80. End of the Investigation

When Larael got up from the bed and sat on the sofa, Dean followed and sat across from her.

“Your Highness, I was planning to look around the county by myself today, but I just heard that you’ve planned an outing.”

“Yes, that’s right. Since Kali will be returning to the capital soon, I suggested we go out together.”

“Thank you for inviting me as well.”

“Of course.”

When Larael smiled, Dean quickly averted his gaze.

“Your Highness, do you know why I came down here?”

Larael shrugged.

“Grand Duke Vellaus is very interested in our relationship, regarding our meeting.”

“Ah…”

Larael let out a short sigh.

Kali had mentioned that there were people watching the office. If so, it was likely that Dean, who often met her as part of her aide’s duties, would also be under scrutiny. Larael had thought Herwen would be plotting something else after the Fenrir incident—possibly even something related to the Krauf disease. With his engagement to Ariella, which was paraded around like the love of the century, she had assumed his interest in her would have faded. But he was still keeping a close watch on Larael.

“There was a request for information through Four Seasons. They wanted to know what kind of relationship I had with Your Highness. I gave a vague answer, but I also became curious myself. If you don’t mind, may I ask about your first meeting with the Grand Duke?”

Larael didn’t answer his question and just quietly looked at Dean.

She wondered if Dean was asking because he already knew something, or if he was just trying to test her. Dean waited for her response, looking at her with a gaze that was half-apologetic, mixed with regret that he might have touched an old wound.

“I’m not sure how much I should say to satisfy you, Dean.”

Complex emotions flickered in Larael’s red eyes. As her face grew cold and her gaze, filled with tangled feelings, dropped to the table, Dean felt his heart sink. But once words are spoken, they can’t be taken back.

“Dean, do you think Herwen and I truly loved each other?”

“I’m not sure. But if I were to guess, it seems Lady Nox and the Grand Duke Vellaus were seeing each other even before Your Highness met him, and you knew about it too.”

“There was love. Of course, it was one-sided on my part…”

She didn’t deny Dean’s guess. Larael’s expression, which had carried a slight smile, quickly turned somber.

“Your Highness, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.”

Dean hastily apologized when he saw her expression. He’d asked impulsively, thinking the person with the answer was right in front of him. If he could take his words back, he’d first take back bringing up Herwen.

“It’s all right. I’ll have a chance to tell you someday. But honestly, I don’t even want to mention the Grand Duke.”

As Larael finished, the corner of her mouth trembled slightly, as if she was trying hard to hide it with a forced smile.

“If you’re asking whether he passed through Hedway County by chance or came here with an ulterior motive, I can say for certain it was the latter.”

“…”

Hearing that, a sudden surge of hatred for Herwen welled up inside Dean. Seeing Larael’s sorrowful expression made his insides churn. Along with his hate for Herwen, a strange, jealous envy toward Edward also tangled in his mind and heart.

‘Why did he approach her in the first place?’

Dean couldn’t understand Herwen.

‘Did he want to possess her because he was captivated by her beauty, even though he already had a lover?’

Trying to untangle the thread only made it more knotted. Nothing made sense.

At the sound of a knock, Sasha and Joanna, who had gone down to the kitchen, entered together. They paused briefly and bowed when they saw Dean.

“I’ll get going now.”

As they entered, Dean stood up.

“Dean, we’ll be leaving for the outing soon, so please come out to the entrance hall.”

“Yes, understood.”

With a serious expression, Dean left Larael’s bedroom.

On his way back to his room, Dean kept recalling Larael’s words and her expression. The more he thought about it, the heavier and more suffocating his chest felt. Thinking about the rumors that followed Larael made his blood boil. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

‘The rumors… What if it was all planned, and they arranged for the Emperor and his fiancée to spend a night together?’

He remembered how that incident had been exaggerated and spread like wildfire throughout the empire. The reputation of the Emperor, once the hero of Kazel, had plummeted overnight.

‘Did Larael know about that plan, too?’

How could Larael know things that even he, an information broker who ruled the empire’s intelligence, didn’t? And why was she using him instead of going directly to the Emperor? Dean shook his head vigorously. The more he dug, the more it pained him. Would he ever really find out, as Larael had said so indifferently?

Dean pressed his throbbing head and started walking again, struggling with the tangled thoughts he couldn’t unravel. He reached the fundamental question: what would he gain by digging into all this?

‘Did Larael approach the Emperor deliberately? Is she unable to face him out of guilt?’

But even so, her hatred for Herwen seemed too deep for that. Dean started to tear at his own hair. Even assuming these things about Larael filled him with guilt. He also felt disgusted with himself for thinking that way. Even if it were true, he couldn’t turn his back on Larael now. He was already too deeply involved.

Dean reached his room, closed the door, leaned against it, and quietly closed his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths. After a while, he walked over to his travel bag, took out a communication stone, and pressed a button.

“Master, do you have anything to report?”

When he pressed the button, Zahara’s voice came from the stone.

“End the investigation into the meeting between Grand Duke Vellaus and the Empress Consort.”

Dean spoke in a low, subdued voice, unlike his usual self.

***

Larael and her group climbed to the top of Leto Hill. Everyone was catching their breath here and there. For a hill, it was quite high and not exactly an easy climb. But the panoramic view of Hedway County from the top made the effort worthwhile.

A cool breeze, carrying the scent of autumn, blew over them. They exclaimed in awe as they looked out over the county. Kali would have regretted it for a long time if she hadn’t seen this view.

Behind the hill stood a temple, thickly covered in vines. The entrance was locked, so they couldn’t go inside, but they could look around the temple grounds.

“It’s a spectacular view,” Dean said as he approached Larael.

“Isn’t it? I used to love coming up here with my mother to look out over the estate.”

Dean nodded as if he understood. The heaviness in his heart now felt as if it had been blown away. If he were a resident of the estate, he would have come here every day.

As she watched them enjoying themselves, Larael thought of Edward. If Edward ever came to Leto Hill, he would love it here. She deeply regretted that he wasn’t with her now.

As Dean stood by Larael, talking with her, Joy quietly approached her side. Sasha frowned, wary of Joy getting closer.

“Don’t come any closer,” Sasha said firmly, blocking Joy’s path with her arm. Joy looked down at Sasha’s arm pressed against his chest.

“Shouldn’t you be stopping him instead of me?” Joy said, pointing at Dean. Sasha glanced where Joy pointed, then quickly glared at Joy again. Joy shrugged and turned away, trudging toward the ruined temple.

Joy stood in front of the temple, covered in vines, looking around.