Waiting For Your Reincarnation Chapter 149

They made their way to the terrace attached to the hall, which was deserted since the celebrations had just begun.

 

Zephyto ducked slightly behind a curtain to avoid being seen and looked at Elita.

 

“What’s going on?”’

 

“Did everything go well at Telene’s villa?”

 

“Well…”

 

In response to her question, Zephyto gave a rather vague answer. He’d been so sure that nothing had happened until they’d entered the hall, but he’d just had a good laugh at his arrogance. 

 

Elita’s brow furrowed slightly, as if trying to gauge his intentions.

 

“Did something happen to you?”

 

“Why?”

 

“A reinforcement team rescued a missing surveillance team from the black market. We just arrived at the imperial castle and received a strange report: the empress has been in contact with Duke Elter in Telene.”

 

With that, it was clear that Iris had met with the Duke of Elter. Zephyto stared off into the distance across the terrace.

 

Seeing no reaction, Elita stopped talking.

 

“Did you already know this?”

 

“No. Did you find out why they met?”

 

“I didn’t listen closely, but there was something in the conversation that had to do with a private audience with Prince Ragnar.”

 

“With my brother?”

 

“Yes. Ragnar seems to have requested it first. The princess can be reached at… and she seems to have agreed to it.”

 

“Really?”

 

Zephyto drew in a harsh breath, pulling his tie down a little. A cool breeze brushed against the tip of his nose, but he felt lightheaded, as if he’d been drinking too much.

 

Leaning forward, gripping the terrace railing so tightly that his knuckles stood out, Zephyto asked Elita a question.

 

“What about when you see it? Do you think the princess is fooling around?”

 

“Objectively speaking, it’s more strange that Duchess Elter and even Prince Ragnar have no connection. They’re interacting because they have something.”

 

“There is.”

 

“We’d be better off trying to find more solid evidence.”

 

His eyes followed Iris’s trail through the terrace windows. He’d thought she was alone, but before he knew it, she was chatting casually with Ragnar. It wasn’t the kind of conversation they’d had once or twice before.

 

He wondered if they were talking about her father.

 

‘How long had Ragnar and Iris met in the shadow of the Duke of Elter?’

 

She was such a mysterious woman. She seemed to be showing Zephyto everything she kept secret, but there was something else she was hiding at this crucial moment.

 

‘How should I treat her in the future?’

 

He remembered the promise he had made in the carriage ride back to the Empire from Telene. 

 

He’d set the finish line as the celebration. If Iris remained by his side after the celebration, he was willing to trust her.

 

But was it the right choice?

 

Zephyto let out a weak laugh and muttered to himself.

 

“I almost did something stupid, caught up in a dreamlike moment.”

 

“Can we pick up the investigation you left off?”

 

“…Yes. I want you to find out about Iris by any means necessary. If you find out that Iris was in on it and wished for my death, she’ll be fired…”

 

Elita looked up, waiting for his order to fall. Taking a moment to catch his breath, Zephyto spoke again.

 

“Kill her without anyone knowing. I don’t need her.”

 

“Understood.”

 

With Elita’s conversation concluded, Zephyto felt the heat in his head cool. It was as if his long-lost sanity was returning. It was time to center himself.

 

With a somewhat stiff face, he opened the terrace door and stepped inside. Before he knew it, Ragnar was standing in the center of the second floor, and beside him sat the Emperor Arke, his face stern.

 

Arke looked at Zephyto, who had re-entered the hall, and motioned for him to come closer. 

 

Taking the cue, he slowly moved toward them.

 

At the bottom of the stairs stood Iris, her face a mask of confusion. He pushed past her and up the stairs. Arke stared at him, her face relaxed.

 

“Where have you been?”

 

“I went to the terrace for a while. I had some urgent business to attend to with the Imperial Knights.”

 

“Tsk, what a timely report. The Templars seem to be in a much better mood these days.”

 

“I’ll take care of it.”

 

“Yes, you will. In the meantime, build up your forces and prepare for war.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Arke rubbed the stubble on his chin with a thick hand, thinking. Zephyto turned his puzzled words over in his mind several times. He couldn’t quite figure out what he was talking about.

 

With the knights around him, Arke smiled coyly and continued.

 

“We’re going to raid Telene with you in the lead.”

 

Arke’s demeanor was relaxed, as if asking for a simple luncheon. Zephyto’s brow furrowed slightly. It was strange for him, who had always played it safe in politics, to be the one to initiate war.

 

“Do you have a reason?”

 

“I’ve gotten word that Telene will be raiding the Empire soon.”

 

“Well, wouldn’t it be better to send an ambassador first, and then see for sure? War at this time of year is–”

 

“And if we miss the timing and the Empire is attacked in reverse, will you be responsible, and even if you are, how?”

 

Arke cut off Zephyto’s words and stared at him with a rather sharp gaze. It was as if he had already made all the conclusions about the war with Telene in his mind.

 

“Ragnar has done all the work of obtaining and verifying evidence. All you have to do is go.”

 

He meant no more vomiting at his words. Clenching his fists slightly, Zephyto replied dryly.

 

“I’ll be ready tomorrow.”

 

“Zephyto, sometimes decisions need to be made, and with Ragnar’s coronation coming up, I think it’s time to clear the weeds.”

 

Ragnar nodded in agreement with the Emperor’s words. Zephyto couldn’t shake a sour feeling.

 

It hadn’t been long since he’d traveled with Iris, and he hadn’t sensed a warlike atmosphere in Telene.

 

If anything, Ragnar was preparing to start a war…

 

Zephyto, his mind racing, looked at Ragnar with wide eyes. The reason he had traveled to Telene in the first place was because of the information Elita had obtained. That Ragnar was preparing to spread the plague.

 

When he got there, he found a huge black market underground that Ragnar had built. I wondered if King Telene was aware of this.

 

He wondered who stood to gain the most from a victory in this war: Ragnar, who, if he could handle Zephyto, could expand his territory and gain ground.

 

But what if Ragnar has his heart set on it and is deceiving both Arke, the Empire, and Telene?

 

‘It’s too easy for this to happen.’

 

Suddenly, he understood why things were moving so quickly. Zephyto bowed to Arke and headed back down the stairs.

 

There was no point in trying to convince the Emperor that Ragnar wasn’t telling the truth. It would be far more beneficial to make arrangements with the Elites.

 

Just then, someone grabbed Zephyto by the shoulders and yanked him backward. His face crumpled into a grimace. He could tell who it was just by the breath in his ear.

 

“Where are you going? There’s nothing you can do now that you’re gone.”

 

Ragnar smiled like a friendly older brother. His face was soft and gentle, almost deceptive to others.

 

Zephyto only stared at him and didn’t respond to his question, and then the grip on his shoulder tightened.

 

Ragnar’s porcelain face cracked slightly, and Zephyto simply laughed, as if his blackness was finally being exposed for what it was.

 

“Do you really think I don’t know anything?”

 

“No, you do know. I own the Telene Underground, and I know you’ve been coming and going like a rat. Did you enjoy the show? How about a review?”

 

Ragnar relaxed and patted Zephyr on the back lightly. Then he leaned in a little closer and said,

 

“It doesn’t make any difference if you know, so don’t do it, and ask for his life.”

 

“…….”

 

“If you beg this time, maybe I’ll feel sorry for you and my heart will be swayed.”

 

“I’d rather bite my tongue and die quickly.”

 

For a moment, the hand patting Zephyto’s back stopped. Ragnar’s face wiped the smile off his face. After a moment of silence, he removed his hand and took a step back.

 

“I see. You’ve been strangely stubborn since you were a child. You’ve been so stiff-necked since you were a kid, thinking you’re so good that you can just walk in and lose.”

 

Zephyto shrugged, as if it was none of his business. He turned and walked out of the hall. It was a waste of time to listen to Ragnar any longer.

 

“But if you die, I have the Duke’s friendship, and I’ll take care of the Princess.”

 

“…….”

 

“A government would be just fine. Don’t you think so?”