Chapter 113: The Decisive Blow (3)

Silence engulfed the room.

Soon after, a wave of shock crashed over them, surpassing mere absurdity.

Pablo’s audacious proposal was so preposterous that even Fin, who had been nestled in Louis’s embrace, craned her neck for a better look before hastily retreating.

Of course, no one noticed Fin’s fleeting appearance amidst their focus on Pablo.

“Wow…” A gasp finally tore itself from Louis’s lips.

He was genuinely astounded—both by the situation unfolding before him and by Pablo’s level of preparedness.

When on earth did he manage to get that ring?!

It was as if Pablo had anticipated this exact moment when he produced the ring. While everyone else remained frozen in shock, the most astonished person present was none other than Page herself.

Her face was as red as a perfectly ripe persimmon fruit.

Page glanced back and forth between the ring and Pablo, her pupils dilated with shock.

“Are you… Are you serious right now?”

“I assure you, I am entirely serious.”

Oh boy, that much is clear.

Louis found himself nodding involuntarily.

Just look at her expression—it practically screamed, I mean business!

Under Pablo’s fervent gaze, Page slightly turned away.

“H-how long have you been watching me…?”

“The duration of my observations doesn’t matter. The moment I first laid eyes on you… my heart spoke: ‘Love this one.’”

”…”

“I fell in love with you at first sight, Princess Page.”

If Louis were to express any further disbelief, Pablo might just have pulled out his heart on the spot. Witnessing this unprecedented seriousness from Pablo, Louis couldn’t help but rub his arms vigorously.

Ugh, goosebumps!

A thought suddenly struck him, prompting a question for Pablo.

“Hold on… ‘love at first sight’?”

Pablo finally turned towards Louis and nodded earnestly.

“Yes.”

”…When exactly was that?”

“That day.”

“The day? You mean when she sneaked into our room?”

“What do you mean by ‘sneaked’? Please refrain from such language! She is my beloved!”

“Oh really?”

“Ah, well, yes, it was indeed that day.”

“Why did you fall for her?”

“What do you mean… why would I not be smitten? Must there be a reason when one person takes a liking to another?”

“Hmph…” Louis sighed dramatically.

Could anyone experience such an abrupt infatuation? To fancy a thief who had brazenly invaded his world.

As they reminisced about that day, Page’s already flushed face grew even redder. She stammered, “Th-that day… I… after getting hit…”

Indeed, it was puzzling. On the very day Pablo claimed to have fallen head over heels, Page had been left in a pitiful state—bleeding profusely from the nose courtesy of Louis.

Unlike Page’s flustered reaction, Pablo confidently declared, “What does appearance matter? Even seeing you like that, I fell deeply in love with you, Princess! My feelings for you are genuine!” He proudly puffed out his chest.

Pablo puffed out his chest confidently.

Louis was caught off guard by this declaration of love amidst their discussion about assassination plans. He pondered seriously:

To fall for a woman who had just been punched and was bleeding profusely… Is he some kind of pervert?

If what Pablo said was true, Louis would have to accept it.

Pablo’s love…

It must be real.

In an unexpected turn, Louis found himself convinced of Pablo’s affection. With a slight sigh, he asked,

“Pablo, tell me honestly.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve never dated anyone before, right?”

“What do you mean by ‘dated’?”

“You know, been involved romantically with a girl since birth?”

”…”

Silence spoke volumes.

Not to mention how he had blushed and turned away—anyone could tell at a glance that he was indeed a lifelong bachelor.

Pablo cautiously turned his head, meeting Page’s eyes.

“Oh…”

“Um, yeah…”

The two hastily looked away from each other.

It played out like something straight from a romance movie, but for Louis, watching it all unfold was pure torture. Try imagining a muscular man over six feet tall twisting himself into knots with embarrassment—it was enough to make anyone cringe.

As Louis bore witness to this scene, his face grew pale. He felt sickened by what he’d just seen.

He couldn’t help but ask in exasperation, “Pablo… How old are you again?”

“I’m fifty-two this year.”

“Hey, Page.”

“Yes?”

“How old are you again? Forty?”

“Thirty-nine!” Page exclaimed indignantly at being called forty.

Louis waved his hand dismissively as if he had grasped the situation before turning his attention to Pablo.

“You’ve heard about that already?”

“What do you mean?”

“The age difference between you two.”

“Heh-heh, it’s fine. I’m half-dwarf, remember? In human years, I’m just barely into my fifties.”

“That face of yours? Where did your conscience go?”

“Ahem! My appearance is naturally like this because I take after my father… And besides, whether at ten or now, my face hasn’t changed one bit!”

“I see… So being old-looking has its advantages sometimes.”

Was Louis feeling more confused with each passing moment they spoke together? He tried organizing his jumbled thoughts:

Firstly… It isn’t such a bad plan.

Despite how strange things were getting, Pablo’s scheme wasn’t actually all that bad. The unexpected arrival of Page and her fiancé certainly added an interesting twist.

If Pablo’s words proved true, it would undoubtedly leave the premier flustered. Moreover, thanks to Louis, Pablo was currently being hailed as a hero—the chosen one who appeared after twenty years and his heroic fiancée. Their existence threatened to disrupt the carefully laid plans of the premier like dust on an exquisite meal.

It’s quite vexing when variables emerge just as you think everything is perfect.

The variables created by Page and Pablo would surely make the premier anxious. This anxiety could potentially open up opportunities for the Leon Revolutionary Army.

This really does seem plausible… if seasoned with the right details.

But the problem was…

That bastard takes things too seriously.

Louis’s gaze landed on Pablo.

He continued to offer her the ring. To anyone unaware of the situation, it might have seemed like he was aggressively trying to sell it.

“It belonged to my late mother. She told me to give it to someone I loved dearly. I wish for this ring to adorn your finger, Crown Princess Page.”

“Oh…” Page looked utterly bewildered, unsure how to proceed.

Seeing this, Louis’s eyes sparkled with intrigue.

Hmm, isn’t that interesting? Just look at this.

If Pablo had been uninterested in Page, she could’ve simply rejected him outright. But instead, she appeared conflicted, her eyes betraying a mix of emotions. It was clear from just one glance that Page wasn’t entirely indifferent towards him.

Louis’s eyes widened at this revelation.

Are these two…in love with each other?!

When had that happened?! Louis looked back and forth between them incredulously, but it was his actions earlier that had created this situation in the first place. After all, he’d been the one who stuffed both of them into the private room on the airship.

Tsk.

Mentally tutting, Louis gestured dismissively.

“Well then, we’re leaving now.” He grabbed one twin by the hand and turned to leave.

Sensing something amiss, Louis glanced over his shoulder and muttered incredulously:

“You’re not coming?”

Pablo remained standing next to Page despite Louis’s question.

What should I do…?

On one side stood the master holding his precious leash; on the other, the owner who had captured his heart.

Either way, it was extremely important to him.

That bastard really…

Louis’s eyebrow twitched as he watched Pablo vacillating between reason and instinct.

“Pablo…”

Startled by Louis’s snarling voice, Pablo turned reluctantly away from Page with such reluctance that his face seemed about to burst.

And then…

“I-I’ll do it!” Pablo spun around instantly.

Page squeezed her eyes shut and shouted before she could change her mind:

“Yes, I’ll get engaged! Please take this request. If we succeed…I’ll definitely reward you handsomely!”

Her words immediately brightened Pablo’s expression.

He gazed at Louis with eyes brimming with anticipation. His desperate expression elicited a deep sigh from Louis.

…Has something gone awry in this process?

But no matter the path taken, one can still reach Seoul. Since he had somehow achieved his desired outcome, Louis decided to settle for that. Though not entirely satisfied…

Louis looked at Page and opened his mouth.

“I accept your commission.”

“Oh!” Her face lit up instantly.

“Well then, let’s discuss specifics of the plan and compensation later on. For now…” Louis took out his watch. “Shall we start with settling accounts beforehand? It’s been forty-three minutes. That comes to eighty-six gold, sir.”

Seeing Louis beam brightly, Greg groaned audibly.

“What exactly is going on here?”

The next day…

From early morning, the Frenche Royal Palace was turned upside down.

The intruders who had attacked the airship were discovered as cold corpses in prison cells. And not just one of them— the one Louis had captured, all of them.

“What do you mean by this?!” The king erupted in anger.

It was understandable that he would be furious; his potential witnesses to both the crime and its perpetrators had been wiped out.

His eyes swept over the assembled ministers in the hall. Despite his clear display of rage, their faces remained composed—not a trace of fear. After all, for the past twenty years, they hadn’t feared him at all.

At that moment, Levans, standing to the left of the throne, barked with a ferocious expression:

“How dare you neglect prisoner management, Baron!”

Levans’ gaze landed on Baron, the armed guard with a darkened face. Under Levans’ rebuke, Baron gritted his teeth and bowed his head.

“I apologize, Your Highness. According to the warden, they ingested poison and took their own lives.”

At this, Levans once again cut in sharply. “Did you not know they had poison?”

”…That is correct, Premier.” A murderous glint flashed in Baron’s eyes as he replied. If looks could kill, Levans would already be six feet under.

In response, Levans raised his voice, his tone turning confrontational. “This is an egregious failure! How dare we allow the criminals who attacked Your Highness to end their lives so easily! We must discipline Guard Captain Baron here and now!”

The king’s brow furrowed at Levans’ accusation.

While Baron had indeed erred, the king couldn’t bring himself to punish him. After all, Baron was one of his few remaining trusted confidants.

But if I let Baron off scot-free, that Levans will surely nitpick…

After much deliberation, the king heaved a slight sigh and spoke.

“Baron, hear me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Baron promptly dropped to one knee.

“For your negligence in guarding prisoners, you shall forfeit your position for a month and reflect upon your actions at home.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You must return to your residence immediately.”

“I… understand, sire.”

As Baron rose from his kneeling position and turned to leave, a myriad of emotions flickered across his face—gratitude for leniency, guilt for his failure, and apprehension about the future.

It was a mix of sorrow for the king who had no choice but to make such a decision and self-reproach for causing trouble for his sovereign due to his own actions.

And so Baron left.

“Your Majesty! A mere month of confinement?!”

“It stands!” The king cut off Levans’ protests as he raised his voice again. He glared at Levans menacingly.

”…This is sufficient.”

“If Your Majesty insists…” Despite the king’s murderous gaze, Levans remained unfazed, as if he had already obtained what he desired. With a slight twinkle in his eye, he cautiously continued. “Do not worry too much, sire. Although our prisoners perished, we have uncovered their sponsor.”

The unexpected revelation made the king’s eyebrow twitch. “Is that true?”

“It is as you say, Your Majesty.”

”…Who stands behind this?”

“The Leon Revolutionary Army, sire.”

”…”

The king silently glared at Levans.

An assassination attempt on his life by the Leon Revolutionary Army? The king was well aware of how absurd such a notion sounded.

Despite the king’s fierce gaze, Levans remained composed.

“How did you ascertain this?”

“A common tattoo marking the Leon Revolutionary Army was discovered on all their bodies.”

“Are you certain?”

“I am, Your Majesty. I could bring their corpses for your inspection right away if you so desire.”

The king burst out laughing at such audacity.

“That is truly peculiar,” he remarked.

“What do you mean, sire?”

“Every one of these would-be assassins is sporting a tattoo symbolizing the Leon Rebellion… Doesn’t it seem like they’re deliberately trying to make us think the rebellion is behind this?”

“Do you really believe that?”

“What do you think, Prime Minister?”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure myself. But regardless of what lies beneath this incident, the fact remains that these prisoners bear the tattoos of the Leon Rebellion.”

“So what does this mean?”

“Please don’t trouble yourself too much over this matter, Your Majesty. I will get to the bottom of things, no matter how deep the truth may lie.”

The king bit his lip slightly.

He had suspected as much.

But now, there was no doubt about it.

This whole affair was the handiwork of Levans.

The sudden deaths of the intruders—it must have been the prime minister’s move to silence them while striking against Baron.

I’ve lasted long enough…

It had been a full 20 years since he’d been bitten at the throat by the very wolf he raised with his own hands, slowly inching toward death all this time. The king felt his end drawing near—perhaps it was already upon him.

”…Do as you will.” The king waved dismissively, his face etched with exhaustion. As he slumped back helplessly against the throne—

A loud voice boomed from outside the chamber:

“Your Majesty, Princess Page and Grand Duke Pablo request an audience!”