Chapter 874: Act 52 – Different Choices
“Is the envoy from Cruzian?”
“Someone named Donas Burni, holding the title of Viscount.”
“Wait, I know this person,” Brendel interrupted Charles, remembering that Veronika had mentioned this name to him. He was a secret envoy of the Silver Queen, who had been sent to investigate the whereabouts of the Crown Prince after the great explosion in the Frostbloom Forest. This individual was the main leader of the envoy. Veronika had also told him that this person’s true purpose was likely to confirm the Crown Prince’s death. “I know about this envoy as well,” he finally recalled, as a series of matters — mainly the Autumn Twilight War and the sudden letter from Her Highness the Princess — had almost made him forget about it: “Have the Cruzian already prepared to return to the Empire? Why would Dierphir suddenly inform us of this?”
“No, my lord, in fact, the Cruzian envoy is still in Lantonrand. Their leader has changed, and according to our understanding, Mr. Donas Burni has not been present at all,” Charles replied.
“What is going on here?” Brendel furrowed his brow.
“It is said that this Viscount suddenly fell ill and returned with the fleet to Derdetar. He never even landed in Anlek.”
Brendel thought this was clearly an excuse; since this person was the Queen’s secret envoy, how could he turn back for health reasons? He first thought perhaps the Cruzian had sensed something, but then realized how could Dierphir know about it? Only a few near him were aware of the existence of the Broken Sword Knights and Prince Rainwright. Suppressing his doubts, he asked, “This is merely an internal matter for the Cruzian. Why would Miss Dierphir relay this to us?”
Charles naturally understood Brendel’s subtle implication and responded, “My lord, the matter is like this. It is said that the returning Cruzian fleet has captured a rare beast in the Shimmering Sea, which they wish to present to Her Majesty the Queen. To prevent an attack from the Hallowed Temple of Earth, they chose a more reliable route overland. The fleet landed in Graywind Port, and Mr. Donas Burni and his accompanying servants crossed through the Gray Hills and then passed through Yan Fort. You know the situation there, my lord; Count Yan’s condition is uncertain, with some saying he is gravely ill and others claiming he has already died. In any case, he hasn’t appeared in public since April. As for Miss Dierphir… Well… she is currently a guest in Toniger…” he said, hesitating over the word ‘guest.’ It was apparent to everyone that the Countess was worried about her father’s condition and that she would rather sprout wings and fly back to Yan Fort, but she was effectively under house arrest in Cold Fir Territory — of course, at the Princess’s behest, to ensure the Countess’s safety and prevent her from rushing headlong into danger. He paused before continuing, “In any case, Yan Fort is currently leaderless. A group led by Baron Dale spreads various rumors daily, trying to find excuses to seize power from Count Yan. However, the Yan family’s reputation still holds, so these attempts will face difficulty for a while. And the Cruzian Empire has had a long-standing influence in Yan Fort, so these individuals would certainly not miss the chance to curry favor with Viscount Donas Burni.”
“I’m not sure if you remember, my lord, but you and Her Highness the Princess once instructed Earl Yanilasu to investigate Yan Fort. Shortly after, this Earl dispatched a group into Yan Fort. They proved quite capable and quickly established contact with Miss Dierphir’s former subordinates, building a secret network,” Brendel knew that this was essentially the Princess’s directive, with himself playing no part in it. However, in Charles’s words, half the credit was unjustly transferred to him — he could certainly hear the flattery but was also used to it and preferred not to undermine it. At that moment, he began to sense something unusual.
Charles continued, “So this group naturally reported back to Earl Yanilasu and recorded images of the caravan alongside Mr. Donas Burni and other accompanying servants and aides using a Magic Crystal. Earl Yanilasu then forwarded the report and the crystal directly to Miss Dierphir. This information itself isn’t overly significant, but Miss Dierphir has heard about your venture with Ms. Veronika and Prince Rainwright into the Frostbloom Forest. Upon learning of the envoy’s purpose, she worried that the Cruzian might pose a threat to you, thus passing this information on to Medisa. Little did we expect our little princess would uncover something suspicious—”
“What suspicious?” Brendel frowned slightly at this point.
“This Viscount Donas Burni himself seems fine, but Princess Medisa seems to have recognized someone among the attendants and aides of the caravan.”
“Recognized someone?” Brendel’s heart stirred. “Who?”
“This person should be one of the officers accompanying the Cruzian with Veronika. I have some impression of him, but not as strong as the one Medisa has.”
“My lord,” Medisa’s voice finally broke in, soft as ever but well-structured, “If I’m not mistaken, that person should be called Boimer, I’ve heard others refer to him like that. He was with us when we entered below the glacier, one of the Cruzian noble officers, young, only in his twenties.”
Brendel felt a jolt running down his spine, his hair standing on end. He inhaled deeply; he hadn’t spoken yet, but his expression had grown grave enough for Antinna and Freya to notice. The two girls exchanged worried glances. Brendel placed his hands on the desk; various images flashed in his mind. After a moment’s consideration, he abruptly asked, “When did the Cruzian envoy arrive in Derdetar?”
“August 19th, the day of the Mountainfolk’s fire-walking festival,” Antinna answered without hesitation.
“August 19th,” Brendel repeated softly, “that’s exactly a month after we left the Frostbloom Forest.”
“Charles, how long has Viscount Donas Burni been in Yan Fort?” he asked.
Charles calculated for a moment, “Miss Dierphir received the letter last week, but it took some time to reach Toniger, meaning it had to have been at least a month prior, if not longer.”
A month. Brendel felt a chill; that timeframe was enough for the Cruzian to return to Rustra. Freya, having watched his changing expression, finally couldn’t help but ask, “Brendel, what exactly is happening?”
“I think we have overlooked something, Freya,” Brendel replied slowly and deliberately.
“Overlooked?”
“This is all my fault; I never anticipated this direction,” he said, unable to suppress his frustration as he patted his forehead, then spoke in a low voice: “Charles, let us send out scouts to inquire, have them re-search the areas around the Frostbloom Forest, disseminate that person’s image widely to confirm if anyone has seen him — no, I’m certain someone must have seen him. The key is when and where; I want to clarify this as quickly as possible. Also, find a way to dispatch a group to the Cruzian Empire, and if that fails, ask Earl Yanilasu for assistance — he won’t refuse.”
“My lord, before I conveyed this message to you, Miss Romaine had already dispatched personnel. The territory is mobilizing fully,” Charles replied. “However, some mercenary captains are a bit unclear about the situation and are asking you if this is making too much of a fuss; I and Medisa came to seek your counsel on this.”
“She was right to act,” Brendel sighed in relief upon hearing this news. He then replied quietly, “Let’s wait for news; hopefully, the Cruzian will not regret this—”
Brendel felt someone grip his arm. Turning, he saw Antinna watching him with concern.
“Is it possible Xi has news?” the aide asked sharply.
He nodded slowly.
The victory of the Autumn Twilight War hadn’t yet spread throughout the Southlands, but various rumors had already proliferated in the war-affected areas and surrounding regions, causing the Dierphirians to feel anxious yet expectant during the first two weeks. Their anxiety came from the fear of retribution, but their sense of anticipation stemmed from the legendary young Earl, who might soon be their new ruler. Yet, compared to the rampant rumors swirling elsewhere in the Southlands, both Vieiro and Toniger were unusually quiet — in Vieiro, Varlanden’s messengers were daily dispatched in droves, carrying private notes back and forth.
And in Toniger, only a few keen observers began to sense that beneath the calm surface, a storm was brewing. Merchants in Port Gris gradually felt that the frequency of patrols by the knights of law and order was increasing, with inspections becoming stricter day by day. The goods being exported from the territory had subtly started to change — after months of diminishing magic crystals from the Black Forest, it seemed they had finally run out, with pelts, textiles, and ores replaced by other commodities, while incoming ships surged dramatically.
Those in the know whispered that the Toniger were preparing for a new war.
The weather grew colder by the day, yet the black pines in the forest seemed to stand even taller against the chilly weather or perhaps the withering leaves contrasted the ever-green Erluin, even if the river surfaces had yet to freeze. At the start of November, rumors spread that knights descended from the heavens, walking out of flames, like divine beings visiting the world. Witnesses swore these were the handmaidens of war, and their appearances often foretold the coming of turbulent times.
While these vague legends circulated everywhere, a message was tied to the leg of a homing pigeon, landing in Charles’s hands.
“I have news, my lord.” When Charles spoke from his mental connection, Brendel was still sharing recent stories with his mother. The fireplace was already lit for the seasonal chill, and the charcoal crackled in the iron grate. He had retold his experiences over a dozen times, but Lady Windsor was never tired of hearing them — especially when she learned that her son had a ‘kind-hearted, well-managed’ fiancée in Toniger — Brendel thought Romaine’s simple-mindedness certainly warranted the ‘kind-hearted’ label. As for her acumen in managing affairs, given her ability to catch a wolf with empty hands, it could be deemed acceptable.
But upon hearing Charles’s words, he immediately stood up from the sofa, signaling to his mother and Antinna and Freya before moving aside to ask quietly, “What is going on?”
“My lord, you guessed correctly — someone has indeed seen him near the Frostbloom Forest. That person is an old farmer from near Bernichelle, called Old Beade, who has a daughter named Josie. They rented a carriage to that man after the explosion — he reportedly gave them some money, and then he never appeared again. Accompanying him was another person. Based on the girl’s description of this second person, Medisa believes their name should be Baron Babel,” Charles relayed.
“They rented a carriage,” Brendel murmured. “There are inns in Bernichelle. Why would they go to a farmer’s home to rent a carriage? Most farmers’ carriages have a canopy. Nobles typically wouldn’t travel using those.”
“They needed it to transport things,” Charles replied.
“And then?” Brendel asked again. “Has anyone seen that carriage near Derdetar? No, if I were them, I would certainly be extra cautious. They would have likely switched carriages along the route?”
“My lord, you are spot on; they indeed switched carriages at Aluch and Wintercrown Fort. However, once we confirmed their route, these details became easier to uncover — the last carriage they used was last seen in Derdetar around mid-August.”
“Mid-August,” Brendel responded. “Derdetar, the Cruzian.”
He took a deep breath; his fists clenched tightly, forcing out the final few words through his gritted teeth: “The ‘rare beast’ Donas Burni was escorting was likely being transported in a carriage, right?”
“Exactly,” Charles held his silence for a moment before responding, “My lord.”
Antinna and Freya, seated on the sofa, silently watched as Brendel’s expression darkened ominously.
…
In the study, the fireplace also crackled with flames, illuminating several faces.
“Go invite Count Yan in, Mrs. Hill, please.”
Princess Grifian laid down the letter in her hand and glanced at Makarolo — it was the tenth letter she had received in two weeks, personally delivered by the kingdom’s cunning fox, indicating that the royal faction anticipated the subtle shifts in the situation. It was not unusual for the Empire to ennoble a count, even if it had little to do with Erluin, but this female count’s origins connected to a particularly sensitive figure within the kingdom at this moment — after reading the letter, Grifian finally let go of her last shred of hope, lightly tossing it onto the desk, fatigue evident as she spoke to her maid. The noblewoman stepped out, unable to resist glancing at the withering yellow leaves outside, and let out a soft sigh.
“Your Highness,” Makarolo gently reminded.
“You need not speak, my lord; I already understand,” Grifian responded, glancing at him.
Before long, Brendel entered her study. His face seemed still stuck on the message he’d recently received, appearing somewhat stiff. He first bowed to Grifian before raising his head, naturally catching sight of the Princess seated behind the desk and the standing Makarolo beside her. Brendel looked at the kingdom’s cunning fox and then turned his gaze toward Princess Grifian.
Neither spoke, but it appeared they both understood each other’s concerns.
The Princess looked down at the letter on the desk and softly said, “Mr. Brendel, I have to tell you about this matter—”
“It’s about the Azure Spear, isn’t it?” Brendel interjected.
Princess Grifian raised her head, glancing at him. The pale silvery hue of her eyes was filled with complexity, but she eventually detailed Xi’s circumstances — the Silver Queen had conferred upon her the title of Countess, and over the past two weeks, the messages had confirmed everything without fail, including the origins of the Mountainfolk girl and her relation to the Count of Toniger. After explaining, she quietly asked, “What do you intend to do, Lord Brendel?”
“Your Highness, guess how I would respond if the Cruzian were to ask me the same question,” Brendel fell silent for a moment before replying coldly.
Princess Grifian’s hands rested on her skirt, gripping the fabric tightly as she could hear the latent fury in Brendel’s calm tone.
But she gazed straight into his eyes, and a flicker of contemplation shone within, yet she remained silent.
It was Makarolo who spoke first: “My lord, they are Cruzian.”
“I know.”
“My lord, the Princess shared this with you out of respect. But I must ask, have you clearly considered the relationship between Toniger and the kingdom, Toniger and the Empire—”
“So what?” Brendel questioned.
“Do not let momentary anger place the kingdom in jeopardy. The Azure Spear is vital to the kingdom but does not hold such importance that many innocents should bleed and sacrifice for it.” Makarolo let out a sigh, advising with patience.
Brendel regarded this individual — a significant member of the royal faction — as if hearing a joke. He shook his head and replied, “Mr. Makarolo, you misunderstand one thing. I do not care about the Azure Spear. The only error the Empire makes today is in violating a person’s will and taking her away from this land. Of course, you may not care who this person is, but I must tell you something—”
His voice was not loud but seemed filled with an invisible power, plunging the room into silence.
Princess Grifian and her maid had never witnessed a noble speaking so fearlessly to a peer; the Princess’s eyes gleamed slightly, and the noblewoman looked on in shock.
Makarolo’s expression darkened; he suddenly realized this was not the first time he had been reprimanded by Brendel.
But Brendel paid no mind to his thoughts, speaking softly: “If the Empire thinks that by threatening with war, the nobles of the Erluin Kingdom will prioritize the greater good, retreat, or flee, then I have just one message for them — I, Brendel, lord of Cold Fir, a lord of the Toniger, a count of the kingdom, have yet to adapt to indulging such logic of banditry.”
He spoke to Makarolo deliberately: “I promise, the people of Erluin will not bleed for meaningless reasons, but it is the duty of the kingdom to protect its citizens — there exists no nobler cause in this world. Today, the people of Erluin can bleed for another Erluin person, and tomorrow even more will bleed for them. Mr. Makarolo, this is the pride and spirit of a nation. Anyone thinking it soft and weak is gravely mistaken.”
Brendel concluded his speech with a bow to Princess Grifian, resembling a knight bidding farewell to his king before venturing forth.
He turned, opened the door, and before leaving, he said, “Your Highness, I once promised a young girl that I would protect each and every one of them. I will keep my promise, regardless of whether the enemy is Cruzian — or Madara, and even if it is against the world, I will not falter.”
“Your Highness, if this is what the Cruzian want, then I will respond to them with these two words: War—”
With a snap, the door closed behind him, leaving the three in silence.
Makarolo’s expression was a kaleidoscope as if he wanted to say something, but in that moment, he didn’t know how to begin. He finally sighed helplessly and took his leave of the Princess. The two exited the study, and Mrs. Hill seemed to awaken from her earlier shock, unable to help but pat her chest, fearfully exclaiming, “It’s outrageous! This Count dares to go to war with the Cruzian…?”
Princess Grifian turned back, gazing abstractly at her maid.
“You know, Mrs. Hill,” she said absentmindedly, “when my father’s nobles faced the same issues, do you know how they responded to me?”
She inhaled softly, her eyes seemingly returning to that stormy night in Ampere Seale.
