Chapter 13: Escape from the Royal Palace (3)

“Hernand, do you have anything on you?”

“I’ve got nothing.”

“I know you do.”

“I really don’t.”

“You came to gamble.”

“Since I didn’t have any, I borrowed from Gorio.”

“Was it me who borrowed, or you?”

“Ugh…”

Yuri examined each of the beggar children.

They were orphans trained by the assassin cult.

Asana had a natural talent and mastered assassination techniques from a very young age. She rebelled against the cult’s inhumane treatment and escaped, taking the children with her.

In the process, the cult was completely wiped out.

Asana knew how to kill, but not how to survive in society.
She kept the children begging, and when one of them fell ill, she borrowed money from Gorio to save him.

Like many who reached out to him, Asana’s group was eventually destroyed.

Consumed by revenge, Asana formed her own organization and killed Gorio.

Gorio, Irene, and Asana. Yuri had met three people that day who would bring great upheaval in the future.

How would that future change now?

There was no time to think about it.

“Hello.”

Yuri stood in front of Asana. She was taller than him. She might have been seventeen or eighteen, but her cold expression made her look like an adult.

“I’m Yuri Briol, third prince of Briol.”

He said confidently, looking up at her.

“Prince?”

“That’s right.”

“And what’s a prince doing here?”

There was no change in Asana’s eyes. Same with the other children. The assassin cult had nearly erased their emotions.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it? But it’s true.”

Yuri reached out his hand toward Hernand, who groaned.

“Uuugh…”

“Quick.”

“Here you go…”

The money pouch Hernand handed him was so heavy that Yuri nearly staggered.

“…”

How much had he planned to gamble in that illegal den? Yuri gave him a look without words. Hernand looked like he was about to cry.

“Drop that face.”

It was a ridiculous amount of money, but if he could win over Asana with it, even a fortune was worth it.

“Here.”

Asana’s eyes flickered slightly. She took the pouch and stood still.

“No need to be surprised. Sometimes I do good deeds. I just felt sorry for your situation and wanted to show some compassion. Right, Hernand?”

“…”

Yuri nudged Hernand. He spoke, albeit late.

“Yes, yes. That’s true.”

“That’s right.”

Asana still hesitated. She seemed suspicious, as if Yuri might know her true identity.

“What do you want?”

Yuri shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“Really?”

“Well, there is one thing.”

Asana narrowed her eyes. Yuri kept smiling.

“One of the kids is sick, right? Use this money to take him to the temple.”

One child would fall ill, and in seeking help, they’d turn to Gorio. That was how the misfortune began. Yuri cut that root from the start.

“That’s all.”

“Is that really all?”

“Yes.”

Yuri held her gaze and curved his lips.

“Remember this. I’m Yuri Briol, third prince of Briol.”

Then he turned around.

Since Hernand didn’t follow, he grabbed him by the clothes and dragged him.

“Do you know how much that money was worth…?”

“I’ll pay you back, so stop complaining.”

“And you just give it away to some beggars…?”

“Think of it as an investment.”

“Investment in them? Come on…”

Yuri walked out of the slums humming a tune. Having completed all his plans made him feel lighter.

“Hernand. We prevented a future tragedy today.”

“What tragedy?”

“That girl was going to become the underworld boss and terrorize the citizens. Many innocent people would’ve died. But with this act of kindness, we changed her fate.”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say…”

He clearly didn’t believe a word, but Yuri didn’t care.

“Let’s go back.”

His short excursion was over.

He looked at Hernand, whose face reflected a sea of thoughts. Yuri smiled.

That day, he had nudged three people toward their fate. One more remained.

“Hernand.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“In the Founder’s ruins, what did you see?”

Hernand paused for a moment.

There, Yuri had encountered a projection of the Founder and learned the manamessōdo technique, while Jared had fought and defeated his own reflection.

But Hernand had never said what he experienced there.

“It’s a secret.”

“Be honest.”

“It was a gamble.”

“What?”

“I played a life-or-death game in the Basregas casino in the Empire.”

Basregas was the biggest casino on the continent.

If it was Hernand, it made sense he’d get that kind of welcome.

“Well, whatever. About today…”

“Yes.”

Hernand still wore an ambiguous expression.

Yuri smiled and patted him on the back.

“Behave yourself.”

***

Even after the prince left, Gorio remained seated, lost in thought.

“Sir.”

One of his subordinates spoke to him cautiously.

“Yes?”

“The opponent is royalty. If he doesn’t repay the money…”

“That wouldn’t be so bad either.”

“If he refuses to pay, we don’t have many options. The prince might only get scolded by the king, but us…”

“Then there’s nothing we can do.”

“Pardon?”

The subordinate looked puzzled. Gorio was not someone who let debts go unpaid.

For him, regardless of who the debtor was, they had to pay; that was the only way to maintain respect in the underworld.

“Etman, how long have you been working for me?”

“Ten years.”

“In all that time, have we ever dealt with nobles of count rank or higher?”

“No.”

“But now someone from the royal family came.”

Gorio interlaced his fingers and lowered his head.

“What do you think sets royalty apart from commoners?”

“I don’t know… their blood?”

“Exactly. Just that.”

He looked up and fixed his gaze on the door through which the third prince had exited.

“That’s all.”

A smile appeared on his lips.

“They’re humans like us. So you tame them the same way—you infiltrate, bind, and lure them. If money doesn’t work, ask for something else. Start with something small. A slight concession, then a slightly bigger one. Before you know it…”

He grabbed Etman’s wrist, who was standing beside him, and raised it. One of his fingers was missing.

“They’re on your side.”

They had met as debtor and creditor.

Etman couldn’t repay his debt, gave up his index finger, and became Gorio’s subordinate. To this day, his debt remained.

Gorio smiled sweetly at him. Etman replied with an awkward grin.

“We never lose. So that brat prince… he’s our best customer.”

“G-glad to hear that.”

“Exactly.”

Gorio let go of Etman.

“Come on, back to work. Just like always. Nothing’s going to change.”

***

Elaine sat, staring blankly at the letter of authority in her hand.

She now had to acquire as much “Mugranza” from the Duchy of Klein as possible within the assigned budget. The pay was substantial, and there was the promise of further business depending on the results.

“Is this real…?”

At first, she thought it was a scam, but when she saw the ring engraved with the royal family’s crest, she had no choice but to believe it.

“Yuri Briol…”

Elaine brushed her earring with her fingertips. Though tarnished, it was pure gold.

Her father had told her never to take it off, so she could rise again if she ever lost everything.

The words the third prince had said kept echoing, as if hanging from the same earring.

‘I’ve heard of your father, Undre Wood.’

A merchant must not be swayed by others’ words.
But those words had moved Iraine’s heart.

‘Merchants who follow money are common, but those who follow trust are rare.’

It was a phrase her father used to repeat, and yet it had come from the mouth of a young prince.

People used to say her father was a fool. But that prince was different.

‘If you’re Undre Wood’s daughter, you’ll keep your word no matter what. Isn’t that right, Elaine Wood?’

Normally, she would’ve been suspicious of such a generous offer. But because he spoke of her father, she accepted without hesitation.

Even when replaying it in her mind, she couldn’t find a reason to turn it down.

She looked around inside her trading company.
She didn’t even have decent furniture.
The drawers were stuffed with bank collection letters.

“We’re already on the brink of bankruptcy anyway.”

Elaine clenched her fist.

There was something her father valued as much as trust.

“Move forward without fear.”

Those who fear risk can’t be true merchants. Elaine felt her body ignite with resolve.

“They’ll see.”

***

Asana stood in front of the temple.

A priest dressed in white smiled at her.

“What brings you here, sister?”

Then Daisy, who had been hiding behind Asana, peeked her head out.
Asana replied,

“This child isn’t feeling well.”

The boy who introduced himself as a prince had given her money and told her to go to the temple.

Though she had her doubts, she brought Daisy along.

The outside world was still unfamiliar to her.

“Ah, I see.”

Asana noticed a faint twitch under the priest’s eyes.

“The temple does offer medical care, but…”

The priest licked his lips.

“We give divine blessings first to those who have demonstrated their faith…”

“Here.”

Asana pulled out a pouch of coins from her chest. The clinking of gold sounded clearly.

“I have money.”

With the same ambiguous expression, the priest lifted the corners of his lips in a smile.

“Please, sister. May the Lord watch over you.”

The white of his robe brushed the floor as he climbed the steps.

Whether it was a temple or an assassin cult, at the core, they weren’t so different.

Asana took Daisy’s hand and walked forward, thinking of the boy who had given her the money.

“Daisy.”

“Yes?”

“Does it hurt?”

“A little…”

Was this child really suffering from a serious illness?

Asana said,

“When you get better, we’ll go thank that man.”

“That man?”

“The one who gave us the money.”

“Okay.”

***

Hernand was having a private audience with Fiore.

Though it was well known that he was the king’s mage, few knew the true nature of their relationship.

“Hernand.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How is Klein?”

“Well…”

Hernand smiled.

“I don’t know.”

Fiore observed him silently. Hernand met his gaze with a faint smile on his lips.

“Hernand.”

“Yes.”

“Are you thinking of leaving?”

“Not at all.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Fiore paused, carefully choosing his words before continuing.

“I’ve always been glad you’re in Briol.”

Hernand knew few ever got to hear such words from Fiore.
He bowed his head in gratitude.

“It’s an honor.”

People thought Hernand was simply a skilled combat mage.

But that was only partly true. For a monster like Fiore to keep someone close, you needed more than just “a bit of magic skill.”

“In any case, if you don’t know, let’s leave that topic. Tell me, is it true you left the capital with Yuri?”

“Ah, yes.”

Hernand looked up as if trying to recall.

“The prince persuaded me to leave the palace…”

“And then?”

“We went to the Crystal Tower.”

“The Crystal Tower…”

“Luckily, we went to the basement.”

“I’m not sure if that’s lucky. And that’s where you gambled?”

“Well…”

In reality, he didn’t gamble. He just met with Gorio and borrowed money.

“We went to the basement…”

“And?”

“Yes, we gambled.”

“Oh, really?”

“He was pretty good with cards, but that didn’t help him there. He even lost the money I lent him.”

“Winning at the casino isn’t easy.”

“I’m sure he learned the importance of betting in moderation.”

“And then?”

“Then…”

He took the borrowed money and left it all with a small, unknown trading company.

“We walked around the capital, observing everyday life. He seemed very interested in how common people live.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We also ate some street food at the market.”

“The street market, huh…?”

“Don’t you visit there sometimes, Your Majesty?”

“I do.”

“In gambling and food, you two really seem like father and son.”

“…”

“Anyway, that was all.”

“And then you returned to the palace?”

“To the palace…”

Before that, he passed through the slums and tossed a bag full of gold coins.

“Yes, we returned.”

But Hernand hid all of that. He lied calmly, smiling at the king.

“That’s all.”

“I see.”

Fiore, leaning on the armrest with his usual bored expression, nodded.

“Understood. You may leave.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Hernand bowed to Fiore and turned to leave. From behind, he heard the king’s voice.

“Will you attend the ball?”

“Yes.”

“You said before you weren’t interested.”

“The human heart changes. It’s been a while since I danced.”

“Very well. I’ll see you there.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”