Chapter 184

Chapter 184. After the Battle, Bernard’s Past

Inside ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Eli’s large tent,

Eli ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had already removed his bloodstained military attire. After washing up, he changed into a simple set of dark everyday clothes and sat behind a makeshift wooden table.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍flickering candlelight illuminated his young face, upon which firm lines had already been carved. Yet that striking head of short white hair seemed somewhat dim beneath the faint light.

Captain ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Buck stood before the table, his posture still as straight as a pine, but his brows carried an exhaustion that could not be concealed.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his hand was a piece of parchment whose figures had only just been tallied. He softly read the numbers written upon it.

“My ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍lord, in this battle, our forces who participated in combat—including our Obsidian Territory–Lucerne City soldiers and the soldiers assigned to us by the Winterbourne Family—numbered one thousand six hundred thirty-four in total.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the parchment, then continued.

“Among them... two hundred ninety-seven were killed in battle. This includes... fifty-four of our soldiers from Obsidian Territory and Lucerne City.”

Eli’s fingers, which had been tapping against the tabletop, stopped. He listened in silence.

“Those who are gravely wounded and confirmed to have lost the ability to continue fighting number two hundred thirty-four. Among them, our soldiers number... forty-three.”

These were the core forces who had followed Eli from Obsidian Territory. Every loss was painful.

“Almost half suffered light injuries. With proper rest and treatment, most should recover and continue participating in the subsequent fighting.”

After he finished reporting the main casualty figures, the tent fell into a brief silence.

Only the faint crackling of the candle flame could be heard.

Buck raised his eyes to look at Eli and added another piece of news, his tone carrying regret.

“In addition... my lord, Captain Helen, who followed you back from Thorne City, has also been confirmed dead.

“According to his surviving squad members, he died protecting his men. He held off several Hofgard elites alone and ultimately... died heroically on the battlefield.”

Eli listened quietly, his face showing no expression.

Yet beneath his slightly lowered lashes, complicated emotions surged in his eyes.

From the dozen or so people who had first opened up the wasteland, to the dozens and then over a hundred who had fought to recover Lucerne City and face the beast tide, and now to a single blocking battle with hundreds of casualties...

Behind those cold numbers were lives that had once been vivid and alive.

They were loyalty that had shed its last drop of blood for him, for the banner of Pendragon.

Is this progress? The corner of his mouth pulled into an almost imperceptible bitter smile, thick with self-mockery and heaviness.

He sighed softly and broke the silence.

“As for pensions for the Winterbourne Family soldiers, I will explain it personally to Viscount Armand.

“Beyond the portion their family should provide, our House Pendragon will also give an extra share.”

“The names of our... fallen soldiers have all been recorded in detail, haven’t they?”

Buck nodded solemnly and moved the parchment in his hand slightly forward. “The names of every soldier killed or gravely wounded have all been recorded in detail. Not one has been omitted.”

Eli nodded to show that he understood.

He seemed to want to say something more. His lips moved, but in the end, no words came out.

His gaze drifted out of focus and fell upon the harmonica he had somehow taken into his hand.

A cold metallic sensation reached his palm, and the intricate, ancient elven patterns upon it shimmered faintly in the candlelight.

His fingertips gently rubbed the body of the instrument, and his thoughts seemed to drift far away.

Buck looked at Eli staring blankly at the harmonica and felt somewhat surprised.

My lord... can play the harmonica?

That seemed somewhat at odds with his usual image.

Mm... It seemed he could not. No, rather, he was still not very skilled...

Listening to the not especially pleasant music flowing from beneath Eli’s lips, Buck silently withdrew his earlier evaluation.

But he quickly suppressed that curiosity. Looking at Eli’s silent and somewhat lonely figure, Buck could not help feeling a trace of helplessness in his heart.

He knew that those casualty numbers were pressing heavily on the young lord’s shoulders.

He cleared his throat, trying to change the subject and break the overly heavy atmosphere.

“By the way, my lord, there is good news to report. The logistics supply convoy has already arrived at the camp. I just finished receiving it.

“They brought us some urgently needed supplies, including some live sheep, as well as a small amount of fresh vegetables and fruit.

“I have already instructed the army cooks to use all of them to prepare tonight’s meal.

“After all, besides Viscount Armand’s troops, Marquess Claire and his cavalry will also be resting here. They must be properly received.”

Eli seemed to be pulled back from distant thoughts by his words. He raised his head and gave Buck a smile.

That smile still carried fatigue, but it was sincere and gentle.

“Mm. Captain Buck, you did very well. You considered everything carefully.”

His gaze fell on Buck’s resolute and loyal face, and his tone became especially serious.

“Thank you, Captain Buck. Thank you for always... staying at my side, assisting me and helping me.

“Everything you have done, I, Eli Pendragon, will remember in my heart.”

Buck had not expected Eli to thank him so solemnly all of a sudden.

He looked at Eli’s clear blue eyes, which somehow seemed to have faded slightly, and felt a faint ache in his nose. His eyes grew hot.

He hurriedly drew in a deep breath and forced down that sudden urge to weep.

He could feel that the Eli before him was no longer the noble boy who had just been exiled to the wasteland and still needed Buck to worry about him at every turn.

The baptism of war, the struggle for power, and the trials of life and death had made him grow at an astonishing speed.

“My lord,” Buck said, his voice carrying a trace of choking that was almost impossible to detect, though it soon returned to its usual steadiness. He struck his right fist heavily against his left chest.

“This is my duty. I, Buck, am willing to offer everything I have to House Black... House Pendragon, until the end of my life.”

Hearing his unconscious correction, Eli gave a light laugh, a hint of playfulness in it. “Pendragon?”

Buck laughed as well. It was a smile that came from the heart, and he answered frankly,

“They are the same.”

In his heart, whether Eli’s name was Black or Pendragon, he was the lord Buck would swear loyalty to in the future.

Eli shook his head and did not dwell on that question.

He carefully returned the harmonica to the pocket close to his body and instead brought up another, more important matter.

“Captain Buck, when you served my father in the royal capital, did you know anything about... Bernard, the Minister of Intelligence of the Kingdom?”

“Minister of Intelligence Bernard?” Hearing this, Buck withdrew his smile, thought carefully, and began recalling.

“My lord, when Lord Leon served as Captain of the Royal Capital Garrison, he and this Minister Bernard were both privy ministers. I did occasionally hear the marquess mention him a few times.”

“Oh?” Eli leaned forward slightly, revealing interest. “Tell me in detail.”

Buck organized his memories, then slowly said, “It is said that Minister Bernard’s rise was rather... legendary.

“He was originally of humble birth, the son of an ordinary fisherman from the eastern coast.”

“A fisherman’s son?” Eli raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

“He rose from a commoner with no noble background all the way to the high position of Minister of Intelligence of the Kingdom?”

“Yes, my lord,” Buck said with certainty.

“It is said that at first, he was appreciated and discovered by a certain young master of House Russell of the Eastern Frontier, who brought him into the royal capital.

“Later, for reasons unknown, he gained the regard of the Kingdom’s Prime Minister at the time, Lord Cons Montauban, and was treated as a trusted confidant.

“Only from then on did he truly begin rising rapidly through the kingdom’s political circles, until he finally sat in the high position of Minister of Intelligence.

“After Duke Federico entered the royal capital and Cons Montauban was left idle, Bernard, as a core minister within that faction, may still hold considerable influence inside the capital even now...

“Lord Leon’s assessment of him was that he appears smooth and flexible on the surface, but in truth... he is deeply scheming and must not be underestimated.

“As for more detailed matters, this subordinate does not know much.”

Eli nodded thoughtfully, his fingers once again unconsciously tapping against the tabletop.

“Deeply scheming...” he repeated in a low voice.

If the Battle of Thorne had truly been pushed forward by this man from behind the scenes, then this was far more than being deeply scheming.

He was practically playing with the fate of the entire kingdom in the palm of his hand...

Moreover, if one inferred from this, could the strange fall of Storm City, that “unfallen fortress,” also be connected to him?

Or even to the now-dead former Prime Minister Cons Montauban in countless hidden ways?

“Right, my lord,” Buck added, as though suddenly remembering something.

“There was also a... curious anecdote about this Minister of Intelligence that circulated among the noble circles of the royal capital.

“Of course, this sort of rumor is difficult to verify. This subordinate does not know whether it is true.”

“What was it?” Eli pressed.

Buck coughed lightly, looking somewhat embarrassed, then lowered his voice.

“Cough, cough... It was said that the reason he was so appreciated and strongly promoted by that young master of House Russell back then

“was because... in order to obtain the man’s favor, he took the initiative to offer up his beautiful wife... and... his pretty, charming younger sister as well... so...”

Buck did not finish, but the implication was already obvious.

Eli’s eyes narrowed instantly, and a sharp light flashed through them.

If this rumor was true, then this Bernard was not only deeply scheming. His methods and conduct were utterly without bottom line.

For the sake of rising in status, he could resort to such horrifyingly unscrupulous means.

A figure like that, hidden in the shadows at the heart of the kingdom’s power, was likely far more dangerous than imagined.

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