This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 125

Elaina entrusted the ring to Colin. It was far too important to leave with just anyone. Yet neither she, who had only narrowly escaped death, nor Lyle, who couldn’t leave due to the ongoing situation with the Redwoods, could travel to Mabel.

At Elaina and Lyle’s request to deliver the ring to Kyst in the North, Colin readily nodded.

“Understood. I will return swiftly.”

“I feel bad for treating you like an errand boy. But it’s a truly important item.”

“I understand. Since it must be delivered to Lord Kyst, it can’t be entrusted to anyone else. It’s right that I go.”

Colin took Elaina’s letter and the jewelry box, and departed for Mabel.

Not long after Colin’s departure, the situation in the capital rapidly intensified.

The Emperor, who had authorized the search of the Marquis’s residence, imprisoned him. Then, for the first time, he summoned Lyle to the Imperial Palace.

A private audience. It was a privilege granted only to a select few nobles. To receive such a summons now, of all times, was unexpected. But regardless of whether one could understand the Emperor’s intentions, it was not something one could refuse. In the end, Lyle entered the palace with the attendant who had come for him.

The attendant led him not to the audience chamber, but to the Emperor’s personal quarters. The place where they stopped was a greenhouse made of glass. Though it was winter outside, inside it was warm. The Emperor, waiting for Lyle, was dressed casually, emphasizing the privacy of the location.

The Emperor ordered his attendant to bring tea. Once the servant left the greenhouse, he burst into a hearty laugh.

“You’re quite wary of me. Well, I suppose you have every reason to be.”

“…That is not the case.”

“Sit down. This is one of my favorite places. I won’t do anything here, so you can relax.”

At the Emperor’s words, Lyle gave a small nod. Watching Lyle carefully, the Emperor spoke.

“You truly do resemble your grandfather.”

At the mention of the late Archduke, Lyle’s body stiffened once again.

“Has no one ever said that to you?”

“It’s such an old story, I can’t remember.”

The Emperor silently looked at Lyle.

“You resent me.”

“…I do not.”

But the Emperor read Lyle’s heart in that brief pause.

“I feel sorry.”

Lyle’s eyes widened. The Emperor continued with a bitter smile.

“I am sorry for the tragedy that befell you. But even if I were to return to the past, I would have no choice but to make the same decision.”

His voice carried a strange tone of regret.

“From the Emperor’s perspective, yes. In the past, and even now, I will never speak of that day. That’s what it means to be Emperor. Every decision must be flawless.”

Their conversation paused. Though the Emperor looked at Lyle, his gaze seemed to reach far beyond.

Finally, he spoke again.

“But if I could momentarily forget that I am Emperor, and exist only as your grandfather’s old friend, I would have wanted to say this just once: I’m sorry.”

A third apology.

Not knowing how to respond, Lyle barely opened his mouth. The Emperor gave him a faint smile.

“I’m not asking for your understanding. I only said this because I might never again have the chance to say it.”

The events of ten years ago had carved an unbridgeable rift between the Emperor and House Grant. Despite Lyle Grant’s extraordinary achievements on the battlefield, he had never received fitting recognition.

Though the Emperor had granted him vast lands in the North and tax exemptions for subduing the monsters, he had never fully trusted him. Even with the title of Archduke, not once in the past year had Lyle been granted a personal audience.

“The North is a barren land. That’s why those born there grow to be as unyielding and sturdy as deeply rooted trees.”

The Emperor paused briefly before continuing.

“The North’s military power is a double-edged sword. Ten years ago, I realized it. That the force meant to protect the Empire could just as easily bring it down.”

“Your Majesty, that—”

“Yes. I know. That your grandfather was not such a man. I have never doubted his sincerity when he said it was to protect me. But justification must always take precedence over sentiment. The northern army’s march south toward the capital had no justification.”

At the Emperor’s words, Lyle fell silent. As a boy, he had only resented the Emperor. But now, he understood what the Emperor meant.

A faint smile returned to the Emperor’s lips. “It seems you understand what I mean.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you for that. Your coming here today will be the first and last time. From now on, House Grant will not receive my full trust. You will have to prove your worth on your own.”

The Emperor, who did not trust the North. Yet the North, proving its worth, would continue to develop. The nobles would do their utmost to keep the Emperor’s trust from shifting to the North.

“You’re trying to… balance power among the nobles.”

“It was quite a shock that the Emperor’s most trusted friend marched straight to the capital ten years ago without any resistance.”

Lyle nodded. At that moment, a servant entered the greenhouse with tea. As the servant prepared the tea between them, the Emperor spoke to Lyle in a gentle voice.

“By the way, I always give a gift to those who come here. Archduke, what will you ask of me?”

“There is nothing I wish for.”

“Haha. You need not resemble your grandfather even in that regard.”

The Emperor burst into laughter. The servant, pouring the tea, also smiled faintly.

“Though I will not place my trust in House Grant, I can at least lift the unjust shadow that hangs over your family.”

It was a rather vague and ambiguous statement. The servant glanced at the Emperor and then, handing a teacup to Lyle, added a further explanation.

“There must be items obtained during the search of the Marquis of Redwood’s estate. If something can prove the events of ten years ago, His Majesty says he will remain neutral.”

“As always, you speak too much. You didn’t need to hand him the answer outright. Isn’t that right?”

The Emperor’s gaze now held a warmth, as though he were no longer looking at the Archduke of Grant, but rather the grandson of an old friend.

Lyle nodded. “Yes. I will take to heart your words that principle must come before emotion.”

At Lyle’s reply, the servant shot the Emperor a side glance. “Even though Your Majesty already gave him the answer, you still scold me.”

Saying this, the servant placed the teacup in front of Lyle. The richly steeped red tea carried a savory aroma.

“Drink. It was your grandfather’s favorite.”

Lyle gave a slight bow and brought the teacup to his lips. The Emperor watched him with a wistful expression. Seeing Lyle stirred memories of his younger days.

Suppressing the poignant longing that surfaced, the Emperor also raised his glass teacup. The warm tea carried the bitter flavor of old memories.

***

Sarah came into the room where Elaina was recovering and informed her that Colin had returned.

“…Colin?”

Elaina frowned. Counting the days in her head, Colin should only have just arrived in Mabel.

“You should come out and see. I can’t really explain…”

With that, Sarah quickly brought her the crutches.

Usually, Lyle wouldn’t allow her to get out of bed, but that very morning, the visiting doctor had passionately emphasized the importance of rehabilitation.

Thanks to the devoted care, she could now manage to walk with the crutches. The sensation of touching the floor again after so long felt unfamiliar.

Walking with trembling steps like a newborn deer, Elaina descended the stairs and widened her eyes.

“…Kyst?”

At the entrance sat Colin, collapsed on the floor, and beside him, Kyst stood casually looking around with curiosity.

“Q-quickly…”

“Eek! Just a moment! Please hold on a little longer.”

The maids screamed and hurriedly brought a bucket to Colin. Crawling on all fours, Colin clutched the bucket and retched.

“[What’s wrong with him?]”

“[That sometimes happens when using spatial teleportation.]”

Kyst responded nonchalantly, and Elaina’s eyes grew even wider.

“[Spatial teleportation magic?]”

“Colin, are you okay?”

As she questioned Kyst, she also expressed concern to Colin. Usually unshaken by anything, Colin shook his head weakly with a pale face.

“Uegh…!”

Saying his head was spinning, he kept dry heaving. Kyst observed him with indifferent eyes.

“[I even used short-range teleportation several times on purpose, but he’s still like this. His body must be extremely fragile.]”

“Haha…”

Elaina scratched her cheek. If Colin was considered fragile, then there likely wasn’t a single healthy person in the Empire.

“[What about Mabel? You said without your magic, the monsters would go berserk.]”

“[Ah, it’ll be fine for a short while. More importantly…]”

Kyst’s gaze shifted to the crutches Elaina was leaning on.

He frowned. An unusual reaction for Kyst, who rarely showed emotion.

“[You’re still not fully healed?]”

“[Huh? Yes. The wounds have healed, but the doctor said the rehabilitation period would be very long.]”

“[Humans really are fragile.]”

His tone oddly carried a hint of reproach.