Chapter 47: BWCGD

Chapter 47

The Emperor, who had been quietly savoring the aroma of the tea without saying a word, finally opened his mouth.

Kallian was still worried about her, who had yet to wake up, but he answered calmly without losing his composure.

“In the end, there was no damage to the civilians, so there is no need for Your Majesty to worry.”

“The Grand Duke has worked hard in many ways.”

The Emperor then praised his achievements, saying he would grant him supplies equal to the cost of producing the barrier stones and an amount comparable to three years' worth of the Grand Duchy's budget.

Kallian lowered his head and expressed his gratitude. There was no need to say anything more.

Besides, the Emperor hated empty flattery and judged people only by results, not intentions or the process.

That was why the Grand Duke, who focused solely on the mission given to him like a hunting dog chasing only its prey, had naturally become the Emperor's favorite chess piece.

Just as he was now calmly presenting a list of everyone involved in the corruption along with testimony to support it.

“To think that nobles, who should be setting an example, have been committing such disgraceful acts. How disappointing.”

The Emperor looked over the list of nobles he now held by the throat with an angry expression before turning a satisfied gaze toward the Grand Duke.

“Well then, tell me what you want.”

“You have already given me more than enough.”

The Emperor rubbed the back of his neck and let out a short laugh at the Grand Duke's unreadable attitude.

“If you say that, I'll feel disappointed. If I accept something like this without giving anything in return, I'll end up having unpleasant dreams.”

“Then I won't refuse.”

As if enough polite formalities had been exchanged, Kallian rang the bell on the table twice.

Benjamin, who had been waiting outside, entered carrying a heavy burlap sack over his shoulder.

Thud!

Kallian slightly opened the mouth of the sack lying on the floor, revealing its contents to the Emperor.

Inside were the tangled corpses of two monsters, their bodies engraved with strange symbols and magic circles.

“What in the world is this?”

Even the Emperor, who was accustomed to the smell of blood, frowned deeply as the foul stench of death spread through the room.

Kallian spoke again only after Benjamin had sealed the sack and completely disappeared outside the door.

“These are monsters that appeared three days ago near Kabana Forest and the campsite.”

“Surely you're not saying monsters appeared somewhere other than a gate or a dungeon?”

Kallian's expression hardened as if to confirm that it was indeed true.

“There are unknown markings on the corpses. Judging by the fact that they left no traces of magical power, they don't seem ordinary. I ask that Your Majesty investigate this discreetly.”

He deliberately left out any mention of the temple.

If the Emperor truly intended to investigate, discovering where those markings came from would only be a matter of time anyway.

“Hm... Very well. I will get to the bottom of this and punish those responsible severely.”

Leaning back into his soft chair, the Emperor quietly looked at the Grand Duke, who resembled his old friend in his younger days to a startling degree.

No matter what others said, he could not help but trust the Grand Duke completely.

Setting aside the uncomfortable rumors that he had joined hands with Babel, the Grand Duke was the only person capable of dealing with problems involving monsters.

Of course, the Imperial Family also possessed the Emperor's personal royal guards, who served as his shadow, as well as the First, Second, and Third Knight Orders.

The suspicious Emperor had even dispatched the Imperial Knights to dungeon subjugations before, but theory and reality were entirely different.

Unlike the Blackwood Knights, who had been trained to gradually adapt to demonic energy, the Imperial Knights were far too fragile.

That fact made the Emperor deeply uneasy.

The Grand Duke's army was stronger than the Emperor's own army.

It was an existence that stirred inferiority, competitiveness, admiration, and jealousy all at once.

How could he get rid of the anxiety born from that?

There were only two methods.

Either make the Grand Duke completely his own...

Or eliminate the very conditions that allowed dungeons to appear.

'For now... I'll keep watching.'

Some nobles believed that if House Orpheus died out, Babel would disappear as well.

The Emperor thought otherwise.

Babel, sealed by the first Empress, undoubtedly desired the complete destruction of House Orpheus more than anyone.

What if the family's extinction caused the Demon King's seal to break completely?

Then nothing would remain except the destruction of the world.

'For the sake of the Empire, House Orpheus must continue its bloodline.'

The Emperor pushed aside his growing dark thoughts with practiced ease before once again wearing a warm smile.

“There is one more order I need you to carry out.”

“Please command me.”

Even for a man whose only heir was that worthless Crown Prince, it was only natural to want at least one loyal subject he could rely on emotionally.

And the Emperor knew exactly what that loyal subject needed most.

“I've heard rumors that a light descended from the heavens and blessed the Grand Duke. I would like you to share that honor with the Saintess as well.”

The Saintess who had appeared in this generation had spent years on a pilgrimage, enduring hardships so severe that she had repeatedly stood on the brink of death.

“What better opportunity could there be to let everyone know the Saintess is alive and well? And for you, who must one day awaken through the Saintess's power, it is also a perfect opportunity.”

At those words—

Kallian suddenly froze.

As he was pouring tea into the Emperor's now-empty cup, his hand unconsciously stopped.

A union with the Saintess.

Until just recently, it had seemed perfectly natural.

Now, however, the very thought filled him with disgust.

For a moment, he was caught in deep conflict.

Should I tell him that the 'Miracle of Richef' was actually the result of the Grand Duchess-to-be pushing her magic beyond its limits and awakening healing powers?

Or should I keep it hidden until the end?

His hesitation did not last long.

Now that the Saintess had appeared, any woman displaying powers comparable to hers would inevitably be branded a witch.

Besides, wasn't Evelyn already being restrained by the temple?

If word spread that she possessed unprecedented abilities...

'I'd only be giving the temple a legitimate excuse to take her away.'

He did not want to lose Evelyn.

Even if the Saintess had appeared, it did not change the fact that the healer capable of calming his rampages and bringing him peace was Evelyn.

After imagining countless possibilities and drawing conclusion after conclusion...

Only one choice remained.

“I will obey Your Majesty's will.”

“Return to the Faminion territory together with the Saintess. Cedric will accompany you as your escort, so I entrust everything afterward to you.”

Completely unaware that this decision would lead to a great misunderstanding.

* * *

After finishing the audience and leaving the office, Kallian immediately came face to face with the one person he least wanted to meet.

“So even an unlucky bastard like you gets blessed by the rain. The world's really coming to an end.”

The Crown Prince Cedric, who had been waiting for him, strolled over and began mocking him.

“And I heard she's an incredible beauty?”

“Your Highness hasn't changed.”

“Hah! Did you think my position would collapse just because you gained a little fame? Once I make a few donations and inspect a few territories, people will forget about it soon enough.”

He was referring to the article the Grand Duke had deliberately spread not long ago.

Although Cedric acted as if he had suffered no damage, he was rotting inside.

Since the incident with the attendant, he had been confined to his palace, and now he heard that the Grand Duke had earned another great achievement.

His anger reached its peak.

But Kallian acted as though Cedric's feelings meant absolutely nothing.

“Very well. Then continue living like that. There's no need for Your Highness to concern yourself with my personal affairs.”

As he walked down the corridor, his gaze looked down at Cedric as though he were an annoying insect.

There wasn't the slightest trace of respect in his eyes.

“You bastard!”

Cedric hated the Grand Duke's dismissive attitude, but because he had been ordered to escort the Saintess, he had no choice but to follow him.

“No, this doesn't make sense. My eyesight is sharper than a hawk's whenever it comes to beautiful things. There's no way an incredible beauty escaped my notice.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Could she be a commoner?”

“At least she's not a man.”

“Why, you...!”

Trying to get under Kallian's skin, Cedric only ended up being provoked himself and clenched his fists.

That arrogant, cynical face and that ridiculously broad back irritated him every time he saw them.

To think he had to spend several days together with someone like him.

Just imagining it made his blood boil.

“Damn it! Then why would such a beauty choose someone like you? When I'm the Empire's most handsome man!”

“Everyone has different standards of beauty.”

“Hah!”

His inferiority complex exploding at Kallian's words, Cedric began cursing loudly.

Watching him with an indifferent face, Kallian turned toward the carriage depot.

As he walked, he spoke calmly.

“You're quite diligent, aren't you? I heard three women have already aborted Your Highness's children this year alone. Should you really treat the Imperial Family's precious bloodline so lightly?”

Cedric, who had been shouting without restraint, was struck speechless by the Grand Duke's cold voice.

“H-How do you know about that...?”

The fact that Cedric was the worst possible marriage candidate was proven by the fact that he had long passed the usual marriageable age.

What use was his imperial blood, towering height, sharp mind, and handsome appearance?

Kallian wanted to point out that noble families with daughters of marriageable age trembled in fear that a proposal from the Imperial Family might arrive.

But it would only waste his breath.

“For your own sake, make sure it never reaches His Majesty's ears.”

This was a disgrace known only to the Empress and a handful of her closest confidants.

If the Emperor were ever to learn of it, no one could predict what punishment would follow.

Humiliated, Cedric trembled with rage, yet he couldn't even lift a finger against the Grand Duke.

'Just where did the information leak from?!'

Not only was Kallian imposing in appearance, but his military achievements protecting both the North and the Empire were unmatched.

His every movement carried the composure of someone completely at home on a battlefield where life and death crossed paths.

Having never defeated Kallian even once, Cedric instinctively shrank the moment he stood before him.

But no one remained a loser forever.

Once the Empire fell into his hands, he would crush that handsome face beneath his heel.

'Arrogant bastard! We'll see how long you can keep acting so relaxed.'