Chapter – 46
At that same time—
“Hmph, you fool! How can someone be this pathetic?!”
An old man was racing toward the capital like the wind, personally driving a massive horse.
“How blind do you have to be to keep an assassin by your side? Hmph, incompetent fool! Fine, I’ll just have to go take care of it myself!”
The old man had snow-white hair, crimson eyes, and an enormous, imposing physique. His muscular frame carried two gigantic axes strapped across his back.
His name was Julius Prellai.
Most nobles stayed in their own territories and only lived in their townhouses in the capital when business required it.
The Furbes Ducal House possessed lands close to the capital, so they lived near the border between the capital and the Duchy of Furbes. The Lisinis Ducal House also spent most of their time in the eastern Lisinis territory, leaving only Avian of the guard corps in their capital townhouse.
The Prellai Ducal House, however, was a special case.
According to the Ancient Covenant, they were required to command summoned beasts in service of the Emperor. For that reason, the head of the Prellai family and their household always resided in the capital. A branch family appointed by the duke governed the northern duchy instead.
After the “Final Battle of the North,” in which Ellica Prellai and Edmund Tailize fought the dark mage Otson, the Prellai family was also entrusted with the duty of guarding those lands.
The person currently responsible for protecting the duchy was Julius.
Not long ago, he had received a letter from the Prellai estate.
And the moment he read it, he mounted his horse and rushed toward the capital without delay.
He traveled at tremendous speed, barely stopping to rest.
As a result, he never received the follow-up letter that read:
[The maid has committed suicide. There is no longer any need for you to come.]
Yet despite his frantic pace, the capital remained far away. The northern frontier he guarded was simply too distant.
You’re a mess. Either curse them or worry about them—pick one.
A tiny squirrel nestled inside his coat spoke up.
It was Darami, Julius’s summoned beast.
Darami’s ability was Insight—once every ten years, it could designate a single person and uncover every secret they were hiding.
It was an incredible power, but the summoned beast itself was not considered especially strong.
The conditions were simply too restrictive.
Julius was Scari’s cousin, belonging to a branch family rather than the direct bloodline. He guarded one of the harshest regions at the far northern edge of the duchy.
It has been a long time since we visited the capital. Exactly ten years.
The divine squirrel Darami spoke solemnly.
“To be precise, we can only come once every ten years.”
Julius sighed and ground his teeth.
“And because of that, I couldn’t even attend Enerus’s funeral…”
Protecting the harsh northern lands was part of the covenant between the Imperial Family and the Prellais.
Under that covenant, Julius could not leave his post and had to guard the most dangerous region continuously.
There was only one exception:
When either the Imperial Family or the Prellai family specifically requested the use of his summoned beast’s ability.
Unfortunately, Darami’s power could only be activated once every ten years.
As a result, Julius could only visit the capital once every decade.
Members of branch families usually could not summon beasts at all. Even if they succeeded, their beasts often had severe restrictions, making them weaker than those of the direct line.
To make matters worse, Darami’s Insight could not be used on just anyone. It only worked on commoners who possessed no noble blood.
“Enerus wasn’t that kind of person. I raised her myself. The last time I saw her, she hadn’t changed at all. Adultery? Nonsense…”
Sadness flickered in Julius’s crimson eyes.
Enerus had been born the daughter of a high-ranking northern noble but lost her entire family to monsters, becoming an orphan.
She was raised by her godfather, Julius.
Later, she married Hyde, the eldest son of Scari, during one of his visits to the North.
Julius had sincerely believed that bringing someone as kind and lovely as Enerus into the family was a blessing upon the Prellais.
When he visited the ducal house twenty years ago, they had seemed like the perfect family.
Then, afterward, he heard that Enerus had died while eloping in the middle of the night, and that Hyde had departed on a monster-subjugation campaign.
Even now, Julius trusted Enerus.
Like Hyde, he believed there had to be more to the story.
That was why, during his last visit to the Prellai estate ten years ago, he had never treated Kiana awkwardly.
“You’re Enerus’s daughter, aren’t you? Wahahaha! How adorable! That sulky expression suits you perfectly! Wahahahaha!”
Twelve-year-old Kiana had looked exactly like Enerus in her childhood.
She was unbelievably cute.
Since Kiana was stressed about being unable to summon a beast, Julius had comforted her.
“I didn’t summon mine until I was twelve either.”
Although that was the latest summoning in Prellai family history, it was true—Julius himself had not summoned his beast until the age of twelve.
Yet afterward, he heard nothing but terrible rumors.
Hyde’s reckless expeditions and eventual disappearance.
Kiana’s failure to summon a beast and her departure to the Principality of Lylonia.
Julius spoke with a pout.
“Even if our little Kiki really isn’t Hyde’s daughter, she’s definitely Enerus’s daughter, isn’t she? Huh?”
…That’s only your perspective.
Darami replied wisely.
How can you still be this foolish after all these years? Do you really think Kiana wants to hear something like that?
But Julius ignored him completely.
“Anyway, I can’t wait to see our Kiki. She must have grown up exactly like Enerus. I heard she went to some academy in the backwoods of the principality. I’ll pressure Scari if I have to and bring Kiki back.”
Julius snorted.
Darami nodded solemnly.
Well, I wanted to meet that child too.
Though tiny in size, the summoned beast carried itself with great dignity.
Something bothered me during our last visit.
“Really? What?”
For a brief moment, I sensed an aura similar to the one you had in the past.
Crossing his tiny arms, Darami muttered:
At the time it was so faint that I ignored it. But if she still hasn’t summoned a beast after all this time, then something must be wrong. We’ll have to examine her carefully when we arrive.
“A problem? What kind of problem?”
It may mean that the power of the Prellai bloodline, having nowhere else to go, is manifesting in an unintended way.
“Oh no…”
Julius frowned.
The squirrel’s eyes sparkled with excitement as it asked in a solemn voice:
Wait… did you actually understand what I just said? Have you finally become smarter? Are decades of my patience finally being rewarded?
“No.”
Julius answered immediately.
“But it sounds like something bad could happen to Kiki. We need to get there as soon as possible!”
Taking a deep breath, Julius urged his horse to run even faster.
04. The Crown Prince Has Returned
On the morning of the imperial banquet, the spy maid entered hesitantly and handed over a box.
“Lady Kiana, this is a gift from the House of Furbes. Lady Judith sent it.”
“Really?”
Yawning, I accepted the box.
Inside was a rather luxurious red floral hair ornament and a letter. The contents of the letter were exceptionally warm and friendly.
Hello, Kiana.
I heard the rumor that you returned to the ducal estate a few days ago. Have you been doing well at the academy?
I naturally assumed you would come visit the Furbes ducal residence, so I was a little disappointed when you didn’t.
Have your preparations for the banquet gone well? After giving it a lot of thought, I’m sending you a welcome gift that I think you’ll like.
I chose it together with my parents. You know, don’t you? My parents have always thought of you as a daughter of their own.
Mine is a blue ornament, and I thought it would be meaningful if we wore them together at the banquet.
Let’s continue to be comfortable with each other as the closest of friends.
Though it’s a little late, I sincerely welcome you back to the capital.
See you at the banquet!
— Your sincere friend, Judith
