Volume 10 Chapter 10 The Void’s Hidden Schemes
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Flavia’s betrayal—such a rumor was brushed aside with ease by Klock’s right-hand woman, the elegant maid who managed every detail of his affairs better than anyone else.
Her sharp gaze cut toward the one standing beside her, sliding past Klock until it settled on a small, quiet girl.
”I’m sorry, but I can’t help thinking that the trick behind this story might be yours.”
”Hehe♡ Oh, Lady Suzette, really now. Are you saying that because you fear me? Or because you’re jealous of how adorable I am, and wish to drive me away?”
Sparks flew where their eyes met. Kispe’s calm strength was something rare. No matter how coldly others treated her—or even when they glared with open hostility—she only smiled, unbothered.
It was Suzette who looked away first.
Kispe opened her mouth to speak, but Klock raised a hand to stop her.
”Kispe already knows Cianie’s mind’s eye. She’s not the type to tell a lie that would get her caught.”
”Exactly. I only wanted to be useful, so I brought this news myself. Please trust me, Lady Suzette…♡”
Kispe’s cheerful smile didn’t soften Suzette’s eyes; they stayed narrow and cold. Her gaze drifted down Kispe’s pastel-cute maid uniform—from the lovely face, over the skirt that was far too short, all the way to her toes. The longer she looked, the tighter her jaw grew.
Apparently, Kispe’s fashion sense wasn’t to her taste.
”Even if we assume that’s true,” Suzette said, “why would Lady Flavia try to kill Lady Primlena?”
”That’s what I don’t get either,” Klock muttered. “They weren’t even fighting, were they?”
No one could think of a reason. Maybe Flavia wanted to remove a rival faction like Sanctum—but right now Primlena belonged to the Hero’s camp, and even served as a bridge to Sanctum itself. Hurting her would be the same as declaring war on the entire Hero faction. If that was really Flavia’s motive, Klock couldn’t forgive her.
”I have a simple question,” Kispe said. “Have the Merfolk and Forestkin actually talked with each other?”
”Talked? About what?”
”About their marriage to Master.”
Kispe smiled brightly as she spoke. She must have already learned from the people involved about Klock’s ties to the princesses. For Klock—who usually avoided the words marriage and wedding when women were around—that was an awkward question to answer.
”Primlena and Flavia both know about each other,” he said.
”I understand that. But what about their clan chiefs? What do they say?”
”…Their chiefs? No, I haven’t told them.”
Both sides surely knew he already had a lawful wife, Cianie. But there had been no talks between the Elf and Merfolk clans themselves.
”That’s not good,” Kispe said. “That might even be the cause of this incident.”
”You mean the Forestkin don’t accept the Merfolk?”
”Yes. Conflict between their clans would be inevitable. Perhaps this has turned into a power struggle over your family name—the House of Livorno.”
”You’re serious?” Klock frowned.
It wasn’t as if he came from some royal or noble house. There wasn’t even much wealth to fight over. Still, he couldn’t rule it out completely. They were different races—and to the world, the Livorno family was tied to a Hero.
”So this is really a proxy war between Primjune and Isabella?”
”Even if Flavia and Primlena themselves don’t want it,” Kispe said, “the people behind them might.” After all, neither woman had married for love; both were pieces in a political game. Klock had probably taken that part too lightly.
”If that’s the case,” Suzette said softly, “the culprit would be Flavia?”
”If Isabella wanted Primlena gone, she might have ordered Flavia to do it,” Klock replied.
”Lady Flavia has acted the same as always,” Kispe said. “No changes, no strange behavior at all.”
”Then maybe she didn’t do it herself,” Klock said, thinking aloud. “If Isabella really planned this, she’d send an assassin instead of risking Flavia. That makes more sense.”
All of it was only guesswork. They had no proof, only theories. And if the truth ever came out, the scandal could destroy them all. The danger was greater than any possible gain.
”Their marriage plans,” Kispe went on, “aren’t only about joining the Hero’s side.”
Both Klock and Suzette looked at her.
”When a long-lived race marries into a short-lived one,” she explained, “they must already be thinking ahead—to the day the husband dies. After the Hero and Sir Klock are gone, the House of Livorno would be a prize. The Merfolk and Forestkin, both long-lived peoples, will one day clash over who controls it.”
”Two long-lived races… fighting?” Klock echoed.
”Long-lived wives who marry short-lived husbands often plan to take over the house. In this case, the Forestkin and the Merfolk will collide for that power.”
Klock’s eyes widened. Suzette’s face showed the same shock.
A strategy built on centuries of life—it had never even crossed his mind.
”Does that sort of thing really happen?” he asked. “Taking over a house like that?”
”When a Merfolk marries a Demonkin,” Kispe said, “after her husband dies, she returns to the sea with their children. The Forestkin are the same. After their husbands pass away, they close the house and bring the wealth back to their homeland.”
She gave examples from the Majin and Humans as well—races close in lifespan.
Klock folded his arms, letting out a low hum.
Even if a Human or Demonkin married a Merfolk or Forestkin, the shorter-lived partner would always die first. Naturally, everything left behind would fall to the wife.
He wanted to say there was nothing left to inherit—but this was about the future. Maybe those races were already planning far ahead.
”Still,” he said, “wouldn’t Cianie’s child inherit the house? Assuming we have one.”
”Children obey their mothers,” Kispe said calmly. “At Lady Primlena’s and Lady Flavia’s ages, each could live another four hundred years easily. That means they would control the household, not the children. In the generation after, when the Hero’s great-grandchildren are alive, no one would dare oppose them. The wisdom the Merfolk and Forestkin have built over centuries will always outweigh that of Human descendants.”
”…Makes sense,” Klock admitted.
By that time, those wives would be great-grandmothers to any Human heirs. Yet to their own people, they would still be in their prime—nowhere near senile.
Yes… the house would inevitably fall into their hands. In the far future, long after his death, the House of Livorno would become a home ruled by the Merfolk or the Forestkin. So that’s what it meant to welcome a long-lived wife.
”In short,” Kispe concluded, “for both Forestkin and Merfolk, the other’s presence is bound to become a problem.”
”So we should have talked it out properly,” Klock said with a sigh.
Far too late for that. They should have discussed it the moment an alliance with the Forestkin was proposed. Maybe the other side had been just as shocked to learn about Primlena.
”…I should probably meet with Isabella,” he murmured.
”Before that,” Kispe said, “we should at least decide on a plan.”
”…You mean whether we’ll have to fight them if it comes to that.”
In the end, everything they said was still only speculation. First, they wanted to get to the bottom of what happened. But if they waited until the truth came out, events might have already moved too far to stop. They had to decide something ahead of time.
Would they fight if the time came?
”Right now, I don’t want to make the Forestkin our enemy. That would be a real pain.”
”Then let’s adjust to avoid open hostility. We should not force the Heroes to march on the Void. We must be careful with every step on this matter.”
The Merfolk were clearly victims in this case. Unless they were treated very harshly, the relationship probably wouldn’t worsen.
”The plot to take over the house is partially an unspoken truth. I recommend turning a blind eye for now,” Kispe advised.
”Well, that makes sense. At least during the war.”
”It’s not all bad,” Kispe added. “Leaving the estate to the long-lived wives isn’t necessarily wrong. They will spend the rest of their centuries alone.”
Klock frowned. Suzette and Kispe turned their eyes to him. He had to admit she had a point. Those long-lived wives would live a long time after his death. Let them have the wealth, if that would be the outcome.
Still, they needed to speak with Cianie.
”Putting money aside, the real problem is how we handle this incident. If we poke at it carelessly, we might make the Void worse. But—”
”Yes. We can’t overlook an attempted assassination on Primlena, even if it failed.”
They could not push too hard, but they could not do nothing either. Primlena was Klock’s woman; someone trying to kill her could not be left alone. And because it was only an attempt, she might be targeted again. If they did not act now, the situation could spiral out of control.
All they knew for certain was that the attacker was Forestkin. Isabella’s involvement was not proven. Still, they needed to keep her from acting freely. Some restraint was necessary.
”Why not ask Lady Flavia if she knows the truth? She came from the Void and acts as a kind of intermediary. How we treat her would be how we treat the Void itself.”
Everyone nodded at that idea.
”If we do nothing and just watch, relations with the Void stay the same. But Primlena could be in danger again. Also, if the real culprit isn’t from the Void, it’s better to find out now. Otherwise we might chase the wrong suspects and be late with our countermeasures.”
”We’re allies, after all. We can’t treat them as enemies from the start. For now, let’s call Flavia in and ask for cooperation—showing it as a formal request to the Void. We can watch Isabella and Flavia’s moves after that.”
They decided to summon Flavia, Primlena, and Meina for a discussion.
”I hope this ends peacefully♡”
”…”
Kispe, who had brought the information, smiled the whole time. Suzette, though, was unreadable. Logically, Kispe probably did not lie; Suzette wanted to believe that. But in the end, Kispe’s reputation made trusting her difficult.
Klock and the others had suffered too much trouble from succubi. If possible, they quietly hoped Kispe would stop teasing Klock with flirtatious acts and instead grow into someone reliable through useful work.
”Not so!!”
A few hours later, everyone gathered in Klock’s tent. There stood the Forestkin princess, shouting loudly.
”Someone we welcomed from the Sanctum was nearly killed—this is a grave matter. And yet—!!”
Flavia, usually composed, suddenly flared with emotion, her voice rising as she pointed sharply at Kispe.
”Why do you believe the succubus?! This is the succubus’s plot! Your side’s traitor is here!!”
”Uh… well… that is a possibility…”
Her voice was huge. Klock stepped back, taken aback. He hadn’t expected Flavia to be so fierce. The surprise made him lean away a little.
”But look. Kispe is barely holding on—she’s not the kind to risk her little position with a worthless lie. You know Cianie won’t fall for lies, right?”
”…I understand—”
If she had known about the truth beforehand, unnecessary friction could have been avoided. But none of them had expected Kispe’s information to be useful in this way. Who knew her testimony would become a factor to prove the truth?
”We will proceed on the assumption that a Forestkin tried to stab Lady Primlena. Again, Lady Flavia, you have no memory of this at all, yes?”
”Indeed.”
Suzette asked the question as if throwing a lifeline. Flavia sat upright on a wooden chair and denied it with proud composure.
Primlena, the victim, wore an uneasy expression. She had been just as shocked when she learned the full story: she had nearly been killed by Forestkin magic. It was hard for her to believe.
”If Flavia is innocent, then it might be Isabella’s doing,” someone said.
”My mother did not join any conspiracy!!!” Flavia shouted.
Her loud denial fell over the room. She protested desperately, voice booming. It was clear she was panicked about her family being accused. But her loudness made things awkward—if everything got denied, the conversation couldn’t move forward.
So that’s what she was like: family first. That was admirable, in a way.
All that talk of their lord and such aside, her true beliefs had come out. The Forestkin seemed to have strong bonds among their people.
There was no more information about the culprit; the facts remained unclear. But Flavia was clearly defending her kin. Given that, suspicion could not be ruled out.
”Flavia. If you know anything, tell us.”
”I’m sorry. I have no information to offer…”
”Then can we send Cianie to the Void?”
They had to use the Hero’s authority if necessary. Saying it out loud sent a shadow over Flavia’s face.
”We would rely on her ability to ask Isabella directly. If we make Cianie do that, there will be no turning back.”
”No turning back…”
”Cianie is not one to show mercy. If she sees a risk in being connected to the Forestkin, she will likely lean toward breaking ties.”
”That would mean—!!” Flavia’s face drained of color. Her hands, clenched into fists on her knees, tightened.
Even if Flavia put her kin first, her assigned role should matter. It might be cruel to force her to choose. But someone had nearly been murdered. Flavia needed to know how serious Klock was.
”If Isabella really had nothing to do with it, then fine. We can keep working together in peace. But if something’s going on, tell me now. Honestly, asking Cianie would be the fastest way to find the truth—but if Isabella’s involved, things will blow up for sure. If that’s the case, I’d rather we talk it out and solve it ourselves before it gets that far.”
”My lord…”
Flavia’s face twisted in pain, as if she had swallowed something bitter. Klock had always known she was straightforward, but now he saw it wasn’t an act. Still… there was something she wasn’t saying. Anyone could see it.
”…Avery,” she whispered.
”Huh?”
”That day, Avery came to see me.”
The tent fell silent. Meina, Suzette, Primlena, and Kispe all stared at her. Only faint breaths broke the hush, mixed with the noise of the camp outside. The air felt closed, heavy.
”Avery? You mean the day those vampires attacked?”
”Yes. And that day, she asked me about Lady Primlena.”
”What did she ask?”
”…About her daily life, and… her abilities.”
Klock let out a quiet breath. Yeah, he thought, no wonder she didn’t want to say it. It wasn’t normal—asking about Primlena alone, especially about her powers.
”At the time, I thought it was just small talk. Then the vampires attacked, so I sent Avery home.”
”So,” Klock said slowly, “you can’t deny the chance your sister tried to use the chaos to go after her.”
Flavia’s earlier confidence was gone. Her voice had shrunk to almost nothing.
She was usually quiet and gentle, but when it came to her family, she burned with emotion. At least now he understood that about her. Still, what she’d revealed weighed heavily.
”So Avery thought Primlena might become Flavia’s rival one day—and tried to remove her?” he asked.
”Perhaps,” Flavia said weakly. “If that’s true, how reckless she was…”
Flavia ground her teeth as if chewing her own regret. Even Primlena lowered her eyes, looking troubled.
”Should we question Lady Avery directly?” Suzette asked.
”…I don’t know yet.”
If Avery really was the attacker, Isabella’s involvement couldn’t be ruled out. Either way, the Void would be affected. Once their scheme was exposed, the Forestkin might move politically—and maybe even choose war over taking responsibility for an assassination. Fighting was often the easier path.
”For now, Flavia,” Klock said.
”Yes?”
”Decide whether you’re going home—or staying here.”
Her eyes widened. “Wh-what did you just say…?!!”
”Avery’s suspicious, and your behavior shows you’re covering for your kin. That makes you dangerous too. You could be a target—or a suspect. If you stay, your life might be at risk.”
Flavia went silent. If she was seen as a threat, this place was dangerous for her as well. To be honest, she might get killed. He didn’t have to say by whom—everyone knew. If suspicions lingered, she could end up like Alice.
Klock also said it to warn the others: Don’t make things worse now.
”I have no home to return to,” Flavia said firmly. “Even if danger awaits, I will stay at your side. Let me. I am here to die in your place if needed.”
”Uh… okay…”
She leaned forward, almost pleading. Klock gave a helpless smile at her extreme words.
Yeah, that was just like her. Watching her now, he felt she wasn’t part of the plot—but he couldn’t erase all doubt either.
”What should we do then?” Suzette asked quietly.
”If Avery’s the culprit, we’re in trouble,” Klock said. “We might have to cut ties with the Forestkin.”
If the eldest daughter really was guilty, there’d be no avoiding it. Maybe they could have worked things out with some lesser branch family, but not with royalty.
”My lord…” Flavia murmured.
”Primlena,” Klock said, “gave up her home, her position—everything—to be with me. I accepted her. I know she’s been doing her best to help us in every way she can. If I don’t protect her, I’d be betraying her trust.”
All eyes turned toward the orange-haired woman. Primlena looked away, embarrassed.
She was his woman. Someone had tried to kill her. There was no way he could treat that like nothing.
It wasn’t only about emotion. Everyone was watching how he handled this—including Suzette and Meina. How he acted now would set a standard.
If it had been someone like Boit, maybe Klock could’ve calmed things down with money and a pat on the back. But not with Primlena. He couldn’t forgive anyone who tried to kill one of his own. He had to show he could be trusted—that he’d stand up for them, even if it meant opposing the Void.
”…Forming an alliance with the Fairies might be one option,” Kispe said suddenly.
”Fairies?”
It was such an unexpected suggestion that everyone turned to her.
”The Fairy clans want closer ties with the Hero, don’t they? If that’s true, we could ask for their support. With the Fairies’ help, we could strike the Void directly and quickly subdue the Forestkin.”
”Kispe—!!”
Flavia shot to her feet, voice sharp with outrage. Suzette stood up too, holding her back. Even the calm, noble Forestkin princess couldn’t tolerate that. The idea was too much.
Kispe only smiled, as always. But in her eyes, there was a glint—something sharp, something serious. She hadn’t been joking.
”We’ll put that aside for now,” Klock said finally. “That kind of decision can’t be made on impulse. I’ll think about it.”
”That would be best,” Suzette agreed. “We must move carefully, given how serious this is.”
”Flavia,” Klock added, “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to restrict your movements for now.”
It would be better to settle this quickly, but it could wait until Cianie returned. For now, he decided to end the meeting.
”…Understood,” Flavia said quietly. “Your orders are just. I’ll accept whatever comes as my own fault.”
”Sorry. I really don’t think you’re involved.”
”No. I appreciate your concern for both houses.”
They placed guards on Flavia. In truth, she had become a hostage—hardly what anyone would expect from a woman sent for a political marriage, but there was no helping it. She was also forbidden from meeting Primlena alone.
”Captain~~!!”
Just as the group was breaking up, Paul, one of Klock’s trusted subordinates, approached with a casual air.
”Paul? What is it?”
Notes:
• Flavia – Younger Forestkin princess (132). Gentle yet resolute. Sent by Queen Isabella as marriage pledge to Klock, the Chain Binder, symbolizing the Void’s loyalty to the Goddess Teekua.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
• Cianie – A noble girl with a fluffy white and light blue dress, indicating her high status. She has a hesitant and flustered personality but is kind and courteous. Her relationship with Klock begins as an accidental encounter and develops into a romantic interest. She has a fiancé but expresses feelings for Klock, complicating their relationship.
• Primlena – Orange-haired merfolk priestess, fierce yet elegant | First v8c3 | Sister of Sea General Primjune, subordinate to Primrity | Once captured and violated by Klock, now obsessed with reclaiming honor | Commands Obsidian Riders on giant fish, fights with trident | Seeks to drag Klock to Seabed Temple for marriage trial or execution | Unique note: revenge-driven siren bride who masks fury under ritual grace
• Isabella – Forestkin queen, appears after Klock meets the Phantasmal Beast. Leads peace talks with Humans. Mother of Avery, Flavia. Calm, strategic ruler.
• Primjune – She is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, appeared as a scaled and finned figure, known for executing the saint’s kidnapping plan.
• Meina – She is a golden-haired catgirl employee of the beastman (Larana the cat woman) Inn, appeared performing fellatio, desperate and tear-streaked, with an inexperienced yet earnest approach to her work.
• Avery – Forestkin princess, Isabella’s eldest daughter, appearing after Klock meets the Phantasmal Beast. Questions her mother about Klock, the Chosen One. Sister to Flavia. Linked to peace with Humans. No direct tie to Klock. Calm, proud, analytical nature.
• Alice – Rabbitkin adventurer; appears at the same Barreith gathering, playful and mischievous, interacts with Klock, part of recruited volunteers
• Boit – A merchant involved in human trafficking, with a villainous face and a loud, obnoxious voice. He is pragmatic and willing to help Klock escape the country in exchange for something. His relationship with Klock is business-like, though both are aware of each other’s illicit activities.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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