RGS Volume 6 Part 19

There were those who witnessed Norhox coming out of the priest’s quarters, but none had seen the priest himself. Therefore, the one ordered by Truyde to find the priest headed to his quarters without hesitation.

The soldier, instructed to bring him immediately, entered the building without knocking but he had no choice but to stop in front of the half-open door. Aside from the clear bloodstains on the doorknob, dark red blood had pooled beneath the open door like a puddle.

Swish.

As the soldier silently pushed the door open with his sword, he saw the priest not far from the door. His face was swollen from beatings, and his fingers were all cut off as if he had been tortured. However, the pool of blood emanating from him started from his split chest.

His organs were sticking out from his chest that seemed to have been cut open, indicating he could no longer breathe. The soldier, so horrified by the gruesome sight, stepped back and did not notice what was lying next to the priest’s corpse. A small gem that had fallen from his slashed clothing sparkled even in the pool of blood.

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Although the Commander of the Royal Guards contributed to shortening Ashler’s lifespan, the bundle he brought was commendable. Indeed, when the bundle was turned over, a mass of herbs poured out as if he had gathered everything he could find.

The herbs, tied together in small bundles to prevent mixing with the other herbs were all dried up by the time they were brought here, but identifying them was still manageable.

The problem was identifying which of these herbs was related to the black potion, but Melmond, who was the only one who could figure that out, was already asleep again. He was too unwell to be asked to check it. Instead, the butler and Abel who knew a little about herbs squatted down to examine them.

However, unlike Melmond, who had studied it for a long time, they were not as knowledgeable, so they started sorting the known herbs from the unknown ones with a troubled look. As time passed, the pile of unknown herbs grew over time. Suddenly, the butler picked up one and spoke in a serious tone.

“Truyde is indeed a frightening man.”

Everyone turned to look at the butler.

“Butler, what do you mean by that?”

Could it be that he had found a suspicious herb?

As they looked at him with pounding hearts, the butler raised his eyes from the herbs.

“But this herb.”

“Yes, that herb is…?”

“I have no idea.”

He doesn’t know anything else either.

What nonsense is this?

Nani and Ashler looked at him with the same questioning expression, but the butler repeated his nonsense again.

“How on earth did Truyde plant only unknown herbs like these? Especially this one. It looks like a common herb at first glance, but on closer inspection, it’s different. Unless you’re a very skilled expert, it would be hard to identify what they are. Well, it does have a peculiar smell. Hmm? Young master, what is it?”

The butler, who was expressing his frustration, noticed that Abel’s gaze was fixed on his hand so he also lowered his eyes. Realizing that Abel was looking at the herb he had just picked up, he was about to ask why when Abel reached out first.

“I think I know what this is.”

Perhaps because of the surprise in Abel’s voice, Ashler asked with interest.

“Does it seem related to the black potion?”

However, Abel couldn’t answer this question and tilted his head.

“Well, considering the use of this herb, I don’t think so.”

As he trailed off, he looked at the herb again, still with a puzzled expression on his face, and murmured.

“This is a very rare herb. It’s one of the medicinal herbs my master taught me about, but I’ve only seen it once. However, its scent is so unique that I couldn’t forget it.”

Abel sniffed the herb and nodded with certainty.

“Yes, it’s definitely that herb.”

“What kind of herb is it?”

Ashler asked, and Abel hesitated before answering with a question of his own.

“Do you remember what you asked me before? Why hawks don’t get sick even when they eat rotten meat.”

Abel did not see the strange expression that appeared on Ashler’s face for a moment.

“It’s because of this. This herb prevents diseases.”

After answering, Abel looked down at the herb and then shook his head as if organizing his thoughts.

“But this isn’t an ingredient for poison.”

His opinion that it might not be related to the black potion was drowned out by another sound. A thud and a bang from outside the door reverberated through the inside of the library. Ashler and Nani simultaneously stood up with their swords. Even without getting close, they could tell the sound was coming from the main entrance on the first floor.

It sounded like someone was tearing down the wooden boards blocking the main entrance from the outside. However, if someone were trying to enter, the soldiers outside would have stopped them. If the soldiers were opening the door without any loud noise, it could only be someone who had the authority to enter.

Either the Emperor, who had ordered to close it, or the King’s Heart.

“Nani.”

Ashler took a step toward the front door and commanded.

“Take Lord Abel and escape through the back door.”

“What about you, Sir?”

“Just think about Lord Abel. Take him to a safe place and then inform His Majesty. Do you understand? A safe place.”

Although he didn’t specify where the safe place was, Nani understood from Ashler’s gaze and nodded.

“Yes, I will definitely escort him there.”

Clunk, clunk, thud! Thud!

The front door shook again with a loud noise. At the same time, Ashler looked back at Nani as if to urge him to hurry and move quickly, and Abel stepped forward.

“I-I can’t just run away alone. If it’s the King’s Heart, the remaining people might suffer just because I escaped. We must flee together.”

“Lord Abel, your role is to survive no matter what happens to the rest of us. Discard your pride and conscience.”

After giving this cold advice, Ashler turned back to Nani and shouted

“What are you doing not escorting him yet!”

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

The war profiteer arrived at the palace a few hours before his usual dinner with the emperor, however, his mind was different from usual. The problems and questions that had been bothering him for days felt like they were blocked from all sides, making it impossible to find a clue. One thing was certain. No matter how many times he thought about it, he hadn’t made any mistakes.

Yes, I didn’t make a mistake.

As he was so busy trying to convince himself that he had followed the emperor’s capricious orders well, he failed to notice that a different servant had entered his room instead of the attendants who usually served him. Moreover, a message came as soon as he arrived, as if they had been waiting for him.

“Duke Truyde is waiting for you.”

At the mention of Truyde’s name, the war profiteer jumped up from his seat as if he had been burned.

He hadn’t paid any attention to him since entering the palace, so why now, all of a sudden?

Although he felt uneasy at first, on the other hand, he also saw it as an opportunity. A chance to confirm that it wasn’t his mistake.

The emperor had ordered him to start adding salt to his food a few days ago, however, Truyde had seemed to not have been poisoned.

The person who entered without being stopped by the soldiers was exactly who Ashler had suspected. Someone the soldiers feared as much as, or even more than, the emperor. Although his power was now collapsing, the sight of Norhox covered in blood made the soldiers forget everything and appear frightened. Even Ashler frowned and was wary upon seeing his gruesome appearance.

What on earth happened to him?

Ashler blocked the entrance to prevent Norhox from coming further inside and spoke.

“This is a place where no one is allowed to enter by His Majesty’s order.”

Pretending to be calm, Ashler crossed his arms as he scanned Norhox with his eyes.

“Or are you also here on charges of treason, Norhox?”

He tried to buy time by asking questions, but Norhox only looked around, ignoring Ashler at first. When he didn’t find what he was looking for, he finally looked at Ashler.

It was then that Ashler realized that Norhox’s eyes were not normal.

“Hehe, where did you hide it?”

Norhox’s unpleasant laugh made Ashler’s expression turn cold.

“Hide what?”

“What else? The Regas.”

Norhox stopped giggling, however, his cloudy eyes were now filled with amusement.

“The real Regas that the emperor hid here.”

“Isn’t the Regas your domain? Then go to the Regas Palace.”

Ashler replied without changing his expression, but instead of losing his temper, the other person just shook his shoulders with laughter.

“Sure, sure. You’re the guard the emperor planted here, so you have to deny it.”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

When Ashler snapped back firmly, Norhox’s expression suddenly twisted, and he began shouting as if his personality had changed.

“Nonsense? How dare you spew such words in front of me! You’re just a knight who crawled from the bottom, used to roll in the dirt, and has only been by the emperor’s side for a few years, and you dare to look down on me?! Someone like you?!”

Crash—!

Norhox, unable to contain his sudden rage, overturned a nearby table.

“If I order you to bring the Emperor’s Regas, then bring him! Do you think I don’t know? That the Emperor brought him from the battlefield and disguised him as Melmond’s servant by merely changing his hair color? Huh?!”

Bang, bang—

The table pushed by Norhox’s foot hit the floor with a loud sound, echoing through the room once again. However, Ashler could only hear Norhox’s words.

How on earth does he know all of this?

Ashler couldn’t hide his shock and froze, but fortunately, Norhox didn’t notice.

No, with his bulging eyes darting around wildly, he couldn’t see anything around him. Holding a sword in one hand, he shouted.

“Where is he? Come out! Come out now!”

Thud, thud.

As he walked inside with heavy steps, Ashler didn’t stop him but glared at his back.

If Norhox knows, does that mean Truyde knows too?

What mattered to Ashler at that moment was not Norhox in front of him, but Truyde.

However, if Truyde knew, he wouldn’t have sent only Norhox on purpose.

So, did Norhox come knowing this alone?

That meant if Norhox was eliminated, the situation would be resolved. Ashler, now with a murderous glint in his eyes, quietly approached Norhox, who was still shouting.

Norhox had just passed the messy library and was about to turn toward the quarters where Melmond lay. Step by step. Ashler, who had gotten right behind him, gripped his sword tightly and focused on his opponent. Then, as if for confirmation, he asked one last question.

“Hey, instead of shouting like that, why don’t you bring your protector, Truyde?”

Although his voice was cold, it only sounded like mockery to Norhox, whose sanity was only half intact. He immediately turned his head, baring his teeth as if he was growling.

“Protector? That fool Truyde couldn’t possibly know important information like I do,”

Norhox’s loud voice abruptly stopped in the middle, without anyone prompting him. He froze with his body half-turned, and it took him a while to react to the situation before him. There were people who had suddenly approached him silently.

“Who are you?”

A polite voice answered Norhox’s question.

“It seemed Your Excellency was in danger, so Duke Truyde sent us.”

Befitting the word ‘danger,’ Ashler was holding his sword at Norhox’s neck.  He had his arm raised as if about to strike Norhox down. Likewise, a sword was also touching Ashler’s neck.

Ashler cursed himself for being so focused on Norhox that he let his guard down and failed to notice someone approaching from behind. Aiming at another’s back without knowing who was behind his own. Such a foolish mistake.

Finding Ashler’s expression amusing, Truyde’s subordinate grabbed his hair with one hand and roughly pushed him to the floor. With a crash, Ashler’s body collapsed, and Truyde’s subordinate gestured to another soldier to take him away before turning back to Norhox.

“Your Excellency, it seems you are looking for someone. If you tell me, I can help you.”

Although he smiled kindly, his eyes were sharply watching Norhox. Seeing the other person observing him blatantly, Norhox’s eyes narrowed. Even in his dazed state, his wariness kicked in.

This man was sent by Truyde. He couldn’t be trusted.

“No, it’s fine. I’m not looking for anyone. But why have you come all the way here?”

The first thought that came to his mind was that he had to hide who he was searching for.

Truyde must not find out.

However, his urgent tone and shaking eyes made it seem like anyone could see right through his intentions.

“Duke Truyde is looking for you, Your Excellency.”

“Truyde is looking for me? Why? For what reason?”

At that moment, the black potion came to Norhox’s mind, and his voice grew agitated.

Yes, it was Truyde who tried to control me with the potion, wasn’t it?

With the black potion, he…

“He just said there’s a light matter he wanted to discuss with you.”

“W-what kind of discussion?”

So, does he know?

Does he know everything?

It had not been long since he had stabilized after taking the medicine, yet his anxiety washed over him again due to restlessness. His hands trembled, feeling trapped from all sides. His mind was filled with only one thought.

The Regas is off-limits. It’s mine.

Truyde’s subordinate said something in front of him, but he couldn’t hear it. He didn’t even notice the strange look directed at him.

“Fine. Then, we will withdraw for now. There’s nothing more to see here.”

However, Truyde’s subordinate glanced inside.

“But I think we need to check if there are any problems.”

“No need! Everyone, everyone withdraw!”

Norhox’s exaggerated actions and expressions were clearly meant to draw Truyde’s subordinate away. However, Truyde’s subordinate paid no attention to Norhox’s actions and instead stared inside. After a moment, the sound of heavy footsteps signaled the arrival of a soldier.

“Melmond’s servant is nowhere to be seen.”

The first to react was Norhox, whose eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out.

“I-it doesn’t matter if a mere servant is missing. So don’t concern yourselves with… Ugh!”

Suddenly, with a groan, Norhox’s body collapsed to the floor like a puppet with its strings cut off. Truyde’s subordinate, who had just struck Norhox’s neck, kicked his body aside as if it were nothing.

‘If Melmond’s servant has disappeared, finding him is the top priority. If Norhox gets in the way, silence him.’

The subordinate shouted to the soldiers with fierce eyes.

“Block the entrance to the forest immediately!”