Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Thanks to Hizen’s intervention, Leasis was unable to continue the sword-fighting mission with Elnos. Instead of it, a lot of other missions were waiting for her one after the other.

Leasis’ fame had spread so well that everyone wanted her. Her reputation, which had fallen due to the rumors with Elnos, was restored after the rumors turned out to be false.

Among all the missions, Hizen and Max worked hard to give her the missions that would fit her the best and allow her to grow.

The end of the day was already approaching. After completing her mission, Leasis rushed to the Commander’s office.

She stopped in front of the antique door, wiped her sweaty forehead and dusted off her uniform. She wanted to appear as clean and pretty as possible in front of Hizen.

She knew it was needless, but she still did it. It was very annoying to show her sloppy side in front of the person she liked.

So, is the Vice Commander-nim also here? Leasis grabbed the doorknob with an anticipating look on her face. This place was always full of people she liked, so her heart felt heavy.

Hizen, walking in the hallway across from her, noticed her and stopped walking. He barely raised his heavy lips.

“Leasis.”

“Commander-nim!”

She turned and stood in front of him as fast as she could, as always. However, Hizen’s face, which was dimly revealed in the dark, was pale.

“What happened to you? You look like…”

Hizen took a step closer and hugged Leasis. Her eyes widened at the breathtaking hug.

His heart echoed nervously in her ears, and his rigid body surrounding her was trembling softly.

What happened with Prince Elnos? Leasis could not help but worry. It was highly likely that he was the one making Hizen suffer.

Leasis was angry. Even if Elnos had help her train swordsmanship, she could not forgive him for hurting Hizen.

“Don’t worry. I will scold His Highness the Crown Prince Elnos no matter what.”

“You’re going to scold the Crown Prince?”

“Yes! I’m not going to leave alone anyone who bullies you.”

Her words, worried about him, were as sweet as a piano melody. With his eyes closed, Hizen smiled low, appreciating the richness of the sound.

Only then did Leasis’ worries ease a little. She smiled and extended her arms to hug Hizen.

“I hope you don’t struggle alone. I want to be with Hizen-nim, through the difficult things, hard things, good things. I want to share them all.”

At her words, Hizen lowered his head and buried his face in her shoulder. The moonlight entering the hallway flowed through the clouds, darkening his appearance.

Feeling a strange ominousness, Leasis patted him on the shoulder.

‘It’s okay, don’t worry. It will be okay.’

Leasis’ touch conveyed her sincerity. He spoke softly with his head still on her shoulder.

“Leasis.”

“Yes?”

“You… said you can’t remember… before the orphanage, right?”

Leasis nodded silently. Hizen could not stop even though he knew the future questions were likely to be painful.

He did not even notice what expression he was making. He just had to untie this sinister knot. For both of them.

“You told me before that you had a dream… about your father. Do you… remember anything?”

Waiting for an answer, Hizen became nervous and swallowed dry saliva several times. He had to get a clue, whatever it was.

Fortunately, Leasis was not very surprised or offended by the question. She gently held his shoulder and whispered.

“Nothing.”

This time again, Leasis chose to hide it. Because she could not burden Hizen who was already struggling, she wanted to make him smile.

“Not even a bit?”

“Yes. Not a bit.”

Hizen’s face darkened as he slowly raised his head. She smiled broadly at him.

“I’m fine. Let’s go eat macarons.”

At that time, Blix was wandering through the capital of the Cromus Empire.

He looked around at the brick buildings and frowned. It was difficult for him to find his way here because it was monotonous as if all the buildings had been printed out. And he had always been bad at directions.

I should’ve brought the breadman or Setchen. In the dark, Blix pouted his lips, lonely. In anger, he had come all the way here without telling Elnos, but there was no progress.

Nevertheless, he had no intention of going back. Apparently, the butler who used to serve Baron Berman emigrated to the Cromus Empire, and there was information indicating that he was running a store nearby.

It was suspicious. He had cleared his past and come all the way here. If Blix found him, he could learn what happened with the Berman family and Leasis.

Blix took out a rolled-up letter. Inside it was drawn a man with an innocent face, who appeared to be in his late 20s. He was Calorque, the butler who used to serve Baron Berman.

‘It will take a long time to find this guy, so should I eat and drink something before starting?’

Blix stretched and stepped into a nearby inn.

“Welcome!”

The smell of a burning lamp pierced his nose along with the cheerful greeting of a boy who seemed to be a waiter. Blix looked around and sat roughly somewhere.

The first floor of the inn was already crowded with customers, and the noise made his head ache. He wondered if he should not have come here.

The waiter boy stood in front of Blix through the cramped crowd.

“Would you like to order?”

It’s annoying. Blix replied without even looking at the boy properly.

“The most expensive thing here.”

Are you kidding me? The boy’s brown eyes blinked several times in wonder. This was because Blix, who was wearing a black cape in front of him, was short and had a young voice.

The wait made Blix a little angry. It was hard to endure being hungry. So he put his arm on the table and asked bluntly.

“You’re not going to bring it to me?”

There was something in his voice that made it impossible to refuse. The boy suddenly came to his senses and bowed his head.

“Oh… I’m sorry. How many servings would you like?”

“Thirty servings and ten bottles of alcohol. I can eat it by myself, so just bring it to me.”

“Yes!”

Blix smirked at the boy’s voice, who answered loudly inside the noisy room. He reminded him of Leasis. She was always bright and energetic.

Even at this time, he was remembering Leasis. Come to think of it, she was a talented woman who could bewitch someone. He had been amazed to see Elnos become a completely different person with her.

Blix raised his head and looked at the boy. But he found something strange. He had never seen him before, but he looked very familiar.

“…What?”

He hurriedly took out the letter again. The boy’s face and the man’s face in the letter looked very similar. Good eyes, round nose, straight face.

Such luck. Blix relaxedly leaned on the chair and burst into laughter. I didn’t know things would work out this way.

Blix thought he should eat first and waited for the dishes, moving his hands playfully.

After a while, Blix finished drinking and raised his hand. Then the boy, who was cleaning some empty tables, approached.

“Yes, customer! Do you need anything?”

“Yes. Do you happen to know Calorque?”

The innocent boy replied with a big smile.

“Yes. He’s my father!”

“He’s still alive, isn’t he?”

“What?”

“Is he alive?”

“Oh… yes. He’s in the kitchen. But who are you…”

The boy looked at Blix while blurring the end of his words. Although he was covered by an old cape, some unknown pressure could be felt from him. It was like being in front of a real nobleman. No, it was like seeing a demon.

Blix did not want to waste any more time. He said, lifting the hem of the cloak that was reaching the floor.

“Bring him.”

“I’m sorry, but he is busy right now…”

The boy could not finish talking properly. This was because a bright dagger was pointed at his neck in an instant.

The movement silenced the noisy inn in an instant. Because the boy was like a son to the people around him.

The customers in the inn jumped to their feet, feeling suspicious.

“Hey, you! What are you doing to Rosen? Put that down right now!”

“Such bastard!”

Noisy. Blix murmured with an expressionless face. There was no one to watch him here, so he could do as he please.

Then, someone rushed out of the kitchen. He was a man with a slightly wrinkled face similar to the one in the letter.

Blix shrugged his shoulders.

“You’re finally coming out. I had a hard time finding you.”

“Please let my son go now.”

“Good.”

It’s in my palm anyway. Blix smiled leisurely and punched the boy in the abdomen.

The boy fell on the floor in an instant, and the customers tried to run toward Blix.

But at that moment, Calorque shouted.

“Stop it! Everybody stop!”

Calorque’s face hardened terribly. After working under Count Dratius for half his life, he had an eye for people.

He was dangerous. His instinct told him that the boy in front of him was not ordinary. Everyone could lose their lives if they resisted.

“M-master?”

“Get out.”

“But the little boy…”

“Please. Get out.”

The customers who answered Calorque’s mournful request went out. One or two of them were worried and could not pass through the door.

You’re more sensible than I thought. Blix approached him and laughed.

“You’re the butler of Baron Berman, aren’t you? You’re living pretty well. After ruining other people’s lives.”

Blix’s provocation greatly shook Calorque’s shoulders. It was as he had expected. There must have been a reason why a man who used to work as Baron Berman’s butler had run away.

Blix pushed his opponent one more time.

“Every time you don’t answer, one of your son’s fingers will be cut off.”

He looked dead serious. Calorque nodded silently, feeling his whole body wrapped by a huge snake.

“All right.”

“Then you know the truth about the fire?”

Ah. You’re answering late. Blix raised his dagger because he hated being bored.

As Blix approached his son, the man hurriedly replied.

“That’s right. I know.”

“Then is it true that the fire was a conspiracy made by Count Dratius?”

“The former Count is already dead. Don’t think too hard and tell me.”