RGS Volume 4 Part 8

“Hah, hhah, where, where is he?”

Melmond, carrying the butler, came running and asked breathlessly. The campfire where Melmond’s group had been resting was now reduced to just a few small embers. They glowed red in the gray ashes like the eyes of an animal, but it didn’t show what Melmond was searching for.

“Whe-where is His Majesty?”

Melmond continued to ask with a trembling voice, looking around the empty surroundings with a desolate look in his eyes.

“Y-young master Lil?”

For the first time since arriving here, Kin turned his body, which had not moved.

“I don’t know.”

“Y-you don’t know?”

Not only Melmond, but also the butler who groaned while being carried by him, asked in surprise.

“You mean you don’t know where our young master is?”

Kin slowly turned around the empty field and muttered absentmindedly.

“It seems like he went somewhere else.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know.”

The same answer came out once again, but the two looked even more shocked than before. Kin stared at them sharply.

“What I’m curious about is not where His Majesty went but why he also took young master Lil.”

Swoosh.

Kin drew his sword and took a step closer to them. He asked in a low voice, his intention was clear, if they didn’t speak, he would cut them down.

“Now, tell me. What is it that I don’t know?”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖            

It was worth the risk of moving through the night. Ashler had divided the guards and searched the area for traces of the emperor. However, as dawn broke, they discovered over ten bodies of corpses at the entrance of a forest. As he dismounted and approached the corpses, he saw signs of wounds from a fight.

“This is Sir Kin’s work.”

When Nani, who got off his horse and followed Ashler, confirmed it, Ashler nodded.

“They haven’t been dead for long. His Majesty and Sir Kin must be nearby.”

Ashler mounted his horse again and rode into the forest. As he expected, he soon spotted Kin in a small field. However, the scene was completely different from what he had anticipated. Karas was nowhere to be seen, and Kin was pointing his sword at someone. And that someone was none other than…

“Oh? Isn’t it Sir Melmond and the butler?”

Hearing Nani’s shout, Ashler approached with a surprised look, and Kin turned his fierce gaze towards him.

“Sir Kin, what is going on here?”

“You came at the right time. Since you’re here, why don’t you tell me?”

Kin lowered his sword that was aimed at Melmond and the butler and asked Ashler the same question.

“What is the true identity of young master Lil?”

Ashler’s eyes, which had widened in surprise, gradually calmed down and took on a serious look. He stared at Melmond for a moment, then asked Kin instead of giving a direct answer.

“Have you been traveling with young master Lil’s group all along?”

“Is that important?”

“Yes, depending on the situation.”

When Ashler answered firmly, Kin nodded.

“I see.”

“But why was there no mention of it in the letter?”

“Because His Majesty ordered it to be kept a secret.”

Kin responded just as firmly and returned to his original question.

“Surely, His Majesty’s order isn’t preventing you from telling me young master Lil’s true identity?”

“……”

“Sir Ashler.”

Kin turned his body completely towards Ashler, holding his sword. Ashler’s men, who were a little away from the situation of him pointing a sword at an ally, were confused and tried to draw their swords. However, Ashler raised his hand first and signaled them, then opened his mouth.

“You won’t believe it.”

“I’ll decide that after I hear it.”

“Very well. I will tell you.”

Ashler nodded as if he had made a decision, and Melmond looked at him with worried eyes. However, contrary to Melmond’s concerns, Ashler did not immediately reveal Abel’s true identity.

“But before I tell you, there’s something I need to know first. Where exactly are His Majesty and young master Lil?”

Though the dawn light was dispelling the darkness from the open field, the two important individuals were nowhere to be seen. Following Ashler’s lead, Kin also looked around as he answered indifferently.

“I don’t know.”

Don’t know?

Ashler turned his head sharply, glaring at him, but Kin’s indifferent tone remained unchanged. However, his expression was darker than anyone else’s.

“They disappeared.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖            

Since Norhox was the host of the party that lasted until late at night, no one should have come to see him early in the morning. However, Truyde called him to his house, even though he had stayed up all night. Naturally, he should have been in a bad mood, but Norhox’s expression was completely the opposite. His mouth seemed to twist as if he was holding back laughter.

He was indeed actually holding back his laughter that was about to burst out. Truyde’s visit from early in the morning was evidence that Marquis Yan’s words from last night were true. If it followed the curse that he would come to like the king’s Regas, it meant that the real Regas had not yet appeared to Karas.

Even if it wasn’t true, Truyde’s sensitive reaction made it worthwhile to exploit. Honestly, it was hard to believe Marquis Yan’s words. Norhox wiped the smile off his face as he stepped through the door opened by a servant. Truyde must have called him because of this.

“Is the Regas that the emperor mentioned ready?”

Truyde asked casually, without taking his eyes off the documents. Thanks to his attitude towards him, Norhox’s joyful heart disappeared completely.

“If it’s a Regas with blond hair and green eyes, we have enough of them. There are also those who have been trained to be ready for immediate use.”

“That’s good. Prepare a few of them for immediate use.”

“If it’s immediate, do you plan to send them to the emperor right away?”

“Yes. I plan to send them in advance as a gift to the emperor who will arrive outside the palace tomorrow. Speaking of which…”

Truyde raised his head and stared at Norhox with cold eyes.

“You will go to greet the emperor.”

As a King’s Heart with a power almost equivalent to the emperor, to personally greet him was a blow to his pride. However, Norhox was secretly delighted. In the current situation, it was advantageous to meet the emperor first. Moreover, if he took the Regas’ with him, he could assess the emperor’s exact preferences in advance. If he was lucky, there might even be a real Regas among them.

“Yes, understood. I will shake things up with the Regas before the emperor enters the palace. After always seeing his blood-soaked subordinates, even the emperor is bound to show interest once he sees a beautiful Regas. Unlike when he was younger, the emperor is now at an age where he needs to satisfy his desires. If all goes well, the Regas’ might even be able to separate him from his close aides.”

Norhox confidently praised his Regas’ further. Trude listened with a faint smile before responding.

“A Regas that even the indifferent Emperor would show interest in. It seems you’ve prepared thoroughly this time. But who told you to use the Regas’ as you please?”

Norhox’s expression hardened at Truyde’s sarcastic question.

“Didn’t you tell me to take the Regas’ with me?”

“Yes. Someone else will take them, not you.”

Someone else?

Norhox couldn’t hide his displeasure as he watched Truyde give orders to his subordinates. Soon, someone entered. Truyde pointed at the person entering and explained directly.

“Hand over your Regas to this person. This person will manage the Regas’ for the time being.”

The person Truyde pointed to recognized Norhox and bowed his head. However, Norhox’s face, staring at him, was beyond anger, he was pale with anger. The other person was none other than the war profiteer.

“How dare you… someone like you…”

Norhox spat out through gritted teeth as he took a step toward him. His clenched fist looked ready to draw a sword at any moment, but the war profiteer bowed even lower and greeted him.

“How have you been? It’s such an honor to assist with the matters concerning the Regas’.”

The war profiteer glanced at Norhox with eyes that were now even sharper and greasier than before.

“It was an honor to assist the Marquis when you were on the verge of bankruptcy. Though all I did was send you a little salt.”

Norhox, who had been about to draw his sword, glared at the war profiteer and withdrew his hand. Those eyes still made him feel uneasy.

Was it because the country bumpkin is rising rapidly and is one step ahead closer to the highest power that his endless greed was revealed?

It was maddening to look at him, making him turn his head in disgust.

Fighting against such a person was a blow to his pride. And to top it off, the Regas was entrusted to him. However, for now, he had no choice. Norhox clenched his fist with enough force to pierce his flesh with his nails and stepped back. If things continued like this, he would have no choice but to join forces with Marquis Yan. He had to get Truyde out as soon as possible.

“Understood. I’ll entrust the Regas’ to this person.”

When Norhox forcibly spat those words, Truyde stared at him fiercely instead.

Marquis Yan was clearly trying to bring Norhox to his side, so he had to act in advance. Even if it meant using a war profiteer he didn’t like. Truyde glanced briefly and then looked into the war profiteer’s eyes.

Cold and vulgar eyes.

He felt so bad that he had a strong urge to withdraw his plan. However, he quickly ignored it and instructed Norhox what he needed to do.

“You have other things to do once you meet the emperor.”

When Norhox asked what it was, Truyde handed him the documents he prepared.

“Prevent the Emperor’s army from entering the palace. Cut off all the emperor’s limbs.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖            

“Search the surroundings quickly!”

At Ashler’s command, the soldiers who had followed him scattered in all directions.

Where did the emperor go with the collapsed Abel?

A moment ago, Kin had calmly explained the situation briefly. Ashler was shocked. If the Emperor had been traveling with Abel from the beginning, it might have been a calculated move. Perhaps he had kept him close under the pretense of traveling together to confirm if he was the real one.

Moreover, now Abel knew that the other person was the prince of his dreams. Honestly, Ashler had only been thinking about confronting the King’s Heart as the capital was right in front of them. No one could predict what would happen if Karas knew Abel had reincarnated. However, unpredictable events had already begun. Ashler questioned Melmond as if reproaching him.

“Melmond, did you not notice His Majesty’s thoughts at all?”

Melmond, who was sitting with Nani, looking after the butler who seemed to have fainted, raised his eyes awkwardly.

“Well, His Majesty is so silent and expressionless that I didn’t expect him to be suspicious of anything.”

“What do you mean, His Majesty was suspicious of something?”

Kin, who had been waiting quietly while Ashler gave orders to his subordinates, interrupted. Ashler and Melmond then realized they hadn’t explained to him yet. Kin alternated his gaze between the two and demanded an explanation.

“Now it seems like it’s time for me to hear everything.”

A moment of silence passed, and Ashler repeated the warning he had given earlier.

“You won’t believe it.”

“I said it is up to me to decide.”

“…….”

“Ashler.”

“Young master Lil is the real Regas of His Majesty.”

The real Regas?

Kin frowned and tilted his head to the side.

“Didn’t you say His Majesty’s real Regas died twelve years ago?”

“That’s right. Young master Lil is that person.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I told you. It’s something you won’t believe.”

Ashler slowly added to Kin, who was frozen in surprise.

“His Majesty’s Regas, who died 12 years ago, has been reincarnated.”

Everyone present here, except Kin, knew the story. However, the words that came out of Ashler’s mouth were still surprising. No, even if they hear it hundreds of times in the future, it will still be surprising.

The dead coming back to life.

However, Kin, who should have been the most surprised, did not seem to be shocked unexpectedly. Although his eyes widened for a moment as if surprised, his face, which soon became expressionless, turned cold. Ashler asked sharply, puzzled.

“Is there something wrong, Sir Kin?”

“His Majesty, Regas….”

Kin muttered to himself without answering Ashler’s question. Then, he turned his eyes and looked around before speaking. His voice, like his face, was cold in some way.

“We must find His Majesty by tomorrow. The King’s Heart will not let His Majesty and the Main Army into the castle without a fight, so someone will surely come to interfere. However, if they know His Majesty is not here, they might perceive it as a weakness and try to exploit it.”

Ashler bit his lip, knowing that Kin’s words were right.

“I will also go to find His Majesty. Sir Kin…”

Tap.

Ashler was about turn and walk away when Kin suddenly grabbed his arm and stopped him.

“If you just search blindly, it will take weeks to find him.”

“Do you have any other ideas then?”

As Ashler looked up and asked expectantly, a response came.

“The moment he saw us, he immediately asked for medicine. But in a situation where other’s breathing seemed to ceased, there was no medicine that was suitable, so they didn’t give him anything.”

Kin glanced briefly at Melmond as if confirming before continuing.

“So, there’s only one place His Majesty could have gone, right?”

Ashler finally realized then that he hadn’t thought of the simplest answer because he was too impatient.

“He must have gone to see the doctor.”

Ashler turned his body again, muttering. This time, Melmond urgently called out to him.

“Ashler, take this with you!”

Melmond handed over a brown bottle that he had been holding tightly in his hand and brought up what the butler had said.

“Perhaps this might be effective.”

As Ashler nodded his head to accept the bottle, Kin took it before he could, tucking it into his clothes.

“I’ll deliver it.”

With those brief words, Kin left as if to join the search. Ashler felt something odd about his actions and furrowed his brows, but soon followed suit.

Saving Abel was the most important thing at the moment.

He couldn’t let him die twice before Karas’ eyes.