saw Lord Abel in his grasp, and he referred to Lord Abel like this. ‘Someone who hates me.’”

“……”           

“What made me feel despair at that moment was because I couldn’t sense any sadness in his voice. He believed that Abel’s absence was simply because Abel hated him. Without any doubt, he considered it a natural outcome.”

Ashler paused for a moment and then a bitter laugh escaped his lips as if he had remembered something.

“Come to think of it, I should have realized it on the first day we entered the palace. When he met the queen, he wasn’t fazed by all the curses that she uttered, however, I didn’t think much of it. I just thought he was ignoring her. However, that wasn’t the case. The reason why he looked at his mother, who called him a monster, without any concern is because he believed it to be true.”

That was also the reason why he smiled then. Those words coming from his mother couldn’t hurt him. Thinking the same way himself, he even provoked her, thinking what she did wasn’t enough. His strength was not something that he gained from overcoming and conquering everything, it was from accepting as it was and turning himself into a monster.

“Even if Lord Abel appears before His Majesty right now, it will be difficult to change him.”

Ashler snapped out of his reverie and emphasized again in a cold voice.

“Rather, it will only serve as evidence to solidify his thoughts even more.”

Abel understood what Ashler was saying. However, he couldn’t simply nod in agreement.

“Nevertheless, I will go and see him. I will let him know that I pretended to be dead not because I hated him, but because I wanted to help him.”

“Will he really believe that? What if he thinks it’s just an excuse?”

“But if I sincerely tell him…”

“His Majesty also sincerely believes it. He thinks Lord Abel disappeared because you hated him. No one can predict His Majesty’s actions right now. Just because you are Abel, it doesn’t mean you can immediately change him. Poison is accumulating in His Majesty’s body. There is no time for you to blindly endure by his side like you did 12 years ago, holding his hands, and go around picking leaves together.”

At Ashler’s sharp words, Melmond argued back, looking worried.

“But isn’t Abel the only one who can stop His Majesty?”

“Lord Abel’s life could be in danger.”

“……”

“What do you think His Majesty will do once he finds Lord Abel, who he believes hates him?”

Although the question was directed at Melmond, Ashler’s gaze was fixed on Abel.

“Will he be so overjoyed that he stops everything immediately? Or will he lock up Abel, causing him even more fear, to ensure he never loses him again? And kill more people in the process.”

No one could answer with the first option. Everyone, including Ashler, realized that it was a desperate situation beyond imagination and their expressions darkened. Silence filled the narrow cabin, feeling like a heavy sigh they couldn’t release. Ashler, with a heavy heart, also looked up at the ceiling before lowering his gaze again.

The emperor was important, but so was Abel, who could restrain him. Therefore, unless Abel could change the emperor right away, he resolved not to take Abel to the palace until they found a solution. Even if it would sadden Abel.

However, Abel, who was visible in front of him showed no signs of sadness. He was staring into space, but rather than being dazed, he seemed deeply lost in thought. Ashler, who thought Abel might cry when he told him this, called him out in confusion.

“Lord Abel. Do you agree with my thoughts? Lord Abel?”

When Ashler called his name a few more times, Abel blinked and finally turned his eyes. And then, he summarized the situation in one sentence.

“The prince, no, His Majesty is just shy.”

If his intention was to reverse the atmosphere, it certainly worked. Melmond’s group, known for their expressive faces, as well as Ashler, had expressions as if they had been hit on the back of their heads.

What nonsense is this?

The sense of betrayal was greatest in Ashler, who had conveyed His Majesty’s condition so seriously, and his eyebrows rose as high as mountains.

“Did you just say shy just now? His Majesty?”

Nod, nod. Abel nodded enthusiastically and recalled past events.

“It was similar when the prince waited alone in the forest. He wanted to see me so much that he waited alone in the forest, but when he saw me, he just watched me coldly. That’s when I realized. Ah, he is a very shy person who cannot approach others unless they come to him first. So, I pretended to be a little hurt, and he ran to me in surprise. Hehe.”

As if recalling those days, Abel chuckled lightly, but the listeners’ expressions hardened even more.

So, what’s the similarity between then and now?

How is an 8-year-old child who couldn’t approach first the same as a murderous adult who is determined to kill everyone now?

Melmond approached Abel with concern and placed his hand on Abel’s forehead.

“Hey, it seems you’re very shocked. Are you alright?”

Surely, there must be something wrong with his head. Otherwise, how could he say such crazy things by himself? However, Abel just smiled and said he was fine.

“So, this time, I must approach first.”

The person in front of him was definitely the Abel from twelve years ago. Ashler tried not to get angry, recalling how he had often felt a similar sense of frustration in the past. The person in front of him was the same as he was twelve years ago, but he was now a grown man who had grown older by those years.

Yes, it was probably because he still had many memories of the young prince.

Trying to understand, he persuaded Abel again.

“Please reconsider. His Majesty is different from before. You say these things because you don’t know His Majesty over the past 12 years.”