Chapter 135: House of Spirits

Chapter 135: House of Spirits

“Go down the alley,” Ruel instructed, and Cassion nodded in agreement. “I’ll lead the way.”Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

“Aris, silence the sounds around us,” Ruel continued, giving his instructions.

“Understood,” Aris replied, and he immediately used magic.

—And what about this body? Leo was also waiting for his instructions.

“Leo, you...” Ruel hesitated for a moment, but Leo’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Leo, reveal yourself and stay close to me,” Ruel finally said. The rumor of Ruel carrying a red fox had spread widely.

—Got it! Leo happily jumped down from Ruel’s shoulder and stuck closely to Ruel’s leg.

Pretending to casually explore the market, they naturally made their way towards the alley, with Ruel patiently waiting for the person following him.

Their eyes met as a man glanced at Ruel.

Ruel removed his hat, offering a gentle smile.

“If I made you uncomfortable, please accept my apologies,” Ruel said politely.

The man, accompanied by several imposing individuals, approached Ruel cautiously, scratching the back of his head.

“I unintentionally followed someone I couldn’t see here, and I apologize regardless of the circumstances.”

The man bowed his head to Ruel. Then, realizing something, he gestured towards the men behind him, and they respectfully backed away.

“If you have a moment...” the man began hesitantly.

“Go ahead,” Ruel replied, noticing the man was wearing and the men who approached him as if to escort him, Ruel noticed that he was not a commoner.

“Here.”

Ttuk.

Ruel gestured with his cane toward the ground. He intended to show respect but had no intention of being led by the man until he knew his purpose.

“I’m not sure if I can convince you, but I am not a suspicious person,” the man explained, rubbing his chin and shaking his head. “No, this isn’t very convincing.” He seemed to be talking to himself, contemplating how to gain Ruel’s trust.

‘What is he doing?’

“How can I persuade him to believe me?”

Ruel grasped his cane at the man’s clearly audible muttering. Preparing to speak and not wanting to waste any more time.

However, before he could say anything, the man introduced himself.

“Please don’t be startled and hear me out. I am Prince Treitol Kran, the second prince of the Kran Kingdom.”

“...?”

Ruel’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

The man then took out a necklace and approached Ruel, but Aris stepped in.

“Do not come any closer,” Aris warned, cautious of any potential threat.

“Oh, my apologies. In any case, please show this to your master,” the man said.

Aris took the necklace from the man and handed it to Cassion.

Sniff.

Leo sniffed.

—Smells like the ocean!

Cassion closely inspected the emblem on the necklace and nodded slightly towards Ruel, indicating that it was indeed the authentic emblem of the Kran Kingdom.

Ruel internally swallowed his surprise.

‘Has the Kran Kingdom’s envoy already arrived?’

Ruel glanced at Cassion and spoke softly, “Return it.”

It was clearly Cassion’s mistake not to inform him.

However, Cassion’s expression remained unchanged.

‘Does this mean the envoy hasn’t arrived yet?’

The man, who was smiling awkwardly and trying to hide his embarrassment, was indeed a prince.

The necklace was real, after all.

Ruel bowed his head to the man.

“I apologize for the inconvenience. I am Ruel Setiria.”

“Ah, as expected, you are Lord Ruel Setiria,” Prince Treitol said with relief, placing a hand over his chest before bowing his head in surprise. “Oops. Let me formally apologize. Will you forgive all my actions?”

‘He believed me so easily?’

Ruel momentarily suppressed the doubts that arose within him. He hadn’t revealed the Setiria crest on the back of his hand yet.

‘He must have already investigated me.’

He raised the corner of his mouth even higher, “How about we relocate first, Your Highness?” Ruel suggested, wanting to properly welcome this suspicious guest.

***

Ruel attempted to secure a private room at the inn to have a conversation with Treitol, but the prince had rented out the entire place as a gesture of apology.

‘What a waste of money.’

He was a prince, after all.

‘The prince I know wasn’t like this.’

Ruel sipped water in silence while thinking about Banios living in his house.

Leo, sitting on Ruel’s lap, tilted his head in confusion when he saw that there was only water on the table.

—Why is there nothing here?

“No, go quickly! Hurry!” Treitol urged Cassion hastily.

“Until we meet again, Lord Setiria,” Treitol said faintly, leaving Ruel with an unsettling feeling, as if he was caught in a spider’s web.

***

As Cassion carried Ruel back to the inn, Leo, who had been sound asleep, suddenly opened his eyes, hearing Ruel’s groans.

—Ruel?

Leo hesitated, not sure what to do, as he saw Ruel curled up in pain, trembling.

—Cassion, Is Ruel in pain again?

“It’s the pain he always experiences,” Cassion replied calmly, administering a third painkiller to Ruel, who seemed to be in more intense and prolonged pain than before.

It was a variable he had worried about, but fortunately, they were currently in a neutral zone and not the Beast Forest.

Aris wiped Ruel’s cold sweat and asked Leo, “Leo, can you check to see if anything black stuff has increased in Ruel-nim’s body?”

—There aren’t any.

Leo approached Ruel and gently patted him.

—Don’t be in pain. I will comfort you.

“Cassion.”

Aris called out heavily, interrupting Cassion.

The enemy had finally made a move, and Aris could sense their presence.

Expecting retaliation from the Red Ash, Aris calmly said, “I will go.”

“Don’t let any of them escape,” Cassion instructed.

“Of course,” Aris replied, tightly gripping the handle of his sword.

Opening the door swiftly, he drew his sword.

The enemy had been waiting for an opportunity, and now they had targeted Ruel.

How dare they?

Aris’s eyes gleamed with fiery determination as he declared, “Not a single one.”

Flames erupted from his sword with a swift motion. “None of them will survive.”

***

As the pain subsided, Ruel breathed heavily, feeling drained. Cassion offered a handkerchief and asked, “How about returning to the mansion?”

Ruel, after coughing up black blood, raised the corner of his mouth and said, “You know this symptom... it appears even when I’m resting. What about Aris?”

“He went with my subordinates to dispose of the bodies.”

“Bodies? There was Red Ash?”

“Yes. As soon as we crossed the gate, the enemy attacked. Although I thought they would give up once we reached the neutral zone, they pursued us again.”

“Cassion,” Ruel called out to Cassion fiercely. He, too, foolishly didn’t know about it.

“I apologize. But I didn’t want to disturb your peaceful journey, and it seemed manageable enough for Aris to handle.”

“Cassion, you have an obligation to report everything to me. Is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“Yes, there is.” Cassion spoke without hiding the truth. After all, even if he had concealed it, only his heart would ache.

Ruel looked at Cassion with a look of disbelief. “There’s more?”

“As you know well, I am your loyal butler, Ruel. I won’t do anything that harms you.”

He confidently stated that the hidden information was for Ruel’s benefit.

Ruel clenched his fists, considering Leo’s presence, and suppressed his anger.

Cassion had hidden the truth from him, but he was unharmed.

It was clear that it was something for his own sake. But it was unpleasant.

After inhaling Breath, Ruel asked without showing his emotions, “...Fine. What happens if I find out?”

“You will likely be greatly confused.”

“Greatly confused?”

“Yes, after all, who doesn’t have secrets?”

Ruel chuckled at Cassion’s remark. “Okay. You’re right. Who doesn’t have secrets?”

Ruel’s gaze gradually turned cold. “But not you, Cassion.”

Ruel’s words drew a clear line between them, and Cassion suppressed a smirk that almost escaped.

Regardless of whether he had crossed a line or not, he couldn’t show any fear to Ruel.

It was only natural for someone who was his master.

“Remember,” Ruel reiterated, driving the point home, and Cassion lowered his head.

“I will keep it in mind. If you ever wish to know the secret I’ve hidden, please command me anytime.”

“...No. Later. Tell me later.”

Ruel didn’t want to immediately know what secret Cassion had concealed, considering the potential confusion it could cause.

His mind was already consumed with thoughts of Rupina.

Ruel closed his eyes in exhaustion, then opened them again, raising his upper body.

“Would you like to rest a little longer?” Cassion asked, his gaze falling on the bloodstains on Ruel’s clothes. He had brought plenty of spare clothes, knowing this would happen.

“We’ve already delayed for too long,” Ruel replied, turning his head toward the spirits clinging to his body. “Once Aris returns, we’ll set off.”

Author's Thoughts

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