Several days passed after the Grand Bazaar came to an end.
Although the streets of Abarrus had gradually returned to their usual liveliness, one particular incident continued to circulate among its citizens. The assassination attempt against the young master of the Lyn Family had become one of the city's most discussed topics. Rumors spread from marketplaces to taverns, each version becoming more exaggerated than the last. Some claimed that dozens of assassins had surrounded the carriage, while others insisted that the attackers were experts sent by a powerful organization from outside the kingdom.
Neither the Lyn Family nor the Hall Family paid much attention to those rumors.
Instead, both families immediately mobilized their own networks and publicly announced generous rewards for anyone capable of providing useful information regarding suspicious individuals seen near the site of the ambush. Unfortunately, the investigation progressed far slower than expected. Since only Relict and Seila had survived the attack, there were no reliable witnesses who could identify the assailants. Both of them had consistently stated that the attackers remained hidden from beginning to end and relied entirely on long-range attacks. Without even a proper description of their appearances, the investigation soon reached a standstill as every lead eventually ended in failure.
Compared to the unrest outside, however, the atmosphere inside the Lyn Manor had become much calmer.
Early that morning, the courtyard within the manor was unusually peaceful. Warm sunlight filtered through the surrounding trees, while a gentle breeze carried the refreshing scent of flowers blooming throughout the estate. Beneath the shade of a large umbrella stood a round marble table, upon which two porcelain cups rested neatly on matching plates. Thin wisps of steam still rose from the herbal beverage prepared inside them, filling the air with a faint fragrance known to calm one's nerves.
Seated on one side of the table was Relict.
He had clearly been brought there not long after waking up. His hair remained slightly messy, and he was still wearing the loose sleeping clothes he had worn the previous night, giving him a somewhat languid appearance. Opposite him sat Frisca Hall, dressed in her usual flowing skirt and sandals, looking as composed as ever despite arriving at the manor so early in the morning.
Relict lazily glanced toward her before letting out a small yawn.
"Why are you visiting me so early in the morning?"
Frisca immediately pouted.
"You kept rejecting every one of my visits."
"So I had no choice but to wake you up instead."
Her answer came so naturally that Relict could not help but blink once.
Ever since the Grand Bazaar, Frisca had continued sending letters requesting to visit him at the Lyn Manor. Every single invitation, however, had been politely declined under the excuse that his condition still required sufficient rest. Apparently dissatisfied with that outcome, she had decided to visit personally before anyone could stop her.
Relict lightly shook his head.
He was honestly a little surprised by how straightforward she had become.
"So why are you still insisting on seeing me?"
"Haven't I already explained my condition back at the Grand Bazaar?"
Frisca met his gaze without avoiding it.
"I just wanted to see you again."
After saying those words, she tilted her head slightly.
"Can't I do that?"
Relict looked at her quietly before giving a small helpless smile.
"Of course you can."
"But I'm still recovering from my condition."
"I need plenty of rest every day."
The explanation was perfectly reasonable.
At least on the surface.
Frisca, however, was not convinced.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Is that really true?"
"Why do I feel like you're just avoiding me?"
Relict calmly picked up the cup before him and took a small sip of the warm beverage.
Then, without changing his expression, he answered.
"Aren't they basically the same thing?"
For a brief moment, the courtyard fell silent.
Then Frisca immediately crossed her arms.
"Aton!"
Her voice carried obvious dissatisfaction as she glared at him.
Seeing Frisca remain silent with her arms crossed, Relict could not help but smile lightly. He had only intended to tease her a little, yet judging from her expression, it seemed she had truly become dissatisfied with his answer.
"Anyway," he said calmly as he placed the cup back onto the marble table. "You're already here, so there's no need to dwell on that topic anymore."
"Hmph!"
Frisca turned her face away for a moment, deliberately making a dissatisfied sound. Although she was still somewhat annoyed by his attitude, she also understood that continuing the discussion would not change anything. Aton had always been stubborn whenever he made up his mind.
Since there was no point arguing over it any longer, she simply changed the topic.
"About the assassination you encountered..." Her expression gradually became more serious. "Our family has recently obtained another lead regarding the investigation. We managed to trace the origin of the arrows used by the attackers."
Relict's attention immediately shifted back to her.
"They were manufactured by the Croan Alliance."
"The Croan Alliance?"
Frisca nodded.
"It's a mercenary organization based within the Mourning Valley. Their members accept all kinds of commissions as long as the payment is sufficient. According to our investigation, the arrows recovered from the scene were all crafted by their blacksmiths. Although those weapons occasionally circulate outside the valley through merchants, the quantity used during the ambush makes that possibility rather unlikely."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Because of that, our family believes the attackers themselves were likely foreigners."
Hearing her explanation, Relict quietly searched through Aton's memories.
"Mourning Valley..."
He slowly recalled the place.
"Isn't that the restricted domain west of the Sumari Kingdom?"
"Yes."
Frisca nodded once again.
"That place has never truly been under the kingdom's control. The people living there are... difficult to govern. Most of them only recognize strength and money. Mercenary work is their primary livelihood, so it wouldn't be surprising if someone hired them to eliminate a target."
Relict lightly nodded in understanding.
"So you're saying someone paid them to kill me."
"There is no other explanation."
Frisca's answer came without hesitation.
"Unfortunately, that's also where our investigation stopped. Even if the attackers truly came from the Mourning Valley, we still haven't found any clues regarding the person who hired them."
Relict quietly leaned back against his chair and shifted his gaze toward the peaceful courtyard before them. The gentle breeze continued swaying the surrounding trees as servants occasionally passed through the distant walkways, completely unaware of the thoughts crossing his mind.
Frisca's speculation was reasonable.
In fact, he had already considered that possibility shortly after realizing the assassins were not natives of Abarrus.
'Aton never had any contact with people from the Mourning Valley.'
'If foreigners were chosen to carry out the assassination, then they were merely tools.'
'Which means the mastermind deliberately sought outsiders to prevent the investigation from leading back to them.'
Relict's eyes gradually narrowed.
'In that case... the person behind everything is most likely someone native to this city.'
The conclusion quietly settled within his mind.
He then turned back toward Frisca, intending to ask more about the Mourning Valley and the Croan Alliance. However, before he could speak, the sound of approaching footsteps entered his ears.
Relict instinctively shifted his gaze toward the corridor leading into the courtyard.
Noticing his reaction, Frisca also looked in the same direction.
A familiar figure soon appeared.
Seila approached them with her usual composed demeanor, wearing the black-and-white maid uniform of the Lyn Family. Her long dark hair flowed neatly behind her back, while the short bangs resting above her eyes and the simple hairpins adorning both sides of her head gave her an innocent and tidy appearance. Despite walking at a brisk pace, she showed no signs of panic. Upon reaching the table, she first bowed respectfully toward the two of them before raising her head.
Relict looked at her calmly.
"Seila, what's the matter?"
"The servants accompanying Lady Frisca requested to see her, Young Master."
She slightly turned toward Frisca as she continued.
"They said the matter is urgent."
Frisca immediately understood what the message was referring to.
She slowly stood from her chair.
"It should be about the people from the capital."
She lightly dusted the folds of her skirt before continuing.
"They're representatives of the royal family. They personally came here to deliver invitations for the Crown Prince's coronation."
Relict raised an eyebrow slightly after hearing that.
Ever since occupying Aton's body, nearly all of his attention had been devoted to recovering from the Curse of the Surface, stabilizing his condition within the Lyn Family, and dealing with the assassination attempt. Matters occurring outside Abarrus had been temporarily pushed aside, leaving him with little knowledge regarding recent developments throughout the kingdom.
'It seems I should begin paying more attention to what's happening beyond this city.'
With that thought in mind, he looked toward Frisca once more.
"Coronation?"
His curiosity was genuine.
"Why is it happening so soon?"
"And why is the royal family personally delivering the invitations?"
Seeing Relict's reaction, Frisca immediately realized that he knew very little about the recent affairs of the capital.
She patiently explained.
"It isn't actually sudden."
She lightly shook her head before continuing.
"His Majesty King Austin has been preparing for this for quite some time now. According to the news from the capital, he's already on the verge of breaking through the Fourth Gate of cultivation. Once that happens, he'll be entering seclusion for an unknown period of time, so he decided to hand the throne over to the Crown Prince beforehand."
Relict quietly nodded.
A king entering seclusion while a new ruler ascended the throne would inevitably bring changes throughout the kingdom. Although the transition appeared peaceful on the surface, countless aristocratic families would undoubtedly begin adjusting their positions once the new monarch officially took power.
Frisca paused for a brief moment before speaking again.
"As for why the royal representatives came here personally..."
A trace of hesitation appeared on her face.
"I think we'll know after meeting them."
Then she looked back at Relict.
"Anyway, are you coming?"
Relict noticed the subtle change in her expression, but chose not to ask further. Whatever concern she had regarding those representatives would likely reveal itself soon enough. Besides, he had little interest in involving himself with the affairs of the royal family while his current body remained in such a fragile state.
"I'm still recovering from my condition."
He casually picked up the porcelain cup before taking another sip.
"I don't think I can endure long meetings with distinguished guests."
Frisca merely rolled her eyes.
She knew his health was indeed improving little by little, but she also knew that wasn't the only reason he was refusing. More often than not, Aton simply disliked unnecessary social gatherings.
"Fine."
She let out a small sigh before standing from her chair.
"I'm going then."
Then, looking at him with a faint smile, she added,
"Let's talk again tomorrow."
Relict sighed almost immediately after hearing those words.
"I'm occupied tomorrow."
He scratched the back of his head somewhat helplessly.
"Just send me letters instead. I'll reply whenever I'm free."
Frisca slowly crossed her arms.
"We've only talked for less than an hour today."
"And you're already trying to send me away?"
Relict quickly shook his head.
"No, don't misunderstand."
"I simply don't want to trouble you every single day."
Frisca stared at him for several moments before letting out another dissatisfied snort.
"I feel like it's the other way around."
She turned around while still pouting.
"Hmph."
"Goodbye."
Watching her walk away, Seila repeatedly shifted her gaze between the two of them, clearly uncertain whom she should follow. She wanted to remain beside her young master, yet Lady Frisca had arrived as an honored guest of the Lyn Family.
Relict naturally noticed her hesitation.
He simply gave Seila a small nod.
Understanding his intention immediately, Seila respectfully bowed.
"Please excuse me, Young Master."
Then she hurried after Frisca, quickly catching up with her before the two women gradually disappeared beyond the courtyard pathway.
Silence returned once more.
Relict quietly leaned back against his chair and looked toward the peaceful scenery before him. The gentle breeze continued to sway the branches overhead, carrying with it the faint fragrance of blooming flowers scattered throughout the manor.
'Augustus never mentioned the royal delegation to Aton.'
He slowly pieced the matter together.
'Which means he never intended for Aton to accompany him to the capital for the coronation.'
The conclusion came naturally.
Given Aton's condition, allowing him to travel such a long distance would have been an unnecessary burden. More importantly, Augustus probably wished to keep him away from the political struggles that would inevitably accompany the succession of the throne.
Relict, however, saw something entirely different.
A faint smile gradually appeared on his face.
'If Augustus leaves the city... then this is the perfect opportunity to begin the next phase.'
Without Augustus personally overseeing every matter within the Lyn Manor, Relict would have far greater freedom to direct the people under his authority without having to explain every decision beforehand. It would also allow him to quietly prepare several arrangements that were difficult to execute while the patriarch remained watching over the household.
For Relict, opportunities such as this rarely presented themselves twice.
Naturally...
He had no intention of letting this one slip away.
...