Missing Person 6
On that day, Brendan Carey changed into civilian clothes for the first time in a while and submitted an outing request at the knights' dormitory before heading out into the twilight streets of the city. Although the term "royal capital" is used broadly, it primarily refers to the area centered around the royal palace and the nobles' residential district. Beyond that, there are bustling commercial districts frequented by commoners. However, the term "royal capital" strictly refers to the small area encompassing the royal palace, the nobles' residential district, and the knights' quarters. Officially, the capital's name is Hydor, but people continued to call it the "royal capital."
Brendan Carey, trained to live simply and with a focus on frugality, rarely wandered around the capital for leisure. His necessary supplies were provided, and most of his time was spent shuttling between the dormitory and the training grounds. Unless he was on patrol duty in the capital or occasionally joined colleagues for a meal, he didn't venture out for personal enjoyment. But this was different.
He passed through the busy main streets and turned into a back alley. Despite being a back alley, there was nothing ominous about it; instead, it was a hidden gem lined with secret spots and well-regarded establishments. As expected, he spotted a few regulars who were in the know. Venturing further in, the scene changed to the evening district. As dusk approached, shops began to open one by one. Known among the knights for his stern demeanor, Brendan unhesitatingly approached one of the establishments.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the shop, which hadn't opened for business yet. Inside, the only person present was a man at the reception counter near the entrance, counting money. The man glanced at Brendan and said, "Upstairs, last room on the right."
"Understood."
Brendan replied curtly and ascended to the second floor. The room at the end of the hall was not luxurious but clean. The other rooms were smaller, containing only a bed and a dressing table, but the room Brendan was shown into also had a table, chairs, and a sofa. As a precaution, Brendan inspected the room, checking for hidden passages or any signs of eavesdropping or surveillance—his first task.
Once satisfied that there were no issues, he drew the curtains. He left the lights off in the room and peered through the gap in the curtains to observe the street below, waiting for the person who had summoned him.
After a while, Brendan's shoulders twitched slightly in reaction. The person who entered the room was dressed entirely in black. A black coat, gloves, and a fedora, with a cane in hand. The attire was simple yet high-quality, indicating the person’s high social status at a glance. At the same time, Brendan knew that the cane the man held was a concealed weapon. Should the need arise, the cane could transform into a sword capable of taking a life.
"—It’s been a while, Uncle."
"How have you been, Brendan?"
"Thanks to you, I've been well."
The man Brendan Carey called "Uncle" removed his hat and coat before taking a seat. With a piercing gaze, he directed Brendan to sit across from him. The man was Baron Kennys, Brendan's mother’s younger brother. Brendan gave a small nod and sat across the table from the Baron.
"How's Billy?"
"Still as cheeky as ever. He’s been wanting to see you."
"I heard he joined the Kennys Knight Order as a trainee. He wrote me a letter."
"He's still a greenhorn, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he soon asks to spar with you."
Hearing this, Brendan's normally stoic expression softened slightly, a rare occurrence for him.
Billy Kennys had been fond of Brendan ever since the days when Brendan still lived with his family in the Kennys Baronate. Brendan's mother had married a commoner for love, choosing a life away from nobility. It was a love only possible in the Baronate, where the nobility and commoners lived in closer proximity. Naturally, Brendan was born and raised as a commoner.
However, the bond between Brendan's mother and her brother, the Baron Kennys, remained strong. Brendan often played with his cousins when he was young.
Originally, Brendan had intended to join the Kennys Knight Order, but the Baron's recommendation led him to join the Royal Capital's Knight Order instead. Thanks to that, he attained the rank of Knight Baron, though it hadn’t changed how others treated him.
But today, they weren’t here to reminisce. Brendan's expression hardened as he turned to the Baron.
"Regarding the matter at hand, His Highness intends to begin a secret investigation. How successful it will be remains to be seen."
"I see. Is he going alone?"
"No, he’s brought in the second son of the Western Tiger."
The "Western Tiger" referred to Duke Ealdred’s family. The Baron nodded in understanding. Looking up at the ceiling, he stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"The second son of the Western Tiger, if I recall, takes more after his mother’s side."
"It’s still unclear, but he seems to have a strong focus on martial prowess."
"I see," the Baron murmured, his eyes deepening with thought.
"—If he had inherited more of his father's traits, many nobles would have supported His Highness without hesitation.”
Brendan fell silent. He knew exactly what his uncle was thinking, but precisely because he understood, he couldn’t say a word.
The Duke of Ealdred had been called a prodigy in his youth. While many child geniuses turn out to be average as they grow older, his abilities truly seemed like a gift from the gods.
One story that still circulates like a legend is the time when, as a young man, the Duke took on five opponents in a simultaneous chess match. To make it even more challenging, the Duke played blindfolded as a "handicap." All his opponents were skilled players, confident in their abilities. Yet, the Duke moved his pieces without hesitation and won every match.
If Austin had inherited more of the Duke’s talents, there’s no doubt that the nobility would have rallied behind Riley, who sought to make Austin his close aide. But unfortunately, there was no sign of the Duke’s brilliance in Austin.
Being naturally reticent, Brendan hesitated over what to say next but eventually decided to change the subject. "This is just my opinion," he began. The Baron, who had been looking away, turned his gaze back to Brendan, urging him to continue.
"I suspect that His Highness is considering bringing in promising young nobles of his own generation."
"Oh?"
The Baron’s eyes gleamed, clearly intrigued by Brendan’s theory.
"It seems His Highness is trying to deepen his ties with just one of his several potential fiancées. The son of the Western Tiger has been in frequent contact with the eldest son of the Blue Flame."
"Are you saying he’s trying to bring both of the children from the Blue Flame into his circle?"
"Most likely."
Brendan nodded. Recently, rumors had started circulating among certain nobles about the talents of the two sons of Duke Clark, known as the Blue Flame Chancellor. Brendan thought it might indicate that the Crown Prince and his advisors had a good eye for talent. Despite these thoughts, when the Baron asked, "And what about the others?" Brendan shook his head. He hadn’t gathered any more information. But the Baron, unfazed, simply remarked, "You can’t afford to move too freely either."
"Uncle—"
Brendan was the one to break the silence this time. With a serious expression, he looked straight at his uncle, Baron Kennys. The Baron’s quiet, unwavering gaze momentarily intimidated him, but Brendan maintained his composure and pressed on.
"Do you think the Rocald Duke's family should be involved as well?"
The Rocald family was one of the three great ducal houses, known by the moniker “The Shield.” Alongside the Ealdred and Clark families, they were considered to wield significant influence, though few nobles truly understood their inner workings. As a commoner, Brendan had no way of knowing, but he thought his uncle, a shrewd Baron, might have some insight. However, the Baron merely let out a slight chuckle and shook his head.
"No—they’re beyond anyone’s reach."
"Not even for His Highness?"
"Precisely because it’s His Highness."
Brendan furrowed his brow at the cryptic answer. He knew that when his uncle responded in this manner, it meant he had no intention of elaborating further. Yet, to Brendan’s surprise, the Baron continued.
"Do you know how the royal family and nobility came to be?"
"Uh..."
Brendan was caught off guard by the sudden question. Despite being a commoner, he had received an education far beyond what most commoners could ever hope for, thanks to his connection with the Kennys Baronate.
"The relationship was originally based on a contract—"
"Indeed. But that’s not the case anymore, at least not in theory. Now, the King is absolute, and the nobles are his subjects. But it wasn’t always that way."
During the era known as the Three Hundred Years of Chaos, when warlords ruled over various regions, one figure emerged to unite them, and people began to call him King. The King granted lands in exchange for protection, and in return, the nobles provided military support when called upon—this was the foundation of the relationship between the King and the nobility. However, as time passed, this relationship evolved.
"The Rocald family is different from the other nobles. They’ve upheld the original contract they made with the royal family during the founding of the Kingdom of Slibegrad. While the other ducal families have adapted their agreements with the times, the Rocald have never altered theirs. Moreover, the contract they made back then is unlike any other agreement between the King and the nobles."
Brendan furrowed his brow. From what his uncle had just explained, it sounded like a state secret, something Brendan wasn’t sure he should even be hearing. Noticing Brendan’s concerned expression, the Baron’s face softened into a smile.
"Don’t worry, this much is common knowledge among the more powerful noble families.”
In other words, even the Baron himself is just barely included in this. However, Brendan was not a direct heir. He made a bitter face, wondering if he should be hearing this, but the Baron seemed unconcerned. He continued speaking calmly.
"The terms of that contract are unknown to anyone. Only the head of the Rocald family and the King—that is, the two of them—know the details."
"So, only the King and the head of the Rocald family know the conditions for the Rocald family's involvement?"
"Exactly."
The Baron smiled at Brendan's assessment.
"But your observation isn't without merit. You’re suggesting trying to bring in the three great ducal houses. In the end, you can only bring in two of them—since the Rocald family is beyond anyone’s reach, you can disregard them."
Brendan nodded. Seeing Brendan’s response, the Baron appeared satisfied and then slightly altered his tone to ask:
"What about the son of the Calvert family?"
"He remains in good health as always."
"That’s fortunate."
The Baron grinned.
"Coordinate with the Calvert Baron as well. They’re quite elusive."
"—Was it impossible even with Yeori as bait?"
"We only managed to capture their hired hands."
The Baron’s tone grew slightly displeased in response to Brendan’s question. Nevertheless, he fixed a sharp gaze on Brendan.
"About that matter... it involves the daughter of the Blue Flame."
Brendan was taken aback, unable to believe what he had just heard.
"—What?"
"She’s not our enemy, but as things stand, she won’t be an ally either."
Ignoring Brendan’s shock, the Baron continued in a thoughtful tone. Brendan asked, "What do you mean?" but the Baron remained silent, narrowing his eyes as if deep in thought.
—A seven-year-old girl. Negotiating like an adult and efficiently using curse magic to locate Yeori.
However, the place she provided turned out to be empty. On the other hand, Yeori and the other kidnapped children had managed to escape to the Kennys Baronate on their own. The actual hiding place Yeori had revealed was completely different, and all the supposed kidnappers were found tied up and thrown around. They didn’t even remember who had bound them.
It was hard to believe that all this was the work of Liliana, the daughter of Duke Clark. But it was certain that she had played some role in it. Otherwise, the children would have been transported somewhere out of reach of the Kennys Baronate.
Such a claim seemed utterly far-fetched. What could a mere seven-year-old girl possibly achieve?
No one would believe it if he told them. Rather, it would seem that the Baron had lost his mind
Still, the Baron couldn’t ignore his intuition.
"Listen, Brendan. Keep a close watch on that girl. Bring her into our fold."
"—Understood."
Brendan bowed his head to the Baron’s low, commanding order.
By now, the moon had risen outside the window.
Chapter 63