Chapter 110

Evan swung his sword, shaking off the water droplets. The way the water slithered and moved felt ominous.

“You and I have never sparred, have we?”

“We were in different departments, after all.”

“Despite your poor health, you were famous. In many ways. You never once missed the top spot, even with that body. Even if I didn’t want to hear about you, your name echoed everywhere. And my mother… she lived with your name on her lips.”

A deep shadow fell over Bastien’s eyes. Rishana had wanted Bastien to be the best in every field. As the Crown Prince, she wanted him to be the most excellent among his peers. But he hadn’t been.

“Is that my fault?”

“No, it’s not your fault. I’m just stating a fact.”

“How ridiculous.”

Evan snorted. There were plenty of people who envied Evan for his outstanding talent in swordsmanship. People who, swayed by the gazes and words of others, looked for the wrong target to vent their anger on, unable to manage their own emotions and choosing to resent him instead. If they were to trample him and rise to the top, would things truly change? No, they would simply find another target.

“Bastien, I didn’t know you were one of those people.”

“I didn’t know either. It came to me suddenly. Thanks to the Young Lady. My chest felt tight, as if a heavy stone was pressing down on my heart, but once I admitted it, that feeling vanished. This is who I truly am.”

“Turn yourself in.”

“Why should I? What is so wrong with striking my father to become Emperor? The current Emperor is nothing more than a parasite living off the surrounding nobles without any power. I simply couldn’t stand by and watch my father be that way.”

“You’re good with words. You just wanted it for yourself.”

Evan thought for a moment, then tapped the floor with his sword.

“Fine. I understand. You have no intention of surrendering, and your resolve to kill the Emperor and Empress remains unchanged.”

Bastien gave his confirmation through silence.

“If it gets too much for you, withdraw on your own. Because I won’t go easy on you.”

A massive wave surged behind Bastien, and Evan’s blade began to glow with a verdant light.

***

“But My Lady, is there really a way to get the herbs? And in the first place, is there any reason we should be the ones to save the Empress?”

From Ben’s perspective, it was hard to understand why I would save the woman who had targeted my life. Even Bastien was constantly eyeing me, and Fedeshar had kidnapped me simply because I was an obstacle.

“The Duke has been named as the culprit. We have to clear his name. And if I get on the good side of the Imperial Family, it’s good for me. I can create a debt while I’m at it.”

“If that’s your plan, I won’t stop you… but you know, right? The place where the herbs were kept…”

“I know. It burned down completely. It’s okay. There’s someone who has those herbs.”

“R-Really?!”

Ben’s eyes sparkled at the news he was hearing for the first time. While waiting for Piote, I told Ben some information about the grandmother in advance. However, the information was so vague that Ben looked troubled.

“My Lady, if you just say ‘a grandmother,’ how are we supposed to find her? Are there no other hints?”

“It should be about the time she comes up to the capital… She’s a grandmother carrying a large pack. Um… she’ll probably be selling miscellaneous items, and she wears a pendant she received from her husband dearly around her neck.”

“……I’ve already heard that much.”

“……Other than the pendant, those are pretty general characteristics for a grandmother, right?”

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to find her in time even if we dispatch people.”

I scratched my head. Grandmothers carrying large packs were everywhere in the capital. Moreover, there were many grandmothers among the merchants selling goods. Even if we focused on the fact that she cherished a pendant from her husband, it felt overwhelming. We wouldn’t know unless we asked directly, and I didn’t think she would answer honestly if asked. She’d probably be terrified, thinking, ‘They’re investigating me?!’ Even I would say no if I were her.

“In the original story, she’s a character who appears as an option…”

“Pardon?”

It was a type of event where she would appear if you went to a certain location during a specific period and spoke to someone. I knew roughly when and where she appeared because you had to find her if you couldn’t locate the Lily of the Valley that blooms under a full moon. But she looked like a perfectly ordinary grandmother. So much so that she was indistinguishable from any other grandmother walking down the street!

I suddenly looked outside. It was now dark, the sun having set. Ordinarily, everyone would be at home sleeping. In the original story, Elena meeting the grandmother was nothing more than a coincidence. Specifically, it was because the kind-hearted Elena couldn’t just pass her by. The grandmother had come all the way to the capital to earn money for medicine. The pack she carried contained trinkets she had brought to sell.

Things made of animal byproducts that people living in the capital wouldn’t even look at. While most other merchants had large parasols set up, the grandmother was selling her goods while exposed to the full heat of the sun. She was even pushed into a corner by the local vendors. Elena stopped at the sound of her voice, which seemed ready to give out at any moment, and asked about her situation. Elena was reminded of her own grandmother and bought all her goods.

The grandmother told her to take the money back because it was too much, but Elena refused, saying it was fine. In return, the grandmother gave her her most precious necklace. That necklace was made from dried Lily of the Valley that blooms under a full moon.

‘Now… let’s think carefully.’

Elena is currently stuck in the palace. What happened to the grandmother who never met Elena? Wouldn’t she still be there? The game didn’t specify day or night. All the other merchants have packed up, but the grandmother wouldn’t be able to sit still, thinking of her son. Furthermore, staying overnight when she hasn’t even raised the money for the medicine? Impossible.

“Let’s go now!”

“What? Right now? It’s already night. You could go tomorrow…”

“No, going now is actually the fastest way to find her.”

We had to move quickly before the sun rose and other merchants crowded the area. Just then, Piote arrived. As the door slammed open, I grabbed his hand and headed outside before he could even ask if I was okay.

“Brother, you came on a horse, right?”

“Uh…? Yeah, why?”

“Come with me somewhere.”

“It hasn’t even been a day since you were kidnapped!”

He shouted, seemingly angry that I was heading out again just after returning. I understood how he felt, but if we didn’t go quickly, we would miss her. I’d listen to the nagging after everything was over.

“I have to go save the Empress.”

“What?”

“The Young Lady says she has a way to get the herbs.”

As Ben joined in, Piote scratched his head and said, trying to process the situation, “Where are we going?”

I gave him a thin smile.

***

“Another wasted day…”

I let out a deep sigh as I looked at the street where everyone had vanished. I had come with the determination to save my son, packing up everything from home that might be worth some money, but it had all been for nothing. I shouldn’t have come with the vague hope that I could earn money in the capital. Would it have been better to spend just a little more time by my sick son’s side instead?

Just as I was letting out a heavy sigh, I heard the sound of horses galloping in the distance. I wondered what was going on so late at night, but I had my own problems to worry about.

“Grandmother!”

“Eh?”

But the sound stopped right in front of me. I looked up to see a breathtakingly beautiful woman looking down at me with a smile.

“How much is all of this?”

It was suspicious enough that a beautiful woman would suddenly appear before me in the middle of the night, but she was saying she would buy these things that were no better than junk. Dressed in a luxurious gown, she clearly wasn’t from an ordinary family. And what about the men surrounding her as if guarding her?

“These… these aren’t things for a fine lady like you to have.”

“It’s alright. I have plenty of money. In fact, I have so much it’s almost a problem. Seeing you selling things here without going home, don’t you need the money? And junk? These are items with memories attached to them.”

The grandmother looked at the items she had put out for sale. They were things her husband had made, a man who had been quite skilled with his hands during his lifetime. The moment tears welled up in her eyes, a pouch clinking with gold coins was pushed into her hand. Her hands, wrinkled with hardship, trembled.

“T-This is…!”

“Please, take it.”

“I cannot accept this much money.”

The grandmother refused, saying she couldn’t take it. The items weren’t worth such a large sum. The lady thought for a moment, then pointed with her finger.

“Then give me the necklace you cherish so much. Nothing is more expensive than your memories, Grandmother.”

I naturally looked at my pendant. Dangling from my neck and making its presence known, it wasn’t something others would covet.

“As you say, it is something I cherish, but…”

“It’s very precious, isn’t it? You’re selling everything else, but you’re wearing only that. Like a lucky charm.”

Her eyes widened at the words that seemed to read her mind. She looked at the lady before her. In the gaze that was fixed on the pendant, she sensed a certain heat. She unconsciously gripped the pendant in her hand.

“Perhaps seeing you here is the guidance of my late husband…”

I didn’t know why she wanted the pendant, but with those gold coins, I could save my son’s life. Even if it was precious, nothing was more valuable than her son’s life.

“Take it. I’m glad you like it.”

“Yes, thank you. You’ll be blessed for this.”