Chapter 76

“Will it be okay?” Milo didn’t rush his words.

The heavy silence thicketed the room.

“Predictive dreams are abilities whose origins and limits are still unknown,” Milo continued despite the nerves, “Of course, as you said, what was predicted before happened, but what variables will occur…”

The displeasure on Aden’s face was evident. Milo read it clear as day. However, he did not withdraw his words and observed the disposition of the lord. Those were words that could be said because it was Milo. Milo was a person trusted by Aden, so much so that he dared to put brakes on Aden’s decision.

“I do understand your concern.” Aden, who had been silent for a while, spoke.

He did not blame his cautious subordinate. Of course, suspicions of Ilyin offended him, but Milo’s words were not deceptions but concerns. There was certainly a risk to unconditionally trust an ability that was not fully understood.

Still, Aden did not intend to change his plan.

“Anyway,” Aden said after a brief pause, “If it really is the Blue North, it’s time to get to the matter at hand.”

It was largely due to his father that the notion that a winter duke would become an “ordinary person” in the warm region was deeply rooted in the consciousness of the Biflten people.

Satisfied with the apparent peace, the previous Duke did not care to know what kind of monsters grew in Biflten. He was also the weakest winter duke, but he was not as interested in power.

Red Delrose’s knights had always been outstanding, but this was not always apparent as they were unable to hone their abilities properly without a competent leader.

“Lidan.”

Blue North’s Lidan. If Aden was really attacked as Ilyin predicted, and if Lidan was behind the attack, that meant that Lidan’s neck was still chained to the people at the top of the hierarchy.

Arden smiled as he licked his lips.

“If he had only relied on his power, he would not have been able to survive until now. You don’t have to worry too much.”

As Milo feared, there were many variables. Contrary to Ilyin’s prediction there could be no attack, or even if attacked, the size of the enemy or the way they were attacked could be completely different.

Still, since the possibility of an attack had been brought up, there ought to be no carelessness. If they were fully prepared, they had nothing to fear even if they were attacked.

“Okay.”

The idea that the winter duke would collapse when he was out in the sun was only Lidan’s wishful thinking.

Milo bowed his head without further refuting.

“Please allow us to deploy troops around the wagon instead,” he spoke quickly before the lord could say anything, “I will instruct the knights to escort you outside Her Majesty’s sight.”

Aden didn’t refuse to that. He nodded briefly as a sign of permission. Then suddenly turned his eyes and looked at the door.

“—Ilyin?”

“What?”

Milo, who was not as sensitive to presences as Aden, seemed to have heard nothing. But Aden could tell. They were in a building which was mostly vacant and silent except for the soldiers who slept and stood guard. Even there, his senses seemed to capture Ilyin’s unique presence.

It was a short but lovely movement that seemed to slowly fade away.

“Madam”?

As he expected, Aegis’ voice was heard at the end of the hallway. He seemed to have encountered Ilyin, too.

“What brings you here?”

“I’m sorry, it’s already dawn, but is Den sleeping?”

Aden didn’t miss the urgency in her voice as he quickly raised himself up.

“No, he’s inside.”

Aden didn’t wait for Aegis to guide Ilyin. He immediately went to open the door and caught Ilyin coming across the hallway towards him.

“Ilyin, what’s wrong?”

Ilyin’s breathing was uneven, and she was visibly shaking. Ilyin quickly approached him and hugged him. Anyone could see her anxious state. Aden embraced her small body.

“What’s wrong?” he repeated as he rubbed Ilyin’s back until she took a deep breath.

“What makes you so anxious?” he asked, his voice filled with worry.

He thought of things that could threaten Ilyin in the sun. Seeing the face of Viscount Arlen after so long may have caused her to lose sleep at night.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

“It wasn’t a nightmare.”

Ilyin’s shaky words were different from what he expected.

“It was my mother,” Ilyin speaking in a trembling voice, grabbed his arm tightly. “Can we go to Viscount Arlen right now?”

***

All schedules to head to Biflten were suspended.

It was very fortunate for Ilyin that the top of the Acid was entirely owned by Delrose. As soon as Aden heard about her precognitive dream, he instructed Aegis to suspend all schedules.

Viscount Arlen seemed to know that Ilyin would come, to be exact, that she would someday predict the Viscountess’ death. But Ilyin didn’t know it was today, her face grew pale.

“The Viscount, did you call him?” Aden asked cautiously.

“My mother…”

Ilyin thought of the precognitive dream. Mother, who has a mobile next to her, clearly said that this is a dream.