Madan no Ou to Vanadis - Volume 16 - Chapter 3.4

It was just past noon when the whole situation revolving around Ruslan’s collapse started. On that day, a civil official visited the prince’s office to seek Ruslan’s authorization. Several of his colleagues with similar desires had already gathered in front of the office. Upon the new arrival’s question about what they were doing out here, they told him that they were waiting for Ruslan to come back.

“There was no reply when I knocked on the door, so he’s possibly taking a rest or has gone out to the courtyard.” The expression of the official explaining so showed his liking of the prince.

Ruslan’s diligent attitude had become quite well-known. As if to recover the eight years lost through illness, he had been engaging in governmental affairs without so much as a rest. He went at it with such a fervor that attendants, who were worried about his health, actually asked him to take a break every now and then. Eugene, who now worked as his advisor, had suggested likewise on many occasions, but Ruslan didn’t listen to any of them.

For one thing Ruslan was driven by the worrisome, on-going maneuvers of the noble lords.

Julian Kurtis, son of the late Ilda and current ruler of the Bydgauche Dukedom, claimed that his father’s death was no accident, and there were rumors going around that he was secretly amassing soldiers. He openly refused Ruslan as the new ruler.

Egol Kazakov, who had provided the secret information that triggered the battle between the Vanadis, didn’t follow Ruslan’s summoning to the capital, and remained in Polus. He had never stopped insisting that Eugene, Liza, Elen and Sofy were the root of all evil.

Ruslan took the approach of trying to gain their trust by sincerely striving in his governmental work.

“But, maybe he’s simply nodded off inside his room.” Another official suggested.

One of them quietly opened the door, and just as thought, Ruslan slept on his office’s desk. Or to be precise, it looked as if he was sleeping. The officials looked at each other, chuckling under their breaths, and approached the prince while making sure to stifle their footsteps.

It was then that they finally noticed Ruslan’s pained expression, and the documents scattered at his feet, probably having fallen off the desk. The officials lost their heads over this unexpected situation, kicking up a huge racket. On top of calling the guards, court ladies, and even maids, they shouldered Ruslan and carried him all the way to his bedroom.

At this time, many of those serving in the palace were reminded of Ruslan’s eight years of sickness. Moreover, those who knew what the prince had done before those eight years were assailed by intense pangs of anxiety.

For the present, it was decided for Eugene to handle the governmental affairs as regent, and to also take over the things Ruslan had been working on.

Two days after Ruslan’s collapse, the civil official from before visited the lodging house, and informed Tigre that the prince had recovered. The youth’s expression relaxed in relief, and he requested an opportunity for a short sick visit. Eugene had likely foreseen that Tigre would ask, allowing the official to immediately answer that Tigre could do so in the evening of the very same day. Since there ought to exist many others wishing to visit the prince, you could very well describe this as special treatment.

In the evening Tigre headed over to the palace, accompanied by Gaspal and Gerard. The sky was cloudy enough for the sunlight to be completely blocked. It looked as if it’d start raining anytime soon.

Ruslan and Grand Chamberlain Milon were in the bedroom to which Tigre’s group was guided. The prince had sat up on the bed, and was looking their way. His blond hair was a mess, but he looked calm on the surface, and his complexion wasn’t bad either. Having Gaspal and Gerard wait at the door, Tigre greeted Milon with a nod, and walked up to Ruslan.

“Back when I heard about you having collapsed, I was quite surprised, but it pleases me to see that you have recovered without any problems, Your Highness. Being able to see your lively face truly gives me peace of mind.” Now that he was in front of the person himself, only trite words came out of Tigre’s mouth.

Ruslan showed a worry-free smile, replying, “Earl Vorn, huh? It looks like I’ve caused you to worry, but as you can see, I’m doing fine. However, the civil officials keep pestering me about resting up properly, and don’t even allow me to get close to anything that looks like a document. I reluctantly compromised, and decided to spend my time at leisure until tomorrow.”

“I feel envious of you. Someone like me is always getting scolded about sleeping too much or taking too many breaks.”

By Titta and Lim. But then again, it was unmistakably Tigre’s fault, too.

“It sure sounds like you have your own share of troubles to deal with.” Ruslan laughed.

Afterwards, the two exchanged some silly bantering, albeit only for a short time. Ruslan’s tone was firm and stable, and his complexion didn’t worsen either. It seemed to Tigre as if it had really been no more than overwork.

Compared to their talks at Sofy’s mansion or the hunt, Tigre was slightly bothered by Ruslan’s somewhat formal attitude, but he assessed that this might be owed to Milon’s presence.

“Well then, it’s about time for me to excuse myself.” Tigre stood up from his chair when close to a thousand breaths had passed after stepping into the bedroom.

At that moment, Ruslan suddenly said, as if just having thought of it, “Earl Vorn, if I remember correctly, your name was Tigrevurmud, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” Tigre answered with a puzzled expression.

“That is definitely a long name for a Brunian. Doesn’t it cause you trouble in your daily life?”

The youth’s expression froze. That line was something that Ruslan had mentioned as a joke during their first audience one month ago.

“I’ve had those close to me use Tigre as a nickname…” Tigre finally squeezed this out as an answer, seeing how Ruslan was waiting for his response with a smile.

“Would you allow me to use that name on unofficial occasions as well?”

That line was yet another one he had heard back during the audience. Ruslan seemed to interpret Tigre’s behavior as tacit agreement.

“Earl Vorn, no, Tigre, I know that you’re a busy man, but please visit me soon again.”

“…Gladly, whenever Your Highness calls for me, I shall visit you.” Tigre put on a smile while answering, and left the room after bowing.

However, the youth’s expression was so stiff that it actually caused Gaspal and Gerard to look at him suspiciously.

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When they left the palace, the outside had turned completely dark, and rain had started to fall. The pitter-pattering of the raindrops drumming against the ground sounded bleak. Even the air surrounding the three felt chillier compared to when they had come to the palace. Tigre informed the other two about Sofy’s mansion being their next destination, and the three pulled the hoods over their heads, and tucked their overcoats together in front of their chests. And yet, they couldn’t stop the coldness from seeping in through the gaps in their coats.

“I can fully understand the Zhcted for loving to drink vodka on days like today.” Gaspal said in a quiet but confident voice.

Walking next to him, Gerard broke into laughter. “I think they’d handle this level of coldness with wine or mead. Even Earl Rodant’s Aude would get this cold in winter, no?”

“Leaving aside when snow is falling, it doesn’t get this chilly on rainy days.”

While only listening to their conversation with half an ear, Tigre brooded about Ruslan.

──’Tigrevurmud Vorn, huh? It sure is a long name.‘ The prince said the same thing when we met for the first time. The way he phrased it didn’t sound as if he was merely reminiscing on what he had said previously. But, His Highness is a busy man as sovereign. It might not be all that unusual for him to immediately forget such a trivial joke.

The youth tried to persuade himself like this, but in the end he couldn’t come to terms with it. In Tigre’s eyes it looked as though the darkness engulfing the capital was deepening.

──His Highness is a good man. I don’t want to blurt out anything careless about him.

The three men quietly left the dark main street. Gaspal grumbled about not having prepared any lamps in advance. They were walking while relying on the illumination leaking out of the houses and inns, but because of the rain, all of those had tightly closed their windows, keeping the light escaping outside at a minimum. And yet the three walked on without tripping.

Suddenly Tigre stopped. He felt like someone had called his name. Apparently he didn’t imagine it either as Gaspal swiftly caught up with Tigre, lining himself up next to him. Gerard realized that something was wrong after watching Gaspal’s movements.

At that moment Tigre noticed the figure of a person. Someone was standing several steps ahead of them. Their body was covered by a dark reddish-brown overcoat, and their face was hidden beneath a hood, just like Tigre’s. A lit lamp dangled in their right hand.

“──Tigrevurmud Vorn.” The person spoke Tigre’s name with a low, husky voice.

Gaspal stepped forward, “Pull back the hood, and show us your left hand. Then introduce yourself.”

The person showed their left hand, but neither named themselves nor pulled the hood back. Going by the small size of the left hand and the slenderness of its fingers, the stranger seemed to be a woman. Gaspal asked the person to pull back their hood once more, but they only shook their head in response.

Tigre held back Gaspal with a hand, and closed the distance to the person. This was the limit of what he was willing to concede.

The person put the lamp down, thrust their hand into their coat, and retrieved a dagger. The blade was still in its scabbard. And then the person held out the sheathed dagger to Tigre, pommel first. Gaspal walked up, and received the dagger cautiously. The other person was also cautious about not allowing him to see their face.

Tigre accepted the dagger from Gaspal after he came back. As soon as he saw the scabbard, his eyes widened. A part of the white painted scabbard was dyed light blue. A big circle had been drawn into that part. Half of the circle was black whereas the other half was white. Tigre recalled having seen this design in the past.

──So that’s why she doesn’t want her face to be seen.

“Both of you, head back first.” Tigre said while grasping the dagger in a way that wouldn’t allow Gaspal and Gerard to see the mark.

The two directed surprised looks at Tigre. Gaspal spoke up in shock, “Are you saying this for real? That person has obviously lain in wait for us.”

Tigre stared directly at the other person without answering. That was his reply. Silence swooped down on the group. Only the sound of the rain hammering against the ground could be heard now.

“──Got it.” Gaspal gave in.

Gerard looked at him with eyes full of objection, but the second son of the Rodant family shook his head with an expression as if admonishing Gerard.

“I didn’t understand, but I think it told Tigre something. Right, Tigre?”

Tigre nodded. Seeing that, Gerard agreed with obeying Tigre’s instruction, albeit very unwillingly.

“Please don’t try anything unreasonable. But then again, no point in telling you at this point, I suppose.”

Tigre’s two attendants vanished into the darkness that had accompanied them all the way here. The other person picked up the lamp, and started to walk. Tigre also walked, heading towards her. When they had approached each other at an arm’s length, Tigre held out the dagger, pommel first, to her. She accepted it with a giggle.

“I thought you might not give it back to me.” She lifted the hood with the hand that held the dagger.

A beautiful face with violet eyes and bluish hair appeared from underneath. Tigre looked as if he had drunk a very bitter tea.

“Long time no see, Lord Tigrevurmud.”

The woman was Valentina Glinka Estes. The design drawn on the dagger’s scabbard depicted the insignia of Osterode, the principality governed by her. Tigre recalled having seen it during the battle against Sachstein.

“What business do you have with me?”

Tigre owed her, and even though he was aware of it, he couldn’t quite muster a friendly attitude towards the Illusory Princess of the Hollow Shadow. In the first place, regardless of her wrongdoing to have challenged Sofy to a duel in the palace, Tigre thought that she was supposed to be under house arrest.

“I want to have a little chat with you. But, since I’m not very fond of standing in the rain while doing so, I was wondering whether you’d be inclined to come to my mansion.”

“That’s quite the brazen proposal, isn’t it…?” Tigre looked at Valentina in astonishment.

If Gaspal and Gerard were still to be here, they’d have vehemently protested. And in the case of Elen, Lim, or Mila, it might have likely developed into a battle. However, Valentina only tilted her head to the side with a rather daring smile, waiting for his reply.

Sighing, Tigre nodded, “I got it. Let’s go then.” Valentina blinked in surprise. Tigre added with a frown, “You’re the one who invited me, no?”

“That’s true, but I was sure you’d be a bit more hesitant about it.” Smiling once more, she leaped at Tigre with a cute yelp. Taken by surprise, the youth found himself in her slender arms. “Oh my, did you get careless after getting charmed by me? That won’t do, you know?”

“Yeah, whatever. Now let go.” Tigre tried to tear her off, but she remained stuck to him.

And that wasn’t all. Tigre sensed an abnormal presence from her left hand.

“──Come to me, Ezendeis.” Valentina solemnly muttered with a low voice.

At the edge of Tigre’s sight as he inclined his head formed a distortion in space. He could clearly perceive how a tear in empty space opened up while being illuminated by the lamp in her hand. Soundlessly that appeared from the other side of the tear. That, which shouldn’t be there, affixed its existence after getting grasped by Valentina. It was a long-handled scythe possessing a mystical ambiance and at the same time a sinister form. Its curved blade was composed of jet-black and deep crimson colors, emitting a dull gleam as it reflected the lamp’s light. Its sharp end, which reminded Tigre of a crescent moon’s end, made him swallow his breath.

“Please stay still, okay?” She cast an impish grin at the youth, and poured power into the hand holding the draconic tool. “──Space CorridorVuoldohl.”

Suddenly Tigre’s body got caught in a weird sensation, similar to floating up. In the next instant, Tigre and Valentina had vanished.

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—————- End of Part 4 —————-