Episode 129
Chapter 42. Taimun Marius (2)
A mansion in central Huepester.
“…You show up after three days, and that’s all you have to say? You lost Den, and some unknown magic swordsman saw your face and learned your name?”
Berris and Kuzan lowered their heads.
They had barely returned after evading Delki’s pursuit. Berris was still feeling the aftereffects of the backlash, and Kuzan’s wounds from Jin hadn’t fully healed.
“We’re sorry, Lord Taimun.”
Taimun clenched her teeth as she looked down on them.
Though it was a brief moment, her face was clouded with deep shadows, as if lost in thought.
“You idiots… I don’t even want to look at you. Get lost. I will never give you orders again.”
Their eyes widened in shock.
“You mean you won’t give us orders anymore…?”
“Exactly. You’ve made a grave mistake.”
“L-Lord Taimun, do you mean you’re abandoning us?”
“Lord Taimun! We were wrong! Please forgive us just this once!”
Kuzan’s voice trembled, and Berris immediately began begging on the floor, tears welling up—like a child pleading to their parents.
“Forgive you? A hunting dog that failed its hunt… how dare you demand that from your master?”
“Lord Taimun, Lord Taimun, Lord Taimun. I truly was wrong. I won’t make the same mistake again, please. Please don’t abandon us.”
Berris clung to the hem of Taimun’s skirt, sobbing uncontrollably.
Thud, thud!
But Taimun paid no mind and kicked her in the face repeatedly. Even Kuzan knelt down, tears streaming.
“How can we live without you, Lord Taimun? You can beat us more, torture us to death—we’ll accept it gladly… just please don’t abandon us.”
The cruelty she showed when killing the Moon’s sacrifice survivors was nowhere to be seen now. Berris was nearly losing her mind, rubbing her hands desperately.
“Is that so? If you’re willing to accept anything, then die. I’ll kill you right now.”
Swish!
Taimun drew her sword, but Berris didn’t even try to dodge, closing her eyes and sobbing.
Just as Taimun swung her blade, Kuzan threw himself over Berris.
Taimun stopped her sword at Kuzan’s neck, looking down at the two.
“…Lord Taimun. No, Mother.”
Slowly rising, Kuzan looked Taimun straight in the eye.
“Please… may you always be well.”
“Never seek me out again. Never.”
Carrying the fainted Berris, Kuzan retreated. The bond between Berris, Kuzan, and Taimun ended today.
Watching their backs as they left, Taimun clicked her tongue.
‘The magic swordsman they saw was definitely Young Master Jin. Since they said he used spiritual energy, it’s certain. Soon, Miss Luna and Young Master Jin will come looking for me. If I hadn’t heard about Young Master Jin’s power, that could have been a disaster.’
For a moment, Luna’s face flickered in her mind.
Taimun Marius—the young lady who had once been nothing less than a dream to her.
‘Anyway, the lady can’t kill me. And I’ve learned something new. Not only is Young Master Jin the contractor of Solderet, but he also has magical abilities? That’s information even he doesn’t know…!’
Taimun smiled faintly.
She thought the hunting dogs weren’t completely useless after all.
“So, so. Have you had any troubles lately?”
“No, thanks to Lady Luna’s care, everything is perfect. Our kin have all found jobs, and finally, we Colonians are living like proper people.”
Luna, back at her estate after a long time, was having tea with Tika.
“That’s good to hear. Hm?”
“Is something wrong, Lady Luna?”
Suddenly, Luna flinched and looked around nervously. Tika set down her teacup and followed her gaze.
“I’m sensing the youngest one’s energy. What is it? This is my land. Am I mistaken?”
“You can sense that?”
“His energy is unusual. Maybe I’m just sensitive… Wait, what’s that? I wasn’t mistaken.”
Outside the window, Jin stood cloaked in a robe. Though disguised, it was hardly appropriate to visit Luna’s estate in broad daylight.
No wonder he didn’t approach the gatekeepers and just lingered near the wall.
“That reckless brat, now he’s coming openly? What if the other brothers find out? The so-called prospective rider!”
Luna muttered, but her eyes sparkled as she hurried down the stairs.
“Hey!”
In a single bound, Luna jumped over the wall and immediately grabbed Jin’s head.
Bang!
“You’re crazy, youngest. You’re going to get yourself into serious trouble if you keep this up.”
“Ugh, sister. Your greetings are a bit rough.”
“You’re the rough one, you brat. I might not live long because of you. Let’s get inside before anyone sees.”
They entered Luna’s room through the front door.
As soon as the door was locked, Luna smiled brightly and grabbed Jin’s head again.
Bang, bang! Thud!
“So, what’s our youngest here to ask for this time? Hmm? Or did you just come to see your big sister?”
Either way, Luna was pleased.
Lately, she had been missing her youngest sibling. The last time they saw each other was when they searched for their father and overturned the family home. She wondered if he was growing well.
‘Even if Taimun is connected to my curse, this is clearly a crime unrelated to my sister. Someone like her wouldn’t try to harm me.’
Jin was only ashamed that he had ever doubted his sister, even for a moment.
“First, I must thank you, sister. Without you, it would have been difficult to find a home for the Colonians.”
“You should have written a letter like when you sent the Colonians. If I had been busy, I wouldn’t have been able to meet you. But still, are you going to say something disappointing again? Didn’t I tell you before? Among brothers, there’s at least one love without strings attached.”
He had avoided letters on purpose, fearing Taimun might see them first.
“Yes, sister. I remember…”
“Hm? Youngest, your expression isn’t good. Have you been through something hard to bear?”
Something hard to bear.
Not an inaccurate description.
‘My sister probably cherishes Taimun’s nanny next to me in Runkandel. Maybe even more than me. I have to tell her that Taimun might have tried to harm me.’
Even before coming here, his heart was uneasy.
Seeing Luna’s bright face made his chest feel even heavier. Taimun Marius was definitely one of the people Luna loved most.
“Sister.”
“Speak, little brother.”
“I came to see you because I need to confirm something with Taimun’s nanny.”
“Nanny? Why suddenly the nanny?”
“Do you remember the day you first came to me in a storm, and what I told you then?”
“You mean about someone trying to assassinate you?”
“Yes.”
The smile vanished from Luna’s face.
“Tell me everything in detail.”
Jin took a deep breath and began recounting everything he had experienced.
From the story he heard from Alu when Tesing was destroyed, about ‘that person,’ to all the information he gathered investigating him, and even about Kuzan and Berris.
When he finished, Luna struggled to control her trembling body, sweat pouring down her face.
She had never before felt such a foreboding, pounding in her chest.
If what her youngest brother said was true, whether or not it was related to the assassination attempt, her nanny had committed treason. Regardless of cause and effect, Taimun’s agents had already touched pureblood Runkandel.
“…So, I came to meet your nanny in person and find out the truth.”
“Your nanny… had orphans from Delki as assassins? That can’t be. I’ve never heard of such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding, youngest.”
Afraid to see her like this, Jin had considered seeking out Taimun separately. But if Taimun was the culprit or an accomplice, she could never be allowed to live.
Even if Taimun was guilty, it would be too cruel not to give Luna a chance to talk to her.
‘But even you didn’t know about her private forces? Taimun Marius, what exactly is she? What does she want?’
Her hand trembling like a leaf gripped Jin’s shoulder.
“Your nanny is on leave right now. She said she had to visit central Huepester. We should wait until she returns… No, no. I have to see her immediately.”
“I’m sorry, sister.”
“What do you have to be sorry for? Your nanny is probably innocent. If those assassins are framing her, or if she’s involved, there must be some reason.”
Jin said nothing, simply holding Luna’s hand.
‘Looking back, nanny did visit Delki often. She took a lot of leave and once told me she supported orphans whenever she had money.’
At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. In his twenties, he had even accompanied her to volunteer at orphanages, but those were ordinary orphanages, not related to the Moon’s sacrifice.
“Nanny, I know it’s a good thing, but why do you care so much about orphans?”
“I’m actually an orphan too. Oh, I don’t think I ever told you that, miss. Haha, if your adolescence had been a little less dramatic, maybe I would’ve had a chance. You could’ve even shared a drink with your nanny once in a while.”
“Ah, um… I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was really awful.”
“Don’t apologize, miss! The other nannies in Runcandel could only dream of such luxuries. You’ve been so generous with your personal time that I’m able to serve you like this.”
“Right. Um… do you want more time off?”
“Then maybe just one more day?”
Recalling that conversation from long ago, Luna shook her head.
‘I realize now how little I actually know about my nanny’s life. I only found out she was an orphan in her twenties, and I always thought she just spent her days off doing volunteer work.’
Her favorite foods, favorite drinks, favorite books, favorite clothes—
She couldn’t even recall those small details right away. And the thought that she commanded an elite squad of eight-star assassins was beyond anything Luna could have imagined.
Luna definitely loved Taimun, but she never really felt curious about her.
They’d been together since Luna was one, and now at thirty-five, their closeness had simply become routine.
“Let’s go, Jin. If what you say is true, then the nanny… I have to… no, wait. Wait a moment, little one… let’s stay here a bit longer…”
As Luna sank down, curling into herself, Jin found herself at a loss for words. All she could do was gently pat her sister’s back, sharing in her silent anguish.