Hera Artezia had barricaded herself in her chambers, gnawing her fingernails to the quick.
“…Are they dead yet?” she whispered to the empty room.
The commission she had placed haunted her thoughts.
[ Assassination Request ]
[ Targets: Duke Artezia, Verick Dragunov ]
Though the decision was made in fury, it had seemed quite brilliant.
If Father died, the ducal title would pass to one of his children—namely, her. After all, she was the only remaining bloodline.
That worthless brother of hers had vanished somewhere, probably wallowing in some ditch, and her so-called older brother was already rotting in his grave.
She would be the next head of the family.
And if Verick Dragunov died as well, she could inherit his family’s entire fortune. Not a poor outcome at all.
The only question remained whether her commission would actually be completed.
Damn it! If you accepted the job, at least have the courtesy to confirm it!
Hera chewed her nails nervously, worrying her lower lip.
When the assassins had infiltrated the manor, she hadn’t initially believed they were from Death Veil. How many weeks had passed since she’d placed that commission? With no word whatsoever, she had naturally assumed they’d rejected it.
Fortunately, it seemed they had accepted the job after all.
That idiot Louis Berg should have an assassin coming for him soon, too.
Hera stopped her nervous fidgeting and broke into a mad, giggling grin. From Father to her current fiancé to her former one—thinking that all these irritating obstacles would soon disappear from the world brought her such peace.
“…Yes, now there’s nothing but a path of roses ahead in my life. That’s right.” She muttered to herself, rising from her seat as if she’d lost her mind.
Knock knock.
“My lady, the situation has been completely resolved.”
The head butler’s voice carried through the door.
Hearing his tone, Hera’s mind conjured anxious possibilities. Such a peaceful cadence. If Father had died, could he really sound so serene?
…Damn it, that’s impossible!
She scowled and cursed inwardly. The continent’s greatest assassination organization—all empty reputation. Or perhaps they’d never intended to succeed with her commission in the first place.
Bang!
Hera flung open the door and glared at the head butler. He stood before her chambers dressed in pristine attire, having apparently changed clothes at some point. This only inflamed her anger further.
“Father was nearly assassinated, yet the head butler’s clothes are spotless? Were you hiding somewhere until it was over?”
The butler remained silent.
“Ha! Now you won’t even answer?”
Hera raised her hand to strike the butler’s cheek—but her hand was caught mid-swing.
She stared at the butler with utter disbelief.
He maintained his impassive expression as he addressed her. “I shall relay the master’s words.”
His tone was flat, like a magistrate pronouncing a death sentence.
“As the engagement with House Dragunov will not proceed, we shall pursue the marriage proposal with Marquis Miritz as originally discussed. You are to conduct yourself properly.”
Hera couldn’t even manage a hollow laugh. What did those words mean?
He wants me… to marry that marquis?
The marriage proposal with Marquis Miritz—the worst-case scenario she had imagined was actually coming to pass. This accursed life of hers never had a single thing go right.
“Let go of me! I SAID LET GOOO!” Hera shrieked hysterically.
The butler simply watched her quietly without so much as furrowing his brow. As her tantrum began to exhaust itself, he spoke calmly while still gripping her hand.
“Incidentally, the master mentioned not to worry regarding House Dragunov. He has made arrangements to eliminate them, along with that other troublesome family as well.”
Troublesome family? Was he referring to House Berg? But how exactly were they planning to connect Dragunov and Berg?
Hera mulled over the questions swirling in her mind as she yanked her hand away. The butler released her wrist and straightened his clothing.
“In any case, His Grace has commanded that you not even think of leaving this room. If you attempt to do so, we are to use force to prevent it.”
“Ha! So you’ll strike me? Do you even understand the crime of insulting nobility?”
“My apologies, but the master’s orders take precedence for us.”
The butler bowed lightly and gestured to the knights guarding the room entrance. “Well? Follow the master’s commands.”
The knights moved with the sound of metal striking metal.
“My lady, please go inside.”
“Let me go!” Hera struggled desperately to escape, but the knights paid no heed and confined her to the room. Screams mixed with anguished cries echoed from within, but the butler ignored them and watched the door close.
That door would not open again except for the wedding ceremony with the marquis.
“We should prepare as well,” the butler muttered as he turned away.
They were to advance on House Praha. He had to carry out the orders given by his master, Duke Artezia.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside a rattling carriage, I muttered while gazing out the window, “Lovely day.”
Warm sunlight crept through the glass as the Imperial Capital came into view. Outside, I could see the bustling movements of people and children spending their peaceful daily lives.
I was currently heading to the Imperial Palace to receive my baron title. Though I had a week’s time, I had prepared immediately for a singular reason.
Can’t dawdle around if I want to catch that High Elder.
That old fox had the cunning of a viper. Give him too much time, and there was no telling what kind of scheme he’d hatch.
I raised my fingers to tap lightly on the carriage door. “Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, it’s a lovely day. Just absolutely perfect alright.” Lancelot answered my question, pursing his lips and grumbling petulantly. Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Quite the list of complaints, I see.”
“Yes! I mean, why call me out on my day off? What am I supposed to do at your title conferment anyway?”
“I needed an attendant.”
“That’s exactly what I mean! Why does it have to be me? You’ve got Kai, and old Roxen too!”
“Kai and Roxen need their rest, don’t they?”
Lancelot stared at me with pure incredulity. That lasted all of a moment. Soon he was flailing about and shouting.
“What! So I have infinite stamina?”
The carriage began to shake, and Hans opened the small door from the driver’s seat. “Um... the horses are getting spooked, so could you perhaps be a bit more careful?”
“That’s all Sir Lancelot’s doing. Seems his maturity’s been aging in reverse.”
“That’s not—!” Lancelot started to rise from his seat again, but soon let out a deep sigh and sat back down. Having Hans there seemed to bring him some comfort, at least.
“So why are you really taking me along? You wouldn’t bring me for no reason.”
“No particular reason.”
“…I’m gonna be backstabbing somebody for real.”
The fellow certainly had entertainment value.
With a snicker, I snatched the spear from Lancelot’s hands.
“Huh?”
Lancelot looked flustered, but I paid no mind and began coating the weapon with Aura.
Thrum—
The Aura shifted to a pale blue, then began to flow gently, as if distilled to its purest form.
Just as it was about to surge with power—
Poof.
I stopped injecting Aura and dispersed what had gathered in the spear. The energy vanished in an instant—a technique only possible with exceptional Aura sensitivity.
“Your turn.”
I tossed the spear back to Lancelot.
He fumbled the catch, stammering, then tried to replicate the technique I’d just shown him. But his Aura refused to cooperate.
Fizzle.
Instead of flowing smoothly, it sputtered out in broken bursts.
“Damn it.” Lancelot bit his lip, eyes fixed on the spear.
I had actually expected him to hit a wall around this time. Mid-level Aura Expert—that was the limit of Lancelot’s talent as I saw it, and the furthest he could climb alone.
Well, I was the same way.
I too had stalled at a certain point, and I knew all too well the anguish that came with it. I also knew just how hollow that word “talent” he was likely thinking about right now truly was.
With a proper master, everything will be resolved.
I wasn’t necessarily talking about the Divine Archer. Just as I had a gift for archery, Lancelot had a natural talent for the spear. And just as the Divine Archer had been the right mentor for me, Lancelot needed a master of his own now.
“Not going well, I see.”
“How could it? I’m not a monster like you, Captain,” Lancelot answered sullenly. He tried to appear nonchalant, but his eyes were filled with frustration. Such a dishonest fellow.
About time I introduced him.
I nodded as I took the spear back from Lancelot. Seeing the scratches and nicks all over it, he had apparently been training quite diligently. Well, that was how he had reached this level already.
I let out a soft chuckle and returned the spear to Lancelot. Then I spoke in a casual tone. “I’ll introduce you to someone when we reach the capital.”
“Who would that be?”
Who, indeed...
“Someone you could call the continent’s greatest when it comes to spear arts,” I muttered, thinking of one person. The Continent's Greatest Spear, the head of House Berg, and a knight who had reached the level of Aura Master.
Venda Berg—also known as my father.
* * *
After promising to introduce Lancelot to Father, I disembarked at the Imperial Palace.
Naturally, an ennoblement ceremony was quite a significant event for the continent’s nobility, especially one personally overseen by the Emperor. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all the nobles living near the capital had gathered.
“This ennoblement ceremony is quite unprecedented.”
“Has His Majesty ever personally presided over a baron’s ennoblement before?”
“He’s the one called a hero, isn’t he? The palace is probably trying to curry favor first.”
The nobles gossiped about the subject of this title conferment without even noticing my arrival.
Good thing I haven’t shown my face in social circles.
With the thought that I had narrowly avoided annoyance, I quickly picked up my pace. I wanted to hurry to the waiting room before anyone recognized me.
But when had things ever gone according to my wishes?
“Huh?! What are you doing over there, lad!” Someone spotted me and called out in recognition. Their voice was so loud that everyone gathered at the palace turned to look our way.
“That must be Sir Louis.”
“The one beside him appears to be an attendant. Rather ugly.”
“Well, I hear there’s something called ‘looks hogging’ popular among young people these days. That’s probably what this is.”
“What an interesting cultural phenomenon.”
Hm. Wasn’t this basically just a Lancelot-bashing session?
I patted the scowling Lancelot’s back in consolation.
“Don’t comfort me. Or else I really will commit insubordination.”
Woah, even my comfort gets complaints.
In any case…
I sighed and addressed the one who had shouted at me. “It’s been a while, Father.”
Venda Berg, the continent’s greatest spearman, was grinning from ear to ear as he looked me over. “How about I check your pants and see if you’ve really grown, eh?”
Why would you need to check that? Seriously…