I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 46
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Of all times, such an unfortunate coincidence.
“That experiment is absurd!”
“Why is it absurd? We just need to bring out one surviving monster!”
“You crazy bastard. Go into the Gate yourself and fight until your head bursts, see if it works!”
“What? Did you just call me a crazy bastard? I don’t think I can see straight today! Come out, I said come out!”
“Argh, these crazy magician bastards!”
Kaisis frowned as he watched the chattering individuals.
‘There are definitely subversive elements here.’
Having issued orders to monitor and weed out suspicious individuals, he could see knights meticulously observing the atmosphere under his gaze.
Normally, this would have been a matter to discuss directly with Duke Ariel.
Those related to the Gates.
Or… a certain faction that might be connected to the late Empress from six years ago.
Those who appeared to be spreading dangerous ideas while disturbing the minds of the Awakened Ones with malicious drugs.
His mind was complicated.
Memories of the past, his mother, and his mate.
‘My body is still perfectly fine.’
Perfectly.
A completely unnatural state.
A body that seemed to have been stabilized by the power of an Indoja who existed perfectly for him.
Kaisis was confident he could remain fine for days without using his power.
And that was how others saw it too.
Kaisis recalled what happened after his rescue.
‘You can no longer hide it, Your Majesty. Your body… it has stabilized even though our power didn’t reach you!’
‘Have you found your mate? But Your Majesty entered the Gate alone. How… how could this be possible?’
‘We have served Your Majesty for a long time. Please tell us something. Please don’t dismiss this!’
Three women who looked ready to faint with pale blue faces at the thought of touching him, yet who took pride in being the Indojas of the current Emperor who had not found his mate.
‘Everyone watch your words.’
‘But Your Majesty…!’
‘Nothing was found. Do you not understand? You are now threatening the Emperor’s life.’
‘We, we are…’
Considering how their families had used their positions for gain, this issue must have been quite urgent for them.
And also for Kaisis himself.
Suspicion, jealousy, vigilance.
Curiosity, interest, joy.
Receiving gazes mixed with all these emotions, he claimed he did not know how he had entered the mental attack Gate, how he had escaped, or how his body had returned to its original state.
Of course, no one believed him.
The Indojas shed tears.
‘Lies.’
They didn’t dare say such words to the Emperor, but it was clearly written on their faces.
Yet it was the truth.
‘The only clue I can remember is Duke Ariel’s face? Ha, this is maddening.’
In the meeting room that was becoming chaotic, the Emperor tightly clenched his hand, which felt numb.
These fingertips had definitely touched something.
The sensation of grasping someone’s soft, abundant hair was vivid.
That clear red color, flowing like gentle waves.
‘As far as I know, only one person has such a color.’
That made it all the more absurd, and he couldn’t help his face contorting in disbelief.
‘None of it makes any sense.’
It was clearly a Gate malfunction that occurred in the palace.
Only one person was caught in it.
When a Gate closes, absolutely no one can open it from the outside.
Unless the person inside dies, or the Gate completely explodes, causing monsters to pour out.
‘It must be a power superior to the Gate.’
It wasn’t magic.
Nor was it from an Indoja or an Awakened One.
‘It’s exactly like the behavior of the mate who appeared deceiving my perception at night.’
But what could that possibly have to do with the Duke?
That woman…
‘What is she hiding from me?’
Arrows of suspicion, betrayal, and distrust pierced his heart.
Inexplicable anger surged again.
Without realizing it, he crushed the magic ink pen he was holding.
From the half-broken sturdy pen, a sticky liquid flowed like spreading blood.
Like blood. Just like blood.
“……”
“…Ahem, let’s, stop the fighting, shall we.”
He didn’t notice both magicians and Awakened Ones awkwardly reading the atmosphere as they saw the pen shattered in his grip.
Just red hair.
He was obsessively recalling the face of someone both familiar and unfamiliar.
He could not accept the existence of someone who couldn’t possibly exist, a relationship that absolutely could not involve that woman.
***
‘I can’t just stay like this.’
The young boy wiped his eyes as he shed tiny tears.
If his stern yet kind Master had been beside him, she would have sighed and quietly told him to lower his hand.
But Luias was alone now.
The magicians who had recently started paying attention to him with fake coughs weren’t there, nor were the servants who had begun to kindly converse with him, prepare his meals, and dress him.
And the boy’s secret.
The mysterious talking cat, Lucy, wasn’t here either.
‘Brother.’
His Master’s pale face wouldn’t leave his mind.
Luias, who had somehow returned to his bedroom, fidgeted as he fell into deep thought.
‘You must never use it carelessly. The magicians are desperate to find weaknesses in you and me. Your agreement not to set foot in the palace without my and the Duke’s permission is also part of the promise. So it must not become a starting point for attack.’
He hadn’t forgotten that admonition.
‘When your life is in danger. That’s when you should use it. Promise me. Though you are a child, you cannot live only as a child from now on. Do not forgive me, your cruel brother.’
He definitely hadn’t forgotten his promise to his brother, the Emperor.
But…
‘I overheard it.’
Last night. Unable to overcome his anxiety and worry, Luias broke his promise with Lucy.
Instead of obediently returning to his bedroom, covering himself with a blanket, and falling asleep, he stayed awake.
In the night when no one could interfere, he began to retrace his steps.
He was anxious without his Master and wanted to be near the cat.
The image of her suffering kept coming to mind, and he felt he needed to go even if Lucy scolded him.
That’s how he arrived in front of his Master’s bedroom and was about to peek through the door when he heard it.
‘Hngh’
Someone’s crying.
‘Hngh.’
As befitting a place where magicians stayed, the soundproofing was excellent, so he couldn’t hear clearly, but it was definitely the sound of sobbing.
And that voice was definitely that of his Master, whom Luias loved second most in the world!
The young prince was greatly shocked.
‘It’s because of me.’
Because of what happened during the day.
‘I should have said it wasn’t true.’
Because I couldn’t speak.
My Master had reached out to me.
It’s because I’m a mute that Master and Brother fought.
‘Because of me!’
In truth, Luias’s life had become much more comfortable lately.
Since he was forbidden from entering the palace, the magicians had actually paid more attention to the young prince.
They cleared their throats and tried to teach him more.
The maids and servants provided delicious food, gentle care, and warm smiles.
Though he was ten years old, Luias was royalty and intelligent.
He wasn’t too young to know that all these changes were thanks to his Master.
And yet…
‘I am a bad child.’
Thinking of his Master’s pale profile as she slept made even these concerns feel wrong.
‘Brother. Master is not bad. Please don’t fight.’
Luias took out something he had secretly hidden deep in his wardrobe.
With his hair completely disheveled, he let out a deep breath.
As a member of the royal family, Luias was quite familiar with the Emperor’s schedule.
By now, his brother would have returned to his office.
So…
‘I will explain!’
Click, the jewelry box opened, revealing an old, shabby leather necklace with a small pebble-sized gem attached to the end.
However, within that ordinary gem that looked cheap, there was clearly a magic circle swirling.
‘To His Majesty m Brother.’
When he grasped the gem, it flashed brightly.
A moment later, there was only an empty jewelry box that had dropped in the young prince’s room.
And no one was there.
