The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 187: Chapter 183 — Why

Another moment of silence passed. Then Garrick grabbed Kastor’s shoulder.

”Brother.”

Kastor finally turned towards him. The coldness in his eyes had faded, leaving behind something far more complicated.

”...it’s not yet time.”

”Not yet time?” Garrick barked out a laugh before jabbing a finger toward the crowd. ”Look at them. Look at all these idiots. If this were twenty years ago, would any of them have dared come here and protest Calderalth?”

”How much longer are we supposed to tolerate this? What exactly are you waiting for?”

Kastor brushed his hand away and turned back towards the horizon.

There was something lonely about his back.

”...not yet.”

Garrick stared at him. His eyes seemed capable of boring through steel.

”Well, while you wait, the Sarakhel are about to take someone from Zephyrion. You know... your son.”

”Or did that slip your mind too?”

Kastor didn’t respond.

”What did I fucking expect.” Garrick scoffed. ”Your son finally comes back after years, and somehow you’re still finding new ways to fail him.”

”Honestly, it’s impressive. Nothing changed. You’re still the same coward you were back then.

”Father of the fucking decade.”

With a final derisive snort, Garrick turned and walked away.

Crack!

Kastor’s fists clenched so hard cracks raced across the roof beneath his feet. Pressure bled from him, causing the surrounding air to tremble.

For a brief moment, it felt as though something immense was about to awaken. Then, the oppressive aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Kastor remained where he stood, staring at the thousands gathered below.

In his entire life, he had never felt lonelier.

”Not yet...” Kastor muttered.

...

Zephyrion returned to the mansion to find a somewhat familiar figure waiting by the gate.

”...Young lord.”

Lina, Ingrid’s ward, bowed respectfully. Zephyrion clasped his hands behind his back. Blood stained his fingers, he couldn’t let her see it.

”What do you want?”

The ward frowned slightly, clearly displeased by the blunt tone. She attempted to hide it. She failed.

”...Lady Ingrid sent me to deliver this...”

She extended a small suitcase. Zephyrion furrowed his brows. What could Ingrid possibly want to give him?

A moment later, he accepted it with a nod. Only after Lina departed did he open the case. There were several documents within it. Zephyrion flipped through them one after another before his eyes narrowed.

These were records detailing the laws, doctrines, and history of the Ferran Church. Given that the tribunal was tomorrow, it was an invaluable resource.

His brows slowly furrowed. The matter with Ingrid was beginning to irritate him.

’Rule one.’

The first rule his mother had ever taught him.

Everyone has an agenda. No exceptions.

Yet no matter how much he thought about it, he could not figure out Ingrid’s.

That was what bothered him most.

...

”Did you deliver it?”

The moment Lina entered the office, she was met by an unusually eager Ingrid.

”Yes, my lady.”

Ingrid nodded quickly and leaned back in her seat.

”What did he say?”

”...nothing, my lady.”

”...nothing?”

Ingrid’s brows furrowed.

”Yes, my lady. He accepted the suitcase and waited for me to leave.”

”So... he didn’t know what was inside.”

Ingrid nodded to herself in understanding before turning her gaze back to her ward.

”Next time, tell him.”

Lina blinked.

”...I’m sorry, my lady. Do you want me to go back and inform him?”

”No.” Ingrid shook her head immediately. ”Then it’ll look like I’m trying to earn gratitude. The moment has passed. Leave it.”

’But that’s exactly what you’re doing.’ Lina thought. Fortunately, she possessed enough self-preservation to keep that observation to herself.

”...yes, my lady.”

Several moments passed before Lina spoke hesitantly;

”My lady... there’s something I don’t understand.”

”Hm?”

Ingrid gestured for her to continue.

”It’s just... this entire situation. It works in your favor. If the young lord’s reputation is ruined before the entire South, no one would support him.”

”I don’t understand this. It feels like you’re trying to help him. Don’t you want to—”

The air suddenly grew cold.

”Leave.”

Lina froze. The look in Ingrid’s eyes... she had never seen her lady look at her that way before.

”M-my lady...?”

”Now.”

”...y-yes.”

Lina lowered her head and quickly departed.

The office fell silent. Ingrid stared at the closed door for several moments before lowering her gaze toward the stress ball in her hand. Her fingers tightened around it. Then she leaned back in her chair and stared at the dark wall ahead.

Several moments passed before a quiet mutter escaped her lips.

”Why?”

The truth was... she had no idea why she was doing any of this.

...

Zephyrion entered his room not long after and set the case down on the table. As he turned, he found a pair of ocean-blue eyes peeking at him from beneath the blanket.

”...what?”

Lumi immediately disappeared beneath it.

”...”

Zephyrion stared at the suspiciously blanket-shaped lump on the bed. A moment later, a small section of the blanket lifted. One eye peeked out. The moment it met his gaze, it vanished again.

Silence filled the room. Then Lumi peeked out again, only to retreat the instant she realized he was still looking at her.

Zephyrion sighed. He walked over and sat at the edge of the bed, waiting. Several moments later, Lumi cautiously shuffled closer. Then, a hand slowly emerged from beneath the blanket and came to rest on his lap.

”Will you stop hiding and come out already?”

Lumi’s arm twitched. Then her fingers curled into a fist. Slowly, she lowered the blanket and sat beside him. Her head remained bowed, unable to meet his eyes.

Zephyrion studied her silently. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen. Her hair was slick with sweat and oil, sticking messily to her face.

Something stirred in his chest. A moment of silence passed before Lumi pressed a fist against her chest and pointed at him, asking if he was angry.

”...I’m not.”

She repeated the gesture.

”I’m sure.”

Lumi shot him a sideways glance, as though trying to catch the lie before it escaped. Zephyrion returned it with a deadpan look.

”I’m sure.”

After several seconds, Lumi finally nodded and lowered her gaze. Silence settled between them once more.

”Will you...” Zephyrion paused. ”Can you tell me what happened?”

Lumi immediately stiffened, as though the memory alone was enough to hurt.

The thing stirring in his chest tightened.

”It’s fine if you don’t—”

Lumi suddenly grabbed a handful of his trousers. Somehow, her expression had become resolute. She turned towards him and gave a firm nod.

The next several minutes were spent telling a story.

Without the ability to speak, Lumi was forced to rely on signs and gestures. Fortunately, Zephyrion had spent enough time around her to understand most of what she meant.

And for the parts he didn’t understand...

Well, Lumi had a tendency to overexaggerate, while Zephyrion possessed a dangerously active imagination. Between the two of them, piecing everything together was surprisingly easy.

So, it went something like this...