Chapter 237
For some reason, Edrick found himself reluctant to approach. He remained standing stiffly by the doorway until Varkas set the ledger down on the desk and looked up at him.
"What is it?"
His expression was calm, standing in stark contrast to his gaunt complexion.
For a fleeting moment, Edrick felt a strange sense of unease. He quickly dismissed it and strode toward the desk.
Although Varkas had visibly lost weight, he appeared to be enduring everything remarkably well.
From the day the Grand Duchess's funeral had ended, he had resumed every duty of a Grand Duke without the slightest lapse. Recently, he had even begun investigating the force that had supported the Zram raiders behind the scenes.
It would have been impossible for House Heimdal alone to gather the scattered Zram tribes across the East and transform them into such a massive armed force.
Certain that an outside power had intervened, Varkas had mobilized the entire intelligence network of House Siorcan to uncover the truth.
Not even his wife's sudden death had been enough to shatter his ironclad reason.
Feeling bitterness fill his mouth, Edrick withdrew a bundle of parchments from inside his coat and laid them on the desk.
"These are reports from the agents we dispatched to Valbon. It appears the Central Church in Valbon intends to make a clean break by placing all responsibility for this affair on a high priest named Alwin."
Varkas picked up the reports and slowly read through them.
Bjorn had only been able to impersonate a Temple Guardian because the Central Church itself had guaranteed his identity.
The identification token he carried, the official assignment document bearing the Central Church's seal, and even the appointment warrant stamped with the emblem of the Temple Guardians had all been examined thoroughly.
None of them had been forged.
That meant at least one high-ranking priest within the Central Church had secretly cooperated with the rebels.
Yet it seemed the Pope intended to conclude the matter merely by excommunicating the few senior clergymen whose signatures appeared directly on the official documents.
"It doesn't appear the Imperial Family intends to conduct a full investigation either," Edrick continued. "I suspect... His Majesty and His Holiness the Pope reached some sort of private agreement."
"And what leads you to that conclusion?"
"According to the information I obtained, the investigation was wrapped up immediately after the two met in secret. Judging from the circumstances, it appears the Imperial Family also agreed to quietly bury the matter."
Turning the final page, Varkas lowered his gaze to the candle burning upon the desk.
Each flicker of its flame deepened and softened the shadows across his face in turn.
He pressed two fingers against the bridge of his nose, as though his vision had momentarily blurred.
Only after a long silence did he finally speak.
"Prepare a formal letter demanding that the Central Church provide a satisfactory explanation. Continue monitoring developments in the capital."
"Understood."
Edrick bowed respectfully before turning toward the door.
Just as he was about to leave, an inexplicable impulse stopped him.
He looked back at Varkas's composed face and quietly asked,
"...Are you truly all right, Your Grace?"
Varkas, who had just reached for another official document, looked at him with mild puzzlement.
"Why ask such a thing all of a sudden?"
The expression on his face suggested he genuinely did not understand the question.
For a moment, Edrick found himself at a loss for words.
"I... it's just... your complexion doesn't look well..."
"Given the circumstances, I can't deny that both body and mind are exhausted."
Varkas replied as though it were nothing of consequence.
He signed the parchment before him with several swift strokes and added evenly,
"Still, the postwar recovery is finally taking shape. Before long, there should be time to catch my breath."
Something about the answer felt strangely unfocused.
Edrick frowned.
Opening another document, Varkas spoke absentmindedly.
"You've worked hard as well. Endure it just a little longer."
With that, he gave a casual wave of his hand, clearly signaling that Edrick was dismissed.
The unnatural calm in his demeanor left Edrick with an overwhelming sense that something was terribly wrong.
Just as he was about to speak again, hurried footsteps echoed outside, followed by an urgent knock.
Varkas looked toward the door.
"What is it?"
"It's Daren, Your Grace. I have an urgent report."
A crease formed between Varkas's brows.
He set the document aside and leaned back in his chair.
"Come in."
The door swung open immediately.
The broad-shouldered Daren strode into the room.
Edrick quickly stepped aside.
Without sparing him so much as a glance, Daren walked straight up to Varkas.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived in Kalmor with the Imperial Guard."
Edrick, who had been about to excuse himself, stopped in his tracks.
Daren continued gravely.
"He says he has come to assist with the reconstruction of the East and help restore order. What are your orders?"
Massaging his temple wearily, Varkas rose with a heavy sigh.
"We cannot very well shut the Empire's Crown Prince out at the gate."
"We'll receive him with the proper courtesy."
He took the coat hanging on the wall, slipped it over his shoulders, and left the office with measured, disciplined strides.
Edrick stood rooted to the spot, watching him disappear.
Only then did he turn and head for the staircase at the end of the corridor.
He had already fallen out of the Crown Prince's favor back when he had defended Talia Roem Gwirta during his days as an Imperial Guard.
Now he had even resigned from the Imperial Knights to enter the Grand Ducal household.
The Crown Prince undoubtedly despised him.
It would be wiser to stay out of his sight.
Pulling up his hood, Edrick quietly left the main castle.
He climbed the watchtower connected to the inner wall and stepped up to the battlements.
Before long, he spotted the Crown Prince entering through the castle gate.
As always, Gareth rode proudly atop his golden horse, leading hundreds of Imperial Guards.
Nothing about him suggested he was the man whose reckless decisions had nearly plunged the Empire into disaster.
A bitter laugh escaped Edrick.
Then his gaze shifted to the woman riding behind Gareth.
His body stiffened.
Even from that distance, there was no mistaking her.
Aila Roem Gwirta.
The woman who was now the Empire's one and only Imperial Princess.
Helped down from her horse by the knights, she took her place beside her twin brother and passed through the inner gate with graceful, dignified steps.
Hundreds of retainers lined up before the main castle bowed deeply to welcome the imperial guests.
Watching the scene, Edrick felt something surge violently inside his chest.
He abruptly turned away.
It had not even been a month since the Grand Duchess's death.
Yet the Crown Prince had already arrived with the Imperial Princess.
The intention behind that visit was so painfully obvious that it made him sick.
Suppressing the disgust rising within him, Edrick strode along the wall until he stopped at a parapet overlooking the chapel.
Beyond it lay the cemetery.
Among the lush green grass stood two gravestones side by side.
His chest tightened painfully.
Closing his eyes, he thought of the woman whose brief life had been spent surrounded by nothing but neglect and isolation.
A strange sense of helplessness settled over his entire body.
Taking a deep breath to drive the feeling away, Edrick turned his back on the graves and walked on.
* * *
"It has been a long time."
Varkas looked expressionlessly at the woman smiling at him with perfect elegance.
She pretended to be composed, but it was obvious she was extremely tense.
Holding her head high to conceal her anxiety, she maintained her gentle smile as she continued warmly,
"Seeing you safe at last puts my mind at ease. When I heard you had been wounded during the war, I cannot tell you how worried I was."
"...What brings Your Highness here?"
The casual question caused her expression to stiffen ever so slightly.
Stepping forward protectively in front of his sister, Gareth spoke in a measured voice.
"We have come as representatives of the Imperial Family. His Majesty ordered us to express our condolences for the tragedies that befell the East and to lend our support to House Siorcan."
"..."
"The Imperial Family intends to spare no effort in helping rebuild Kalmor. It is only fitting after everything you've done for the Empire."
The Crown Prince withdrew a sealed imperial letter bearing the Emperor's seal from inside his richly embroidered doublet and held it out.
Varkas accepted it, broke the wax seal, and quickly read through its contents.
Just as Gareth had said, it contained a brief message of sympathy for the disaster that had struck the East, followed by a formal promise of substantial financial assistance.
Rolling the parchment back up, Varkas handed it to a secretary before turning away with his usual detached composure.
"I understand His Majesty's intentions. For now, please come inside."