RGS Volume 5 Part 22

Melmond, checking several times to make sure no one was following him, arrived at the quarters for lower-ranked knights. It was difficult to meet Ashler in the palace, as no area could be entered without a pass. However, there was someone who could relay a message to Ashler right away.

“Melmond? What brings you to the palace?

As soon as he saw him, Nani pulled Melmond aside in the corner and whispered.

“What if the King’s Heart sees you?”

“No, Duke Truyde summoned me. But I need to see Sir Ashler immediately. It’s urgent.”

At the mention of the duke, Nani’s expression grew serious as he asked,

“Is it because of the medicine you made? Are you in danger?”

No, Melmond shook his head again.

“I need to see Sir Ashler right away.”

“Sir Ashler is at the Prince’s Palace where His Majesty resides. However, the King’s Heart will be coming there soon, so he won’t move. Since arriving at the palace, Sir Ashler hasn’t left His Majesty’s side. What’s going on? If it’s an urgent message, I’ll deliver it for you.”

Melmond bit his lip slightly, then pulled Nani’s arm and whispered.

“Tell Sir Ashler to come to my cabin in the forest as soon as he can. Make sure to follow discreetly in case you’re being watched. If he asks why, tell him this. Abel is alive.”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Ashler couldn’t catch his breath for a moment at Nani’s words he had just heard.

Abel is alive?

Could it be true?

Could Melmond have been mistaken?

He wondered, but he would find out for sure by going to Melmond at night and seeing it with his own eyes.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, it was unbelievable. If Abel were truly alive, wouldn’t Karas’ precarious actions be stopped immediately? Ashler suppressed the urge to inform Karas right away. It was important to confirm the truth first.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel his heart pounding. He couldn’t focus because the expression on the King’s Heart that had passed by him in the hallway a moment ago bothered him. He learned that Marquis Yan had burned to death by the afternoon. He was surprised that the King’s Heart had chosen the Marquis as the first victim, but he quickly understood.

Truyde had eliminated the most dangerous person to himself first. While this meant that one of the emperor’s enemies was also gone, which should have been welcome news, Ashler could not feel pleased. The Marquis’ death meant that the object he possessed had also disappeared.

Truyde would not have left the object as it was. It was a crucial item to uncover Truyde’s secret, and now it had vanished forever. The secret of the black potion seemed to drift further away, leaving him feeling uneasy. However, it seemed that other members of the King’s Heart, apart from Truyde, were equally displeased.

Norhox, who followed behind Truyde, looked like a man who had lost his mind. The arrogant posture and confidence that he always displayed as a member of the King’s Heart were gone, replaced by slumped shoulders, a vacant expression, and dull eyes. He appeared as if all hope had vanished with the Marquis’s death.

Lastly, the War Profiteer was slowly trudging along. Though he appeared as dazed as Norhox, he deliberately made eye contact with Ashler as he passed. It was only a brief moment, but Ashler understood the message he conveyed.

‘Where is Kin?’

However, Ashler couldn’t provide an answer yet. Kin had disappeared as if swallowed by the earth. The only lead left was a man named Tom from the Marquis’ household, but with the Marquis’ mansion completely burned down, that trail was also lost. A fresh surge of anger welled up within him.

Who the hell was this d*mned Tom?

“Sir Ashler. The dinner is ready.”

At the servant’s voice, Ashler turned his head. He saw the servants lined up, holding silver plates.

“Which one is His Majesty’s meal?”

Out of habit, Ashler personally took Karas’ meal himself. Leading the way, he added Melmond’s antidote to the food. As the door opened, Ashler entered with slow steps. This was the only moment he could observe their meals closely, so he tried to keep a careful watch on the King’s Heart members as much as possible.

He kept an eye out to see if anything strange would happen, but aside from Truyde, everyone looked the same as they had moments ago. Only Truyde continued to observe the emperor as usual. No, Karas also remained the same as always.

Ashler had informed him of the Marquis’ death, but Karas showed no interest in this news. He didn’t respond and seemed indifferent to everything. Even so, the fact that he intended to fight against the King’s Heart made Ashler’s heart feel heavy.

Lord Abel is alive.

He refrained from saying the words that lingered on the tip of his tongue as he placed the meal before the emperor.

Thud.

As Ashler set down the plates and stepped back, a voice filled with nervousness was heard.

“Ah, no! That’s the Marquis’ food.”

The trembling voice belonged to the war profiteer.

When Ashler turned to see what was happening, he noticed that the servant had placed the Marquis’ food in front of Truyde, seeing as the Marquis was absent. It dawned on Ashler that he had forgotten to inform the servant to prepare only four servings.

However, since the menu was the same, it didn’t really matter. The war profiteer, realizing that everyone’s eyes were on him, mumbled an explanation.

“The Marquis isn’t coming here, so it seemed odd that an extra meal was prepared.”

The war profiteer, who was already prone to anxious behaviors, was even more jittery today, unable to keep his eyes and hands still. Truyde glanced at him with disgust before addressing Karas.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten that today is the day you promised to give us a gift?”

Instead of answering, Karas lifted his half-closed, languid eyes. Truyde, already accustomed to his reactions, continued speaking, offering the necessary details.

“We have decided on Marquis Yan as the recipient of the gift.”

“And the Marquis?”

When Karas asked slowly, Truyde called for someone as if he had been waiting. After a moment, a few people who seemed to be Truyde’s servants brought in a large wooden chest. At Truyde’s instruction, the lid was opened, and a stench of decay mixed with a burnt smell filled the room. Inside the chest was the charred corpse of the Marquis.

“Unfortunately, Marquis Yan will not be able to join us for today’s meal.”

Truyde feigned sorrow as he looked at the empty seat of the Marquis. However, Karas, as if he didn’t care who had died, picked up his spoon.

Taking this as a signal, Norhox and the war profiteer also picked up their spoons, but Truyde couldn’t take his eyes off the emperor. He barely touched his own food, watching intently until Karas finished his meal. As soon as Karas was done eating his food, Truyde spoke in a leisurely voice, as if he had been waiting.

“Your Majesty, did you enjoy your meal today as well?”

But Karas merely stared at Truyde in response. His eyes, however, were more clouded than before. Truyde was familiar with those eyes. It was just like the eyes of the previous king. Although Karas seemed to believe he could last a month, Truyde was confident he would collapse within two weeks.

In a month, I’ll be able to kill him completely.

Truyde struggled to contain his excitement at the victory that was getting closer. The emperor was now fully addicted. Truyde opened his mouth with confidence.

“It has been over a week since Your Majesty returned to the palace, yet you have not attended to the affairs of the state, which is causing great concern. Furthermore, your continued stay here is also worrisome.”

Truyde deliberately glanced around before continuing in a gentle tone.

“We, as well as everyone in the palace, all believe that the reason for this is the absence of a true Regas by Your Majesty’s side. Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will quickly find a Regas to fill your heart.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the five Regas brought from the Regas Palace, seemingly prepared in advance like the Marquis’ corpse, hesitantly entered. The food was already getting cold, but Truyde didn’t care about it. He just gave a sharp look at Karas while maintaining a gentle smile on his lips.

“How about it, Your Majesty? Do you like anyone?”

However, Karas did not even look at the Regas’ who had entered. Instead, he looked around at Truyde and the other two. The war profiteer who hurriedly ate with an anxious expression and Norhox who ate all his share with dull eyes. Karas’ eyes finally turned to Truyde’s meal.

“Aren’t you eating?”

Only then did Truyde look down at his own meal, which was about half empty, at Karas’ sudden question. Then, he smiled awkwardly.

“I think I should stop eating now that I’m full. Will you forgive me?”

There was no response. Karas, with an unreadable expression, gave Truyde a stare and then blurted out.

“No.”

For a moment, Truyde didn’t understand what he was referring to, but then he realized it was about his opinion on the Regas.

D*mn it, he didn’t even look at them and said no.

Truyde, who had been somehow trying to entice him to find out if the wooden pendant was with him, barely suppressed a frown.

“Shall I bring in others?”

“Do as you wish.”

The answer still came while looking only at Truyde. Truyde was bothered by his gaze but turned his head to the Regas’.

“The rest of you can leave….”

“Fragrance oil.”

“Pardon?”

Truyde turned his eyes to Karas’s sudden voice, but Karas was asking the Regas’ instead. Tilting his head to the side, he spoke in an indifferent voice.

“Did you apply a fragrance oil?”

A shiver ran down the spines of those inside at the seemingly insignificant question. It was probably because of the answer the Regas were about to give.

Yes, we did. Someone tried to open their mouth, but the answer was already known even without hearing it. Suddenly, flames burst forth from the bodies of all five Regas.

They opened their mouths to scream in agony, but no sound came out. The flames crawled into their open mouths before the screams could escape, scorching their red tongues and the insides of their mouths black. The table was overturned over again, and loud shouts for help echoed through the chaos inside

Ashler was the first to rush in, standing in front of the emperor to protect him, however, he couldn’t tell him to move. Amidst the chaotic situation, there were those who remained still. Truyde, realizing that Karas’ power was still intact, stood frozen. Karas stared intently at Truyde.

“That’s right. The reason I’m in this state is because I don’t have a Regas.”

Truyde couldn’t hide his fierce eyes as Karas asked.

“Then, did you think it was because of your medicine?”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Karas’ quarters were once again filled with the stench of burning, soot, and water soaking the floor. Even opening the doors couldn’t rid the place of the smell of charred bodies. Ashler pleaded with Karas for what felt like the hundredth time to leave the room.

“Your Majesty, please move somewhere else.”

However, Karas ignored him once again, sitting on the floor reading a book. Ashler knew what words would provoke a reaction from him. Yet, he hadn’t uttered them even once over the past week. For fear it would deepen the wounds that he himself may not be aware of.

However, the situation had now changed.

If Melmond’s words were true, if Abel was truly alive? …

“Your Majesty. If it’s Lord Abel, he would not want Your Majesty to remain here.”

Sure enough, Karas reacted to those words. He slowly lifted his head and looked up at Ashler with a tilted gaze. However, Ashler was disappointed by the response that flowed out.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“No, Your Majesty, it does matter. If Lord Abel were alive… and knew about Your Majesty’s current situation, he would be saddened.”

Karas simply stared back at him, as if he couldn’t understand. Ashler hesitated, wondering if he had said something wrong, but it wasn’t his fault. Karas slowly stood up and took a step toward Ashler.

“Why would he be sad?”

The languid voice sounded rather as though he was annoyed, making it difficult to discern Karas’ true feelings. Confused, Ashler tried to offer a basic explanation.

It’s because Lord Abel cares for the emperor. However, Karas corrected him first.

“He should be afraid.”

“Pardon?”

The moment Ashler asked, Karas’ hand gripped his neck. The sudden cold touch sent a chill through his skin, but the sharp nails pressing into his flesh made him gasp. Karas, holding Ashler by the neck, explained indifferently.

“Abel will come back. He won’t be able to bear the terror of everyone dying. Don’t worry, I’ll save you for last.”

What the…!

Karas dug his nails completely into Ashler’s neck, watching as his eyes widened in shock. The scent of blood filled the space between them, and Karas’ light voice drifted through.

“I’ll make sure you see him in my grasp. No matter how much Abel hates me, I will catch him.”

Only then did Ashler realize with a sinking heart. To Karas, there was only one reason for Abel’s death.

Because he hated him.

Whether he left his side by running away or by dying, it was the same for him.

The problem was that he was indifferent to it.