Chapter 36. Cancellation

Refreshments were placed on the table.

For commoners living in the desert, the rare ice clinked as it collided inside the glass. Feeling the cold drink slide down his throat, Mihail looked at the man sitting to his left.

His name was something like Silvatra.

He couldn’t quite remember.

“……It’s been about two months since the founding.”

“Truly a newborn country.”

Formal conversation was exchanged.

Mihail nodded occasionally, pretending to listen to the polite words of the ambassador from the newborn country. But inwardly, he was looking down on him.

A tiny country that was barely a dot on the map.

It could disappear at any moment.

“Impressive. To establish a country amidst such chaos.”

“His Majesty the King wishes to present a small gift to the Granz Empire as a token of gratitude.”

“Alliances are always welcome.”

Mihail wore a gentle smile. But his teal eyes were sharply assessing the man.

For an ambassador of a mere small country, his demeanor was peculiar.

Usually, they would pretend not to be, but still grovel in some way. This one didn’t show any of that. Should he call it boldness, or was there really something more?

Despite his confident attitude, the content of the conversation was about offering tribute.

“Was the decision to ally with the Granz Empire yours, or the King’s?”

At his probing question, the red-haired ambassador paused briefly. He then naturally took a sip from his glass before speaking again.

“Of course, it is His Majesty the King’s will.”

“Wise decision.”

In the awkward atmosphere created by that single word, Mihail raised a hand as if it was nothing. It could be taken as sarcasm towards the wisdom of aligning with the Empire.

“Even the venerable Kingdom of Charbon fell.”

“Ah, that is indeed a tragic history.”

“If they had only sought help from the Empire, it wouldn’t have ended that way.”

“Arrogance led to their downfall.”

Mihail let out a small snort at that natural response. So, to avoid ending up like the Kingdom of Charbon, they were reaching out.

That’s how alliances were.

If you tried to form one in a hurry, you had to endure significant losses. For example, offering the entire country or replacing the king to suit the powerful nation’s taste.

Forming a solid relationship in advance was beneficial for a small country in many ways.

At least they could enjoy a bit more psychological stability.

Having done the math, Mihail decided to wrap up the meeting. He was still fatigued from recently clearing out the legion of durahan.

Knock, knock.

It was then that a knock was heard.

Whether it was taken as affirmation, the door cautiously opened.

It was Andrei. The very subordinate who had informed him of the guest in the reception room.

“Commander.”

“What is it?”

“Well… regarding the purifier who was supposed to come…”

Andrei glanced at the red-haired ambassador. He was gauging whether it was okay to speak in front of an outsider.

The ambassador’s gaze seemed sharp, but Andrei had no time to care about a person from a mere small country. He swallowed nervously, trying to read Mihail’s intentions.

Mihail slightly nodded as if to say it was fine.

It didn’t matter if there was an outsider. It was a matter of timing; the purifier’s dispatch would eventually make headlines in the newspapers.

Besides, before coming to the reception room, he had already them instructed to find out why the purifier was late and where they were.

He hadn’t expected to get an answer so quickly.

Andre spoke.

“They say the dispatch to us has been canceled.”

“What…?”

The voice came from behind.

When Mihail turned his head, the red-haired ambassador was barely managing to keep his expression in check.

“Why are you surprised?”

Mihail asked.

His previously gentle demeanor was gone, replaced by a cold chill.

“It’s nothing.”

The ambassador continued, shaking his head lightly as if it was no big deal.

“I just remembered reading in the newspaper that the purifier had appeared. I was curious about the dispatch location, and hearing the news…”

“Hmm.”

Mihail looked at him, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth.

Was he experienced, or was he being honest?

The man who had been agitated by the news of the purifier earlier now had an unshakable expression.

Mihail watched him a bit longer, then stood up. It seemed better to discuss the rest of the news with Andrei alone.

“Let’s meet again next time.”

“Yes. I will come again to convey His Majesty’s will.”

The ambassador bowed without a hint of hesitation.

But why did he seem somewhat regretful?

Mihail looked at the man’s back as he left the reception room with meaningful eyes. The last sight of the red hair before the door closed caught his attention.

But not for long.

“Please continue with the report.”

Mihail gently requested his much younger subordinate.

Andre immediately relayed the rest of the news.

“Specifically, they say the purifier will be moving between the north and the east, participating in the undead extermination.”

“The north?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mean the Grodes Mountains?”

“It seems so.”

Andre nodded.

Although the information wasn’t precise, what else could be in the north but the Grodes Mountains?

“The news was delivered by a priest who regularly visits the Imperial Palace.”

Thanks to the timely arrival of that priest today, Mihail could get the information he was curious about right away.

Andre held his breath, trying to read Mihail’s thoughts.

Mihail remained silent, only lowering and raising his gaze repeatedly with a cold expression.

Eventually, he crossed his long legs, leaning back with a relaxed posture, and rested his chin on his hand.

“Ha.”

A small laugh escaped Mihail’s lips.

For some reason, he felt irritated.

In Sahar, he was confident, so the purifier wasn’t urgent. But the Grodes Mountains were a different matter.

So, even if they took turns, most of the time would be spent in the north.

“Haha.”

Ridiculous.

It would have been enough to say they didn’t need it in the first place…

Johann, that bastard.

Playing with people like this.

“Hahaha.”

Laughing without a word made him seem like a madman.

As the occasional eerie laughter echoed in the quiet air, Andrei, who had missed the timing to retreat, had to shrink his neck like a turtle to minimize his presence.

* * *

It felt like my whole body was submerged in dazzlingly white water.

What do I mean by that?

I don’t know.

I had my eyes closed, but it felt comfortable, like being in warm water. And there was a bright light over my closed eyelids.

Where am I?

Who am I?

My name is Yoon Ji-ah.

No, it was Seraphina.

Huh…?

Who was Seraphina? Who was Yoon Ji-ah?

For a moment, it felt like all the knowledge I had was turning to dust and flying away. Not disappearing, but spreading like dandelion seeds in the wind.

So everything that made me was breaking apart and dispersing…

How far would it spread?

One thing was clear: the energy coming from me wasn’t bad.

A very gentle and warm energy.

Like the warmth of the hand holding mine right now.

…Huh?

My body was shattered.

How could someone hold my hand?

When the cognitive dissonance overwhelmed me, I realized I was dreaming. At the same time, I woke up.

“Umm…”

As I slowly lifted my eyelids, my vision was blurry. After blinking a few more times, my focus gradually returned.

“Where is this…”

This is my room.

The room given to me at the Hilton Castle.

Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, I wasn’t used to yet, I tried to sit up.

Ah, I feel too weak to get up.

At that moment, I felt the warm something holding my hand move. When I turned my head, I saw Claude holding my hand, his head resting on the bed, asleep.

“…Your Grace?”

Why is he sleeping here?

Did my voice wake him? Claude lifted his eyelids. His eyes were clear, not like someone who had just woken up.

He raised his head and looked at me quietly.

Usually, I would have felt burdened and looked away, but I was still groggy from just waking up, so I continued to look at him.

His complexion looked haggard.

Did he stay up for several nights?

I had a faint question, and the warmth that had been holding my hand disappeared. The cold air brushed past where he had been.

“Are you in pain?”

Claude asked, placing the back of his hand on my forehead.

I blinked at his question.

Am I in pain?

I felt like I had slept well.

I slowly shook my head, keeping my gaze on him.

The hand on my forehead moved smoothly to tuck my stray hair behind my ear.

Why is he being so kind all of a sudden?

He was so strict when we were climbing the mountain.

Huh?

Come to think of it, what happened to the subjugation?

Why am I in bed…

As my thoughts reached that point, Claude’s mouth slowly opened.