Chapter 88

* * *

Duke Artus managed to come to his senses only after arriving at his mansion.

After going through that humiliating situation, he realized. It’s impossible to get cooperation from the Pesteros now.

‘Just who the hell is that Dalia Pesteros!’

But that matter was already over.

He doesn’t know where to turn to now.

He sat in his office and racked his brain.

At that time, the butler knocked on the door and timidly entered the office without permission.

When he was about to throw things around and yell at the butler for ignoring him.

“You……you have a visitor, Your Excellency.”

“Tell him to go away right now!”

“That……he have a way to solve your problems…….”

For some reason the butler looked rather perplexed.

He continued.

“He’s from the Holy Empire. If you don’t believe it, please look at this token…….”

The butler came closer and set a flat metal plate on the desk.

Looking at the pattern, it was indeed the mark carried by the fanatics of the Holy Empire.

He knew this mark very well.

He has contacted them on several occasions for state intelligence transactions.

‘Is it because of that matter?’

One of the information he was dealing with the Holy Empire was top secret information that even he could not access.

He hasn’t completely gotten it yet. Like keys and locks, his family seal was required to completely unlock the documents containing the information.

But he hasn’t even thought about using the family seal yet. It was a big decision for him as well.

In fact, the thought of passing it over really bothered him and made him feel uncomfortable as if a fish bone was caught in his throat.

The fact that one of the four Ducal families is acting as a spy for a foreign country leaves a bad aftertaste.

Besides, all the people of the Holy Empire had some craziness in their eyes, so he didn’t always like them.

Nevertheless, the reason why he couldn’t leave immediately after the proposal was made was because the offer they offered was too sweet.

“You’re having trouble because of one illegitimate child.”

“We have a solution that can completely solve that problem.”

However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t believe that someone from another country could come up with a solution for it, even when everyone in his country shook their heads.

Therefore, he declared that he would completely hand over the information if they found a way that could convince him.

He completely forgot because it was unbelievable no matter how much he thought about it. But just in time, they came back to him. With a ‘sure’ plan to solve this situation.

Duke Artus’ complexion changed at once.

‘Is there really a way to fix it?’

Duke Artus summoned the messenger of the Holy Empire to his office.

He would just pretend to listen if it’s some bastard’s words, but the opponent is from the Holy Empire.

‘What is the method?’

He shouldn’t do this, but he couldn’t hide his peculiar expectations.

At the same time, a young man wearing a robe entered the office.

Looking at the exposed part under the robe, he looked quite young. The young man sat across from his desk and said calmly.

“Nice to meet you, Duke Artus. If possible, please let the butler out.”

He did as he was told. The young man’s lips rose gently.

“It’s a pity that you haven’t visited us lately.”

“……As I said, I can’t pass over the information unless it’s a solution that I can accept.”

The young man burst into laughter. As if he was asking why he was asking such an obvious matter. Then he wiped away his smile and brought himself closer to the desk.

“Don’t worry. If Duke sees this, you will have no choice but to accept it.”

“…….”

“Your Excellency Duke Artus, there’s something that we have invented recently.”

The young man’s voice was sweet and soft, like a devil’s whisper, instead of a man who serves God. He knew that he shouldn’t fall for this, but his lips moved on their own.

“What is it?”

The young man’s lips drew an arc.

He put a bottle on the desk. It was a transparent bottle modeled after a praying angel. Inside was a yellow, transparent liquid.

“It’s a drug that makes the power of the transcendent run wild.”

“…….”

“Isn’t this sufficient enough to be the solution that you want?”

Duke Artus forgot to breathe without him realizing.

“Are, are you telling me to use this on that illegitimate child?”

“Then do you have any other solution?”

The young man asked calmly.

Duke Artus was at a loss for words. That’s how terrifying what he had heard just now.

A drug that makes the transcendent’s mana to run wild.

He, too, had read the story of the Duchess Mary Blueport in the newspapers. He had also seen countless stories of warnings about the transcendent’s mana explosion in the history books before that.

It’s not just a matter of removing an illegitimate child from his life.

The transcendents are the main forces of this Empire. Without the transcendent, the foundations of this Empire will be shaken.

The current Emperor is a transcendent.

‘Is the Holy Empire really preparing for war against this Empire?’

This was……dangerous. From the moment he heard the description of that potion, his head was constantly ringing with warning signals.

However.

“Then we have no choice but to give this family completely to that illegitimate child. You will be driven out to the countryside with your beloved children.”

At those words, Duke Artus’ eyes shook.

He knew that if Meldon became the Duke, he would not let them go. The indisputable hatred and the wildness in the seemingly light eyes…….

He remembered his weak son who had been whining all day about what had happened.

Will Felix be able to handle Meldon?

No, that kid can’t do it. It was not only Duke Artus that would fall if Meldon was left alone. Even his son…….

Moreover, if that were true, the war between the Holy Empire and Frederic Empire was already over.

‘I’d rather be on their side now…….’

Wouldn’t this lead to better results later?

The gentle voice of the young man kindly urged him.

“No matter how far the transcendents flies and crawls, how can they resist the fate of the frenzy ahead of them?”

“…….”

“You just have to hand over the information you promised and help us with one thing. Then I’ll give you this. What do you think?”

He wanted to nod his head right away.

But the pressure continued to weigh down on Duke Artus. This was by no means something that could ever be said recklessly.

All of his future political life was contained in this small potion.

The young man, who had been watching him for a while, smiled and took the potion again.

“I understand. I’ll come back next time. That will probably be your last chance.”

“…….”

“Hmm…….is Kelsion doing well?”

He rose from his seat, muttering a name that the Duke did not know.

And said to the Duke.

“You’re not the only card that we’re preparing. Keep that in mind.”

Despite him being rude, the Duke couldn’t answer anything. He turned around and looked at the figure of the disappearing young man.

His hands were still shaking.

* * *

The day after the banquet, Dalia decided to visit Beolde.

Beolde was put on probation by her family, so she had to go there herself. Still, she agreed to acknowledge her two good deeds, and she also had something else to say.

‘If I want to make Mr. Meldon to become the Duke, I need help from Lady Beolde.’

In order for Meldon to be incorporated into the family without the recognition of the Artus family, all the transcendents of the other four families besides Artus must recognize him as the transcendent of the Artus family.

Beolde, Lewayne or Mary Blueport, and even Hikan.

Come to think of it, it was time to talk to Hikan about her plans to make Meldon become the Duke of Artus.

‘I don’t know what happened yesterday, but he didn’t seem to be in a good mood.’

Maybe she chose the wrong timing? Dalia tilted her head.

He seemed to be in a bad mood, so she kept asking what was going on, but Hikan only shook his head. Then, after looking at Dalia’s face for a while, he seemed to be muttering swear words.

She didn’t hear it very well, but he said something like ‘that crazy guy…….’.

Dalia just kept her mouth shut, fearing that she might feel worse after asking for nothing.

But she couldn’t delay talking to Hikan any longer.

Dalia pondered for a bit and went to him. And she roughly told him of what had happened.

Except for all the controversial content (for example, she hired Wayne to meet Beolde), the story unfolded. As a result, there were many holes.

Hikan was a little suspicious. However, in the end, he sighed deeply as if he was wondering what more he should figure out.

He seemed to finally realize that Dalia is no longer the obedient younger sister now that she’s older.

It was just as Dalia had hoped.

“So, Dalia, what is the benefit of making Meldon to be the Duke of Artus?”

But this question is difficult to answer.

Dalia was also thinking that Hikan would ask this question. It’s a problem because she doesn’t have anything to answer.

The fact that the current Duke Artus would communicate with the Holy Empire was only something that she knew from the original story, but there was no evidence.

Dalia said, after thinking hard and racking her brain.

“Um, umm……so, so that I don’t have to see the annoying Duke Artus in the capital anymore?”

“Okay.”

It was a random excuse, but Dalia was surprised at the much clearer and straightforward answer than she had expected.

She looked up at Hikan. He was looking into the air with his eyes burning with anger for some reason.

‘Did brother really hate Duke Artus that much?’

Dalia tilted her head again. Still, it was fortunate that Hikan seemed to have the heart to help Meldon. Dalia was able to go to meet Beolde in joy.