# Chapter 62
The meeting hall was filled with nobles gathered from all regions. Unlike the previous banquet, the atmosphere was solemnly dignified. All the cumbersome decorations used for the festival had been removed, replaced by soft fabric flags and antique royal emblems. While carefully observing the lip movements of officials engaged in various discussions, I waited for the right moment to enter with Devan. Soon after, with a small sound announcing the king’s appearance, Kadilen slowly ascended the platform.
Taking advantage of the nobles’ attention being on him, Devan and I carefully entered the room. From the edge of the crowd, we could observe the tense backs of people’s heads and their naturally emerging behaviors. But our surveillance didn’t last long. Arzel’s platinum blonde hair was always eye-catching.
As soon as I confirmed his position, I made a small gesture to Wimu, who was standing to protect Kadilen. He nodded as if he understood. I moved with Devan in front to a spot where I could check Arzel’s expression. Though the hair of other nobles obscured a clear view, his profile was excessively sharp.
“His gaze is quite cold.”
Devan whispered quietly in my ear. I silently agreed. While others were listening attentively to every word from the king, he was just staring intensely at Kadilen. Unlike the nobles who unconsciously expressed reactions according to the topics of the speech, Arzel merely shone his eyes without the slightest movement.
“I don’t understand.”
“What?”
Devan asked, lowering his head toward me. I shared with him the question that had been troubling me all this time.
“Arzel’s position is much better now than when he was under Zendal. He no longer bears the dishonor of being a general from a defeated country. He immediately sided with Kadilen when the rebellion occurred. He also received ample rewards for it. So why did he meet with Luan behind the scenes?”
“…Hmm.”
“And of all people, the son of Zendal?”
I momentarily took my eyes off Arzel and looked at Devan. He rested his chin on his hand and lowered his gaze as if contemplating something. The king’s speech had now moved past explaining the main agenda and was reaching the formal greetings.
“Kadilen was his enemy too.”
Devan glanced at him and answered me.
“As you know, Kadilen’s sword cut down quite a number of people.”
It wasn’t wrong. Kadilen was tired of the countless wars among the five nations and the procession of dying refugees. Each country tried to win Kadilen to their side, and Zendal was the one who succeeded in drawing him in. Though he recognized Zendal’s dangerous nature, he agreed with his opinion that order was necessary. It was the most powerless who suffered due to the excessively prolonged wars. Thus, when Kadilen decided to participate in the war, Zendal promised him several compensations. Those promises became the background for him to establish the temple.
“In a way, they were enemies from the beginning. Of course, the same goes for you and Luan.”
Devan pointed at me with his finger. I pulled him to an even more secluded spot. Once I thought we were clearly out of sight, I asked him again.
“Then it makes even less sense. Why did he support the rebellion?”
“Kadilen offered rewards.”
He bestowed generous compensation not only on Arzel but also on the meritorious subjects who helped with his rebellion. Those who rose to high positions by the new king’s promise became the first political foundation for Kadilen, who had previously had no social participation. Arzel was a prime example.
“From Arzel’s perspective, Kadilen or Luan are the same. He just attaches himself to the more appetizing option.”
“So he needed Kadilen then, and now Luan’s reward is larger?”
“That’s right.”
Devan nodded and snapped his finger. But soon, as if pondering the same concern as me, he slowly tilted his head. A slow question flowed softly from his mouth, almost like a hum.
“What could he have promised… that weak prince.”
Kadilen was now finishing his speech and stepping down. His gaze touched us momentarily but didn’t linger and disappeared. Wimu continued to watch other nobles except Arzel.
“We need to find that out. Although it’s not certain yet, Arzel is the most powerful supporter of Luan. If we bring him down, Luan will have nowhere to stand.”
I turned Devan around. He readily faced me.
“Can you help me?”
“Whatever you want. Anything.”
With Devan’s gentle smile, I leapt into Arzel’s line of sight as he still followed Kadilen.
* * *
“Ludin.”
He discovered me and smiled unpleasantly. His languid tone was coated with frown-inducing arrogance. I recalled his image of rolling a broken glass shard in his hand, not hiding the malice he held toward me. Even when Wimu pressed a knife to his neck, he didn’t stop his disgusting smile.
“I won’t make this long. I’ll accept Luan’s proposal.”
It wasn’t easy to hide my true feelings in front of him. I blurted out my purpose in one breath. He wasn’t a warrior who overwhelmed opponents with delicate techniques like Kadilen. He was the type to cowardly observe surroundings, waiting for an opportunity, and then immediately pierce the neck when the enemy collapsed. Giving him much time to talk would not be advantageous to me.
At my blunt words, Arzel opened his mouth and smiled even more broadly.
“Your departed father would be pleased to know of the thick brotherly affection.”
My fist clenched involuntarily at his sarcastic tone. I composed myself and asked what I immediately needed.
“When can I meet Luan?”
“You can speak through me.”
“I have something to say to him directly.”
He was silent for a moment. His gaze, which had been greedily clawing at me, turned to Devan standing beside me.
“Is it related to this person?”
Arzel rudely pointed at Devan. This was the crucial part now. It started with Devan gaining his and Luan’s trust. To freely move in and out of the former Maran territory without suspicion, I needed to at least give the impression that Devan was with me. Not with Kadilen. I swallowed and answered.
“That’s part of it.”
He scrutinized Devan up and down.
“Well, our prince…”
“…”
“Isn’t interested in toys, you see.”
As if he had made a very amusing joke, Arzel’s smile deepened. Devan’s eyes rolled as he faced him smiling with satisfaction. In an instant, a glass placed nearby shattered as if exploding. The glass, broken into pieces, fell to the floor with an unfamiliar sound. Devan stepped on the debris and approached him.
“I happen to be an excessively entertaining toy…”
He smiled, mirroring Arzel.
“Shall I make it more fun for you?”
People’s eyes turned to the momentary disturbance. I lightly grabbed his arm.
“Devan.”
During the heavy silence that followed, their gazes met sharply. Eventually, Arzel shrugged and turned to me.
“At least he listens well. With proper training, he might not be so bad.”
I hurriedly grabbed Devan, who was about to explode once more. Already, due to the unexpected commotion, the number of nobles looking in our direction was increasing. While gripping his arm firmly, I spoke to Arzel threateningly.
“Many eyes are watching. Just tell me what I need to know. When and how can I see Luan?”
“Two days later, before dawn, before daybreak, behind the wall.”
By “behind the wall,” he clearly meant the secret passage where he first met Rio. Was he really planning to come directly into the palace? Perhaps he would take me to a safe location. Both weren’t bad options. If the former, I could monitor his return route by separating him from Arzel’s castle; if the latter, I could discover a new messenger and the places where his influence reached.
“Good. Tell him to bring the drug. I have no intention of cooperating if he can’t prove anything. I need to verify that my path to survival is open, don’t I?”
“Understood.”
Arzel nodded with an intriguing expression. I asked aggressively.
“Any other messages?”
After slowly scanning the somewhat settled surroundings and buying time, he nodded toward Kadilen, who was conversing with the ministers.
“Get closer to Kadilen. Earn his human trust.”
“He already trusts me.”
I answered immediately. I needed to keep reminding him that I was quite a useful resource for Luan. But Arzel shook his head. As if to say this wasn’t enough.
“The more intense the emotion, the better.”
“Emotion?”
I frowned, not understanding exactly. Arzel lightly scrutinized Devan with narrowly opened eyes, as if measuring something. Then, looking back at me, he whispered softly like someone sharing a secret.
“It might be good to use the method you used on that fellow.”
I blocked Devan with my entire body as he lunged forward, having understood Arzel’s words. I practically dragged him out of the meeting hall. Fortunately, there was still no one looking at us.
“That crazy bastard…”
Although it was nerve-wracking, the outcome was better than expected. There was no need to attract the nobles’ attention, but Devan’s behavior wasn’t entirely meaningless. His anger on my behalf would definitely impress upon them that Devan was my person. And Arzel knew about the past between me and Devan. More precisely, the casual relationship that the real Ludin had with Devan. It wasn’t bad for a first start. Devan wouldn’t need to go out of his way to show that he cherished me.
