I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 56

I understood roughly what he meant.

But I had no intention of giving in easily.

“I understand your intent, Your Majesty. But must you do this now, with important national events only weeks away?”

I hadn’t even properly received the candidates for the duel between magicians and Awakened Ones scheduled to take place in three weeks.

And I was the one who had to demonstrate magic in front of the Gate.

On top of that, the bombshell news that the delegation from the Holy Kingdom, Luseid, was arriving early.

‘After causing all this yourself, now what?’

When I snapped at him irritably, Kaisis was staring at me intently with those ice-blue, beautiful eyes.

What, what is it? Did I make a mistake?

“It seems you’ve truly forgotten, Duke.”

My heart sank.

I had forgotten too many things.

“In two days, the Red Sun period begins.”

I could feel the blood draining from my face.

That “Red Sun period” would be something the Duke of Ariel, who supports the Empire, could never forget.

For just a few days each year, when the sun is at its highest position, the generation of dangerous Gates stops for about 4-5 days for some reason.

I remember that the Holy Kingdom claimed this was because when the power of the sun, symbolizing their main deity, was at its strongest, the power of the Gates was suppressed.

‘Oh, really… why do I only remember these kinds of things?’

Hiding my internal discomfort, I nodded, and the Emperor smiled enigmatically and said.

“So could there be a better hunting season than this?”

From the Emperor’s perspective, even the Holy Kingdom, which suddenly insisted on moving up its visit, might be under suspicion?

‘So he might be thinking of testing them before they arrive.’

It wasn’t a bad judgment.

I get it. I understand, but that’s just intellectual understanding.

I gazed sadly at the mountain of documents piled so high I couldn’t tell how much more processing would be needed before I was done.

Kaisis followed my gaze and then smiled, twisting his lips quite wickedly.

Wow, it’s also a talent to make such a punchable smile with such a handsome face?

“Could it be that you dislike my visit?”

“Yes, I dislike it.”

“……”

“Did you think I would like it?”

The Emperor’s smile faltered momentarily at my words, which came without a second of hesitation.

What, are you upset?

“Duke, even if our relationship is terrible, an official imperial visit is usually an honor for a family.”

I snorted.

“That applies to ordinary families. I am the leader of magicians. As I understand it, throughout the history of the Ariel duchy, Your Majesty has never visited.”

“Is there no other reason?”

What is this now?

“Have you been away so long that your territory feels unfamiliar?”

“……”

“Surely not. A woman with such an annoyingly good memory as yourself couldn’t possibly find her birthplace unfamiliar.”

“……”

It is unfamiliar! Extremely unfamiliar!

I didn’t even know who was staying at the Ariel mansion.

I knew less than the Emperor standing before me.

‘Since there was no such scene in the original story, I never looked into information about the Ariel mansion.’

While I was internally breaking out in a cold sweat, the man who was now leisurely crossing his arms and looking me up and down entered my field of vision.

Damn, this man really.

“Why? If there’s a reason I can’t visit, explain in detail.”

“……”

[Warning!

Character identity is wavering!]

My vision blurred.

If I strongly insisted that it wasn’t possible right now, the Emperor would probably suspect me even more than he already did.

‘After sparing my life, now you want me to hand over everything?’

Should I just blurt it out?

Go by yourself. I’m not going!

Like that?

But the status window threw a quest at me as if to persuade me not to do that.

[Estate Hunting Event Triggered!

You have received a request from the Emperor to visit the Duke’s mansion.

A minor branching point will be selected based on your decision.

But be careful.

The character, Kaisis, will carefully observe your answer.

If accepted: Affection maintained

If rejected: Affection -100]

“……”

Are you serious?

Talking about affection like that!

‘Are you using metrics you don’t even show me like some dating sim system? If you’re going to use quests, at least put some effort into them!’

However, this was also a warning that if I refused here, something terrible would happen.

My head hurt.

‘Ah, damn it.’

I closed my eyes tightly and then opened them.

“Understood. We will depart in two days.”

“A good decision, Duke.”

Looking at the man’s gently curving blue eyes, my heart throbbed.

‘That man…’

The Emperor was clearly suspicious of me.

And in a very bad way.

***

In the Kingdom of Luseid, where religious authority was still powerful, there were five respected cardinals under the Pope.

If asked to choose the most beloved cardinal among them, everyone would name two people.

One was Serwin, the Cardinal, who possessed powerful divine power and was called the last fragment of God.

The other would be the man currently kneeling in the prayer room, reciting scripture, Cardinal Hanuel.

In particular, Cardinal Hanuel, with his soft sky-blue hair and mysterious silver eyes, had many followers who praised his beautiful appearance.

With his seemingly holy appearance, ascetic and gentle personality, respectable attitude as a priest, and broad shoulders and chest.

Although he had given up his noble title when entering the temple, he was still the king’s nephew and fifth in the line of succession.

At that moment, someone appeared to break that quiet prayer.

Thump, thump, with cheerful footsteps, a man opened the door to the prayer room and stood boldly in front of Cardinal Hanuel, who was in the middle of prayer.

“Hanuel, I heard you also applied for this kingdom’s delegation?”

Hanuel opened his eyes and looked up at the man standing before him with a gentle smile.

“Cardinal Serwin.”

Neat, dark black hair, white skin.

A man with a beautiful and dazzling appearance, like an angel painted in sacred art.

With a mole near his eye giving off a strangely sensual atmosphere, he licked his distinctly red lips and smiled mischievously.

“Hanuel. I heard that a stuffy person famous for never leaving the holy land made quite a decision?”

“The balance of power between Gates and Awakened Ones is a very interesting subject. How could I just sit still?”

One was called a great fragment still wrapped in the miracle of the declining god.

The other had risen to cardinal through his vast knowledge, character, and honesty, despite not having a speck of divine power.

The two did not actually get along very well.

Hanuel rose from his seat.

He clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘How could such a frivolous person be blessed with God’s miracle?’

But unable to show his displeasure, he smiled gently and asked.

“I was surprised too. I heard that Cardinal Serwin will also be joining this delegation.”

“Aha.”

Serwin’s eyes curved suggestively.

He brushed back his pitch-black, soft hair and asked languidly.

“Why? Are you surprised that I’m joining such a stuffy gathering?”

Hanuel stiffened slightly at the rude tone, but soon relaxed his face and asked.

The other man was someone who never properly followed the temple’s rules anyway, so getting angry over every little thing wasn’t worth it.

Again, Hanuel was quite displeased that someone with such a personality was called a respected cardinal and the last fragment of God with divine power, but.

“I didn’t mean it that way. You love freedom, and the journey to the Empire won’t be easy.”

“That’s why.”

“Pardon?”

“That’s exactly why.”

What does that mean?

“I feel like I need to go there.”

Watching the beautiful man who spoke with a grin, Hanuel opened his eyes wide.

Regardless, Serwin got up from his seat as if that was all he had to say.

That was on a certain day before the Holy Kingdom delegation departed.