113. Our Mutual Interests

“Who came to see me?”

Rasman II, the new king of the Hashiya Kingdom, frowned. Hawthorn, who had served his father, the late King Rasman, and now served his son Rasman II, repeated information about the visitor.

“Grand Duke Vellaus of the Kazel Empire wishes to have a private conversation.”

“Ha… How dare those Kazel Empire bastards come to see me?”

Rasman II felt a sudden tingling in his head and stiffness in his neck. Given the current state of the Hashiya Kingdom, he couldn’t hide his anger that one of the main culprits who had reduced his kingdom to this condition dared to visit him.

He slammed his fist on the armrest with a loud thud.

“Your Majesty, I believe it would be good to meet with Grand Duke Vellaus.”

“Having survived by selling my father’s life, I hope you haven’t lost your ability to judge properly? Why? Did the Kazel Empire promise to give you the throne if you sold me out?”

Hawthorn bowed his head deeply. His hands trembled.

“Your Majesty, Grand Duke Vellaus stands in opposition to the Emperor of the Kazel Empire. How about meeting him once to understand his intentions?”

“……”

Rasman II stared intently at Hawthorn with a displeased expression. Hawthorn remained standing quietly with his head bowed, waiting for his king to speak.

Rasman II struck the armrest hard once more before speaking.

“Fine. I’ll meet Grand Duke Vellaus. Where is he now?”

“He’s waiting in my private office.”

“You… What would you have done if I had refused to meet him? Bringing him into the palace without my permission—I’ll deal with your offense after meeting him.”

Rasman II rose, his physique closely resembling his father’s. The only thing he had inherited from the late king was his build. If he had possessed his father’s boldness and decisiveness, he wouldn’t have allowed the Hashiya Kingdom to become so divided. The Hashiya Kingdom was now in great turmoil. And this incompetent king was merely wasting time blaming the Kazel Empire.

Rasman II followed Hawthorn to where Herwen was waiting.

Rasman II momentarily forgot even to exchange greetings, captivated by Herwen’s sun-like appearance. Herwen saw him and smiled leisurely, extending his right hand. Overwhelmed by his composed demeanor, Rasman II felt an inexplicable sense of defeat as he grasped the offered hand.

“I am Rasman II of the Hashiya Kingdom.”

“I am Herwen Vellaus, Lord of Kalia.”

Herwen did not mention his affiliation with the Kazel Empire. He introduced himself only as the Lord of Kalia. Rasman II quite liked his self-introduction.

“I believe you know we’re not in a relationship to exchange pleasantries and engage in conversation.”

Rasman II walked past Herwen to the sofa with his long cape fluttering, and sat down first. Herwen revealed a faint sneer at Rasman II’s attitude of not even inviting him to sit, and followed him to the sofa.

“Why did you want to see me?”

Rasman II asked as soon as Herwen sat down.

“Doesn’t Your Majesty know well about my relationship with His Majesty the Emperor?”

“……”

“So I thought our interests would align very well and felt a sense of affinity, but it seems Your Majesty doesn’t feel the same?”

“What are my interests that supposedly align with the Grand Duke’s?”

Herwen’s eyes narrowed. Feigning ignorance seemed very cunning.

“I understand you harbor ill feelings toward the Emperor of the Kazel Empire?”

At those words, Rasman II’s jaw tightened.

“Seeing your change in expression, is it true?”

“Are there no manners in the Kazel Empire? This is the first time I’ve encountered such a rude royal.”

Herwen’s lips curved upward asymmetrically.

“That’s hardly for Your Majesty to say. When I skip pleasantries and get straight to the point as you wished, I’m criticized for being rude. Who would want to converse with Your Majesty?”

Rasman II rose from his seat in anger, then closed his eyes to calm himself before sitting down again.

“If I do harbor ill feelings toward the Grand Duke’s Emperor, what do you intend to do?”

Herwen silently gazed at Rasman II. His lips twitched as if trying to suppress a laugh.

“My Emperor?”

He murmured quietly.

Rasman II didn’t hear Herwen’s murmur. Though he couldn’t discern his true intentions, he recalled his father’s unfulfilled final moments.

“Will you behead me too?”

“No, why such a brutal suggestion?”

“Are you playing word games with me now?”

Rasman II was irritated by Herwen’s seemingly mocking expression and words. At this, Herwen changed his expression, becoming serious.

“Do you think I came all this way to play games?”

“……”

“If the Hashiya Kingdom has the guts to exact revenge for Rasman, I will support you. Must I be this direct?”

Herwen clicked his tongue as he spoke. He looked at Rasman II with downcast eyes. He was truly a pathetic king. The type who only expressed anger verbally without the courage to take revenge on Edward—without someone like himself to assist, such a person would only nurture their internal rage until death, accomplishing nothing.

“Are you saying… you’ll help me… our kingdom?”

“What misunderstanding… I’m offering to help with personal revenge.”

“……”

Rasman II scratched his head and fell into silent contemplation. Herwen watched him, tapping his leg. After a long silence, Rasman II spoke.

“What kind of help can you offer me?”

***

“The long-awaited Founding Festival has finally begun, but it doesn’t feel real yet.”

Sasha said, warming her hands with her white breath. Larael looked up at the elaborately decorated exterior of Abella Palace. The head maids of each palace had put all their effort into decorating their respective palaces’ exteriors as if in competition. This was a long-standing Founding Festival tradition.

Larael had just left Abella Palace to view the main palace. The cold winter wind penetrated her skin.

“Your Highness, you can’t imagine how handsome Sir Gerard was! Are you really only attending the last day of the swordsmanship tournament?”

“Yes.”

Larael nodded. She had gifted tournament tickets to her maids. Sasha and Joanna, Lillian and Kara—they went in pairs, with Sasha and Joanna attending yesterday and Lillian and Kara going today. After attending the first day, Sasha had talked about Sir Gerard all day. As Larael listened to Sasha’s stories about Sir Gerard, her thoughts turned to Lillian who had gone to watch the tournament. Thinking of her, Larael’s thoughts deepened.

‘What should I do about Lillian?’

If she sent Lillian back to the Empress Dowager, it was obvious what would happen to Lillian once she was deemed useless. Therefore, completely turning Lillian to her side seemed like the most practical solution. She seemed to be getting along well with Sasha, Joanna, and Kara. However, as someone who had been so manipulated by Lillian before the regression, Larael wasn’t particularly keen on the idea.

Larael shook her head and sighed.

“Your Highness, is something troubling you?”

“No, nothing.”

As they walked, the main palace gradually came into view.

“Wow!! What is this!! It’s so beautiful!!”

Joanna exclaimed loudly at the splendor of the main palace, visible even from a distance. Sasha and Larael were also speechless, unable to take their eyes off the magnificent exterior.

“I’ve seen it before, so it’s nothing special to me.”

Berser, who was following behind, boasted to Larael and her maids who were seeing the Founding Festival main palace for the first time.

“Your Highness, let’s go closer to see.”

“No, let’s look from here. What if we’re noticed and someone reports to His Majesty? I don’t want to disturb him.”

Edward had ultimately failed to finish the work he needed to complete before the Founding Festival and was trapped in his work prison. Larael smiled slightly as she imagined Edward working.

“Let’s head back now.”

At Larael’s words, Sasha and Joanna reluctantly followed her back toward Abella Palace.

“I can’t wait to escort Your Highness to the tournament. It was so magnificent…”

Sasha said, rubbing her red, frozen ears with both hands.

And so, on the third day of the swordsmanship tournament that Sasha had been waiting for, Larael was able to attend the final day of the competition with Edward’s escort.