Chapter 75
1072 Words
KALVIN
“KALVIN!!”
The room door swung wide open and Susanne burst in. I was in the process of putting a shirt on and had to stop.
“You know sometimes, I wish you would just knock. I’m trying to change here.”
“Oh, screw that! Where have you been?”
“I just arrived from Salem.”
“What are you doing… Kalvin, what is that?”
“What?”
“You have fingernail marks on your back!”
“Oh, those.”
“What do you mean by those?! Where did you get them?!”
“I had quite a rough encounter. It was traumatizing.”
“Don’t play coy with me, mister. Where did you get that?”
Susanne gasped, shaking him.
“Don’t tell me you have a woman?”
“Oh that? Yes, I have a woman.”
“How?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”
“Most likely because I was avoiding this. Unhand me, please.”
“Not until you tell me everything. Who is she?”
“That’s a secret for now.”
“Kalvin, we thought you’d never move on from Ariana and now, you got a woman out there? You have to tell me!”
“I’m… not ready yet.”
There was no way I could tell her I was with Ariana. My family weren’t very fond of the idea of her after I tortured them with the fact that I lost her for five years straight.
“So stingy.”
“I’ll tell you in due time. You first.”
“You’d better!” She huffed.
“So, why did you come find me?”
“I saw your carriage back and I came here to start drama.”
“Of course you did,” I mumbled, finally putting my shirt on.
“Susanne, I need your help.”
“What?”
“I want to assassinate the saintess.”
“Kalvin!” She jumped, covering my mouth. She looked everywhere and leaned in.
“Are you out of your mind?! Why would you say that?”
“I know you’re the only one capable of doing that. I want you to assassinate the saintess.”
“Why? Do you hate her?”
“While I’m not particularly fond of her, it is important you try to assassinate her”
“Wait, I’m not following.”
“You won’t kill her. You are just to get rid of all the strong people around her and thin out her forces considerably. Then you can retreat. I have something special planned for the church.”
“That sounds devious. Do you despise your engagement that much?”
“Of course. I am sure you don’t like yours as well. After all, the church doesn’t like people with special interests like yours.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. I can’t even get a decent hook this days.”
I laughed, petting her. She glared at me and I immediately retrieved my hand.
“Is that all you want?”
“Yes. You’d do it for me?”
“Of course. I’d do anything for you.”
“Thank you.”
Susanne left the room and I finally had the chance to fully get ready. I headed to my father’s office where I started the next step of the plan. I was never fully comfortable with the idea of Ariana joining the knightage. It meant she had to forsake her identity once more and take on a gruelling life. If she went on like that, she would forget her life entirely. She would forget… me.
“Father, I seek an audience.”
“Come in.”
My father had his head buried in his documents and didn’t really notice when I came in. I knocked on his table and he finally raised his head to talk to me.
“I didn’t know you were back.”
“I just arrived. I have an interesting proposition for you.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I have heard from a trusted source that the saintess would be attacked soon.”
“Really?! Have you deployed troops yet?”
“No father. I have a much better idea. If this attack succeeds, we can lend our support to the church. They would have no other choice but to rely on us and so, we act accordingly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“We need to hold a contest of strengths. We gather aspiring knights and established fighters from across the kingdom to compete for the chance to be in the personal guard of the saintess.”
“And what is the point of this?”
“One, we can also recruit for the royal guard. Two, we would very soon go to war. We need to weigh our kingdom’s strengths. Three, we’ll have a hand in controlling the church. I don’t have to remind you that the last thing the church needs is more power. We have to control them before they snatch the throne away from our hands.”
“The church isn’t capable of that.”
“Father, you cannot be that naive. The church is already controlling Zerramond. The people would rather listen to the church than listen to the government. Father, I cannot stand by and watch anymore.”
“... Very well. I will listen to you. You are to inherit this kingdom one day so your decisions carry much weight. Do as you will.”
“Thank you father. I promise not to let you down.”
I turned to leave but was stopped in my tracks.
“Kalvin, I hope you aren’t doing this to get out of the engagement?”
“Father, as much as I hate this engagement, no, this isn’t really to get out of it. Frankly, I don’t like the church.”
“Careful there son, that’s blasphemy.”
“Zerus is kind and merciful, isn’t he? I think I’m fine, father.”
“Son, we only believe in Zerus because it’s because of him we managed to get your condition under control.”
“I thought you said I wasn’t sick, father.”
“That wasn’t what I meant.”
“I’ll be leaving now, father. I have a lot to prepare for. You should take a break sometimes. Have a lovely day, father.”
- Writer
