“Indeed, there was some kind of collusion between the two families.”
The late Royal Princess Izel and Duchess Claude, the empress, and Siani Felicite.
“Presumptuous ones.” Gazing out the window, Duke Benio bit his lip.
The Rixon imperial family and the Duke Felicite family. That they had been plotting behind the scenes. Moreover, for 20 years!
Red-hot anger flashed in his eyes. “So, this was in the possession of Siani Felicite.” The grand duke looked down at the glittering golden fragment in his palm.
“Yes. It was in the jewelry box on my sister’s office desk.”
The piece, with its noble radiance, was shaped like a crescent as if it had been broken in half.
“But this isn’t the imperial insignia, nor is there any evidence that it was a keepsake left by Izel.” The grand duke’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Luna for a moment. “Are you trying to deceive me with some cheap trinket?”
“Look at the back of the piece,” Luna responded.
Turning the piece over as she suggested, there was…
“Ah, the emblem of the Rixon royal family.”
Although it was halved, it was clearly identifiable as the golden sword representing Rixon. Meaning it was an item possessed by someone from the imperial family.
“Izel was a cunning person. Would she have left an emblem that anyone could easily recognize?”
Ash then spoke up. “The insignia must be hidden elsewhere, and what was left to Claude must be her personal keepsake.”
“Why would Siani Felicite keep such a valuable piece in any old jewelry box?” The grand duke asked, gently handling the piece.
“That’s because Siani…” Ash began to respond, but then…
“It’s my sister’s habit. She hides the things she truly values in inconspicuous places. That way, no one covets them.”
“…” Ash looked at Luna with a momentarily displeased expression.
“After all, it’s not clear exactly what Izel left behind.” Finally, the grand duke smiled. “More than three people came with trinkets claiming to be Izel’s keepsakes, not even knowing where they came from.”
Noticing the grand duke’s mood lightening, Ash added, “We’ve also sent a word to the orphanage we support. We’ll send a few more people to the temple with similar gold pieces.”
“After all, who wouldn’t jump into the lake if they thought they could be the heir to the imperial family?”
Eventually, the grand duke burst out laughing. With all sorts of riff-raff gatherings, who would call it a sacred ceremony?
“Regardless of what evidence Felicite presents or who she brings, the ‘real’ keepsake of Izel is here…” He clenched the golden piece in his hand tightly. “Even if the true son of Izel appears, it will be pointless. They’ll just die searching for fake gold scattered at the bottom of the lake.”
The ceremony was about retrieving the traces of Izel thrown into the lake. That alone could simultaneously prove the lineage of Rixon and the goddess’s recognition of the heir. But the false gold would melt away upon touching the surface. Even if the true son of Izel entered, he would find nothing. Surrounded by disintegrating fakes, he would suffocate and die alongside them.
It’s fine for those worthless lives to sink anyway.
The son of Izel? The heir to Rixon? Why should they alone have the right to the throne when Benio too, is a descendant of an elementalist who followed the goddess!
“Well done. From now on, don’t forget you’re a person of Benio.” The grand duke said to Luna, hiding his twisted expression. “Of all the dowries you brought, this one pleases me the most.”
“…”
However, Luna only glared quietly at the grand duke clutching the piece as if it were his own.
* * *
It was an exceptionally clear day.
“The carriage for Grand Temple Fides is ready, Princess.” Aeron approached me as I watched Redian playing in the training field beyond.
“Both Sir Obelo and Sir Aeron aren’t as surprised as I expected.”
Despite their stoicism, it was definitely shocking news. Yet, they briefly faltered before quickly getting busy.
“Well, honestly…” Aeron replied, following my gaze to Redian. “Animals instinctively recognize the hierarchy of dominance, they say.”
Redian was playing with a white dog that had entered the training field.
“Woof!”
Sunlight fell on his hair, and the white dog wagged its tail at Redian’s gestures. I thought the scene was as refreshing as an ion beverage advertisement.
“Actually, that dog is one of the most ferocious guard dogs we have here.”
“…Really?”
“And just like that, it became a docile dog in no time.” Aeron nodded. “We were expecting that he’s not an ordinary person in many ways.”
Then, he bowed briefly to me. “I’ve prepared to send off Redian, or rather, the prince, so please take care.”
“Yes. The ceremony should be over before evening, so the imperial knights will probably arrive by dawn.”
The farewell was calm. After patting Aeron’s shoulder, I moved on.
“Redian.”
“Ah… Master.”
Redian, who had been squatting down, looked up at my call. His expression seemed to ask why I was here at this hour.
“Do you remember what happened yesterday?”
“…”
Redian just smiled, whether he remembered or was just brushing it off because he didn’t.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.”
“…Alright.”
The cool breeze scattered his hair. Under the sunlight, his eyes revealed a clear blue color.
Whether the Redian who looked at me with eyes filled with darkness or the Redian before me now was the ‘real’ one, I couldn’t tell. But what does it matter?
Pushing aside those thoughts, I extended my hand towards Redian. “Shall we go?”
Redian quietly looked down at my outstretched hand. He seemed to understand its significance already.
From the moment he walked out of the underground castle on his own feet, through the monster hunting festival and the award ceremony…
“It’s a good day to go outside, isn’t it?”
At the end of it all, heading towards the final destination.
“Master is coming with me, aren’t you?”
“Of course.”
With that single word, Redian grasped my hand without hesitation.
“Is that all you want to ask?”
“Yes.”
His response, as always, lacked any excitement or surprise, making me feel as if I was overinvesting emotionally.
“I mean, shouldn’t you at least ask where we’re going or why we need to go?” I let go of Redian’s hand as I spoke.
He’s stepping out of this castle on his own to return to his world.
The day from the original story when the castle was stormed by armed imperial knights and was filled with the smell of blood had changed like this. It was the most crucial turning point. I had hoped for a more dramatic reaction, given the effort I’d put in!
“But Master said you’re coming with me.”
However, Redian smiled as if it was obvious. I thought his smile was clear.
“Ah, if you need another reason…”
Then, Redian reached out and took my hand again. “Master is holding my hand, aren’t you?”
As if that alone was reason enough to go.
* * *
Even though the carriage was enchanted to smooth the ride, the ruggedness of the path could still be felt. We were heading not to the temple within the imperial palace but to the Grand Temple Fides, located on a cliff.
During the journey, I revealed all the hidden stories to Redian. Who his parents were, why, and how he ended up here.
“I see.”
It was as if his entire mysterious birth had been laid bare. But, as usual, Redian’s gaze remained calm to the point of apathy.
I see? While I didn’t expect tears, a shocked expression would have made the storyteller feel more accomplished. It was as if I was the only one deeply immersed.
“So, you’re going back to where you belong now.”
As we stepped out of the carriage, a breathtakingly vast landscape unfolded before us. Wow… Passing the huge obelisk at the entrance, a path lined with statues extended.
Well…
Redian and I walked together down that silent yet sacred path.
Hi, now you can purchase 10 advance chapters in here.
I cant read it. it wont alow me to purchase moondust. Error with paypal
Hello, the team is still fixing this issue. I’m not sure how long we can expect the issue to be fixed, but you can join the Discord group to get the announcement when the issue is fixed.