Chapter 52

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: The Dead Forest and the Fairy's Garden (9)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Floyd emerged from the meeting room, suddenly recalling that he hadn't seen Roxiana in quite some time. With next week bringing another long absence from the grand ducal palace, he figured it might be wise to at least show his face beforehand.

‘She's been suspiciously quiet lately.’

Roxiana had talked as if she'd charge straight into the Dead Forest and bring that whole area back to life. Worried she might slip away on her own, he'd posted guards, but after one visit to the head maid's residence, she'd barricaded herself inside the Lily Palace, or so he'd heard.

Her uncharacteristic silence suggested she'd probably abandoned that outlandish notion.

‘Reviving that forest.’

Did she forget how she'd nearly died saving just a handful of people? Floyd still got chills thinking about it—the bone-piercing cold that seeped through even his flames, her ashen skin that looked long drained of life.

He never wanted to see Roxiana in that state again.

“Milord.”

Kain and Kirshan hurried to catch up with Floyd as he strode forward briskly.

Kain spoke up.

“Crows arrived from Kanta.”

“What news?”

“After Lucas claimed the throne, he announced to Kanta's citizens that the entire Franche Royal Family is dead. He said their bodies were placed in Adelia caskets and buried in the Franche royal tomb.”

“Ha! Acting like giving them a proper burial is some grand act of mercy.”

“Right? He must've wanted to flaunt his generosity. Normally, they'd just incinerate them in Adelia caskets.”

“As if Kanta's people will see that as mercy. He's the bastard who suddenly destroyed their kingdom.”

“Exactly. Anyway, with Kanta now a Gania colony, he declared that anyone plotting to flee—regardless of status—will be executed on the spot, their bodies denied even an Adelia casket and left to rot.”

Floyd scowled.

“He shows consideration by burying the Franche royals properly, then threatens to deny even that to deserters? What kind of twisted logic is that?”

“It's to prevent anyone from escaping. Kanta's resources may be vast, but exploiting them requires manpower.”

Something still nagged at Floyd.

He could understand blocking defections by treating citizens like slaves, even going to extremes like denying Adelia caskets. But why publicly proclaim a proper burial for the Franche royals while making such a curse-like threat?

“Wouldn't it hit harder if he just said he'd dump the bodies anywhere?”

“No, that could backfire spectacularly.”

Kirshan was the one who answered.

“If their king were denied an Adelia casket and left to rot, Kanta's people wouldn't stand for it. They'd risk their lives to retrieve the body and give it a proper burial.”

“Fair point. Spotting their king wandering as an undead would reignite the fire in even the most broken spirits.”

“Yes. And with no ancient grudge between Gania and Kanta, there's no need for such horrors. The threat about denying Adelia caskets to deserters is probably just empty words anyway.”

“Yeah, you're right.”

As Kirshan said, Gania had simply coveted Kanta's fertile lands and abundant resources—no hatred involved. They wouldn't resort to atrocities against the populace.

Even enemies got Adelia caskets; they wouldn't be that brutal to the people of a kingdom toppled by mere intrigue.

Kain added,

“Once the holy knights clear out Kanta's magical beasts, Gania will send a governor.”

“Anyone picked?”

“Not officially, but it's likely Kasar Pellur.”

Kasar Pellur was Lucas's younger brother—and Floyd's half-brother as well. Floyd chuckled dryly.

“Park Kasar on the throne during the chaos, then claim it all once things stabilize. That'll only stoke Kasar's resentment further.”

Lucas and Kasar had never gotten along since childhood. Lucas constantly feared Kasar eyeing his position, while Kasar knew Lucas would crush him at the first opportunity.

Kirshan said,

“If Kasar plays his cards right as Kanta's governor, he might build his own forces. Could even spark something useful for us in Torkan.”

Floyd snorted.

“As if a little ember like that could do anything. Forget it.”

Kain cut in.

“Oh, and there's one more odd bit of intel. When Lucas attacked Kanta, a woman was with him.”

“A woman?”

“Elise Haylis. Daughter of Duke Aric Haylis, Kanta's finance minister until about ten years ago.”

Kain explained the scandal with Duke Haylis's embezzlement and corruption.

“It devastated Kanta financially. The embezzlement nearly toppled the kingdom, and cleaning up his shady foreign deals cost a fortune too.”

“And?”

“The duke lost his title, and the Haylis family was exiled to the provinces. But thanks to the princess's pleas, his daughter Elise stayed at the palace. It's famous—they were like sisters from childhood. Elise became the princess's personal maid, though they acted more like family than servant and mistress.”

Floyd stopped in his tracks.

“That woman was with Lucas?”

“Yes. According to survivors, after the princess completed her premarital Grand Temple rite and was heading back, Gania forces abducted her and dragged her to Kanta's palace. By then, the Franche royals were already massacred, and Elise Haylis sat in the queen's seat. Once it was over, Lucas took her back to Gania.”

Floyd tried to stay calm, but he couldn't.

Lucas, Roxiana's fiancé. Roxiana, who had prayed at the Grand Temple for their marriage. Returning, she faced her fiancé slaughtering her family and seating her closest friend as queen.

He couldn't imagine what Roxiana must have felt witnessing that. It wasn't even his ordeal, so why did his gut churn like this?

The mad presence that had lain dormant inside him stirred, fanning flames in sync with his rage.

Kirshan, all too familiar, backed away from Floyd's heat and said,

“Raised like family with the princess in the palace since childhood? Then Elise Haylis must be Lucas's spy. Does the princess even know her friend betrayed her?”

“She knows. That woman was already on the queen's throne when the princess was dragged in. She'd have seen it.”

Kirshan let out a small sigh at Kain's words.

“No wonder the princess wants to die. Betrayed by her fiancé and her friend... and watching her family slaughtered no less...”

“What exactly is Lucas doing with that woman?”

Floyd's voice turned ominous, and Kain furrowed his brow.

“That's the strange part. He first housed her in the Jade Palace, but then Gania put her in charge of Kingteren Province. Elise Haylis is the lord there now.”

“Ha! From disgraced embezzler's daughter whose clan was wiped out to provincial lord. She's no fool—or someone smarter's pulling the strings.”

Floyd started walking again.

Enveloped in fury, he didn't even notice the scorching aura radiating from him.

Why was he so angry? It wasn't his loss, so why did it boil his blood? Why did Lucas's crimes against her enrage him more than what that bastard had done to him?

No, the reason didn't matter.

-“If I end up dying like this, please don't put my body in an Adelia casket—just discard it.”

-“If you dump me in the sea, weigh me down so no one finds me. If on land, bury me deep where no one will ever discover me.”

Now he could faintly grasp the desperation behind her plea.

Betrayed by both fiancé and friend, she probably couldn't even fathom seeking rest in the gods' embrace. She must have been consumed by the urge to plunge into eternal oblivion, seeing and feeling nothing.

The searing heat that had singed nearby hair began to subside as they neared the Lily Palace. As Kain moved to follow Floyd through the archway, Kirshan grabbed his forearm.

Kain turned, puzzled.

“What? I want to greet the princess too.”

“Use some tact.”

“Tact? I already introduced myself last time.”

“That's not it...”

Kirshan sighed and yanked Kain's arm. Despite being smaller and slimmer, he dragged Kain along effortlessly. Kain protested as he was hauled away.

“Be honest, Shan. You secretly popping some strength potion on us? Share some if you are!”

Kirshan shook his head, glancing back at Floyd. Floyd walked on toward the Lily Palace, oblivious to the commotion right behind him.

Kirshan was curious too—how Roxiana was faring, what they'd discuss—but it wasn't his place. He dragged the protesting Kain away from the Lily Palace.