“Y-Your Highness… there’s been a serious incident.”
“What, did Viscount Helington die?”
Considering the remote possibility, Ian asked with a serious expression.
“H-How did you know? Your Highness, he was found dead in his cell today…”
“What? Helington is really dead?”
“Yes, Your Highness. They say he hanged himself in his cell.”
“Was there no note or anything?”
“All he told the guard before he died was that everything was his fault.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing the news of Helington’s suicide, Ian turned to Deus, who was working on his research nearby.
“Deus, what do you think?”
“Ian, as you know, it’s most likely someone sending you a warning.”
“Who do you think it is?”
Although Blake’s face flashed through Ian’s mind, he was curious about Deus’s opinion.
“Obviously, it’s Duke Blake. He doesn’t like anyone stepping forward except for the First Prince. Imagine how much he must hate you for making a fool of him.”
“Do you think it’s wise to stop here?”
“Don’t say something you don’t mean. Ian, if we stop now, you know what fate awaits us.”
Ian smiled at Deus’s words.
“I thought you only did research in the Magic Tower, but you seem to know a lot about the power dynamics within the empire.”
“Ian, I’m a genius magic engineer and the disciple of the Master of the Tower. Do you think I wouldn’t know basic information like this?”
“Knowing all this, you chose me. You’re a reckless man.”
“And aren’t reckless men the ones worth walking through hell with? So, give me more exciting projects to work on.”
Ian laughed, seeing Deus’s eyes light up with a manic gleam whenever they discussed plans.
“Don’t worry, we won’t stop here. Even if someone tries to threaten you, I’ll protect you.”
Deus, playing along, put on a scared expression.
“First Prince, I swear I know nothing! All I did was develop what the Third Prince ordered!”
Ian quickly put him in a headlock, pretending to scold him.
“Choke, choke, Ian, let me go!”
Deus tapped Ian’s arm as a sign of surrender.
“It’s just a joke. But seriously, if the First Prince really comes, survival should be the priority, right? We have to live to help you secretly.”
Ian squeezed his head a little more before letting go.
“What’s the status of the other projects besides the Detector?”
Deus’s eyes sparkled.
“Everything is ready to start as soon as we get the mana stones.”
“You only need mana stones?”
Hearing the word mana stones, Deus’s eyes twinkled as he looked at Ian.
“Your Highness, please grant this magic engineer some mana stones.”
“Don’t worry, my foolish engineer, trust in me. Then there will be gold.”
Deus’s eyes sparkled again, and he resumed working on the designs, referring to the ‘Alector’ project plan Ian had given him.
Ian had shared a rough outline of his future plans as the Tax Inspector, so Deus needed to prepare magical engineering items accordingly.
***
Even though it wasn’t winter, the atmosphere in Duke Blake’s meeting room was freezing.
“Earl Liam.”
With the chilling news of Helington’s suicide, Duke Blake’s voice became even icier, making Earl Liam and the other nobles shudder.
“Yes… Your Grace.”
“Do you have anything to say?”
Liam felt the words burning at the back of his throat but couldn’t bring himself to speak. It was his job to manage Helington, who had failed his mission.
“Do you really have nothing to say?”
Blake’s tone suggested he wanted Liam to at least try to explain. Liam could only utter one thing.
“I’m sorry, Your Grace.”
“For what?”
“I apologize for Viscount Helington’s rash actions causing trouble for the First Prince and the nobles present.”
Despite his apology, Duke Blake’s expression remained stern.
“Naeson Liam.”
Calling him by his full name instead of his title, Blake made Liam swallow hard.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“There will be no second chance.”
“Thank you, Your Grace!”
Blake’s declaration that the matter would be covered up made Liam breathe a sigh of relief.
After reprimanding Liam, Duke Blake looked around at the other nobles.
“What do you think we should do?”
Having witnessed Blake’s sharp side earlier, none of the nobles dared to speak up immediately.
“Feel free to share your thoughts.”
His blood-red hair, even darker than the First Prince’s, and his brown eyes bore into the nobles, making the atmosphere even heavier.
Then, one viscount raised his hand to speak.
“Your Grace, may I say something?”
“Speak freely, Viscount Steel.”
“The Emperor appointed the Third Prince as the Tax Inspector, and…”
Blake’s frown deepened as Steel brought up a topic that had been on his mind. He nodded for him to continue.
“As the Head of the Tax Department, appointed by your grace, I suggest setting a trap to entangle the Third Prince with bribes.”
Steel’s proposal made Duke Blake look at him skeptically.
“Do you think the recent incident with Helington was just a coincidence?”
Viscount Steel replied confidently.
“Your Grace, I believe the Third Prince’s actions yesterday were due to drunkenness. He reeked of alcohol, and I think he acted emotionally because he couldn’t handle his liquor.”
Most of the nobles nodded in agreement with Steel’s assessment. They preferred to think the talentless Third Prince had no special intent in capturing Helington.
Blake’s eyes grew colder as he looked at them.
“You don’t understand.”
“What?”
The confused nobles stared at Blake as he remained silent. Removing 15 years of bias in one go wasn’t easy. He needed to test his hypothesis and make the lower-ranking nobles nervous. He needed to see if the Third Prince’s actions were truly a bid for the throne or just a whim.
‘No matter how I look at it, it’s the former.’
Blake was convinced that the Third Prince had hidden his ambitions behind the mask of a fool. Otherwise, the shrewd Emperor wouldn’t have appointed him as the Tax Inspector.
Blake’s snake-like eyes fixed on Viscount Steel. A man unaware of the gravity of his actions, driven by greed, seemed perfect for the job.
“Viscount Steel, can I trust you?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Trust me, and I’ll deliver results beyond your expectations.”
Liam, sitting next to Blake, felt uneasy at Steel’s confidence. Steel reminded him too much of Helington.
‘Better safe than sorry. Maybe I should test him one more time…’
Blake, already considering Steel a disposable piece, promised a reward to motivate him.
“If you succeed, I’ll give you a great reward.”
Hearing the promise, Steel’s eyes shone with greed, quickly forgetting the fear of death he had felt earlier.
Steel mocked Helington, who had hanged himself. The man who had belittled him while claiming to be the Third Prince’s drinking buddy had met a fitting end.
“I won’t disappoint you, Your Grace.”
“Any other opinions?”
The other nobles remained silent. With Steel taking the lead, they decided to wait and see the results before acting.
“Then, this meeting is adjourned.”
As the meeting ended, the nobles cautiously left Duke Blake’s meeting room.
Unlike the others, Earl Liam stayed behind. Seeing this, Blake addressed him.
“Is there something else?”
“Your Grace, I don’t think the Helington incident was a coincidence.”
Blake’s eyes gleamed with interest.
“What do you mean?”
“The Helington I knew might have been arrogant, but he wasn’t one to misjudge situations.”
“Not a coincidence?”
“Yes, Your Grace. If Helington had failed in his mission, you wouldn’t have entrusted him with it in the first place.”
Liam’s words could be interpreted as blaming Blake for Helington’s failure. He looked at Blake with a tense expression.
Then, Blake’s chilling laughter echoed through the meeting room. After laughing madly, he looked at Liam with a serious gaze.
“Earl Liam.”
“Yes, Your Grace…”
“Are you saying my judgment was wrong?”
Faced with Blake’s direct question, Liam clenched his fists and answered.
“I’m saying the circumstances affecting your judgment have changed.”
Blake looked at him with amusement. Sensing the Duke’s cold gaze, Liam lowered his head.
“That’s why I like you.”
Hearing this, Liam finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling he had regained some of Blake’s trust.
“Do you think Viscount Steel will succeed?”
“I believe he is likely to fail.”
“Then why didn’t you warn him?”
“I thought you wanted to verify the information that influenced your judgment.”
Satisfied with Liam’s answer, Blake smiled and looked out the window.
“Listening to you has given me some confidence in my judgment.”
At his gesture, a figure knelt before him and handed him a paper detailing the events in the prison. Blake quickly read it and then burned it in the brazier.
He hoped not to repeat the same mistakes.
Cliche Novel 