Invitation of the Crescent Moon - Chapter 77

Tap, tap. The knuckles drumming against the window frame were impatient. Though he was pretending to be at ease, after being trapped in the guest room for a full day and night, Drushia’s patience was also reaching its limit.

‘I thought he’d summon me immediately.’

Whatever scheme he had in mind, Weive was keeping Drushia locked in the annex in silence.

‘Does he believe that denial? I must be quite an eyesore to him.’

Or perhaps he already had something in mind.

He had stayed with the intention of having a showdown with Weive, but instead of meeting him, he was just wasting time. The frustrating situation was eating away at him.

With rumors spreading throughout the entire estate, if he fled now, he would only make himself look foolish. Knowing this, they might be deliberately leaving him alone.

‘Duke Igraine’s methods of humiliation are quite intelligent.’

“I’ll be entering, Your Grace.”

At the familiar voice, Drushia turned around. Pelburn was just entering, carrying a tray with lunch.

“Now you’re even going to serve my meals? This is no way for a knight captain to maintain his dignity.”

“Are you one to talk, Your Grace? Your methods of causing trouble are so varied that I can’t help but be amazed every time.”

Drushia crossed his arms and watched Pelburn set the meal on the table.

“I heard you haven’t been eating. Please don’t do this.”

“Since when have you worried about me enough to nag?”

Even though he hadn’t eaten since being confined to the annex, he didn’t feel hungry. His insides were burning, and food wouldn’t go down his throat.

“Your Grace. No, Division Commander, please don’t do this.”

Pelburn let out a long sigh, revealing his frustrated feelings. Remembering a forgotten memory, the corners of Drushia’s mouth turned up.

“Division Commander. You said that quite well. Sir Coltern, for the sake of comradeship, won’t you help me just once?”

“My current comrades are in Igraine.”

“How many times have I saved your life? Don’t you know how to repay a debt?”

“‘Bonds from the Red Sea end in the Red Sea.’ Don’t you know that? And I’ve repaid my debts several times too.”

Coincidentally, the two had served in the same deployment. The dangerous region called the ‘Red Sea.’ It was known as the most dangerous sea area among the regions managed by Rantal.

When Pelburn first met Drushia at the deployment site, their relationship wasn’t good. However, the interests of their homeland meant nothing at the deployment site. In situations where life hung in the balance, names like Igraine or Talion lost their power.

But this wasn’t a deployment site, was it?

“Isn’t what you’ve done too outrageous to invoke old sentiments? I didn’t know Your Grace was such a reckless person.”

“Yes, I know. I’m surprised at myself too.”

“How did it come to this…”

Pelburn couldn’t finish his words. Drushia never did anything that would harm himself. Wasn’t he someone who calculated thoroughly and put his own interests first?

“I didn’t spirit Ashika away.”

“I believe that. But what were you plotting when you seduced the young lady? Does this make sense between Igraine and Talion?”

“Watch your words. Is your young lady the type to be swayed by seduction? Why don’t you think it might be the other way around?”

Pelburn drew in a sharp breath. A look of doubt and skepticism.

“That… the young lady is so…”

“Called the ice flower? The iron wall? Do you remember what I was called?”

Drushia was also a man with walls just as high. The nickname ‘Iron Fortress of the Red Sea’ wasn’t given for nothing.

“This is what they call birds of a feather flocking together.”

“Your Grace, to say such a thing…”

Pelburn cut off his words and let out a long sigh. No matter how much they debated the reasons, the situation at hand was enormous. Duke Talion had been caught in Lady Igraine’s bedroom – what more needed to be said?

“Pelburn, help me. Duke Igraine seems to be planning to keep me locked up and make me suffer, but I’m not that patient.”

“Do you really not know where the young lady went?”

“Don’t you think I’m the one who most wants to know that?”

Drushia’s face twisted fiercely. His patience had long since run out. He was so anxious and uneasy that even he couldn’t gauge what he might do next.

Pelburn headed toward the door with a hardened expression.

“It won’t be good for either of us if my connection with Duke Talion becomes known. For now, I’ll try to persuade the aide to arrange a meeting with Duke Igraine. Resolve the rest when you meet face to face.”

Drushia nodded.

Weive was someone he absolutely had to meet. If he couldn’t overcome him, their relationship had no future.

So it had to be now. No matter how big a stir it caused, no matter how angry Ashika became over this matter, Drushia had no intention of backing down.

****

The news that Duke Talion had been caught in Ashika’s bedroom shocked everyone in the Igraine estate. A gag order was issued to the servants and knights to prevent the shocking news from leaking outside.

Only on the second day of his confinement could Drushia meet with Weive. The place Weive summoned him to was not his office but the reception room. Weive, sitting in the chair of honor, didn’t even look at him when Drushia entered.

Seeing that even the chair for guests had been removed to clearly establish the hierarchical relationship only made him laugh. The surveillance by knights disguised as escorts was no longer necessary either. Drushia strode inside and leisurely looked around.

From the moment he entered his field of vision, Weive’s cheek began to twitch. Like a volcano on the verge of eruption, he couldn’t hide his suppressed emotions.

‘So that old man can be so emotional too.’

Wasn’t she a woman who drove many people mad? He himself, being swayed by her, probably wasn’t in his right mind either. He briefly wondered how much anger Weive would pour out when he opened his mouth.

‘Since he’s an older opponent, I should refrain from provoking him.’

No matter how hateful, he was the only family Ashika had left. It would be troublesome if something happened to him while with Drushia. Seeing that Weive couldn’t hide his inner feelings, Drushia decided on his attitude.

“As I said, I know nothing about Ashika’s running away.”

He could be formal, but thinking that he was still Ashika’s family, Drushia maintained courtesy.

“Ashika? How dare you put my granddaughter’s name in your mouth!”

“It’s a name she herself permitted. Surely the Young Duchess Igraine isn’t someone who can’t even decide her own name?”

Crash – the chair fell backward to the floor. Weive had risen roughly, unable to control his anger.

“You dare, truly!”

A name Ashika had permitted. At that part, he lost his composure completely. Though he had suspected it, Drushia’s shamelessness in mentioning their relationship made his teeth chatter with rage.

“I’m restraining myself because Duke Igraine is Ashika’s family. So it would be best if you moderated yourself.”

Even while maintaining courtesy, Drushia’s characteristic arrogance seeped through. His attitude was relaxed, but his blue eyes gleamed with a fierce light.

However, Weive also showed no sign of backing down. His wrinkled cheeks twitched beyond measure, almost convulsing. Weive ground his teeth with a crunch before opening his mouth again.

“What was the meaning of that marriage proposal?”

“A marriage proposal is a marriage proposal – what meaning could it have? It’s a courtship letter saying I want to take Ashika as my lifelong companion. Have you never done it?”

At the sarcastic tone, Weive’s face twisted with fury.

“Stay away from my granddaughter. Otherwise, even if you’re Talion, I won’t let it slide.”

“I’ve heard that Duke Igraine lacks flexibility, but shouldn’t you face reality now?”

He meant wasn’t it time for both families to compromise.

“We’ve lived without any problems until now. Both I and my granddaughter.”

“How long can that last? As soon as the Grand Duchy issue arose, the Noble Council was the first to rise up. The Imperial family will move soon too – do you think both families will emerge unscathed?”

Drushia’s point was a painful reality. For nobles who wanted to put the Grand Duchy on the chopping block, the conflict between both families was perfect ammunition. So it was right to end this wasteful war caused by old emotions.

Weive wasn’t unaware of this fact either. He closed his heated eyes for a moment, then opened them, regaining some composure.

“Yes, Duke Talion is right. But there’s no reason the means must be marriage.”

“The best method is right before your eyes. You’re not unaware of that, are you?”

“Who says such a thing is the best! Not for my granddaughter. How have I protected that child!”

Weive, who had been shouting loudly, closed his mouth.

Drushia sensed a subtle gap in Weive’s words. His blue eyes flashed, not missing that difference.

“Wasn’t it because I’m Talion that you opposed?”

The bewilderment that flashed through Weive’s eyes was momentary. He skillfully concealed his inner thoughts.

“…Isn’t that natural? Because you’re Talion!”

It was a shout loud enough to make the reception room ring, but it didn’t carry the same heat as before.

Drushia quietly stared at Weive. His heavy gaze examined every aspect of him, persistently searching for even the slightest gap.

‘What am I missing?’

The old emotions between both families had erupted 14 years ago. During that sudden disaster when there was no time to think, Duke Igraine had issued an access ban to Talion, who wanted to conduct a search, earning enormous resentment.

At the time, he had thought it was to prevent casualties from the continuing heavy rain. That’s why, despite being angry, he had understood the blockade measures.

But even afterward, Duke Igraine remained uncooperative. Along with his angry vassals, he fiercely criticized Talion, refusing not only investigation but even meetings, completely withdrawing from the incident.

‘Like someone who didn’t want to know anything.’

Neoren had personally tried to persuade Weive, but ultimately couldn’t break his stubbornness.

There was another strange point. Drushia’s grandfather Neoren hadn’t been hostile toward Igraine. When you think about it, Neoren should have been the most angry. The death of his sister Vanne, and not even being able to find the bodies of his children who died in the accident – all of it was because of Igraine.

However, when his vassals poured out their resentment, Neoren only listened calmly, never joining in their anger or inciting them. He had thought this was due to Neoren’s prudent character, but perhaps even that wasn’t true.

Duke Igraine, whom he had believed hated Talion, seemed more like he desperately wanted to avoid him rather than actually disliking him. A hypothesis he had never considered suddenly flashed through Drushia’s mind.

“What do you know?”

A question filled with confusion and suspicion. At Drushia’s question, Weive’s face hardened like ice.

“I don’t give warnings twice. Stay away from my granddaughter.”

With those words, Weive closed his mouth. His attitude of refusing to give any information only increased Drushia’s suspicions.

“Duke Igraine, your granddaughter is not the young girl who wept alone at the memorial service, nor is she a greenhouse flower who constantly needs care.”

If she had come to him, she could have been comfortable in every way, yet Ashika had disappeared alone. He hadn’t known that the fact that she didn’t need his help would be so disappointing and unsettling.

“If you truly cherish your granddaughter, you should stop this absurd forced marriage. As you probably know, Ashika isn’t entirely docile. If she sets her mind to something, I wonder if there’s anyone who could actually stop her.”

Drushia already knew what even Weive, who had watched over Ashika his entire life, had only recently realized.

“I’ll take my leave now and send out people to search. I’m deeply concerned that she might be wandering alone in the streets because Duke Igraine has tied Ashika’s hands and feet.”

Weive looked choked up but didn’t open his mouth again. With trembling hands, he only gripped the edge of the desk while turning away from Drushia.

‘He probably knows.’

That due to his excessive pressure, Ashika was reacting even more extremely.

Drushia left the reception room, leaving Weive who was avoiding him. During his departure from the Igraine estate, no one blocked his path anymore.