Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Second Prince Kaline.

In the center of the first-floor main lobby of the Daphne estate.

Hardin, Malion, and the Maw mercenaries stood blankly, their faces dazed.

“So… tired.”

“I feel like I’m going to die. Seriously.”

Flies buzzed around their bodies, a foul stench rose from their tattered clothes, and their skin was cracked and peeling.

These were the glorious wounds earned after nearly a month of rotting (?) in the Ruslan Mountains.

And before they could even recover properly, they had rushed straight back to the estate, so it was no wonder they were in such poor shape.

‘Still, we made it back to the estate safely.’

A transparent film of tears began to well up in the corners of Malion’s eyes.

When Hardin had suddenly made a deal with Princess Medeia, he hadn’t thought they’d ever return here again… So standing here alive and proud (?) filled him with deep emotion.

At that moment, Hardin tilted his head and asked.

“Hey, are you crying?”

“No, of course not. What are you talking about?”

“Looks like you’re crying.”

“Please stop saying weird things, brother.”

“No, but…”

While the two were bickering for a moment—

Thud!

“Hardin! Malion!”

A voice rang out from the second floor.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Cobalt came storming down the stairs.

It seemed he had been in a meeting, as the retainers came rushing down after him.

Hardin casually raised his hand in greeting.

“Ah, Father, it’s been a while.”

In that instant—

Thwack!

Viscount Cobalt suddenly grabbed Hardin’s cheek and moved it side to side as he questioned him.

“Did… did you get tortured or something?”

“Excuse me?”

“I knew it! You were tortured, weren’t you!”

What on earth was this man talking about?

Hardin looked puzzled and tried to wriggle out of his grip.

Grab!

The Lord pulled Hardin into a tight embrace with both arms.

“Keugh! Cough!”

“Hardin!”

Caught off guard by the sudden bear hug, Hardin gasped for air.

‘Why is this man so strong?’

The surprise attack snapped him awake.

It somehow felt like he had become even stronger than before.

Hardin’s face turned pale as he flailed.

Watching this, Malion quietly took a step back and repeated Cobalt’s words in his head.

‘Torture? What’s he talking about?’

Meanwhile, the Lord’s strength and voice grew even more intense as he hugged Hardin.

“Thank goodness, I’m so relieved. I truly thought you all were going to die out there. Being tortured is awful, but… just being alive is what matters.”

“Young Master, you’ve suffered greatly.”

“We’re truly glad you’re safe.”

Mulgybson and Gadolph, standing nearby, also looked oddly somber as they comforted Hardin.

Swoosh.

Hardin ducked out from the Lord’s arms and spoke.

“No, what are you talking about? Why would we be tortured?”

“Because of the crime of insulting the imperial family, of course. You don’t have to hide it. You all came back alive, so I, we, can forgive everything.”

“…”

…Why was he acting like this?

Hardin took a small step back from Cobalt and looked around.

From Malion to Mikkelsen and Beryl.

Now he noticed how sunken their cheeks were, and how they looked worse than slash-and-burn farmers.

They absolutely looked like they’d been tortured.

‘…So that’s why.’

Hardin let out a deep sigh and responded.

“We weren’t tortured or anything like that.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m telling you, we didn’t commit any crime against the imperial family, and we weren’t tortured.”

“Huh?”

Cobalt blinked and stared at Malion as he asked again.

“But in the letter Malion sent… it clearly said you met the Fourth Princess Medeia?”

“Yes, we did meet her.”

“Then… you’re saying you weren’t tortured? You didn’t commit any crime against the imperial family?”

“Why would I cause that kind of trouble? It’s not like I’m some wild troublemaker.”

Hardin shrugged as he answered.

‘He is a troublemaker.’

‘…Unbelievable.’

‘How can he say that so shamelessly, without even a drop of saliva in his mouth…’

None of them dared say it aloud, but everyone standing behind him silently glared at Hardin as they recalled the disasters (?) they had endured.

Cobalt asked again.

“Then what on earth happened there? Why did it take you so long to return?”

“What do you mean, we got an investment from the princess.”

“An investment?”

“Yes, she agreed to invest in our family through the Fabione system.”

“…”

Cobalt went quiet with a strange expression, and the retainers around him looked dumbfounded.

‘No way… is he really lying this shamelessly?’

It made no sense from the start.

Fabione was a system that royalty could only use once in their lifetime.

And he claimed she used it to invest in our family?

For a trade port project that might not even succeed?

“Hardin, that’s a funny joke.”

“Haha!”

Was it because the tension had eased? Or did Hardin’s words sound too shameless?

As Cobalt gave a short laugh, the retainers around him let out a series of dry chuckles.

Hardin and Malion briefly exchanged glances.

In the end, Malion stepped forward and said,

“Father, it’s true.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Everything Hardin said is true. Thanks to his efforts, we safely escorted the princess back to the capital… and as a reward, she promised an investment. He even received this bracelet as proof.”

Malion grabbed Hardin’s left wrist and held it up to show the bracelet.

‘At this rate, Father should believe us.’

Cobalt narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the bracelet, then let out a short laugh again.

“Malion, you don’t need to go this far.”

“What do you mean?”

“I understand why you’d do this out of embarrassment… but there’s no need to go so far as to lie like this. I’m not so narrow-minded that I can’t forgive a single mistake my sons make.”

“…Excuse me?”

No, something… he seemed to be seriously misunderstanding the situation.

Malion, clearly flustered, blinked rapidly for a while before adjusting his glasses and replying.

“Father, it’s not a lie. It’s the truth.”

“What?”

“Hardin defeated all the monsters near Ruslan Fortress and rescued the refugees. Isn’t that right?”

As he turned his head and asked,

“The Third Young Master is telling the truth.”

“It’s true, my Lord!”

The Maw mercenaries—or rather, the Maw squad members—nodded without hesitation.

Of course, everyone watching this…

‘Looks like they rehearsed this beforehand.’

‘Tsk tsk tsk…’

‘They must’ve thought they’d be in serious trouble for the mess they made.’

They could only look at them with a mix of pity and sympathy.

At that moment, Hardin let out a deep sigh and said,

“No, I’m telling you, it’s really true. Why won’t you believe me?”

“Then, do you have any kind of proof?”

“I showed you already. This is the proof, isn’t it?”

As Hardin once again held up the silver bracelet on his wrist, Cobalt shook his head.

“Not that kind of thing. I mean a contract or a letter.”

“R-right. That bracelet could’ve just been bought from a jeweler.”

“…”

These guys…

Hardin scratched his forehead in frustration, then let out a long sigh and said,

“Fine, I’ll show you. Whether this is real or not.”

“What?”

This was actually a magic device.

He’d been told he could contact Princess Medeia anytime with it, so he just needed to demonstrate it.

Hardin closed his eyes briefly and drew mana from his core.

Immediately after—

Wooooong.

The silver bracelet began to emit a soft blue glow, and Hardin spoke.

“Ah, Princess. Please answer me.”

“…”

There was no response.

This… this is how you use it, right?

Furrowing his brow slightly, Hardin tried again.

“Excuse me? Please respond.”

“…”

Still, nothing but silence.

“Is anyone there?”

How long had he been shouting into the air like that?

Viscount Cobalt gently patted Hardin on the shoulder and said,

“Hardin, that’s enough. I’m just glad you made it back alive.”

“No, I’m serious! Why isn’t she answering? Hello? Hello!”

Hardin slapped the bracelet in his palm in frustration, and Cobalt closed his eyes and opened them again as he said—

“Let’s just leave it at that.”

“I’m telling the truth!”

“Yes, yes… You seem very tired. Go on and get some rest. I haven’t finished the meeting yet, so I’ll return to it now.”

“No, wait a second! Hold on, Father!”

Hardin reached out his hand, but Viscount Cobalt and the retainers only climbed the stairs, wearing pitying expressions.

And then—

Thwack!

“Damn it! What is she doing not answering!”

Hardin hurled the bracelet to the floor and fumed with frustration.

---

Inside the Fabian Imperial Palace, in one of the inner corridors.

Tiles reminiscent of a chessboard were laid out with not a hair out of place. The walls were adorned with golden ornaments, flags, and the sun emblem symbolizing the imperial family.

Long chandeliers hanging above added the final touch to the antique atmosphere.

Sunlight streaming through the windows bathed the corridor in brilliance, making the phrase “Path of the Sun” feel anything but exaggerated.

And in one section of this breathtaking hallway—

“This way, please.”

“Very well.”

A minister appeared and walked inside, followed by a group trailing behind.

Step, step.

Dressed in immaculate formal attire, with straightened backs and confident strides—

“….”

At the center of them walked Medeia, her silver hair flowing gently, her steps steady and composed. Surrounding her were escort knights, including Lieutenant Benjamin.

Unlike the calm expression on Medeia’s face, Benjamin and the other knights showed visible signs of tension.

‘We’re going to have an audience with His Majesty…’

‘Phew… this is nerve-wracking.’

After walking down the corridor for some time, an enormous, gold-gilded door appeared at the end.

The leading minister spoke to the guards stationed at the door.

“This is Princess Medeia. She has an audience scheduled with His Majesty.”

“Yes, we’ve been instructed to let her in immediately.”

Creeeak.

As if they had been waiting, the guards opened the doors at once, and Medeia stepped inside.

A vast throne hall came into view, with a red carpet stretching down its center.

Step. Step.

As Medeia walked along the carpet, dozens of gazes poured in from both sides where the retainers were lined up.

Among them…

She also spotted a few of her blood relatives.

“Medeia…”

“…Hmph.”

The soft-faced First Prince Koredian.

The lanky Third Prince Valfrun.

Second Princess Merian, soon to be wed into the House of Shadow…

All of them looked at Medeia with a mix of pity and sympathy.

All except for one person.

‘Kaline…’

The most handsome man standing at the very back, with pale skin.

Kaline Fabian, the Second Prince of the Empire.

With one corner of his lips curled up as if it would split, he waved lightly at Medeia and mouthed a silent “Hello.”

“…”

For a moment, Medeia’s body trembled ever so slightly.

Trying not to show it, she clenched her fists tightly and turned her gaze forward again. There, she saw a middle-aged man seated on a tall throne.

With pale skin and sunken cheeks… it would be generous to say he looked healthy.

He was the current Emperor of the Fabian Empire, Leorine.

“You have returned… Medeia.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Medeia knelt and bowed her head, the escort knights followed suit immediately.

The Emperor looked at them for a moment, then continued speaking with a cough.

“Cough! Cough! You… must have suffered greatly. I heard you saved the refugees… and even defeated the beasts behind it all.”

“I merely did what I was supposed to do.”

“No… no. You achieved this without supplies or support, and that outcome is something that truly honors the name of the royal family. Cough! Don’t you all agree?”

As Leorine slightly turned his head, the retainers who met his eyes gave small nods in agreement.

They all seemed to be carefully watching each other’s reactions.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Just then, the sound of clapping rang out from the side.

It was Second Prince Kaline.

“That’s right, Your Majesty. She deserves praise a hundred times over. What do the rest of you think?”

“...Indeed.”

“I agree as well.”

Only then did the retainers bow their heads and readily voice their support.

Leorine let out a long sigh before slowly opening his mouth.

“See? Everyone seems to feel the same.”

“I am honored.”

As Medeia bowed her head once more, Leorine coughed a few more times before continuing.

“And so… I intend to grant a reward for your efforts. Is there anything you desire, Medeia?”

“A reward…?”

That was when—

Wooooong.

The bracelet on Medeia’s left wrist began to emit a blue light.

<<Ah, Princess. Please answer me.>>

“…?!”

At the same time, a familiar voice rang out.

‘Hardin… Daphne?’

Medeia flinched momentarily and furrowed her brow.

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