I could tell she sensed my hostility, but she tried to run instead of apologizing. I glared at her as she backed away. You still have something left to do.
Dirk sighed softly and leaned in closer to whisper. “You canceled the spell, or maybe you just protected the flame instead. Either way, she’s just a girl, Lucas. That’s cold.”
“You’re one to talk. You used Cecilia as bait several times when she was only seventeen,” I pointed out.
“Oof, I walked right into that one. I already apologized for that! Can’t you just let it go?”
We must’ve looked terrifying to anyone watching, sitting there whispering like that. Whoever planned this probably thought they’d just incited war with Bern. They never would’ve guessed our conversation had taken such a dumb turn.
Even that bastard brother of mine could be useful sometimes.
“I’ll consider it if Cecilia has forgiven you.”
“Ugh, that’s gonna be tough. I might need some more time for that.”
“That’s not my problem,” I said. “You better write a will.” And that was the end of that conversation.
Dirk stepped back like he was giving up on me, then made a big show of looking at the girl and putting a hand over his neck, saying, “Poor thing.”
She must’ve remembered the rumors about the Hero who’d returned to town laden with the heads of monsters.
The color drained from her face so fast you could almost hear it, but what punctuated the silence was her gasp. The fear had broken her. She turned her head sharply in a certain direction, toward the one who’d brought her here.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“D-don’t look at me, you idiot! Prince Islan! I think there’s something wrong with bells or with the flames!”
I knew it.
I could tell by his appearance that this nobleman was related to her, and he protested, hoping I’d kill Islan on the spot. Instead, the prince sprang up out of his seat.
“You dare insult me, Lord Tikrit?!” Islan’s voice rang out louder than expected.
“So it was Tikrit, then. Your mother’s family, right? I didn’t think one of Aram’s two foremost noble families would turn against you, but it makes sense. You’ve been favoring the Salkishans too much ever since Princess Yana became your favorite. And now Tikrit wants to take their place.” Dirk didn’t even try to hide his exasperation as he rubbed his forehead.
Islan had treated me, Bern’s Hero, as a state guest, making it clear that I was off-limits to other nobles. And yet the Majaarian nobles were still trying to push women at me.
Islan’s hold over his people was pathetic.
Bern needed Majaar to remain stable under Islan’s reign. Dirk had been right that we needed to help maintain order in this kingdom, but the fact that we had to drag Cecilia’s name through the mud to accomplish that pissed me off.
This kingdom is a total joke.
“What insult is there in inquiring into a possible malfunction? Unless there is something else weighing on your conscience, Your Highness?”
“Tch…” I couldn’t help but scoff as the old man rattled off all the textbook lines.
That was all it took to break Islan’s composure. “You dare suggest there was a flaw in my banquet? That’s the height of rudeness! If you doubt it that much, then let’s test it ourselves! Someone try to extinguish the flame before Prince Lucas!” Already, he was scrambling to spin things in my favor so he could save face.
“I’ll do it!” Dirk said, laughing, as the banquet hall descended into chaos. “There’s no need for a bell. It’s not the bell that puts out the flame, anyway. It’s the spell carved into it. I can replicate it easily. That way, no one can tamper with the results.”
Of course, Dirk volunteered. He loved this sort of thing. He always accused me of being underhanded, but he was ten times worse.
Plus, if it didn’t work, he’d be the one making fools of the nobles in the Tikrit faction. Just as he made his move, I waited until the moment he cast the spell on the flame before I quietly removed the invisible barrier I’d cast to protect it.
“See? It’s working just fine.” The flame swayed for a moment, then disappeared. Dirk turned to me with a grin, giving me a knowing look.
I snorted at him.
I like to see him sweat.
Now that the stage was set, it was time to get the Tikrit family out of here. And if I pushed, I might even get them to confess their ties to the Egrich Empire.
“Prince Islan,” I said loudly, “you told me that you’d already made it clear I was bringing my wife, and that by your will, I would not be involved in this sort of nonsense. And if that wasn’t true, you’d give me the head of whoever caused trouble.”
That last part was a lie, but after everything I’d done for him, he owed me that much.
Islan didn’t hesitate to play along, either. “Yes, his head is yours. I’ve got no use for the man myself, after all.”
“N-no! Lord Hero! Surely you must’ve done something!”
“Ha ha. Don’t be ridiculous. What a sore loser.” Dirk couldn’t hold back a laugh.
The old man had guessed the truth and still tried to make a run for it. His face was red with fury as he spat out the words that sealed his fate. “How disgraceful! Is this how you intend to destroy the precious ties between Bern and Majaar?!”
“Oh? Are you saying you’re the one in charge of those ties now, Lord Tikrit?” The fury in Islan’s voice plunged the hall into silence. “Was it not I who invited and welcomed them? Yet you would claim to speak on behalf of the whole kingdom? You’re only the head of one noble house, and not even the one that rules half of Aram! Just because you’re my mother’s uncle, don’t you dare think you get to play king!”
The guards stationed nearby bowed their heads as if waiting for orders. The nobles seated near Tikrit began to slowly edge away from him. Once everything was in place, Islan let out a breath and delivered his verdict.
“Lord Tikrit, you may take your leave…and rest in the dungeon tonight.”
“N-no, Your Highness! Please, Lord Hero! I beg you for mercy!”
“P-please, no! I only obeyed orders because my family…because my mother was taken hostage!”
The soldiers dragged the Tikrit family away through the doors. All the nobles in the room went pale at the sight and watched in silence. Now they understand very clearly that betrayal would be punished with no exceptions.
Islan let out another breath, and everyone’s attention turned to him again.
“My friend, I am truly sorry for what’s happened tonight. I swear to you that nothing of the sort will happen again. As you already know, there’s more to Majaar’s dances than just pretty spectacles. Would you give me another chance? I promise you’ll witness a performance that’s not only beautiful but also moving.”
“Fine, but if it’s going to be that incredible, then I want my wife here to see it, too,” I said.