He was a man difficult to like. Kyle thought of Lorenz that way. He knew from the beginning that Lorenz was a different person on the outside and on the inside. Unlike Belial, who concealed his raw hostility, Lorenz never truly hid his strange contempt from young Kyle. But Kyle didn't care.
Lorenz's desires and Kyle's goals were not in conflict. Lorenz wanted to be emperor, and Kyle couldn't ask for anything more if he could keep this cold land. So, Kyle believed that after Lorenz won the political dispute with Belial, there would be no more conflicts. No, he wanted to believe that.
"It seems that you took quite good care of the maid, Grand Duke."
Listening to him, Kyle slowly sat down. Lorenz calmly poured a drink from the cupboard, as if this drawing room were his own. A glass of golden liquid was placed in front of Kyle, but he didn't even glance at it.
"Because it's not just an ingredient."
The 'Heart of Winter' and the disappearance cases that spread throughout Meinhardt—Kyle had heard about Lorenz and Knox's cooperation through Shu. Kyle felt disgust and anger towards the two who sat so relaxed. He cared especially for his people, believing their shared survival made them even more meaningful. However, he could not forgive them for treating people as mere 'ingredients,' especially when the reason was only to obtain someone's eternal life and someone's eternal power.
"But saving can easily become a weakness. Just like now."
"What did you do to Sen?" Kyle's voice was sharp.
"It's not a big deal. We just raided her home. It took quite a while to find it. She had sent elite soldiers to guard her. Thanks to you, I saw some blood." It was a voice that showed no sadness at all, even though his own soldiers would not have returned alive. "She's a smart woman. After harassing him a few times, he immediately took Belial and fled to the North. Did you think it was okay because you gave your life?"
Sen had said that their existence could be disadvantageous to Kyle, so she would stay separately. Kyle had left a message for her to return to Blake Estate when the moment of danger came. Even if reinforcements were sent, there was a limit. Sen remembered those words and fled North to escape Lorenz. She had probably arrived in the territory by now, or was on her way.
A satisfied smile spread across Lorenz's face, as if everything was going according to his plan. Lorenz had searched for Belial for a long time. Rumors spread that Belial was dead, but Lorenz didn't believe in his death because he hadn't seen the body himself. He knew that not being able to retrieve a corpse to enjoy the victory would be a failure.
Belial's survival, which had spread like a rumor that no one would believe in the early days of Lorenz's reign, little by little, rose and fell in the conversations of the opposing aristocrats, becoming a kind of hope. The fact that Belial had a greater position than Lorenz during his time as a prince meant that the emperor persistently followed him and harassed him. Hope can be trampled on. Those who are alive may not be able to do anything properly, but the king had to consolidate his position even more. In the meantime, he was planning to strike Kyle, who was difficult to control. Lorenz wanted to get his hands on the one and only power of the two princes.
"You are going to spread the word that Belial is alive." Kyle's voice was filled with anger as he saw through Lorenz's plan.
I wanted to stop having such a boring conversation and go back to the territory right away, but I was interested in my lover's message.
[Please adjust the length, Lorenz is caught off guard anyway. He'll think we've left, so he'll tell you this and that with a teasing heart.]
And as Shu expected, when Lorenz revealed the information he had, it was as if he were sarcastically mocking them.
"People have the right to know the truth. Isn't that so?"
"..."
"It's a collaboration between Belial Serena Meinhardt and Kyle Jane Meinhardt... The whole country will be in an uproar."
Belial is actually alive. And Sen, who was about to become the Crown Princess, took him to Kyle and asked for help. In addition, Kyle is currently increasing his troops to prepare for war. If the truth is moderately distorted and put together, it will seem as if two people are working together to plot rebellion. That justification alone is reason for Lorenz to move. The truth, anyway, will disappear and become material for their own power.
"Oh, no. You may be quite capable of playing an active role in the war... but if I can't even participate in the war, I'll be quite drained."
Kyle was still silent. At that moment, a small window appeared in front of his eyes.
[Hurry up and say something! You should hold them here.]
As soon as the message arrived, Shu stood up. Knox tilted his head.
"Where are you going, kid?"
"I'm so tired of listening to dogs. I sighed and slept with only the representative behind. Don't bother to chase me." It was a tone that even felt fierce.
Kyle laughed. What else are you trying to do? Isn't it dangerous? It's lovely, but following his lover now doesn't help him much. First of all, as Shu said, we should hold on to Knox and Lorenz. Kyle opened his mouth.
"Belial is unconscious anyway. Even if he wakes up, it is unclear whether he will still be greedy for the throne. And you know, I have no desires other than to keep my territory. But why do you go to this point?"
"To show you." Lorenz smiled as he touched the glass with his fingertips. It was a gloomy and sinister smile. "That there is no hope but me. Even if it's a small ember, you can see it. I will trample you miserably, so don't think about it and obey quietly."
"..."
"I learned that perfect submission comes from despair."
What was the meaning of the world that he had gained like that? Kyle still couldn't understand Lorenz. He didn't want to understand.
"Since when have you been joining hands with the northern wizards?"
"It's been a long time. At least for several generations. Should I call it the hidden power of the Duke of Klein?"
Kyle smiled hostilely. The Marshal of the North. Those who were desperate to live somehow in this barren land, and the northern wizard who casually played with it. Kyle said with all his heart, word by word.
"No. I will somehow return to my land."
"Hmm."
"And if we meet again, I will surely take your life with my hands."
In the cold silence, Kyle stood up.
[Where are you going?] [I'll explain later. Oh, that's it. Let's meet in the room.]
A little later, another message arrived.
[We need to have a strategy meeting.]
Kyle smiled slightly. That smile, which could not be found in coldness or hostility, lingered on his face for a moment. They slipped away and then dispersed.
"Where are you going?" Knox asked interestingly. Kyle bowed slightly and greeted the two of them.
"I'm so tired of listening to the dog's voice."
"..."
"Then, please feel at ease."
After saying that, he walked out of the drawing room with a gentle step.
"Why in the world... this?"
When he arrived in the bedroom, Kyle's face turned white. He even looked a little angry at the identity of the magic pill in my hand.
"I stole it from the lab. I saw that I made a few extra bottles the other day, but I didn't discard the liquid."
"No way, you're not going to drink that, are you?"
"I'm going to drink it."
If I left it as it was, he would nag me all day. I quickly took Kyle to the bed and sat him down, then quickly climbed onto his lap and sat down. When I put my hands around his cheeks and put my forehead together, I heard him take a deep breath as if holding back his anger.
"There's no secret anyway, so I'll tell you everything. What is inside this is Knox's magic. You know that?"
"I know. Your body absorbed the magic and vomited blood as a side effect."
"It's because the numbers have risen too all at once. So, the figure of 'extraordinary interference rate' that's..."
Kyle's expression changed. He listened to my explanation with his usual seriousness. As I talked about the abnormal interference rate, the anomaly, and the miracle, calmly organizing the information, I also asked a few simple questions.
"So, you want to absorb as much of that power as possible so that it doesn't put a strain on your body."
"If you fill it 100 percent, you can interfere with their power. Unlock the magic or it means that it can be powered. I can also untie this noose on my neck."
Being able to steal magic from a wizard is a huge benefit. Now that he can't avoid all-out war, Kyle knows that this power will be his only hope. It must have been a pity.
"But I don't want to see you struggling like last time."
"At that time, Your Highness will have to help me. I don't want to take this medicine either. Even if you don't have to absorb magic directly, you can use it for experiments or gather information. I can also increase the interference rate with it."
"How many have you gathered now?"
"Let's see... About 55 percent."
I also explained about luck numbers and compasses. Still, there was no way to get out of this tower safely, but this in the reception room. You can use the bronze magic circle as well as destroy the magic circle connected to the Imperial Palace. Kyle's eyes lit up.
"Shu, are you really... It's a miracle."
I smiled mischievously and kissed him on the cheek.
"That's why. I'm going to go to shake my heart tomorrow morning. Before sunrise, I think it's better to move quickly and go back to the North. I don't know when Lorenz will move because of that."
"Yes. That's good."
"It could be dangerous, Your Highness. Knox won't take it away quietly. Last time, you will have to fight like you did when you tried to force the gate open." I hesitated and added. "It means that you may have to risk your life."
Then Kyle grabbed my hand. He held my hand tightly and then kissed the back of it. He spoke in a voice that felt affection, passion, trust, and even a touch of blindness.
"I'll risk my life on you."
"..."
"Let's go back to the estate together."