The Great Wish - Chapter 9.7

Vol.2 Chapter 9 Part 7 

Before opening the door to the sitting room, Dian gave his attendant a command. 

"Do not come inside until I call for you. If anyone comes here, turn them away." 

"Yes, Your Highness." 

Whenever this guest visited, the attendant was always given the same command, so he was going to do so anyway. 

Dian opened the door and walked inside. The sitting room that once only held a single sofa was now full of furniture. Kuhn, who had been inside the sitting room alone, began to stand up when he saw Dian. 

"It's fine, it's fine. There's no need for formalities when no one else is here." 

Dian waved his hand. Kuhn silently sat back down. 

"I saw a carriage leave. Was that Lady Grosi?" 

"Yeah." 

Dian sat down in the seat across from Kuhn. 

"It seems that you meet her often. You've escorted her to parties a few times, and now she even visits you in the Palace?" 

"We're engaged. It can't hurt to show others that we get along." 

"Are you only doing it to show off to others?" 

"Well, you know..." 

Dian's voice faded away. Kuhn didn't miss Dian's strange behavior. 

"Do it right. Are you with her to gain Duke Grosi as an ally? Or are you with her to make her yours? Don't end up making a mess of this later on." 

Dian quietly lowered his eyes. He hadn't been conscious of this until Kuhn had criticized him. To be completely honest, he hadn't made a decision yet and was in the middle of dragging his feet. 

"...She's a good woman. She's innocent." 

"They say she lost her parents at a young age and was raised preciously by Duke Grosi. Therefore, she doesn't know much about the world. She doesn't even know how to take control of her subordinates." 

"She's gentle. I can't believe she's related to that old fox." 

Dian chuckled like a besotted man. Only he wasn't aware of it. Kuhn read Dian's feelings like a book and clicked his tongue. 

"And who was the one who said that marriage was like a contract and a business?" 

"This is different. There's no need for a married couple's relationship to be bad just because they married out of necessity." 

"You know that's not what I mean. So it doesn't matter to you if things go as planned?" 

Duke Grosi's granddaughter was the most ideal candidate they had meticulously decided on. They would gain the support of a ducal family, but being the spouse of an emperor was difficult. Like the Red King, there was a chance that they'd gain a thirst for power. 

Because Violet didn't have any parents, she didn't really have any relatives that had influence over her. The duke was already old. At most, it would take about ten years for the duke to lose all his teeth. 

After losing her parents, Violet had grown so weak that she could barely speak. They said that she could barely say a bad word to her maids. Once she married, she would be the type of wife who would quietly support her husband and bear his children. 

If she had married into a normal household, that would be enough. However, in the Imperial household, she needed to be at the center of society. It was an incredibly difficult duty for someone like Violet. 

However, it didn't mean that the spouse had no other choice but to be the center of society. There were times when the necessary duties of maintaining social circles were given to a government administration. If Dian became the emperor, he planned on giving those duties to the government. Whether his spouse was real or by contract. 

However, if Dian did this, then Violet's position as the Red King would inevitably lead to a miserable situation. This is what Kuhn had meant when he brought up their plans. 

Dian remained silent for a long time. A woman's life depended on his answer. In the past, he believed that it couldn't be helped. Power could never be held by a kind person. 

"Plans can always be revised." 

Dian spoke with much difficulty. 

"I don't want to hurt Violet. I want to truly make her my family." 

Whenever he was with Violet, his heart felt at ease. He felt that his heart would break if he ever saw her cry. Even if people criticized him for the luxury of feeling these emotions, he would have nothing to say. As a man standing in the middle of a fierce power struggle, he had no words. 

Seeing Dian tense up, Kuhn spoke. 

"All right." 

"...What?" 

"I got it." 

"That's it?" 

"Like you said... Plans can always be revised." 

"Is this your way of telling me you're done with me?" 

Kuhn chuckled. 

"Are you scared?" 

"When someone has more to lose, they have more fear. In the past, I had nothing, but now that is not the case." 

"Then I'm sure your suspicions have increased as well. Fine. I'll be honest. I'm not done with you. As long as you don't betray me, I won't betray you." 

Dian didn't look as carefree as he usually did. It wasn't because he didn't trust Kuhn. It was because he couldn't understand him. 

"Didn't we agree on the previous plan?" 

"I wouldn't say we agreed on it. It didn't really matter." 

"Why not?" 

"It's your life. You're the one getting married. Figuring out what kind of family you'd like to build is your problem." 

"Listen here. What do you mean by 'building a family'? That's not something one can do easily." 

"Before you're the emperor and the Red King, you're a couple. Before you're the emperor and a king, you're parent and child. Why can't the Imperial family just be a normal, loving family?" 

Dian gazed at Kuhn before letting out a dejected laugh. 

"Sometimes... I don't really know what to think when it comes to you. I thought you were cold-blooded and couldn't even shed a tear, but then you go and say things like that." 

Kuhn shrugged. 

"It's just a tradition in our family." 

"Your parents must have been romantics." 

Kuhn laughed softly. Dian knew that Kuhn's parents had long passed away, so he didn't say anything more. 

"I better set a date for our engagement, and I think I need to hurry." 

"How soon?" 

"I think it would be best for me to set it before the Silver King proceeds with hers." 

Kuhn's brows slightly furrowed. 

"When I was out for a stroll, I met the Silver King taking a walk with Duke Luke's grandson. It looks like they'll be engaged very soon." 

'With that punk?' 

Kuhn recalled the man he'd met at the masquerade. He was the guy who had been acting ridiculous. Even though he hadn't seen his face, Kuhn had a bad feeling about him. 

'Engaged... She's getting engaged?' 

Kuhn wanted to defy this, but it would merely postpone the inevitable. 

"Since the Silver King gave me a definitive answer regarding her attendance at the deer hunting tournament, our worries have been put to rest. All eyes will be on the tournament." 

"The hunting tournament takes place on..." 

"It'll probably take place in a couple of months." 

"I might not be in town." 

"Why not?" 

"There's something unusual going on in the desert. I think I need to be there personally to see what's going on. I came here today to let you know." 

"When do you leave?" 

"Tomorrow at dawn." 

"You're leaving tomorrow at dawn and you still won't be back in two months?" 

"I don't know how things will turn out. The war amongst the desert tribes is almost at an end. I think a unified kingdom may form very soon." 

Dian's expression became grave at the mention of war. 

"I thought it would last a little longer." 

"I need to go there and see if we can find anything that will give us an advantage." 

Kuhn pushed an envelope that had been sitting on the table between them towards Dian. 

"Use this in case you end up getting into anything with the House of Rimone while I'm away." 

The envelope held information of the duke's death and the subsequent embalming of his body. While it wasn't a final blow, it would still shake their foundations. 

"Mm, thanks. And my uncle..." 

"I'll let them know to increase his security. Don't go out to see him. If you need to tell him something, send someone instead of going there personally." 

"All right." 

As Kuhn left the Iron King's Palace, he stopped in his tracks. He turned his head in the direction of the Silver King's Palace. It was too far away. 

'I need to meet the qualifications first.' 

In order to freely enter the Silver King's Palace, he needed to meet the qualifications to do so. His many identities might give him access in other parts of the continent, but it didn't apply in the Empire. The haughty citizens of the Empire even had a tendency to look down on royal members of the continent outside. 

She was a member of the Imperial family. She was the Empire's pride. He wasn't even a citizen of the Empire. In order to stand next to her side without receiving reproach, he needed to have the right status. 

In order to do so, he needed the public's approval. 

He stood still for a moment longer before walking away. 

* * * 

After exiting the Palace, Kuhn turned into an alleyway. He gave a sign that they had previously agreed upon and was quickly greeted by Evita.  

"I would like to request some information from you." 

"We don't take requests." 

The organization of Olga worked as a merchant that traded information they already had. They didn't take requests. They didn't work for any specific group. 

Kuhn tossed Evita a pouch. Evita opened the pouch. Her eyes slightly trembled. 

'If he asked me to sell my soul, I wouldn't be able to deny him.' 

While the man in front of her eyes was incredibly hateful, he wasn't stingy. Evita didn't hesitate for long. She carefully put the pouch away as she spoke. 

"What would you like?" 

"I need you to follow two people. Joseph Luke and Levi Morton. They're both from ducal families." 

"It's difficult for us to approach the nobility..." 

"I don't want anything big. I just want any information I can use. Keep looking until you find something. You'll have to use every tool in your toolbox for this. It won't end well for you if you are negligent." 

Evita got the gist of it and nodded her head. But there was one thing she didn't understand. Why did he personally request this of her? 

The organization of Kaligo had many people under its employ that could obtain information a lot more effectively than Olga. 

"May I ask you something?" 

"No." 

Evita pouted as she watched the man leave after having said everything he wanted to say. 

When Kuhn returned to his residence, he was busy preparing for his departure. Walter went here and there as he meticulously packed. 

Kuhn called for Martin. 

"You stay here." 

It was as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightening. Martin thought he'd be accompanying Kuhn on his trip. He had only enjoyed his first few days in the peaceful capital, but now he was antsy to leave. 

"Kuhn, please take me and leave Russ behind." 

"There's something you need to do here." 

Martin's shoulders dropped. 

"What do I need to do? I still don't know the ins and outs of this place." 

"Keep the black house safe. You're in charge of its security while I'm gone. It mustn't be exposed to those people at all cost." 

'The black house' was the place where Dian's maternal uncle lived. 

"Yes, sir." 

"And I need you to guard someone." 

"I heard that the person in the black house never goes out." 

"Not him." 

"Then who is it?" 

"The Silver King will soon be leaving the Palace to inspect her territories. If the territory is near the capital, there shouldn't be a problem, but if it's far, it may become dangerous. Follow her in secret, and only reveal yourself if it's an emergency. Don't mind the safety of the knights. Only protect the Silver King." 

Martin stared at Kuhn. 

"Am I to protect her or keep an eye on her?" 

"...Protect." 

All the clues in Martin's head began to come together. The mysterious woman whom Kuhn had accompanied around the marketplace. The mysterious man he had been ordered to protect in the slums. The carriage entering the Palace. 

Only one answer remained. That woman was... 

Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Martin quickly swallowed back the words that had been about to burst out of his mouth. Instead, he chose to express himself in a more simplified way. 

"Aren't your standards too high?" 

Kuhn chuckled. 

"This is no laughing matter. The Silver King... The Princess? How can you..." 

"I'll take care of my own matters." 

Martin closed his mouth. He was in no position to meddle in Kuhn's personal life. Only someone of Mason's status could advise Kuhn. 

"When does she leave the Palace?" 

"I'm don't know. Try asking Levan. Ah, and let Levan know. Tell him to keep his position as aide until I return." 

"I can't lie to Levan. He catches on too quick." 

"I don't want him to know, but if he finds out, it can't be helped." 

Martin, who had been walking down the stairs, froze in shock. 

The Empire's Princess was going to be the new mistress of Raad? 

'Is that even possible?' 

He quickened his steps and went looking for Russ. Russ was in his room organizing his weapons for his departure tomorrow. 

"Hey, I need to ask you something." 

"What is it?" 

"The Silver King and the Iron King are currently fighting for the throne, right? And Kuhn is helping the Iron King. So isn't the Silver King considered to be Kuhn's enemy? Is this correct?" 

"Basically." 

Russ nodded. 

Martin grasped his hair and let out a silent scream