Turning Chapter 978

Chapter 978

‘Could it be...?’

Outsiders who knew nothing thought that the succession of the Duke of Diarca had long been decided. It was because the eldest son, Kironne, had already built a far superior network compared to his brothers, using his noticeably older age as a weapon. However, Theorado, who was also from one of the four ducal families, knew very well that age and connections could not be the answer to securing the title.

The Duke of Diarca was a profoundly inscrutable man. Although he appeared to cherish his eldest son on the outside, the fact that he had never once clearly expressed his intention to make him the next successor was telling enough.

While Kironne seemed to not care about that fact on the surface, was that truly the case on the inside? And would the remaining brothers, who appeared to acknowledge and prostrate themselves before him on the surface, really be completely unaware of what that meant?

Theorado thought there was no way that could be the case.

The reason they were quiet was simply because they were keeping their mouths shut to avoid causing any disruption until Crown Prince Katchian became the Emperor, as the current Emperor's health was rapidly deteriorating. The moment Katchian became the Emperor, and the moment Diarca became the undisputed supreme power in both name and reality, they would certainly not remain as docile as they were now.

However, that was only possible if the situation surrounding them maintained the same delicate balance as before.

On the one hand, the unexpected accidents and reckless actions of Crown Prince Katchian had recently disappointed his supporters.

On the other hand, the surprising and unstoppable growth of Duke Peletta and the Cavalry, who represented the Emperor's side, despite being thought to be on the verge of death.

And the rapid changes in the power structure occurring in the remaining three ducal families, excluding Diarca.

Things that were thought to never happen were happening.

It was undoubtedly clear that these sudden changes were progressing in a way that was endlessly unfavorable to the Crown Prince and extremely advantageous to the Emperor's faction.

Then, could it be that someone within Diarca was also thinking of riding on this change to overturn the seemingly predetermined outcome in their favor?

What if it was the youngest son, who had been known as the most foolish among the Duke of Diarca's sons and had never been a threat to anyone due to already having the profession of a knight, which kept him away from the center of power?

"Hmm..."

Recently, rumors had spread thickly that Kiolle da Diarca had repented and grown, becoming quite different from his previous self. Theorado had dismissed and ignored those words... but seeing Kiolle in front of him now, it seemed the rumors were not entirely false.

Unlike his foolish-looking eyes in the past, Kiolle da Diarca's eyes shone with a frightening intensity. They were the eyes of someone who possessed a clear will to achieve their goal but also realistically knew how difficult and challenging it would be.

In reality, Kiolle was merely squeezing out the last of his strength to say what he needed to say while being afraid of getting caught and scolded by his father, but to Theorado's eyes, that appearance seemed remarkably similar to his own father, the Duke of Diarca.

Come to think of it, he was famous for resembling his father's younger days the most among his siblings. It was hard to believe, but if it was true that he harbored the intentions Theorado suspected in that head of his...

Theorado looked at the anxious Kiolle and opened his mouth as if testing the waters.

"Actually, I was secretly preparing to send personnel connected to the Imperial Knights to the South soon, along with support from the Tain family. It wouldn't be bad to include the Imperial Knights in that as well. Did you perhaps already guess that I was thinking this way?"

At that, Kiolle's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he smiled.

"You were already preparing, as expected of the Commander! ...I may have come too late."

Too late? Upon hearing those innocent words, Theorado was convinced.

As he thought. Kiolle had already guessed everything before coming here.

To further confirm his suspicion, he decided to ask one more thing.

"Your current affiliation is not the Imperial Knights' headquarters but is in the process of being changed to a dispatched form at His Highness the Crown Prince's Bright Palace. Are you perhaps thinking of leaving that position after this period of recuperation ends?"

If Kiolle had truly come here without any ulterior motives, he would step down from his position as the Crown Prince's closest guard knight. If not...

"No."

Kiolle shook his head with a resolute expression Theorado had never seen before.

"Actually, I did consider that... but I don't think it's possible yet. There seems to be a lot to keep an eye on..."

It meant that he was the only one who knew the circumstances and condition of the Crown Prince before and after being brainwashed by the sage, so he needed to observe a little longer.

If Yuder had heard it, he might have thought Kiolle was quite useful for someone like him, but Theorado van Tain completely misunderstood and closed his eyes firmly.

"I raised a tiger cub crouching under my shadow..."

"Pardon?"

"...I understand your intention. You may leave now. Remember today's conversation."

"Then..."

"I will dispatch the Imperial Knights before the support I was preparing. I'll have to inform His Majesty the Emperor's side as well. However, if the information you shared today turns out to be false, you'll have to take responsibility for the aftermath."

"Don't worry. That won't happen!"

Kiolle was brimming with confidence. It was information from the Yuder Aile himself. He didn't consider at all how Theorado would judge him based on his appearance.

"Kiolle. One last question."

"Yes. What is it?"

"You said you were in the South all this time. Then, did you also personally see the new swordmasters who have only been known through rumors? How were they in your eyes?"

In fact, more than any complex political issue, what had captured Theorado's attention the most these days was that very part. He couldn't deny that the news played a significant role in his decision to extend a friendly hand to the Emperor's faction.

Receiving Theorado's gaze, who hid his anxiously pounding heart behind an expressionless face, Kiolle's expression changed. As if recalling something, he frowned, his face turning slightly pale, and he trembled before speaking with difficulty.

"...The rumors are true. Beyond that, I have nothing more to say. I'd appreciate it if you didn't ask further."

Unaware that his words further stimulated Theorado, Kiolle dragged his fluffy indoor shoes and left as if running away.

After that, as if Emperor Keilusa had been waiting for the right moment, the shocking news that he had appeared at the state affairs meeting alongside the Empress for the first time in several years began to sweep the entire capital in earnest. When the information spread that he had directly made a statement along the lines of "my body is now well," there was no one who wasn't shocked.

The Duke of Diarca and other noble faction figures were too focused on being alert to the Emperor to pay attention to trivial matters. Taking advantage of that gap, Theorado was able to easily and quickly send support personnel from the Imperial Knights to the South.

And today, he learned that everything Kiolle da Diarca had said was true.

The sudden and massive disaster that had apparently struck the South.

If it was true that the Cavalry and the Southern Army had succeeded in preventing it without significant damage, to what extent would the prestige of the recovered Emperor and Duke Peletta, who had even become a swordmaster, grow?

Kiolle da Diarca. How much did he know when he came to find Theorado that night? Was it really a coincidence that Emperor Keilusa began to move conspicuously as soon as he visited?

If the hand of the Cavalry and the Emperor's faction, which was now stirring up Apeto, Tain, and even Herne, was secretly targeting the core of Diarca through the unexpected figure of Kiolle da Diarca, then what it ultimately aimed for was clearly...

Theorado van Tain sighed as he burned the folded report. As soon as he did so, someone knocked on the door and called for him.

"Commander. It's a letter sent by His Grace the Duke of Tain."

"Again?"

The content of the letters sent by the Duke of Tain from prison was always the same. A request to testify on his behalf. And the continuous demands for money and jewels for the ongoing trial. Usually, when making such requests, the one in need would yield, but the Duke of Tain still believed he was no different from before, using rude words to command as if it were natural. Of course, Theorado did not respond to them.

However, perhaps having tasted quite a bit of bitterness, this letter contained a considerable amount of begging and pleading amidst the rudeness.

The foolish gambler who didn't even know how busy the capital was changing. People were no longer shocked by the fact that the Duke of Tain was standing trial and began to focus more on other matters, but he alone was unaware of how insignificant he had become.

If he had acted shrewdly to at least preserve his honor, he might have been able to rejoin noble society later. But now, he was no longer important to anyone. The children and judges of Tain House, whom the Duke had scorned, were using the trial to systematically obliterate him from society.

Was there really a need to continue watching prey that didn't even realize it was being hunted until its death?

Theorado skimmed through the letter with an expressionless face and immediately put it down.

"I won't send a reply. From now on, burn all letters sent from him without opening them."

"Understood!"

Until now, he hadn't completely rejected the letters sent by him due to the possibility of the unknown. But now, after hearing the new news from the South, there was no longer even a shred of reason to do so.

Theorado turned his body without giving the letter on the desk a second glance.

—

Sunlight flickered over his closed eyes.

As soon as Yuder unknowingly frowned slightly, the light disappeared, shaded by something. Finding that even stranger, he opened his eyes, and the beautiful man who had been casting a shadow over his forehead by raising his hand smiled like a child caught playing a prank and greeted him with a sweet greeting.

"...Are you awake?"

"Yes."

"Did you have any bad dreams?"

Yuder blinked a few times and shook his head.

"...I didn't. Nothing at all."

Only then did Kishiar withdraw his hand.

They were together in the Southern Branch's Commander's bedroom. However, unlike before, the bedroom no longer contained various items for the injured. Although the scent of medicine brought by Enon was unavoidable, everything else was so clean that it was hard to believe it was a bedroom after a huge battle, and the atmosphere was also bright.

'...Perhaps I feel this way because the Great Southern Earthquake has ceased to exist.'