Special SS ~ 4
Although it was late at night, the Verdellete Count’s estate was far from quiet.
“Everything is ready now. You have nothing to worry about.”
Only Belles’s annoyingly frivolous voice…
“Good. As always, Count, you have exceeded my expectations.”
…and Grand Duke Clan’s boisterous laughter filled the room.
“The soldiers we’ve gathered over the years outnumber the imperial guards by far. Even if that foolish emperor realizes this, it’s too late for him to do anything.”
“Indeed. The count is right. You’ve worked hard to get us this far.”
“You’re too kind.”
Belles continued with a benevolent smile.
“The throne of the Carteia Empire has always been yours, Your Grace. I only regret that my inadequacies delayed its return to its rightful owner.”
…Grand Duke Clan had no way of knowing Belles’ true intentions as he bowed so obsequiously.
‘What a fool.’
Who brought the incompetent Grand Duke Clan back into the fray? It was Belles himself.
Belles’ motive for such effort was simple.
He aimed to stage a rebellion, make Grand Duke Clan a mere figurehead emperor, and wield all the power from behind the scenes.
‘This charade won’t last much longer. Even if he becomes emperor, Clan will have no one to trust but me. By then, he won’t dare challenge whatever I do.’
“But what about the mine? I hear that fool KlCalian Helcar is still sharing the profits.”
“Yes. I have no intention of taking losses forever, so I plan to deal with it soon.”
“Deal with it?”
“It’s not difficult. After all, he’s just a parasite living off my niece’s blood.”
Belles laughed smugly.
“That man and the woman Leraie. They have a son. If the three of them were found dead one day, the mine would naturally return to my hands.”
“Your niece continues to be of service to you, even after her death.”
For a brief moment, Seriniel’s welcoming face, despite her illness, flashed before Belles’ eyes, but he had never had the temperament to dwell on such things.
So he simply shrugged and smiled, offering no further response.
“By the way, have you heard? Lexion Rosenvester returned three days ago.”
Grand Duke Clan’s expression turned slightly worried.
“The emperor may be powerless against our rebellion, but that man concerns me.”
“What are you worried about, Grand Duke?”
Belles waved his hand dismissively.
“Despite his achievements on the battlefield, he cannot act alone without the emperor’s permission, and the emperor will be cautious too.”
“Hm…”
“Even if he acts independently, he knows it would ultimately harm the emperor. Lexion Rosenvester is merely a cheap hunting dog following the emperor’s orders, so there’s nothing to worry about…”
And at that very moment,
“Aaah!”
A sharp scream echoed from outside.
Belles and Grand Duke Clan stood up instantly, and soon a blood-soaked soldier staggered into the estate.
“What is going on here?”
“Lexion…”
“What?”
“Lexion… Rosenvester is…”
The faces of both men turned pale.
“You must… flee… quickly, he’s…”
The soldier couldn’t finish his words and, spewing blood, collapsed on the carpet like a rag doll.
‘Did Lexion attack?’
Impossible.
The completely unexpected situation made Belles momentarily feel dizzy.
“Grand Duke, you must escape first! This way, come this way. There’s a hidden side door.”
If Grand Duke Clan were to die here, all their efforts would be for nothing.
So Belles hurriedly tried to lead him away, but it was to no avail.
“You seem very busy.”
…because Lexion, drenched in blood and exuding an ominously grim aura, had entered the mansion.
“What is the meaning of this, Lexion Rosenvester!”
But Belles had no intention of backing down easily. After all, they were both fighting for their lives here.
“How dare you attack the residence of a royal at this hour!”
“…Ha.”
“No matter how favored you are by the emperor, this is an unforgivable act!”
Lexion didn’t say a word. He merely glared at Belles and Grand Duke Clan with fierce eyes.
Grand Duke Clan, terrified, hesitated, while Belles began shouting with all his might.
“Isn’t there anyone there! Dex! Klein!”
“….”
“Merk, Hiss! Quickly, bring the soldiers to protect the grand duke…”
“They’re not here.”
“…What?”
Lexion slowly walked toward them. His large sword dragged on the ground, making a menacing scraping sound, and Grand Duke Clan and Belles instinctively stepped back.
“Wh-what do you mean…!”
“I killed them all. Every single one.”
Had anyone else said this, it might have been dismissed as impossible.
But the man before them was Lexion Rosenvester.
Someone truly capable of such a feat.
And so Belles finally realized something had gone terribly wrong.
“…Stay back, Lexion Rosenvester.”
“….”
“On what grounds are you committing this madness!”
Grounds…
Lexion, as if hearing the word for the first time, tilted his head back to look at the ceiling, then refocused on Belles.
…Lexion’s eerie behavior was so terrifying that Grand Duke Clan stood frozen, his face twisted in fear.
“Seriniel… Verdellete…”
“What…?”
“My reason… that’s all there is to it.”
They knew each other? These two?
How? Why?
…And what does he know?
“The official ground is… treason.”
“….”
“As you both know… there is no better excuse.”
“…Stay back.”
No matter how much he backed away, Lexion only drew closer. Belles spoke through trembling lips.
“There is no evidence that the Grand Duke and I planned a rebellion! But to act like this….”
“I can fabricate that later.”
Lexion tightened his grip on his sword.
“Lexion Rosenvester, your actions will put the emperor in a difficult position!”
“….”
“You will die as well!”
“I don’t mind…”
“W-what?”
“…That’s what I desire most right now.”
With those words, Lexion swiftly swung his sword.
With a thud, Grand Duke Clan’s severed head hit the ground.
“Grand Duke!”
Belles, staring in horror at the grand duke’s head, screamed. He too soon let out a short groan and collapsed.
Blood gushed from Belles’ half-open mouth.
…Lowering his head, he finally saw Lexion’s sword piercing through his chest.
“Lex… ion. You… in the end… cough…”
Lexion did not even grant Belles the courtesy of final words. He swung his sword again, and Belles, like Grand Duke Clan, fell lifelessly to the ground.
“….”
Lexion’s vacant black eyes stared silently at the two corpses.
But only briefly, as Lexion, like a man possessed, began to walk, to that place.
The place he had visited countless times to secretly hear her voice and steal glances of her bright smile…
Seriniel’s room.
