Can an Enemy Become Salvation? - Chapter 48

“What in the world is going on, Duke Halan.”

“You say you won’t kill that woman. And that you’ll move together with her like this now.”

Amidst the flood of questions from others, Halan alone maintained his composure. In truth, it was a situation he couldn’t understand either. That Shuher, who should have been at the forefront of killing her, had decided to let Ibnel be.

So he had rushed to the imperial palace as soon as day broke to meet him and properly inquire about this matter.

‘Could it be that’s why he didn’t speak about it at the meeting then.’

Even Shuher’s action of postponing the decision about Ibnel felt suspicious to Halan. Perhaps he never intended to kill her from the start.

“Let’s go ask His Majesty for details.”

Just as he was about to hurriedly move his steps to meet Shuher, he saw Ibnel in training clothes far away.

It was clear that she was involved in the reason why Shuher had changed his mind.

‘What trick did she use?’

Halan eventually turned his steps and approached Ibnel, and the nobles also followed behind him in bewilderment.

Discovering Halan blocking her way, Ibnel hardened her expression and stopped her steps.

‘Why do I have to run into such a person again in this vast imperial palace?’

Not wanting to mingle words unnecessarily, she intended to greet him and then leave. Not out of fear, but because her time dealing with him felt too precious to waste.

“We meet again, Duke Halan. I’m on my way to the training grounds now.”

Though Halan should know she didn’t want to mingle words, he persistently blocked her way. Ibnel suppressed her rising irritation and asked.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

“What trick did you pull to stay alive?”

“Trick, you say.”

As he suddenly came and spoke rudely, a chill gradually settled in her eyes as well. She wanted to immediately demand why he was picking a fight from this hour, if he had eaten something bad.

“It seems too late to pretend to be innocent.”

“Let’s get to the point clearly. It’s not very pleasant from the listener’s perspective.”

“I’m asking what trick you pulled for His Majesty to say he won’t kill you.”

‘Ah, so that’s why he rushed to the imperial palace like this.’

She didn’t know this news would spread so quickly. She knew Halan wouldn’t like it, but looking at the faces of those with him, it seemed the result was quite displeasing to them.

Ibnel found it funny to explain her agreement with him in detail, so she just gave a plausible excuse.

“Perhaps he judged it better to use me than to kill me? Quite rationally.”

“Now that someone with the same ability has appeared, your usefulness has essentially disappeared. That’s hard to accept. Did you perhaps kneel and beg His Majesty? Or did you use some other method?”

“Well, what wouldn’t one do to survive?”

As several eyes looked her up and down, Ibnel felt not just bad, but downright unpleasant. And then words that snapped her reason followed.

“You only have that body, so if it has any value, you should use it. Did you perhaps visit His Majesty’s chambers at night?”

‘This crazy.’

In her heart, all the curses she knew were already pouring out. Whether aware of her state or not, trash-like words came from here and there.

“As the duke says, right? It’s obvious without even looking.”

“Staying in the same palace as His Majesty, there are plenty of opportunities.”

“As expected of someone from Aodin, you have no pride.”

That was the limit of what she could endure, even as a noble. There was absolutely no reason to listen to such words.

“Are you finished speaking now?”

“What rudeness is this?”

“Rudeness? Who committed rudeness and is now questioning me? Listening to what you’re saying, your noble status is wasted. I think even a roadside stone would be more fitting as a noble than you people.”

Despite Ibnel’s intense reaction, Halan was still busy looking down on her with a contemptuous gaze.

“Seeing you get so worked up, it seems we hit the nail on the head. At least it’s fortunate that you know your own shame.”

Just as she was about to take a step forward, throwing all minimum courtesy to the wind, a calm voice cut into that tense atmosphere.

“It seems Duke Halan is the one who should know shame.”

Turning her head at the voice that appeared like a savior, Ibnel discovered a man watching that confrontation.

‘Who is he?’

He was someone she was seeing for the first time. With ash-gray hair tied neatly just past his shoulders, sky-blue eyes were gazing at Ibnel.

When their eyes met, those eyes curved gently. For a moment, Ibnel flinched.

The unidentified man approached the scene of the problem with leisurely steps. Up close, though his build was smaller than Shuher’s, his height was almost the same.

Thanks to his overall gentle impression, he exuded a completely opposite atmosphere from Shuher.

The man who had been looking at Ibnel now gazed at Halan. The refined atmosphere that had enveloped him until just now disappeared in an instant. But a smile still remained on his lips.

“Duke Feldin Gaer.”

“It’s been a long time, Duke Halan Jeizen.”

‘Feldin Gaer?’

Though Ibnel didn’t know Feldin’s face, she knew of the Gaer ducal family. It was one of the families that had received power, like Shuher and Hibre.

Ibnel recalled information about him in her mind while looking at Feldin.

The Gaer ducal family was the one guarding the northeastern part of Caries, which consisted of the most treacherous and highest mountainous terrain.

That area had a wider range where monsters appeared compared to places guarded by other families, and perhaps because of that, it was known to have received the strongest power after the emperor.

Another name describing Gaer was the emperor’s right hand. Perhaps because they had shared joys and sorrows fighting monsters together since long ago in the past, their relationship was uniquely close compared to other families.

‘So this person is the head of the Gaer ducal family.’

She had thought he would give a similar impression to Count Renel based on his reputation and known stories, but he looked far from battle-like.

Meanwhile, Halan was only bewildered that Feldin was in the imperial palace. Why was he here when he should be guarding his territory?

Noticing that expression, Feldin answered in a very relaxed voice.

“I came to the imperial palace after a long time, also having some business to take care of in the capital. Of course, you don’t need to worry as my knights are perfectly guarding the Gaer territory. By the way, I didn’t expect to meet like this by chance.”

Ibnel could see that Halan’s gaze towards him was not very welcoming. More precisely, he looked uncomfortable.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

After all, Halan had rallied the nobles to check the families with power.

Still, not wanting to offend Feldin, those behind Halan were busy gauging the situation. It was the typical appearance of people who are weak to the strong and strong to the weak.

“I overheard the conversation earlier, but isn’t it wrong to take out your frustrations on an innocent person just because things didn’t go your way? It looked like a very unfair treatment to my eyes.”

Ibnel looked in surprise at Feldin who was taking her side. He maintained a smile throughout.

“This is not something for Duke Feldin to be concerned about. This person seems to be trying to stay in the imperial palace using some vile means,”

“Ah, vile means.”

Feldin repeated what Halan had said, dragging out the end of his words as if teasing him. Then he pointed to himself and said.

“Perhaps by those vile means, you’re referring to me?”

“What?”

“I actively supported having Lady Ibnel here. Or more precisely, I insisted on it.”

Both Halan and Ibnel looked at him in shock.

“Why?”

“Of course, because Lady Ibnel’s abilities are needed too. Looking at it long-term, the benefits are clear. Since there’s someone guarding the capital, the other person can move freely. There’s no reason to miss this good opportunity. When winter comes, monsters will move more actively.”

As Feldin explained logically point by point, even Halan had nothing to say. Moreover, the fact that it was him also played a part. After all, there was nothing good about falling out with him unnecessarily.

“Ah, if everyone here provides all the support including knights whenever monsters appear, I’ll reconsider.”

‘He’s no ordinary opponent.’

Ibnel sensed that Feldin was an even more difficult person to deal with than someone who just gets angry recklessly. He even managed to shut Halan’s mouth right away.

“If not, why don’t you just go back? You don’t seem to have much to say even if you go to His Majesty. Duke Halan, you must be busy with public and private affairs. Ah, and of course, apologize to the lady too. For making such an unfounded misunderstanding.”

Feldin was politely telling him to shut up and get lost if he had nothing more to say. There was no way Halan wouldn’t notice that. But it was an unexpected situation, so he had to retreat for now.

“It seems I was mistaken, my lady. Then I’ll be going.”

“Ha.”

When he had trampled on her with all sorts of insulting words earlier, and now trying to end it with just a single word of misunderstanding, Ibnel could only feel dumbfounded.

“My lady?”

Feldin called out in surprise as Ibnel followed after Halan. But Ibnel didn’t stop, and eventually blocked his way.

Forced to stop because of her, Halan spoke without hiding his annoyed face.

“Move aside. We’re not as idle as you, my lady.”

“I think the idle ones are not me. Even now, I who was heading to the training grounds from the morning seem busier than those who rushed here as soon as they heard news about me.”

“What nonsense are you speaking now? Apologize at once.”

As those behind raised their voices in unison, Ibnel let out a scornful laugh. And that sharp gaze was directed solely at Halan.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you heard about the commotion in His Majesty’s palace? Did you perhaps not hear what I said then?”

As she only spoke words with unclear meaning, Halan’s mood couldn’t be good. His head was already complicated from suddenly meeting Feldin.

“If you’re going to speak useless words…”

“I said that if you touch my people or touch me, your head will fly off immediately, but you didn’t know?”

At her chilling words, everyone present froze. Especially Halan, who was face to face with Ibnel, was bound by those red eyes and couldn’t even utter a sound.