Chapter 114

“Call it ‘acquaintances.’ I’m not exactly fond of the term.”

 

“See how he is? So annoying.”

 

Scarlet shot Freyer a look of pure disdain, but he merely shrugged as if it didn’t bother him at all. Scarlet pierced him with a gaze so fiery it looked as though she might leap across the table at any moment.

 

Finding myself in the pitiful position of a shrimp caught in a fight between whales, I hurried to shift the mood.

 

“Princess Scarlet! So, um, why did you call for me?”

 

“Oh, right. I did call for you, Lilithia.”

 

Whether she was simple-minded or just pure-hearted, Scarlet reacted to the change of topic instantly.

 

“I wanted to have one last meal together before you leave. Like a Last Supper of sorts.”

 

“I see.”

 

“It feels like it’s time for you to leave the kingdom.”

 

Providing the fabric for the tailcoat to be worn at the banquet and wearing Jonas’ winning outfit—both of Scarlet’s requests had been fulfilled. As of yesterday, Scarlet’s birth night festival had come to an end.

 

“Thank you for readily accepting such a burdensome proposal.”

 

“If I hadn’t run into you by chance in that alleyway, Your Highness, I never would have had an experience like this.”

 

“I’m glad you think so. You’re certainly different from a certain narrow-minded someone.”

 

As the conversation drifted back toward Freyer, I hastily cut her off.

 

“Haha. I’m the one who should be more grateful.”

 

I was thankful to Scarlet because I, too, had received much help from her. I met many good people and ate plenty of delicious food. It was Scarlet who had helped me when I would have otherwise been struggling and worrying back at the merchant guild.

 

“I wish you could stay longer. How about staying a few more days?”

 

“I don’t think I can leave the guild empty any longer.”

 

“That’s a shame. Lilithia, instead of being with a guy like that, how about trying things out with our Siphiel…?”

 

“Rejected.”

 

In mid-air, the sharp gazes of Scarlet and Freyer sparked and crackled.

 

“Who do you think you are?”

 

“Don’t overstep, Scarlet Ligliano.”

 

“You too, Freyer Lundberg.”

 

Though they called themselves friends, they were like oil and water. Or perhaps their relationship was better described as a tiger and a lion fighting over territory in a safari.

 

I wondered how they had ever become close, and before I knew it, a “pfft” escaped my lips as I failed to hold back a laugh.

 

Soon after, Scarlet’s cheerful laughter filled the dining room. Scarlet truly was an entertaining person. I felt lucky to have met someone like her.

 

 

***

 

 

Freyer and Scarlet stepped away to discuss matters they hadn’t yet finished.

 

They hurried their pace as they descended a dark and somber staircase. The scene that eventually unfolded before them was a long line of cramped iron bars.

 

At the entrance of this space, which was no different from a dungeon, an armed guard bowed upon seeing Scarlet. She acknowledged him with a light nod and walked leisurely down the hallway.

 

Freyer followed behind her. Soon, they arrived in front of a cell. Beyond the bars was a familiar face. Matte Dalman—the man who had screamed that he was the eldest son of the Dalman family—was bound hand and foot to a chair.

 

Bloodstains were splattered everywhere across Matte’s body and the inside of the cell, and he was slumped over in the chair as if he had lost consciousness.

 

“He lost his memory?”

 

“Strictly speaking, our Matte truly believes that he is Matte Dalman.”

 

“Is he lying?”

 

“I don’t think so. He just repeated the same words over and over even under torture. I’ll show you if you find it hard to believe.”

 

Scarlet crossed her arms and spoke in a cold tone.

 

“Matte Dalman.”

 

Even at her call, Matte Dalman didn’t move an inch.

 

“Wake him up.”

 

At her command, the guard standing by opened the cell, went inside, and poured a bucket of water over Matte.

 

“……Gasp!”

 

Shivering from the bone-chilling cold water, Matte gasped for breath and lifted his head, his eyes burning fiercely.

 

“Untie this at once!”

 

Matte began to resist violently, screaming in a voice full of spite as he tried to break free from the chair.

 

“Do you know who I am!? I am Matte Dalman, the eldest son of the Dalman family!”

 

“The Dalman family?”

 

Scarlet narrowed her eyes, a strange sense of intimidation bleeding into her voice. Matte raised his voice as if it were nothing.

 

“Yes! Even you, the Princess, fear the Dalman family, and I am their eldest son! If you release me now, I won’t punish you severely! Let me go this instant!”

 

“How many times is this now? I’ve told you repeatedly that there is no such thing as a Dalman family in our kingdom.”

 

The man trapped behind the bars was an unidentified individual who had entered the kingdom with a hidden identity. In the Pearching Kingdom, neither a family named Dalman nor a person named Matte Dalman existed in the records.

 

“How can you, the Princess, insult the Dalman family like this! Call my father immediately! This matter will be brought to light!”

 

A click of the tongue escaped through Scarlet’s teeth.

 

“Is there anything more to see, Freyer?”

 

Freyer shook his head. As soon as Scarlet gave the guard a look of annoyance, the guard struck Matte on the back of the neck, knocking him unconscious.

 

“Finally quiet.”

 

Scarlet grumbled that the noise had nearly made her ears bleed. The furrow in Freyer’s brow showed no signs of smoothing out.

 

“Isn’t it strange? He failed to destroy the evidence, and now he just repeats the same Dalman story over and over. Ugh.”

 

Scarlet stiffened her neck and shuddered as if just looking at Matte made her skin crawl.

 

With a faint, thin smile, Scarlet pulled a piece of paper from her pocket that still showed signs of being soaked in water.

 

“Oh, right. Our Matte tried to put this in his mouth to get rid of the evidence, but I subdued him and snatched it away in an instant.”

 

Scarlet gestured for Freyer to take the paper, and as he read the words written on it, his brow furrowed even deeper.

 

[Assassinate Lilithia Baimery.]

 

Just as the assassin who had tried to harm him had said, someone was targeting Lilithia and had issued the order.

 

However, he couldn’t pin the mastermind down as his brother based solely on suspicion. While he could have questioned Matte Dalman, the assassin who had received the mission, no clues could be gained from a man who didn’t even know who he truly was.

 

“I can’t tell you how relieved I was that you arrived right on time.”

 

When Freyer had faced danger in the Oneren Kingdom, the person he had contacted immediately was Scarlet. He knew she would be safe by the side of Scarlet, who was both the Princess of the Pearching Kingdom and a high-ranking knight.

 

Yet, by the time they arrived at the kingdom’s banquet, Lilithia was already being threatened by Matte Dalman.

 

“I asked you to protect Lilithia.”

 

“I feel a bit wronged because I did put my younger brother by Lilithia’s side. But you know how things happen when you least expect them, right?”

 

“Always an excuse for everything.”

 

The assassin, who had managed to sneak into the palace under a false identity, had approached Lilithia. If he had been even a moment later, Lilithia would have….

 

As the worst-case scenario played out in his mind, the mere thought made him feel nauseous.

 

“Oh, right. So what else did you want to ask of me?”

 

“I want to know the components of the poison.”

 

Freyer pulled out his mother’s corroded pendant and a vial containing the poison taken from the assassinated mage.

 

The books and documents Freyer had been checking every day were all related to the components of this poison. However, despite searching the entire continent, he hadn’t been able to find a single clue about it.

 

“And they couldn’t find the components in Silvertone, either.”

 

One of the reasons he had come to Scarlet was that she was the head of the information guild in the Pearching Kingdom’s underworld. That was also why Scarlet knew about the backbone of the slave trade.

 

Scarlet’s determination not to let crimes be committed in her kingdom had led to the information guild being established as an entity quite different from typical ones.

 

Scarlet swished the pendant and the vial of poison and asked Freyer: “We can keep the samples left over after we analyze the components, right?”

 

“Do whatever you want.”

 

Scarlet smiled as she tucked the potions away and spoke casually.

 

“Why are there always so many assassination attempts around you?”

 

“I suppose they want to deny my very existence.”

 

“Well, that’s why you shouldn’t build up bad karma.”

 

Freyer let out a hollow laugh at her playful tone, as if it wasn’t even worth responding to.

 

“Read the room before you joke.”

 

“But do you know? Rumors are spreading in the underworld that Freyer Lundberg is dead. It’s probably reached the Empire by now.”

 

“I know. I am the man himself.”

 

“Doesn’t it annoy you? I’d be pissed if there were people out there celebrating my death.”

 

Scarlet cracked her knuckles and grinned.

 

“If it were me, I’d stop their breathing before they had a chance to celebrate.”

 

“Tsk.”

 

“You just thought my way of speaking was vulgar again, didn’t you?”

 

“I’m glad to see you have a conscience.”

 

“You’re really a piece of work.”

 

“Likewise.”

 

“But you know, there’s something I’m curious about. Can you give me an answer?”

 

At Freyer’s impassive gaze telling her to go ahead, Scarlet smiled and asked him:

 

“Lilithia wouldn’t give me an answer, so I’m curious. Is it true that you two were together last night? Did you two really spend an… intense night together?”

 

Freyer glared at Scarlet with a look of utter contempt, then turned around as if she wasn’t worth answering.

 

“Contact me once you find out about the poison.”

 

As Freyer walked away coldly, Scarlet called out to his retreating back.

 

“Give me an answer before you go! Kyle—no, Freyer! Just tell me! I promise I won’t spread any rumors!”