Chapter 182
Rustle.
The letter unfolded.
Steady eyes swept across the page.
“Hm.”
A wrinkle formed between the brows of Her Majesty the Queen Alicia Termina Magentano.
“Hell Knight, is it…”
She searched her memory.
She had seen it mentioned in old texts.
A knight said to lead the legions of hell.
Of course, outside of ancient times, a Hell Knight had never descended upon the earth.
And if such a being truly descended?
Those same texts warned that every living creature would meet its end that day.
‘In a way… it’s fortunate it was summoned in an incomplete state.’
The kingdom could have been devastated.
But it wasn’t.
Thanks to the valiant knights and citizens of Namaran, the Black Wizards’ scheme was thwarted, and the descended Hell Knight was subdued—barely.
That was what Count Namaran’s report claimed.
‘But is this report truly reliable?’
A faint smile flickered in Queen Alicia’s eyes as she read under the wavering candlelight.
Something felt off.
‘I can believe Namaran’s knights annihilated and captured the Black Wizards, but a Hell Knight? Even incomplete, they subdued it?’
It was hard to accept.
‘And the appended details are even more suspicious.’
Her gaze drifted to the bottom of the report.
There, Count Namaran had attached a more detailed account of the moment the Hell Knight was brought down.
‘Lloyd Frontera, the eldest son of the Frontera family, who happened to be staying in Namaran, sang a strange song. That song greatly confused the Hell Knight, and in that opening, Javier Asrahan and the other knights fought bravely and subdued it… Hm. What kind of song could shake a Hell Knight?’
It was unimaginable.
And yet, even through the careful wording, Queen Alicia could sense it.
‘Count Namaran deliberately reduced Lloyd Frontera’s contribution.’
It was written all over the report.
Of course, she had not witnessed the incident herself.
But reading between the lines, considering the circumstances, it wasn’t a difficult conclusion.
‘In the first place, no matter how bravely Namaran’s knights fought, they could not have withstood a Hell Knight. But Javier Asrahan and the knights cooperated to subdue it? No. In truth, it must have been Lloyd Frontera and Javier Asrahan who brought it down.’
A memory surfaced.
The night someone had attempted to assassinate her.
The abilities those two had shown then.
Javier, who subdued Swordmaster Cherny.
And Lloyd, who was no Swordmaster, yet displayed bizarre, unclassifiable talent.
If the two of them worked together, subduing an incomplete Hell Knight was entirely possible.
‘But why would Count Namaran diminish their merits? Hm… Is he trying to protect Lloyd Frontera’s quiet life?’
The moment that thought settled, Queen Alicia’s lips curled faintly to one side.
She knew Lloyd’s nature well.
She knew he lacked grand ambition.
And she knew what he wanted—an ordinary, comfortable life.
Through various channels, she had received enough reports to grasp that in detail.
‘So Lloyd must have asked Count Namaran to downplay his role when reporting to me. But what a shame. Lloyd Frontera, your merits will be revealed regardless through the confession of Cannavaro—the Black Wizard brought in yesterday. And besides, I intend to make use of you for the time being.’
Those with ability must be used.
Letting ability rot is wasteful.
No, it is a sin.
The more exhausted the capable become, the more prosperous the kingdom grows, and the more comfortable the people live.
Especially now, when diplomatic tension with neighboring powers is rising.
“That’s why Lloyd Frontera was included in the special envoy, isn’t it.”
“That is a most appropriate assessment, Your Majesty.”
Her words fell softly across the study.
The Foreign Minister, standing respectfully to one side, replied.
A bitter smile lingered on Queen Alicia’s lips.
“Most appropriate. Weren’t you skeptical of my plan right up until the envoy was dispatched? Have you changed your mind?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
“Then?”
“Until a matter is decided, I may raise doubts and offer my opinion.”
“So once I decide, you will not make independent judgments about it.”
“That is so, Your Majesty. However…”
“However?”
“….”
“Speak. I will not rebuke your thoughts.”
“Your grace is boundless. However, if I may be frank, I am simply curious what benefit there is in including Lloyd Frontera in a diplomatic envoy to the Sultanate.”
The Foreign Minister spoke carefully.
Queen Alicia’s bitter smile deepened.
“Hm. So you doubt what help the eldest son of the Frontera family—who is not a professional diplomat—can provide in negotiations with the Sultanate.”
“That is correct, Your Majesty.”
“Truthfully, I don’t have high expectations either.”
“Yes?”
The Foreign Minister lifted his head, eyes widening.
Queen Alicia smiled softly.
“Lloyd Frontera is merely the face of the envoy. A symbol representing the victims of the many estates swept away by the Monster Domino Effect.”
“Is that all?”
“To be honest, yes. Though I do have one additional expectation.”
“That is…?”
“I have never seen a man as petty as him.”
“Yes?”
The Foreign Minister tilted his head, bewildered.
Queen Alicia snorted.
“I was raised in the political arena of the Royal Palace from the moment I was born. I overcame countless competitions and intrigues to inherit the throne. I have seen every kind of person—insidious, fierce, foolish, vile, clever. But Lloyd Frontera was different.”
“Do you mean… he showed you something new?”
“That’s right. He is the first person I have ever seen who is so thoroughly petty, leaves such a dirty aftertaste, and is so openly and diligently stingy—like a mole cricket.”
“…”
“Perhaps that is why. Perhaps he will produce results no one expects.”
“…”
Her calm voice, almost like a monologue, filled the study.
In that atmosphere, the Foreign Minister did not dare answer. He only bowed his head.
And quietly, without the Queen’s knowledge, he thought to himself.
‘Is that praise… or an insult?’
He couldn’t tell.
Still, he hoped.
That this special envoy to the Sultanate would succeed.
That negotiations would hold.
And that war with the Sultanate could be avoided.
♣
“Excuse me? So you’re saying I have to join the special envoy to prevent war with the Sultanate?”
“You know, don’t you? Those are not my words, but Her Majesty’s decree.”
Clatter, tap!
The decree scroll was rolled up.
Count Ventura, the special envoy who had just finished reading it, spoke with finality.
“Lloyd Frontera, eldest son of the Frontera family—you understand. A royal decree must be obeyed, no matter what.”
“Ah, yes. I understand, but…”
“The departure is tomorrow morning. Be prepared by then.”
Whoosh.
Count Ventura turned away.
The early-winter wind rushed into the open space and struck Lloyd square in the chest.
‘Haa.’
A sigh spilled out on its own.
How did this happen?
He had been happy until last night.
He had built the apartment complex and the Grand Aqueduct, solved the refugee problem, and earned a considerable sum in Namaran.
Thanks to that, he wouldn’t have to worry for a while.
No storms on the horizon.
He had genuinely believed he could live a sweet, easy life from now on.
‘Your Majesty, why are you doing this to me?’
He resented the Queen in the far-off capital.
And at the same time, he replayed what had happened that morning.
It was right after breakfast.
He felt more sleep-deprived than usual, so he intended to crawl back into bed.
He had flopped down with a satisfied smile—
When the first floor of the mansion grew noisy.
Servants and maids moving in a hurry.
He stepped into the hallway to see what was happening.
And he saw it.
Baron Arcos Frontera and his wife hurrying down the stairs.
The baron glanced back at him and spoke sharply.
Her Majesty’s special envoy had arrived.
Hurry up, get dressed, and come down.
Lloyd hadn’t known what was happening.
But he had felt it.
A bad premonition.
He changed quickly and went downstairs as ordered.
Knelt on one knee.
Listened to the decree read aloud.
It was brief.
And devastating.
He was to join the special envoy.
He was to go to the Sultanate with them.
And assist in diplomatic negotiations.
‘Me? Assist? How?’
He had no idea.
No—he could guess one role, at least.
‘Am I the figurehead?’
His head spun.
Her Majesty was dispatching an envoy to the eastern Sultan now.
The reason was obvious.
‘Monster Domino.’
They meant to hold the Sultanate responsible.
To demand compensation.
To sign an agreement preventing a repeat.
And that was why he was being included.
Frontera Estate had also suffered from the Monster Domino phenomenon.
No, it was practically the only estate that survived among those devastated.
It had become the center of reconstruction.
‘They’re making me represent the victims. That’s it. That has to be it. They want me to testify—to appeal for how this place was damaged and what it endured.’
That was exactly it.
That was why he was being sent.
‘Haa. Did I whine too much last time?’
He recalled when he had obtained subsidies.
Back then, he had openly complained and begged through letter after letter.
It must have left an impression.
‘So that’s why. They’re sending me to whine in front of the Sultan. To add flavor to the envoy’s negotiations… Haa. This is insane.’
Lloyd wet his bitter lips.
The decree had already been proclaimed.
It could not be reversed.
It could not be refused.
Tomorrow, without fail, he would join the special envoy and head to the Sultanate.
‘So I’m getting a Sultanate trip I never asked for.’
And it would not be comfortable.
What if negotiations failed?
What if the Sultan stubbornly denied responsibility to the end?
Tensions would deepen.
And war might break out.
If that happened, Frontera Estate would be finished.
‘Because it would be swept up in the middle of a war between two powers.’
If their kingdom invaded the Sultanate, Frontera Estate would become the invasion’s staging ground.
If the Sultanate invaded, it would become the front line of defense.
Either way, it would become a battlefield.
A future he absolutely refused to accept.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, yes.”
Baron Arcos Frontera had somehow placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lloyd turned to him and smiled brightly.
Truthfully, he wasn’t pleased about leaving the estate again so suddenly.
Not when he had been about to enjoy a long stretch of sweet days.
But if he was ordered to go, he had to go.
And since he was going anyway, he would settle it quickly and come back.
With that resolve, Lloyd began preparing to depart.
In truth, there wasn’t much to pack.
‘If I’m traveling with the special envoy, then…’
Food and lodging would be handled by the envoy.
All the chores—fires, tents—would be handled by their attendants.
All he needed were clothes.
And something to kill time on the road.
“Is that something… me?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
“Am I just entertainment for you?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
Lloyd nodded at Javier’s question, answering with a calm face.
“Then in this situation where you’re being dragged all the way to the Sultanate, you weren’t planning to take me with you?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. Not even a second of hesitation.”
“That’s because I only follow my lord’s orders.”
“But the baron didn’t give you a separate order to escort me.”
“That’s right.”
“Tsk. He must have forgotten.”
“Forgot?”
“It’s so natural for you to follow me that he didn’t even bother giving the order. Isn’t that it?”
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s just what you want. Anyway, I’ll go tell him. I’ll have you come with me.”
“…”
“Oh, thank you. I’m going to cry. Think about it. If you don’t come, then how are you going to sleep?”
“Sleep is…”
“Precious. A good night’s sleep affects everything—body and mind. You’re going to throw that away for a while?”
“It sounds far better than being tormented by you.”
“Then what if something happens to me in the Sultanate? You’re fine with that too?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh, nothing. I’m just deciding I’ll drag you with me no matter what. Now I’m really bitter about going alone.”
“…”
“Wait here. I’ll go ask the baron to let me take you—and when I come back, I’ll sing you a lullaby.”
Lloyd left Javier’s quarters and headed for the study with light steps.
The study was brightly lit.
Yet the baron’s expression, as he greeted Lloyd, held a faint shadow.
Because he had to send his son—who had already suffered in Namaran—far away again.
Because he feared Lloyd would suffer again.
All of that was true.
But there was another reason, even larger than those.
“Good. You’re not asleep. Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you.”
His son entered with a bright smile.
When was the last time that boy had called him Father?
It had been so long he couldn’t remember.
“…Yes. What is your request?”
Even so, don’t rush him.
Give him time to open his heart.
With that resolve, Baron Arcos Frontera forced a warm smile.