Chapter 267: Victory is a Side Reward (4)

Rukan glanced at Hissop.

Is shamelessness a common trait among the Sefira family?

Hissop seemed completely unaware of anything before he got here. Yet, now he was acting as though he knew the vice dean of Dranark.

Even so, he won’t be able to escape the palace just because of that.

Rukan had permitted Zioran to meet with Hissop because he was certain that no matter what Hissop did, he wouldn’t be able to escape.

Zioran then asked a question that immediately made Hissop taken aback.

“There was something I absolutely wished to ask when meeting you. How did you ever obtain Pigasso’s final work,

Widow

? Dranark had long assumed it was lost and even gave up searching for it.”

His tone wasn’t accusatory, but since Hissop knew nothing about it, it wasn’t a question he could answer easily. If he gave a vague answer, he would get caught in his own words, so it would have been safer to say it was a secret. However, Hissop decided to make a bold move.

“Keter would know about that.”

“Keter?”

“My half-brother, and a knight representing the South.”

“How interesting. I assumed he would be an adventurer, a treasure hunter, or perhaps the painting was an heirloom passed down in the Sefira family.”

“Vice Dean Zioran, are you interested in Pigasso’s other works as well?”

Zioran immediately put down the teacup he had been about to sip. “

Huh?!

Of course!”

Just then, Rukan interfered, “Sir Hissop, do you even know who Pigasso was to speak like that? You talk as if his work can be picked up from a street painter.”

“Louis Pigasso. His paintings have that distinctive dimensionality, as if you’re being drawn into his world. I was first introduced to his art through one of his works,

The Flower-Selling Boy

.”

Hissop did know about Pigasso. Not at a scholar’s level, but enough to hold a conversation. It wasn’t because he had a personal interest in art or Pigasso. He knew that powerful figures in politics were deeply invested in the arts. Thus, as the next head of his family, he had studied a broad range of topics for the sake of smooth political interaction.

Zioran eagerly followed Hissop’s lead. “

Haha! The Flower-Selling Boy

, an excellent piece to begin with! So then, what other Pigasso works does the Sefira family have?”

Everything was going according to Hissop’s plan up to this point, but soon, sweat began to form on his forehead. He knew about Pigasso and had knowledge of his works, but he didn’t know which pieces were considered lost.

If the artwork he named turned out not to be a lost piece, Zioran would have no reason to visit, and the precious opportunity Keter had created would vanish. However, Hissop had no time to think carefully as hesitation itself would show he was lying.

“

The Drinking Old Man.

I would like you, Vice Dean Zioran, to examine it and determine whether it is authentic or a forgery.”

“

The Drinking Old Man

! That piece is in Sefira?! Astonishing!”

When Zioran reacted with genuine shock, Hissop let out a breath of relief. At the very least, that meant it wasn’t a known piece in the open.

“I am not sure if it is genuine like

Widow

. That is why I wished to have it authenticated.” Hissop smiled gently.

“

Haha!

If it is

The Drinking Old Man

, then it is certainly worth the trouble. Let us go to Sefira immediately.”

Zioran rose from his seat, speaking as though it were only natural, but Rukan immediately stopped him.

“Vice Dean Zioran, Sefira does not have a teleport gate. I’ll have the Royal Dragon Knight Order escort you. Sir Hissop has no need to accompany you.”

“Hm? Your Highness, as far as I know, Sir Hissop is the acting head of the Sefira family. Though young and temporary, he is still the family head. How could I enter a family’s estate without the permission of its lord?”

“There are complicated circumstances.” Rukan insisted.

Rukan had no intention of letting Hissop leave. He was a hostage. Rukan was already furious about losing Keter’s group, so letting Hissop leave was not possible. Even though Rukan made his refusal clear, Zioran stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“Pigasso’s

Widow

is a piece even the imperial emperor has sought. Such a priceless work was donated to Dranark under your name. I do not know what the details of those circumstances are, but Sir Hissop appears to be a loyal subject of the Lillian Kingdom. Would it truly be a problem for him to leave the palace?”

“That is—”

“Your Highness, Dranark is not an organization that preaches peace, but neither is it violent. To speak frankly, we judge reputations. If you are imprisoning a loyal subject such as Sir Hissop—”

Zioran’s eyes, who had moments ago seemed like a cheerful eccentric, narrowed sharply. It was a kind of gaze that seemed to ask if he was a tyrant, as someone like that has no place in Dranark.

Unexpectedly, the one who answered wasn’t Rukan but Hissop.

“Sir Zioran, please do not misunderstand. His Highness merely has matters he wishes to discuss with me. Your Highness, if I may be so bold, may I briefly return to my home? I shall return to the palace once the matter is settled.”

Hissop both defended Rukan and pleaded to return to Sefira. On top of that, he promised he would come back, backing Rukan into a corner. If Rukan refused, he would look like a tyrant, and even worse, he risked losing ties with Dranark.

“Sir Hissop. I believe our discussion was not yet complete. If you leave now, I may misunderstand your intentions.”

“I do not believe I confused you in any way during our discussion, Your Highness.” Hissop maintained his polite smile.

Rukan’s eye twitched. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned like flames.

How dare you... Do you think Dranark will protect you forever?

Hissop didn’t avert his gaze and answered back.

I will take care of that myself.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The two exchanged their firm wills.

Rukan tapped the armrest of his wheelchair. It was a small sound, but soon a butler entered the reception room.

“Summon the Royal Dragon Knight Order. We will send Vice Dean Zioran and Deputy Patriarch Hissop to Sefira.”

***

Whenever Rukan was displeased, he would come to the royal greenhouse to gaze at the beautiful flowers full of life.

A shout echoed through the quiet garden. “Rukan!”

Second Prince Rakan burst in despite the knights’ attempts to stop him, storming toward Rukan.

“Prince Rakan, you mustn’t—”

A royal guard moved to block him, but Rukan flicked a finger, signaling to step aside. Rakan then slapped the guard who had stood in his way and stepped before Rukan, stomping on the flower Rukan had been admiring.

“Why did you send Hissop away? Are you out of your mind?!”

“Don’t behave like a barbarian, Rakan. You are royalty.”

“You’re the one acting like an idiot. Explain. Explain why you let Hissop go.”

Rukan kept the cooperation with Dranark a secret, so to Rakan, it looked as though Rukan had released Hissop for no reason. Of course, he was furious; Sefira was his prey.

The head of a family’s presence would have a great impact on intelligence and morale. Now that Hissop returned to Sefira, they would soon learn about the Family Wars and prepare accordingly. As a result, an easy hunt had just become a difficult one, so there was no way Rakan wouldn’t be angry.

What was even worse was that Hissop hadn't escaped on his own. Rukan had even personally summoned the Royal Dragon Knight Order to send him back. Depending on how one interpreted it, this could be seen as the collapse of their unspoken agreement.

Under normal circumstances, Rukan would have calmly explained everything.

I sent Hissop away to secure Dranark’s cooperation. I judged that doing so would benefit our Lillian Kingdom more than keeping him here.

However, Rukan had begun to suspect Rakan, suspecting that he might be cooperating with Keter. Up until now, they had been enemies, but never to the point of hatred. Yet now, hatred had begun to take root in his heart. Traitor. Signs suggested that Rakan had deceived and betrayed him first, so Rukan no longer explained things honestly.

“You’re the one with hidden intentions, aren’t you, Rakan?”

“Don’t change the subject. I asked why you sent Hissop away.”

“Then why did you let Keter go?”

“What? Why are you suddenly bringing him up? And what do you mean, let him go?”

“Keter escaped the palace through a portal where the divine barrier’s suppression is the weakest. Do you think that’s realistically possible? How would Keter, someone visiting the palace for the first time, know of such a thing?”

“

Hah!

You think there’s an informant in the palace, and that it’s me?”

Rakan looked genuinely dumbfounded, but Rukan continued.

“I know your closest aide, Riri, interacted with Keter. A royal sword instructor who stayed in this palace for decades would know that much as well, wouldn’t they? If I’ve got it wrong, why don’t you explain yourself? What did Riri and Keter talk about?”

“This is absurd.”

“That’s short for an excuse.”

“You’re one to talk. I asked why you sent Hissop away, and you’re the one spouting nonsense.”

Rukan still wouldn’t meet Rakan’s eyes, and Rakan stared down at him. Leaves throughout the greenhouse fell all at once, but neither of them reacted.

“So you’re not gonna explain. Is that it?”

“That’s what I should be saying.”

Rakan couldn’t explain Riri’s behavior either. She had vanished before he could ask her what she had discussed with Keter. Moreover, perhaps Riri truly had helped Keter. Because of that possibility, Rakan couldn’t say anything.

Rakan sharply turned around. It was as if he wanted to say more but judged it would be pointless, and walked away.

Even after Rakan left, Rukan stared at the flower Rakan had stomped and murmured, “We should hurry the progression of the ritual.”

A faint glint of evil appeared in Rukan’s eyes, then vanished.

***

The Royal Dragon Knight Order arrived in Sefira. The archers of Sefira aimed their arrows in warning, but lowered them immediately once they recognized Hissop. The Royal Dragon Knight Order, who had brought Vice Dean Zioran and Hissop, promptly departed, and Sefira’s knights rushed over. Hissop gestured for the knights who were worried for his safety to stay back at the palace, then bowed deeply to Zioran.

“I have lied.

The Drinking Old Man

is not in Sefira.”

He had deceived the vice dean of Dranark in order to escape the palace. He wouldn’t have done anything differently, but the best he could offer now was an apology. He had even prepared himself in advance that even if Dranark came to resent him, he first had to return to Sefira.

Zioran placed a hand on Hissop’s shoulder and helped him stand straight up again. Hissop’s eyes widened at the expression on Zioran’s face. Zioran was smiling.

“I was already aware, Deputy Patriarch Hissop. Because

The Drinking Old Man

is kept in Dranark’s exhibition hall.”

Hissop couldn’t say anything in shock.

“I do not know the reason why, but you seemed in need of help, so I provided it. Of course, it also helped that you didn’t greatly offend Crown Prince Rukan’s temper.

Hahaha

.”

“Thank... you.”

Hissop slightly bowed his head to express gratitude toward Zioran, who had helped him despite knowing it was a lie.

Zioran waved his hand dismissively. “No need to thank me. Pigasso’s

Widow

is that valuable. And—”

Zioran turned his head toward someone. A man wearing a blindfold lazily walked toward them, hands in his pockets. It was Keter. The soldiers and knights stepped aside at his approach, and Hissop’s shoulders relaxed the moment he saw him.

Haha... I didn’t even feel this relieved when I arrived in Sefira, yet seeing Keter makes me feel safe.

Hissop had stood tall and composed while imprisoned in the palace, forcing himself to appear resolute, but the moment he saw Keter, his legs nearly gave out under him. He had even been prepared for death. If he failed to escape the palace, he had resolved to take his own life rather than become a burden to Sefira. Yet, he had returned alive. Not only alive, but unharmed, and within a single day.

Unable to hide his emotions, Hissop hugged Keter.

“It’s all thanks to you, Keter.”

Keter seemed startled but didn’t push him away. “Why are you being gross? I didn’t do anything.”

Keter pretended not to understand, and Hissop couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sure, I know that's your way of modesty. I’m grateful regardless.”

“Butler Suvide, it seems the Deputy Patriarch is very tired. Please take him inside.”

“Yes, sir!”

Suvide, who had arrived right after Keter, hurried to support Hissop, but Hissop gently pushed his hand away.

“I will walk on my own. I cannot show weakness as the family head.”

“No one here thinks you are weak.”

“The only thing I can show them is that I do not fall. If I cannot even manage that, how could I ever lift my head high?”

“Understood.”

With that, Hissop resolutely walked into his home.

Then, Keter turned to Zioran.

Zioran smiled and said, “The blindfold suits you well, Lord Keter.”

“You’re not bad yourself. Your shoes are the highlight of your outfit, aren’t they?”

“

Oh

, you caught that? You sure have keen eyes.”

“But I’m wearing a blindfold?”

“There are plenty who have eyes yet see nothing. Meaning you see more than they do.”

“So then, do you still have any remaining business in Sefira? As Hissop said, we don’t have any Pigasso pieces.” Keter shrugged.

“I am more interested in you than in Pigasso’s works. Deputy Patriarch Hissop said you were the one who obtained

Widow

.”

“

Widow

? That thing was real?”

“You sent it without even knowing whether it was genuine?” Zioran asked back.

“I figured that even if it was a fake, someone would storm over here in anger.”

“

Hahahaha!

That is true! Even if it were a counterfeit, we would’ve certainly come to see what lunatic dared send a fake to Dranark!”

The vice dean burst into laughter, but Keter didn’t laugh with him.

Instead, he quietly said to the knights surrounding them. “Everyone, stay back. You’ll get caught up in it.”

The moment Keter finished speaking, a heat haze faintly appeared around Zioran. The ground and sky trembled from a wave erupting from Zioran’s very core.

“So then, with what audacity did you return

Widow

, the piece you stole from Dranark? Apprentice of the Great Thief, Shade.”