Turning Chapter 1113

Chapter 1113

Yuder's eyebrows twitched fiercely for a moment.

"I'll let the 'fool' comment slide, but I can't agree with words like 'defective product'."

"Haha. I don't think I became a worthless person just because of that one thing either. But since that's how the outside world saw it, let's say that was the eye of the outside looking at me, to be precise."

"I'm truly curious who that 'outside' might be."

"Hmm. Why? What would you do if you found out?"

Kishiar asked teasingly with a smile. Several of the most gruesome torture and killing methods flashed through Yuder's mind for a moment. He swallowed all those terrible lists and answered calmly as usual.

"...It seems like someone whose opinion would be completely different from mine, so I'd like to remember who it is well."

At that, Kishiar's eyes curved as he let out a low laugh. With the happiest and most refreshed-looking gaze since the start of this conversation, he whispered.

"Yes. Thank you, really. But the one who called me a defective product died a long time ago."

"..."

"Empress Dowager Inella La Orr. She was one of the people I really wanted to show my healthy, recovered self to after becoming an awakener, but it's truly regrettable that she passed away before that."

Indeed. If it was someone who could make such a terrible statement, it seemed obvious that it would naturally be royalty, and it turned out to be so.

'According to Enon's information, she was the one who fought with the previous emperor for several years over the issue of crown prince succession. Wasn't their relationship said to be not good?'

While Yuder was mulling over the information he knew about the Empress Dowager, Kishiar caressed the back of Yuder's hand as if tickling it.

"How wonderful it would have been if I could have shown her that there was someone who would get angry for my sake like this. I'm suddenly feeling regretful anew."

"Just because she's dead doesn't mean we can't show her. If you wish, we can dig up her grave right away, so just say the word."

If that's what Kishiar wanted, what's the big deal about digging up some dirt?

Yuder already knew the location of the cemetery where the Orr Imperial family members had been buried for generations, having seen it in his previous life. It would be no trouble at all to go there secretly in the middle of the night and overturn just one grave.

Kishiar's eyes widened slightly, then he threw his head back and laughed. It was unclear exactly what part of those words had stimulated Kishiar, but after laughing for an indescribably long time, he finally wiped away the tears that had barely formed and caught his breath.

"Goodness. To think I'd laugh like this at such a time. What was so serious until just now is starting to feel foolish."

"I meant what I said sincerely, though."

"I know. That's why I laughed."

After saying that, the atmosphere surrounding Kishiar softened considerably.

"Well, anyway, going back to our earlier conversation... Even if we set aside the term 'defective product' itself, isn't it difficult to think about this problem without considering that there's a big issue with this blood?"

"You mean the vessel problem?"

"Yes. Doesn't it lead to some speculation that those who used to appear rarely, maybe once in hundreds of years when it first occurred, started appearing more frequently as generations passed down? My predecessor, a royal-born duke, died only thirty-three years ago from the same issue. And in my generation, both His Majesty my brother and I developed problems with our vessels. So clearly..."

Kishiar trailed off without finishing his last words and raised the corner of his lips.

"That's why His Majesty thought about adoption early on. I also agreed with His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress's thinking."

The three of them had decided that it would be greedy to repeat the same thing in a situation where they already knew the probability of passing this pain on to descendants was too high and there was no way to solve it.

"When I saw the child Their Majesties wanted to establish as heir, I became even more convinced that method was right. Unlike the thoughts of those obsessed with meager blood, even without mixing blood, one can clearly love each other wholeheartedly... and through that heart, pass on all the thoughts, goals, and values one wants to convey to future generations."

But that child died. Knowing this, Kishiar's gaze was also subtly tinged with faint sadness.

"...It's regrettable. Anyway, we don't know if His Majesty's and my reproductive abilities have recovered since becoming awakeners... but even if they have, I don't want to create someone to pass on what I've experienced just for that reason. This is my personal thought, and it's even more so now when there are many more things to consider. It seems Their Majesties still think the same way."

"I see. I understand what you're thinking."

"Was that somewhat of an answer?"

"Yes. Hearing it makes me feel relieved."

Knowing each other's thoughts makes one feel at ease, whatever they may be. Kishiar seemed to feel a similar sentiment and smiled slightly.

"Yes. A solution for second gender awakeners who want children... I hadn't properly thought that far yet, my thinking was short-sighted. Once the heat symptom resolution is completed, the next goal is already set, it seems."

"It's natural since there are hardly any proper cases yet and no investigations have been conducted. That part was a completely unresolved unknown area even in the previous game."

"Right. Still, it's good to prepare in advance. Hmm, where should we start?"

When talking about future tasks, Kishiar's eyes shine like the sun. For this moment, it was as if there was nothing holding him back, just a boy shining with hope.

Seeing that face makes tasks that seemed obvious to do take on a new color. Although he had experienced it several times already, that fact felt newly amazing. Yuder quietly gazed at Kishiar's face for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes. Then later... after your heat is over, let's discuss more related opinions."

Not everything ends just because heat approaches. It will surely be resolved well, and then we can move on and do new things as desired - he conveyed this meaning in a short sentence.

Kishiar, who had paused as if noticing that meaning, grasped Yuder's hand tightly and pulled it. Just as the knights of old did, the man who once again bowed his head and pressed his lips to the back of Yuder's hand whispered something between the small breaths touching his skin.

"...Yes. Let's do that."

***

While maintaining tension, yet without losing composure, Peletta continued to do what they needed to do.

"Baron Aile."

"I believe I've already told you that just continuing to call me 'Sir' is sufficient, Sir Zuckerman."

Nathan Zuckerman, who was staring intently at Yuder while lightly holding a bundle of papers in one arm, exhaled with a "hmm" with an expressionless face, then nodded.

"If that's what you wish. Sir Aile, I've come to deliver new letters that arrived through the Northern Branch."

"Ah. I should have gone myself, thank you."

Yuder briefly skimmed through the letters he received from him. In the reports of the members on standby as per Kishiar's orders, brief words were written saying that there were still no problems.

'As expected. The North has also been quiet since appearing once before... But we can't let our guard down just because of that, so it's right to keep waiting for now. I guess I'll have to trouble everyone a bit more.'

Yuder, who was about to put down the letters after reading them all, suddenly realized that Nathan Zuckerman was still standing there and turned his head.

'Hm?'

"Do you have something else to say? If you're curious about the Commander's condition..."

Kishiar's heat hadn't come yet, so he was still working inside the bedroom. Yuder had delivered letters addressed to Nathan Zuckerman this morning as well, so he wondered if there was something more he was curious about.

However, Nathan Zuckerman shook his head before Yuder finished speaking.

"I've already received that, so it's fine. Actually, earlier... I heard you helped Captain Welliven with his work."

"Ah."

Although processing reports coming up from the Cavalry was Yuder's assigned task, it didn't take long, so he had nothing to do while he was down here. A few hours ago, while habitually patrolling inside and outside Peletta Castle just in case, he had encountered Welliven with the knights.

Welliven was discussing the issue of evenly distributing the schedules for knights who needed to be dispatched outside for rotation and training schedules, but he seemed to be quite troubled, perhaps because it was a problem that required considering many people's circumstances simultaneously.

It was a very familiar problem to Yuder, who had experienced similar issues quite often during his time as Cavalry Commander.

'So I just jumped in and said a few words since I ran into him, but I guess he found it unpleasant as interference from an outsider.'

Just as he was thinking this, Nathan Zuckerman bowed his head politely in greeting.

"Due to the nature of the Peletta Knights, many of them go on distant dispatches, so distributing schedules and training well has been a longstanding headache. It would be unreasonable to ask the Duke to solve all these trivial matters, so Captain Welliven has been quite concerned about it inwardly. I also don't have much talent in that area, so I couldn't be of much help."

"..."

"We thought you wouldn't know about such problems since the Cavalry doesn't have people like that yet... but when we heard about and checked the advice you gave, it turned out to be extremely rational and simple. It seems it will be of great help thanks to you."