A strange calm had taken over the land of Laria. The streets were void of human calls, the forest lacked its lively nature, and yet with the thwarting of tundra around the land, every creature confined within the mountains relished in the warmth of the strong summer breeze. Having returned to his youth, the maddened dragon Klianstien Ironfrost conveyed his appreciation by inviting warmth back into his homeland.
"How's Klian doing?" Haruki asked, waking up to the sight of Rose bringing him breakfast.
"He's well, although a bit too energetic to be in those chain binds," hinting at his promise, She reminded Haruki of his end of the deal. "I hope you can break the curse soon, it would be a shame if I had to kill you to free him despite you doing so much for my brother."
Her appreciation for what Haruki had done was immense, but much like human suffering, she cared not the least if she had to kill Haruki in order to earn her brother's freedom.
"You don't have to remind me, Fay is going to visit Moriyana today so if everything goes well, you'd be free of the curse before nightfall hits," sliding his legs off the bed, Haruki picked himself up and began dressing in his regular clothes.
'That reminds me…' Walking up to the dressing table, he reached into the top drawer to take out the sapphire brooch. Taking it in his hands, he turned to face Rose.
"When you gave me this brooch you said the first duke's soul resides in this," walking closer to her, he placed the jewel into her palm. "I most likely won't be able to use it once Snow's soul is destroyed completely, so do what you must with it."
Recalling what he saw in her memories, the first duke was the cause of all her trouble. He was the one who subjugated her brother and even trapped Rose into being a bodyguard to the Frost name itself.
"Keep it," to his surprise, she held the brooch back towards him. "People like Michael and the emperor might be able to figure things out if you're not wearing it."
"I can always create a fake copy," Haruki replied.
"Remember the snowstorm that happened when Michael pronounced you as the duke?" Her question being a bit out of place, perplexed Haruki a little.
"Yeah, I remember, why?" Although he took the brooch off of her hands, he still wanted a clear answer.
"The storm was Michael's doing, he does snow for Laria, a fire Phoenix for Daria, and many more fake recognitions of god to convince the public that you're their ordained master and the new ruler of the land. But when he's not around the only way for you to use ice magic is with the help of that brooch even if you're not a true Frost," done with the explanation, Roselia began setting the bed before Haruki.
"I guess that's why the storm still happened even though I'm not a Frost," wearing the brooch around his neck, Haruki still had one question left inside his mind. "But what about the soul part, is there really one inside?"
As she heard that question her hands stopped moving. Hunched over at the bed, she stayed stagnant for a moment with her eyes staring at the crumbled sheets.
"There's no soul inside it, much like everything else about this duchy, it's just another thing that's been stolen from us," although she'd left the answer ambiguous, somehow Haruki knew it was a topic best left untouched.
'She seems upset that I even asked that question.' Averting his gaze, Haruki kept getting ready with Roselia working right behind his back.
Once she was done setting the bed, Rose left Haruki alone in the room with his breakfast on the bedside table. Being an incubus, he didn't require sustenance in the form of food, however, the trailing odor of actually good tea sided with a puffy cream pastry was too much not to gobble it up regardless.
'The slaves Moriyana ordered must be arriving soon too, I should finish up on the curse and acquire Fay's ability before that happens.' Quickly collecting his thoughts, Haruki was off on his way to get a carriage for Moriyana's tattered mansion.
After the attack from Razor, her chain of command was left in shambles, but as a few days passed it was gradually on its way to recovery. Recruiting the citizens spreading rumors about the deaths around the cities, Moriyana had turned them all into her servants, making the sources of those rumors into nothing more than dubious chatter.
'I would've preferred if I could just alter everyone's memories with Asmodia's power, but I doubt I'd be able to do it with my limited mana output.' Strolling down the street in his carriage, many citizens waved at him with joyous smiles, reminding him of the first time he'd taken a carriage around Laria to meet Moriyana waiting by the gates.
Although now it felt different, as in the voices of the citizens he sensed a hint of fear. His policies and leniency on crime had people cursing him under their breaths whilst still chanting his praises out loud.
"I don't have much time, if we don't corrupt the streets faster, then at least one of them will spread the news that could make its way to the emperor," Haruki muttered with a worried frown resting on his face.
"About that…" Grabbing his attention, Asuka chimed in. "Last time Moriyana was at the castle, she said she had a plan to accelerate the moral degeneration of the people."
"What? Why wasn't I told about this?" Haruki asked, totally forgetting that he'd handed diplomacy over to Margarette and that she was working out each document for him at the castle.
Upon realizing, however, he simply let out a sigh and wondered how far Riley had gotten in her assigned work by now.
'I can't imagine just how many loud-mouthed traitors she has killed so far.' Entrusted with the responsibility to kill any and all who tried to spread the truth about what was happening inside Laria to the outside world, Riley was having a great time swinging her knives around countless throats.
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