Episode 20

The sword Aiden referred to could only be the one given as a birthday present, the very sword he pledged to become a berserker for Sione.

Sione had instructed Aiden to find a justification to take down either the snake or the eagle, as she was convinced that one of the three beasts had killed the Emperor. She hoped it wasn’t the dog and allied with him accordingly.

Aiden was tracking the whereabouts of the forest keeper, believing this would soon lead to a resolution. Instead, he suddenly proposed becoming a berserker to wage a brutal fight. There could only be one reason for this.

“Was there another perpetrator?”

Sione asked in a somber voice.

Aiden admired her sharpness. She was not just intelligent, but astutely perceptive.

As she guessed, the trail left by the forest keeper led to neither the snake nor the eagle but elsewhere. Aiden had also believed that either the snake or the eagle had killed the Emperor and planned to gather evidence to prosecute them under imperial law. This was the cleanest way to eliminate them without causing chaos.

If that wasn’t possible, confronting them head-on was the only option. Using the strength of the dog, he had to take down one of them to secure Sione’s favor.

This was their agreement—Aiden’s mission.

“It seems the assassin of His Majesty is not the prey you desired.”

“So, you plan to become a berserker and hunt them down?”

Sione asked.

“Just tell me which one you want me to strike first.”

Aiden replied, his red eyes glinting fiercely.

Sione pondered deeply.

When she made the pact with Aiden, her sole focus was on eliminating the beasts. She was certain one of them had killed the Emperor and would target the powerless empress and the unawakened crown princess next.

However, if there was another culprit, the situation changed slightly.

Even if the beasts hadn’t killed the Emperor, they were still dangerous without their leashes. And whoever did kill the Emperor was also a threat. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t target Lothania, the heir to the throne.

Nobles who wanted to depose the empress and the snake who countered them.

The eagle guarding the borders of Belpator while observing the suspicious movements of the southern continent.

And the dog, always ready to bite anyone.

Was this what a double-edged sword felt like?

Sione weighed her options. Aiden’s fierce loyalty and willingness to fight for her were invaluable. But she had to tread carefully.

“If we strike one, the others will become more dangerous. We need a strategy.”

Aiden nodded, understanding the gravity of her words.

“I will follow your command, Your Majesty. Just give the word.”

Sione’s mind raced, considering the implications of each potential move. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady.

“First, we need more information. Let’s not act hastily. Continue tracking the forest keeper and gather all the evidence we can. We must be certain before we make our move.”

Aiden bowed.

“As you wish, Your Majesty. I will ensure we find the truth.”

With that, he left to continue his mission, leaving Sione to contemplate the complex web of alliances and enmities surrounding her.

Aiden, who had been watching Sione silently as she wrestled with the dilemma of the beasts, finally offered his opinion.

“How about we target the Eagle first?”

Just earlier today, Aiden had believed the Snake should be the first to be dealt with. He didn’t care to explore the reasons behind his sudden change of heart, but watching Sione’s conflicted expression filled him with impatience.

Sione pondered deeply for a while longer before speaking.

“Is the investigation into the true culprit complete?”

“We are still gathering evidence.”

“Then let’s focus on capturing the Emperor’s assassin first. If we must draw the sword, there’s no need to rush.”

“There’s nothing to gain from delaying.”

Aiden suggested once more, but Sione shook her head.

It would turn into a dogfight.

Even if Aiden succeeded in his hunt, there would be significant political repercussions for taking down a duke of the empire without clear evidence. Moreover, the other beasts’ reactions were unpredictable.

Sione decided it was best to keep Aiden as a last resort.

“Wait, Duke Aiden. This is not something to decide hastily.”

Though disappointed, Aiden understood her concerns. He wanted to break free of his leash quickly but becoming a berserker wasn’t something he relished either.

Aiden nodded compliantly, then raised an eyebrow.

“You spoke to me like I was a real dog just now, didn’t you?”

Used to being treated like a dog, he still found the command to “wait” particularly demeaning.

Sione inwardly laughed at Aiden’s reaction. Thinking how his response to that word was so dog-like, she smiled warmly and said, “Of course not. It’s just your imagination, Duke Aiden.”

Was it just his imagination? Since Sione said so, Aiden scratched his right eyebrow, contemplating it, and seemed to accept her words. Watching him, Sione suppressed another laugh.

As Aiden prepared to leave, Sione asked about the true culprit. He only gave a cryptic answer, saying he would tell her when he was more certain.

Sione then asked another question.

“If Duke Vitrain dies, who will be the next Eagle?”

“There is a daughter of the previous Eagle.”

Apparently, his deceased brother had a daughter. When she asked her age, Aiden replied that she was now eight years old.

Sione, slightly shocked, asked.

“An eight-year-old child will become the Eagle protecting the empire?”

“No. If he dies now, one of the closest blood relatives will awaken.”

“Awaken? The beasts can awaken as well?”

“Yes, just like the host of the oath, usually around the age of fifteen.”

This was new information to Sione, who opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Seeing her startled expression for the first time, Aiden chuckled and briefly explained the awakening process of the beasts.

The lineage of the beasts followed bloodlines, much like Luminael. When the previous beast died, the one with the strongest blood connection and over fifteen years old would awaken to continue the line.

Beasts had a short lifespan, so it was rare for the position to pass directly from parent to child. Often, it passed from an elder sibling to a younger sibling, or from an uncle to a nephew.

After hearing Aiden’s explanation, Sione blinked and asked.

“So, the position could pass to someone like a cousin or an uncle if no direct descendants are available?”

“Yes, that’s correct. The awakening occurs in the closest blood relative over fifteen.”

Sione nodded, processing this new information. The complexity of the beasts’ succession added another layer to the already intricate web of power dynamics she had to navigate.

“If there are no direct descendants, does an awakened one emerge from the collateral lines?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“And if there are no collaterals either?”

“In that case, you’ll find out once I’m dead.”

Aiden replied with a bitter smile.

* * *

At first, I didn’t understand what he meant. Looking into his empty eyes, I recalled the story Lian had told me about Aiden’s insane father.

A man who wanted to kill his son, believing he had to kill the dog. If there were other Tilender’s or those carrying the bloodline of the dog, Aiden’s father would have likely tried to kill them too.

Hearing Aiden say that there were no remaining collateral relatives gave me a grim idea of what he might have done under the Emperor’s silent approval.

What kind of horrific despair could have led to such actions?

Facing the last remaining Tilender in the world, I felt a chill run down my spine.

Aiden, watching me rub my arms unconsciously, looked even more desolate.

“You seem to know about what happened to my family.”

I felt guilty for learning about his dark past from Lian. I answered almost defensively.

“I don’t know the details.”

“It’s not the kind of story one would know in detail.”

His voice was calm, but there was a lot of suppressed emotion behind his words.

Feeling guilty for knowing something I perhaps shouldn’t, I couldn’t leave the conversation hanging. Cautiously, I said.

“You must have resented the Emperor a lot.”

“I didn’t.”

His answer was strange.

How could he not resent the person who was effectively responsible for driving his father mad?

I wondered if he was lying out of courtesy to the empress, but his eyes were sincere.

Moreover, he wasn’t the type to say things just to please me.

That made it even stranger. If it were me, I would have hated the Emperor enough to want him dead.

Reading my mind, Aiden chuckled and spoke.

“You look like you want to ask why I didn’t resent him.”

I kept silent, unable to confirm or deny, so he continued in a self-mocking tone.

“The answer is simple, Your Majesty. It’s because I’m a dog.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I asked, puzzled by his cryptic response.

This time, he didn’t answer but looked down and chuckled, a hollow laugh.

I had no idea what he found amusing, and he didn’t seem genuinely amused either. His laughter seemed more like self-derision.

After taking a deep breath, he slowly lifted his head. The fierce, empty-red eyes that resembled a hollow gemstone had regained their usual savage glint, but now there was a hint of wariness.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Aiden’s tone was cold, as if locking his heart behind a gate, and he left the office without another word.

Of the three beasts, I thought the dog would be the easiest to understand.

I sighed, looking at the spot where Aiden had disappeared.