Albion’s Pastoral House (4)

Did the author make the fleeting spring days so calm to make up for all the dramatic developments they were experiencing now?

No, those days gave them the strength to make it through the present. Arthur and his friends weren’t weak; there had to be a way to overcome this difficulty. Kleio made up his mind and began to organize the newly acquired information.

‘If Tasserton had attacked with the name of the deputy king, Kision wouldn’t have ordered a counterattack. He made a surprise attack at dawn.’

Training knights illegally. An investigation into a case that could be treated as first-degree treason wouldn’t end well. Of course, the knights of the Capital Defense Force would view such a night attack as dishonorable.

‘But these knights don’t. Tasserton wishes to be Melchior’s sword, and he had nothing to lose.’

Tristein’s loyal knights were a legacy of older times. They felt no conflict between personal friendship and subjugation. Skills such as Charm or Propaganda would have a more powerful effect on subjects who actively accepted the user’s actions and words. By this point, the Tristein knights wouldn’t be able to tell whether their loyalty was the influence of skill or not. That wasn’t the only problem.

‘When Tasserton caught Grendel before, the color of his sword was already changing, so it’s no surprise he leveled up… That can’t be the will of God.’

In the previous manuscript, it was in the war he leveled up, but there he was.

‘How many ignorant students would have reached that level if it were that easy?’

Now there were once more four swordmasters in the kingdom. One of the youngest of them thoroughly followed the orders of the crown prince without condition or judgment. Melchior, who was still silent, had attacked Viscount Kision at this time as a test to gauge how effective his swordmaster was. Tasserton did beyond well enough.

‘You won’t put restrictions on Melchior’s ability to use a missile? I feel like I’m going crazy.’

The missile in question could even walk itself to the place it was supposed to explode. How useful.

‘He can’t order around other swordmasters like that, but… for Melchior, Tasserton is like an extension of his will.’

“Meoooow? (You, your expression seems rotten?)”

Behemoth wandered around his ankles, seemingly concerned about the troubled Kleio. Immediately after Gideon had picked him up, the two had taken a carriage back to the mansion together. Kleio pulled Behemoth into a hug to calm the worrying cat as Gideon was staring at him, his posture upright. He couldn’t stay still, so Kleio responded to what he heard.

“No matter how much the city of Parisa changes, it will be difficult to sustain that level of containment.”

“Do you really think so? The heir to one of the old nobles has considerable powers, possibly more than you might know. Are you sure of what is possible under a broad interpretation of his judgment?”

Despite living in a so-called liberal democracy in the 21st century, the masses frequently worshipped higher existences, but this place was a monarchy with a strict status quo. Here, the dignity of the old blood would be a powerful tool. For example, it was suitable for robbing other estates without a reasonable cause as it was being used right now.

“Duke Tristein has already exercised his right in the Kision territory by using the force of a swordmaster.”

“To be exact, he did that as the prince’s swordmaster.”

“Yeah. I understand the difference.”

Gideon’s expression grew even colder as he realized his youngest son was neither spineless nor lacking in his calculations.

“If you did something you didn’t know, you could make an excuse for ignorance. But do you know the meaning of this situation?”

Gideon, staring at Kleio as he delicately petted the cat, exhaled an uneasy sigh. Somehow, it looked like he had suddenly aged a few years at once.

“If the prince’s right hand is the Duke Tristein, and his left is Dr. Frida of the mining bureau, then his invisible hand is Vesna Driscoll. When I heard that the fanatical torturer was interrogating you, I thought everything would be over.”

Indeed, Baronet Asel’s research team’s capabilities were seemingly endless.

‘I guess the investigation team found out how crazy Vesna is.’

Baronet Asel’s intelligence had found no way for Gideon to rescue him, however. By any standard, Arthur wasn’t someone for Gideon to bet on, especially given the current situation. As Kleio thought about that, Gideon approached and lightly touched his shoulder. He lifted his head with a puzzled expression, and Gideon’s sharp gaze dug into him. He was suspicious of whether he was hiding evidence of abuse. After a few awkward seconds that felt like hours, Gideon removed his hand. The child born of Thelma was all grown up, but his bones were still meager, making Gideon feel uncomfortable.

“I’m fine; nothing happened.”

“Even though Vesna Driscoll personally interrogated you, you’re the first person to walk out safely. That person is a skilled assassin.”

“I must not seem like a person who deserves it.”

“I don’t know if it’s God’s blessing or the devil’s whim, but this luck won’t arrive twice. Do you really know what you’re doing?”

Kleio worried about his answer and began to wonder if he should use Separation.

‘Normally, he’s the type of person to slap a wizard even if he has no ether sensitivity…’

After blinking a few times blankly, Kleio gathered his resolve to reply.

“I know.”

“If you know, I believe you know the choices you have to make now.”

The man before Kleio wasn’t Gideon, the businessman, but Gideon, his father.

“You and Tanpet de Neju have only been released thanks to bail being paid. Kision’s own child also was freed under her mother’s family, the Melamide family. You will have to respect those actions.”

“But father, Arthur is still held down there. Can’t you get him out?”

“Can’t be done. It’s a foregone conclusion that the third prince recommended Kision to train the soldiers and helped provide funding. Evidence that fits that is being crafted.”

Kleio quickly assembled the facts.

According to Behemoth, the crown prince was in command of investigating treason in the capital. According to the letter, Viscount Kision was being detained in the estate.

‘Melchior hasn’t used his unique skill against the viscount yet. Until then, we have a chance!

“Perhaps, unless the crown prince directly interrogates him, Viscount Kision will argue that he had no intent of treason in training private soldiers. Then, Arthur cannot be held indefinitely. He is no longer an unknown illegitimate child.”

“Okay. Schliemann Kision will give the same answer even if his throat becomes raw. But since the purpose of all these things was the third prince, would they let him out? It is impossible unless Brunnen invades Kision immediately.”

Gideon was a man of Albion. Knowing the past, he was excellent at reading current trends. The succession to the throne was more of a violent turmoil than a peaceful handover. It wasn’t surprising if the crown prince tried to put away Arthur before he dealt with Aslan.

“Brunnen can’t afford to commit an armed provocation. Therefore, Schliemann Kision’s preemptive defense idea sounds like an empty excuse.”

Gideon sighed.

“Kleio, you know. Now it has begun. Only the one who survives will wear the crown.”

“… You’re telling me not to be involved with Arthur anymore.”

“While it’s still an option.”

Strangely, the resolute response sounded more like begging than an order. Kleio felt curious about this man who wasn’t his father but also was. Nevertheless, he stuck to his answer.

“There was never such an option. We have to save Arthur.”

“Why? Have you made a covenant with him?”

“No.”

“Then, what is the problem?”

“It’s a matter of faith. It is the promise I’ve made in my name, and it is the only way for this world to move properly.”

Kleio’s tone was so straightforward that it sounded like he stated some universal truth, such as the sun rising in the east. Gideon recognized in an instant that it was impossible to persuade his son. Unlike some momentary passion or heroism, such a belief couldn’t be broken down by an external force.

“Alright. Perhaps the third of the three princes are most worthy of becoming king. Rather than those who have noble blood but are cruel or capable of wielding powerful charm, one who is relentless. But why do you have to sacrifice for him? Why do you have to practice justice?”

Gideon’s tone was more emotional than usual. Kleio had no choice but to respond with the truth.

“That’s why I’m in this world right now.”

The wand Gideon held rolled from his hand onto the floor, startling Kleio. He had a shocked face like someone had stuck a blade right through his ribs. He mumbled Thelma’s name, his face pale and his voice small. It happened in the blink of an eye before Gideon corrected his expression and acted with his usual composure.

“But Kleio, I cannot save the third prince. The lives and livelihoods of countless people are at stake with my name. It is impossible to put the Asel family at risk.”

“Yes, I understand your position.”

Kleio was calm. He wasn’t asking any favor. Gideon’s eyes trembled before his son, who treated him like someone else.

“Please refrain from going out for the time being. As long as this is the case, the scope of your movement will be narrow, so think before you act. Be careful.”

Gideon quickly left the parlor before Kleio could respond. As soon as he left, two muscular escorts he had never seen before entered the parlor and sent Kleio up to his room. It was a de facto house arrest. He could’ve broken out using his magic, but if he did so, that would irreversibly change his relationship with Gideon. Moreover, it wasn’t possible to save Arthur right away.

‘Breaking him out of prison and becoming a wanted man… That method has to remain the last resort.’

If Arthur was aiming for the crown, he shouldn’t have to flee. Knowing that Arthur and Isiel had also responded to the summons without resistance, Kleio made several requests to Behemoth once they were in his room.

In the meantime, it was time to commend his work with expensive wine.

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While Kleio was confronting his father, a similar incident was taking place at the Camellia hall.

Klang!

Katarina couldn’t hold back as she ended up throwing her teacup. In her forty-nine years of life, there weren’t many things that made her so angry.

“Cel, you may feel like you’re fighting against the world right now, but what you’re actually doing is to push our entire family to a cliff’s edge. Do you understand?”