87.
The bandit gently placed the unconscious Pamina back in the carriage. This carriage was now set to fall off a cliff a little further away. It was a method often used to dispose of exiled nobles. It was convenient to blame it on animal attacks or claim that the horses went berserk.
Once all the disguises were in place, one of the bandits started driving the carriage. Next to him sat the coachman, unconscious like Pamina.
“One urgent matter is done.”
As the bandit approached the knight and spoke familiarly, the knight clicked his tongue.
“We still have one left.”
“A capable person went for that one, so it’ll be fine.”
Both the knight assigned to escort Pamina and the bandit who appeared later were raised to harm the family’s enemies. They had just killed someone, but felt no guilt. It was the head of the family’s order. At that same moment, Grein was also under attack.
“Are you alright? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
Luna, the maid who had been by Grein’s side for years, asked with a gentle smile.
“Are you asking because you don’t know?!”
Grein glared at the object in Luna’s hand. He wanted to knock it away and break it immediately, but he couldn’t move anything below his neck. It seemed the maid had put something in his meal. That’s why Luna could remain calm in front of him.
“What if I’m asking because I don’t know?”
Luna twirled the needle in her hand. Seeing this, Grein gritted his teeth. It wasn’t easy to grasp the current situation. He had fallen asleep in his room, but when he woke up, he was in an unfamiliar carriage. Still, there were familiar faces. His maid and someone from his mother’s side of the family were there.
“What on earth is going on?”
Grein’s uncle answered his question.
“There’s been a problem. So Pamina asked us to move you to a safe place.”
Grein’s heart sank at those words.
“What problem? And what about mother?!”
“It’s a long story to explain everything right away. I’ll explain slowly as we go.”
The uncle said this, but the explanation never came to an end. Suddenly, intruders killed the escorts, and the surprised uncle who ran out followed suit. Then the maid Luna entered the carriage with a panicked expression and supported Grein, saying they needed to escape immediately.
But that too was just a trap. By the time he felt a sting in his neck, it was already too late.
“I’m sorry. But it was the family’s order, so I had no choice.”
Luna laid Grein down on the seat with a smile.
“But it’s fortunate. We’ll take good care of your body, Lord Grein.”
“Are you planning to erase all traces?”
“Yes, it makes things easier that way.”
Most of Pamina’s followers had been identified, but there were still some unknown. Since she had been so careful in her movements, some were still in hiding. To find out who they were, Grein’s body needed to disappear without a trace. That way, those who believed Grein was still alive would make their move.
‘The head of the family is ruthless.’
Still, she was his wife who had lived with him for a long time, yet he was trying to destroy everything she had built.
“Now, fall into a deep sleep. It won’t hurt.”
It was a final consideration for the master she had served for years. Luna brought the poisoned needle to Grein’s neck. Grein gritted his teeth, but what was there to fear for someone who couldn’t even move? As she was about to pierce him with the needle, smirking, suddenly there was a commotion outside.
‘What’s going on?’
They had already subdued all the guards. Luna hurriedly tried to turn her head but froze in place. An unknown person had entered the carriage and was pointing a sword at her.
“Ha, that was close. I ran all this way, and I almost found just a corpse.”
Despite speaking casually, Luna couldn’t move an inch. She was originally assigned to this task because she was good with poisons, but her combat ability was significantly lower.
“Who are you?”
“You don’t need to know that. Hey, you there. Do you want to live?”
The sudden intruder addressed Grein.
“I want to live.”
The intruder laughed out loud at Grein’s quick response.
“Then come with me.”
Simultaneously, he swung his sword and cut Luna’s throat. It happened before she could even prepare. The narrow carriage walls were stained red with the splattered blood.
“Good. Follow me. But who exactly are you?”
“Leviathan.”
The intruder left that word as he shook the blood off his sword and sheathed it.
It’s a strange feeling. Yu Jin shivered slightly at the sudden sensation that came over him. He was facing Leion, but suddenly felt an eerie feeling. It passed momentarily, but it didn’t seem like something he should ignore completely.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. By the way, can my companions come along?”
“If you mean your companions, I know who they are. Of course, they can come.”
So Jinhyeon and Keith joined midway. And Keith immediately recognized Leion.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Yes, you’ve grown a lot too.”
Leion spoke with a gentle smile. The group then followed Leion to change location.
‘It’s the elder’s room.’
Basically, the elders each had a separate room inside the Lucid mansion. This was because they often had to gather to move for Lucid’s sake.
As soon as they sat down in the quite large living room, a maid brought tea and refreshments. That’s when the real conversation began.
“The head of the family has made a big decision this time.”
“You mean about the succession issue?”
“That’s right. It was surprising, something I couldn’t have imagined, but I had some idea.”
After all, all of Ruhan’s other children were unqualified to become the head of the family. But even so, it didn’t make things easier for Yu Jin, who was to receive the position of successor. The successor was close to the position of the family head, but was not the head. Surely, the machinations of other siblings aiming for that position would begin. To defend against this, he needed to increase his own power.
“As far as I know, Yu Jin doesn’t have anyone to stand with him yet. How about me then?”
Among the elders who had maintained neutrality so far, Leion had the biggest presence. He had secured funds by marrying the daughter of a famous merchant guild and continued to increase his influence despite being neutral. It would be more accurate to say he was watching for the most promising candidate to align with, rather than truly being neutral.
“I am a capable person. I would be of great help in making Yu Jin the head of the family.”
It wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t exactly right either.
“Lord Leion. I am someone who has just been designated as a candidate for succession. I may have no power right now, but how long will that last?”
With Pamina’s downfall and Azeth in a difficult situation, there would likely be more people making moves than expected.
“Please tell me exactly how you can help me.”
That way, Yu Jin would choose Leion from among many options. Hearing Yu Jin’s words, Leion twisted his lips in a smile.
You’re demanding a lot for someone who’s just starting to form a power base. But Yu Jin’s words weren’t wrong either. If people knew that Leion had stepped forward, those who were hesitating would no longer hesitate.
“What do you want? I’ll accommodate you.”
Only then did Yu Jin smile at Leion. Now it seemed they could have a proper conversation.
The conversation with Leion continued long after they finished their tea. Through it, Yu Jin learned various things. The current situation and the power dynamics of Lucid, for example. And at the end of that conversation, Yu Jin made a future appointment with Leion.
“The next time we meet, you’ll have no choice but to choose me.”
“I look forward to it.”
And so they parted ways with Leion.
“…I’m tired.”
Yu Jin walked like a zombie, swaying. Although they had sat on sofas to talk, he was exhausted from using his brain too much. Seeing Yu Jin about to collapse, Jinhyeon, unable to watch anymore, picked him up. It was a princess carry, but Yu Jin didn’t have the energy to care about that now. After getting into the carriage, Yu Jin let out a deep sigh.
“How did things end up like this?”
“I know. Didn’t you say you’d refuse the successor position?”
Both Jinhyeon and Keith had been tactfully following Yu Jin’s lead, but they seemed curious about the sudden change in attitude.
“I did refuse. But…”
Yu Jin couldn’t hide his complicated feelings. Ruhan was finally starting to see Yu Jin properly. He couldn’t fully read his true heart, but he had started to take an interest, so things would improve from now on. An emotion he thought he had given up on long ago stirred deep inside.
‘I want to be acknowledged by father. I want to be loved.’
No, that’s not it. Go away. It’s too late now to become a normal father and son.
