“I’m not done, Lofus,” Ludens went on. “I heard that you used the forbidden spell as well, above the sea. The port city has also sent me numerous invoices, billing me for ships, cannons, a large number of potions, and various other items. From Stelia, a famous merchant has filed a claim toward me, declaring that you attacked him. I also dispatched the Dark Knights to fetch you, but you instead utilized them as you saw fit. I also...”
As Ludens began his scolding, Lofus looked utterly exhausted and let out a deep sigh. This prompted the marquess to stop and glare sternly at his son.
“Lofus,” he said.
“If there’s something more you’d like to say, I implore that you write it as a list and hand it to Carlos,” the boy replied.
He turned on his heels to leave and headed for the study’s door, when Ludens stood up with irritation.
“Lofus. I haven’t permitted you to leave,” Ludens said sternly. “Come back here. Right now.”
Lofus responded by turning around and glaring back at his father as though to resist. “Then, if I may, I’d like to say a few words.”
“What?”
“The misdeeds of the magistrate of that area have gone unchecked. He had illegally shackled the citizens with heavy taxation, abducted villagers, and was even involved in the slave trade with nearby industries. It seems the one who was sent to keep a watchful eye on him was also heavily bribed. But, of course, I’m sure that you’ve read all that in the report.”
“I have. What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that you should rule your own land better. Keep a more watchful eye. Your subjects are paying the price for your incompetence.”
Ludens’s eyes widened with astonishment. “Lofus, you—”
“Now then, I don’t wish to be here for long. Mother and my dolt of a brother would cower so long as I’m here.”
“Wait! Lofus!”
But the boy ignored his father’s words and left the study. The door was coldly closed behind him, and Ludens, now alone, lifelessly sank back into his chair.
“I can scarcely believe it. Lofus is worried about the people of Lightless?” he said with a deep sigh. “Is this perhaps the change that Carlos mentioned?”
Unfortunately, no one was around to answer.
✶✶✶
“So I told him that it’s his citizens who must pay the price for his incompetence,” Lofus laughed haughtily. “Oh, you should’ve seen the look on father’s face! I wish you had been there, Carlos.”
Lofus was dining alone, but he was in high spirits. He proudly sat in his villa as an array of luxurious dishes were laid in front of a long table. Carlos stood beside him with a smile.
“I’m sure that Lord Lightless was surprised by how much you’ve grown,” the butler muttered.
“Growth? How so?” Lofus asked.
“Until now, you’ve never really shown any sort of consideration toward your residents, my lord. After all’s said and done, I truly believe that Roguebert was a positive experience for you.”
“If I brought up the citizens, I knew that it’d silence him, that’s all. At the very least, I don’t care about commoners.”
As Carlos pressed a hand against his eyes, moved to tears, Lofus laughed through his nose. The butler sighed wearily.
“My lord, you don’t have to be so bashful,” he said. “Lady Faltiana is a commoner too.”
The moment the name left his lips, the shadow cast within the room turned a shade darker. Lofus quietly set his knife and fork down on the table and glared at his butler with his dark and jade eyes.
“You better not have mentioned Fol to father,” Lofus growled.
“I haven’t said a word,” Carlos replied. “All I’ve noted in my report are the facts and incidents that occurred in Roguebert. Naturally, I also brought up Lady Faltiana, as she was integral to these events.”
“Nothing unnecessary about her, I hope...”
“I have a copy. Would you like to take a look, my lord?”
As well prepared as ever, he eagerly took out a stack of documents. Lofus snatched it from his butler’s hands and scanned the papers, and soon an angry nerve visibly popped out on his forehead.
“Indeed, you’ve written about the monster subjugation, Clinton’s misdeeds, and everything else,” Lofus started. “Not a detail has been missed, and everything is accurate. I suppose I cannot find fault with this.”
“Thank you very much,” Carlos replied with an elegant bow.
“But what is this last bit?!” Lofus roared furiously. “This part about Fol! This isn’t some kind of romance novel!”
At the end of the report was a detailed entry about Faltiana. It went into incredible detail about each interaction between her and Lofus, and every now and then, the passionate writing was all too clear. The final line read, “A fiery love between two star-crossed lovers, inevitably separate due to their birth! What fate awaits them...?” Lofus angrily jabbed his finger at this line that looked like it had been taken right from a romantic tale. Yet, the butler only puffed out his chest proudly, claiming that this was his best work yet. He didn’t have a shred of shame. Lofus buried his face in his hand.
“I should’ve read this before you turned it in...” the noble groaned with agony.
“Indeed so. How imprudent you are, my lord,” Carlos replied.
“No! You don’t get to say that!”
Lofus violently threw the report aside, but Carlos was completely unfazed, cool as a cucumber.
“Did father read this nonsense?” Lofus muttered. He sighed and grumpily rested his face on his hand. “Though, frankly, that’s the least of my concerns.”
“Indeed... This is quite the conundrum...” Carlos agreed.
Near the table lined with delectable dishes were two stacks of papers. One was the mountain of invoices sent by the merchants of the port city, and the other was titled, “Complaint filed by Gillan, wealthy merchant and director of Stelia’s Merchant Association.”
✶✶✶
Lillia, the daughter of an innkeeper, was watching the inn in Roguebert from the dining area situated behind the inn. There weren’t any customers or guests, making the room feel rather spacious. The place was crowded and rowdy during lunchtime, when all the sailors returned from their morning fishing, but once they left for the afternoon, the eatery fell silent once more.
Within this vacant space, Lillia was accompanied by Norn and Fol. Ever since Norn was rescued, Lillia and Fol had been helping her get back on her feet. Norn was often encouraged to leave the house, and during the day, she usually assisted Lillia with watching over the eatery. Though Norn’s stamina had decreased considerably since her confinement, she was gradually regaining her energy and muscle. Fol frequently visited her friend as well, sneaking out between her work hours.
She was currently rolling on the floor, writhing in agony.
“Waaagh!” she shrieked.
Lillia gave her a cold stare. “Then she goes again... You’ve been that way ever since Lord Lofus left.”
Norn let out a strained chuckle. “This is a serious case for sure.”
“If you like him that much, why didn’t you just push him down?” Lillia said with a sigh.
“Apparently, she did something very close to that. She confessed, tried to kiss him, and then...”
Norn trailed off awkwardly, but Lillia nodded with understanding.
“And then she got rejected, huh?” Lillia said.
“I wasn’t rejected!” Fol shouted.
She got up frantically, and Norn giggled.
“But Lofus is still twelve, isn’t he?” Norn asked. “Maybe it’s a bit difficult for him to reciprocate your feelings...”
“I... Yeah, I guess so,” Fol muttered. “I can’t believe I confessed to a twelve-year-old and tried to kiss him... Gaaah! What the hell am I doing?!”
She was glum one moment and screaming the next. Lillia could only watch on wearily, and she slumped her shoulders.
“Someone’s unstable...” she muttered. “I need you to stop doing that when customers arrive.”
“Fol’s only fourteen,” Norn said gently. “I don’t think they have too much of an age gap, so it should be fine...”
“Yeah, but she was rejected, right?” Lillia added cruelly.
“I said that I wasn’t rejected!” Fol shouted.
Her loud voice echoed within the eatery; Roguebert was as rowdy and cheery as ever.
✶✶✶
Three months had passed since Lofus returned from Roguebert. In the underground prison of the Stelia fief, a man with golden hair was restrained by his arms and legs by thick chains, the heavy shackles seeming far too large for a boy his age. Warm Rio Draconis, also known as the Dragon Rider and the strongest of the Elite Four in the tale, looked up from his fetters. The cell in a snowy region was icy and cold, enough to make him expel puffs of white.
“Sorry, Lofus...” Warm muttered. “I screwed up...big time.”
His voice, filled with vexation and regret, quietly melted away within the cell’s bleak, chilling darkness.
✶✶✶
The morning sunshine shone onto my cup of dark coffee. Another morning had arrived. Carlos stood beside me as he gave me an elegant bow.
“Good morning, Lord Lofus,” he said. “You have a visitor who wishes to see you—I have them waiting in the guest room.”
“Chase them off,” I grumbled after a lengthy pause. “What time do you think it is?”
Carlos glanced at his pocket watch. “It’s already past nine, my lord. A slow and lazy morning, I’d think.”
“Is someone from the port’s Merchant Association here again?”
“Quite so. An official this time.”
Then I guess I ought to meet them... I thought. I let out a sigh, something that I realized I’d been doing often recently.
“I’ll have breakfast after this meeting,” I said.
“Certainly,” Carlos replied.