DMHS 103

His words were a provocation. The members of the North Party glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

While they waited for Daisy or Duke North to respond, a voice came from behind Batoni South.

“Your last remark had nothing to do with the topic of this meeting, Duke South.”

A pale young man stepped through the members of the South Party.

Batoni South looked once at the young man, then once at Samuel Erlesia, the Master of the Third Tower.

Samuel met his gaze and shook his head with a sigh. It was a gesture that said he too was exasperated.

“I apologize for stepping forward suddenly. My name is Frederick Erlesia. Returning to the main point, I wish to address the matter that Your Majesty was curious about.”

“Speak.”

“The Academy is the land of spirits. Every memory leaves a trace. Because of that, we were able to track Ivan’s movements in the past. During that pursuit, Lord Lucien discovered an extraordinary document in the Academy library.”

“What is it?”

“Ivan didn’t learn how to create dolls because he was a dark mage. He read a book in the Academy library that described the method of making dolls.”

The king straightened his posture.

“You’re saying there’s an impure book inside the library?”

“I can’t speak for the other books. But Ivan found a book there titled ‘The Dream of the Doll.’ The author’s name is Noctirion Semes, and I brought the book with me.”

When the author’s name was spoken, Batoni South’s shoulders trembled faintly.

The king watched him with suspicion, but there was no further reaction.

Frederick and Daisy spoke one after another.

“I saw the dollcraft myself, and it was powerful enough to endanger the very survival of the kingdom. We can’t dismiss it as black magic and simply watch. If we don’t respond swiftly and actively, we won’t be able to stop him.”

“My opinion is the same. For now, the damage is concentrated in the west, but soon it will spread throughout the kingdom. Once an incident occurs, it’ll already be too late. I beg Your Majesty to act quickly for the sake of the suffering citizens.”

“Hmm. If that’s your opinion…”

The king tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingertips. He thought for a moment and rose from his seat.

“From this moment, I declare a state of emergency in the kingdom. As the supreme commander, I’ll exercise all authority necessary to overcome this national crisis. Anyone who opposes this will answer to military law and must bear the consequences.”

“Your Majesty!”

“A state of emergency? It’s too soon to declare one over something like this!”

The ministers rushed to stop the king.

But the king’s resolve was harder than stone. His decision today was not a whim but the result of long preparation.

“Have you still not come to your senses? Three years have passed since the Blood Harvest Festival. The people’s lives are hanging by a thread. And yet you want me to stand by while someone tries to turn the kingdom into a nest of the demonic realm? Is that your loyal advice?”

“……”

“Our ancestor, the Hero, saved a world lost to chaos and built this kingdom. As his descendant, I’ll move forward without shame. Anyone who tries to stop me here will be made an example. Is there anyone who still wishes to risk his life to oppose me?”

A long silence fell through the hall. Everyone busied themselves watching the king’s face, which was nothing like usual.

“Now let’s move to the main issue. Duke North first.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Urea North answered in a resigned tone. The king issued his orders quickly.

“Create a composite sketch of Ivan and distribute it throughout the entire kingdom. If anyone suspicious appears, report it to the knight order immediately. Maintain the knights under constant alert, and train them to carry out the method of destroying the dolls.”

“I’ll follow your command.”

“Next, Duke South.”

“Speak, Your Majesty.”

“We need powerful magic that can counter black magic. Since our duty is to protect the people, design a large-scale defensive magic circle rather than an offensive one. Also, review the document that Young Lord Frederick brought from the Academy and report back to me. I’ll allow twenty-four hours.”

“…I’ll obey your order.”

King Edward left the Begonia Palace first. As he made his way to the Lavender Palace, he smiled to himself.

“I’ve taken some of their power from both factions.”

Of course, the king did not feel entirely at ease.

The two dukes had been hit by an unexpected blow today. Given time, they would recover and prepare to retaliate.

“The real issue is how they’ll respond next.”

Even so, watching the two dukes, who were always full of pride and nonsense, suppress their rising anger was rather satisfying.

Until now, the king had been swayed only because he had no power. No one who could really aid him had appeared while he fought alone upon the throne through long years.

But through Lucien, the king gained unexpected cooperation.

The ones who offered it were Daisy Bernstein and Frederick Erlesia.

They were not the central figures of either faction. But among the young nobles, they had enough reputation to serve as representatives of both parties in the last selection tournament for partners.

‘During the tournament, they seemed obedient to their factions’ commands.’

What had they seen or heard after leaving the palace that had changed their views?

Now the two agreed that the conflict between the two factions corrupted the kingdom and brought suffering to the people. They even agreed that everyone must unite their strength to overcome the crisis together.

“The support you give me goes against the stance of the factions you belong to.”

The king had warned them quietly of the danger.

Yet the fire of resolve burning in their eyes did not extinguish.

Daisy, as a young knight, burned with a sense of justice.

“From childhood, I was taught that knights must protect the people. But when I traveled through the kingdom, I found that too many of them lived without our protection. There were even knight orders who turned a blind eye, taking money from bandits and thieves who ravaged the land.”

Daisy had followed the southern order’s mobilization command and discovered things she had never seen before. She had never doubted the knights, so she had not known it, but once she examined the records, she found them full of irregularities.

“The money extorted from the people is used to fund the factions. It is spent according to the aims of those in higher places. I cannot condone the immoral actions of the North Party or the knight order.”

Frederick unexpectedly remained calm.

“I’ve realized that what I had always believed to be right may not be the truth.”

It was hard to believe that only a few months earlier, this was the same young man who had fussed so much to win the selection tournament.

“A mage seeks truth. My truth may make others uncomfortable, but that does not mean my will can be broken.”

As a result, the two gave their testimony at today’s meeting. And then…

“Father!”

Princess Elizabeth, who had returned to the Lavender Palace, threw her arms around the king.

After ending her runaway and finding herself confined in the palace once again, the princess always acted affectionately when she saw her father.

The king knew his daughter’s nature well. Even now, she was hugging him tightly while her lips were certainly jutting forward in a pout.

“Have you been well?”

The princess stepped back, adjusted her expression, and answered brightly.

“Yes! I’ve been copying the scriptures just as you ordered, Father. Writing the goddess’s words makes me feel calm, as if I’m becoming a new person. How was today’s meeting? Did Uncle and Sister speak well?”

“Both Young Lord Frederick and Lady Daisy did their part. Thanks to them, there’s now a chance that things may turn in a better direction.”

The king sat across from his daughter. They continued their conversation while drinking the tea the attendants had prepared.

“But there are still things I don’t understand from the short letters I received. I find it hard to believe that Lucien accomplished so many deeds.”

The princess tilted her head while holding her teacup.

“What do you mean, Father?”

“Even if I was the one who sent him, Lucien is less concerned with worldly affairs than a priest who has left society. Yet he went to Chronos, the Magic Tower, and the Academy and resolved all those incidents. I’m surprised that a Gold Dragon would work so hard to protect the kingdom.”

“Ah…? That’s true. I’d be surprised too if Lord Lucien really protected the kingdom.”

The king realized that the conversation was not going in the same direction.

“What do you mean? Are you saying Lucien didn’t do all those things?”

“Lord Lucien didn’t, but they were done. If you look at the result, it’s because he took Sir Kian there.”

The king wondered whom she took after to speak in circles.

Frowning, he asked for confirmation.

“You mean that everything written in those reports, purifying Chronos with the relic, destroying the chimera in the Tower, uncovering the Delia tribe’s conspiracy, and stopping Ivan’s plan at the Academy, was all Sir Kian’s work?”

“That’s right.”

“Hah.”

The king placed his hand on his forehead.

“How? No, why? What kind of ability does Sir Kian have?”

“Didn’t you send that small group on the journey because you trusted Sir Kian from the beginning?”

“No. Lucien is a dragon, so he can at least protect himself. I assigned Lady Daisy and Young Lord Frederick to guard his mate.”

The princess suddenly laughed.

“Right now, those two are on their way to meet the King of Spirits. Just watch. Sir Kian will take care of it.”

“Sir Kian will…?”

“There’s an old tale. When a man opened the jar given by the gods, every kind of disaster poured out, but the hope left at the end of the jar remained. I believe that hope is Sir Kian.”

“Hmm…”

“They say the darkest moment comes before dawn. Everything will be fine, Father.”

The princess smiled gently at the king.

He was surprised for a moment by how mature his daughter looked, and then a smile appeared on his own face.