"Duke Murak…" King Griffinhart XVII rubbed his teary red eyes and nose. Despite being extremely angry and sad, no matter how hard he tried, his face couldn't muster the dignity and authority expected of a King; he resembled a child who was overly agitated. "And the grudge against Bishop Ronis, I must make that murderer pay the price. And the Necromancer Guild, I will write to the Holy Church to request their support; the empire's hundred thousand troops must flatten that… whatever valley to the ground!"
Elaine let out a silent sigh. There was no need to speculate on the outcome; a national effort to attack Dehya Valley, regardless of whether they could capture it, was simply impossible. Launching an expedition with the national power for no actual political benefit would be something no rational minister would support.
Even if everyone shared the young King's grief and outrage and agreed on such a plan, it would still only remain a plan. Aside from the barbaric nomadic tribes, wars between nations are the last resort of politics and strategy. According to what she had heard from Sandru and Asa, nearly every necromancer in Dehya Valley holds a significant position in human society. They can easily influence a country's political environment, economic situation, and diplomatic relations, causing any war plans against them to fail. Moreover, with the loss of Bishop Ronis, there would be no one left with the capability, influence, determination, or courage to rally forces against them.
What's more, she knew that all of this was actually caused by her father, and she could not let the entire country pay a mysterious price for her father's sins.
The young King took a breath to calm his emotions and turned to Elaine. "You truly have not let me down. I knew you would never collude with the Necromancer Guild."
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty," Elaine replied, lowering her head.
"Captain Roland has informed me of everything that happened. I never expected that the Duke and you would go to such lengths. You endured humiliation and willingly went to prison just to lure out that traitor. Unfortunately, in the end, it was all for naught; not only did you fail to bring the murderer to justice, but you also implicated the Duke… Captain Roland has told me that Duke Murak's last wish was for you to inherit his title and position. Although there has been no precedent for this in the empire, it is the Duke's wish. The ministers have always praised your abilities, and Captain Roland has the support of military ministers on your behalf, so there shouldn't be any issues. With a capable person like you assisting in governance, not only will I feel more at ease, but the Duke will surely also find solace in heaven."
Finally, the tearful young King said to the serene Elaine in a comforting tone, "I've heard that your husband also passed away in an accident… I can see that you are a strong person, holding back your tears. Don't be too sad. Rest assured, the Duke's soul will surely ascend to heaven, and that murderer will ultimately face justice."
"Yes," Elaine replied, lowering her head, seemingly embodying the strong person the King believed her to be, hiding her sadness deep within. In truth, she did not know whether to cry or laugh inside.
On her way out of the palace, a couple of officials who came to see the King noticed her and bowed respectfully, already addressing her as "Duke" or "Prime Minister." She smiled and responded with the grace befitting those titles.
Although it was just a bit of gossip that had leaked out from somewhere, everyone knew that with the support of the military ministers and the King's trust and affection, her sister was likely to become a consort, and her own sharp wit and competence were certainly on par with her father's, making her position as Prime Minister a done deal. Even the palace guards looked at her with admiration and respect.
A female Prime Minister just over twenty years old was not only unprecedented in the history of the entire continent but probably unmatched as well. This was what she inherited from her father. Elaine bitterly smiled to herself; there was no sense of achievement, only more responsibility and pressure. This was not a blessing.
At the palace gate, a luxurious carriage was waiting for her.
The carriage was exquisitely decorated, and the horses were four of the finest breed. Even the driver had a strong physique, sitting upright. Even though he was right next to the splendid palace, he didn't glance aside, staring blankly ahead as if he existed solely to drive the carriage. The quality of the Duke's household staff was well known throughout the capital.
Elaine got into the carriage. The driver flicked the reins, and the four horses sprang into action, swiftly and smoothly pulling the carriage forward. Before long, they arrived back at the Duke's residence.
It had only been two days since Duke Murak's assassination, but everything in the Duke's residence had returned to normal. The excellent quality of the staff and the strict standards maintained by the Duke meant that they would not appear dispirited by the change of master. Although King Griffinhart XVII intended to give Duke Murak, the model servant of the nation, a grand funeral, the Duke's two daughters insisted on declining the King's goodwill. The funeral was very quiet, low-key, and swift, even a bit secretive, with no unnecessary ceremonies, reflecting the Duke's style during his lifetime, emphasizing efficiency.
As soon as Elaine got out of the carriage, a servant came to report, "Miss, Captain Roland and the ministers have delivered the documents; they have already been sent to your study room room. Also, a priest from the Magic Academy has arrived, saying he has confidential matters to discuss with you."
"Understood. Please invite him to the study room," Elaine replied, slightly startled, and nodded as she walked towards the study room.
The study room was still the Duke's study room. This was the secret place where the Duke handled affairs, intentionally surrounded by three empty rooms, and there were even no windows; the staff would not approach unless there was an emergency. Elaine entered the study room and saw the piles of documents on the desk and sighed as she walked to the desk and sat down.
A young priest was also led to the study room by the servant. The servant turned and left. The priest closed the door behind him.
"How are things? Is everything going smoothly in the palace?" Elaine asked.
The priest removed his mask, revealing Asa's slightly thin and well-defined face.
"Oh? I've been at the Magic Academy for the past couple of days, so I'm not very clear about the arrangements. What kind of story is it?" Asa walked up to the desk.
"A thrilling tale of a noble duke's family locked in a battle against a necromancers' guild infiltrator in the royal capital. It reasonably connects the current situation with everything that has happened before, using many tropes from knight novels… After the vampire appeared in the hunting grounds, the Duke suspected that priest due to some accidental clues and secretly investigated. After many thrilling power struggles, it turned out that he was very likely a spy sent by the Necromancer Guild to infiltrate the church. Unfortunately, all of this was just reasonable suspicion, and he never managed to gather any evidence. Like all convoluted plots in novels, that infiltrator fell in love with the Duke's daughter…" Elaine gave Asa a half-smile. "However, this duke's daughter has devout faith and strong will, resisting temptation from evil. At that moment, the infiltrator finally revealed his true nature. It turned out that the vampire was actually his accomplice, and he eliminated the vampire to save the King only to gain merit and approach Bishop Ronis. The infiltrator fled after assassinating the bishop. The Duke regretted too late and swore to bring this infiltrator to justice. So he staged a realistic plan with his daughter, hoping to use the infiltrator's affection for the duke's daughter to capture him. Everything went smoothly, but unfortunately, at the last moment, it all fell apart, and the infiltrator killed the Duke before fleeing. In his dying moments, the Duke entrusted his daughter with a wish for her to inherit his work and continue serving the empire. That's about it."
Asa stared blankly for a long while before letting out a long sigh, a strange, bitter smile creeping onto his face. "It truly is a good story. Did Captain Roland really come up with this?"
"Of course not." Elaine chuckled softly. "It was Captain Roland who asked my sister to come up with it."
"Her? No wonder." Asa nodded with a wry smile.
"And having her tell such a story to His Majesty will definitely be more effective than if it came from Captain Roland or me."
"Did that child King completely believe it? I'd think that with careful scrutiny, there would be flaws in it."
"Men conquer the world, while women conquer men," Elaine replied with a slight smile. "That's what my sister said she read in a book."
"A man who can be conquered isn't a real man," Asa smiled and shook his head. "Not by women or anyone else."
"Then what do you think constitutes a real man?" Elaine asked, smiling as she looked at him.
"I don't know either," Asa shrugged.
"At least we don't need His Majesty to be a real man; as long as he believes it, that's enough. For someone like him, rather than spending energy dissecting the truth, he'd rather follow his emotions to accept such a story. As long as he believes, with Captain Roland's help, everything will be under control."
"What about others? Will they believe?"
Elaine smiled. "Others? Who? The other ministers? His Majesty has already believed; would they dare to disbelieve? Captain Roland is clearly on my side as well; they aren't fools and know what to believe and what not to. As for the common people, they wouldn't discern the complicated causes and effects. They just need to know simply who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. So everything is fine. After the ceremony and procedures in a few days, I will officially inherit my father's title of duke and position as prime minister. This is what Captain Roland entrusted to me, asking me to stabilize the situation from my father's position. I feel it's my responsibility."
Asa stuck out his tongue and looked Elaine up and down again. "So you'll be the prime minister of the empire? And a duke… I guess that makes you one of the highest in the land?"
"It's exhausting," Elaine sighed. "His Majesty said to prevent you, this wicked person, from bothering me again, he ordered the holy knights to enhance my protection from now on."
"And so it is. The most capable, youngest, and most beautiful prime minister in the empire makes her grand and glamorous entrance onto the stage of history," Asa recalled stories he had heard and novels he had read, where there always seemed to be a line similar to express that something momentous had occurred. "It will surely be written like that in the books."
"And it would also simultaneously note that the most dangerous criminal on the continent, with the highest bounty on his head, has escaped from the capital. From then on, all mercenary organizations and bounty hunters across the continent would go crazy over this person, entering an era of hunting," Elaine chuckled lightly, then sighed. "In truth, this is really unfair to you. All the blame will fall on you alone, assassinating a bishop who is historically renowned across the continent, and a diligent prime minister dedicated to his country and people. Perhaps in the future, you will become a great villain reviled by thousands."
"Let them say what they want; let them curse me. I have plenty of flesh on my bones," Asa smiled lightly, raising the mask in his hand. "Not only will I not lose anything, but I'll have to wear this thing made from a dead man's face from now on."
Although Captain Roland had promised to help clear his name at the appropriate time, even the most naïve person could see that this was nearly impossible. The prime minister was manipulating the entire country and the King; such things could not be disclosed to the public simply for one person's innocence.
Elaine walked over to Asa, wrapped her arms around him, and buried her head in his chest, whispering softly, "I'm sorry."
Asa smiled and said, "That's strange; when have you ever wronged me? I do all this simply because I want to." He gently kissed Elaine on the forehead, sighed, and continued, "Since everything here is arranged, I can leave with peace of mind. I actually came to say goodbye to you today."
Elaine looked up at him in surprise and asked, "So soon? Don't you want to stay a few more days?"
"General Grutt has already sent word urging me. He said if I don't come soon, he'll just fly over on a wivern to get me. It's a pity that these past few days I've been caught up with that old man Sandru, and I didn't have time to accompany you properly."
Sandru had become an unremarkable priest at the Magic Academy through Captain Roland's arrangements. After bringing Asa to the academy these past few days, he had almost worked around the clock to teach him about magic. When Asa asked why he continued to stay at the Magic Academy, Sandru sighed, saying, "Now that Ronis is dead, I cannot leave. We are both here to guard something. Otherwise, he might have become pope long ago."
"Something? What is it?" Asa asked.
Sandru glared at him and said, "It's something unrelated to you, so don't pry." He paused, frowning, and continued, "Even though this matter seems to have been resolved, I still feel something isn't quite right, so I can't leave. Since you're going to that orc city, you need to hurry. You should not sleep these two days; even if you don't understand what I'm telling you, you have to memorize it…"
For the next two days, Asa indeed hardly slept. Sandru first criticized him for using corpse poison at the pyre, expressing disdain after learning that Asa had used nearly all his magical energy to repeatedly catalyze the toxins onto the three corpses dug from graves. He warned Asa never to use such magic again, lest it disgrace necromancy. Then, he relentlessly lectured him on how to operate corpses, how to use bodily magic, and so on, leaving Asa dizzy. It wasn't until a messenger found him at the Magic Academy that morning that he finally escaped from Sandru.
"Why do you have to go to Orford?" Elaine asked.
"Actually, the lord of Theodorus opposed my returning here. Luckily, Lord Borugan, the former official of Bracada, and General Grutt were willing to help me, and I finally managed to negotiate with them. As long as they assist me, I will wholeheartedly work for Orford for a year. Although things haven't gone as we expected, I must fulfill the promise I made to them. Moreover, there, I don't need to worry about being wanted by anyone."
"And after that year? What do you plan to do after helping Orford?"
"Naturally, I'll travel the world. That has been my long-held wish. Now that things are basically resolved, I can leave with peace of mind."
Elaine pondered for a moment and then asked, "And after you travel the world?"
"I don't know…" Asa thought for a moment, then looked at Elaine and smiled. "I was thinking I could come to disturb you for a while, Prime Minister."
"Only if I have time," Elaine replied with a gentle smile.
"If you don't have time, I'll just wait until you do…" Asa's voice trailed off, and he leaned down to kiss Elaine.
A hurried set of footsteps approached the study room, prompting the two to quickly separate. Asa donned his mask.
The captain of the royal guard entered the study room, saluting Elaine. His voice was urgent yet resolute as he said, "Miss Duke, we've received reports that a wivern is circling above the capital. It's very likely that the killer from a few days ago has returned. We've already dispatched messages to the paladin order, and I've arranged for the duke's residence to be secured. You needn't worry; we will definitely capture him…"
"I certainly won't worry," Elaine snorted coldly.
The captain of the guard stared, taken aback by the displeased expression on the duke's face. Anyone could guess that the criminal with a bounty of five thousand gold coins wouldn't be bold enough to approach the capital so openly. Moreover, Captain Roland had long warned them that someone from Orford would eventually come to explain the situation regarding the wivern. The captain had only come to show his loyalty upon hearing that the duke's daughter was about to inherit her father's title and position as prime minister. But now, faced with such a reaction, he was at a loss for how his flattery had backfired.
"There's no other way." The duke's daughter sighed deeply, turning to the priest. "In this situation, it seems we can only ask you to drive this wivern away."
"Please rest assured, Miss. It shouldn't take too long," the priest nodded. "Then, I'll be on my way."
"Be sure to be careful," the duke's daughter said softly. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," the priest replied gently before turning and leaving.
Elaine watched his retreating figure until he disappeared, then sat down, releasing a long breath. Suddenly, she turned her gaze to the captain of the guard, frowning as she coldly said, "What are you still doing here? Do you expect me to reward you?"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! I shall take my leave!" The captain of the guard almost fled the room, regretting his complete failure at flattery.
The large conference table was cluttered with crystal orbs, each reflecting different scenes. An old man with a dark face and curly hair stood by the table, his bloodshot eyes scanning each orb.
In one crystal orb, the shadow of a wivern was circling in the sky. In another orb, a priest was riding out from the duke's residence, heading straight for the outskirts of the city.
The old man's eyes lit up as he waved his hand at the two crystal orbs, making the images larger and clearer. He focused on them, pondering for a moment before sighing and murmuring, "Waiting for a rabbit to come to the tree really works. I won't bet with that brat Inham ever again…