Working at a Haunted Mansion Chapter 127 - Side Story Chapter 3

“Rise. You’ve come a long way, well done.”

The Empress gestured to a seat for Sorre. Caleb asked with a sharp gaze,

“What of the border, that you are here?”

“Do not worry. My sons are grown enough to handle their share.”

Sorre answered with booming confidence. Each time his chest rumbled, the chair beneath his frame groaned under the weight.

“I am not questioning your governance, Count of the Frontier. Never would I dare. I ask why you left the eastern gate, when none summoned you.”

“I too wonder the same. How did you manage to arrive at just the right time, from so far away?”

Bauner Zamir added.

Despite their suspicious tones, Sorre nodded without offense.

“There is a wondrous revelation behind it. Not long ago, in a dream, the radiant Sun winked with a single eye and spoke: Gelman Sorre, warrior of the eastern gate, go at once to the glorious capital! When I woke, I mounted my horse immediately and rode straight for the Imperial City.”

“Ooh, Lord Lumion.”

The High Priest and the Hierarchs traced the sign of the cross.

Aiden’s letter, however, had contained no such fervor as Sorre’s words.

After asking after Sorre and his sons, he had written simply:

*[Last night in a dream, the bright Sun said to send the warrior of the eastern gate to the capital. So I dispatch this messenger to you, requesting that you come quickly.

I have a feeling that the High God requires the strength and uprightness of the Frontier Count.

But could you tell others that you yourself dreamt this vision? For my enemies will surely seek to sully my faith.

I look forward to the day we meet in the capital.]*

The letter had been sent toward the eastern gate at the same time Aiden moved from his domain to his capital residence, to summon Gelman Sorre without delay.

At that time, several endings had been envisioned for the High Priest’s designs, but in many of them the Emperor failed to fulfill his role. Whether by disgraceful deposition or untimely death, the throne was highly likely to change hands.

Since the babbling crown prince could not rule, a regent would be essential.

There were two powerful candidates: Temis Shayworth and Caleb Shayworth.

For many political reasons, Aiden wanted the Empress to be regent, and to bring the balance of power to her side, he needed Gelman Sorre—an honest and upright force.

As Aiden wished, everything fell neatly into place.

Gelman’s thunderous speech continued.

“Indeed, the High God sees the world in all its brightness. When I reached the capital and saw the black smoke, I understood His command: to guard His Majesty Julius on his final path.”

His reddened eyes opened wide as he declared,

“I, Gelman Sorre, will give my life to ensure that no one disturbs His Majesty’s passing to the heavens.”

“His Majesty would be gladdened by your loyalty.”

The Empress spoke calmly, then turned to the High Priest.

“Then, would you explain to the Frontier Count how far we have come in our discussion?”

Neutral as ever, the High Priest willingly summarized the conflict over the regency. He recalled each argument clearly.

Gelman listened intently, then said,

“To my limited mind, all the words I heard seemed sound. Such is the complexity of the matter, and I see why each of you weighs it carefully. Yet thankfully, for times such as these, when even loyal hearts point in different directions, the First Emperor established the Founding Law.”

His tone grew solemn.

“According to the great law whispered by the High God to the First Emperor, I dare to say that Her Majesty the Empress Temis—legal consort of the late Emperor Julius, second sovereign of the Empire, and mother of our new Emperor—must be the one to tend to the children of the High God.”

Gelman said this not as a partisan of the Empress nor at the urging of Duke Kashimir, but out of his own stubborn, upright conviction.

At the same time, it was the decisive statement that moved the High Priest’s heart.

Caleb quickly accepted the outcome.

“I respect the Frontier Count’s judgment. A law carved into stone is eternal.”

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

Caleb Shayworth entered the villa that had been assigned to him and loosened his cumbersome tie. His aide swiftly took it from him.

After Gelman Sorre’s words, Caleb no longer pressed the issue of the Empress’s incompetence. Once the High God had been invoked on her side, there was no point.

Caleb spat his words like venom.

“That sly snake. It’s clear he was the one who brought the Frontier Count here.”

“You mean Duke Kashimir?”

“Yes. That bastard already moved to settle Julius. I thought he’d squeeze every last drop out of him for a while yet, but it seems I was wrong.”

“There’s no proof of the Duke’s involvement. It’s still possible the Frontier Count truly received a revelation.”

“Rubin, are you serious?”

Caleb frowned deeply. He sank into the sofa and crossed his legs.

His aide, reading the mood, quickly gestured outside for tea to be prepared.

“No one heard a word of the Frontier Count’s march to the capital. Someone concealed the news. Someone provided him with a discreet route. Who else would have done so but the one who had everything to gain from his appearance? Look who benefited from it.”

“Even so, the investigation showed the Duke had nothing to do with His Majesty’s death. The idea that he called the Frontier Count to interfere in the regency is only a theory…”

“Then he planned to use him in some other way!”

Caleb gripped the sofa arm as if to tear it off. He was consumed by the bitterness of loss.

Just for being the second son, he had never once been allowed to compete fairly with his brother, Henry Shayworth.

No one could know how bitterly he had envied his nephew Julius, born the sole heir.

Or how hollow he had felt when Julius, fully grown, took his father’s throne as though it were nothing but natural…

But this time, the chance had been within reach. He could have carved his own destiny.

Before he grew too old, before illness or frailty set in, he might have stamped the imperial seal as though it were his own.

It wasn’t as though he meant to kill his brother’s grandson. He had only wanted to sit on the Sun Throne until the boy came of age.

Truthfully, he would most likely die before living to see his great-nephew’s coming-of-age. If Otto died before him, the succession would pass to him and his children anyway…

But all of it had been ruined. Because of that wretch, Aiden Kashimir!

Caleb struck the sofa’s armrest with his fist, then slowly let the tension leave his body.

“It was never mine to begin with.”

The truth was, he had never yearned for the regency with burning passion.

Even as things stood, his life was wealthy and comfortable. Unlike Aiden Kashimir, who was sent scurrying about by obligations, Caleb was surrounded by flatterers and friends, living in luxury.

So no, it wasn’t a loss…

Leaning back fully, Caleb let apathy seep into him. Resignation and ennui dulled his nerves. This was how he survived.

If one kept staring into an unfillable pit, only madness awaited.

Without moving more than his head, he glanced at his aide.

“Nothing amusing from below?”

“They say Duke Kashimir has taken a woman.”

“At last!”

Caleb let out a scoff with his words.

“I thought he was a celibate like Count Ots, but perhaps not. Which family?”

“She is not from a noble house. They say she is the Duke’s counselor, who began living in the capital not long ago. The two have been seen together often.”

While Caleb sank into thought, tea was prepared at the table. As the faint fragrance filled the room, he finally spoke again.

“He’s not the sort to tolerate idle rumors. So it must be true. But a common woman… Rubin, I want to know more about her.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Only then did Caleb sip his tea, offering a brief moment of prayer for his nephew’s soul.

 

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

During the Emperor’s funeral, people from nearby villages poured into the capital.

Thanks to this, Caleb’s aide had no trouble meeting a merchant caravan that had recently passed through Duke Kashimir’s lands.

The next night, the aide reported his findings to Caleb.

Caleb’s eyes widened slightly.

“The Duke fell in love with a maid?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Her name is Lily Dienta. She mainly worked as a cleaning maid. At one point, she even tried to flee the estate, causing quite an uproar. Baron Burnett himself went after her. But instead of being dismissed for it, she was promoted to a higher position.”

Was Lily Dienta such a prodigy in cleaning that she was worth all that trouble? Otherwise, what reason could there be for a maid to receive such favor?

To leave the estate without permission was a grave crime—one punishable with demotion to slavery, and that was the merciful sentence.

“Afterwards, when the Duke recovered, she was the first to move to the capital and settle here. Once he too arrived, she became his counselor, always at his side.”

Caleb had heard of Duke Aiden Kashimir’s counselor. In fact, every noble in the Empire had.

Though no one knew exactly who the counselor was, all assumed it must be some nameless genius healer.

So deeply did Aiden rely on the counselor. His visible respect for the counselor during exposure therapy had left a vivid impression on all who witnessed it.

And yet, the counselor turned out to be nothing more than a maid.

Caleb was dumbfounded.