April 29, 2021
"Did Your Highness take care of all of them?"
"Can’t you tell just by looking?"
The paladin’s face turned deathly pale at the cold response. He had heard the rumors—stories of the Grand Duke of Schwarhan being a monster—but now, standing this close, Cabelenus truly looked the part. His piercing golden eyes held a predatory intensity that would freeze even the fiercest beasts in place, too paralyzed to flee.
"Some nuisances got in the way, and a few managed to slip through."
"S-Should we pursue them?"
"You think you can catch prey that even I let escape?"
As Cabelenus’s brow furrowed, everyone instinctively held their breath.
"Enough nonsense. We’re heading to Alogost."
"W-What?"
"Don’t make me repeat myself. Do you think I came all this way for nothing?"
As Cabelenus tightened his grip on his sword’s hilt in irritation, the sound of several men gulping in unison filled the air. His slow, searching gaze was that of a predator still hungry for blood. Realizing this sent a shiver down their spines.
"You’ll do."
"M-Me?!"
"Take off your armor and helmet."
"What? But this uniform is only for the paladins of the temple—"
"I told you I don’t repeat myself."
The paladin’s throat bobbed visibly. The temple’s doctrines were sacred, but when it came down to choosing between doctrine and survival, the answer was clear.
"A-Are you really ordering me to—"
"Are you refusing?"
"I-I’ll do it!"
Apologies to the gods, but the young paladin valued his life more. He hurriedly fumbled with the clasps of his armor, struggling to remove it.
"Too slow."
"A-Armor isn’t meant to be put on or removed alone—"
"Then your comrades can help you."
"That’s the duty of a squire—"
Cabelenus didn’t need to say a word. His mere gaze, as sharp as a blade, was enough to silence them. Without further protest, the other paladins clumsily helped strip the selected one of his armor and helmet.
"Until we reach the capital, you’re coming with me."
"W-What?"
"The number of men leaving must match the number that entered, or we’ll draw suspicion."
"Then... what am I supposed to do?"
The paladin, now stripped of his armor, blinked slowly in confusion.
"Why are you asking me?"
"What?"
"Go chase after the prey I missed, or do whatever you want. It’s not my concern."
"B-But Your Highness took my armor—"
"And?"
Cabelenus cocked his head slightly, utterly indifferent.
"But Your Highness—"
"Enough. Shut up."
With a dismissive wave, the paladins quickly busied themselves assisting Cabelenus with the armor. It was an act of sheer tyranny, but no one dared utter a word. His reputation was the worst of the worst. Anyone with common sense knew better than to argue with the Wolf of Schwarhan.
***
"Mom, look at this! What do you think?"
"You did a great job. Your father will love it."
"......."
"What’s wrong?"
"It still feels weird... calling him 'Dad.'"
Mikael lowered his head, biting his lip. Alicia gently stroked his soft hair.
"What feels weird about it?"
"Everything. It’s just... too weird. I feel like that man would say something if he heard it."
"But you said you wanted to call him 'Dad' when he comes back."
"I do, but... it’s still strange."
"It’s not strange at all."
"...Really?"
Mikael lifted his head slightly, his round eyes rolling uncertainly. Alicia smiled, cupping her son’s chubby cheeks. His soft, plump face felt incredibly warm to the touch.
"Yes. In fact, I think it sounds wonderful. And your father will be happy to hear it, too."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Then I’ll practice until he comes back."
"Practice?"
"You get better at things when you practice, right? I’ll practice really hard so I can say it properly when he returns."
Mikael clenched his tiny fists, his eyes sparkling with determination.
"Then your father needs to come back quickly."
Alicia gently caressed Mikael’s cheek, and he nuzzled into her hand with a happy giggle.
"He made a promise to me, so he’ll be back soon."
"A promise?"
"I made my third wish to him."
"What did you wish for?"
"Secret."
"Hmm?"
"I’ll tell you when he comes back."
Mikael beamed at her, his innocent grin filled with excitement. Alicia decided not to press him further. A father and son should have their own little secrets.
"But if you want to practice, shouldn’t you start calling him ‘Dad’ now instead of ‘Mister’?"
"No way! I have to practice by myself first."
"Why?"
"Because I want him to be the first one to hear it."
"If you do that, he’ll be really happy."
"Of course he will! I’m the one saying it, after all."
Mikael nodded enthusiastically, his eyes fixed on the man in his drawing. The figure had black hair and golden eyes.
"Should we finish up for today and clean up?"
"But what about the drawing of Mister— I mean, Dad?"
"Shall we put it over there? Once the paint dries, we’ll wrap it up nicely so you can give it to him as a present."
"In that case, I want to carry it myself!"
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
"Can you do it?"
"Of course!"
Mikael answered confidently, grabbing the canvas. He hadn’t been satisfied with the drawing while working on it, but now that it was finished, he liked it much more. No matter how cold-hearted that man was, he wouldn’t be able to help but admire it.
"Be careful when you move it."
"Don’t worry, I—ah!"
"Mikael!"
Alicia rushed forward, quickly checking over Mikael’s condition. Fortunately, he seemed unhurt, just startled.
"I told you to be careful."
"I’m sorry."
"It’s okay. As long as you’re not hurt."
"But... the picture..."
Mikael sniffled, his expression crumpling as if he was about to cry. The canvas had fallen to the ground, the still-wet paint smearing together, distorting the original image.
"It’s alright. You can always draw it again."
Alicia forced a reassuring smile as she picked up the ruined canvas, only to freeze. The smudged paint made it look as though Cabelenus, in the picture, was crying.
‘It’s just my imagination...’
Swallowing hard, Alicia slowly ran her fingers over the distorted eyes in the painting. The paint smeared onto her fingertips, staining them, yet she couldn’t pull her hand away. No matter how much she rubbed, the warped expression wouldn’t return to its original form.
***
"I never expected Your Highness to be involved in this matter."
Hermann smiled warmly, his hands neatly folded on the table.
"Isn’t the title ‘God’s Representative’ one that applies to me as well?"
"I thought Your Highness had rejected the name I bestowed upon you."
Cabelenus clicked his tongue inwardly at Hermann’s practiced smile. That so-called title had been given to him as part of Hermann’s ploy to paint Alicia as a witch. The fact that he had simply crumpled up Hermann’s letter rather than marching an army into the temple had already been an act of restraint.
"If that were the case, it must have been His Majesty’s meddling. Otherwise, why would I have gone through the trouble of coming to the capital?"
"Someone of Your Highness’s abilities could have entered in secret, could you not?"
"Unlike some, I am no thief."
Cabelenus met Hermann’s gaze directly.
"Of course."
Hermann’s smile twitched slightly at the edges.
"As I have said before, I am on Your Highness’s side."
"Strange, coming from someone who was so friendly with that fraud."
"How could that be? Everything I have done has been for Your Highness’s sake."
"For my sake?"
"Why do you think His Majesty keeps rejecting my requests for an audience? It’s because he knows that I am on your side."
"If he intended to remove you, he should have done so the day I returned."
"He likely judged that he couldn’t win against me at the time."
Hermann shook his head as if genuinely sympathetic. The seasoned high priest was an expert at maintaining his composure, seamlessly continuing his speech.
"And what makes now any different?"
"His Majesty foolishly believes that he carries the will of the gods."
"You mean the so-called ‘God’s Representative’ currently residing in the palace?"
"To be precise, a fraud unworthy of the title."
A thin veil of disgust flickered in Hermann’s narrowed eyes.
"That man’s actions have conveniently given me the opportunity to speak with Your Highness, but to be honest, I am not particularly pleased about it."
"So, Your Highness thinks the same as I do?"
"Haven’t we endured enough humiliation at Roakin’s hands?"
Cabelenus’s lips curled slightly.
"Do you have a plan?"
"That is why I have taken the risk of making my move."
"Then will you share your methods with me?"
Hermann laced his fingers together, resting his chin upon them. Both Jerpeneus and Cabelenus were men accustomed to enduring hardship. Staying still ensured safety, but it would also make achieving their ambitions impossible. If Hermann wanted to advance his own goals, he needed one of them to fall first.
"His Majesty has put forward a ‘God’s Representative,’ but that man has not been properly validated."
"Are you suggesting we expose the fraud?"
"I am merely stating that no falsehood can triumph over the truth."
A sharp glint appeared in Cabelenus’s eyes.
"And what role do you expect me to play in this?"
"The High Priest must officially declare me as the true ‘God’s Representative.’"
"There have never been two representatives before. Only one has ever existed at a time."
"That is precisely why the result will be so interesting."
"Surely not..."
"People will divide into factions. And in the effort to determine who the real one is, they will only raise their voices louder."
Cabelenus let out a brief chuckle.
"If that happens, the situation will naturally shift in our favor."
"Aren’t you being a bit too confident?"
"If you knew the rumors spreading lately, you’d understand why my confidence is justified. Honestly, who among the Empire’s people actually likes °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Roakin? A green-eyed emperor was always a contradiction to everything the Empire stood for."
Hermann’s pale eyebrows lifted slightly, his sharp gaze gleaming with satisfaction. When opinions split, chaos inevitably followed. And confusion was the perfect breeding ground for persuasion.
"With the Roakin scandal still fresh, the emergence of a new ‘God’s Representative’ will only put the fraud’s position on even shakier ground. Especially if the representative in question is none other than the Grand Duke of Schwarhan."
"I appreciate the compliment."
"But before declaring a new ‘God’s Representative,’ I need one thing from Your Highness."
"And what is that?"
"Certainty."
Hermann placed his hand atop Cabelenus’s, his wrinkled face twisting into an eerie smile.
