RGS Volume 6 Part 17

But do you know what’s the most unsettling?’

The war profiteer’s voice still lingered in his ears. The trembling smile that had lingered on his lips when he asked that question also remained vividly before his eyes. However, after hearing what was truly the most unsettling thing, Ashler could no longer maintain the same composure as the war profiteer.

Who could laugh at the fact that no one truly understood Karas’ real intentions, even in this current horrific situation?

The war profiteer, waiting for his death, seemed only concerned with protecting his family and wealth, indifferent to how many people might become poisoned.

Thus, he might have been the right person for this role, but Ashler, who learned the truth too late, couldn’t simply accept it. The moment he heard those words, he became so dazed he couldn’t move a finger. He didn’t know how much of the poison was obtained from the last enemy country.

However, he knew that even a small amount, less than the size of a coin, could instantly poison nearly a hundred people at once.

How many people, then?

If, as the war profiteer suspected, that Roster had scattered it in the temples across the country, the number of victims would be unimaginable.

‘The poison I received wasn’t much from the start. So, I could only send poisoned salt to a few places in the capital. Have you heard about the temples being attacked? It started in the capital, right?’

The war profiteer chuckled crazily, as if he was boasting about his own achievements. His abnormal behavior seemed to mirror those of the mad individuals emerging from the capital. While the war profiteer might have managed to endure by continually consuming the poison, the supply of poison was limited.

If thousands, tens of thousands of people went crazy from withdrawal symptoms, what would happen to the country?

Ashler was so shocked that he didn’t properly notice the war profiteer staggering out. Nor did he catch the sudden change in his expression and his mutterings to himself.

‘But Duke Truyde is strange. It’s not my fault.’

Though the war profiteer had said that before, Ashler had no time to chase after him to ask what he meant. Even staying up all night didn’t rid him of the shock, and he couldn’t focus on the war profiteer’s odd behavior. Even as daylight broke and the surroundings brightened, he still couldn’t move. If he hadn’t heard his name being called, he might have remained motionless for days.

“Sir Ashler, Sir Ashler.”

Abel, unable to get a response, gently touched Ashler’s shoulder, finally drawing his attention. However, his eyes, still vacant from shock, looked dazed.

“Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?”

Ashler shook his head as if he was coming to his senses in response to Abel’s worried question.

“No. Do you have something to say?”

“Oh, Mr. Melmond has awakened. But are you sure you’re alright? You don’t look well.”

Despite the worry in Abel’s eyes, Ashler briefly answered that he was fine and shifted the conversation to Melmond’s condition. Upon hearing that Melmond had regained consciousness and could recognize everyone, though still unable to speak well, Ashler nodded, relieved. In truth, he had been more worried about Abel than Melmond.

Perhaps it was because he felt helpless and unable to do anything, Abel had spent all his time organizing the library’s books, insisting he had to do something. No matter how much they tried to stop him, Abel moved about as if restoring the library to its former state would somehow bring Melmond back to consciousness, so they couldn’t dissuade him any longer.

And now, with the library finally organized, Melmond had actually awakened. As Ashler marveled at the coincidence, Abel hesitantly asked.

“Um, I heard that Sir Ashler met the war profiteer last night. Did you hear anything from him? You told me that after last night, you would understand His Majesty’s intentions.”

So, what did you hear?

The unasked question was clear in the desperate eyes looking up at him.

He was worried about the emperor, who had been consuming the black potion without Melmond’s medicine for several days now. Karas had pushed his close aides into the library, calling them troublesome, so it seemed like he had some plan.

However, the news Abel had heard made him anxious. Karas remained confined to his room, unable to move and just staring blankly. Despite wanting to trust him, hearing that Karas’ condition hadn’t changed in days only added to Abel’s concern, making him eager for Ashler’s answer.

He, too, wanted to know what exactly Karas’ plan was. However, Ashler’s face turned even paler at the question.

“No. The war profiteer didn’t know much either.”

“I see. Then it seems no one knows His Majesty’s thoughts.”

Abel’s tone, filled with a hint of a sigh, made Ashler eventually turn his gaze away. Abel, not noticing, continued in a dejected voice.

“I just hope it’s not a plan that requires a great sacrifice.”

A great sacrifice had already begun, he barely managed to swallow the words that were about to come out. Instead, as if out of habit, words defending Karas slipped out of his mouth.

“It won’t be a futile sacrifice. Even if great sacrifices were made, if it’s His Majesty’s plan, it won’t be necessarily useless…”

Ashler couldn’t bring himself to finish his words.

Not a futile sacrifice?

If many people died from the poison and the country was thrown into chaos, then dispersing the entire army would have been pointless. If a large sacrifice was needed in the first place, he wouldn’t have opposed using force to bring down the King’s Heart.

These thoughts surfaced out of frustration, but in reality, Ashler knew that Karas’ method was far more effective than war. In a civil war, not only would the King’s Heart suffer, but their allies would also be harmed, however using poison, on the other hand, wouldn’t cause such collateral damage.

Those who were affected by the poison spreading through the temples were those who believed in and supported the King’s Heart to their core. Even if the King’s Heart were destroyed, the stubborn remnants and roots that would remain as a problem were being eliminated unexpectedly. This would also cause the foundation of the King’s Heart to turn against them first.

In terms of planning, what Karas had done was astonishing. It was something that someone like him couldn’t even imagine, and even if he did, he wouldn’t have been able to execute it. Just as the war profiteer had said, his conscience was tormenting him even now.

“Yes, it’s a necessary sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice absolutely necessary to uproot the deeply entrenched King’s Heart.”

Ashler spoke in a firm tone as if he was trying to convince himself, however, Abel looked at him with a strange expression.

“What kind of sacrifice are you talking about?”

“Huh? That would be the sacrifice of many people…”

Ashler paused, realizing he had slightly misunderstood, and closed his mouth. Abel quietly observed him before he continued to speak.

“When I mentioned a great sacrifice, it was because I was worried that His Majesty’s health might be severely affected.”

“I’m sorry. I got lost in my thoughts for a moment.”

“Are you worried that there will be another great sacrifice?”

He should have answered no, but looking into Abel’s calm green eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to lie. His silence was taken as a confirmation, but fortunately, Abel didn’t press him further and stepped back. He looked into the distance as if thinking for a moment, then smiled resolutely.

“I will try not to worry.”

No, that’s not something you can fix by trying, it’s the emperor’s responsibility, Ashler thought, but Abel’s following words pushed that thought aside.

“To do that, I think I need to go outside first.”

“Lord Abel, if you are planning to go to the forest to find the wooden pendant, now is not the time. We cannot send you there without confirming it is safe.”

Ashler firmly stopped Abel, who nodded quickly in surprise at the sudden change of topic.

“Yes, I know the forest is dangerous. That’s why I had thought of something else…”

“Sir Ashler!”

As Nani’s loud voice interrupted, Ashler stood up before he could finish listening to Abel’s words.

“What is it?”

As he asked urgently, Nani, who had rushed over, quickly pointed towards the back door with his hand.

“He, he’s here.”

Who’s here?

When Abel turned his head quickly along with Ashler, Nani’s excited voice was heard.

“One of our allied commanders has finally arrived.”

Could it be that Kin has already arrived?

Ashler felt a surge of joy and hurried his steps, but Nani’s next words made him stop abruptly. Nani’s voice was filled with confusion.

“Uh, but he insists that he absolutely will not come inside.”

Ashler’s steps, which had briefly halted, resumed their pace, but this time his hand moved as well. With a grim expression, he drew his sword heading to meet the Commander of the Royal Guards.

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

The priest couldn’t sleep all night due to excitement. As expected, Melmond’s servant was an important figure. Although the details weren’t clear, the fact that someone who had been with the emperor during the war entered the palace disguised as Melmond’s servant was significant.

What exactly is his relationship with the emperor?

If he also knew Melmond, could it be that Melmond found a new Regas and sent him to the emperor?

Yes, just like 12 years ago, Melmond might have found the real Regas again this time. That’s why the emperor purposely instructed to gather the Regas’ with blonde hair and green eyes, to hide his real Regas.

Ashler, a close aide of the emperor, had timely summoned Melmond to the palace for the first time in 12 years. As he thought about it, it seemed like everything was falling into place one by one, so his excitement didn’t die down easily. The fact that he had discovered this, and that he was the only one who knew, exhilarated him.

No one would know.

That he is the emperor’s new Regas.

There couldn’t be two real Regas, however, considering how much the emperor is trying to hide him, he must be quite precious. This was incredibly valuable information that had finally fallen into his hands, so he walked back and forth in his room, pondering it.

It’s too valuable to give to Norhox. It would be a huge loss to hand it over to someone who would soon die. Naturally, he should inform Truyde and regain his trust. With such significant information, even if Norhox told him about setting the fire, Truyde might even forgive him. Perhaps Truyde would protect him from Norhox. He was about to reach a conclusion after much thought, but unfortunately, it seemed he was a bit too late.

Creak.

The sound of the door slowly opening behind him was followed by a voice that made the priest’s back twitch.

“What have you found out so far?”

The voice was slower and calmer than usual, so the priest tried to suppress his anxiety as he turned around.

Yes, I just need to get through this.

Thinking he just needed to make up any excuse and avoid him for now, excuses rushed to the tip of his tongue. However, when the priest turned his head, he couldn’t utter a single word. Norhox, who was standing quietly at the door, had his face stained, making it hard to read his expression.

It was only after seeing Norhox’s bared white teeth after a long time that he realized Norhox was smiling. His face and body, covered in red, sticky blood from the murders he had just committed, were still dripping. Yet, Norhox’s eyes sparkled with a gleeful light. However, to the priest facing him, that light was nothing more than familiar madness. They were the same eyes as the former king, who had lost his sanity under the influence of the black potion and constantly grinned.

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Nani and Abel were already aware of Ashler’s deep loyalty, but given the current situation, they couldn’t help but be impressed once more.

“Come over here.”

His voice was neither loud nor high, yet the other person stepped back at Ashler’s words. Ashler’s eyebrows twitched in an instant, and a warning came out of his mouth.

“You’d better come while I’m still being nice.”

However, it was more of a threat than a warning, as the hand gripping the sword seemed to indicate that he would cut off the neck of the other person if he would get any closer. Naturally, the other person took another step back, shaking his head this time. Even if he stepped back, the distance between the man and Ashler was only a few meters away.

Although Ashler could have quickly caught him if he moved, he couldn’t step forward. That’s because he was confined to the library by Karas’ orders. For Ashler, leaving the library meant defying the emperor, so he could only stand at the end of the doorstep, his clenched fists trembling.

Remarkably, he restrained himself from running out. People around found it fascinating to watch Ashler, but after nearly an hour of this standoff, they grew tired. Only one person remained different. The Commander of the Royal Guards was still tense, ready to flee to the ends of the continent if necessary.

“I-I’ll just stay here!”

Ashler’s eyebrows rose as high as they could before his expression returned its usual expressionless state. He unclenched his fists and beckoned with a finger.

“Come. It’s an order.”

The Commander of the Royal Guards, who was clearly Ashler’s subordinate, flinched at the command. He had no choice but to take a step forward, moving at a speed slower than a worm. Ashler’s eyebrows twitched once again.

“Get over here now!”

T/N: Hello, everyone. I haven’t move the chapters of my novels just yet. It will be move by the end of the month which is why when you go to novelupdates, you will still get redirected to the link here of Spring of Romance site. Once it’s move, you’ll get redirected to the new site from novelupdates. The advance chapters will remain here so that those who bought could still access them but it will get remove once its free so you’ll only be able to access those in the new site. Im still talking with my friend so the new site is still not decided. Thanks for understanding^^