Chapter 98

“There really is no one.”

Norvek looked at the empty entrance to the underground prison as he spoke. At his words, the man let out a short laugh behind the mask.

“What’s wrong? Were you expecting them to shout ‘Escape!’ the moment you stepped out and kill you on the spot?”

“I thought there was a slight chance.”

“You still don’t understand your situation. Do you really think you’re now someone so dangerous that Lucian Valdeck would have to kill you immediately, even at the cost of staining his honor?”

“…”

The man’s words made Norvek feel a tight knot in his chest, but he didn’t respond.

In reality, his current situation was no different from that of a fish on the cutting board.

All it took was a little time to slice him up calmly—there was no reason to rush and dirty one’s hands with dishonor.

“It’s fine to thirst for revenge, but if you become too arrogant, that’s a problem. If you lose control and destroy yourself, it won’t have been worth rescuing you from there.”

“Damn it, don’t you know how to shut up? We don’t know when someone might show up. Shouldn’t we get moving already?”

“You’re not wrong, but I already left something prepared.”

“Prepared?”

“I’ll explain it later. For now, let’s do what you just said and move.”

The man in the black cloak turned around again and moved forward. He seemed to have known the layout of the White Palace for a long time, as there was no hesitation in his steps.

Shortly after, having exited the guard patrol area, they arrived at the base of the western wall.

“Alright. Now drink this potion.”

“A potion?”

Seeing the small white and suspicious vial offered to him, Norvek frowned. The man continued explaining, as if anticipating his reaction.

“It’s a potion created by an alchemist and a mage working together. After drinking it, your physical strength will greatly increase for a short period.”

“And why are you giving me something like this all of a sudden?”

“Why do you think? Because we need to climb up there. Do you think that old body of yours can scale this wall?”

The man tapped the wall a couple of times, and Norvek then noticed the rope hanging from the top to the ground, seemingly anchored with a hook from above. The problem was the height.

“…You’re telling me we’re going to climb this wall?”

“Exactly. I’ll go up first and secure the rope. Then you’ll tie it around your waist and climb the rest.”

“You’re insane.”

The insult escaped Norvek without thinking. Climbing such a tall wall using only a rope was impossible even for a young and strong man—let alone him.

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. This potion is that effective.”

“Are you saying that just drinking a potion lets someone pull off such a feat?”

“I climbed this very wall from the other side myself. Of course, without an inside collaborator to place the hook and drop the rope, even that wouldn’t have been possible.”

“Hmm.”

Even with the explanation, Norvek’s distrust didn’t fade. On the contrary, it intensified. ‘What if this isn’t a potion, but poison?’

When Norvek kept hesitating, the man’s tone turned impatient.

“What are you doing? Don’t you want to escape?”

“…I want to see you drink it first. If it’s safe, there should be no problem with you taking it right here.”

“Tsk. What a pain.”

The man in the black cloak clicked his tongue and downed the potion in one go.

His action—so direct and without hesitation—startled Norvek. The man emptied the vial to the last drop, wiped his mouth, and said.

“Are your doubts cleared now? Here, take this identical one. Drink it.”

“…”

Without a valid excuse to refuse, Norvek stared silently at the potion.

Finally, he uncorked the bottle and poured the entire contents down his throat in one gulp.

***

‘This is… real.’

Norvek swallowed hard, holding back his amazement as he looked down from atop the wall.

Even if he had been hoisted from above, it was hard to believe he had climbed such a height in so little time.

“What are you doing? Hurry while the potion’s effect is still active.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

At the man’s prompting, Norvek nodded. Unlike before, his tone had grown a bit more respectful.

If they had been able to prepare such a potion, infiltrate collaborators, and know the internal layout of the White Palace, they were no ordinary force.

“I’ll hold the rope, so descend by yourself. Don’t forget to tie it tightly around your waist like you did before climbing. It’d be ridiculous to escape prison only to die from falling.”

“And what do I do once I’m down?”

“I’ve prepared a horse, clothes, and provisions down there. Mount up immediately and ride to your territory. There are enough supplies to last until you return.”

“…Who are you?”

Norvek finally asked something he’d decided not to. He showed no respect for House Calix, yet he knew the White Palace in detail, had potions ready, and even had internal collaborators.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t imagine what house could wield such power.

The man let out a dry laugh, as if the question was absurd.

“You think I’ll tell you?”

“No. It was an unnecessary question.”

“That’s enough. Go back and dedicate yourself to your revenge. A life that doesn’t have much time left… at least let it be of use to someone in the end.”

“…”

This time, not even such a direct mockery made Norvek angry. There was useful information hidden in those words.

‘He’s not from the North.’

If he were, he would at least want the North’s stability. But the man before him seemed to value obstructing Lucian’s path more, even if it plunged the North into chaos.

It wasn’t absolute certainty, but it was enough information.

If he was an outsider, he wouldn’t interfere with Norvek again.

“Take care. We won’t meet again.”

The man didn’t respond and simply gestured, hurrying him to go down. Shortly after, Norvek, riding a sturdy horse, was galloping away at full speed.

Only when he confirmed that Norvek had disappeared did the man remove his hood and mask.

“Do your best, old man. Though even so, you won’t be able to lay a finger on His Highness.”

Torkel let out a muffled laugh for a moment and put the black hood back on.

The mission had been successfully completed—it was time to report.

***

The next day, the news of Norvek’s escape shook the White Palace. The northern nobles were shocked, yet still nodded, saying it was something perfectly plausible.

The palace had only recently been reopened. Not even Lucian, its current owner, fully knew the internal structure, so with internal collaborators, escaping wouldn’t have been too difficult.

However, there was one person who couldn’t accept the situation—Glenn.

“What are you saying?! Norvek Calix escaped?!”

“It seems someone tricked the guards and opened the doors. I don’t know what method they used. I don’t know every corner of the White Palace either.”

“Who the hell would dare…? Ugh!”

At Lucian’s words, Glenn couldn’t argue back and only let out a groan of frustration.

He knew better than anyone how long the palace had remained closed. The lack of personnel meant there were still half-abandoned areas inside.

If someone had used just those places to plan the escape, it wasn’t impossible.

“Let’s put aside who cooperated. Calix has had roots in the north for centuries. It wouldn’t be strange if one or two collaborators acted on their own. What matters now is what comes next.”

With a calm expression, Lucian fixed his gaze on the map hanging on the wall.

“If Norvek escaped, it’s most likely he’s heading to his territory. Then he’ll gather troops, resist, and proclaim his innocence.”

“Then… there’ll be war?”

“We don’t know. By now, no one’s unaware that House Calix is a sinking ship. If we manage to refute their lies properly, it’ll just be a one-sided punitive campaign.”

If, on the other hand, his nonsense starts sounding believable, then it would become a real war.

Glenn tightly shut his eyes as he realized where Lucian was going with this.

‘Damn it. If we move the mage now, it’ll seem like the Empire is betraying Duke Lucian.’

The balance of pros and cons regarding the mage’s existence was already delicate, but after Norvek’s escape, the difference had multiplied.

And yet to transfer him now and dump all the losses onto Lucian? That would be a brutality that, at the very least, would cut the Empire’s debt to him in half.

“Even if he escaped, what you must do, Sir Glenn, remains the same. Tomorrow, consult His Majesty about the mage’s fate. I leave it to you.”

“…Yes.”

At Lucian’s calm tone, Glenn silently nodded. There was no other possible course than to report to the emperor.

Shortly after Glenn left the White Palace office, another visitor arrived.

“Your Highness. I have returned after perfectly completing the mission you gave me.”

At Torkel’s brazen words, Lucian let out a mocking laugh.

“Perfectly? Don’t talk nonsense. You said we’d meet during the banquet, and in the end, you came back only after I left for the hundred-day hunt.”

“Well, that’s… but the job itself, I did it without leaving any loose ends!”

“If you miss the deadline, it’s useless. Still, I suppose I can at least acknowledge that you proved your capability.”

At those lenient words, Torkel let out a sigh of relief. Lucian motioned for him to sit, then asked something that had been on his mind.

“Your friend was the third son of House Beor, right? How’s he doing now that he became lord? Still saying he’ll side with me?”

“He has no choice. No matter his right to succession, a rebellion is still a rebellion. To stabilize his base, he desperately needs Your Highness’s recognition.”

“Then good. I was worried that once seated as head of the family, he might start saying nonsense.”

“More than nonsense, if Your Highness asked, he’d even lick your insides. You’ll see for yourself soon. By the way, about last night…”

“Silence.”

At Lucian’s quiet voice, Torkel flinched. At the same time, his instincts gave him a clear warning—if he took one step further, the trust he’d worked so hard to regain would crumble again.

“…The moon was very clear last night. I just wanted to say it was a shame we couldn’t admire it together.”

“There’ll be another opportunity. Anything else you want to say?”

“No. Whenever Your Highness orders, I will listen.”

“Good answer. Then, you may go.”

Just as Torkel stood to leave the office, Lucian added as if he had just remembered.

“Ah, right. You said you drank that potion, didn’t you? If possible, rest well for three or four days.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say it wasn’t poison?”

“It’s not poison, but it forces the body to extract energy by force. After a day, the fatigue and muscle pain are brutal. If you move too much relying on your strength, you’ll end up writhing in pain.”

In chaotic times, it was an item anyone carried as an emergency lifeline.

It had few side effects and was reliable in dangerous situations. However, if one didn’t rest properly, those minor effects could worsen and harm one’s health.

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

With his face slightly pale, Torkel closed the door as he left. Lucian watched him and smiled in satisfaction.

“With a bit more polish, he’ll be quite useful.”

Maybe because he’d come close to failing miserably, Torkel had matured quite a bit.

“To think that old man ended up in such a pitiful situation.”

He’d been allowed to escape, but the road back to his territory with an aging body would be harsh.

At first, he’d be overflowing with energy, but soon every part of his body would ache. Returning without rest in that state could only end with him in bed.

Having lost his son and the support of those around him—what if, on top of that, his health gave out?

‘Not only will he fail to gather new forces—even the ones he had left will fall apart.’

That’s what it means for a leader to lose trust.

Lucian took a sip of his tea and murmured.

“Please hang on a little longer.”

After all, when he’s no longer of use, Lucian himself will make sure to crush him.