It’s Not Night - Chapter 76
Chapter 76
A few days later, the academy was completely overturned, and this was because the first princess had come to visit the academy without prior notice. However, everyone had a vague guess as to what the first princess had visited the academy for—perhaps it was to meet Dustin Airak, who had become an Awakened.
And that guess was confirmed when Dustin was called to the director’s office.
“It’s been a while, Lord.”
Upon entering the director’s office, Dustin saw Viola, who was sitting in the leather chair closest to the top seat. Standing nearby her was his older brother, Anthony. And he could see the academy director, who was sweating profusely, evidently tense.
When Dustin appeared, the academy director smiled broadly as if his savior finally arrived.
“Then, I will take my leave, Your Highness.”
“Yes, well done.”
As soon as Viola beckoned, the academy director pulled himself out of the room. Dustin smirked and guessed roughly why the academic director had a smile on his face as soon as he saw him.
He bowed to Viola on one knee before taking a seat.
“I greet Your honorable and dignified Highness, Ishur.”
“Yes, you may rise. Come and sit here.”
Dustin sat to her right, as Viola told him to. Seeing the princess up close for the first time in almost a year, it’s clear to him that she has not changed from before.
Like the emperor, her red hair, which was as bright as a flame, still did not exceed her shoulders. Her black pearl-like eyes are as menacing as exceedingly sharpened graphite.
Most of all, she still had that same air of sky-high arrogance, but she was just as confident. She exuded with the majestic splendor of the imperial family.
The more he looked at her, the more she resembled the emperor. Perhaps also the king of beasts that could not be overshadowed by whoever tried to challenge her.
“Have you been well? It’s been a year since I’ve seen you face to face like this, I believe?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Well, it looks like you’ve been doing well, so I’ll stop the formalities here. Let’s get to the point.”
The princess was already living with another Airak, so she knew their characteristics well. That’s why she didn’t delay the conversation and went straight to the point. It was good news for Dustin.
“Soon, I am going to the Morgennis border area. I want you to accompany me there.”
“For what reason? You are not taking your spouse.”
Dustin glanced at Anthony for a moment. Then the princess shook her head slightly and said,
“No. Sir Anthony has a job to do on my behalf by staying here. The both of us can’t leave the capital. And above all, you’re an Awakened, Lord Dustin. You were recommended because I thought you would be of great use.”
Dustin’s gaze turned to Anthony for a moment. Standing tall next to the princess, he gave Dustin a brief nod. This was an unspoken heed to unconditionally obey the princess’s orders without saying anything back.
“Oh, should I tell you why we are going to the Morgennis border?”
As Viola gestured with her chin, Anthony pulled a file from his arms and slid it in front of Dustin. Dustin looked at this and narrowed his brow for a moment. Viola saw it and smiled briefly.
“You said he wouldn’t like the paperwork, and you’re right. Well, okay. Lord, I will give you a brief explanation, so if you want to know more, it would be better to get acquainted with the papers.”
“Your Highness, even if you don’t bother that much, Dustin will be to some extent…”
“That’s enough, Sir,” Viola said to Anthony.
When Viola raised her hand to stop Anthony from stepping forward, he hurriedly straightened his body and backed away quietly. He stood behind her like a block of wood again.
“As a scout, if I don’t even do this much, it seems like I’ll be taking it too easy. If I’m going to work with a talented person in the future, I can’t make him sad. Right, Lord?”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Dustin nodded his head dryly at the princess’s question. Thanks to that, the princess briefly clicked her tongue. They’re certainly siblings. A boring pair of siblings. Viola placed her interlaced hands on her lap and opened her mouth again.
“Two Margraves are typically stationed on the Morgennis border, but there is a problem between them this time. If things progress, a second case of the Airak and Avellin feud can be born from it. Her Majesty specially ordered me and the second prince to intervene. It’s a border area, so we can’t just sit around and watch it.”
Count Norrant and Count Durs of Morgennis.
Their conflict, which started from a small incident, was deepening by the day. Above all, the situation was so serious that the Emperor had ordered Viola and Jonathan from yesterday to go to the Morgennis border and intervene on each Count.
‘But sending Jonathan along, too, would just be a waste of manpower. I’m sure this will be an evaluation as well.’
If so, it was more likely to get a high assessment if the feud were to show any rapid advancements. For that reason, Viola had come to scout Dustin, even taking the trouble of visiting the academy. If there is an Awakened, it will be useful in many ways.
In addition, when she read the report of the inspection of the Morgennis border area that was recently delivered, there might be a moment when force was unavoidable.
“Then will the second prince be accompanied by an Avellin?”
“Well, I believe so. I will be accompanied by an Airak after all.”
In fact, even Violastill didn’t know which Avellin ‘Jonathan’ would take. Jonathan should at least take Ansel to deal with it, so Jonathan wouldn’t be pushed, but taking Ansel in the meantime would put the capital in danger.
There’s no way Jonathan would take such a risky action. However, if he were to station Ansel in the capital and take Adego with him, Adego and Jonathan would be no match for Viola and Dustin.
‘I wonder what Jonathan will do.’
Viola was excited about her brother’s choice. She didn’t know if he might find something she couldn’t have imagined, overturning her expectations. Because Jonathan always had a knack for surprising others.
It was for this reason that Viola was still dealing with Jonathan. Her younger brother had a unique talent for sometimes catching people off guard.
It is perhaps because of such a feat that the Emperor chose Jonathan to fight for the throne with Viola.
“So what other questions do you have? You better ask when you can.”
“When will I return?”
“Well. It will depend on how you finish the job. But I promise you, Lord. No more than three months.”
“Three months…”
Viola’s eyes narrowed as Dustin muffled the words in a small voice. It was because, for some reason, it was evident that Dustin was not reluctant to accept her proposal.
“Does the time period bother you? Or because of your graduation? Don’t worry about it. I’ll be responsible for your graduation. The academic director also agreed. Everything will be finished before the Lord comes back.”
If you want more, you can ask for it. Showing her generosity, Viola added the last words. Dustin’s eyes then turned to Viola.
This made Viola feel inwardly relieved. It was because she had been dissatisfied with Dustin’s attitude until earlier, with him being lukewarm. Did he also have something he wanted to ask for?
“Tell me comfortably. What do you want, Lord?”
Viola asked again. However, Dustin’s subsequent reply was enough to upset Viola.
“I would like to see Her Majesty the Emperor.”
Dustin who said so, seemed to have decided on something.
“Sir Anthony.”
When Viola, who had been staring out of the window all the time she was in the carriage, called him, Anthony stopped the paperwork he had been looking at and looked at her.
“Please speak, Your Highness.”
“About Dustin. Are you still receiving reports?”
Viola said, still keeping her gaze out of the window. Anthony, noticing the meaning behind her question, answered, lowering his gaze slowly. He could see the thick quill between his fingers. It was a quill pen that Viola specially made and gifted to him when he broke every other pen he held because of his strength.
“…Yes, I will organize it and report it as soon as we arrive.”
“Yes, don’t hide anything and report everything.”
“…Yes.”
Anthony rubbed the pen with his fingertips. The birch pen was hard enough that it stayed with him for years to come. Now, it fit as if it had been made for his hand, and it was almost impossible to use anything else.
He rubbed the pen a few more times along the grain of the wood before raising his head again. Then his eyes met Viola.
“Sir, do you think I’m being too much? About attaching surveillance to your younger brother?”
Anthony lowered his gaze again at the eyes that sparkled like ink made by crushing black pearls. Strangely, when he looked into the princess’s eyes, he felt like he was being sucked into them, so he couldn’t look at her for a long time. He said with strength in his hand that was holding the quill.
“No. I’ve never had such an impure thought.”
Hearing Anthony’s answer, Viola gave a small smile and turned her head to look out of the window.
“I knew you’re good, Sir. I feel rewarded for choosing you.”
Anthony glanced at her. The princess was staring blankly out of the window with her chin clenched, and at first glance, she looked like an ordinary noble girl of her age. But this normalcy lasted only for a moment. In reality, she was far from normal ever since birth.
Then, in a calmer voice than before, Viola suddenly opened her mouth.
“Sir, Her Majesty must still not be convinced of me.”
“It is not the case, Your Highness. Her Majesty…”
“No, you don’t have to try comforting me.”
“…….”
“Actually, I know what concerns Mother has about me. There’s no way you don’t know either.”
Viola knew herself well that she resembled her mother the most among her mother’s children. So she was well aware that the Emperor often looked at her with curious eyes. In addition, she was hesitant to hand over the throne to her.
And to be sure, Viola knew very well that the Emperor was maintaining the fight for the throne for three years.
The Emperor’s preferential treatment for the first child was considerable.
Viola grew up seeing and hearing all the achievements her mother had accomplished. How her mother had killed and betrayed several of her comrades, how her mother had pressed her father to drag him off the spot and beheaded him, how she disposed of those who were corrupted by greed, and the way she used even the person she loved as a means. She grew up hearing everything about her mother as the first child.
In a way, Viola was the Emperor’s past, present, and future.
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