Chapter 36

Bizarrely enough, we were born on the same day. We looked quite similar when we were young. People would often tell us we were like twins as we grew up because of the color of our eyes. Of course, that was mere flattery. From his looks to his brains to his magnetism, he was my superior in every way. I believe the gods accidentally switched our souls in the womb. And every time I would tell him that, self-deprecatingly, he would smile as if to say I was a hopeless case. “Although I must admit I surprise even myself with my excellence,” he would say. He was so handsome, even other boys would turn their heads, with the same magenta eyes as me. “But even so, I wish to serve you,” he went on. “Be confident in yourself, Ern. You are fit to be king.” “…What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked. Needless to say, my furrowed brow and scowl were intended to hide my embarrassment, while he smiled as if he saw through everything. He was always there, just a little ahead on the path I needed to take, pulling me forward like a big brother helping along his underachieving sibling. Adolphus Castiel. It’s been many years since I called him Dolphy. “I heard Veronica eloped.” The duchess had run off with her lover just after giving birth to her first child. I heard the outlandish rumor the day it happened. It was only because I felt sorry for the newborn Maximilian that I took a scolding tone with Adolphus. He had arrived at the castle the following day appearing the same as always. He looked at me as if it were no big deal. I felt the energy drain from my shoulders. “…Why did you forgive her?” There was no chance he hadn’t known her plans. But Adolphus just shrugged. “The only thing between us was a responsibility to carry on the family line. She did her duty, so I don’t see the problem.” You don’t see the problem?! I thought. Not only had baby Maximilian been abandoned by his mother, but this was indisputably a scandal for the Castiel family. Adolphus put on a brave front, but he surely knew that. “John’s a good fellow. I’m sure Veronica will be happy with him,” he added casually. I sulked in silence. Although Adolphus always kept his cool, I knew he was not a heartless man. Veronica had never had the inner strength demanded of a duchess. Which meant this was probably Adolphus’s version of kindness. Although his methods were so roundabout, neither she nor the average onlooker would ever realize that. As I continued to frown in silence, Adolphus burst out laughing. “…What?” “Nothing, just that you’re as easy to read as ever.” “Sorry, I’ve always been bad at hiding my feelings.” “I meant it as a compliment.” “How’s that?!” I snapped. A smile creased his stunningly handsome face. “See? You’ve lightened my mood. That’s not any easy thing to do.” Adolphus beamed at me, as if to say I ought to be proud of myself, but my scowl only deepened. Several years passed. When Adolphus’s divorce from Veronica was officially sanctioned by the church, I called him to the palace. “…Remarry?” The handsome divorcé, who still attracted swarms of women each time he went out in society, looked at me with suspicion. I nodded confidently and continued. “Don’t you think Max needs a mother?” “He has Claude, so I’m not too worried. Claude’s more motherly than most mothers.” Claude was the butler who had been watching over the Castiel family since Adolphus’s father was duke. He’d taught Adolphus himself how to behave. I was at a momentary loss for words, but I quickly coughed. “…Little children need warm, soft arms to hold them, not a bony old man.” I knew it was a lousy argument, but as usual, Adolphus smiled. That smile charmed both women and men. “I understand the cover story. Now what’s your real motivation?” “…What are you talking about?” “Do you think you can hide from me, Ern?” “…I have nothing to hide.” “Let me give you a piece of friendly criticism. Your ability to conceal your feelings hasn’t improved at all these past ten years.” I looked up at the ceiling and raised both hands in surrender. “People from Soldita came to me in tears. They want me to take in a girl directly descended from Cornelia Faris.” The rumor that the last empress had sought refuge in the Republic of Soldita was true. Ever since, her bloodline had been quietly protected there. But several years ago, Faris had started to interfere. Given that country’s obsession with bloodlines, the motive was probably to infuse the declining royal family with old imperial stock. The visitors from Soldita had said they wanted to prevent that from happening. That confused me, but they said the problem was the man Cornelia Faris had married. Several years after fleeing, she had married the nephew of the then-sovereign. If one of their descendants became the monarch of Faris, there would be unrest in Soldita at the very least. They wanted to avoid unnecessary turmoil. The conditions they offered Adelbide weren’t bad. But it wouldn’t do to bring such a troublesome bloodline into an incompetent noble family. There was only one person I could truly trust in a situation like this. “…What else can I do? No one other than you is fit for the job,” I told Adolphus guiltily. He smiled wryly, as if to say, like he always did, that I was a hopeless case. Several months passed. When I finally saw the bride who had traveled all the way from a faraway land across the sea, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Her glossy black hair was like a reflection of the night sky, and her eyes were an amethyst shade not seen in either Adelbide or Faris. Hers was the beauty of a fleeting dream. “She’s lovely, isn’t she?” I said to Adolphus. But his reaction was cold. He took one glance and looked away, unmoved. “She’s a child.” That was all. I unconsciously pressed my hand to my forehead. True, she was young, but likely less than a decade his junior. “…You have nothing more to say? This woman will be your wife.” “On paper. My job is to shelter the child, correct?” “Shelter? She’s not a dog or a cat…” “She might as well be one. Anyhow, don’t worry. I’m good at this sort of thing.” He shrugged and turned to take the hand of his beautiful bride. “…What happened to your face?” When Adolphus Castiel returned to the capital after a long sojourn in his domain, his cheek was plastered with a large bandage. A shame for someone so handsome. He answered with a single phrase, dejected. “A cat.” “I didn’t know you had a—” I started to say, then smiled. “A cat, eh?” “…Yes.” “A black one?” “…No comment.” No doubt the cat had amethyst eyes. I didn’t know what had happened, but it seemed interesting. I knew if I pushed him for details, he would only grow more sullen, so I decided to hold back and wait. The seasons passed, and before I knew it, the bride from across the sea was with child. I shot the father a questioning look, only to receive a scowl in return. “She’s a force of nature,” he moaned. I didn’t say anything. But apparently my ability to hide my thoughts was as poor as ever. “I told you, she’s a force of nature!” It was rare for the ever-calm Adolphus to become so agitated. I laughed out loud for the first time in what felt like years. “By the way, I heard Sarah safely delivered her second child. It’s a boy,” I said, wiping my eyes. This mention of an old mutual friend changed the grumpy look on Adolphus’s face to a smile. “A boy, is it? Owen looks like Sarah, so I hope this one takes after Lew.” I smiled wryly at the predictable response. “You’ve always liked Lewain, haven’t you?” Ever since we were boys, Adolphus had had a soft spot for Lewain Richelieu. The feeling wasn’t mutual, though, and Lew had grown weary of Adolphus’s constant meddling. Adolphus really was awful at showing his affection. “Naturally. He’s so adorable.” “I don’t see what’s so adorable about that huge man.” “His unpredictability.” “I see.” True enough, Lewain did have a habit of saying and doing unexpected things. Still, it was hard to call his looks adorable. I gave him a puzzled look. “Simon Ulster is getting on in years. This baby will probably take on his title.” Ulster. I couldn’t help frowning at that name, full of darkness. “Blasted convention,” I spat out. “But it’s necessary,” Adolphus chided. “Just like Castiel is necessary.” I had seen that troubled smile of his countless times over the years. When I remained silent, he adopted a brighter tone. “I can’t wait to meet the baby. Sarah promised me that if her next child was a boy, she would make me his namesake.” “If that happens, your darling Lewain will surely cry.” “Oh, didn’t you know? Sarah and I have formed a league whose sole aim is to make adorable little Lew cry. We haven’t succeeded lately, so this will be the perfect opportunity.” He grinned like the handsome devil he was. I felt very sorry for the poor lamb Lewain. Coos filled the room as a chubby little hand reached out toward a huge man with a sharp face. The man cried out in delight. “Pretty girl! She’s not even scared of me!” The man rubbed his own rough cheek against the baby’s soft one, a rapt smile on his face. The baby fussed, probably because his beard had scratched her. “Duran! Don’t touch her. She might catch your idiocy,” Adolphus scolded sharply. “That was uncalled for!” the man shouted back in shock. Duran Belsford was a friend of Adolphus’s. He was also the youngest child of the Belsford family, which oversaw a domain on the border with Faris. He was currently working in the Royal Security Force headquarters, and while his language was foul, his work ethic was good. I’d known him for ten years myself. “Your Highness, did you hear that?! This man is brutal!” “I did indeed. I’m worried, too. Hurry up and give him back sweet little Scarlett.” “What, have I no friends here? Pretty girl, you’ll be my friend, won’t you?” Duran peered into his arms, and for some reason the baby chortled. “You too?!” I burst out laughing at his exaggerated despair. Adolphus was laughing, too. Now that I think back on it, that may have been one of the last times we were able to laugh together so freely. Perhaps that is why the scene appears often in my dreams, even now. It has become a symbol of the happiness of bygone days. Aliénore died when Scarlett was seven years old. She had always been frail, and the doctors had told her she wouldn’t live long. She had recovered poorly after childbirth and was scarcely able to get out of bed in the years before her death. When Adolphus told me she was gone, he appeared the same as always. In fact, though I have known him since we were infants, I have never once seen the man get emotional. “…Do you feel all right?” I asked. Although our relationship was not as unconstrained as it had been in younger years, I still thought of him as a brother. “About what?” Nevertheless, I couldn’t guess what was in his heart. “Just…,” I said, unable to put words to my thoughts. Adolphus blinked, then smiled as always, as if to say I was a hopeless case. Bad news always comes in threes. “Sarah and Lewain, both?” There had been a carriage accident. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen the two of them. Unable to fully absorb what had happened, I stared off in a daze. Adolphus’s cool voice interrupted my thoughts. “Until their heir, Owen, comes of age, Lewain’s younger brother, Davis, will oversee the domain in his stead.” I suddenly thought of the younger child. “…What about Randolph?” “Simon Ulster says he’ll take him in. That was the plan to begin with. It’s a little earlier than expected, but I don’t think it will be a problem. Anyhow, Earl Ulster is getting older.” In other words, the poor boy would soon begin his education with his Great-Uncle Ulster. I felt a pang in my heart but pretended not to notice. Little did I imagine then that, in a few years, Owen, too, would be dead. Owen’s funeral took place not in the domain but instead in a neighborhood church in the capital. That was at the request of Randolph, who lived in the capital with his great-uncle. By the time I’d managed to make it to the church, the guests were already gone, leaving young Randolph alone on a bench gazing at the altar. When I saw him sitting there looking so lost, I realized that he had been left truly alone in the world. “…You’re not crying.” Lewain had cried easily, despite his intimidating appearance. I thought of that as I spoke to his son. He turned slowly in my direction, but his answer seemed directed toward himself. “Ulsters don’t need emotions,” he muttered. His eyes were like still pools of water. Somehow they reminded me of Adolphus Castiel’s. When was it that the gears of fate slipped off track, I wonder. “Juda Notre has been dismissed?” I couldn’t help asking. A former lawyer from a powerful noble family, Notre was a talented civil servant rumored to be the top candidate for next controller-general of finance. “Whatever could he have done wrong?” Adolphus shrugged. “Embezzlement, apparently. Comptroller-General Colbert is furious. Says the dog has bitten the hand that feeds him.” “Was it an anonymous tip?” “No, someone came forward. Simon Daniel—or rather Darkian, I believe. I forgot he took his wife’s name.” “The fellow who was doing the books for the army? All I remember about him is that he’s Deborah Darkian’s husband, but with this, he’s sure to have caught Colbert’s attention. A lucky man indeed.” Unfortunately, the House of Darkian had not been blessed with many children. There had been several older boys, but Deborah was the only heir to survive to adulthood. Several years earlier, she had married and taken on the family title, but I imagine choosing a husband for such a coddled girl was not easy. Simon Daniel was the third son of a marquess on the verge of ruin. The boy himself had no remarkable characteristics and wasn’t much to look at. But perhaps that was for the best. It would be difficult for his family to meddle, and he himself lacked all sign of ambition. This ruined noble had been chosen by a duke’s family and was now on the road to success via a post as comptroller-general of the treasury. Life is always unpredictable. As I was reflecting sentimentally on this turn of events, Adolphus changed the subject. “By the way, some kind of strange hallucinogen seems to be going around lately.” “Hallucinogen?” I asked, flipping through a stack of papers with finance data. “Yes. Apparently, it’s popular among the younger nobles. It’s not especially strong, but I wonder how people are getting it. It’s only the higher nobles who have it.” “They’re not getting it on Rosenkreuz Street?” “I asked O’Brian, but he said he hadn’t seen any sign of it. Lady Audrey keeps a close watch over there, so I believe him.” I shivered involuntarily, recalling the elderly woman who could strike fear in the bravest of hearts. “What’s it called?” “Jackal’s Paradise. I’ve heard people call it J.” “Is that so? A drug named after a foreign beast. Sounds dangerous. I’ll tell my sons to stay away from it,” I joked, but in truth, I wasn’t all that concerned. After all, it was just another hallucinogen. Or so I thought. It was several months afterward that events took another turn. “Duran, accused of treason?” Earl Solms, who held the domain next to that of the Belsfords, had informed on him. The claim was that Duran Belsford was secretly raising an army to revolt against the king. By that point, I already knew that an organization called Daeg Gallus was involved in the distribution of Jackal’s Paradise. The criminal group had members all across the continent. I had ordered Duran to investigate it. Given how busy he was chasing down information, there was no way he would have had time to plan a rebellion. All the same, he’d been convicted. “How idiotic,” I muttered as I read the report from the Ministry of Justice, which stated that he’d already been arrested and would be executed in six months. No matter how you looked at it, things were moving far too fast. “It certainly is,” Adolphus answered. “But I believe you and I are the real idiots.” “…What do you mean?” “This is the work of Faris. They’re pulling the strings.” I blinked, confused. “Faris?” “Yes. Their aim is to start a war and make us a vassal state.” I slowly took in his words. As far as I knew, we had been cultivating a friendly relationship with our neighbors ever since Adelbide became independent from the old Faris Empire. I looked at Adolphus in disbelief. He sighed, sounding exhausted. “I’ve finally figured out their plans…although it’s too late. Duran’s already been locked up.” He threw a bundle of papers at me, a pained expression on his face. As I scrambled to catch them, I saw the words scrawled on top. “‘The Holy Grail of Eris’…?” He laughed self-mockingly. “It seems our kingdom is not so popular after all.” The papers laid out Faris’s financial situation and its scheme to wage a war to take over Adelbide for its economic resources. To top it off, Scarlett, descendent of Cornelia Faris, was to be their pretext. “…So Duran’s imprisonment is the work of Faris, too?” I muttered, trying to hide my panic over the information I’d just received. “Yes,” Adolphus replied. “The Belsford domain is on the border with Faris. Its defense is impregnable. They haven’t been chasing off the northern tribes all these years for nothing. I have no doubt Faris’s goal in the Duran affair is to weaken that stronghold. Most likely, they intend to take advantage of the chaos following Duran’s death to attack the border.” How could this happen? I raised my eyes to the ceiling. “In other words, the reason he was sentenced to death so quickly—” “Is because there’s a rat in our midst.” “…So Solms is a pawn.” “He and Duran were always at loggerheads anyway, so I’m sure they had no trouble manipulating him.” “Then that hallucinogen is a way for them to raise funds?” “No doubt that’s part of it, but considering how popular it is among the higher nobles, the real goal seems to be to erode our kingdom’s strength. And if we think about which nobles are close with Solms, who has soared to prominence with such stunning speed…” I widened my eyes. “Simon Darkian…!” The unremarkable man who had married into the Darkian family. In that case, the dismissal of Juda Notre must be related as well. Although I wasn’t sure if it was the will of Deborah, current head of the Darkian family, or Simon’s own decision. “We must question Simon immediately—” “He would just claim total ignorance. And we have no evidence. Our priority must be saving Duran. Most likely, his death will be the trigger for war.” “Unbelievable…” The very survival of our kingdom was at risk. The enemy had spent years perfecting their plan. Digging only turned up more damning evidence against Duran, while not a single trace of Simon Darkian’s wrongdoings could be found. We had taken peace for granted, and now we had no chance of winning. That was the situation when the Security Force named Scarlett Castiel a suspect in the failed assassination attempt against Cecilia Luze. They said an earring that appeared to be hers had been found at the scene of the crime. I groaned when I heard the news. “Do you think framing Scarlett is part of their plan, too?” “Most likely it’s a coincidence. They have no reason to harm Scarlett.” Adolphus was right. I thought over the military strategy called the Holy Grail of Eris. According to that plan, Scarlett, who carried the blood of Cornelia Faris in her veins, was to be installed as the new queen. It seemed unlikely that they would intentionally expose her to danger. Without Scarlett, it would be hard for them to achieve their ideal takeover of Adelbide. At that point, I realized something. Something very disturbing. Without Scarlett— Goose pimples rose on my arm. The horror of it made me want to vomit. I was disgusted with myself for even thinking such a thing. But I could not erase the thought from my mind. Many lives would be lost in a war. And as things stood now, Adelbide had no chance of winning. What would become of the people if Adelbide became a vassal state of Faris? As ruler, I had to do everything I possibly could to avoid that. And yet, sweet smiles from happy days long ago flickered across my mind. The innocent laughter. The little palm. The warmth of a little body. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t make the decision. I clasped my hands and looked up, searching for something to cling to. Our eyes met. Adolphus Castiel narrowed his eyes, those eyes that were the same color as mine, and formed his lips into a troubled smile. As if to say I was a hopeless case. “Your Highness,” he said quietly. Not Ern, but Your Highness. When he addressed me in that way, it was always to speak as a loyal subject of the king. “Let’s make use of Scarlett.” Oh Gods, I silently screamed. If it might have led to my forgiveness, I would have kneeled on the ground then and there and repented. If not that, I at least wanted the gods to punish my folly as quickly as possible. Because it should have been me giving the order. It was my duty to speak those words. I sinned in hesitating. I let myself be carried away by my own emotions. I should never have weighed one human life against the fate of my kingdom. Not if I were a proper king. I should never have made this man say something so cruel. “Their plan can only succeed if someone with the blood of Faris’s imperial family is involved. So surely, if Scarlett is executed—” I could listen to no more. “Instead of executing her, we can banish her to Soldita or somewhere like that and then later bring her back…!” Adolphus smiled. A gentle smile, as if he were soothing the temper of a difficult little brother. But his tone did not waver. “Your Highness, I’m sure you understand the situation. If Duran is executed and the Belsford domain crumbles, the same thing will happen. Faris has a way to invade and conquer Adelbide even without Scarlett. We absolutely must free Duran Belsford. To prove his innocence, we need time. Scarlett’s execution will without a doubt attract the attention of the public. In which case, all we need to do is convince them that public executions are savage, primitive affairs. We can instruct Kimberly Smith at the Violet Association to lead the protest movement. She is a student of Simon Ulster’s. She will do her job well.” Although it wasn’t known to the public, the Violet Association served as a safety valve to diffuse anger toward the royal family and nobles. The majority of its members were commoners who knew nothing of this, but those in leadership roles were specially trained undercover agents. “If there is an outcry calling for a halt to public executions, Duran’s will have to be put off. In the meantime, we can collect evidence proving his innocence.” “Wait, there must be some other way—” There was but a moment of silence. “…Unfortunately, we have no time. And this is a better opportunity than we could have hoped for.” I knew that. I knew it all too well. I looked down and covered my face with my hands. I felt unbearably wretched for seeing no way forward aside from sacrificing Scarlett. I was also sad. Sad that even at a moment like this, Adolphus showed no emotion. Sad that under no circumstance would he lay the blame on me. “Your Highness.” His terribly even voice broke the silence. “Remember well who begs you to save Scarlett’s life. Most likely the enemy’s operatives will be among them.” I was utterly helpless. I bit my lip so hard, it bled. As it was, I couldn’t take down a single Darkian. “I’m certain they will eventually bare their teeth again. But by then—” If Scarlett was executed and Duran Belsford was freed, Faris would no doubt be forced to retreat. But that would not be the end. They would sharpen their claws and watch vigilantly for the next chance to expand their territory. Exactly like a wild beast scavenging for carrion. However, we would not be waiting passively while they did so. No matter how many years it took, we would take down Simon Darkian and every last one of the other traitors. When Adolphus spoke again, his voice was like a spark reigniting the flame that had gone out in my heart. “We’ll have the last laugh, and then we’ll rub their noses in it.”