WMT | Chapter 8

The Royal Guard Knight reported after returning from Count Morre’s mansion in the capital.

“He wasn’t there.”

“He didn’t come home?”

“Seems like it.”

“Then you should have waited and brought him back. Did you just believe the servant when they said ‘the master isn’t home’ and leave?”

“Oh, come on. Of course not. The butler was all like, ‘The master isn’t in the capital. Why are you looking here?’ So we pretended not to hear and waited around, and then one of the house servants told us, ‘The master hasn’t been coming home much lately.’”

The Royal Guard Knight made a circle with his thumb and forefinger, indicating he had slipped them some money.

Butlers and similar servants are usually loyal and tight-lipped. On the other hand, those doing menial tasks will open their mouths for a bit of cash.

It’s because the treatment they receive while working is different. But that doesn’t mean the quality of information is any less.

If they’re a coachman or errand boy, they’d know all about the comings and goings of their master.

Wiss looked at the Royal Guard Knight anew. This guard must be from a humble family, just as he claimed. Nobles who walk around with their noses in the air usually don’t think lower servants know anything.

“Do you know where he’s holed up if he’s not going home?”

“I heard something, but, uh, Your Highness isn’t planning to go there yourself, right?”

The guard looked around nervously.

“What is it?”

“Ah, it’s not good. Even if you hear it, you won’t know.”

Wiss stared at the guard. Feeling the pressure from Wiss’s gaze, the guard quickly answered.

“Manson Street, the back alley.”

── .✦

Wiss changed his clothes and pulled a robe over his head. This should keep him from standing out.

The Royal Guard Knight seemed tense about taking the prince to the back alley. He was fussing about whether they should bring in four more people or if he should just go and bring the person back himself.

Wiss ignored him and left the castle. He wanted to see how the kingdom had changed over the past 300 years anyway.

The square was surprisingly lively. From that, Wiss could guess there hadn’t been any looting.

Duke Akazel had his army under perfect control.

That meant the army was either the duke’s private soldiers, or the duke’s ability and reputation were enough to command even mercenaries.

For example, Wiss had been a raider but had never allowed his soldiers to loot for personal gain.

The soldiers were recipients of the spoils he distributed.

Wiss’s wars hadn’t faced fierce resistance, thanks to that. Rulers believed their lands wouldn’t be ravaged.

Wiss always respected their rights. He had his reasons for doing so.

It wouldn’t do to incur the wrath of other countries with a small army, would it?

It was more profitable to install a ruler and extort money from him.

Wiss led the Royal Guard Knight to several taverns.

There was no need to check every tavern. They just needed to find one that doubled as a gambling den.

‘Why am I meeting a gambling addict because there’s no one else to meet?’

Wiss clicked his tongue inwardly. It felt like his foolish nephew had brought home a strange man as a prospective son-in-law.

Wissmia wasn’t his nephew, and that strange man was now Wiss’s lover, but…

The guard suddenly flung open the door of yet another tavern.

“Master, over there!”

‘Is this outfit really that noticeable?’

Wiss was doubtful.

Count Morre was sitting at a gambling table with a robe over his head. Inside the building, he was the only one dressed like that, so he stood out immediately.

Well, that’s convenient. Wiss gestured.

“Drag that guy out.”

“Hey! Who are you? What are you doing?”

The count struggled as he was dragged out. He resisted fiercely, as befits a knight. He couldn’t make more of a fuss because he was afraid his identity would be revealed.

Wiss subtly lifted his hood to show the count his face. The count, upon recognizing him, was shocked.

“Y-Your Highness?”

“How did Your Highness come all the way here…!”

The count led Wiss to the back of the building. Wiss looked at him with cold eyes.

‘This guy’s been here more than once.’

“This isn’t a place for someone as noble as Your Highness to come. Who led you here? Was it you?”

The guard shook his head vigorously. Wiss removed the count’s hand from the guard’s collar and looked around.

“Enough noise. Are you alone?”

“What? What do you mean… Of course! Did you worry I was with someone else besides Your Highness?”

The count’s face brightened.

“Of course not. In my heart, there’s only Your Highness. Not just in my heart, but I wouldn’t even betray you with my body…”

Wiss held the count’s face with both hands. As he brought their faces close together with a smack, the count stopped his babbling. Wiss asked quietly.

“Who did you meet? Is someone sent by the King of Palatine staying here?”

“Y-Your Highness?”

“Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“How did you… Did an envoy visit Your Highness too?”

The count didn’t answer the question and instead said something irrelevant.

Wiss realized his suspicion was correct. This guy was conspiring with the King of Palatine.

“What did the King of Palatine promise you?”

“If, if only the duke is removed, he promised to leave Summer free… and to bless my marriage with Your Highness. Did Your Highness know about this too? Does His Majesty know too?”

“Do you believe that’s a promise?”

The count looked troubled and placed his hands over Wiss’s.

“Your Highness, you may not know, but matters of the state are delicate. I understand your concerns, but the King of Palatine’s promise isn’t light. Who on this continent can threaten the King of Palatine now? He is the ruler of the continent. But he fears and guards against his own brother. Anyone who defeats the duke becomes the King of Palatine’s benefactor.”

Wiss was speechless.

“Oh, right. The guy who tries to kill the biggest contributor right after the war will keep his promise to you.”

“Your Highness…”

The count didn’t even understand the sarcasm. For some unknown reason, he was moved and hugged Wiss tightly.

“It’s my lack of virtue. I couldn’t reassure Your Highness, making you come all the way here to question me… Please forget everything I said. Ow!”

Wiss kicked the count’s shin. The count had no choice but to let go of Wiss.

“What do you mean forget? Where’s that guy?”

“What?”

“The servant of the King of Palatine you met.”

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

“Did he tell you to kill the duke by any means?”

The King of Palatine would know better than anyone that the duke wasn’t an ordinary person.

Surprising the enemy when they’re off guard is a basic tactic, but is the duke someone who lets his guard down? At least not in this castle.

“The duke doesn’t move without guards. There are probably more Palatine soldiers stationed in Summer Castle than Summer’s own soldiers. How do you plan to harm the duke staying in the castle?”

The count smiled reassuringly.

“Oh, I see. That’s what scared you so much. I want to ease Your Highness’s worries too, but this is an absolute secret… It’s not something someone as delicate as Your Highness should know. But don’t worry, Your Highness. Have I ever spoken nonsense to you? This plan can’t fail. Your Highness just needs to trust me and wait. I’ll definitely rescue you from that invader’s hands.”

He clenched his fist.

“Right. Waiting for Your Highness to marry that person is nonsense…”

“…?”

“Go, Your Highness. This place is dangerous.”

The count said, looking around.

Wiss wiggled his fingers under his robe. He considered eliminating the count to remove the immediate danger…

‘Let’s not.’

He was an accomplice in the plot. The main culprit was still alive, so killing an accomplice wouldn’t solve the fundamental problem.

The King of Palatine chose Summer as the stage to eliminate the duke. Even if the executor, the count, disappeared, they would find a replacement.

‘It’s better to monitor someone you know than to be wary of someone you don’t.’

Wiss made his decision and instructed the guard.

“You stay here and spy on the count.”

“What?”

“Follow him and report to me where he goes and who he meets.”

The guard jumped in surprise.

“But, Your Highness, I’m your guard, you know? I’m loyal—really loyal—and Your Highness is a bit… unusual, so I’ve been doing all sorts of odd jobs, but I’m not an errand boy, you know?”

He couldn’t behave for even a day. The guard protested, claiming recognition for his duties.

Wiss frowned.

“Who are you guarding?”

“Your Highness doesn’t know how dangerous the world is, but this place is kind of scary, you know? What if thugs block your way and demand money?”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Seriously…”

Wiss ignored him and walked past the guard. The guard, blocking the way like a thug in the back alley, stumbled and was pushed against the wall as Wiss tripped over him.

“Ouch!”

“I’ll handle it. Okay?”

The guard, with his head against the wall, asked.

“Really… Do I really have to spy?”

“With all that noise, it’ll be a great spy mission.”

“But Your Highness, where did you learn self-defense?”

“Shouldn’t you be reflecting instead of asking questions? What kind of knight can’t even subdue the person they’re serving?”

The guard pouted and went into the tavern.

Wiss confirmed that he was completely out of sight and turned down the alley. Having shaken off the guard, he could move more freely.

There was something strange about one of the taverns they visited earlier.

‘The owner was a magician.’

But didn’t the guard say all magicians were in the magic tower or something?

He made it sound like magicians were so rare that even the royal palace had a hard time hosting them.

‘Magicians were always few in number, though.’

Wiss needed to understand the world 300 years later.

Above all, magicians, if well-utilized, were weapons that could end a war before it even started.

That’s when it happened.

“Where are you rushing off to?”

Three burly men blocked Wiss’s path.

‘An ambush?’

Did they wait for the prince to be alone? Wiss was tense but relaxed at their next words.

“Hey, pretty boy. It’s dangerous for someone like you to wander around here alone. We’ll protect you.”

The men chuckled. Wiss was dumbfounded.

‘Seriously?’

Five minutes after the guard disappeared, he ran into thugs?

What’s with the capital’s security?