Chapter 204

 

* * *

 

Claude returned to the mansion where August lived after receiving the priest’s blessing at the temple.

During that time, the effect of the magic potion had worn off, and he had returned to his usual appearance.

As soon as he got off the horse, Isaiah immediately approached him, saying, “You’re back, Young Master.”

“Sir Mullern, I have something to say.”

At his words as soon as he got off the horse, Isaiah shrugged his shoulders. As if he already knew.

“That you met Mel?”

“…Did you follow me all the way to the village?”

“I was just fulfilling my duty as an escort knight. I only peeked a little. I was relieved to see Mel laughing healthily.”

“That’s unexpected, Sir Mullern.”

In fact, he thought that if Isaiah found out Melody’s whereabouts, he would immediately rush to meet her.

“That’s the difference between you and me, Young Master. I never do anything Mel doesn’t allow!”

Claude felt a bit offended by his somewhat boastful remarks.

Come to think of it, Claude had ended up doing something Melody hadn’t allowed.

To “never look for her”.

But even if it was by chance, not only did he find her, but he spent an entire day with her.

“…I’ll probably become like that later too. Because Miss Melody knows how to tame me well.”

Just then, the sound of horse hooves began to be heard near the mansion.

Naturally, their gazes turned toward that direction.

Although it was not far from Belhold, it was not easy to find this mansion that required crossing the wilderness and forest.

Moreover, there had been repeated large and small accidents in the wilderness for several years, so few people even passed by.

Isaiah immediately grew wary of the other party and narrowed his eyes.

“Shall I go and check first?”

Claude shook his head at his question.

“Let’s wait and see.”

His choice was not wrong, and soon a messenger from the ducal family appeared before them.

For the usually silent Duke to even send news to Claude, who was staying in a secret place…

‘…Maybe.’

He had a bad feeling.

 

* * *

 

The news the messenger brought was not just bad.

This was the worst situation he could imagine, and it could potentially lead to a crisis for the entire ducal family.

Claude bid farewell to August as quickly as possible and immediately set out for the capital, leaving most of his luggage behind.

The reason he was in such a hurry was because of a report from a spy he had planted among the Emperor’s close associates.

The Emperor had dispatched an investigation team and started a detailed investigation into the maid who had escaped from Kristonson.

He didn’t know what whim made him start looking into her, but this was dangerous.

She had a secret romantic relationship with Prince Samuel in Kristonson. That much could have been well hidden, but she had even gotten pregnant and given birth in that region.

No matter what, she must have received help from a doctor or midwife during that process.

Even if the Emperor’s side was lucky enough to fail to find the doctor or midwife, if they thoroughly investigated Kristonson, they might be able to find out that she had been pregnant.

‘Then His Majesty will arbitrarily conclude that she bore Prince Samuel’s child, as he has for a long time.’

The problem was, that conclusion drawn solely on that assumption was true!

It wouldn’t take long for the Emperor to issue a search warrant for August as a result…

‘If that happens.’

Claude quickly thought of the minimum number of victims at a fast pace. His precious people were all involved in it.

 

* * *

 

After riding day and night changing horses, the first place Claude visited was the Magic Tower.

“Brother?”

Jeremiah was not only surprised by his sudden visit, but even more so by his haggard appearance.

His face, which always shone white, looked close to gray, as if he was about to take his last breath at any moment.

“Jeremiah, what about the Magic Tower Master?”

“What happened all of a sudden?”

When he asked back, Claude hesitated for a moment. In the meantime, perhaps the reason he had lost in his haste had returned, and his eyes became a little clearer.

“There’s an important matter, very.”

“Although the Magic Tower Master is lenient towards you, Brother, it’s troublesome to come without an appointment like this.”

“I know, I know. Please, I beg you, okay?”

Jeremiah looked at him a bit strangely, then turned his body and began to lead the way.

It seemed he was going to guide him to the Magic Tower Master.

“Thank you so much.”

“But you must be careful.”

“Is his health still not good?”

Claude asked, walking side by side with him, and Jeremiah nodded with a slightly gloomy face.

“He’ll be fine, come to think of it, he overworked himself for too long in relation to the mana stones.”

“And the imperial family still won’t leave him alone. They don’t know their place.”

“His Majesty is still sending people?”

“Yes, to the point where it’s bothersome to send back gifts and letters. Anyone who sees it would think he’s sincerely worried.”

The old Claude would have probably answered, “It might be sincere.”

But now, perhaps because of the fact that the Emperor had started an investigation into August’s birth mother, he couldn’t bring himself to say such a thing.

Perhaps the Emperor had some purpose related to Prince Samuel and was trying to win over the Magic Tower Master.

Soon Jeremiah’s steps stopped.

When Claude looked up, he had already arrived in front of the room he had come to last time.

“Master.”

When Jeremiah called out, the door opened again without being touched.

“Then I will go to Magician Miguel and get some tea. The one I couldn’t serve to you last time, Brother.”

Fortunately, Jeremiah stepped aside first, so Claude was able to have a private conversation with the Magic Tower Master right away.

“Magic Tower Master, please forgive my rudeness.”

“I thought you would come again.”

The appearance of Magic Tower Master Owen was not much different from last time. He slowly blinked his eyes that had become blurry from lack of energy.

“Jeremiah has gone to Magician Miguel. In the meantime, I have something to tell you, Magic Tower Master.”

He let out a brief sigh.

Perhaps he didn’t want to listen, but he didn’t have the energy to stop Claude either.

“You’ll remember Miss Melody. Melody Higgins.”

He slowly nodded his head. He had met her a few times at the ducal residence, and his disciple had said she was his research partner with bright eyes, so there was no way he could forget.

“Recently, she had to leave the capital. Forever.”

“Why are you telling me that…”

“Why am I telling you, Magic Tower Master?”

Claude’s voice was still calm, but the speed at which he spoke was gradually increasing.

“She left the capital because of a certain ‘promise’.”

He closely observed the Magic Tower Master’s face again at the word promise.

A momentary tension lingered in his blurry gaze.

“The matter of erasing records and covering up the truth.”

“…”

“The Records Keeper who made a promise with her said there was the same thing before.”

Claude paused for a moment. Hoping the Magic Tower Master would say something.

But his lips only kept silence.

“So I thought, Magic Tower Master.”

Claude had been pondering the reason why he had been told the story about the Records Keeper’s teacher.

Somewhere in this world, there must be someone who made a promise with that teacher.

A certain person who stays out of the Emperor’s sight and strives to ensure that the deliberately omitted records are never revealed.

“It’s helpful at times like this that His Majesty the Emperor has killed everyone who had even the slightest connection to Prince Samuel. Ironically.”

Among those who were close to Prince Samuel, the number of survivors could be counted on one hand.

“Among that small pool of candidates, there was only one person living while completely abandoning his past.”

Magic Tower Master Owen.

Until now, Claude had thought he was a noble man who loved peace.

Because he had voluntarily given up all the benefits he could enjoy as an imperial prince and was quietly walking the arduous path of knowledge.

But what if that was…

The only path he could choose to survive?

Just like Melody had to leave behind all the happiness she had enjoyed at the ducal residence and leave against her will.

Could it be that he, too, had a promise similar to the one Melody had made?

“Magic Tower Master. I am not criticizing you.”

Claude bowed to him and brought his face close. Then he spoke in a small voice, moving only the tips of his lips.

“His Majesty has begun to move. I don’t know how many more things like the past will happen.”

“…!”

It was only natural for the Magic Tower Master to be surprised.

That was because the recent Emperor had been very affectionate towards him.

But on the other hand, he was preparing cruel things like in the past.

“Tell me, what happened to you that made you have to completely run away like this.”

“…”

“Magic Tower Master!”

“I made… a promise. Of eternal silence…”

At the answer the Magic Tower Master squeezed out with all his strength, Claude asked again with a pale face.

“Even a small clue is fine. You don’t have to tell me everything! So!”

Even with that desperation, the Magic Tower Master shook his head without wavering.

“Ha.”

Claude sat back and ruffled his hair roughly.

He had thought the Magic Tower Master wouldn’t easily open his mouth.

Because he was a person who had kept silent even in the old days when people died every day.

Claude clenched his fists. His nails began to dig into his palms, but he didn’t notice.

“Magic Tower, no… Your Imperial Highness.”

Claude called out to him, deliberately changing the way he addressed him while suppressing his emotions.

Even if the Magic Tower Master turned away from that title himself, he would never be able to escape the status he was born with and its duties.

“Please stop, Young Duke Baldwin.”

“I can’t do that. I also have people I need to protect, and among them…”

Claude paused for a moment. And only after making sure there was no one beyond the door did he continue the rest of his words.

“You know Jeremiah is included.”

“What on earth is happening at the ducal residence…?”

Now the one asking was the Magic Tower Master, and the one shaking his head was Claude.

“Just for Jeremiah’s safety, I’ll ask one thing, Magic Tower Master.”

Claude stood up from his seat. Evan’s voice calling out to Jeremiah, “Master!” could be heard from beyond the door.

Now their conversation time was running out too.

“Did you know about Prince Samuel’s innocence?”