# Chapter 90
‘Mekina’
Before Zendal’s unification, it was a small tower used as a meeting place for the five nations. At the point where all countries’ borders met, where the thick lines of the vast map intersected, stood Mekina. It was a moss-covered stone tower that didn’t follow the architectural style of any nation, and thus looked excessively shabby compared to its role. The summit of Mekina, once the center of communication, had become even more desolate, as if proving the rare footsteps it had received over time. Forced peace had disrupted the balance of power, and Mekina, where fierce debates among the five nations’ envoys had once taken place, disappeared into the back pages of history.
Arzel chose exactly that place. When the nobles saw the location written on the secret invitation, they all read the same meaning. Even without stating the exact purpose, the meaning conveyed by the space called ‘Mekina’ was clear. Especially if the one summoning the nobles there was none other than Arzel.
None of the nobles huddled together dared to speak carelessly. They were each pretending to be distracted, staring at different points in space—half looked anxious, and half looked bored. Regardless of the reason, no one had come here voluntarily. A minority came out of fear of what might happen, while the majority were those trying to avoid troublesome situations due to definite threats.
“It’s been a while.”
Arzel appeared before them with a relaxed smile. No one responded to his greeting cordially. Some waited for him to get to the point with annoyed expressions. There was no reason to create problems when they had finally achieved stability. Whatever the toothless tiger had to say, they had already prepared fixed answers in their minds. These answers were generally far from rebellion.
In the cold atmosphere, Arzel moved to a position where he could secure the full view of the audience. His shoes made a cool friction sound as he stepped forcefully.
“I see some empty seats. Too much time has passed to maintain old friendships.”
He slowly looked around the room. Several nobles who made eye contact cleared their throats uncomfortably.
“Time hasn’t passed in vain, it seems. We’ve undergone many changes. The roof of Mekina that once proudly soared toward the sky has become a mere stone after countless harsh storms. There’s nothing eternal in this world. Yet, if there’s something that never changes…”
“…”
“It’s the filthiness of those who possess.”
The sound of someone swallowing saliva was heard. Arzel withdrew his floating gaze and took out a neatly folded paper from his chest.
“Since you’ve all taken busy steps to come here, I’ll be brief. This is evidence that His Majesty has been in contact with Pamel Island.”
The document bearing the king’s official seal fell silently onto the table.
“What?”
“What are you saying now!”
Cries full of astonishment rang out from various corners. Some hastily grabbed the document and began to check its contents. Arzel answered with an artificial smile like an actor in a play and spoke in a louder voice.
“It means His Majesty’s kind heart, which always bestowed generous mercy, has reached even lowly criminals.”
The nobles’ whispering began.
“This is absurd.”
“The document you provided is for land, so does that mean he’s helping them migrate to the continent?”
“This is an issue never mentioned in the Grand Council.”
“It’s preposterous to think of people from Pamel Island, of all refugees.”
All sorts of conversations went back and forth. The general response was disbelief. The document was passed to each noble sitting around the table. There were extremely critical or optimistic speculations about the clearly written content of the paper and what it implied. There were a few who showed blind trust that the king must have had some reason, but everyone’s opinions overlapped on the point that this situation was undesirable. Above all, the nobles were collectively outraged by the fact that such a contemptible decision had been carried out without any consultation.
But after the commotion subsided, an elderly noble quietly spoke up. As he called out to Arzel, the gazes of others simultaneously turned to their faces.
“But what do you intend to do with this?”
He added in a low voice, with an expression mixing doubt and curiosity.
“You’re not suggesting we abandon our duty as loyal subjects, are you?”
Like a wasteland swept by a storm, the nobles immediately closed their mouths. The calculations running in each of their minds were all different. What they currently possessed, what they would soon lose due to the new incident, and the results that would vary depending on what choice they made. Arzel satisfactorily scanned the nobles who had begun to think and asked.
“Then how does the loyal subject plan to handle this matter?”
“Through council…”
The solemnly started sentence was cut short by Arzel’s thunderous words.
“Stop such foolish thoughts. Bypassing strict laws to deliberately bring criminals to the continent… Do you truly not understand His Majesty’s grand intention?”
He suddenly turned to the opposite side and looked straight at the face of a noble who had been quietly watching the surroundings.
“Lord Ross.”
The blood drained from Ross’s face as he was suddenly singled out.
“Do you remember when your son tried to rape a village maiden?”
“T-that was found to be the blacksmith’s doing…!”
“Do you think I don’t know that you pinned it on him? The blacksmith is still alive. He fled to Pamel Island. Unfortunately, not only I, but everyone sitting in this room will clearly remember that fact.”
The nobles surreptitiously avoided Ross’s frightened gaze. His son was a man who, under the title of a bishop of a local parish, had been sucking the marrow from the bones of the congregation for decades. The only moment his power faltered was when he lifted the skirt of an innocent parish woman. When there was a risk of exposing his debauchery, he put the kind and powerless village blacksmith on trial instead, to quell the anger of the congregation. The frightened maiden pointed not to the glaring bishop but to the dazed blacksmith as the perpetrator.
Arzel turned his body again. This time it was a man who was pretending to be calm while touching his lips. Arzel smiled a tense and threatening smile, like a predator facing its prey.
“How about you, Lord Sesserin?”
“…”
“The crime of raping a maiden is rather on the lighter side. If that incident from more than 10 years ago becomes known to the world, who do you think will suffer the greatest damage? Aren’t you curious? Whether there are still those who remain angry about it.”
Sesserin retreated slightly and mumbled.
“I… I don’t understand what you’re saying at all…”
Without probing further, Arzel quietly withdrew the smile from his face. The nobles’ anxiety increased at his cold expression. Each time Arzel made eye contact with them, the ugly truths they thought they could hide forever rose to the surface. Pamel Island was an island of losers, but it was also a tomb covering the nobles’ sins. When that fact passed through Kadilen’s hands, there would not be a single person who would enjoy the current power.
“It seems His Majesty intends to bring in the beehive that had been quietly sitting.”
Arzel spoke slowly.
“Imagine what will happen to the comfortable and merciful honor currently placed in your hands, on the day those crimes hidden intact in that beehive enter this land.”
“…”
“There will be no survivors. Large stingers will target everyone’s napes.”
His voice continued ever more slowly, enough for everyone to imagine the worst situation. In the suffocating silence, the noble who had discussed loyalty opened his mouth once more, with a face different from before.
“…What exactly is the plan?”
“We must eliminate the one trying to touch the beehive.”
Arzel answered lightly.
“You mean… to bring down His Majesty?”
“He was never meant to sit on the throne in the first place.”
His eyes finally revealed the glittering light of one who clearly knew what he wanted. His voice, which had become infinitely lower, was tinged with unconcealed contempt and anger.
“It seems his habits from his wandering days remain, as he associates with filthy rabble…”
“…”
“Will you just watch this?”
A heavy atmosphere hung among the nobles as they quietly exchanged glances.
* * *
Having completed his conspiracy, Arzel returned to his carriage with a sinister smile. Before the coachman could settle in, he pulled out a crumpled piece of cloth from his pocket. The fabric, dyed so terribly that its original color was hard to recognize, unfolded in his grip.
The sleeve stained with Ludin’s blood.
The part of the garment covered in dark red color conveyed all the pain he must have endured. Arzel reached into his pocket again and took out a pen. Then, in rough handwriting, he scribbled on the cloth fragment.
Exactly five locations.
They were the positions of the highest towers placed in each capital of the five nations. Below the names of these old towers that had now lost their function, Arzel added another sentence.
‘If you wish to save the life you cherish most, look at the summits of the five towers on the night of the full moon. Only sincere tears and apologies will save him from death.’
It was a letter designed to lure Kadilen and disperse his army. When the day of the decisive battle dawned, his army would rush toward Ludin. While they made futile journeys to five scattered locations, Arzel would build a new country with the nobles. And just as Ludin, who had usurped the castle Arzel had once vacated, had driven his wife to death, Kadilen would helplessly lose his throne. He also intended to personally end Ludin’s life before Kadilen’s eyes. Only after leaving the most cruel and unforgettable death for anyone, would he bestow the grace of ending Kadilen’s painful life.
Arzel folded the cloth in half and knocked on the carriage door. Someone rushed over and silently received it. The letter containing Ludin’s pain and Arzel’s revenge entered his bosom and began to rush toward the royal palace where Kadilen was.
Toward the place where everyone’s end would be.
