Chapter 3: The Culprit
The soldiers standing in formation remained motionless on the dock, while merchants and workers passing by voluntarily stayed away from the area. Though they didn’t know why these lordly guards had suddenly appeared, seeing a passenger ship bearing a noble emblem dock at a pier where no ships had ever stopped before allowed them to guess roughly what was going on—some high-ranking official or noble was likely visiting the Caucasus. The merchants and dockworkers weren’t interested in these matters; regulation here was very lax—as long as you paid your taxes, no one bothered you. Merchants were more concerned with profits, and workers needed to earn money to support their families. It seemed no one cared who came to the Caucasus; that was the lord’s concern.
Ilot rode his horse, coldly watching the passenger ship that had docked for a while without anyone disembarking. As a nobleman’s son, he certainly understood what the ship’s emblem meant. Messages from Ugru had already informed him that the two heirs to the throne and Princess Tracy, daughter of Duke Homafilipe, were coming to inspect the Caucasus and would land in Matdan by ship. Those vermin! Although Ilot was also a nobleman’s son, he had never held a good opinion of the noble title. In his view, it brought him no glory—everything had been taken by his brothers. The only thing he took with him when leaving his family was his mother’s love. Aside from her, he had no ties left to his family. This was one of the main reasons he left Cyprus without hesitation and came to this desolate Caucasus with Komer.
He knew a bit about the two royal members from the messages, but he wasn’t familiar with them. However, he knew Princess Tracy all too well—hadn’t his brother fallen for that bitch? And hadn’t he and Puber also been implicated and exiled from Cyprus? For her to dare come to the Caucasus this time, along with her engaged fiancé, was simply provoking his brother’s limits. Ilot couldn’t understand what she wanted.
Yet, from his brother’s messages, Ilot didn’t seem to detect anything unusual. He didn’t believe his brother could completely bury that once-deep affection. Though his brother had changed a lot over the years, Ilot still believed Komer was essentially the same reckless man he had been back then.
He dismounted, removed his helmet and tucked it under his right arm, then stepped forward a few paces and stood straight at the edge of the dock. Eirwen didn’t like such cumbersome equipment—it didn’t suit his preference for fighting freely. Yet in situations like these routine inspections and formal welcomes for distinguished guests, he had no choice but to comply, as maintaining a proper appearance was necessary to uphold the dignity of the Caucasus.
The movable gangplank on the ship descended smoothly from the side with a series of creaking sounds, landing precisely on the stone steps designated for guests to board and disembark. Two servants had already opened the middle cabin door. First to emerge was Hoffman, the third in line to inherit the kingdom’s throne. Following closely behind him was Hoffman’s fiancée, Princess Tracy of Homer County. The last girl to step out of the cabin and onto the deck with light steps was Princess Lenta.
Though he didn’t know them, Eirwen could quickly determine their identities from their attire, especially with Princess Tracy’s smiling presence beside them.
“Eirwen greets His Highness Hoffman, Her Highness Lenta, and Princess Tracy,” his loud voice echoed softly across the dock.
“Eirwen? Is it really you?” The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise, her flirtatious gaze lingering on the strong-looking man before she smiled sweetly. “Wow, it really is you! You came to welcome us?”
“The lord is already waiting for you all in Ugru. Eirwen has been ordered to escort you there,” he replied, seemingly addressing her question while also adopting a formal tone. His steady gaze remained fixed on Hoffman, who was leading the way.
“Oh, so this is Knight Eirwen? I’ve heard much about you. Seeing you in person, I see why you’re so renowned.” Hoffman chuckled and stepped off the ship quickly.
After giving a proper knightly salute, Eirwen also bowed to the two ladies who disembarked afterward. On the Land of Azure, only those with the rank of apprentice knight or higher could pay such a salute to noble lords. Although the lord of the Caucasus didn’t pay much attention to such formalities due to his peculiar preferences, Eirwen didn’t dare be rude in front of others. His fief was merely a small village, and he had never visited it in the distant north, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a knight.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the carriages have been prepared for you. However, due to limited resources, we ask for your understanding.” Though polite on the surface, the knight’s inherent coldness remained unmistakable, arousing curiosity in Hoffman and Lenta. They were well aware that this young knight had no grudges against them, and since they were the kingdom’s heirs, it was unlikely he would show such hostility. The only possibility lay with Tracy, who had also lived in the same city and might even be an acquaintance of theirs. Hoffman even wondered what irreconcilable feud existed between Comer and his fiancée, that the knight was unwilling to hide his hostility even in front of other guests.
Three carriages glided smoothly along the wide road to the dock. Apart from the vivid bear head emblem on the door of the first carriage, the other two clearly appeared to be ordinary commercial carriages that could be rented in any city. Besides carrying a large number of people, their recessed roof racks could hold plenty of luggage, and their extended compartments could fit more than eight people—of course, these were for servants and attendants.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please get in. It’s still over two hundred miles from Middelton to Ugru, so we’ll likely arrive tomorrow. We’ll also need to camp overnight, so please be prepared mentally,” Ilot said with a sinister smile. These guests who prided themselves on their noble origins probably had no experience camping in the wild. It was a shame there were no magical beasts in this area; if a few appeared at night, they would surely scare these well-dressed wretches to death.
Looking at the girl wandering among the flowers in the garden outside the window, a hard-to-describe feeling welled up in Komer’s heart. He had thought he would no longer believe in emotions after that incident, so it surprised him even more that such a thought suddenly arose. Since the girl came to him, he found himself becoming much happier without realizing it. Often, he even wanted to put aside his tedious work and spend time with her, enjoying themselves together. Spring in the Caucasus, unlike other regions still chilled by cold, resembled the early summer of those places—just a light coat was enough. The vibrant spring scenery outdoors was enchanting. Riding, walking, hiking, hunting—what a pleasant life it was. If only there were no troublesome matters, and he could live like this forever. Unfortunately, happiness is always short-lived; perhaps only prolonged troubles can make one appreciate its value.
Rebri and his team finally made a breakthrough in their exploration. That unremarkable-looking mage was able to determine the location of the switch hidden in the wall. Komer had to admit that Rebri was quite remarkable. He seemed to have extensive connections in the magic community of the Blue Continent. Not only did many dark-aligned mages befriend him closely, but it was even rarer that he maintained close relationships with many mages from the Light Church as well. Sometimes, Komer even wondered if there was some unknown force behind him. But after careful observation and reflection, he dismissed that idea. Such a mage would be hard to control by any single force, and if he were truly employed by one, his behavior could not possibly be so bizarre. There are all kinds of people—humans, as the masters of all creatures, are inherently unique and variable. You can’t judge others by your own standards.
The preparations to open the partition wall are complete; all that’s left is for Komer’s approval to turn on the switch that will open it, after which they can deal with any magic arrays or physical attacks that might exist behind it. Rebrí and his group believe there must be many secrets hidden behind these mechanisms. Even if they can’t uncover clues about those spirits, they’re sure to gain something else by fully opening it. Everyone is eager to try, especially the magicians, who have long been fascinated by Damolensk Castle. If they can decipher these mechanisms and restrictions one by one, they believe they can find the mysterious underground palace in the castle—something created by the renowned Mandara family of dwarves known for building such structures, which fills them with anticipation.
However, Komer doesn’t have much time to think about this right now. The arrival of Hoffman and Tracy has added endless troubles to his already complicated situation. News from Matdan says they’ve landed there and are on their way to Ugru. On top of that, the visit of two Rema knights has further upset Komer. An envoy from the Archbishop of the Light Church in the Homer region, Tullado, will be visiting the Caucasus soon to discuss the church’s missionary efforts there with Komer. With all these troubles, coupled with the growing chaos in the north near Leon, Komer doesn’t know how to cope. It seems as though troubles from all directions are converging on the Caucasus, threatening to crush him under their weight.
There’s also Vero before him. It seems she’s unaware of her past relationship with Tracy. But Tracy’s arrival could potentially stir up trouble. Komer doesn’t want Vero involved in this. Conspiracy and love never go hand in hand. When love is mixed with politics, it turns into a filthy deal or scheme. Though Komer realizes he’s rapidly descending into the mundane world, he still wants to preserve a pure space deep in his heart.
Komer, sitting alone in the dark room, hasn’t felt such inner turmoil in a long time. He’s never been a ascetic; even during his exile, he led a carefree life. But since arriving in the Caucasus, work and cultivation have consumed all his time. He’s even had Puber attend social gatherings on his behalf, so he hasn’t even met any of the so-called high-society women there. Months have passed in this monotonous state, and even Vero’s arrival hasn’t revealed anything unusual about him. But now everything seems to have changed—everything because of her arrival.
“My lord, Princess Tracy, Princess Lenta, and Prince Hoffman are waiting for you in the living room,” the guard’s announcement snapped Komer out of his reverie. Scenarios from the past flooded back to his mind like waves rolling in and then receding. Over the years, Su An had gone through countless trials, yet those memories never seemed to fade with time. With a bitter smile and a shake of his head, Komer realized just how naive and childish he used to be. But now, as Kenerf III—someone who had spent decades navigating the political arena—he was no longer the person he used to be; many things could be understood with just a little thought.
“Your Highnesses, Princess, the Caucasus is a remote and desolate place with poor conditions. If you didn’t sleep well last night, please forgive me.” Standing before the three of them, Komer had fully regained his usual polite demeanor, dressed in a traditional Nicosia robe, though the lack of any insignia made him appear rather simple.
“Hehe, Baron, you’re too modest. In just over a year, the Caucasus has changed so much, which really surprised us. Although I’ve never been to the Caucasus, I’ve heard about what it used to be like. Grand Duke Philip had great insight in recognizing talent, bestowing this land upon you—making the best use of it. You’re also breaking the pattern where previous lords never stayed in the Caucasus for more than a year. All these facts prove that you truly are the rightful ruler of the Caucasus.”
His hearty laughter revealed nothing unusual about him. Komer carefully analyzed his intentions. It seemed this guy had some brains after all, coming up with such a move. But it seemed Philip had also noticed this, as evidenced by Tracy, who stayed by his side at all times.