Chapter 103
Diplomacy and mediation: Idikels, a pillar of the 5th House of Albrecht.
This type of person was difficult for Duke Idikels, who had always been well-liked for his smooth diplomacy and personality.
“Duke Idikels.”
A natural-born ruler who should stand above all men.
Regent Locke’s eyes were like emeralds set in stone, and he spoke coldly.
“The Archduke of Halbern has come to the ecliptic, did you know?”
“No, sir, I did not know. Perhaps it’s been too long in the Southern Empire, and I have a dark view of the affairs of my homeland.”
The Duke of Idikels shamelessly retorted without a trace of saliva on his lips.
With eyes and ears everywhere, it was impossible for such rumors not to reach the Duke of Idikels.
“I am surprised, he has returned to the ecliptic…”
Regent Locke, who had skimmed through the information sent by the Viscount, looked at him with cold eyes.
“Is your Emperor’s ‘punishment’ over?”
Duke Idikels hid his nervousness.
Old karma was coming back to haunt him.
When Regent Locke was so enraged at what the Archduke of Halbern had done that he threatened to start a war, the quickly dispatched Duke Idikels had to appease him.
The Empire’s military was not about to lose a war with the South, but with internal problems and a steady buildup of troops on the northern front, the more stable the southern front, the better.
At that time, Duke Idikels did a bit of maneuvering for the purpose.
The Archduke of Halbern’s demotion to the northern provinces was to punish you, the regent of the Southern Empire, for your useless provocations.
“Well, if His Majesty hasn’t summoned him, the Archduke of Halbern has returned of his own accord.”
“…”
In the chilly silence, Duke Idikels swallowed his saliva and smiled weakly.
Regent Locke looked at Duke Idikels out of the corner of his eye. His eyes were as sharp as knives, as if he were trying to probe for the truth.
“You are very eloquent.”
“Hahaha.”
“That tongue of yours is what keeps you alive.”
“Hahaha. Thanks for the compliment.”
He’s over the hump.
With an invisible sweep of his hand across his chest, Duke Idikels confirmed his visible crush.
[♥25 Moderate]
A number that neither goes down nor up.
‘Thank goodness.’
This was the Duke of Idikels’ ability to see favorability, the secret that had kept him in a precarious tug-of-war with the Regent of the Southern Empire for the past six years.
The humans of House Idikels had an innate understanding of how to buy the favor of others, and the ability to quantify it.
Tuk-Tuk.
Regent Locke’s fingers tapped the desk again.
Regent Locke remembered the young Archduke of Halbern, whom he had met only once.
A boy who hadn’t even succeeded him as Archduke of Halbern yet.
“How well does Duke Idikels know Halbern?”
“I don’t know, we’re not really related.”
The most secretive Halbern and the most open Idicels had little to do with each other.
“Perhaps the Archduke would know better than me?”
The Archduchess was Halbern’s favorite.
The look in Locke’s eyes at that one word almost made Duke Idikels bite his tongue.
‘I almost died.’
He knew he was forbidden to say anything about the Archduchess Sione, but he hadn’t expected this.
“Perhaps there is no other family in Albrecht that knows Halbern so well, haha.”
Having succeeded in changing the subject, Duke Idikels glanced around the castle with a secret sigh of relief.
Thinking of Sione, the Duchess of Locke, whom he had not seen even once in the six years he had been here.
***
“Wow, there’s an island in the sky!”
Arellin’s voice rang out loudly.
A wry smile tugged at the corners of Mehen’s mouth as he watched from the window of his office as Arellin stood outside, gazing up at the sky and marveling.
“I know you can smile like that.”
At the sound of Valar’s voice, Mehen’s expression immediately turned grim.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Just about tolerable.”
“You’ve got some lingering effects.”
“Yes.”
“Arel told me that your lordship said some strange things.”
“Ah. That.”
Valar closed his eyes.
“I had a dream.”
“Dreams?”
No answer came back. Mehen sighed.
“My Lord. We have unfinished business, don’t we?”
“Do you want to get married?”
“Do you really want to die?”
“I’m scared, honey.”
“Do you really want to get sued?”
Mehen turned seven colors. Valar laughed low.
“You want something? I’ll give it to you.”
“Conscientious parenting.”
“Dismissal.”
“Faithful performance of official duties.”
“Haha, dismissed.”
“My retirement is granted.”
“Dismissed.”
Mehen threw a pen. Valar, who skillfully dodged, gave him a small tongue-lashing.
“Then why do I only wish for things that can’t be granted.”
“I don’t wish for anything other than that.”
“Money, perhaps.”
“Enough.”
“Power.”
“Not much?”
“A woman?”
“…?”
Mehen’s expression crumpled. Valar laughed at the attitude of never having thought about it.
“You should have a family, like everyone else, normal and peaceful.”
“Me?”
“I can give you a marquisate if you want it.”
“I don’t need it.”
“You’re spiteful.”
“Then why don’t you marry My Lord?”
“Me?”
Valar tilted his head.
“Me? With whom?”
“Anyone.”
“You know, Mehen.”
Pale purple eyes looked into Mehen’s.
“That it will never happen again that I become family with someone.”
A dry declaration followed.
“Halbern is the end of my line.”
Or.
“It ends with Arellin.”
Mehen cringed as he listened.
“Maybe, if you’re in love.”
“Love.”
Valar laughed. No emotion shown through his dry smile.
“Mehen.”
“Yes.”
“You think I, someone…”
Long lashes blinked slowly.
“Do you see me as a human capable of love?”
“You already love her, don’t you?”
Mehen looked out the window. Outside, Arellin was still marveling at the sky tower.
“That’s not love.”
“What’s the difference?”
Mehen retorted.
“To cherish, to care for, to treasure, to guard with everything you’ve got so you don’t lose it.”
“Then answer me.”
Valar raked a hand through his hair, smirking.
“What I’m trying not to lose is…”
The violet eyes sank coldly.
“Is it the last link to my lost sister, or my daughter Arellin?”
A blatant, naked question.
Mehen paused.
“See, you don’t know.”
“…”
This wasn’t an easy question to answer… He wondered…
“She’s not even your real daughter, is she?”
“She’s my daughter if she’s on my family register.”
“Ha, that’s a funny thing to say.”
Mehen glared at Valar’s shameless smirk.
“So what are you going to do now?”
“Do what?”
“When the truth comes out, it’s entirely against us. And legally, too, since your sister is a Duchess of Locke, and her parentage belongs to him.”
That’s why Mehen also knew that Valar had done something crazy by putting his daughter on Halvern’s family register.
“Regent Locke will not stand for it.”
“Yeah, he’s not going to stand still either.”
