REFDL 90

The Second Prince had a talent for picking the ones Kaelus cherished, those he kept close, and his most beloved subordinates.

He kidnapped those people. Then, he made the dragon Kaelus loved like his own child devour them.

He did it all right before Kaelus’s eyes.

“If you can’t trust my intuition, then trust that bastard’s cruelty and malice.”

“What are you trying to say? If you have something to say, speak clearly.”

“What if he planned this situation?”

“…!”

“What if he meant for you to strangle your own son to death with your own hands..?”

Thud!

Tortan threw the paperweight from his desk. The weight, engraved with irises, branches, and a small bird, struck Kaelus’s temple.

Tortan paused. He threw it in a fit of rage, but he didn’t intend to hit him. He certainly didn’t know it would end up hitting his temple.

‘That’s good.’

Even as he felt the lukewarm blood flowing, Kaelus did not miss the opening created by his opponent’s hesitation.

“I’m asking you to consider the possibility. Nothing is certain yet. If we look at the odds, he really could be Erdion.”

“Shut up.”

“…It wouldn’t matter if the truth remained buried forever. But if you exile that child and let him wither away, only to find out later that he was Erdion…”

“Didn’t you hear me tell you to shut up?!”

“Check for yourself!!”

Kaelus raised his voice for the first time.

“What are you so afraid of! What causes you such pain! Are you that scared of falling back into the abyss after a moment of hope? Do you intend to push your son back to his death when he might have finally returned alive?!”

“.…”

Tortan fell silent, his face pale.

Kaelus returned to his expressionless silence as if he never lost his temper. He knew this was a stretch.

He simply forced the situation to fit a predetermined answer. ​Read on​Tortan was shaken now because of the chaos, but he would soon realize the truth.

Reality always led them to despair without fail.

‘But I must verify this.’

He didn’t do it for empty hope. He needed to buy time to find a way for Odan to survive.

Tortan gritted his teeth. He tried to calm his nerves and find his composure, but it didn’t work. The nightmare from seven years ago returned.

Time in the office flowed backward. Tortan sat at the same desk back then, too. He wore blood-stained armor and bandages around his head. This place used to be the Second Prince’s designated seat. Back then, the Second Prince handled state affairs on behalf of the bedridden late Emperor.

He always wanted to sit here in the office, not on that flashy throne. Tortan thought of that and laughed.

Hahahaha!

He laughed like a madman, cried, laughed again, and then fell to the floor.

He didn’t wash away the bloodstains on the floor back then. He didn’t even lay down a rug. Tortan glanced at the dark stain under the desk before his consciousness returned to the present. Kaelus watched him silently.

Tortan was full of rage and malice.

He looked like he would crush a few innocent lives for his own pleasure.

Kaelus knew him too well.

Tortan’s logic became clouded on this topic.

Kaelus wasn’t in a position to judge others, either. If they spoke about his own losses instead of Erdion, his wrists would have already been torn open by his fingernails, bleeding profusely.

“You’re right.”

“.…”

“There’s no harm in checking. Anyone can tell he resembles the Second Prince more than me, but there are cases like that. That brat named Odan could be Erdion.”

“…”

“Maybe he fell into the Second Prince’s hands during the war, and the Second Prince’s son died while my son survived.”

Kaelus closed his eyes.

It was effectively a declaration of defeat, but Tortan had no intention of letting it go.

“Let’s do this, then.”

Slide.

He opened the desk drawer without hesitation.

“This works out well. I received a report about suspicious movements in the Ilba Archipelago. I didn’t have proof, so I planned to wait… but it’s not a bad idea to go check things out now.”

Kaelus opened his eyes.

“……Are you planning to start a war?”

“Hardly. You know I’m a pacifist. But some wars are unavoidable. If the flames are at your doorstep and you turn away because you’re scared, only ashes remain.”

“…”

“I’ll request an artifact from the Ilba Archipelago in the imperial family’s name. I’ll send an official delegation. If the test shows he is the Second Prince’s son… I’ll sentence him to death according to national law.”

“Tortan!”

“What? Isn’t this what you wanted? You told me to check. So I’m checking. What’s the problem?”

“Tortan!”

“It’s a death sentence. I won’t change my mind.”

“…”

The request for cooperation, written in one breath, was stamped with the Emperor’s seal.

He melted the wax and stamped the Imperial crest over it.

Thump.

The letter, written in this way and with far greater force than any other document, fell like trash at Kaelus’s feet.

The man picked it up without saying anything.

“The events at the festival were act of terrorism. It’s almost certain that the Fourth Prince and Denos were involved. That is a declaration of war.”

“…”

“As expected, Denos’s movements are unusual. We’re already in a state of quasi-war. We must assume war could break out at any moment.”

Firmus hadn’t been idle. The threat from Denos wasn’t new, and Firmus’s preparations were just as thorough. But this was a war between nations.

‘Thorough’ wasn’t enough.

“In a situation like this, every single Pensilta is precious. As the captain, you know what I mean.”

“…”

“Use anAzura for the journey. When visit our siteyou reach the southern port city, I’ll provide up to two Aros.”

[He doesn’t need an Azura or an Aro.]

Creak.

Yuram appeared outside the window. He opened it and stepped inside as if he had been waiting. His small, bandaged body landed lightly on the floor.

Tortan and Kaelus opened their eyes wide in surprise. Even Kaelus, overwhelmed by the pressure and stress of the situation, failed to notice Yuram’s approach.

Yuram ran to Kaelus. The man bent down and caught the small dragon in his arms.

[I’m going with Kaelus.]

“…What nonsense is this? I won’t allow it.”

[Why do I need your permission?]

The Emperor froze.

He glared at the small dragon with a fierce gaze. Yuram didn’t back down. He held his head high in Kaelus’s arms.

[You seem confused. I am not your subordinate. I am certainly not your dragon.]

“…”

Tortan’s face stiffened. Yuram knew his words wouldn’t help Kaelus much.

But he couldn’t just give up. No matter what happened next, he had to be strong here.

[I am Kaelus’s Kremlis.]

“…”

[So I’m going with Kaelus.]

Bang!

Tortan slammed his fist against the desk again.

“Don’t you understand the situation? War is a reality! Denos could cross the border at any moment!”

[So?]

“…What?”

[You should handle that yourself. I’m not the Emperor, and Kaelus isn’t the Emperor. You are.]

Yuram casually said.

Tortan froze. He looked like someone who fell through the ice on a frozen lake in the middle of winter.

Yuram didn’t know which part of his words caused such a shock, but he figured it was fine. The silence didn’t last long.

Tortan slumped back, defeated. A hint of shame flickered in his eyes. He covered his eyes with his hand and weakly waved his other.

“Do as you please.”

***

His intention was simple.

The treatment was excessive, almost annoying. At first, he liked the hands that stroked him while pretending to treat him, but it soon became a chore. He couldn’t stand lying down anymore.

So, he planned to take a walk and come back. He didn’t expect to find the Emperor’s office while climbing the walls, nor did he expect to overhear such an unbelievable conversation.

“…”

[…]

Yuram was locked in a cage again for the first time in a long while. He was speechless.

Why are you angry? I should be the angry one.

Yuram thought that, but Kaelus wasn’t actually angry. He was just worried about Yuram’s injuries.