The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate

Chapter 37

The journey to the capital was remarkably smooth. It would have taken a full-scale army to even think of causing trouble with the Imperial Guards representing the royal family and the Oceanwolf Knight Order representing the Leston family, let alone the formidable presence of Mason, an 8-Star knight. It was natural for nothing out of the ordinary to happen. That allowed Caron to catch some restful sleep inside the prince's carriage.

Time passed until Caron eventually stirred, slowly opening his eyes. Beside him, Leo was still fast asleep, drooling slightly. However, what truly surprised him was the sight of the royal bastard, Revelio. Instead of chattering as usual, Revelio was gazing quietly out of the carriage window, sunlight filtering in to highlight his dark hair. He was the spitting image of royal lineage, with his jet-black hair and golden eyes.

If only he'd keep his mouth shut, he'd look every bit the prince, Caron thought. Revelio's handsome features and the dignified air about him made him seem like the ideal prince, the kind that the people of the empire would surely admire.

"Oh, you're awake. You should've said something sooner. I've been waiting for you to wake up," Revelio said when he noticed Caron awake. Naturally, that dignified air vanished the moment he spoke.

Caron sighed heavily and nodded in acknowledgment. He said, "I have to admit, I'm surprised."

"About what?" Revelio asked.

"I expected you to talk nonstop for the entire trip. I didn't think you'd let us get any sleep," Caron admitted.

Revelio chuckled softly at Caron's words as he waved his hand dismissively. He said, "I'm not that thoughtless. You guys were caught up in that incident yesterday, right? And you spent the night running around, so you must be exhausted. If you want to sleep more, go ahead."

"I slept enough," Caron replied curtly as he reached into his pocket to pull out a piece of jerky. He looked at Revelio and asked, "Do you want some too?"

"There is a saying that when predators share their prey, it means they want to be friends. Can I take it that way?" Revelio asked.

"Don't overthink it. You just looked as if you'd snap in half if I touched you. Even if you're a mage, you should keep your body in shape. Relying only on magic is the quickest way to get yourself stabbed," Caron said to Revelio as he tore off a piece of jerky and popped it into his mouth.

The salty flavor of the jerky spread through Caron's mouth as he chewed, while Revelio watched him with a look of amusement. Caron was the first person who had reacted like this after finding out he was a prince. Even Foina, who had been close to him since childhood, had started keeping her distance once she heard about his true identity.

As expected, this guy is amusing, Revelio thought. It had been a long time since anyone had left such a unique first impression on him.

"How much longer until we reach the capital?" Caron asked.

"About six hours," Revelio answered.

"...Still?" Caron sighed.

"You know you've been sleeping for six hours straight, right?" Revelio pointed out.

"I guess the ride was just that comfortable. Maybe I'll get one of these carriages when I return to the Leston Duchy," said Caron.

"This carriage is really expensive, you know," Revelio said.

"I'm not exactly poor. Or... You could just give me one as a gift. Isn't it normal for friends to exchange gifts?" Caron suggested.

"And what would you give me?" Revelio asked.

"I offered you some jerky," Caron stated flatly.

Revelio burst into laughter and replied, "You're seriously out of your mind, aren't you?"

The tension between them eased as they exchanged some light-hearted banter. Revelio laughed heartily for a while, but then he narrowed his eyes as he looked at Caron.

"That whole situation in Thebe right now. Was it you that orchestrated it?" Revelio asked.

Before Revelio left Thebe, he had heard the mayor's speech. The speech, which was full of talk about justice, had one clear message. He observed, "The mayor intends to tear down the council and seize power for himself."

"The royal family must have taught you early, huh? You've got quite the eye," Caron remarked.

"Oh, I grew up on the streets, remember? I ran away just to survive," Revelio reminded him.

"Sounds like you're proud of that messed-up family of yours," Caron said.

"Enough of that. If that old Mayor Grine, who's been nothing more than a figurehead until now, suddenly switched gears, it could only mean that he's found a powerful ally. And the only people he could have turned to in that situation would be the Leston household," Revelio pointed out.

Caron nodded in agreement and said, "That's right. We're going to take control of Thebe. Speaking of which, is Caligo interested in this matter?"

Revelio shrugged and replied, "Why don't you ask my sis directly? She gave you that crystal orb to contact her later, didn't she?"

"Oh, drop the pretense," Caron said.

He knew Revelio and Foina weren't just casual acquaintances. The very existence of their organization was unnatural. A group made up entirely of former slaves was like a powder keg waiting to explode. The fact that they hadn't been wiped out already meant they had powerful backing... perhaps the royal blood standing before him.

Revelio grinned slyly at Caron and asked, "Alright, so what do we stand to gain from cooperating?"

"Not much different from what you have now," Caron replied. "The mayor will control the public, and you'll control the underworld. Happiness grows when it's shared, doesn't it? We could help each other out when times get tough."

"You're not thinking of taking everything for yourselves?" Revelio asked.

"If you overeat, your stomach's bound to burst. But before any partnership, I've got one condition," Caron said.

"Go on," said Revelio.

"We need to know who we're working with. I want to understand what your true goals are," Caron said after dangling the bait.

With a nonchalant shrug, Revelio said, "There's nothing much to it. It's just a bunch of misfits with no place to go, banding together for strength. If I had to pick another reason... Maybe we're all just looking for freedom?"

"Freedom from what?" Caron asked.

"That varies from person to person," Revelio replied thoughtfully. "For some, it's their social status, and for others, it's poverty. And then, for some... Well, even I'm not entirely sure. But in the end, we're all just seeking freedom."

"And that includes you, Your Highness?" Caron asked.

"Yes, me too," Revelio answered.

Their conversation had the air of a riddle, with questions and answers circling around each other. Caron tore off another piece of jerky and popped it into his mouth.

"And yet, in a group with such unclear goals, you've got an elf mage as the chairwoman," Caron pointed out.

"My sister's a special case. She originally came to Thebe to rescue elf slaves who had been trafficked here. As you know, nobles go crazy for elves. Thanks to her, the trade has decreased significantly, but back in the day, Thebe was the largest market for elves," Revelio said.

The more Caron heard about this organization, the more questions arose. Could they really work together despite these uncertainties? For him, it wasn't a difficult question to answer.

As long as it benefits us both, Caron thought. He wasn't looking for a lifelong partner, just a business ally. If it was profitable, there was nothing he wouldn't consider.

"Consider it a reward for cooperating with us. Thanks to the evidence we'd gathered in advance, our job was much easier," Caron said.

"My sister would be pleased to hear that. She's been complaining about the lack of clients lately. It's even put a dent in my finances," Revelio replied.

"A prince making money off the black market. What an excellent job," Caron said with a chuckle.

"It's not as if I've got a wealthy maternal family showering me with allowances like my siblings do. But you shouldn't be the one to talk, seeing as you gave the mayor some under-the-table money," Revelio said.

"How did you know?" Caron asked.

"Because that's exactly the kind of thing you'd do," Revelio replied without missing a beat.

This prince never lets a single remark go unanswered. What a peculiar guy, Caron thought. With their business concluded, he pulled the blanket beside him over his body again.

Revelio widened his eyes in surprise and asked, "You're going back to sleep again?"

"I just ate jerky," Caron replied nonchalantly. "After eating, you need to sleep so your muscles can grow. And you said there's still plenty of time before we reach the capital, right?"

"That's true," Revelio admitted.

"Then I'd better get some sleep now so I'll have the energy to go around when we arrive," Caron said. At least the prince had the decency not to disturb someone who was sleeping. With the blanket covering him, Caron suddenly made one last request. "Your Highness, can I ask you a favor?"

"If it's something I can do, sure," Revelio said.

The sunlight streaming into the carriage was too bright for Caron's liking, so he pointed toward the window and said, "The sunlight's too bright. Let's draw the curtains."

"I can't let you do that. Watching the scenery outside the carriage is my only pleasure. But here, let's do this instead," Revelio said.

Whoosh.

As Revelio waved his hand, a black eye mask materialized in the air. He handed it to Caron and said, "It's an artifact with magic built in. It blocks out light and sound. Use this."

"Oh, thanks," Caron said.

"You eat, sleep, and do your business. How are you any different from an animal?" Revelio teased.

"I haven't done my business yet, but I can show you if you want," Caron replied with a sly grin.

"...If you're going to do that, there's a bathroom at the back of the carriage," Revelio said.

"This carriage really has everything, doesn't it? Tsk."

"Just sleep, you animal."

Caron chuckled as he picked up the eye mask Revelio had summoned.

I've won this time, he thought. He had worn Revelio down first, so this round was his victory. As he put on the mask and drifted off to sleep, silence once again filled the carriage.

And so, the carriage continued its steady journey toward the capital.

***

"Caron, Leo. It's time to wake up."

By the time Caron opened his eyes again, darkness had already fallen outside the window.

Both Caron and Leo yawned as they sat up from their seats.

"This carriage is amazing... I didn't know the seats could turn into beds. Truly luxurious. Caron, I guess money really is the best," Leo remarked drowsily.

Caron responded flatly, "Did you just realize that?"

He adjusted the backrest he had been using as a bed, setting it upright again. Then, he glanced over at Revelio and asked, "Are we there yet?"

Revelio shook his head and replied, "We can't go fast from here on."

"Why not?" Caron asked.

"We just crossed the border into Decus. Inside the capital, we have to follow the speed regulations," Revelio answered.

Decus, the capital of the Orias Empire, was unlike any ordinary territory. It was built on the most fertile land in the empire, with massive walls protecting the entire perimeter of the sprawling city. The sheer size of Decus was almost unfathomably immense; it was twice that of the Leston Duchy. From the imperial palace at the city's center to its outermost edge, it would take at least thirty minutes by train.

"I almost want to turn the carriage around and leave," Revelio murmured with a faint smile. He continued, "Father would whip me for that... Oh wait, he's bedridden now, isn't he? At least I won't be getting whipped. Lucky me, right, Caron?"

"The moment I agree with that, it's treason," Caron said.

"So what? No one's listening," Revelio replied nonchalantly.

"Sir Mason is listening," Caron reminded him.

"Don't worry. Sir Mason can keep a secret," Revelio assured Caron.

Caron took a sip of the water that was beside him. It was so cold, as if Revelio had cast a chilling spell on it, that it instantly woke him up.

Revelio watched him with a satisfied smile, then asked, "Where are you staying once we arrive?"

"At my grandfather's house," Caron answered.

"Ah, the Tax Commissioner's place? Good choice. It's a bit away from the city center, so it's nice and quiet."

"You really do know everything, don't you?"

"If you run away from the palace as much as I do, you'll get to know Decus like the back of your hand. If you ever need a guide, just say the word. I'll run away again and come find you, got it?" Revelio offered.

Caron ignored the offer and turned his attention back to the window, thinking, I wonder if Grandfather is arriving safely.

His grandfather, Gyle, was traveling in the following carriage. Caron had suggested he ride with them, but Gyle had declined, saying it would be uncomfortable. It seemed he was well aware of Revelio's eccentricities.

"Wow..." Leo, who had been gazing out the window alongside Caron, let out an exclamation. The reason was clear: The central district of Decus had come into view.

"Caron, that tower..." Leo began.

"That's the Imperial Magic Tower," Caron answered.

A white tower stood tall, visible even from a great distance. The Imperial Magic Tower was the symbol of civilization itself, and had existed even in Caron's previous life.

It's become even grander since I last saw it. How much money did those damn mages throw into it? Caron thought.

It had been nearly fifty years since he last saw the Magic Tower, and it looked noticeably different from before. In the past, it certainly hadn't shone as brightly as it did now. Caron thought to himself that the mages had to have spent a fortune on it.

Sensing Caron's dissatisfaction, Revelio smiled and said, "They're still hoarding all the money."

"Some things never change..." Caron muttered.

"Huh? You've been here before? I thought this was your first time in the capital," Revelio said.

"Don't bother me. I'm just lost in thought," Caron said.

"Country bumpkin," Revelio teased.

Caron brushed it off and returned his gaze to the window. The buildings of the capital were gradually coming into view, inching closer with each passing moment. This was the heart of the empire, a city that stood as a testament to its glorious civilization. It was also the city personally ruled by the great emperor.

And also...

...My grave, Caron thought.

This was the place where he had met his end in his previous life. As he took in the sight of the capital for the first time in fifty years, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.

The knight who had perished long ago thought to himself, Damn it, nice to see you again.

Cain had finally returned to his own grave.