Chosen by the Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 33: Relocation (2)

The Inner Fortress gate opened smoothly.

The gatekeeper didn’t click his tongue. His gaze was noticeably different.

‘Probably because word of the 1st Knights incident spread.’

The Grand Duke’s residence door was open.

On closer inspection, it was slightly wider than during my first or second visit.

The Grand Duke’s aura enveloping the residence was denser than before.

‘Has it been open since yesterday?’

It was an unintended night away.

It seemed the Grand Duke had been waiting, unaware.

The angle of the door seemed to express his emotions.

The most striking thing on the first floor of the residence was the white carpet with red, curving embroidery like blood, leading to the stairs.

To reach the second floor, you had to see and step on it. As I stepped, the carpet rippled like waves.

He’s finally here, it seemed to say. I barely steadied myself from tripping and climbed the stairs.

From the second floor, the weight was different. It felt like the world was pressing down on me, but I managed to stand before the Grand Duke.

“You’re late.”

The Grand Duke of Aratus’s voice was heavier still.

It was as if aura, not breath or words, flowed from his mouth.

‘Why did he die?’

Unless he stormed the Otherworld alone after retirement, he didn’t seem like someone who’d die.

“There was business.”

“That damn mage.”

The Grand Duke snorted.

He already knew about Kubel and Shura.

‘Arika?’

No. It wasn’t Arika who uncovered the wall’s graffiti. The timing didn’t match.

This meant the Grand Duke of Aratus had his own intelligence network.

“That damn mage uncovered the wall’s trickery and discovered the Red Tower’s existence. He even went to the 2nd Rank boundary.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes twitched.

It seemed like anger, or perhaps a smile.

‘He’s really intimidating.’

His face was hard to read.

“That’s your achievement.”

Despite pressing me with his aura, the Grand Duke acknowledged it plainly.

He acted prejudiced against mages but treated them fairly when warranted.

“I understand achievements earn rewards.”

“Speak.”

“I need a separate annex. Please provide one.”

“…”

“Not for me, for that damn mage.”

“You’ve lost your mind.”

Suddenly, my body slammed into the ground.

The depth was more than I expected. Last time, I was half-buried; now, I was fully embedded.

There was no further pressure.

It seemed he meant for me to speak like this. Whether I’d be buried deeper depended on what he heard.

“That damn mage has a child. A child Serzila particularly loves.”

“I’ll allow the child.”

“Understood.”

The oppressive aura vanished.

I stood, adjusted my shirt, and said,

“I didn’t know Serzila loved orphans.”

Boom!

I was slammed back into the same spot, deeper this time, my body feeling crushed.

“…Not that damn mage, but the parents will die.”

“You protect them.”

“Then I can’t go to the boundary.”

“Do it anyway.”

“Yes.”

I affirmed shortly and firmly.

But the oppressive aura didn’t lift.

It grew slightly stronger.

It wasn’t the answer he wanted.

‘The Grand Duke wants me to go to the boundary.’

I hid my face in the ground and smiled.

I’d been unsure, but now I was certain.

Aratus of Serzila wanted the boundary.

“I understand Serzila has guest retainers.”

Not ordinary ones.

Serzila’s guest retainers are special.

Only those recognized by the North can become one.

They have the right to come and go from the boundary with Serzila’s permission.

“It was abolished.”

That system was discontinued.

It happened during the Grand Duke’s sabbatical, when he attacked the imperial palace alone.

“You’re already using one mage like a guest retainer.”

One more shouldn’t be an issue.

“That damn mage is useful too. Use him with me, and discard him when he’s in the way.”

If it becomes a problem, discard him then.

“First or last?”

Will this happen again, or is Kubel the last?

It was a question, but it sounded like a threat to kill if he wasn’t the last.

“If what I learned from the 2nd Rank boundary is lacking, make him the last.”

“Continue.”

* * *

I spoke of what happened at the 2nd Rank boundary.

I left out Elaine’s presence, filling gaps with improvisation.

It wasn’t hard.

Elaine hadn’t done much this time.

‘He doesn’t know Elaine went to the boundary with me.’

The Grand Duke had his own intelligence network.

But it didn’t seem to monitor Elaine.

It was to let her enjoy her escapades freely.

“I discovered the King’s Magical Item. The smoke from burning the watchtower even pointed the direction.”

Then, the oppressive aura vanished like a dead mouse.

I stood reflexively. For the first time, I read the Grand Duke’s expression. It was clear delight.

“The 1st Rank boundary?”

“It was near the second wall.”

The delight turned to disappointment, then faded.

For some reason, he seemed to expect the King’s Magical Item to be in the 1st Rank boundary.

‘Did he know about the King’s Magical Item?’

No.

Serzila didn’t know of the Red Tower’s existence.

‘There must be something else in the 1st Rank boundary.’

The King’s Magical Item. That king is the Red Tower’s master.

It seemed there was something from another tower in the 1st Rank boundary.

‘It’s not certain. If it were, the Grand Duke would’ve acted already.’

I didn’t pry further.

That would be overstepping for now.

“Do you know why the guest retainer system was abolished?”

“I understand it was due to an imperial decree during Your Grace’s sabbatical.”

The knights’ boundary access was restricted too.

The search range narrowed, and the knight commander couldn’t enter at all.

“I asked why.”

It was because the Grand Duke attacked the imperial palace alone.

But that didn’t seem to be the answer he wanted.

He was asking why he attacked the palace.

“I don’t know that far.”

Even Elaine didn’t know.

The Grand Duke’s sabbatical punishment came shortly after Elaine’s birth.

“I’ll let you live.”

Meaning he’d have killed me if I knew.

I was more curious than afraid.

What reason made the great Aratus so sensitive?

“It should be the last.”

The Grand Duke permitted Kubel’s entry.

He didn’t insist it was the last, leaving room.

More achievements could mean more mages.

The regressed me needed at least two more spots.

Kubel wasn’t part of my original plan.

Silence stretched.

Feeling dismissed, I turned to leave. Then, the Grand Duke spoke.

“You’re entangled with the Intelligence Bureau. Over that damn mage.”

The Intelligence Bureau.

He said that, but I knew he meant Elaine.

“It doesn’t seem like your first meeting. Is that true?”

He spoke as if quoting, then exuded killing intent.

“Booze buddies. We meet occasionally.”

My hair stood on end.

Even without feeling his aura, it was chilling.

“Don’t contact the Intelligence Bureau.”

“I’ve never initiated contact.”

The world grew quiet, and I felt a rare chill.

“I’ll try, but I’m in a position where I must meet that friend if asked.”

“…”

“Because I’m still a hostage.”

When truly angry, the Grand Duke’s aura seemed to stop.

I ran before it moved again.

* * *

The Grand Duke of Aratus had his own intelligence network.

The wall’s graffiti was likely found by it.

It probably extended throughout the domain.

But it clearly bypassed Elaine.

It was to respect her escapades.

Thus, he didn’t know Elaine and I met nightly.

This incident revealed it.

The event at Kubel’s house was caught by his network, and coincidentally, Elaine and I were there too.

Their relationship didn’t seem unfamiliar.

‘He wasn’t angry because I was late.’

The Grand Duke was furious that I was with Elaine.

In my previous life, he cherished Elaine dearly.

That’s why she couldn’t enter the boundary.

That’s why hunting days existed.

She begged so much he reluctantly let her join the knights’ searches.

‘Not a son-obsessed fool, but a daughter-obsessed one.’

It was odd he treated his brilliant son like a child by the water, but knowing the truth, it made sense.

Parents are often softer on the opposite-sex child.

‘If he knew we went to the boundary together, he’d faint.’

I’d done everything he disliked at once.

I didn’t know when the next report would be, but I dreaded it.

‘Taking Elaine along… would be suicide.’

The next achievement had to be bigger than this.

That’s how I’d survive.

“You’re here.”

At Kubel’s house, he had packed everything.

“Where’s Elaine?”

Elaine and Arika were gone.

Kubel, looking ashamed, said they went after the rebel remnants.

“Chin up. You need to be more confident.”

“But…”

“Act like it, at least. We always need a thick skin. Especially where we’re going.”

The Inner Fortress was safe but required caution.

The regressed me was bold, but it wouldn’t be easy for Kubel.

“…We have to leave?”

“Yes. To a place even scary guests can’t reach.”

I gently stroked Shura’s head.

“Don’t want to go?”

“But we have to.”

“You’ll like this place.”

The Inner Fortress was a good home for Shura.

Even with a mage father, it wouldn’t discriminate. The North’s love for children was fierce.

“It’s next to my place too.”

Shura beamed at that.

I’d become the strongest ally to Kubel’s family.

The luggage was more than expected, mostly Shura’s toys since she couldn’t play outside.

Kubel easily shouldered a load twice his size.

His steps were even lighter.

He didn’t know where, but knowing it was next to me seemed to ease him.

Those steps grew heavy as lead.

“…This is…”

“The Inner Fortress. The safest place in the North.”

* * *

The annex assigned to Kubel and Shura was near mine.

The attention on the way was considerable.

All of it, or mostly, was what I’d felt before.

It seemed the Grand Duke had fully exposed Kubel’s identity, like mine.

He believed people’s true nature emerged under pressure.

“Get used to it. Keep a thick skin.”

“…”

“If it’s hard, follow my lead.”

Kubel seemed inspired.

His hunched shoulders straightened awkwardly.

“No need to glare. Just think, dogs are staring, and move on. They’ll come to accept you.”

“Me…?”

“If you don’t trust yourself, trust me.”

“Yes.”

The annex was larger than mine.

“Harad, you live here. It’s too much for me.”

“No. I like my place.”

“…Thank you.”

Kubel took it as consideration, but I meant it.

I liked the smallest annex in the Inner Fortress.

“It won’t be soon, but you might run a tavern at night. After Shura settles in.”

Elaine was smitten with Kubel’s cooking.

But she’d want to eat outside, not in the Inner Fortress.

“Of course, when Shura’s asleep.”

“…”

“That’s what I’d do. To show I’m not swayed by them.”

“I’ll do it.”

I didn’t help with the move.

Decorating a new home was the owner’s right.

Besides, I wouldn’t be much help. Kubel’s strength surpassed my tempered body.

When hunger struck, someone knocked. It was Elaine, without Arika.

“Took you long.”

“They fled beyond the wall.”

She must’ve trudged through the snowfields.

I melted the snow clinging to her.

“Thanks. This is the surer place?”

Elaine let out a disbelieving laugh.

“No place safer than the Inner Fortress.”

“True, but… how’d you pull it off?”

“His Grace loves children too.”

“No jokes.”

“I’m more special than I thought, to His Grace.”

Unlike my previous life, where I was just a rare fire.

To the Grand Duke, I was a tunnel.

The only hole to freely scout the boundary.

No way.

Elaine muttered but didn’t pry.

That wasn’t her role as Elaine.

“I’m hungry.”

“Me too. Once the move’s done, we’ll ask Kubel to cook.”

Elaine rolled up her sleeves readily.

She’d come with that in mind. The sooner the move finished, the more time to play with Shura.

“…You’re not helping?”

“Shura’s the only one I could outmuscle here.”

“Crazy talk.”

Elaine laughed in disbelief and sought Kubel.

Kubel was upstairs, decorating Shura’s room, awkwardly tying fabric.

His thick fingers kept slipping instead of threading it.

“I’ll do that.”

“I can do it. Moving to the Inner Fortress is already…”

“Harad did that. I haven’t done anything.”

“But you dealt with those guys…”

“I’m hungry. Why’re you so clueless?”

Elaine snatched the string from Kubel’s hand.

It was for a ribbon. Shura loved ribbons.

As Elaine sat on the bed, focused on tying the ribbon, Kubel unpacked Shura’s toys in the corner.

When he pulled out a worn bear doll, Elaine spoke.

“It’s tattered. I could buy a new one.”

“Shura would love a gift from you.”

“…Kubel.”

Elaine called him.

She paused briefly.

“Can I ask one thing?”

“Anything.”

“Did you ever think of leaving Serzila?”

“Yes.”

Kubel answered instantly.

“I would’ve left. I don’t want to live as a mage.”

Kubel had no interest in the Liberation Tower.

He didn’t care for rebellion or liberation. Shura wasn’t a mage.

“Where to?”

“Drot, a small area in the western Empire.”

“…Drot.”

“Yes. I heard while running the tavern, it’s a very quiet place.”

Kubel spoke, no longer envious.

“They say it’s so peaceful, in one village, a mage died of old age. The villagers knew he was a mage.”

But his voice carried a strange emotion.

Dying of old age. That was Kubel’s wish.

Without Shura, he’d have no reason to live that long.

That emotion didn’t reach Elaine.

“…Drot.”

From the moment she heard the name, Elaine was gripped by a strange sensation.

Drot.

In her dream, Shura died in that land.