Chapter 17. The Step (3)
A huge explosion of sound erupted from the Kairis Palace.
People nearby flocked to the square.
Evan Briesen’s carriage, which was entering the mansion, stopped for a moment.
Euria jumped onto the roof of the Wizard Association building.
Melfir and Thesid stood up at the same time and ran to the window.
And Arsene.
The Vulcan Vice Commander’s robe was wrapped around his shoulders.
* * *
“I said I would show you the end. What are you going to do now?”
The head maid turned her head when she heard Silike muttering.
The maid did not understand who she was talking to. However, I could see a slight smile on Silike’s lips as she watched the thick, black smoke.
The head maid had been with Silike all day today, so she had to watch everything that Silike had just done.
‘Why on earth did you do this?’
The head maid, thinking about what had happened so far, held her hands together to calm her trembling hands.
A little while ago, after the leader of the Knights of Raon came to visit Silike.
After completing all preparations, Silike entered the drawing room alone. As the head maid had told me, the leader of the Knights of Raon was waiting for Silike there.
He showed Silike a courtesy and handed him a black box he had prepared. And then he opened his mouth with eyes full of worry.
“It’s a dangerous item. I don’t know why you were looking for it, but”
“Me.”
After interrupting the knight commander, Silike opened the black box for a moment to check its contents, then took out one and closed the lid. Then he looked at the knight commander with an expressionless face and continued speaking.
“What did you receive from Sir?”
The Knight Commander of Raon shrugged his shoulders and slowly shook his head.
“…No, you didn’t receive anything.”
Even at the moment he was facing Silike, he was still doubting whether he had made a good choice.
– Queen Silike’s tyranny is so severe that it can no longer be tolerated, so the knights Karen and Raon will no longer have to follow Queen Silike’s orders.
I kept thinking about what was written in Evan’s letter.
Karen’s leader was Raon’s leader who came to Silike out of momentary greed because he knew she would definitely follow Evan’s words.
From the moment I returned from meeting Sillike on Sunday, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had made the wrong choice. However, Silike, who had asked me to bring him an unusual item, even said something with the clear intention of cutting off my tail, which made me very uneasy.
“great.”
Silike, who spoke in a light tone, stood up holding a black box. Then, after placing the box on the nightstand next to the living room door, I opened my mouth to him.
“Just wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”
And then she left the drawing room without hearing his answer.
Silike, who left the leader of the Knights of Raon and went outside, saw the chief maid and the maids waiting for her outside. Silike’s eyes turned to the maid whose face was particularly striking. It was the same maid who had messed with her hands while doing her hair.
“Come here.”
The maid was very frightened.
The shrunken shoulders did not straighten. Her lip was burst and covered in dried blood, and her cheek was swollen from a bluish bruise. Two slaps left her face like this.
Silike saw this and spoke in a low voice.
“Oh my. I guess I overdid it.”
Doesn’t this sound like an admission of one’s own fault?
Everyone present looked at Silike.
Silike was smiling softly as if caressing a small animal in her hand. Because of this, even the head maid couldn’t figure out what was in that smile.
…… Even after watching Silike for such a long time.
“Please do me one favor.”
Silike, who said this, placed the bead she had been holding in her hand a moment ago into the hand of the maid.
“Would you like to leave it in the box at the entrance to the living room and come out?”
Lately, Silike has barely spoken to the maids or even the head maid. Sometimes, when the mouth was opened, a venomous voice came out that seemed to tear the hearts of those who heard it.
So, after seeing such a kind face and soft voice for the first time in such a long time, the maid could not bear to refuse Silike’s request.
“Yes, queen. I understand.”
Satisfied, Silike held the hand of the maid holding the bead.
And I applied a little force.
– Click.
An uneasy sound was heard from within the maid’s hand.
When the maid felt this, she looked at Silike, and Silike smiled as if it was nothing.
“Come on. Come in.”
Then he immediately turned back and walked away.
Walking without the slightest haste, looking the same as always.
* * *
Lemain raised his head after hearing the explosion of the Heysia Palace.
The sound of busy footsteps could be heard here and there in Arfia Palace, and Caera’s knights rushed in and surrounded Lemain.
The office window of Arpia Palace faced the main gate of the palace.
Therefore, Heisia Palace, where Silike stayed, was not visible from Lemain’s office.
“It’s started.”
LeMaine muttered quietly, sinking deeper into his chair and closing his eyes, looking truly tired. There was no sign of anyone being surprised by the heavy drinking, trying to determine the cause, or looking outside.
After Chamberlain Raoul, who had always maintained his composure, went out with a surprised look on his face, Caera Knight Commander Ren, who was guarding Lemaine, opened his mouth in a cautious voice.
“Your Highness. I will tell you to call Lord Manasil.”
“What happened to Lord Manasil? I thought all of my guards were gathered here, but did I have any other guards?”
Ren, unable to find anything to say for a moment, closed his mouth. Lemain said with the same expression on his face.
“I don’t mind receiving help from Lord Manasil, but I don’t want you to rely on it.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will be careful.”
Before long, the office door opened again and Raoul came in.
“This is Heisia Palace. They say there was an explosion in the drawing room, but no damage has been confirmed yet to others, and the queen is said to be safe. But that’s…” Raoul, who said that, hesitated for a moment
. It was because I was told a story that was difficult to bring up. Lemain looked at Raoul intently, and Raoul finished speaking, unable to hide his embarrassed face.
“They say Arsene Hertz attacked the queen.”
Arsene Hertz.
Ren’s eyes lit up when the name of the Vulcan vice-captain came out of nowhere.
And Lemain laughed.
Soon an unbelievable sound came out of Lemain’s mouth.
“That’s terrible.”
* * *
Calian, who was standing on the terrace, turned around.
As soon as a loud bang was heard, Kirie ran into Calian’s room and stood next to him with a stern expression on his face.
After a while, Jan came in.
Jan, who said he would prepare breakfast, told an interesting story in front of Kalian instead of eating.
“Lord Hertz visited Queen Sillike this morning. He claimed to have heard from the prince that Silike was the leader of the last attack, and then attacked her unilaterally.”
Jan, who was speaking, had a puzzled expression on his face, while Alan and Kirie, who were listening, laughed.
Calian nodded and asked.
“You’re saying I instigated Lord Hertz to attack Silike.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
If I was going to kill you, I would do it.
“okay.”
Arsene’s binge drinking.
Kalian laughed as he encountered this incongruous combination again.
Since Gray’s carriage exploded, it seemed like Arsene really liked using fireballs. It was clear that Pavel’s knights did not care how they died.
In any case, to people, the explosion of Gray’s carriage and the explosion of Silike’s parlor may seem very similar.
“You were thinking of retrieving the missing Lord Hertz. As expected, you used your brains quite a bit. It looks like you even got the magic bullet.”
If it is accepted as true that Calian instigated Arsene, not only Calian but also Balkan and the Balkan corps commander, Alan, will not be able to escape safely.
“I guess they thought that we wouldn’t be able to explain where Sir Hertz was when he was captured. Since we couldn’t find him in the Marquis Briesen’s house, I guess they concluded that I was hiding him.”
If Calian was protecting Arsene, wouldn’t it be useless for Calian to defend what Arsene was doing at the time Silike was attacked? Since Calian was the one who instigated the attack on Silike, he must have thought that no one would believe what he said.
But I couldn’t see any embarrassment on the faces of any of those who were talking like that. Kalian asked Yan with a face that still showed no worries.
“So what about your highness?”
“You must not be late for the Balkan founding ceremony.”
The founding ceremony was not postponed.
Lemain also did not believe Silique’s claims.
* * *
– Cry!
Silike’s fan folded with a loud sound.
It’s already been a while since the explosion at Heisia Palace. Despite this, no one came out. No one comes to investigate.
And LeMaine’s words were relayed.
– Since the queen is safe, we will investigate the accident after the founding ceremony of the wizard group Balkan is completed.
Silike said it was definitely not an accident.
They said there had been an attack and even announced the name of the culprit.
“It was an accident.”
Nevertheless, Lemain changed the nature of work with the word ‘accident.’ Even after doing this, they do not listen to Silike.
“Even if this was truly an accident, wouldn’t the event have to be postponed? Your Majesty’s intentions are now clearly visible.”
Silike’s voice as she said that was trembling slightly.
Silike quietly closed her eyes to regain her composure.
And then he spoke to the head maid.
“Call the vice-captain of the Knights of Raon and have him gather all of Raon to the Wilhelm Pavilion. If the leader of Raon is with me, he will listen.”
No matter what happens, I had to take this opportunity to catch Calian.
Since Lemain said he would not step forward, I had no choice but to make the move myself.
Soon, Sillike, accompanied by several guard knights and other maids, moved to the Wilhelm Pavilion where the Balkan founding ceremony was to be held. Since it was used by Knight Templar Pavel, the Wilhelm Pavilion was close to the Heysia Palace.
Therefore, Silike, who arrived at the event venue not long after, had to once again apply strength to the hand holding the fan.
It was after an explosion occurred at the royal palace.
But there was no anxiety on anyone’s face. They looked like they had had an extremely ordinary morning and were exchanging extremely ordinary greetings.
No one there said anything about the explosion.
Pro-Brisen nobles were still visible, but they were very quiet. After saying hello to Silike, he turned his head.
Isn’t this the day of the founding ceremony of Balkan, which is closely related to Alan?
So, it’s a bit of a step away from the ‘big, eye-catching tree’ that Alan was talking about.
‘How dare you do that to me!’
Silike, who was experiencing this for the first time, gritted her teeth.
And then.
Someone came up and said something worried.
“I heard there was an explosion. I’m glad you seem to be okay.”
There was venom in Silike’s eyes as he looked at the person who had spoken.
Among the many people, Kalian was the only one who asked Silike about the accident.
“You’re so shamelessly asking about something you took the lead in.”
Silike’s voice was quite loud and the surroundings were quiet.
The eyes of the nobles in the hall, the white-robed wizards who had gathered for the founding ceremony, and the other two princes all moved towards Sillike and Calian.
After looking around at them, Calian had a somewhat stern expression on his face.
“I think it would be best to refrain from making hasty comments. Didn’t Your Highness say that the cause will be found after the event is over?”
It wasn’t sarcasm.
Calian was saying this in a tone that showed genuine concern for Silike.
Calian did not usually treat Silike like this. So, Silike knew that this appearance was an act that was conscious of the eyes of others.
I only knew Silike.
The fan in my hand made a crackling sound.
“Go find that wizard. I clearly saw what that wizard did, so you must come find him.”
Calian did not respond to those words and kept his mouth shut.
When Silike, who thought he couldn’t find the words to reply, smiled.
“That wizard.”
Someone’s voice was heard from behind Silike.
“Are you referring to this person, queen?”
A familiar voice.
It was a very familiar voice.
Silike turned her head.
Evan Briesen was standing there.
And a wizard standing behind him bowed his head.
“This is my first time greeting you.”
The wizard greeted Silike in a polite voice.
“Arsene Hertz… ‘that wizard’.”
Silike took a step back.
Because I couldn’t determine why Arsene Hertz was coming in with Evan and not Calian.
Silike took a step back and looked at Evan and Arsene, then his head turned towards Calian.
Calian was smiling.
The question of whether you can see the end was contained in that smile.
