“But it’s really strange. Why do I feel that the Duke’s demeanor towards me is not one of respect, but rather, it seems like he’s praising that merchant?”

Although there was no hostility in Sicar’s tone and gaze as he looked at Gillian, there was also no sense of reverence.

“I’m just concerned that Your Majesty, by directly executing a merchant whose guilt has not been clearly proven, might influence the sentiments of the other merchants.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gillian, who had been silently observing Sicar, raised his hand. The fight had come to a halt, and the attention of the nobles watching the battle turned entirely towards the king.

“Well, among these people, is there anyone who would dare to spread such rumors and incite public sentiment against me, who sits on the throne?”

Upon hearing Gillian’s statement, the nobles gathered, expressing their disbelief that anyone would dare to do such a thing. In response, Gillian smiled faintly.

“Then, you can all believe that everyone here supports me.”

The nobles nodded in unison, aligning their opinions.

“Isn’t it appropriate?”

“Does the Duke also share that opinion?”

Sicar, looking at Gillian with suspicious eyes, bowed his head.

“The reason for Blake’s existence is to safeguard Your Majesty’s throne.”

Gillian smiled as if satisfied with the answer, but it was only a surface expression.

Sicar and Gillian, both of them, were not revealing their true thoughts to each other.

Unlike Sicar, Leidox was a person who knew how to tell lies to appropriately navigate the situation. As upright as he was, even when his eyes met Gillian’s, he merely lowered his head.

“Very well. Hand him over. However, if you fail to capture the assassins, I will use him as an example by putting him on the gallows.”

Gillian threw out a challenge, as if confident in capturing non-existent assassins.

“Of course, if I cannot properly conclude the matter, I will leave his life to Your Majesty’s discretion. However.”

“However?”

“Allow Blake to reinforce his soldiers. In the current situation where assassins targeting Your Majesty’s life are rampant, Blake’s safety cannot be guaranteed.”

This statement implied not to harm Blake while the Duke’s residence was empty. Gillian also had something to say about it.
Gillian wasn’t just listening passively.

“If there’s a shortage of soldiers, I will send royal troops.”

Although he was smiling outwardly, internally, in the current situation where he was sharpening his sword, deploying royal troops seemed like embracing a bomb.

“We cannot withdraw royal soldiers just because assassins occasionally target Your Majesty’s life.”

Gillian, who already knew that it wouldn’t be easy, nodded as if understanding.

“In that case, let’s trust the Duke and leave it to him. He won’t betray my trust, right?”

“I will respond to Your Majesty’s expectations.”

Sicar also smiled calmly and bowed, but there was substance in his words.

According to Sicar, Gillian said that there must be someone clearly behind Gillian’s release of the merchant.

And Tucker should be kept in chains until it is clear that he is innocent.

Tucker’s hand, which was perfectly fine when seen in the morning, was a mess with wounds.

He rode in the escort carriage of the Royal Guards, following our carriage.

Tucker was captured by the Royal Guards right after parting ways with us.

“So, are they saying we were being trailed?”

“Either we were trailed, or they got information from the Merchant Guild Master and trailed Tucker. It must be one of the two. To find out, we need to visit the Merchant Guild again.”

The carriage carrying Tucker followed Leidox, and we visited the Merchant Guild.

However, the Merchant Guild was closed. Sicar grabbed the wrist of the shopkeeper in front of the guild.

“Why, why is a noble doing this…!”

After making a stern face for a while, Sicar returned the money to the shopkeeper and got on the carriage.

Since Sicar didn’t look pleased, I couldn’t ask what was going on. The next place we arrived at was the house of an alchemist.

Sicar felt it was dangerous to leave me alone in the carriage and held my hand every time he got off.

Once again, Sicar grabbed the hand of the alchemist without hesitation, read his memories, and paid him before coming out.

After getting back in the carriage, Sicar remained silent for a while before speaking.

“Gillian knows that I bought a stabilizer from the alchemist. It seems like the arena fight was also arranged for him to observe me…”

Sicar said with a somewhat serious expression as he looked at me.

“I’m not sure exactly what he found out, but what’s clear is that Gillian has started to attack me.” It was something I had already noticed, so I accepted it calmly.

We entrusted Tucker to Leidox because we had to bring Kian.

When we arrived at the Duke’s residence late at night, Kian was already asleep, and the handcuffs that were in Tucker’s hands were nowhere to be seen.

“I heard that this merchant helped the Duke yesterday, so I released the handcuffs a bit.”