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After a long time, X was quite pleased to be on the ground. This is due to the fact that it has been a while since he came just to “converse,” not to kidnap anyone.
X arrived at the cabin in the most remote part of Count Stein’s territory.
The cottage, which was perched on a hill outside of the village, appeared run-down, but when he stepped inside, he found it to be furnished like a common aristocrat’s parlor.
A maid offered him tea as soon as he took a seat close to the fireplace, where the firewood was burning.
There is even a maid here. X genuinely believed that it was impossible to understand how humans think. In particular, those who seek to rule others.
Finally, he heard someone entering as he waited while sipping the maid’s fragrant tea.
“Oh, you’re here.”
The two people who entered the cabin were Count Stein and Cameron. Only three of them were aware of the meeting, which was kept private.
With a noble demeanor and a gait akin to the imperial first prince, Cameron arrived where X was sitting. X simply nodded while maintaining a fixed gaze on Cameron without getting up.
X’s attitude, which was not free-spirited but haughty instead, was understandably offensive to Cameron.
“Yes, you are the king of the underworld.”
Cameron chose to forego the greeting in a mocking manner.
Despite the blatant provocation, X grinned broadly and acted unoffended. It was not even a sneer. It was a pure, happy laugh. The only person who felt worse was Cameron.
X, who had been giggling for a while, finally wiped the tears from his eyes due to his prolonged laughter.
“You received my assistance as a king in the underworld, didn’t you?”
“Let’s keep it short.”
“Yes?”
“Can you explain why you called us without Baron Bruno?”
Watching their bizarre battle of nerves, Count Stein thought Cameron would never be able to defeat X. Therefore, he changed the topic. However, X never gave in easily.
“Do you ask because you don’t know that? It’s because there’s something Mil shouldn’t hear.”
Mil? Are you referring to Miller Bruno?
Cameron frowned at the surprisingly endearing moniker. What the hell are you doing?
“How are you connected to Baron Bruno?”
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Cameron sensed instinctively that the squirm in front of him would never engage in a serious conversation with him. However, there is no reason to be offended.
It was the first time since the Conler’s that he felt so bad without knowing how it would end.
At the mere mention of Conler, his teeth were gnashing.
“However, I must say that you are truly amazing. How did you come up with the notion to inscribe the summoning spell on the dagger?”
Count Stein and Cameron exchanged admiring glances with X.
The most important thing for Cameron after finishing the hunting bet with Mary was to mend his broken pride.
He used his head in collaboration with Count Stein as a result. He wanted to frame Mary even if it wasn’t right away, so he drew a summoning spell on the dagger and gave it to her as a gift. He even paid a visit to the most well-known wizard in the Larvia Empire to draw the spell. He had no idea that a spell of this nature could be painted on a gift sent out of goodwill.
Count Stein regretted his actions a bit, but there was nothing he could do. The existence of such a method drawn on the dagger would be difficult to verify with the naked eye.
“I’ll be sure to crash Mary Conler, I swear.”
The other people’s scornful eyes were furious, but it was the emperor’s disappointed eyes that broke Cameron’s heart.
The Grand Duke of Conler was someone the emperor wanted Cameron to get along with, but Cameron didn’t understand why. The Grand Duke is a puppet of the Imperial family, after all.
When Cameron learned of Mary Conler and Demimore’s engagement, he believed the two were quite close.
Everyone rejoiced that Demimore was likely removed from the throne because of his connection to the Duke’s daughter, but Cameron experienced an unidentified emotion.
If the two that he hates the most are tied up, it will be the most cumbersome obstacle even if Cameron is crowned.
Cameron said something that made X smile and he thought how much better it would have been if his God had heard it.
Mary Conler leads a life that drives both those who love and despise her insane.
“Are you planning to marry Sophia Bruno?”
“What are you talking about?”
Instantly, Cameron’s face twisted as though he had heard something absurd.
Her father interacted with the king of the underworld, so he received some assistance from him, but it was nothing more than that. Sophia Bruno was sort of an ally; it appears that she despises Mary Conler as well.
Well, it wasn’t that he was unaware of Sofia’s cunning mind. Cameron, on the other hand, desired strong imperial power. A baron’s daughter could not be made an empress.
He only needed to look at Demimore to know. Even though she gave birth to the emperor’s son, his mother is secretly disregarded because she appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh, our prince is quite naive.”
Cameron cast a disapproving glance at X, who was acting friendly as if he couldn’t recall what he did when they first met.
But X didn’t care at all, he said in a low voice, angling his upper body more toward Cameron.
“She knows that the prince communicates with the underworld. Don’t you think she’s a threat?”
Cameron’s hands shook at the snake-like words, but it made sense.
But Cameron made up his mind and pretended everything was fine.
“Who do you think would take her word for it?”
“But who has most to lose?”
“…….”
“The Baron? The Emperor’s son?”
“……what are you trying to say?”
“Mary Conler is more troublesome than you think. The spell engraved on the dagger will probably be discovered.”
“What do you mean?”
Count Stein got up, looking a bit tense as he stood still next to X. Count Stein’s involvement in the framing incident will also be made clear by the discovery of the engraved spell on the dagger.
“The Grand Duke won’t take immediate action, but you can blame Bruno if he later holds you accountable.”
“How?”
“I can assist you.”
“…….”
“I assume you now understand why we had to meet without Bruno.”
Although his tone was as light as a feather, Cameron strangely trusted his words. Count Stein sat down as if he felt the same way.
“Let’s exploit the fact that the Bruno family was associated with the underworld.”
“Okay, but Mill……. Aren’t you close to him?”
Cameron asked, and X grinned once more.
“From now on, let’s be friends with Cameron as well!”
“As you mentioned, I sent gifts to Marquis Borneau as an apology.”
“He got caught up for no reason, so I should do that much. You did a great job.”
Lucas remained silent while standing next to Estin and gazing at him. Estin found Lucas’ intense gaze to be very unsettling. From the day the death curse became a reality, Lucas acted as if something had broken down.
Estin’s heart pounded when Mary asserted that he could read the spell. It was what the previous Lord yearned for so ardently.
How could a child with such a flimsy magical ability… have eyes that can read spells?
Ancient magic. Those eyes of God that can read spells.
Perhaps Mary is a child whom God adores.
‘No way. How is it, Conler’s child?’
“Brother…”
Estin was dragged by Lucas’ voice from the depths of his thoughts. He hadn’t heard that name in a while. He might have heard it more from Lucas than from his own brother. Estin chuckled weakly.
“It’s all just an old story; it’s a fairy tale. Mary reads it, too. It’s a tale about how a ghost tells people they should be afraid of light, so it’s just a curse coming down to frighten the Conlers.”
“But why did you threaten me not to say anything?”
“My kids don’t need to be afraid.”
Estin’s willingness to take everything with him made Lucas feel distant once more. He therefore pleaded with all his might.
“The situation is strange; of all things, Miss Mary can read a spell! If this curse comes true, you know. It’s too dangerous.”
“So, what should I do? Hand over the Lordship to my children and flee?”
“That’s not what I’m saying!”
“It’s all right.”
“What do you mean it’s all right?….”
“Do you think I’m going to die easily?”
Since the day he received the title of Lord from his predecessor, Estin has vowed to safeguard Conler in some wayAll these filthy rings in his generation must be severed.
“I’m rather relieved. Not only the strings of a Marionette, but I think I can also cut this damn curse out of our system.”
“Grand Duke …”
“My children and their children can live without being afraid of the light or the dark.”
The path his master must take may be more difficult than Lucas anticipated. However, he was arrogant in his desire to accompany him on the long journey until the end.