Please Die, Your Highness - Chapter 68

Mavolo left the room without so much as a backward glance at Craig. The hallway was made entirely of stone walls and stone floors. Mavolo glanced disapprovingly at the old architectural style, which lacked even a hint of sophistication.

“Remy.”

“Yes.”

When he gestured and called the name, a squire who looked to be about fifteen stepped forward as if he had been waiting.

“Watch that man closely. I knew he was like that originally, but he is a difficult character in many ways. I wondered why on earth he hated his master so much, but seeing him now, I suspect it is nothing short of self-loathing among kindred spirits.”

“Understood. I will keep a close watch on him.”

Mavolo nodded and passed the squire, heading down the spiral stone staircase.

Sir Wilun, the border guard captain, was already standing there waiting for him. He was a man with a steady impression and a face typical of a quintessential knight.

Mavolo politely declined his offer to see him off, gave him some pleasant-sounding words about how the King always keeps an eye on him, and boarded the carriage.

Mavolo boarded the carriage and headed quickly toward the royal castle—toward that gargantuan, antiquated castle that embodied the glory of Lutea’s most magnificent era.

By the time Mavolo requested an audience with the King, it was already afternoon, past midday. The King was not attending to state affairs.

Lately, he was often cooped up in bed, neglecting his duties, or calling for a musical band to play while he indulged himself from broad daylight. Mavolo hoped the King was in the former state. This was because the King of Lutea became even more sensitive and difficult to deal with when he was intoxicated.

“The King bids you enter.”

A soldier, standing in a lax posture much like his master, opened the door leading to the audience chamber. King Aidan was seated in a disheveled robe, as if he had just come down from the bedchamber.

The King barely acknowledged Mavolo’s polite and formal greeting, lazily gesturing for him to sit. Since ancient times, the King’s audience chamber was a place where important guests were received for conversation, so it was better soundproofed and more secure than other areas.

Only after confirming the door was closed did Mavolo finally open his mouth to relay exactly what he had heard from meeting Craig at the border, without hiding anything.

Contrary to Craig’s worries, Mavolo had no intention whatsoever of re-distorting the distorted truth Craig had provided in his own way. This was because Craig’s lie aligned perfectly with Mavolo’s original goal.

“So, he is alive.”

The following was the King’s first reaction after hearing all that Mavolo had to say. The young King, who could only fall asleep by becoming intoxicated nearly every day, furrowed his brow at the surging hangover and reached out his hand, fumbling across the table to drink some water.

King Aidan finally grasped the water cup and took a sip. The cold water swept through the inside of his throat, which had been sore just from spitting out words. Only then did it become easier to speak.

“The conclusion is that, isn’t it? He is alive. Then, the dream I had yesterday was purely a hollow dream. That fellow dared to visit me in my dream and strangled me, but it was all just an illusion I created.”

The latter part was closer to a grim mutter. Mavolo pretended not to hear what the King had muttered.

The King took another sip of the remaining water. Then, Bang! Holding the cup, he struck the table with enough force to shatter it.

Mavolo did not even blink an eye.

“It is different from what was initially promised to me. You said he would die quickly, but look at him staying alive even after dragging himself all the way there. Those sorcerer bastards scammed me.”

“As you heard, he is already in a state of being poisoned by Phenycia. On top of that, since the curse on the scales will accelerate, he will soon die a lonely death in a foreign land.”

“I shouldn’t have trusted that pathetic brat. He couldn’t even carry out a single simple order……”

“In a situation where even that Craig is gone, there is likely no one left around the Prince. Because they are all individuals without any loyalty or devotion to the Prince.”

Mavolo spoke soothingly, but the King did not even make a show of listening.

“If he truly died a lonely death, I must insist on confirming even the corpse. I will only be at peace once that corpse is completely burned away.”

Mavolo immediately bowed his head as if it were an expected reaction.

“I shall do so. I will assemble a group consisting of those skilled at finding people.”

“I shouldn’t have listened to those sorcerer bastards……. If things go wrong this time as well, know that your head will fly.”

Mavolo answered without trembling, even while bowing his head low.

“I shall do so.”

“Leave. My head aches.”

As soon as the King’s order to leave was issued, Mavolo rose from his seat and exited the audience chamber. An old man with a familiar face was standing in the hallway as if he had been waiting. It was Malachy O’Doherty, the King’s advisor whom Prince Declan had been so wary of.

Malachy O’Doherty entered the audience chamber without sparing even a glance at Mavolo. Regardless, Mavolo finished exiting the hallway without feeling particularly offended.

He entered his office, packed a few items, and headed to his private residence located a short distance away. As the residence drew near, Mavolo turned his head to look at the magnificent old castle he had just left. He then chuckled, recalling how Craig had mentioned barbarians earlier.

Barbarians. That hideous stone castle, that is the very symbol of barbarism.

Mavolo entered his residence, immediately receiving the service of his servants. When he entered his office there, sorcerers wearing blue robes rose from their seats and welcomed him as if they had been waiting.

Mavolo lightly brushed his shoulder with his fingertips. Starting from the point where his fingers touched, the ashen robe began to change into a blue robe identical to those of the men.