The scimitar itself was beautiful, with a long, narrow golden hilt. Small, light-blue gemstones were set into its scabbard, and its blade radiated a piercing chill. Who knew how much blood had soaked into it?
But why was he handing it to him?
Theus watched the skiff recede and couldn't help yawning.
It was already dark, and he'd been busy all day... He hadn't slept at all last night!
When Theus saw that Alexei wasn't taking it, he shoved the scimitar into his arms. "This scimitar's yours. You seem to like wearing military uniforms, and you're missing a sword at your waist."
Alexei looked down at the scimitar in his hands. It had belonged to Jeremiah. Though the pirate captain had been filthy, this scimitar was spotless and well maintained. It was clearly something he'd treasured.
He stood frozen in place.
"What, did the pirates scare you stiff?" Theus chuckled. "There'll be plenty to keep you busy from now on. Hurry back."
With that, he walked straight over to where Connor was waiting with the horses. Theus swung into the saddle with slightly more practiced movements, yawned, and took hold of the reins.
The horse carried them away at a leisurely walk.
"...Young master, he's still standing there."
Connor spoke softly.
Theus turned to look at the pier. In the glow of the setting sun, Alexei stood motionless, holding the scimitar, lost in thought.
As if he'd sensed Theus's gaze, Alexei slowly drew the scimitar and flicked his wrist. The sunset shimmered along the blade as it traced an arc through the air and stopped in front of his chest.
Then he turned toward Theus and bowed slightly before sheathing the blade.
It was a salute officers used to acknowledge their superiors in the Imperial Army, but weren't they both civil officials?
This chief secretary really was an interesting man.
Theus waved, then rode away.
"You can tell he really likes that scimitar," Connor remarked.
"Sure does." Theus nodded. "Maybe his family isn't well off. We could raise his salary a little."
Connor hesitated, but said nothing. He urged the horse onward and rode off with Theus.
The chief secretary to the Border Count was paid by the royal family and answered only to them.
Strictly speaking, Theus giving Alexei money counted as bribery and violated the Imperial Constitution.
But what did that have to do with him, the butler? He was Theus's butler, not the Empress's. His master's master wasn't his master.
Alexei glanced at the scimitar in his hands. He really did like it.
What was this supposed to be? An attempt to win him over? He shook his head with a smile.
The lord was a strange man, but Alexei didn't dislike him.
As for whether he could establish himself on the turbulent Storm Ocean, Alexei was curious—and eager to find out.
"Forget it. I'll just work harder from now on. Consider it for the sake of this scimitar."
The pier fell quiet once more. Distant lights on the open sea shimmered beneath the moon rising in the night sky, serene and peaceful.
When Theus returned to the manor, he casually answered a few of the butler's questions, handed him several blueprints, and told Connor to ask a blacksmith whether they could be made. Then he collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep.
Butler Connor was a little helpless. There were many things he wanted to know, but he could only wait until Theus woke up.
Theus's behavior over the past two days had made him seem like a stranger. The young master he used to know would never have negotiated with pirates in person, let alone taken over the affairs of the territory.
But this change... wasn't a bad thing.
Connor looked at the blueprints in his hands.
"A blast furnace? A steam engine?"
Connor didn't really understand this sort of thing. The blueprints just looked complicated, and he wasn't sure whether the old blacksmith on the island could handle them.
He tucked the blueprints into his coat and sighed, remembering what had happened earlier.
That morning, he'd been woken by a panicked maid.
He knew her. Her name was Zoe, and she'd looked after Theus back in Duke Cohen's territory. This time, she'd come to Castel Island because Theus had insisted on bringing her.
It was a little improper. Male nobles generally didn't choose maids as their personal attendants. People might mock them, and it could cause trouble.
For instance, when they went hunting or took part in similar activities, it wasn't very convenient to have a maid along to tend to their needs.
But the young master... the lord had spoiled him a little too much.
Connor sighed. Perhaps Theus and Zoe were involved, but that was the young master's private business. He wouldn't interfere or pry.
A good butler asked fewer questions and did more work. That was the lesson he'd learned over decades of service.
But not seeking things out didn't mean he knew nothing.
So when the young master fell unconscious, Connor had assigned Zoe to keep watch over him. He knew she would do her duty faithfully.
That was why his heart sank when he saw the panic on Zoe's face.
Sure enough, something had happened.
The young master had disappeared.
Connor immediately organized the servants and searched the manor from top to bottom. He personally went to Theus's bedroom to look for clues.
The results were strange. There was no sign of a break-in anywhere in the manor.
There were no unusual traces in Theus's bedroom, either. The windows were all properly closed, and there were no marks on the door lock.
The people keeping watch outside the manor couldn't be responsible. As for the servants, Connor questioned each of them one by one. Their accounts matched, and none of them seemed to have been bribed.
Then how had Theus disappeared?
Contrary to what most people imagined, abducting the owner of a house where people lived and kept watch was almost impossible.
Every successful case in history had involved an accomplice on the inside.
That was why Connor had immediately confined everyone in the manor and started investigating them one by one.
He hadn't alerted the soldiers outside. He didn't want to make a fuss, and besides, the chief secretary Alexei—who belonged to the royal family—would have to authorize any deployment of soldiers.
Besides, sending out soldiers wouldn't accomplish much. It would be more likely to give someone in the manor an opportunity to create confusion and smuggle Theus out.
Yes, from the moment it happened, Connor had suspected Theus was still somewhere in the manor.
Even with help from an insider, it would be difficult to get Theus out of the manor right away. The Night Watchers inside were absolutely reliable; getting past them was nearly impossible.
Who would target a lord like Theus? Whoever was behind this had to be part of a well-organized group.
Gem Bay? Those pirates were capable of anything, but they preferred sailing their fleet right up to your face and demanding money. Besides, they were arriving today, and negotiations would begin soon.
One of the old duke's rivals? It was possible, but was Theus really that important? The old duke doted on him, but he hadn't lost his mind. He wouldn't make a serious mistake over one illegitimate son.
Then could it be...
Connor's gaze passed through the window and settled on a distant building.
It had a tall spire, and at the very top of its roof was a metal plaque engraved with an image.
A lit candle burned quietly in the darkness.
It was the symbol of the Church—the Candlelight Society's chapel.
Before you continue