Chapter 17
“To where?”
“He went to Yeronimo territory where the demon appeared.”
“He must have been hungry for blood again.”
“This is the Imperial Palace. People are all over the place.”
If he wanted to wield his sword, he could just find fault in someone and cut them into shred. Why did he do such a nuisance?
Mori looked at the window and organized his thoughts. What caught his eyes was Dojino Knights training at the Imperial Palace drill hall.
“…”
Mori’s eyes narrowed as he watched the knights. If he looked closely, the number of knights was higher than usual. Moreover, he couldn’t see those dense knights who never left Signus’ side. They might have gone to the area where the monsters appeared, but it was strange.
‘Was Signus that generous toward his people?’
To the point, he was willing to send his knights to that area.
Mori, who was lost in thought with a suspicious face, raised his hand. Gray swarms came down from the ceiling.
“Your order.”
Mori said to the gray swarms who knelt and bowed their heads.
“Follow the knights who left the palace.”
The light green eyes looking down at the knights shone eerily.
“Report their every move.”
Then the gray swarms disappeared. Elon, who was looking at the shadowy residual image, opened his mouth.
“The knights only followed orders. Leave them alone.”
“I won’t kill them. I just want to look.”
It was understandable. They were Lerine’s knights, so it must have bothered Elon. So Mori smiled from ear to ear.
“You still have a weak heart as ever. Why do you even care about those stupid knights who were saved by their vice-general? How could you ever be useful to the leader when you’re this soft-hearted?”
Elon was silent.
“I understand how you feel. But I still need to know what they were doing. I won’t hurt the knights, so don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Well, whatever.”
Mori, who was shrugging his shoulders, spoke as an idea occurred to him.
“Then would you like to come back?”
“To where?”
It was time for the people to gather for the festival.
“The main gate of the capital.”
If he was lucky, he might get a lot of information.
***
The main gate of the capital was crowded with a myriad of people. The noble priests and gatekeepers were on a lookout and scoured through people with eagle eyes.
They couldn’t let the Imperial Palace get attacked again. Especially now that Lerine was gone. The eyes of noble priests, who were looking through the lines of carriages, all turned to the black carriage.
“What’s that carriage? It doesn’t have a pattern.”
“Isn’t that the Imperial Palace’s carriage?”
People who saw the knights next to the carriage shouted.
“Look at that! It’s Dojino Knights!”
“Not only do they send out the Imperial carriage, but they also have the knights to escort.”
“It must be an influential figure.”
In the midst of glances and chatterings, the knights silently guarded the carriage. But the gatekeepers had the hardest time. Because they were busy checking the list already, but they were bombarded with questions.
“Excuse me. Who’s the nobleman in that carriage?”
“It’s not confirmed yet.”
“Who else knows besides the gatekeepers? Hurry and tell me.”
After confirming the identity, the gatekeeper beckoned the nobleman.
“It’s over, so you can go in now…”
“Who is it? I’ll keep it a secret, so just tell me.”
The gatekeeper sighed. He wasn’t god, so how would he know that? Yet he couldn’t yell at the nobles especially when the lines were this long. At that time, a voice was heard to save the gatekeeper.
“What’s going on?”
The cold sky blue eyes looked at the crowds. The platinum blonde fluttered like a sun.
“Sir Elon!”
At the gatekeeper’s call, Elon’s eyes swept around the vicinity. Elon, who identified the familiar face among the crowds, took a step forward.
But when he walked through the crowds, Leo was ahead of him.
“Where have you been?”
“I’ve been to the area where monsters appeared.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes. We escorted the local nobles because the barrier was still unstable.”
Elon’s gaze touched the carriage.
“Hurry up and continue with the identification. Thanks to this, the entrance is slowed down.”
“We’ve been waiting for an order from His Highness.”
“His Highness?”
Elon looked around, but Signus was nowhere to be seen. Then the third carriage door opened.
“…Butler. Stop nagging me.”
Bright lemon-colored blond hair popped out. When his handsome face was revealed, people around him murmured.
“Mr. Ulysse…”
Ulysse looked pale as if he had suffered from something. His voice also showed signs of exhaustion.
“I was wrong. How many hours has it been already?”
“Please don’t be reckless.”
“I get it. Let’s talk about the rest later.”
Ulysee took his bag and walked out, waving his hand.
“Where are you going!”
“It’s time for medication. We have to feed it while the carriage stops.”
“Don’t make excuses.”
“It’s not an excuse!”
Ulysse, who abruptly screamed, raised his eyes. It was because he met with Elon’s eyes.
Ulysse was a renowned medical genius, so Elon recognized him instantly. People who saw them greeted each other politely finally realized that the noblemen in the wagon were Yeronimo family.
“It’s Marquis Elaine and Mr. Ulysse.”
“But why did they send out those carriages?”
Regardless of what anyone said, Ulysse approached the first carriage and knocked on the door. Then Elon, who was watching, turned around.
If it was people from the Yeronimo family, then they didn’t need to be identified.
He was going to check the people who entered the front gate again. He thought Signus must be wandering somewhere else, but Elon’s foot stopped at Ulysse’s words.
“Excuse me, Your Highness. It’s time for medication.”
The tumultuous surroundings quickly calmed down.
“Your Highness?” At someone’s murmur, people began chattering.
“No way. You must have heard it wrong.”
“I’m surprised that they sent a carriage, but why would he personally come to pick them up?”
Soon the window of the carriage opened and a low voice came out.
“Why can’t you shut up?”
The noisy entrance to the capital was shrouded in silence. Signus’ cold golden eyes touched Ulysse.
“You. Come in.” The restless Ulysse entered the carriage.
“Navian!” Soon, a crying voice was heard.
“Navian! Navian! What’s wrong with her?!”
“I just played with her hair and it’s already like this.”
“It can’t be…huh?”
“Why. Is she dead?”
His indifferent voice made people think that Signus must have killed someone again.
“What do you mean by dead! She just fell asleep! You’re too much!”
“Her breathing is weak.”
“That’s how she usually is. Even when she’s healthy.”
“Is that so?”
People who didn’t dare to look inside just listened to the conversation between Signus and Ulysse. After exchanging a few more words, Signus ordered as he got off the carriage.
“Let them in.”
The gatekeepers moved. With a heavy sound, the main gate opened and people started to spread out. Soon, the window of the second carriage opened and Elaine showed his face.
“Thank you for letting us in. Please take care.”
Signus, who was escorted by the Dojino Knights and watched the seven carriages disappear, walked away.
“I can’t believe it. His Highness directly picked up the Yeronimo family.”
“Who was in the carriage with His Highness?”
“I heard it’s Navian…is it a woman?”
People’s whispers subsided and the front gate was crowded again. Even when many nobles and people passed by, Elon was motionless.
“…A woman?”
His sky blue eyes froze cold.
***
The capital temple was noisy.
Instead, the High Priest Ginnon listened to the sound and examined the drawing-room. It was a confirmation that someone would come in soon. Shortly after, Signus came in with his fluttering black cape.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
The door slammed shut and Signus sat across Ginnon.
“Release the divine power.”
“How much do you want?”
“All of it.”
Ginnon smiled, and a light came from the cross symbol on his wrist. Ginnon’s power was released in the temple drawing-room.
No one could hear or peek at this place unless they have more divine power than Ginnon, who had the highest divine power among the priests.
It worked for anything other than human beings. Signus, who felt the power reaching the ceiling and the corner of the window frame, opened his mouth.
“Failed to confirm.”
“But you seem alright.”
Just like Ginnon said, Signus’ face didn’t look that annoyed, rather, he looked happy. Signus put his arms over the chair and spoke in a tender voice.
“Long time ago…”
In the past, when the palace lacked supplies.
It was a time when knights had to sharpen their wooden swords to practice. Instead of handing over the wooden sword cheaply, they received the goods directly from the carpenters.
However, the palace carpenters even assigned their job to cut the woods for construction to the knights, and the knights followed without saying anything.
Except for Lerine.
‘What were you doing when I told you to practice?’
The knights made an excuse when Lerine asked them questions.
‘Well, we were just making wooden swords…’
Just in time, the carpenters pulled a cart.
Dururu-!
One of the carpenters, who poured out all the woods, spoke bluntly.
‘Do this all over again. Will you take any responsibility for the poor construction?’
The knights gave a troubled look on their faces. Lerine, who was looking at the situation, walked to a group of carpenters.
‘What’s going on?’
The carpenter winced. It was because they were also aware of Lerine’s skill and personality. But the arrogant carpenter raised his chin.
‘I entrust them with the work, but there are 3cm differences.’
Those carpenters were craftsmen from Cecil, a country of iron and timber. They came to the palace to make money, but the downside was that they were very snobbish.
‘If you handle it like this, it’ll be difficult for me.’
‘How long is it roughly?’
The carpenter picked up a rolling wood and spread his fingers.
‘About this long…?’
Lerine, who touched her waist, stepped forward, and a light flashed from her eyes.