Chapter 189
Kyle was convinced that the devious Crown Prince must have used some trick. That was why he had taken such a passive approach in battle.
“Because of the weather, the supply unit couldn’t arrive on time, which caused delays in our schedule. As you know, Brother, the most important thing on the battlefield is supplies.”
“I’d already heard about that. I was also looking into ways to get supplies to you faster.”
“But with such hellish weather, how could we get them through? In any case, it was because of the supplies that our army ran out of time. That’s why I had to make a decision, even if it meant sacrificing soldiers. I tried to kill Cantabria’s greatest weakness—the Guide. If I’d succeeded, we would have definitely won the next battle.”
Fabian accepted Kyle’s reasoning. And now that one of the people he was curious about had come up, he had to ask.
“What sort of person is the Guide of the Cantabria Empire?”
Though Fabian, by his nature, did not oppress Guides, he was also an Esper. And while Guides could purify an Esper’s corrupted energy, powerless Guides were plentiful in the Leonis Empire.
‘…Such melodrama. But Brother, why are you so curious about that woman?’
Kyle, recalling the events, belatedly realized his own curiosity.
“I asked because there’s been no shortage of praise about that Guide.”
“…Well, she did put up quite a fight then.”
Kyle remembered the Espers of the Cantabria Empire who had rushed in to save just one Guide. Especially the Crown Prince of the enemy country, he’d attacked as if he meant to kill Kyle. No, he’d almost been killed, in fact.
“Tell me more,” Fabian pressed.
Kyle hesitated, wondering if he should say any more. Strangely, he didn’t want to reveal anything about her. Just then, a palace attendant from Fabian’s palace approached and spoke.
“Your Highness, the Duke of Venesi has come to see you.”
At the attendant’s words, Kyle recalled why his unit hadn’t been completely annihilated. He leaned in and spoke to Fabian in a low voice.
“Brother, do you know which clan had the highest number of survivors among my soldiers?”
“…Which tribe?”
“The wolf tribe of the Venesi family. They ignored my orders and withdrew on their own.”
Fabian’s gentle gaze immediately turned icy at Kyle’s words.
“They disobeyed orders on the battlefield?”
“Yes.”
Fabian ordered the attendant in a cold voice,
“Show in the Duke.”
If the Duke had come, he surely had a reason. There was no reason to avoid him.
Both Fabian and Kyle unconsciously held their breath at the entrance of Duke Janik of Venesi.
While the Leonis Imperial Family traditionally had crimson hair, the equally ancient Venesi family was known for their silver hair, which shone even more brightly than gold.
Janik, with his silvery hair neatly brushed back and exuding a powerful presence, entered with measured steps. He greeted Fabian and Kyle with elegant formality.
“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince.”
In the Leonis Empire, it was customary to use the highest honors and titles whenever greeting royalty. While it wasn’t a strict rule, all the other nobles did so to show their loyalty.
But Janik was the only one who never attached any additional honorifics to the Imperial Family.
“What brings the Duke to the palace?”
“Please forgive the rudeness of my unexpected visit without prior notice.”
“It’s fine. If it isn’t anyone else, and it’s you—always busy for the sake of the Leonis Empire—there must have been an urgent reason for you to come.”
If there was no reason, he was to be prepared for a scolding. However, Fabian’s tone was extremely gentle. There were few who could grasp his true intentions.
Janik was one of those few. Internally, he sneered. The real reason he’d come was simply not to miss an interesting spectacle—but he could always invent an excuse.
“In truth, I’ve come to beg forgiveness for my nephew’s mistake toward His Highness the Prince, and also to thank His Highness for bravely risking his life for the empire on behalf of my family.”
“If the mistake was so grave, for the Duke to come in person…”
Fabian’s expression hardened slightly at his question, though just for an instant. Kyle didn’t notice.
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