novelraw Chapter 317: Childhood Friends - Ice Water
Chapter 317: Childhood Friends - Ice Water
316. Childhood Friends - Ice Water
On the windswept stone bridge, a dramatic scene unfolded, while the troublesome gemstone continued to glow dark crimson, indifferent to the sunlight.
Thanks to Marisa, Bart had calmed down and taken a step back. He stared intently at the gemstone before speaking.
“What is that thing?”
Rev used Minseo’s words to respond, as he often grasped things in a way that was difficult for others to understand.
“It’s a shard of Oriax.”
Even as he said it, Rev realized how cryptic it sounded.
However, Rev didn’t feel the need to worry too much about Bart anymore. He extended his hand toward Harie and continued.
“Give it to me. That’s not something you should be holding. I came here for that, and so did Sir Bart, in fact.”
“...I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Harie replied, clutching the necklace tightly. Judging by how she pulled it close to her chest, she wasn’t going to hand it over easily. Expecting this, Rev turned to Philas and spoke for Harie to hear.“That necklace, I assume, was a gift from Lord Philas. And I guarantee that you received it from Duke Ruppert Tertan, didn’t you?”
Philas’s expression showed surprise, but he responded calmly.
“And what if I did?”
“I’m simply revealing the origin of the necklace. But didn’t the Duke say something when he gave it to you? Something like, ‘Deliver the necklace, but reject the marriage proposal?’ Why make it so complicated when all you had to do was refuse yourself?”
“...!”
“That’s why you were ‘delivering’ the necklace, wasn’t it? It was part of calling off the engagement with Lady Harie. Lady Harie, what do you think will happen if this engagement falls through? Don’t you think you’ll end up marrying one of the princes from the Kingdom of Orun?”
“...That won’t happen,” Harie replied firmly, moving closer to Philas.
Rev shrugged. “Perhaps not now. You’re in love with Lord Philas, after all. But that’s precisely why things have gotten tangled. Originally, you were meant to return empty-handed and choose between one of those two vile princes. That’s the path this necklace was supposed to take.”
“...Are you saying my grandfather used me to send this necklace to the princes of Orun?” Philas’s voice was filled with disbelief and anger. However, Rev nodded simply, acknowledging that Philas understood the situation well.
“I can’t say for sure what the Duke’s true intent was. But for now, that suspicious necklace is better off in my hands. I’m not asking for it for free; I’ll give you a significant gift in return.”
“No,” Harie said.
“This is mine. No matter what you offer, it’s not for sale.”
“...I’ll help your marriage with Lord Philas succeed. If you go to the Duke like this, he won’t give you his blessing. Think about who handed you that necklace in the first place. And if you still refuse... I’ll take it by force.”
Rev’s voice turned cold, and his aura flared menacingly. But Lady Harie, unafraid of knights or threats, defiantly shot back.
“What is it about this gemstone that makes it so important to you?”
“I already told you. It’s a shard of Oriax. And as I said before, I came here specifically to retrieve it. I have no desire to fight with any of you. It’s unfortunate that Tadian Lopero died. I should have hurried more.”
“What is Oriax? And why do you speak as if you knew all of this would happen?” Harie questioned, her voice sharp with suspicion.
Rev chuckled lightly.
“Prince Lean de Yeriel knows everything. I’m merely his errand boy. Bringing Lady Marisa here, healing your mother—it was all done under his orders. Surely you’ve heard news of the prince?”
Rev decided to lean on Lean’s authority. After all, his own name held no weight here.
Harie was shocked. A prince who commanded a Swordmaster as his servant? She nodded, and Bart and his companions trembled, their confidence shaken. Rev used this moment of surprise to gain some control over the situation.
“Prince Lean de Yeriel is planning for the future in the Kingdom of Bellita. He wishes for you, Lady Harie, and Lord Philas to be united. He is willing to let go of the grudge with House Tertan.”
“...”
“I appreciate the words, but don’t dodge my question. You still haven’t explained what Oriax is,” Harie pressed, her sharp mind not letting anything slip.
Rev bit his lip.
Explaining the truth about Oriax, Prince Eric de Yeriel, and how Duke Ruppert Tertan had been enthralled by him was impossible without proof.
Should I take the necklace by force...? Rev considered it but quickly dismissed the idea.
Philas and Harie needed to be safely united. Without that union, the princes of the Kingdom of Orun, Athon de Lognum and Elzeor de Lognum, would eventually invade Conrad Kingdom. For the sake of Conrad’s safety, the marriage between the Guidan Marquisate and the Tertan Duchy needed to happen.
And the Oriax shard had to be dealt with.
What should I do?
Rev debated whether it was better to seize the necklace now and apologize later. As he hesitated, his eyes fell on Philas, who was standing quietly, almost awkwardly. Rev found his demeanor strange.
Why is he so silent?
Given the tense situation, Philas should be speaking up, especially since the mention of Prince Lean de Yeriel being alive should have provoked a reaction. After all, the Tertan Duchy had sided with Prince Eric, and Lean being alive was bad news for them.
Though Duke Ruppert had been enchanted, the rest of House Tertan had their own political interests to consider.
Philas should be resisting, yet he was oddly quiet. No, it seemed as though he knew something.
Rev remained silent, fixing his gaze on Philas. As Harie followed his line of sight, she too looked at Philas. Finally, under the weight of their stares, Philas reluctantly opened his mouth.
And what he said was astonishing.
"I know what Oriax is. It’s an ancient evil god that our ancestors sealed away with Saint Azura."
He knew?
The revelation hit like a wave, bringing with it two realizations: one about Oriax, and the other...
Duke Ruppert Tertan! He must have known about Oriax too!
The Duke’s situation was more dire than they had imagined.
---
Clink.
In an elegant study, a frail old man sat back in a high-backed chair, sipping iced water. His wrinkled face showed his advanced age, yet he continued to drink the cold water as if trying to quell a fire within.
Despite the icy water, he drank in large gulps, as if unable to stop. A young man with blonde hair, streaked with the same brown as the old man’s, approached from behind and spoke.
“Grandfather, you really do enjoy your iced water, don’t you?”
Duke Ruppert Tertan didn’t respond.
By now, Eric de Yeriel had grown accustomed to treating his grandfather’s study like it was his own. He casually browsed through books and sat at the desk, finding this place far more comfortable than the heavily scrutinized royal palace.
Eric de Yeriel muttered softly to himself.
“Grandfather, we must accelerate the succession to the throne. My brother is still alive.”
“...”
It was practically a monologue. Duke Tertan was little more than a pawn to Eric, a servant to be used, nothing more.
“Ah, another question without an answer. Please... look at me,” Eric said softly.
Though a servant, Duke Tertan required much handling. Eric’s eyes flared red, and only then did the Duke finally respond.
“What would you have me do, Your Highness? I beg you, abandon this false faith. It is dangerous.”
His voice carried genuine concern for his grandson. Duke Tertan knew well the instructions his ancestors had received from Saint Azura.
The gemstone Azura had cast into the sea.
The mission to find it had been passed down through generations, from father to son, an impossible task that had reached the present day in House Tertan.
But thousands of years had passed.
Over the centuries, they had forgotten what they were searching for. Though it was supposed to be a gemstone, they couldn’t even tell what Saint Azura had truly meant. They ended up storing any peculiar-looking rocks they found, just in case.
This was why the Tertan Duchy, located on the southern coast of Conrad Kingdom, had become filled with all sorts of odd trinkets. Their security was lax, and most of the Tertan family had come to dismiss the task as nothing more than legend.
They turned the mission into a story to market their business of selling pearls, coral, ambergris, and seashells harvested from the sea. Duke Ruppert Tertan himself had thought the same.
That was, until his daughter disappeared while visiting the duchy for a holiday, and Eric de Yeriel, with his burning red eyes, had come looking for him.
Eric let out a small laugh. He wasn’t even listening to the Duke’s advice.
“Kill my father. Now that my brother is alive, I can’t wait any longer. With Cardinal Verke on a pilgrimage and my engagement to Isadora finalized, the timing is perfect.”
“You want me to kill the king? I can’t—”
“Why must this always be so tedious?”
Eric leaned in and stared directly into his grandfather’s eyes.
The ability to enchant people had its limits.
It wasn’t true mind control; it merely made people like him more. Because of this, it often failed when the demand was too extreme or unreasonable. Moreover, the Duke was fully aware of what situation he was in, and this awareness allowed him to resist the enchantment, causing significant strain on Eric’s powers.
Even when enchanted, the Duke could break free quickly. Still, he was valuable enough that Eric’s cold, pitch-black eyes blazed with determination as he poured more divine power into the enchantment. Finally, a satisfactory response came.
“Very well. I will handle my father. But Lean and Lerialia remain a problem...”
Hmm...
Eric pondered the situation. He realized there was no need to create a massive disturbance. A new path had recently opened up that would secure his legitimacy.
Elika de Isadora.
With his engagement to the Princess of the Kingdom of Aisel finalized, Eric felt satisfied. The Kingdom of Aisel, eager to challenge the Kingdom of Bellita, couldn’t refuse Eric’s demands.
Otherwise, they would face attacks from both the west and south. Whatever internal debates the Kingdom of Aisel had undergone didn’t concern Eric. What mattered was that it had resulted in his favor.
Leaving his grandfather’s study, Eric contemplated how to deal with his persistent siblings, Lean and Lerialia. He didn’t bother to say goodbye to the Duke.
---
Left alone in his study, Duke Tertan—once a respected figure admired by many—sat in silence. He thought of his lost daughter and shed silent tears.
Even though he knew he was walking down the wrong path, he couldn’t help but worry about his grandson Eric, who was more precious to him than anything else. Flowing through Eric’s veins was not blood, but the divine power of Oriax.
If only someone would kill me.
The Duke gulped down another mouthful of icy water.