Chapter 110
Princess Serciarin trembled as she neared her destination. Her other senses were strong, perhaps to compensate for her blindness. She could already feel the presence of her target approaching her before she could even get close to him.
She was pretty smart as well, but she couldn’t understand why her chest was hurting.
“W-wait!” Princess Serciarin frantically exclaimed, clutching her tingling chest.
“In the near future, I will visit the Magnificent Flower Palace. Your medicine is nearly done.”
“...!” Princess Serciarin’s eyes widened at the man’s voice. “W-What medicine?”
“I’m paying you back what I owe you in my past life.”
“Wait, what?” Princess Serciarin hurriedly shouted. She could sense that the man who muttered something inexplicable to her was about to walk away.
“Ah—”
However, the man’s presence had already vanished like a lie.
“Your Highness, please don’t just run away like that…”
“Ellen…” Princess Sercsarin sighed when she felt that many people’s attention was on her.
“Are Lord Joshua and Her Highness Serciarin well acquainted?”
“That’s nonsense. Her Highness was only allowed to go out on special occasions until recently.”
“Perhaps they have been meeting in secrecy?”
Princess Serciarin could hear the voices of everyone around her loud and clear, and she could also feel their gazes on her. She judged that there was a good chance that Joshua would be in danger if she drew more attention here.
Princess Serciarin clenched her tiny fists and grumbled inwardly. ‘I should calm down. He said he’ll visit me soon.’
Princess Serciarin could hardly see an inch in front of her, but she could distinctively see his aura. It was a dazzling aura that blinded her Heart’s Eyes.
“Ellen. I’m sorry.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Your Highness.”
Princess Serciarin smiled at Ellen and gradually made her way out of the spotlight.
The banquet resumed after a brief hiatus caused by the series of events.
***
Jacken covered in black clothing arrived abruptly in a secluded room.
He stood behind the curtain and said, “I have something to report, Your Majesty.”
“Speak.”
At Emperor Marcus’ dignified voice, Jacken said, “If a war erupts, Your Majesty should pay special attention to certain locations.”
Emperor Marcus paused for a moment. He recalled the vastness of the northern continent and asked, “The Great Plains of Kraden?”
“Yes. The first battle will greatly impact future battles.”
“The Swallow Empire has a fair share of the Great Plains of Kraden.” Emperor Marcus nodded.
He rubbed his chin and fell into contemplation for a moment before smiling softly and saying, “I think this is where the War God will shine, but he will shine for Avalon rather than for Swallow.”
At that, Jacken shook his head and asked, “Do you really trust him, Your Majesty?”
“Trust?” Emperor Markus guffawed. “I have no faith in anyone in this world. There are only two types of people in my eyes: those who are useful to me and those who are not.”
“...”
Emperor Marcus added amidst Jacken’s silence. “It’s for the best if Aden falls there, and it would be even better if he manages to bring Duke Lucifer of Swallow down with him.”
“Black Wind and the War God agrees with His Majesty. However, we believe that we would need the power of three Stars to take Duke Aden von Agnus down,” replied Jacken.
“Why?”
“His Grace Duke Agnus is also a Star, but the gap between him and the other Stars is huge.”
“Enough. I get it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“For now…” Emperor Marcus stood up and muttered, “The demise of a renowned figure like Aden von Agnus would be a catastrophic loss for the empire as a whole. However, a renowned treasured sword that cannot be controlled is nothing more than garbage, and it is more worthless than a dull knife.”
Without waiting for Jacken to speak, Emperor Marcus continued with a twisted smile. “Moreover, he's a double-edged sword that could pierce its owner at any moment. Now… I don't have to be concerned about it anymore."
"He has always been a pacifist as well, so I will try to get him onto the frontlines."
"Yes, I have always found his pacifism a bit less appealing. He isn’t dumb, but his beliefs are.”
“...”
“Jacken.”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Make use of Babel.”
“...!” Jacken momentarily closed his eyes before sighing.
“The plan will be finished soon. It has been brought forward by ten years. Don't rush; instead, take it slowly and post reports on a regular basis.”
“I heed and obey.”
Jacken's voice echoed softly in the dimmed secret room.
***
Joshua had just exited the banquet hall’s massive entryway when he had to stop moving. It was because he discovered a man leaning against a wall, seemingly waiting for him.
Joshua's face brightened with delight upon recognizing the man.
“Cain!”
Cain grinned. After so many years, he was now almost in his thirties.
“I have seen it all, my lord.”
“Huh?” Joshua tilted his head as he approached Cain.
“From start to finish, I have seen it all, my lord…” Cain seemed angry as he walked over to Joshua as well.
“What do you mean?” Joshua seemed confused.
Cain was enraged as he said, “You have thrown me into the darkest pits of hell with the devil, and you’re here having a great time with the ladies! Are you perhaps a demon?!”
“Wait, what?”
Cain opened his palms and gestured. “Can’t you see this? Look at this. See?”
Cain’s palms were covered with thick calluses. Cain was basically showing that the thick calluses on his palms were evidence of his suffering. “I swung my sword again and again, and I had no other thoughts other than my lord! I couldn't even get married when my peers already have kids, and I still haven’t held a woman's hand as well! My sole existence back there was to swing this awful hunk of metal for you!”
“You know what you just said sounded like you like m…”
Cain cried when he heard Joshua's reply, “Are you kidding me? I am being serious!”
“I’m sorry.”
Joshua quickly apologized, which abated Cain’s rage.
However, Cain had truly exceeded Joshua’s expectations, so Joshua knew that a reward was due.
As such, Joshua said, “I’ll find you a spouse.”
“Are you serious?” Cain sounded doubtful.
Joshua nodded without hesitation. “Yes. Have you ever seen me lie?”
“No, my lord.” Cain instantly brought his palms together “Please, my lord, she should be a lovely and kind lady if possible. If I were to provide an example, please let her be similar to the two ladies who spent some time with my lord in the banquet hall earlier…”
“I believe it is not because of your training that you’re still a bachelor,” said Joshua with some dissatisfaction while shaking his head.
He instantly identified the two ladies Cain was talking about.
“Since you came to see me, I assume you have already reached that point?”
Cain smiled at Joshua’s question. “You have asked me a painful question, my lord. I’ve spent what felt like a hundred years with the devil Duke that I almost became literal garbage.”
“...?” Joshua seemed confused.
At that, Cain’s smile widened. “Ah, what I fought were monsters, so it wouldn’t be good to measure me with standards you use for humans—I mean, I’m sure my abilities aren’t that horrible. Hehe.”
“I am proud of my ability, and I am second to none other than my lord.”
Joshua chuckled at Cain’s words. “Self-confidence is important, just don’t become arrogant.”
Cain had an incredulous look as he said, “You are by my side, so how can it be? Rather—”
However, a messenger approached and interrupted them.
“Please accept my apologies for interrupting your conversation…”
Cain closed his mouth.
“You have a visitor waiting outside the palace.”
“A guest? For me?” asked Joshua.
The messenger nodded and said, “Yes. He stated that he was looking for Lord Joshua. Guests are, as you know, not permitted to enter the Imperial Palace without invitation.”
The messenger surreptitiously glanced at Cain.
Of course, Joshua caught on to that, and he said. “How did you get in here, Cain?”
Cain shrugged and expressed his dissatisfaction. “I got in because of His Grace Agnus’ name, but as you can see, I’m not allowed to the banquet hall.”
“...” Joshua revealed a look of resignation.
Upon seeing that, Cain blinked and gestured to the knights guarding the backdoor before saying, “Those knights look like their eyes could kill, so it was really hard to even take a peek from the outside.”
“His Grace will be angry…”
“Everything turned out fine, though! Well, this is the last time I'm using His Grace’s name anyway.”
“The last time?” asked Joshua.
“It’s a bit late, but isn’t it time I swore the Knight’s Oath, Lord Joshua Sanders? As a knight of Baron Sanders, I will not need His Grace’s name anymore. I already got his permission as well. So please don't say that you don't need me.”
Joshua chuckled and started walking. “We'll have to see how well you do then.”
“Wait for me, my lord!”
Cain hurriedly followed after Joshua since the latter was moving relatively quickly.
"My lord, for the messenger to seek you out in the middle of the ball, it doesn't sound like it's something simple that they can resolve by themselves,” remarked Cain.
“Well…” Joshua muttered and moved even faster.
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