Home/I Saved the Villain and Fell Asleep/ch 100

Chapter 100

"...Hail."

Recognizing the name, Kali recalled him immediately.

"He said he lived like he was there yet not there. No courage to leave the Grand Ducal castle—he thought he'd die there for sure... if he hadn't seen you at the main gate."

Hail seemed to have been close with young Kali—close enough to recognize him at a glance even after years and a hair color change.

Teo continued.

"He said he was going to die of illness anyway, so he wanted to be of some use to you."

"What... happened to him?"

"Most of the long-serving servants at the Grand Ducal residence were under dark magic. Hail was no exception."

Yet he revealed the Grand Ducal secrets, knowing it meant death.

"At his request, I let him go peacefully. He said he wanted to rest now that he'd unburdened the worries he'd carried all his life. Come to think of it, that was for you, not me."

Probably to prevent Kali from feeling guilty.

"...Thank you, Your Highness."

Teo's eyes widened at Kali's sincere gratitude—a stark contrast to when they'd scuffle regardless of the Emperor watching.

"I never thought I'd hear thanks from you. You usually treat everyone outside Algenprina like stones on the road... What kind of person was he?"

"He was the stablemaster who first taught me to ride a horse. I know he'd worked at the Grand Ducal castle even before I was born. A very... long time."

Kali's head drooped lower.

-If we claim the former Emperor is alive inside Czerban Ternia without solid evidence, we'll be treated as madmen. We need clear proof. It'll take time.

His Majesty, clutching his head in frustration, ended the meeting.

-Dateon, return for now. We need to prepare for what's ahead...

"Yes, Father."

The meeting ended late, and Kali couldn't sleep all day. I brought a chilled bottle of low-alcohol wine to his room.

"Knew you wouldn't be sleeping."

"Knock, please."

"I did. You didn't hear."

Actually, I didn't. I forgot.

"Want a drink?"

"Thought you said never to drink."

"It's fine in your room."

I poured wine into his glass. He downed it without hesitation—he must be really upset.

"Why 'Night Keeper'? You said he was a stablemaster."

"I used to sneak out at night to ride horses under the stars."

"What?"

"Hail always caught me. But he never sent me straight back—he'd let me ride for about ten minutes under the night sky. That's why he was the 'Night Keeper'—he guarded the nights I visited."

A romantic story.

"...Irein still hasn't woken?"

"Mm. He must have been tired."

Kali's expression darkened.

"How do you think Isaac will act?"

Isaac's next move?

I held my wine glass and thought seriously. Ideally, he'd just charge in recklessly—demanding Caelius or the princess, and we'd take them all down.

But that's not happening. He's a true individualist, moving with minimal numbers, never directly—always targeting those around us.

"He'll chip away slowly, draining blood, and when an opportunity comes, he'll take what he wants—you, me, or both. So we need to draw him out first..."

Czerban Caelius, a mage even the Emperor struggled with, is on our side—shouldn't we be able to take Isaac?

"But unless we find and dismantle the entire dark mage network, the same thing will happen again."

Would eliminating the former Emperor and Isaac bring peace?

No. We need to crush all the dark mages—so that even if a few remain, they won't dare raise their heads.

"That's true."

"Rather..."

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Go get some rest."

"Hey, how many fingers am I holding up?"

I waved four fingers in front of his face.

"Four."

"Huh? Your tolerance improved?"

He stood up steadily after finishing his wine. Had it really improved?

"Grr."

"Huh? Bibi?"

He must have followed us from earlier—he was tugging at Kali's pants.

"Looks like he's hungry?"

"I asked others to feed him while I was busy, but maybe it wasn't enough. He needs Sier for a big meal, but Sier's been away."

Kali knelt and held out his hand to Bibi.

"Here, dinner time."

"Pfft!!"

Dinner time? He's copying what I say to Bibi every time I feed him—ahhh!!!

"Kali!! Are you crazy?!!"

A massive flame shot up before Bibi—I quickly pulled out my club.

Bibi was thrilled, jumping around, and I swung the club to keep the carpet from catching fire.

"You crazy bastard!!!"

He's drunk!! Definitely drunk!!

"Bibi, eat your fill. From now on..."

"Put out the fire, you arsonist!!"

"Woof woof!!"

Later, I'd regret not grabbing Kali by the collar and shaking him until he confessed everything. Please, don't do anything reckless. I never wanted to rely on your sacrifice—Algenprina isn't that weak. I should have told you that one more time.

"Please cooperate, Duke."

"Is this how you repay kindness with enmity?"

Standing on the stairs, gripping the railing, I looked down at Sir Silteng leading the imperial knights in the hall.

Damn it. We've been caught.

"...Duke."

Sir Silteng's face went pale. Less than a month since he received the Duke's help, and now under the Emperor's orders, he had to arrest his benefactor.

"It's a joke. It's His Majesty's command—you have to do it. What can you do?"

The Duke's tone was sharp, like a man whose pride was wounded. It was a show arrest, but it was still irritating.

He'd probably be taken to His Majesty's office, not a dark dungeon.

How loudly must the nobles have demanded the Duke's investigation for His Majesty to step back? Especially now?

"Oh dear, Hariella. Did the commotion wake you?"

Father looked up at me with an overly gentle voice.

"Ah, Dad!! What's going on? Why are the imperial knights taking you?"

I forced tears, ran down the stairs, grabbed his shoulder, and sobbed.

"Help Sier. They'll move while I'm gone. I'll be back in five days."

He whispered to me, then gestured for me to take out the club. I pulled it out with a ragged breath.

"Y-you can't take him! Stay back!"

"Oh dear, Princess! Please don't do that—these are the imperial knights!"

Simon played along, running toward me. After struggling to stop my unruly behavior, he bowed to Sir Silteng.

"Sir Silteng, please forgive her rudeness—the princess is still young."

"...It's fine."

Ahem, you're all in on this act—control your expressions, Sir Silteng. You clearly know this is staged too.

"Hariella, I'll be fine. I'll be back soon—take care of the castle."

Father placed his hand on my club, out of the knights' sight. The second golden gem filled with silver mana. I still had plenty left from before, but this amount would be more than enough to cover the castle.

"Okay, Dad. Come back soon."

"Yes."

After exchanging a glance with Sir Silteng, Father left with the imperial knights. Once he was gone, Sier appeared, clutching his head in frustration.

"Simon, how many shadows are escorting Father?"

"Five in total. Should I add more?"

"Even if they can't enter the palace, they need to get him there safely—guard against ambushes. Add five more shadows."

"Understood."

"Hari, Senté will be back soon. Take his report for me. I'm going to the control tower."

The control tower—where all the castle's magic circles are controlled. Only the Duke and his heir can enter. Sier planned to stay there for a while to activate the defensive magic circles.

"Got it. What about Mom?"

"She's with Kali—don't worry."

But before we could properly respond, things escalated. The incident traced back to four days ago.

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