Chapter 64

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: The Platinum Falcon
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Knowing the sword's identity wasn't particularly surprising or mysterious.

From a child's perspective, looking at the rusty, dirty surface of the sword, it seemed no one would want to pierce their chest with it, no matter how much they wished to turn back their life.

"Who would use something like this unless they were as desperate as me..."

With a self-deprecating sigh, she pressed down on the spot where the sword was hidden. The sensation of crumbling rust flaking off was never pleasant, no matter how many times she felt it.

I hope I don't have to use this sword this time.

...No. That's not right.

No matter how miserably I die, I won't turn back my life again this time.

If I'm cornered, I'll just have to die without any regrets.

I found the sword again not to prepare for a 'just in case' scenario, but to solidify my resolve not to use it anymore.

At the end of a long exhale, Lucy stood up again.

The beating of her heart, hidden behind the dagger, seemed to pound unusually loud today.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

A strange creature landed on the tip of a particularly large tower, nestled in a path where the wind pooled.

A white platinum falcon, which had been surveying its surroundings from the top of the tower, spread its wings and soared into the sky. Beyond its wings, which became more of a golden yellow than white towards the tips, the vast cityscape revealed itself.

The capital of the Empire, Teracius.

Beside the wide, vertical avenues, maze-like alleys stretched endlessly. The houses, seemingly random in shape, appeared to have no rules, but looking at the uniform maroon roofs, one could understand the meaning of order within chaos.

The bird, after a moment of looking down, passed over an area mixed with farmland and residences, circling widely around the complex city center.

It passed through the commercial district bustling with preparations for spring, flew over the towering castle walls, and finally reached the Imperial Palace, its golden roofs brilliantly reflecting the sunset.

"A falcon flying at this hour."

Alex, watching the falcon fly at a low altitude, let out a deflated laugh and stepped back from the window.

Dressed lightly in just a shirt, he gripped the windowsill, and the muscles of his upper arm, from shoulder to elbow, rippled smoothly. His solid physique, which didn't match his gentle impression, seemed incongruous yet possessed a strange charm that naturally drew one's attention.

"Your Highness. The wind is cold."

An attendant standing at a distance, worried he might be cold, hurried over with a robe. As the next ruler of the Empire and its current de facto leader, the attendants had no choice but to remain keenly aware of his every move.

Alex obediently slid his arms into the robe and leisurely adjusted the collar.

"They say a platinum falcon is a good omen. I've been worried because nothing's been going right lately. I wonder if something good is about to happen."

"Didn't you wrap up the matter with Dopein well? Of course, I heard the negotiations with Parnas fell through..."

"Indeed. That's the problem. She was a tougher queen than I expected."

Alex massaged the back of his neck with a large hand and left the room with slow steps.

The long, red corridor was lined with old antiques and fine art, as if to announce the Empire's prosperity. Alex glanced at a newly hung painting and shook his head.

"I proposed what I thought was a decent offer, but she rejected it flat out. I thought she'd at least refuse politely or fret and cling to her ministers, but she just splashed champagne on me and said she didn't like me because I was ugly."

"......What in the world, how could she behave so rudely...!"

"No need to be angry. Even a worm will turn when trodden on. Come to think of it, I was part of the problem. I was impatient and pushed her too hard."

"But, Your Highness..."

"Well... I quite liked it. The stronger the will, the greater the thrill of breaking it."

Brushing back the hair falling into his eyes, Alex flashed a faint smile. Just as he said, he felt no emotional turmoil at Lucy's rejection.

...No, that's not right.

I was a little angry the moment she threw the champagne.

Normally, I would have snapped 'What do you think you're doing?' with a displeased face, but I held my temper because another feeling arose at the same time.

Her arrogantly raised chin. Beneath long, downcast, sand-colored eyelashes, her dark golden eyes held a spirited light.

The sight of her shouting defiantly with such a delicate and pure face created a sense of incongruity, like seeing the moon in broad daylight.

"That woman..."

Why is she so angry with me?

Looking back, it was strange from the moment we first met. The queen looked like she would weep at the sight of a falling leaf, yet from the moment we met until we parted, she gnawed on her lip and glared at me as if I were her mortal enemy.

Even before I made my proposal, her gaze was filled with nothing but anger, hatred, and loathing. If she were simply hostile, I would have let it go, but there was something more fundamental in the way she treated me.

There was a clear sense of disconnect, but no matter how I tried to probe that gap, I couldn't grasp anything.

When I thought of the queen, it wasn't anger that came to mind first, but puzzlement over that point.

And the sight of her beautiful face, hardened and scowling, was a novel experience for Alex, who was always surrounded by favorable expressions.

"She was very beautiful. Is that why I keep thinking about her?"

He touched his lips and muttered the words unconsciously.

Alex, who had been staring intently at the painting, realized the voice he had just heard was his own and took a sharp breath.

"To hear Your Highness say such a thing, the rumors that the new queen of Parnas is a great beauty must be true."

The attendant replied with a wry smile. Alex tilted his head, looked at him, and then pulled one corner of his mouth into a smile.

"She wasn't bad. But did anyone else say something similar?"

"While speaking with the delegation, the question of what was most impressive about Parnas came up. Various things were mentioned, but General Tulda commented in passing on the queen's beauty."

"Tulda said that?"

"It was quite amusing to hear such a thing from a military man who seems more emotionless than a stone."

Echoing his own thoughts, the attendant took a step back. Taking the hint to hurry, Alex tore his eyes from the painting and started walking again.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one bewitched by the witch. Where is that stone-like man now?"

"He is in the dungeon, interrogating a spy. I heard the spy we planted in Dopein returned without completing his mission."

"Ah, so it came to that..."

'A good omen? All I seem to hear lately is bad news.' Alex added inwardly, his smile fading as he let out a deep sigh. He then changed his mind about returning to his room and headed for the dungeon.

After passing through the garden and reaching the stairs leading to the dungeon, a chill, different from the air outside, rushed up to envelop him.

The further down he went, the closer the damp, foul smell became, and Alex covered his nose with his sleeve, his brow furrowing slightly.

"You've come, Your Highness."

As soon as he entered the prison, General Tulda bowed in respect.

A long scar stretching across his forehead and eyebrow contorted into a strange shape every time he blinked. Though he was only in his mid-forties, his sun-darkened face and thick beard made him look much older.

"You've worked hard. I heard the spy returned empty-handed. Where is he?"

When Tulda stepped aside, the spy hidden behind him was revealed.

"Y-Y-Your Highness! Please spare me!"

The man, his limbs bound to a chair, trembled uncontrollably, his eyes darting about without rest.

The dungeon, scattered with instruments of torture, and the Crown Prince, notorious for his ruthlessness. The ominous combination seemed to foreshadow what was to come.

The man, chewing on his lip, stammered a plea.

"Y-Your Highness. There was nothing I could do. No matter how I tried to persuade him, the Grand Duke of Dopein was stubborn..."

"Shh."

Alex raised his index finger to his lips. Then he took off his robe, handed it to an attendant, and ordered everyone else to leave.

General Tulda's adjutant, the attendants, and two guards scurried out of the prison, leaving only Alex, Tulda, and the man. Alex pulled a nearby wooden chair and sat down in front of the spy.

"There are common soldiers around, yet you blabber secrets so easily. How did you ever manage to be a spy without knowing the basics?"

"Your Highness, I... Ugh!"

*Smack!* A large hand struck his cheek, and a sound like twisting bone echoed through the room.

Alex, who had struck the man without hesitation, flexed his hand and continued in a soft tone.

"I didn't give you permission to speak. Only answer what you're asked."

"......"

"Why do you think I went through all the trouble of helping Dopein start a war? You, of all people, should know."

The man reflexively parted his lips, but flinched and shut them again after glancing at Alex's hand. Alex, who hadn't expected an answer, nodded with a satisfied expression.

"That's right. It was for the refrigerant stone mine in Antevasila. I joined hands with the Grand Duke of Dopein on the condition that he'd hand over the mine. And you were the intermediary."

The look of dismay on the man's face deepened.

From the moment he decided to help Dopein, the Crown Prince had provided an enormous amount of weapons and military supplies. He also indirectly involved himself in the war by forcibly conscripting the Lycans within the Empire.

The price for all of this was just one thing: the refrigerant stone mine that Antevasila held a monopoly on.

A mysterious stone that lowers body temperature.

The refrigerant stone, which could only be mined in one location, was the most crucial foothold for the Raphi to advance onto the continent.

Everyone coveted it, but since it was only in Antevasila, it couldn't be obtained carelessly. Therefore, it was a deal that had to be approached with caution.

The moment the negotiation failed, the Crown Prince's wrath was all but guaranteed.

"What did the Grand Duke of Dopein say when he rejected the offer?"

Alex asked, his gaze steady. The man forced strength into his trembling lips and managed to speak.

"He said that since Antevasila is now his land, he cannot... recognize... the monopoly rights. He... made a counter-proposal to split the mined ore fifty-fifty."