The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate

Chapter 48

Leo noticed the change in Caron's expression; it had suddenly hardened. Leo sensed the same murderous intent he had witnessed when their train was ambushed. But this time, the waves in Caron's ocean were even more violent, and it made Leo break into a cold sweat without even realizing it.

What kinds of thoughts are in your mind, Caron? Leo thought.

This was a banquet hosted by the royal family. If they stirred up trouble here, that would be the same as dragging royal authority through the mud. As Leo sensed the impending disaster, he draped an arm around Caron's shoulders and said quietly, "Caron, the guests are coming. We should greet them."

It seemed Leo's effort had reached Caron. The murderous intent that emanated from him seemed to recede. A few seconds later, he turned to Leo with a smile, saying, "Thanks, Leo. I almost made a mistake there."

The sharp hostility that had filled the air was now masked behind that smile. Caron expertly hid his emotions as he turned his gaze toward the group approaching them, which had been drawn in by Revelio's earlier provocations.

At the front of the group stood a nobleman with a calm, confident demeanor. He said in a smooth, polite tone, "It's been a while, Your Highness."

Revelio gave him a casual wave in response and said, "Karim of House Diaz. Yes, it's been some time."

"Your Highness, it seems you haven't changed at all," Karim said.

"I try to stay consistent, you know. Ah, you should be introduced. Leo Leston, Caron Leston, this is Karim Diaz," Revelio said.

Marquis Diaz was one of the most powerful houses in the current imperial court, and was one of the founding families that had helped with the coup. Unlike Duke Halo, who still led the Leston family, the former Marquis Diaz had passed on leadership to his son. Karim was the third son of the present Marquis Diaz.

Karim is nineteen years old, Caron recalled as he remembered the information Zerath had provided earlier.

With a faint smile, he reached out for a handshake and said, "I'm Caron Leston."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Karim Diaz," Karim replied as he grasped Caron's hand with a smile. However, it wasn't long before he felt something strange.

Though Caron was smiling at him, it felt as though his mind was elsewhere, as if he was lost in thought about something entirely different.

How rude, Karim thought.

Among nobles, proper etiquette started with giving one's full attention to the person one was speaking to. But Caron, despite the formal handshake, wasn't truly present. Though Karim had heard that Caron was Duke Halo's youngest grandson, he hadn't expected him to be so impolite right from the first meeting.

The Leston Duchy was renowned as one of the most prestigious in the empire, was it not?

Is it just because he's young? Karim thought.

Just as Karim's expression began to show his displeasure, Leo, who stood beside Caron, broke into a smile and spoke to him. "I'm Leo Leston. Please don't take offense, Karim Diaz. Caron tends to focus intensely on one thing when something catches his attention."

"Ah, I see," Karim replied.

"I've heard many stories from my father about Marquis Diaz. I hope we can continue to build a strong relationship going forward," Leo said.

Karim thought that at least Leo seemed to know how to talk to nobles. Thus, he turned his attention fully to Leo and said, "On behalf of my father, I want to thank the heroes of the Leston family. I heard you successfully dealt with the bandit problem. As expected of the Leston Duchy."

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"We simply did what was necessary," Leo responded humbly.

The brief moment of civility between them, however, was abruptly shattered. Revelio, who had been silently observing the conversation, interjected with a mocking tone. "It seems Duke Halo truly cares about the empire. Meanwhile, the nobles of the capital are too busy holed up here, licking the boots of power."

Revelio's insults were blatant. Karim clenched his jaw, holding back the anger simmering beneath the surface.

The Sixth Prince, a lowborn brat with no sense of propriety... Karim wondered what Revelio was even doing here, when he would normally be amusing himself with maids in the palace.

The reason is obvious, he thought disdainfully.

Revelio was like a cockroach, who knew exactly what it took to survive in the palace. He was here to try and align himself with the Leston family. The wretch's survival instincts were sharp, he had to admit. But would things go his way?

There was no chance the Leston family didn't know what Revelio was trying to do. Karim only had to glance at Caron's thinly veiled disgust to see that much. The Leston family, with all its influence, would never lower itself to supporting a half-royal prince. If anything, they would align with a stronger royal, someone with actual potential.

"Your Highness certainly has a sharp tongue," Karim said coldly. "As a member of the royal family, a bit more decorum would be advisable."

He thought this was his opportunity. He would show the young members of the Leston family just how powerful House Diaz truly was, that a prince who was out of favor could be crushed under the weight of their influence whenever they desired. He would demonstrate who really wielded authority in this banquet hall.

"My father says it pains him to see how upset His Majesty becomes whenever the topic of Your Highness arises," Karim continued.

Revelio smiled with chilling nonchalance and said, "Marquis Diaz is indeed a compassionate man, so thoughtful about others' affairs. It makes me think my father has a good servant by his side."

"Consider it a loyal admonition born from concern," Karim responded. "Surely Your Highness wouldn't want to be a burden to the Crown Prince."

"Hmm, I didn't expect the topic of the Crown Prince to come up. You got me there, Karim Diaz. But what can I do? My sharp tongue is in my blood. As you know, my mother was a commoner! Haha!" Revelio laughed loudly.

Several nobles standing nearby curled their lips in distaste. No one in the banquet hall was on the side of the Sixth Prince. In fact, it was likely that no one in the entire royal court was.

Karim glanced at Leo with a satisfied smile and asked softly, "How about you join us? It's my first time meeting the esteemed children of the Leston family, so I have a lot of questions."

He then extended his hand toward them. He had already shown who held true power here, so naturally, they would accept his hand. Despite being from the Leston family, they were still young and inexperienced. It was only a matter of time before they got swept up in the moment.

And I'll be able to confront them about what they did to Drogol, too, Karim thought; it felt as if everything was going according to plan.

But then, Caron, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Your Highness."

Revelio grinned and asked, "What is it, Caron Leston?"

"You're terrible at acting, Your Highness. Seriously the worst. Let's just drop the act and be ourselves," Caron replied.

"Oh, is that so? Well, my mother wasn't great at acting either. But I'm good at growing flowers," Revelio said.

"That explains why your head's full of them, thinking idealistically rather than realistically," Caron shot back.

"Huh, really?" Revelio blinked, as if genuinely considering the response.

The conversation had taken an odd turn, and Karim frowned for a moment. However, he quickly masked his irritation with a smile and asked, "Did you two already know each other? Since when have you—"

But before Karim could finish his sentence, Caron scowled deeply and interrupted, "Hey. You've been running your mouth non-stop. Can't you shut up for a second? I'm trying to think."

The sudden outburst of profanity stunned Karim. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"...What did you just say?" he demanded.

"I said. Shut. Up," Caron enunciated slowly.

"I'm aware that you are Duke Halo's grandson, but this is—" Karim's words never reached their conclusion.

Shing!

Caron had unsheathed Guillotine from its scabbard. The moment the dark blue blade gleamed in the light, the entire banquet hall fell silent. All those who had been gossiping moments earlier now held their breath. Even Karim, who had been running his mouth ceaselessly, clamped his lips shut, his face drained of color.

Caron gripped Guillotine tightly and said, "I was going to let things slide today, but the more I think about it, the less that seems like an option. Your Highness, can you seal this place off for a moment?"

Revelio, intrigued by the sudden request, smirked and asked, "What's on your mind?"

"It's Dark Mana. There's a rat with Dark Mana hiding in here," Caron answered.

Revelio didn't seem startled by the unexpected statement and responded with his usual composure, "Oh, that's the kind of news that would probably wake my grandfather from his grave. But come on, there are countless detection spells in the royal palace. This one's a bit hard to believe."

After the fall of the Malevolent Emperor, the royal family had installed an array of protective magic barriers to cut off any connection to the demons. They even regularly imported holy water from the distant Holy Kingdom in the south to sanctify every corner of the palace. The idea that such measures had been bypassed was difficult to accept.

But in that moment, a faint possibility flickered in Revelio's mind. It's possible... if there's a collaborator inside the palace.

As Revelio quickly considered that, Caron's voice echoed as he continued, "Who am I the grandson of?"

Without a word, Revelio pulled a wand from under his shirt and nodded, acceding to Caron's request. Cooperation was the first step. If what Caron said was true and there really was a being with Dark Mana inside the palace, the consequences would be catastrophic.

"As Mason always told me, leave diseases to the doctors, and demons to the Leston family. So, what do you need me to do?" Revelio asked.

"Just make sure no one leaves this place," Caron instructed.

"That's a tall order with my abilities... but there's a way," Revelio said.

From his pocket, a small crystal orb popped out. And with a flick of his wand, he shattered the orb effortlessly. Suddenly—

Whoosh!

A wave of mana engulfed the banquet hall.

"Sis gave me this illusion artifact for emergencies. It lasts about ten minutes, give or take. By then, the imperial guards outside will start to notice that something's off. Oh, and it's expensive, so you'll be paying me back. Understood?" Revelio said. He was still the only one smiling in the hall.

As the hum of magic filled the air, Caron channeled mana into Guillotine, his eyes scanning the room. His voice, now as cold as ice, cut through the tension. "Ten minutes is plenty."

There was no way he could just walk away after sensing Dark Mana.

"Grandfather will understand. At least when it comes to Dark Mana," Caron said.

The hostility in his aura intensified, radiating from him like a storm gathering strength.

***

The atmosphere was suffocating as Caron walked through the banquet hall, and every step he took echoed in the silence.

Karim watched him with growing dread. He couldn't move, not even a finger. Sweat trickled down his face, and his figure betrayed the primal fear that gripped him. His mind screamed for him to run, but his body refused to obey. Even his mouth wouldn't open. From that small boy, an overwhelming aura of terror radiated.

What... What is this? Karim thought, unable to comprehend the situation.

He wondered why the youngest of the Leston family had drawn his sword in the middle of a banquet hall, and why the Sixth Prince had cast a magic spell. But Karim couldn't voice any of those questions. He feared that if he said even a single word, that sword would slice through his throat.

But it wasn't the sword that truly frightened him; no, it was the boy. Caron's unreadable expression, and the sheer force of his presence, sent chills down Karim's spine.

Where are the Imperial Guards? Karim thought.

They should have stormed in by now, but no one had entered. The banquet hall remained sealed off from the outside world.

"This is the happiest I've been ever since I entered the royal palace," Caron said, his voice ringing out across the hall.

"To be honest, I was thinking of beating up a few people tonight as an example. It seems the nobles have forgotten what our family is capable of."

He continued walking forward. The sound of his shoes against the marble floor echoed in a steady rhythm.

"I didn't expect the people here to welcome us warmly. But still—"

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Caron shot forward and his blade flashed in the dim light. The deadly glint of Guillotine sliced through the air.

"It seems one person did come to greet us. Well, not exactly a 'person,' I suppose."

Caron stopped at a table in the corner of the banquet hall. There was a woman standing there, her face hidden beneath a mask that covered her nose and eyes, but a clear smile lay beneath it.

"Oh my, I've been caught," she said.

Shing.

Caron placed Guillotine right up against her neck. A thin line of blood appeared where the blade had grazed her skin.

"Aahhhh!" Multiple noblewomen who had been watching in terror screamed.

But Caron didn't care. His eyes remained fixed on the masked woman before him, who still smiled despite the blade at her throat.

"I was curious, so I came by. It's not every day you get to see the blood of Halo outside of Azureocean Castle," the woman said with a sly smile. "You have no idea how anxious I was about the possibility that you wouldn't catch my signal."

She removed the mask from her face. The moment it came off, a wave of Dark Mana spread rapidly throughout the hall. The mask had to have a concealment function, hiding the ominous energy that now radiated freely.

At the same time, the woman's stunning beauty was revealed. Her appearance was so breathtaking that it captivated everyone around her, their gazes locked on her ethereal face. But Caron wasn't fooled, because he knew all too well that it was nothing but an illusion. It was a trick created by the Dark Mana flowing from her. Anyone who let themselves be bewitched by that beauty would lose their soul.

"Caron Leston, you're quite the beautiful one yourself," the woman said. She reached out her long, pale fingers to stroke Caron's face.

But before she could touch him, Caron swung his sword. The blade sliced cleanly through her neck, and his cold voice followed the swift action. "Filthy succubus."

The severed head on the ground responded, "What a charming child you are."

Whoosh.

The dark mana surged from her decapitated head like a fountain.