Episode 141
“Say that again.”
Wesley, who had been listening to the report, absentmindedly flicked the ash from his cigarette. It had been two days since Mayor Karenna’s letter was brought up in the meeting. The aide set down the report and added,
“It’s highly likely that Ian Hielo, the Viscount, passed through that area around the time Karenna’s forces were clearing out the bandits. The routes from Hielo’s territory to the capital are limited, and passing through the triangle formed by Karenna and Longin is the safest and quickest path.”
If only there hadn’t been bandits.
Wesley quickly stubbed out his cigarette, frowning deeply. If the mercenary who wiped out the bandits was Ian, he must have suspected something about the undead.
‘Did he notice traces of necromancy? But why on earth did the bandits have undead? Maybe Ian’s investigating separately. Has he been accessing the archives at the Magic Department?’
His mind was a mess. Above all else, the forbidden necromancy must never, ever be discovered by Gale. As she nervously bit her nails, the aide gently intervened.
“We’ve sent a dispatch to Karenna for more details. We should have a reply soon.”
“Check if Ian has been accessing the archives.”
“Yes, understood.”
“…Has he been coming to work?”
“He’s been arriving since dawn. Apparently, he’s been moving around the Magic Operations Department and elsewhere for training.”
Wesley felt his stomach churn and blood rush to his head. He wanted to summon Ian immediately and shout: Did you clear out the bandits? What did you see? What did you learn?
Just as he reached for another cigarette, his hand trembling,
knock knock.
“Lord Wesley. A message from Lady Gale.”
“From her? Put her through.”
She probably didn’t realize her hands had stopped shaking. The aide silently gathered the documents aside. On days when Gale sent messages, work always took a backseat.
“She said to come to the palace as soon as possible.”
“Is that so? Understood. I’ll be there shortly.”
Wesley grabbed his coat and stood up without hesitation. It had been so long since she’d called for him.
Ever since rumors spread that he was consorting with the Hei-man family’s daughter, their contact had naturally dwindled. Though the Hei-man daughter could be an asset to Gale’s ambitions, Wesley was beginning to feel the strain.
“Oh, and a few days ago, there was a witness who saw Viscount Ian Hielo entering the Marib Palace with bloodstains on him.”
The aide followed her, relaying the rest of the minor reports verbally. Wesley’s footsteps echoed urgently down the empty corridor.
“Into Marib Palace?”
“They don’t know why, but it was late at night.”
Since Gale’s palace wasn’t a surveillance zone Wesley usually monitored, he hadn’t realized Ian had seen Gale first. Frowning, Wesley climbed into the carriage.
“And the estate?”
“He’s currently staying at Lord Romandro’s residence in the administration district. There’s no sign of any escort or unusual activity. It seems only a pregnant woman and a single attendant are there.”
“I see.”
“He rarely returns home due to work.”
“Then reduce the estate’s security to a minimum.”
“I’ll assign the rest of the surveillance to Ian.”
Wesley nodded as the palace came into view. It had been a long time since he’d seen his lover. His heart pounded as he hurried up the steps.
knock knock.
“Lady Gale.”
“Wesley, you’re here. I’ve been waiting.”
“It’s been so long. You’ve been busy lately; it’s been hard to see you. Not going to the flower viewing with the Hei-man daughter today?”
Gale lounged lazily on the sofa, smiling. The smoke from her cigarette drifted with her laughter. She beckoned him closer.
“Come here.”
Then she grabbed his wrist and pulled him down to sit on her lap. Wesley naturally leaned into her embrace, wrapping his arms around her neck.
“Wesley, I’ve been terribly thoughtless.”
“Your Highness, why this all of a sudden?”
A smile blossomed on Wesley’s face. It was so gentle and beautiful, it was hard to believe it was the same dignified head of the Magic Department who usually exuded coldness. Gale opened a small jewelry box and whispered,
“Open it.”
Click.
Inside was a pair of earrings studded with diamonds, sparkling as if capturing the light itself. Wesley’s mouth parted slightly—not because of their value. As head of the Magic Department, Wesley was among the empire’s wealthiest. But this was different…
“Your Highness, did I do something wrong?”
“Of course not.”
‘My first gift. From you to me.’
Instead of answering, Gale gently brushed her hair aside and fastened the earrings. As he caressed her earlobes, Wesley felt tears welling up.
Yes. No matter the Hei-man daughter, Gale belonged to him.
“The one at fault is you, Wesley.”
The voice held no affection. Wesley caught a strange emotion in Gale’s gaze, so close it almost touched his nose: disgust and contempt. Where was the man who had just been tenderly stroking her ear?
“Your Highness?”
“I said I’ve been thoughtless.”
“W-what do you mean…?”
Holding Wesley tightly, Gale pulled a document from the table. She recognized it immediately: a top-secret report on necromancy research, stamped with the Magic Department’s highest classification. Her heart dropped, a chill running down her spine.
“To think you were scheming behind my back, and I never knew.”
Gale pressed his face to her neck and chuckled lowly. Wesley struggled to break free but couldn’t match his strength.
Grip.
“No, no, Your Highness, it’s a misunderstanding—”
“If not for the royal blessing, I might have lost my mind long ago. No wonder they call you a witch. Bring me the shackles!”
A subordinate emerged from the shadows, holding thick iron chains as if prepared for this moment. Startled, Wesley blurted out,
“Gale, please listen to me first!”
Ziiing! Ziiing!
Though his eyes had turned golden, no magic flared. The diamond earrings sparkled unnaturally by her ear.
…They were magic-sealing stones.
“Quiet, Wesley.”
Gale still held her wrist firmly. Seizing the moment of her hesitation, he fastened the shackles and tied her to a hook on the wall. These too contained magic-sealing stones.
“I want to twist your neck right now, but I’m sparing you because of what we had. So behave.”
“…What ‘what we had’?”
Wesley’s mind went blank. His tongue betrayed him, moving on its own. Gale and he were practically one. Yet, without a word of explanation, he was attacking her like this. It was as if she no longer existed in his mind.
“…You’re planning to appoint someone else as Minister, aren’t you?”
If Wesley, the Minister of the Magic Department, was killed, an investigation would follow—and the forbidden necromancy would be exposed.
The crime of attempting to harm the prince, Marib’s push to reform the Magic Department’s exclusive power structure—it was a fatal misstep for Gale, a sure defeat.
“You’re trying to keep me out of the personnel meeting, replace me with someone else, and kill me…”
Tears fell uncontrollably. Wesley bit her lip and looked up at him, but Gale’s expression was cold as ice.
“I don’t understand. You’re so perceptive, yet you tried something so foolish. Wesley, it’s truly a shame. You were a good comrade in many ways.”
“No! Gale, you know I… I would never betray you. I wanted to be with you, for your future. That’s all.”
“Is that so? Fine. Then I’ll give you one last chance.”
Gale nodded, and the subordinate handed over a vial of truth serum. Shaking the bottle leisurely, he lifted Wesley’s chin and poured the bitter liquid into her mouth.
“Ugh!”
She coughed up blood, it pouring endlessly. Gale knelt on one knee, locking eyes with her.
“I must ask, Wesley.”
Please, ask the right question.
“Were you trying to cast necromancy on me?”
Better to ask if she intended to betray him, or if she could swear eternal loyalty. Wesley pressed her rebellious tongue down, but the truth spilled out with the blood.
“…Yes.”
Frowning, Gale stood and wiped the blood from his mouth. He gave orders to his subordinate.
“Keep constant watch. No gaps.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“What about Wesley’s aide?”
“Waiting outside.”
“Deal with them. And tell the Magic Department that Wesley is on a business trip for now. Once the personnel meeting ends, prepare to overhaul the Magic Support Division.”
After receiving the orders, the subordinate disappeared back into the shadows. As Gale left the bedroom, Wesley’s desperate cry pierced the air.
“You’re always like this to me!”
“……”
“Gale, I love you. That’s why I did it. I knew you’d leave me eventually, so I just wanted to keep you by my side! You’ve always been my future!”
Gale glanced back briefly. Wesley, drenched in blood, bit his lip as tears streamed down his face. But Gale only let out a bitter chuckle.
“If you truly wanted to be with me, you should’ve known your place, Wesley. Then I would’ve taken responsibility for you until the very end. But you crossed the line.”
His gaze drifted down to Wesley’s jaw. The bleeding had stopped. The healing potion was supposed to work only while the victim was coughing up blood.
“And besides, I can’t believe a word you say without blood.”
Bang!
The door slammed shut without hesitation. In complete darkness, Wesley swallowed his tears and glared at where Gale had stood. “You can’t believe me without blood, huh? Fine. I get it.”
Grinding his teeth, he bit into his own lip, his eyes burning with fury. How could Gale do this to him? How dare he…
“Let’s see this through to the end, Gale.”
He pressed his face into the pool of his own blood on the floor and let out a desperate, anguished scream. Gale’s steward, faintly hearing the cries, forced himself to ignore them and locked the door tight.
“Did you hear? Apparently, things between His Highness Gale and Minister Wesley have gone south lately.”
“Because of that Haiman family’s daughter?”
“Who knows. Rumors are swirling. But they’ve been close for so long, haven’t they?”
“Still, Minister Wesley’s been away on business trips recently. I heard Gale himself ordered it. If their relationship had really soured, he wouldn’t trust him like that.”
“True. And isn’t Minister Wesley quite the character? Aside from bloodline, he’s the only one who can match the Haiman daughter.”
“So, does that mean Wesley won’t attend the personnel meeting?”
“Doesn’t have to. He’s probably up for reappointment anyway.”
As the personnel meeting approached, whenever people gathered, the topic inevitably turned to high-ranking appointments. It was the time when the leaders for the year were decided, after all.
Ssshh.
“Hm?”
“Did you hear that?”
“No, I thought I sensed someone nearby.”
“Who else would be here besides us? Stop joking around and hurry up, we’re going to be late.”
After the chattering group dispersed, a ripple stirred in the air. Barreto, Wesley’s aide, who had been concealed by magic, appeared. He looked toward Gale’s palace with a troubled expression.
“I will rescue you soon, Lord Wesley.”