Chapter 86
8.
Word spread that Karon had broken his leg in a fall from his horse.
As a result, the duel with the Monlepe Ducal family was postponed indefinitely.
It was said that while hunting with the young lords, a wild boar suddenly charged out, causing the accident—but no noble believed that story.
“He fell from the horse before the boar even appeared, I hear.”
“And that area isn’t even a habitat for boars, right? They say it’s a place where at most pheasants show up.”
Above all, since Karon had entered the academy as a riding specialist, the noble’s suspicions swelled like foam.
Wherever one went, talk of the Skya Ducal family was unavoidable.
Especially the vassals of the Monlepe Ducal family openly criticized the Skya Ducal family.
“Is it true his leg is broken? Not just lying because he’s scared of the duel?”
“From what those who visited him say, it really is broken. However—”
“However?”
“There’s suspicion that he broke it on purpose because he didn’t want to fight Bos Asil…”
In the conference room of the Monlepe Ducal family.
It was the day of the regular meeting, so the vassals had gathered, centered around Asil and Edenber.
“If he dueled with Lord Asil, would it end with just one leg?”
Thinking that, the fall from the horse was a cheap price to pay, one vassal shook his head.
Another, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
“There’s also talk that something’s wrong with the divine beast.
If Young Duke Karon’s leg is broken, they could have just summoned the divine beast. From the start, a duel between the young duke and Bos Asil doesn’t make sense as a match.”
“Naturally, I thought they’d use the excuse of a slip of the tongue to change the opponent.”
“I thought the same.”
“There’s also a rumor that intruders entered the mansion and killed Prince Briden and Princess Lilibett… It’s chaotic in many ways.”
What does the duke think about this? The vassals all turned to look at Edenber.
Then Edenber, who had been glancing repeatedly at the listless and slumped Asil, spoke.
“Is that why you’re so down…?”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. I hear the temple will soon hold a hearing targeting the Duke of Skya.”
At the sudden remark, the vassal’s eyes widened.
And for good reason—the hearing was held right before a divine trial, to hear the final defense.
“For the investigation into the hunting festival incident, they requested the duke to summon the divine beast, but he refused to the end.”
Edenber’s gaze sank low.
“For the past year, the Skya Ducal family has made all sorts of excuses to avoid showing the divine beast.”
“…”
“The man who did that pulled out the divine beast to save the princess he usually saw as a thorn in his side, and now, with the family in crisis and the princess known to be dead, he’s not summoning it.”
In that instant, the same assumption flashed through the minds of everyone at the meeting.
One of them voiced the thought aloud.
“That means the true owner of the divine beast might not be the Duke of Skya, but either Prince Briden or Princess Lilibett.”
“But there’s talk that both are dead…”
The vassal who responded trailed off.
“Even if one of them was the true owner, the Duke of Skya or Young Duke Karon should have received the divine beast’s authority again.”
“And yet they couldn’t summon it…”
“That means they’ve incurred the divine beast’s wrath.”
Edenber said it matter-of-factly.
“Just like Father.”
“…”
The sudden mention of the previous duke made the vassals clamp their mouths shut as if by agreement.
They exchanged glances and hurriedly changed the subject.
“About Sir Lane. As soon as he arrived, he completely eradicated the monsters on Etna Island.”
“And Sir Basian? He came briefly but pointed out all the shortcomings in the existing manual.”
Recently, Lane and Basian had visited the Monlepe territory, solved the Etna Island issue without asking for any compensation, and left.
When asked the reason for the inexplicable kindness, Basian had replied:
“I received a request from Lady Erzebet, the benefactor of our family.”
At that, large question marks floated above the heads of the Monlepe people.
Why would Lady Erzebet have any connection to the Monlepe Ducal family?
Then, recalling her relationship with Edenber, they could only nod in acceptance.
“We should convey our thanks to Lady Erzebet.”
“We ought to send a grand gift. What would be good…”
“Phew.”
The vassals stopped their conversation at the sudden sigh.
Asil, seated beside Edenber, was staring blankly out the window.
Her slumped shoulders and wings made her look profoundly lonely.
Her usual cheerfulness was nowhere to be seen, she seemed as if struck by spring fever, and the vassals whispered in lowered voices.
“Is something wrong?”
“Did she fight with the duke?”
“Is the rabbit ill?”
“Perhaps she wants a new jewel.”
“With spring, the strawberries might taste different, and she’s lost her appetite?”
“Oh, that seems the most likely. Let’s inquire about winter strawberries immediately.”
“The northern regions haven’t thawed yet. No matter the cost, we must get fully frozen ones.”
It was the most passionate discussion since the meeting began.
The vassals fervently debated how to acquire strawberries perfectly suited to Asil’s taste.
However, Asil’s melancholy wasn’t because of strawberries.
* * *
A few days ago, Asil had seen off Briden and Lilibett as they left the capital with Count Feyrunt.
Just before departing, Lilibett had informed the count that she possessed the divine beast.
By imperial law, if the divine beast’s owner differed from the family head, punishment ensued, and concealing the owner didn’t exempt one from penalty.
Yet Count Feyrunt steadfastly took the children’s side.
“What’s the big deal about who owns the divine beast?”
“But… if trouble arises later…”
“I can’t send you back to that vile Duke of Skya. You’re known to be dead anyway, right?”
Through Asil, Count Feyrunt had learned fully how the two children had been treated.
He couldn’t return them to the Duke of Skya, who had openly abused his own children.
“Whether they misunderstand and think they’ve incurred the divine beast’s wrath or not, it’s none of my concern. You reap what you sow.”
For the children’s safety, the count intended not to send them to the capital until Lilibett could fully control the divine beast.
“You’re busy enough growing up seeing only good things and staying bright, so don’t worry about anything else.”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
Asil, hiding her reluctance to part, chimed in cheerfully while waving.
“The turtle lady wouldn’t like that either.”
“…Next time we meet, I’ll come back as someone outstanding enough to help you.”
Lilibett said in a choked voice.
“And I’ll make sure you and Brother get married.”
“Why me!”
“I can’t get married!”
“Just do it yourself!”
“I can’t marry a girl!”
Watching the two bicker, Asil giggled brightly.
And she waved vigorously until those boarding the carriage became tiny specks and vanished.
“Bye!”
“Thanks for helping.”
“I’ll write as soon as we arrive!”
Briden and Lilibett leaned out the window, expressing their lingering attachment.
Once the two had completely departed, Asil grew despondent.
They were her first friends in the human world…
Facing this indefinite separation for the first time in her life left her heart empty.
Arcian, who had come with her, firmly grasped Asil’s shoulder.
“My Asil did well. Shall we go home with Dad, eat strawberry cake, and play with the bell fishing rod?”
“Uun.”
At her listless reply, Arcian scooped Asil into his arms and boarded the carriage.
Asil hugged his neck tightly.
Her father’s warmth seemed to ease the emptiness from parting with the twins, if only a little.
To cheer up his downcast daughter, Arcian spoke.
“Helping friends in trouble—you did so well. Who does my daughter take after to be this smart?”
“Dad.”
“Yes, that’s right. She must take after Briana… Huh?”
“Daaaad.”
Asil buried her face deeply into his nape.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
By Anna 💓
