TYHL 81

~Chapter 81~

‘And just look at those eyes.’

They were nothing like the sharp, cold ones seen in the capital.

He didn’t know why, but clearly, that child’s existence was softening something sharp inside the Duke.

The Emperor hid his mouth behind his hand and quietly laughed.

“So, this girl called Rubian…”

“Next summer.”

Leviathan set his teacup down with a sharp clack.

Summer?

The Emperor slowly turned his head. He had a bad feeling about what was coming.

“I understand you’ll be at the Round Table.”

“Well…”

“This time, you must exclude Arcadia from the Continental Alliance.”

Yes, he knew he’d hear this.

“Duke,” the Emperor sighed.

“What is it you really want? I know you hate magicians because of that carriage accident, but still…”

“…”

“The culprit—the runaway magician—was caught and executed long ago.”

Runaway magicians from the Magic Kingdom were a recurring problem, the result of their extreme control.

“And yet you still hold a grudge…”

“This most recent runaway magician.”

“…”

“I heard she was a young girl.”

A cold sharpness flickered over Leviathan’s calm face. He remembered what the regional magician had told him before he came here:

“A girl about ten years old. She has great power… Ah! And her eyes—red, like blood.”

The Emperor frowned.

“So? Are you saying we should exclude Arcadia from the Alliance just because you pity some young girl magician? That’s no reason.”

“The child soldiers on the battlefield—who do you think ordered them there?”

The Emperor let out a long breath.

“Yes, I know it was wrong. That’s why I’ve ignored all their whining about sending more tracking magicians.”

“That’s all?”

“Of course, this time we’ll create a new treaty at the Round Table banning child soldiers. We’ll hold them accountable—maybe increase the number of stationed magicians, adjust import prices for magical tools…”

“As long as Vamilon benefits?”

The Duke’s lips twisted with open mockery.

“Turned into a merchant, have you?”

“Watch your mouth.”

The Emperor’s eyes darkened.

“I don’t want another war on this continent. Do you think Arcadia will sit quietly if we reject them?”

Magicians were powerful. If, in this war, the Magic King had bowed to a dark magician first…

The continent would have been finished.

The Emperor clenched his teeth.

“If Arcadia becomes our enemy, then those young magicians you pity so much…”

“…”

“…they may be the very ones you’ll have to kill this time.”

Leviathan laughed sharply.

“Why do you speak like this, Your Majesty—as if you’ve never been to war?”

His violet eyes glimmered strangely.

“You know very well—if you cut down the leader first, it’s over.”

“You mean… you intend to kill the King of Arcadia?”

“If necessary.”

Somehow, it sounded less like a possibility and more like a vow.

“So exclude Arcadia from the Alliance. That way, when I cut off that damned Magic King’s head, the other nations won’t bark at me. You dislike trouble, don’t you?”

The Emperor groaned and rubbed his temple.

‘No wonder it’s been too quiet until now.’

Leviathan had been the first to raise the issue of child soldiers. He demanded the Alliance rescue the children and expel the Magic Kingdom. In the end, the Kingdom backed down, agreeing to move the children to the rear lines.

Leviathan hadn’t been satisfied. But with the war intensifying, he couldn’t keep fixating on it. Instead, he threw himself into battle, believing ending the war quickly was the only way to save them.

Even so, years had passed. And he endured it his own way. The Emperor knew this, but it still weighed heavily on his mind.

“…Fine. Just wait. I’ll think of a proper justification. I’ll handle it.”

The Emperor shook the documents in his hand.

Leviathan thought about pressing further, but held his tongue.

‘That’s enough.’

With the war finished, he needed something new to occupy himself. Perhaps tormenting this slippery Emperor could become his new job.

He rose to his feet.

“Then, I’ll see you at the prayer meeting the day after tomorrow.”

“…Wait, Duke.”

The Emperor, flipping through the papers, suddenly called out.

“What is this?”

Leviathan turned back, his face unreadable.

“A problem?”

“This girl, Rubian—wasn’t she found in Eosia village? Then you should bring proof of identity from Eosia.”

“No. I was mistaken. Rubian is…”

Leviathan replied shamelessly:

“A child of Vamilon.”

The southern region. Marinvesta.

The Emperor let out a bitter laugh.

This was obviously fabricated.

“So you’re asking me to sign false papers?”

“False? What are you talking about?”

“….”

“You said you’d take care of it, didn’t you? Then I’ll be going.”

Bang. The door shut.

The Emperor rubbed his forehead in frustration.

“That damned hero…”

“Just what on earth is this girl, Rubian?”

Alone in the room, he let out a sharp cry and punched the air.

Leviathan turned to leave but suddenly stopped.

“Hello, Duke.”

“Your Highness.”

Prince Licht was standing at the door.

“Are you feeling better?” Leviathan asked.

“I… I’m fine. And Rubian?”

“She caught a bad cold, but… she’ll recover.”

“Oh dear. I should visit her then.”

The prince’s face showed genuine worry.

Leviathan stepped aside so Licht could enter—but then froze mid-movement. Something felt wrong.

“Your Highness… did you know?”

“…Know what?”

“About Ruby’s gender.”

“….”

The boy’s handsome face wavered slightly. That expression was the answer.

Leviathan let out a quiet sigh. Licht fiddled with his fingertips.

“…I’m sorry, Duke. Honestly, I wasn’t certain either. I only became sure back at Ipsun.”

“…Forget it. It isn’t something for Your Highness to apologize for.”

He looked down at the beautiful golden-haired prince. A royal’s mouth had to remain sealed. Licht understood that better than anyone.

Especially in his position, so easily dragged into political strife… caution was no weakness.

“But Your Highness—when it concerns Ruby, you mustn’t hide things from me.”

Licht lifted his eyes and met Leviathan’s gaze firmly. After a brief hesitation, his lips curved into a faint smile.

“Yes. I understand.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Leviathan walked away without hesitation. With the Verdant Festival approaching, he was busier than ever.

Licht stared silently at the Duke’s broad back as it receded.

“…What should I do, Duke?”

Even now, he wasn’t completely sure—so he couldn’t say it aloud carelessly.

“I’m sorry.”

His small whisper reached no one.

Licht Vamilon was a boy of perfect discipline.

He slept and woke at set times. He ate, studied, and trained at set times.

But lately, his routine had started to waver.

“…Rubian…”

That single word dominated his every thought.

What exactly was she?

“Rubian!”

The voice of the regional magician calling her with joy.

“I only… wanted to… do that for you…”

Those voices, half-dream, half-reality, kept echoing in his mind.

Inside that carriage where he had been kidnapped—

Even then, his consciousness sometimes floated back to the surface.

Of course, he had been hazy, drugged, and later Asha Druccan’s magic had completely erased it.

‘So… did the regional magician know Rubian?’

The suspicion rose again.

He hadn’t heard the words clearly, but the feeling was too strong to ignore.

“Hey. Trash.”

Licht stopped in his tracks.

He had just entered the dining hall—when the First Prince picked a fight.