kscans

Chapter 48 - The Diary Exposes the Past, The Supreme Commander's Shadow Reappears

While Mireille was reading the diary, learning of her past of being "bought" and reeling from the shock, Leonhard was also in turmoil over the person who had suddenly appeared.

"...Not Supreme Commander, Darius! Why the hell are you showing your face now of all times!"

Unable to contain his anger, Leonhard roughly grabbed Darius by the collar.

"I'm sorry," Darius said quietly, not resisting.

"I've done something that warrants you punching or cutting me."

"Where have you been hiding all this time!"

"...I was working to save Ariel."

"...!"

Leonhard's grip loosened for a moment. Darius continued.

"This is the place where Ariel used to work. I'm sure you already know that."

"Don't mess with me! How far are you going to drag us into your mess!"

"Ariel has been captured by the King. She's a bit special... If she got serious, she should be able to escape on her own. But she's not moving. There must be a reason she can't. We should assume her life is in danger."

"What kind of selfish crap is that! Weren't you two supposed to have run off with a bunch of money!"

"That's not true!" Darius's voice was sharp.

"That was a lie spread after I defied the King to get Ariel back. ...And now the King is after Mireille too. Only Ariel can surpass that child's alchemy. He subjected that child to a cruel interrogation, isolated her, and drove her to despair to try and make her do the same things as Ariel. I had no time. All I could do was escape and entrust Mireille to you at the same time."

"Don't screw with me! The marriage proposal, the engagement ring, was it all a lie!?"

"My desire to marry Ariel is real... I just didn't expect this situation to happen so quickly. I truly wanted the two of you to have a normal, warm family life. I believed you were serious and skilled... and that you wouldn't betray a child you cared for. So I entrusted her to you."

"Entrusted her? How can you be so selfish! Try to think about how Mireille feels. She was suddenly thrown to a man she didn't know and had no choice but to rely on him!"

"...For that, I am sorry." Darius lowered his gaze.

"Ariel is just... a little weak when it comes to things like explaining things beforehand or setting up a proper environment."

After a brief silence, he spoke in a low voice.

"Once things have settled down, I will explain everything. But first, we must get Ariel back. Then I will speak properly with both her and Mireille."

"..."

"Leonhard. I intend to stage a coup d'état against the King."

"A coup d'état...?"

"First, bring Mireille here. At this point, no one here can lay a hand on her if she is with you... I want her to create something with her alchemy that can counter them."

Leonhard gasped at Darius's words. For the King's own nephew to speak of a coup d'état...

The sound of soldiers' footsteps, alerted by the commotion, grew closer.

"Captain...? Is someone in there!"

"...Oops. I'll be back soon, for real this time." Darius's body flickered for a moment, and in the next, he was gone.

Left behind, Leonhard let out a ragged breath and pressed his forehead.

"...Bring Mireille here, he says...? To this place...?"

He was left with only confusion and anxiety.