# Chapter 86
His quarters were located in the innermost room of the western castle. Only occasional small torches lit the wide corridor. It was quite different from the palace overflowing with busy servants and nobles leading them. The cold space contrasting with the luxurious decorations created a strange atmosphere. Arzel’s defeat had left such clear traces within the castle walls even long after Zendal’s death. Lonely and desolate.
As we reached deep inside, a large arched door filled an entire wall. It was a yellow door with intricate carvings creating magnificent patterns. Two soldiers guarded it. Just before passing through the door, Devan lightly grabbed me. He quietly handed something to me as I turned to him, tense. This time, it wasn’t flower petals but a small stone.
“This is…”
I was momentarily speechless. All the terrible bloodstains had been wiped away and it now emitted a soft light, but it was definitely what I recognized. The original stone that knew our entire history. The obliquely cut cross-section and roughly shining surface—everything was the same.
“Just in case.”
“…”
“I’ll come whenever you call.”
Devan forcibly placed the stone in my hesitant hand. I smiled bitterly and put it in my pocket. We both remembered, without missing a single detail, what had happened the last time I called. Because there were many painful memories, I felt overwhelmed that this stone had returned to my hand again. I felt subtle emotions, but Devan smiled comfortably as if telling me not to worry.
“We’re here to see Arzel.”
“Are you Lord Ludin?”
The guard looked at me briefly and immediately opened the door when I nodded. It seemed Arzel had informed them in advance. Up close, the door I had thought was brass turned out to be gold covered with grime. Despite its expensive nature, it opened with a weak creaking sound, revealing the spacious interior. Devan and I slowly entered. Antique carpets spread everywhere, absorbing our tense footsteps. Approaching while feigning calm, we found Arzel sitting in a crimson chair, drinking tea.
“I heard you came to the castle early this morning.”
A loosely relaxed posture and a gaze calmly sweeping the air. Arzel slowly brought the teacup to his lips. The leisure evident in all his actions didn’t seem like a good sign. As if he had expected us to visit, he didn’t ask any unnecessary questions.
“Originally, I came to meet Luan.”
I had no intention of engaging in awkward pleasantries either. Even hearing Luan’s name, Arzel didn’t frown at all. The teacup that had touched his thin lips gradually lowered. With the clinking sound of it hitting the saucer, Arzel’s gaze turned to me.
“So, did you get what you wanted?”
I read subtle curiosity in his terribly expressionless face.
“I didn’t.”
I slowly walked around the room, leaving Arzel who was shaking his head pretending to be regretful. He let me look around the room. As I approached the folded curtain by the window covered with dust, I saw an elegant curved vase. The flowers neatly arranged inside were all dried and twisted into a dark red color. Feeling Arzel’s gaze following me, I reached out to touch the crisp petals.
“Because you betrayed Luan.”
“…”
There was a brief silence. It wasn’t a silence filled with surprise or shock. Arzel carefully chose his next words as if moving a chess piece. His low voice made the air even heavier.
“Seeing that you came to me as soon as you found out, it seems you’re planning to betray him too.”
“It was bound to happen someday.”
“Brothers trying to kill each other…”
The end of his sentence stretched thinly as if suppressing a weak laugh.
“How unfortunate.”
When I looked at Arzel again, his expression was far from sympathetic. I approached him, who now didn’t even try to hide his amused face. His hair, slicked back disgustingly, shone as if oiled. Soft fabric with luxurious patterns wrapped around his body countless times. I handed him the dried flower.
“It will benefit you too.”
“How is that?”
“The information I gave you alone isn’t enough for what you want.”
“It’s sufficient information.”
The dried petals crumbled helplessly as soon as they touched his hand. The stem fell silently onto the carpet. I gazed intently at the scattered flowers. Arzel deliberately crushed the shattered petals under his shoe. I spoke without being disturbed.
“I took a good look around the castle. It’s quite deserted.”
Arzel, unable to grasp my intention, closed his mouth. His gaze remained fixed on me.
“It’s all good, but… aren’t you thinking too complacently?”
“What do you mean?”
“Most Maran country soldiers were taken as prisoners during Zendal’s time. You only have two soldiers protecting you. What do you think Kadilen’s army is like?”
“…”
“While you’re busy manipulating nobles with information, what if he turns this castle into a wasteland?”
Arzel’s frowning face still showed no fear. But just the disappearance of his vile interest was enough to make me feel triumphant. He responded immediately, showing no sign of deliberation.
“It doesn’t matter. As you know, I have no one left to protect.”
“I’m not talking about what you have to protect. I’m talking about what you want to gain.”
“…”
“You don’t think you can obtain the throne by just sitting still, do you?”
For a moment, the leisurely attitude that had settled like a heavy fog cleared, and a new emotion appeared on his face.
“Do you think there will be a war? That Kadilen will resist?”
“He originally came to the throne through rebellion. If you think he’ll quietly step down because the situation is unfavorable, that’s an even bigger miscalculation.”
I openly observed his expression. The slightly wrinkled brow and gaze half lowered. Tightly closed lips. It was a familiar expression. The day I first met him, the sharp voice he shouted toward Kadilen in front of numerous nobles. Arzel was considering the strategies he could take. I let his mind work. The more he considered his own benefit, the more confident I was that he would accept my proposal. After a brief contemplation, Arzel asked.
“Even so, what can you do for me? I just need to gather an army.”
“How foolish.”
His eyes narrowed at my provocation. I briefly moved away from him and exchanged glances with Devan.
“Who do you think can get closest to Kadilen right now?”
“…Does he cherish you?”
Rather than asking out of ignorance, he seemed to be reconsidering. He couldn’t help but know, as he must have planted spies in the palace. The information I had given him also couldn’t have been obtained without being close to Kadilen. I answered deliberately.
“Very much. More than you could imagine.”
“…”
“I will become your greatest asset.”
I uttered the most dramatic words possible to ignite Arzel’s greatest desire. With each sentence I recited, I could see his eyes burning with heat.
“Every gesture of his soldiers will be communicated to you. No matter how hard Kadilen tries, you will always be one step ahead. I will make it so.”
“…”
“Perhaps you won’t even need to gather an army. Kadilen will collapse on his own without you lifting a finger.”
Whatever he imagined, my words seemed to have touched his inner desire correctly. Arzel was looking at me but simultaneously picturing himself. The image of himself mercilessly crushing Kadilen’s crown and standing in his place. His future where he would have everything under his feet and perfectly avenge his past humiliation.
“And there’s something you’ve forgotten.”
“…”
“I’m the one who made Kadilen king.”
“…”
“So wouldn’t I be the one to bring him down?”
There was not a single breath around us. The calm composure had disappeared, leaving only his gaze filled with heat.
I thought I had driven home the point. The expression of a general contemplating the situation before battle had vanished. Arzel had finished his calculations. If he had heard my words and made the best decision, the result would be my victory.
“…Very well.”
“My price is…”
“An antidote. And Luan, I presume.”
Arzel cut me off. He suddenly rose from his seat and quickly paced around. Devan and I silently waited for his next words. But even after a long wait, his thoughts showed no sign of stopping, and I finally urged him.
“You’ll need to prove that you can provide that.”
Arzel stopped abruptly. His gaze, which had been wandering in the air, turned to me.
“Even if I couldn’t, do you really have anywhere else to turn?”
“…”
“Just as I have only you as a way to approach Kadilen, isn’t it the same for you?”
This time I was at a loss for words. It was true that Arzel was my only way to access the antidote after losing Luan. Seemingly satisfied with my reaction, Arzel walked closer to me. With each step he took, the scent of his intense perfume grew stronger. He stopped right in front of me, examining my face as if searching for something, then walked past me with a smile on his lips.
“Follow me.”
Devan followed me as I trailed Arzel without protest. Hearing the overlapping sound of two sets of footsteps, Arzel suddenly stopped and glared at Devan.
“I wish to speak to him alone. You stay here.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Devan flatly refused. Arzel looked at me with a grimace.
“Then there’s no deal. I can’t negotiate with someone I can’t trust present. Sensitive matters will be discussed.”
There was a moment of tense silence. After consideration, I held Devan back. Since we were almost at our destination, we needed to be careful with every movement, and it was better to refrain from actions that would upset him.
“Stay here. It’s alright.”
Instead, I lightly tapped the pocket containing the stone where Devan could see. We had a card Arzel didn’t know about. If an emergency situation arose, I could immediately request Devan’s help. It wouldn’t even take a second for him to come to me. Understanding my intention, Devan reluctantly nodded. With his consent, Arzel led the way without delay. As I followed him, I looked back at Devan’s worried expression.
‘Be careful.’
He mouthed. I smiled to reassure him.
