WMT | Chapter 15

“No way! Wiss, it can’t be, right? You didn’t get swayed by that guy and conspire to do something outrageous…?”

King Jeremiah was shocked. Wiss quickly hugged him to prevent a scene.

“Lower your voice. The duke is watching.”

“Y-yes, right. Wiss, be honest now. That’s the only way we can handle this, isn’t it?”

“It’s not true.”

“Really?”

‘If you’re not going to believe me, why do you keep asking?’

Wiss composed his expression.

“Yes. But what about you, Father? You don’t know anything, do you?”

“What would I know? I never dreamed something like this would happen! That the count would conspire to assassinate the duke, and that I entrusted the capital’s safety to such a person, it’s unbelievable!”

King Jeremiah’s eyes widened.

‘Is it something to brag about that you didn’t know anything?’

This was infuriating in its own way, but Wiss didn’t have the luxury to be angry.

He had barely managed to get the other party to the negotiation table, and now the situation was about to be overturned. Count Morre was a weakness for Wissmia just by existing.

‘I need to meet the count.’

Before the duke does.

The opportunity came immediately. There was a commotion during the process of escorting the detained ringleaders.

Wiss was wrapping a blanket around his shoulders, given to him by a guard who arrived late. Feeling chills at night in the perpetually warm Summer wasn’t a good sign.

‘It’s not another cold, is it?’

“Hehe, Your Highness. It’s not that I let you go on purpose. You know how fast the duke is, I couldn’t help it. I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“It’s good you didn’t follow.”

“Right? I thought so. ……Is that a compliment?”

“Do you think it is?”

Wiss was pulling the guard’s ear when he heard someone calling him.

“Prince Wissmia! I’m sorry! I couldn’t save you from that guy… Ugh!”

“Shut up! Walk faster!”

“Your Highness, Your Highness!”

Count Morre, who was being escorted, was desperately shouting towards Wiss. The soldiers escorting them gave Wiss suspicious looks.

Wiss instinctively checked on Theodore.

‘Damn it.’

He was looking this way, having just lifted his head from listening to a report from his adjutant.

Maybe it was for the best. It wasn’t easy to contact the count before he was interrogated. Perhaps it was better to make contact in front of Theodore now.

Wiss adjusted his expression. Internally, he repeated ‘I am a compassionate Omega’ three times and approached Theodore.

“I’m sorry, but could you give me a moment… Just a brief moment to speak with the count?”

“What nonsense are you saying…?”

Theodore’s adjutant frowned. But Theodore stopped him.

“Will a moment suffice?”

“Yes. I don’t mean to cause trouble. It’s just… That person isn’t someone who would do such a thing, and I want to ask what happened.”

The adjutant’s expression softened when Wiss implied, ‘I’ll ask the questions you were going to interrogate him about anyway, since I’m familiar with him.’

Theodore granted permission.

“Go ahead. But be careful not to get too close, as he’s a dangerous individual.”

“Thank you.”

Even so, it was a generous permission. It felt rewarding to have saved his life.

Wiss approached the group being led away. Count Morre was at the front of the line, tied up with ropes, and when Wiss got closer, his eyes turned red.

He seemed to feel like the protagonist of some tragedy. Wiss gave him time to indulge in his emotions. When people get a bit emotional, they tend to be more pliable.

“Count.”

“Your Highness, why do you address me like that… Please call me by my nickname as usual. This might be the last day I see you…”

The count said wistfully. Wiss gritted his teeth.

“I don’t want it to be that way, so if you know anything, tell me everything. The duke is a trustworthy person. He won’t make a wrong judgment.”

With Theodore’s physical abilities, he couldn’t have missed the whispered conversation from here. That’s probably why he allowed Wiss to talk.

“You were just used, weren’t you? I know you’re not someone who would think of harming others first. Anyone who knows you would know that. You’re a good person, even if a bit naive.”

Emphasizing that ‘a naive and foolish person was used by the King of Palatine,’ Wiss added.

“Do it for me.”

It felt like his whole body was getting goosebumps, but the effect was indeed good.

When the duke’s name was mentioned, Count Morre, who had been turning red and blue, lowered his head with a somber face. He spoke mournfully.

“Yes… For Your Highness, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”

‘Got him.’

He informed the duke that Count Morre was personally used and that he was also deceived. If the count wasn’t foolish, he would have realized how to defend himself.

‘My score shouldn’t have dropped.’

The fact that the Kingdom of Summer was in chaos would be known to everyone, but Theodore probably already knew that.

‘Given how poorly internal affairs are managed, he might find it easier to control.’

It might even be a plus.

Wiss wouldn’t let it stay that way, though.

He returned to his original spot with lighter steps. Then he noticed Theodore approaching. His expression was stiff.

‘What’s this?’

When he looked up, Theodore pulled the blanket over Wiss’s shoulders up to his neck. The white neck was covered with soft fabric.

Theodore spoke in a low voice.

“Didn’t you say you liked me?”

“……?”

“You seem more concerned about that man.”

Theodore said that and then clamped his mouth shut. But he didn’t look like he thought he had said something he shouldn’t have.

He seemed a bit embarrassed.

Wiss remained frozen in place until Theodore left with his adjutant.

‘What was that?’

That attitude just now… wasn’t it a bit peculiar?

── .✦

And for the next few days, Wiss was bedridden.

‘Seriously?’

He couldn’t understand why he collapsed when he hadn’t even climbed the mountain on his own.

As soon as he lay in bed, he seemed to lose consciousness, and when he opened his eyes, several days had passed.

Though he had regained his senses, his physical condition hadn’t improved much. After almost falling while trying to sit up in bed, Wiss just lay back down.

‘Has the attack incident been resolved?’

It was an incident where a noble from Summer attacked the duke of Palatine.

It’s not something to leave to King Jeremiah.

According to the original plan, Wiss was supposed to use the fact that he helped Theodore repel the golems as a justification to strengthen the we are allies theme.

‘Against the wicked King of Palatine, we need to join hands.’

Isn’t that clear and good?

Once this part was sorted, everything else would have proceeded smoothly. When a strong enemy appears, it’s natural to strengthen internal unity.

‘Form a marriage alliance with the duke and strengthen Summer’s power.’

It should have progressed to this point.

But time had already passed. Wiss speculated without expecting much from King Jeremiah’s negotiation skills.

‘The House of Nobles must be in turmoil.’

Who knows who might be a collaborator of the King of Palatine. Judging by King Jeremiah’s hysterical reaction, he seemed to have never imagined a traitor would emerge among the remaining nobles in the royal palace.

But the king doesn’t have the power to interrogate the nobles.

‘The duke does.’

The influence of the duke within Summer would become immense.

But this was a problem to solve later. For now, it wasn’t a bad thing.

If he married the duke, Wiss would be able to wield the duke’s immense influence.

“Your Highness, I’m here.”

The guard he had sent on an errand spoke from beyond the door. There was a smell of food. It seemed he had brought a meal for the patient.

“Come in.”

“Uh, but there’s a guest.”

“Who is it?”

The door opened cautiously, and Theodore entered.

Wiss looked at him in bewilderment.

‘Why is someone so busy here?’

Moreover, it was Theodore holding the patient’s meal. In his other hand, he held a single flower.

‘What’s that…’

“I saw it blooming in the garden.”

Theodore smiled.

“It seemed to resemble Your Highness, so I brought it. I didn’t pick it myself, so don’t worry. It was on the ground, as if someone had knocked it over.”

Wiss didn’t know what he was supposed to worry about.

‘Resembling a fallen flower?’

Even though Wissmia had a thin and unimpressive body, his face was similar to Wiss’s. He couldn’t describe the feeling of being insulted to his face.

“Do you like flowers?”

“……I didn’t dislike them.”

‘I think I just started disliking them because of you.’

Theodore didn’t catch the underlying meaning and smiled again.

“That’s a relief. If you don’t mind, I’ll decorate this place with it. Is there a vase here?”

“A vase? Your Highness, have you seen one?”

“No.”

“Then I guess there isn’t one.”

Theodore nodded.

“In that case, I’ll bring one. ……I was worried the whole time you were bedridden. It’s good to see you awake like this.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

Wiss had nothing else to say.

‘He didn’t come to scold me for being weak, did he?’

Theodore was silent for a moment too. He looked at Wiss intently and then spoke as if regretful.

“The food will get cold. Please eat. I’ll come back next time.”

“Take care.”

The guard said goodbye.

The door closed.

“Have you gotten close to the duke?”

The guard asked.

Instead of pulling on that frivolous mouth, Wiss fell into thought.

Is that really the attitude? ……Isn’t something a bit off?