Pemandangan di hadapan matanya tampak sangat terdistorsi.
Sambil mencengkeram dadanya, Yuder bergetar hebat menghadapi sensasi mengerikan yang tak terlukiskan. Tiba-tiba, ia menarik napas dalam-dalam, merasa seolah ia telah kehilangan kesadaran atas apa yang baru saja ia perbuat hingga detik sebelumnya.
Apa yang baru saja terjadi?
Apa yang telah berlangsung?
Ia tidak mampu mengatakannya. Yang ia rasakan hanyalah kehampaan di dalam dadanya, seolah sesuatu telah dicabut secara paksa, serta hawa dingin yang menusuk bagai angin yang berembus melalui ruang hampa.
Namun, ia tahu dirinya tidak terluka; setidaknya hal itu jelas.
Saat ia mengerjap dalam kebingungan, sensasi mengerikan itu perlahan memudar bagaikan ilusi. Ketika kenyataan bahwa ia sempat merasakan hal-hal tersebut mulai terasa seperti kebohongan belaka, Yuder akhirnya menyadari di mana ia berada.
Aroma air yang gelap dan menggenang tercium melalui jendela yang tertutup rapat.
Ia berada di kastel Adipati Peletta, tempat sang Adipati tinggal. Yuder berdiri tegak dengan pedang di tangan.
Dan di hadapannya adalah,
"..."
Seorang pria yang duduk dengan darah mengalir dari dadanya. Rambut pirangnya yang berkilau emas tergerai menutupi kening yang pucat.
Pria itu tidak bergerak maupun bersuara. Ia hanya duduk di sana, seolah-olah tertidur sejenak.
Siapa pun yang melihatnya pasti tahu bahwa napasnya telah berhenti. Yuder terus menatap kosong pemandangan itu sebelum akhirnya menundukkan pandangannya ke arah tangannya sendiri. Tubuh, tangan, serta ujung pedangnya tampak berantakan, berlumuran darah.
Akhirnya, semuanya menjadi jelas.
Yuder telah berhasil menuntaskan misi pertama Kaisar. Adipati Peletta telah menemui ajalnya sesuai dengan kehendak Kaisar; yang tersisa kini hanyalah menyingkirkan senjata tersebut dan melarikan diri.
Yuder melepaskan genggamannya dari pedang. Bilah murahan buatan massal itu berdenting berat menghantam lantai. Siapa pun yang memeriksanya kelak tidak akan mampu mengenali siapa pelakunya.
Ia membalikkan badan dan melangkah pergi. Saat melewati perapian yang apinya telah lama padam, ia merasakan hawa dingin yang tak dapat dijelaskan merayapi punggungnya.
Seolah-olah ia telah meninggalkan sesuatu yang sangat krusial di sana...
"..."
Yuder tiba-tiba membuka matanya. Wajahnya basah oleh keringat. Ia menarik napas dalam, dan saat ia mengibaskan tangannya, seseorang dengan lembut menggenggam lengannya lalu menurunkannya.
"Tenanglah. Kau tampak kebingungan; aku tadi hanya ingin membenarkan posisimu."
"Komandan?"
Suaranya sendiri terdengar asing, bahkan di telinganya sendiri. Yuder menelan batuk kering yang mendesak dari tenggorokannya yang parau, lalu mendongak menatap wajah Kishiar.
Rambutnya tampak berantakan, basah oleh keringat, dan mata merahnya memancarkan kelelahan yang mendalam. Namun, pipinya masih memancarkan kehangatan yang tersisa serta vitalitas emosional. Begitu pandangan mereka bertemu, hawa dingin yang merayap tadi surut bagaikan fatamorgana.
Saat mengalihkan pandangan, Yuder melihat Kaisar yang sedang berbaring, sementara Permaisuri menggenggam tangan pria itu sambil berbicara dengan lembut. Para pelayan sibuk berlalu-lalang, mengusap wajah dan tangan Kaisar menggunakan handuk hangat.
'Ah... Aku pasti hampir pingsan lagi.'
Baru pada saat itulah Yuder menyadari bahwa Kishiar sedang memegang handuk basah di tangan yang satunya. Rupanya, Kishiar telah menyeka wajah Yuder yang berlumuran darah tepat saat ia sadar.
'Di hadapan Kaisar dan Permaisuri, bagaimana bisa aku...?'
Dalam sekejap, kesadaran Yuder tersentak kembali ke dunia nyata. Ia mendudukan dirinya, dengan kepala tertunduk, di atas sofa yang tidak jauh dari tempat tidur Kaisar. Secara teknis, posisinya lebih mirip bersandar pada Kishiar daripada duduk tegak. Kendati demikian, tidak ada satupun dari orang-orang terpandang di dekat ranjang itu yang tampak keberatan atau menganggapnya tidak pantas.
"Kaisar telah sepenuhnya sadar, dan aku sudah memutuskan hubungan kita. Kekuatan pelindung yang menutupi wadah itu juga bekerja dengan sempurna. Aku tidak yakin berapa lama kekuatanku akan bertahan pada orang lain, tapi ini seharusnya cukup untuk sementara waktu," ucap Kishiar. Ia menambahkan bahwa jika muncul masalah apa pun, ia akan segera datang untuk memperkuat gaya tarikannya.
"Aku sudah menerima sinyal dari Nathan dan yang lainnya. Ada penyusup tak terduga, tapi mereka sudah ditangani. Begitu sisa bukti beres, aku akan menyusulmu ke atas dan memberikan laporan rinci."
"Itu sebuah kelegaan," balas Yuder.
"Ya, benar. Masa depan tampak menjanjikan."
Kishiar bergumam pelan tentang kata 'harapan' yang merupakan kata yang unik, lalu tersenyum tipis ke arah Kaisar. Meskipun orang tidak bisa menebak seluruh lapisan waktu dan emosi yang terkandung dalam senyuman itu, sudah jelas bahwa kebahagiaan adalah bagian yang paling besar.
Yuder menatap wajahnya dalam diam. Sejak saat ia bertekad untuk merampungkan tugas ini, ia sangat ingin melihat wajah itu. Meskipun ia merasa terkuras hingga nyaris mati, ia tidak merasa begitu kehausan.
"... Terima kasih telah menepati janji padaku dan juga pada Kaisar."
Kata-kata itu sampai ke telinga Yuder sedikit terlambat karena ia telanjur terhanyut menatap wajah Kishiar.
"Aku ingin mengatakan ini begitu kau terbangun," ujar Kishiar sambil menunduk dan mencium punggung tangan Yuder. "Aku tidak akan pernah melupakan apa yang telah kita capai dengan tangan-tangan ini. Begitu pula denganmu."
...
"Kita harus segera pergi. Begitu tiba, kita harus memastikan kondisimu diperiksa... diobati, dan setelah itu kau harus membiarkanku mengungkapkan perasaanku kepadamu sepuas hatiku."
Permintaan Kishiar, yang disampaikan dengan sopan namun sarat akan kerinduan yang mendesak, seolah memantik percikan api di lubuk hati Yuder. Yuder menunduk menatap kehangatan tangan yang menggenggamnya lalu mengangguk.
"Ya, tapi kau juga harus memeriksakan diri dan berobat."
"Tentu saja."
Di saat kesadarannya sempat goyah tadi, Yuder sempat merasakan hawa dingin yang samar. Kishiar sama sekali tidak menyadari hal itu, yang mana menjadi sedikit kelegaan bagi Yuder.
Mungkin kenangan itu muncul kembali karena ia telah terhubung erat dengan Kishiar sepanjang hari ini. Untung saja 'koneksi' tersebut tidak bertahan lama setelah ia kehilangan kesadaran.
Jika tidak, Kishiar mungkin akan merasakan dan ikut menanggung sesuatu yang lebih.
Yuder menghela napas pelan lalu mengalihkan pembicaraan.
"Ngomong-ngomong, apakah Kaisar sempat menyebutkan kemampuan apa yang telah ia bangkitkan?"
"Beliau tampak sibuk dan tidak merincinya. Beliau hanya bilang ingin melihat Permaisuri lalu tertidur."
Kishiar berbicara santai tentang momen intim Kaisar, tanpa menunjukkan tanda-tanda canggung. Tampaknya ia mengira Yuder seharusnya sudah tahu dengan sendirinya.
"Ah, begitu."
"Begitu beliau sadar dan kondisinya stabil, beliau pasti akan mengirimkan kabar."
Itu adalah kemampuan kebangkitan Kaisar Keilusa. Yuder merenungkan pengalamannya dari waktu ke waktu. Saudara kandung sering kali membangkitkan kemampuan yang serupa, namun mengingat kemampuan Kishiar terbilang unik, sulit untuk menebak kemampuan Kaisar secara persis.
"Jika itu adalah kemampuan khusus dalam pertahanan atau perlindungan seperti Pangeran Ejain, hal itu tentu akan membuat hidup lebih mudah di masa depan... Aku hanya bisa menduga-duga."
Jawaban atas pertanyaan itu tiba tidak lama setelah mereka kembali ke Kavaleri.
Kabar tersebut disampaikan melalui sepucuk surat dari Kaisar, yang menggunakan
Chapter 558
The sights before his eyes were all distorted.
Gripping his chest, Yuder trembled in the face of an indescribable, horrific sensation. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, feeling as if he'd lost touch with what he had been doing up to that moment.
What just happened?
What occurred?
He couldn't say. All he felt was an emptiness in his chest, as if something had been forcibly ripped out, and a chill as if a wind blew through the void.
But he couldn't be injured; that much was clear.
As he blinked in a daze, the dreadful sensations gradually faded like illusions. When even the fact that he had felt such things started to seem like a lie, Yuder finally realized where he was.
The smell of dark, stagnant water wafted through the closed windows.
He was in the castle of the Duke of Peletta, where the Duke resided. Yuder stood perfectly upright, sword in hand.
And before him was,
"..."
A man sitting and bleeding from his chest. His golden locks fell over a pale forehead.
The man neither moved nor spoke. He simply sat there, as if momentarily asleep.
It was obvious to anyone that he had already drawn his last breath. Yuder continued to stare blankly at the scene before finally lowering his eyes to see his own hand. His body, hand, and the tip of his sword were all a mess, splattered with blood.
At last, everything became clear.
Yuder had successfully completed the Emperor's first mission. The Duke of Peletta had met his end as the Emperor had desired; all that remained was to discard the weapon and escape.
Yuder let go of his sword. The cheap, standard-issue blade clattered heavily to the ground. Anyone who examined it would be unable to identify the assailant.
He turned his back and walked away. Passing by a hearth whose fire had long been extinguished, he felt an inexplicable chill crawl up his spine.
As if he had left something crucial behind...
"..."
Yuder suddenly opened his eyes. His face was damp. He took a deep breath, and as he waved his hand, someone gently grasped his arm and lowered it.
"Easy there. You seem disoriented; I was just trying to adjust your posture."
"Commander?"
His own voice sounded foreign, even to him. Yuder swallowed the dry cough bursting from his parched throat and looked up at Kishiar's face.
His hair was a mess, soaked in sweat, and his red eyes revealed deep exhaustion. But his cheeks still radiated a lingering warmth and emotional vitality. The moment their eyes met, the creeping chill retreated like a mirage.
Looking away, Yuder saw the Emperor lying down, the Empress holding his hand and speaking softly. Attendants bustled about, wiping the Emperor's face and hands with hot towels.
'Ah... I must have almost fainted again.'
Only then did Yuder realize that Kishiar was holding a wet towel in his other hand. Kishiar had apparently wiped the blood-stained face of Yuder the moment he awoke.
'In front of the Emperor and Empress, how could I...?'
In an instant, Yuder's consciousness snapped back to reality. He sat up, his head lowered, on a sofa a short distance from the Emperor's bed. Technically, he was more reclined against Kishiar than sitting upright. Yet, none of the esteemed individuals near the bed seemed to mind or even consider it inappropriate.
"The Emperor has fully awakened, and I've severed our connection. The protective force covering the vessel is also perfectly effective. I'm not sure how long my power will last on others, but it should be fine for a while," Kishiar said. He added that if any issues arose, he would immediately come to reinforce the pulling force.
"I've received signals from Nathan and the others. There were unexpected intruders, but they've been dealt with. Once the remaining evidence is sorted, I'll come up and give you a detailed report."
"That's a relief," Yuder responded.
"Yes, it is. The future looks promising."
Kishiar mumbled something about 'expectation' being a curious word and silently smiled toward the Emperor. While one couldn't guess all the layers of time and emotion stacked in that smile, it was clear that joy was the most significant part.
Yuder quietly stared at his face. From the moment he had resolved to accomplish this task, he had wanted to see that face. Even though he felt drained to the point of death, he didn't feel particularly parched.
"... Thank you for keeping both your promise with the Emperor and with me,"
Those words arrived at Yuders ears a bit late as he had been lost in Kishiar's face.
"I wanted to say this as soon as you woke up," Kishiar said, lowering his head to kiss Yuder's hand. "I'll never forget what we've accomplished with these hands. Nor should you."
...
"We should leave soon. Once we return, we should first get you checked... get you treated, and then youll let me express my feelings to you as much as I want."
Kishiar's request, polite yet filled with desperate longing, seemed to ignite a spark within Yuder's heart. Yuder looked down at the warmth of the hand holding his and nodded.
"Yes, but you should also get checked and treated."
"Of course."
During the brief moment when his consciousness had wavered, Yuder had felt a faint chill. Kishiar was unaware of this, which was a small comfort to Yuder.
Perhaps the memory resurfaced now because he had been strongly connected to Kishiar throughout the day. It was fortunate that the 'connection' did not persist long after he lost consciousness.
Otherwise, Kishiar might have sensed and shared something more.
Yuder let out a soft sigh and changed the subject.
"By the way, did the Emperor mention what ability he has awakened?"
"He seemed preoccupied and didn't specify. He only said he wanted to see the Empress and then fell asleep."
Kishiar spoke casually of the Emperor's intimate moments, showing no signs of embarrassment. It seemed he thought Yuder should naturally know.
"Ah, I see."
"Once he wakes up and stabilizes, he will surely send word."
It was Emperor Keilusa's awakening ability. Yuder reflected on his experiences over time. Siblings often awoke to similar abilities, but given that Kishiar's ability was somewhat unique, it was difficult to guess the Emperor's ability as well.
"If it were a specialized ability in defense or protection like Prince Ejain, it would certainly make life easier in the future... I can only wonder."
The answer came to them shortly after they returned to the Cavalry.
It was through a letter sent by the Emperor, employing his own "eyes" and "ears."
"So... no one knows for sure what happened at the Sun Palace that day, and the only ones who could have infiltrated were the healers. And even then, they caused an unforeseen disaster."
"I apologize, Your Grace."
Duke Diarca looked down at his subordinates with a colder expression than ever. The nobles surrounding him bowed their heads, avoiding eye contact as if they had nothing to say.
"You fools allowed a monster into the Imperial Palace, providing the Emperor's side with an excuse. My clear instructions were merely to discreetly gather information on the internal situation. How was my message conveyed to lead to such an incident?"
"That is..."
Eyes exchanged glances amongst the people; many were filled with fear. When Duke Diarca clicked his tongue, that terror spread even more.
"Regardless of what the Emperor's side discovers, it can be dismissed as their own reckless action. But we must find out who conveyed my intentions to them at that time and why this act was committed. Who is currently in contact with them?"
"...I am."
"Baron Renbow."
Baron Renbow, who had taken over the communication between the healers and Duke Diarca after the now-absent Baron Durmand, raised his hand with a relatively calm face.
"Speak. Why did this happen?"
"Your Grace, your instructions were clearly and accurately conveyed to them, without addition or omission. I can swear it on my name and faith."
"And yet?"
"According to them, this incident may appear as a failure on the surface, but it is actually not so."
Duke Diarca's eyebrows twitched in displeasure. The surrounding nobles murmured among themselves.
"Not so?"
"Yes. There is someone leading them, referred to as the 'Sage.' He has requested an audience with you, Your Grace. He wishes to report directly to you on the information gathered from this incident."
"A presumptuous and dangerous individual..."
"How dare he..."
The whispers that had been rising fell silent with a small thump against Duke Diarca's chair.
The elderly Duke did not, as the nobles had anticipated, erupt in anger or leave his seat. He stared thoughtfully at Baron Renbow for a moment before speaking.
"If he dares to speak out even after causing such a major mishap, he must be confident that he has something of significance."
"..."
"Very well. Tell him to come."
"Are you sure, Your Grace? To allow such lowly people to"
"Wouldn't it be better to dispose of them right away?"
Ignoring the nobles' words, Duke Diarca shook his head.
"Regardless, they are the ones treating the Crown Prince. I've been curious, so let's see their faces first before making a decision."
"Very well, Your Highness."
Baron Renbow respectfully bowed his head. No one noticed the momentary glint of confusion in his eyes, nor did they realize that as soon as the conversation ended, he immediately headed to the quarters where the 'healers' were staying. There, he knelt before the Sage and relayed everything that had transpired.
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