Turning

In that instant, Yuder’s eyes sharpened dramatically.

Inella la Orr. He’d never even seen her in person, and yet he felt nothing but aversion. After what he’d heard today, that feeling had only worsened—now it seemed beyond repair.

“If you mean the Empress Dowager’s child... you’re talking about Kiole’s mother?”

“No. Her son.”

So he was Kiole’s father’s half-brother—an uncle, technically. But Kishiar didn’t bother referring to him as such.

“Didn’t he die young? What kind of expectations could anyone have had for him?”

“Yes. He died before I was born. And he was also the Duke of la Orr right before me.”

Kishiar wore a bitter, cold smile.

Yuder was momentarily at a loss for words.

'...So that’s why they said he died young.'

Back when Yuder had returned to the past and first met Inon, he had asked him to dig up information related to Kishiar. Among the data Inon brought back was a list of dukes of royal blood.

There had been nine “la Orr” dukes before Kishiar.

The records were sparse and difficult to verify, but the ninth duke—the one who had died most recently—still had some detailed information. That file described in grim detail the suffering he’d endured as he withered away before death.

It had been a key turning point. Only after reading that had Yuder begun to piece together certain strange impressions he’d had of Kishiar in his previous life.

The name had been unmistakable...

“Laflaim Rehodyn la Orr. The first name was from his father, the middle from his mother. Apparently, there was a big argument over it, since historically, no royal bearing the name Laflaim had ever met a good end. In the end, they broke precedent and used both names. But supposedly, only the first was engraved on his gravestone.”

Right. In Inon’s report, the name had been listed simply as Laflaim la Orr.

'I had assumed the detailed records were just because he was the most recent to die... But if he was Inella la Orr’s son, then the person who left those records must have been from the Diarca side. That would explain why they were preserved...'

Inon had mentioned that the information came from letters written by someone close to Laflaim. Since the dukes of la Orr lived such erased, hidden lives—barely leaving behind even portraits—of course all traces of them would’ve been removed after death. Yuder had always wondered how such records could’ve survived.

Now, it seemed that lingering question had finally been answered.

“You look like that name rings a bell.”

Kishiar, with his uncanny perception, quickly noticed the change in Yuder’s expression. Yuder decided to come clean.

“...I once asked Inon to investigate you a little. I came across the name in the information he found.”

“You... investigated me?”

Kishiar’s expression was one of shock—but not in a negative sense.

“When? Ah, it must have been not long after you joined. There were a few times I noticed you going out for no reason. Unbelievable. So it wasn’t just about visiting the pharmacist—you were looking into me, too. I’m honestly trembling with joy.”

That was technically true, but... was it really something worth fluttering one’s eyelashes over in delight?

Yuder averted his eyes from the dazzling light radiating from those red pupils and replied,

“Mm. Yes. Around that time.”

“What did the pharmacist’s investigation turn up? Was anything accurate?”

Not that it seemed all that important right now, but judging from Kishiar’s face, it clearly was—to him. Yuder paused before answering truthfully.

“There were rumors about you becoming the new wielder of the divine sword... That you could use divine power... That you studied magic under court mages as a child...”

“Surprisingly accurate.”

Kishiar looked genuinely impressed.

“I’d heard that all records of what I learned as a prince in the palace were erased after I became a duke. Did someone hide the documents in the Royal Mage Office?”

“There was also a rumor that the private forces in the Peleta territory were secretly a powerful combat unit that could mobilize to the capital at the Emperor’s command. Now that I think about it, that was true too.”

Back then, Yuder had barely any impression of the Peleta knights aside from Nathan Zuckerman. The mention of a hidden swordmaster had seemed like an exaggerated, malicious rumor.

But now that he’d visited Peleta himself, Yuder knew: even without Nathan, the power concentrated in Peleta alone was more than enough to handle anything.

“Hm.”

Kishiar grinned.

“The most memorable detail was about the crown prince selection.”

That the title of Crown Prince had originally belonged to Kishiar la Orr—but at a royal council meeting, Inella, the former Empress Dowager, had insisted that Keillusa la Orr become Crown Prince instead.

Yuder remembered the strange emotions he’d felt then—wondering what might have happened had Kishiar become emperor.

“...That was some impressive investigation.”

Kishiar praised it sincerely.

“I already knew the pharmacist was good at what he does—you told me yourself—but hearing it all laid out like this really drives it home.”

Saying that, Kishiar looked off into the distance, as if recalling the past.

“I remember that time clearly. His Majesty the late Emperor had wanted me to take the position, but the resistance from the Empress Dowager and the noble faction was too intense. It really was a miserable time for everyone.”

“...And you, sir?”

Yuder finally voiced a question that had long lingered in his mind.

“Me?”

“Did you not want to become Crown Prince?”

He had no complaints about Emperor Keillusa. The man was an excellent ruler. Still, Yuder wanted to know—what had the young prince Kishiar felt back then?

“If you feel the question’s rude, you don’t have to answer.”

“No. You being curious about me could never be rude. And I understand what kind of curiosity that is—it’s fine. It’s just that it was a long time ago... Hmm.”

Kishiar tapped the armrest of his chair and searched his memory.

“I... thought it didn’t matter who was chosen. I sat outside the meeting hall with His Majesty every day, waiting for the decision, listening to people curse me all day long. That’s my strongest memory of the whole thing—wishing it would just end.”

People cursed him? All day?

“Who would dare curse you?”

“Ah. That expression’s turning scary again. If I answer, you really might go dig up someone’s grave...”

“It was Inella la Orr again, wasn’t it.”

Who else would make Yuder think seriously about desecrating a grave?

“I’m really fine now, you know. I just want to spend more time with you. So... could we postpone the grave-desecrating for a little while?”

“....”

How could Yuder leave after hearing that? He swallowed the rising fury. Kishiar smiled quietly just as Nathan Zuckerman returned with the tea.

“Perfect timing. Let’s cool the fire in our bellies with some fine tea.”

“What were you discussing?”

Nathan raised an eyebrow as he asked.

“The crown prince decision meeting. Just reminiscing.”

“Ah...”

“You remember how noisy it was back then, don’t you?”

“I recall you complaining that it was hard to nap in secret, sir. You even gave me the ridiculous order to grow up faster so you could hide behind me and sleep.”

Nathan muttered as he poured the tea.

“So, what kind of curses were being thrown around? What could people possibly say to a child prince?”

“There was plenty. They listed all my past mischiefs, said I’d surely develop health issues and die young... Hm.”

Kishiar paused mid-sentence, blinking like something had just occurred to him.

“Come to think of it, I hadn’t developed any physical issues yet back then. But in the end, it turned out just like they predicted.”

“That wasn’t prophecy. It was just baseless accusation.”

Nathan Zuckerman stated firmly. Yuder frowned slightly.

“So... you’re saying they spread that kind of talk even when you were still perfectly healthy. And people listened?”

“She’d been like that from the very first time she saw the Duke.”

Nathan gave a short, but heavy answer. It was the first time Yuder had seen Nathan so openly display dislike for someone, letting it show even in his eyes. Yuder had a feeling they would get along quite well.

'He’d probably agree right away if I asked him to help smash Inella la Orr’s grave someday.'

“Back then, it was such a mystery. It wasn’t as if she hated His Majesty that much. Why did she despise me so blindly? I could never figure it out. But now, finally, I understand—and it’s so satisfying.”

“Excuse me?”

“It ties back to what I was about to say earlier. In the end, everything circles back to Laflaim la Orr.”