632 THE 4TH ELEMENTAL GUARDIAN

“THE GRIFFITHS family already left the empire and went back to Hazelden?” Nero asked, pretending to be surprised. He was in his office, sitting behind his desk while listening to the report. “Why did they suddenly return home without even saying goodbye to me? That was rude of them.”

“I apologize on behalf of my friend– King Glenn– Your Royal Highness,” Kyle Sprouse said, bowing his head towards him. “The king and queen received urgent news from Hazelden. Apparently, an unknown group of terrorists is headed to their kingdom.”

Hah.

[Calyx probably decided to attack Hazelden to stop the king and queen from revealing the fact that he tried to assassinate the Griffiths.]

“Kyle.”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness?”

“If I remember correctly, King Glenn is your long-time friend. Am I right?”

Kyle smiled as if he was proud. “That’s right, Your Royal Highness. King Glenn and I grew up together. We were raised as the previous emperor’s playmates. And when we came of age, we took positions that allowed us to stay by His Majesty’s side.”

That was right.

.....

King Glenn was Emperor Nikolai’s former Paladin and personal knight, while Kyle Sprouse became the previous emperor’s closest aide.

Hence, he should believe that King Glenn and Kyle Sprouse were really friends.

[But would a “friend” hide the fact that his friend was almost killed by the First Prince?]

It was laughable.

And the realization that hit him almost made him kill Kyle Sprouse on the spot.

[This lapdog is loyal to Calyx and not me even though I’m the Crown Prince.]

How else would Kyle Sprouse know that the Griffiths already left the empire?

[I bet Calyx told Kyle Sprouse to help him cover up his crimes. And Kyle Sprouse used his “friendship” with the king of Hazelden to make me believe his lies.]

It was pretty meticulous, he’d give them that.

“Prince Nero?”

“Ah, it’s nothing,” Nero lied with a straight face. “I was just thinking how it was a shame Calyx wasn’t here. If he was present, then I would have asked him to punish the Griffiths for disrespecting me like this.”

“Don’t worry, Your Royal Highness,” Kyle said, beaming. “I received a message from Prince Calyx. Apparently, he’s about to return home.”

“Ah, I see,” he said, acting like he was thrilled. “Then I’ll just wait for Calyx’s return before I decide how to punish the Griffiths. But is that alright with you, Kyle? The king is your friend.”

“Although I feel bad for my old friend, I still believe that the Griffiths must be punished for disrespecting the Crown Prince of the empire.”

Hah.

[I’m no saint, but I feel bad for King Glenn for having a disloyal “friend.”]

If Kyle Sprouse could betray his childhood friend with a smile on his face, then this traitor could also stab Nero in the back.

[Kyle’s loyalty lies with Calyx, so perhaps he wants Calyx to be the emperor instead of me.]

Unfortunately, Kyle Sprouse already lost his trust.

“Your Royal Highness, I have something to report regarding Alucard’s location..” Melvin, Nero’s secretary, entered his office while talking. But he trailed off as soon as he saw Kyle Sprouse. “Ah, Lord Sprouse. You’re here.”

Kyle Sprouse just smiled and nodded at Melvin’s greeting before facing Nero again. “I’ll take my leave then, Your Royal Highness.”

Nero just nodded before dismissing Kyle Sprouse.

And as soon as the door closed..

“Melvin, keep an eye on Kyle Sprouse and report everything he does to me.”

Naturally, Melvin looked surprised by his order. “Prince Nero, are you asking me to spy on the Empress Dowager’s aide?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself twice,” Nero snapped at Melvin. “I also want you to secretly investigate the errands that Kyle is doing for the Empress Dowager.”

“Your Royal Highness.”

“What?”

Melvin slowly pulled out a white envelope from the inner pocket of his suit. “I’d like to submit my resignation letter–”

Nero snapped his fingers, causing Melvin’s resignation letter to turn into ice. “No.”

***

“WHY AM I running away?” Jasper complained while running in the man-made forest of his own estate. “Rubin Drayton was the one who trespassed in my mansion! Even if I killed him, I wouldn’t be punished by the law!”

“Do you think the law is on your side right now, Lord Jasper?” Gin, who was now in his human form while running beside him, asked. “As long as the fake Empress Dowager and Calyx Dalton are controlling Prince Nero, you’ll never win even if you take Rubin Drayton to a noble trial. Rubin Drayton obviously came here to provoke you. Don’t fall into their trap!”

“But running away like this only makes me look guilty!”

“I’ll deal with the witnesses at the manor earlier,” Gin said. “Moreover, you’re officially on vacation right now so it’s okay if you suddenly “disappeared.” And you even put your cousin, Lord Tate, in charge while you’re not here.”

Ah, right.

Tate was his cousin and personal aide.

“But if I disappeared while the crows are already suspicious of me, then they might harm Tate and my estate.”

“I’ll protect Lord Tate while you’re gone.”

He knitted his eyebrows. “Are you saying you won’t escape with me?”

“Yep, I’ll stay here to protect your people and estate,” Gin said casually. “We’ve created a safe distance from the crows chasing us. This is the perfect opportunity for me to send you to Paige Avery.”

The two of them slowed down until they stopped running.

Gin didn’t waste time and immediately handed him a Teleportation Ticket.

Yes, it was called a ‘Teleportation Ticket’ and it was personally made by Paige Avery. His name and the location where he would be headed were written on the ticket. Hence, only Jasper could use that ticket, and he could only use it once since it was for long-distance teleportation.

[Lady Paige mastered creating long-distance teleportation spells. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she’s now the master of teleportation on the entire continent. It’s just a shame that she doesn’t want the Teleportation Tickets she made to be sold to the public.]

“Are you really not coming with me?” Jasper asked worriedly. “The two of us are supposed to meet up with Paige Avery.”

“I saw a tracker among the crows chasing us. If we leave together, they’ll just find out where we’re headed,” Gin explained. “I’ll stay here and erase your trace.”

He knew that the black cat made the right decision.

Instead of getting caught together, it was better if at least one of them could leave and meet up with Princess Neoma’s “children.”

But just because it was the wise thing to do didn’t mean it would be easy for him to accept.

“Don’t die, Gin,” Jasper said firmly. “You must absolutely return to me alive.”

Gin laughed at his concerns. “Lord Jasper, I have a few lives left to spare. I don’t mind giving up one for your sake.”

“Argh, that sounds so cheesy. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I regret it as soon as those words came out of my mouth.”

Jasper just sighed, then he ripped the Teleportation Ticket. As soon as he did, a whirlpool appeared below his feet– slowly swallowing him up. “See you later, Gin.”

Gin bowed to him politely. “I’ll be waiting for you, Lord Jasper.”

***

“I’M ASHAMED of myself for not considering the fact that a small animal like a duck could be an Elemental Guardian.”

“Well, it’s not like I can blame you for that,” Neoma said to Dahlia. “The other three Elemental Guardians are huge. Hence, both you and Ruto thought that the fourth Elemental Guardian was the same.”

Right now, Neoma and Dahlia were in her bedroom because she wanted to take a rest first before leaving the Astello Temple.

And Ruto was still waiting for his teammates.

She just couldn’t understand why Dahlia was standing behind her while combing her hair as if the Black Witch was serving a princess.. oh, wait.

[I’m a princess.]

“Ducks are cute,” Dahlia gushed. “I think it would be great if the fourth Elemental Guardian was really a duck.”

Neoma smiled at the Black Witch’s innocence. “Oh, Dahlia. Ducks may look cute, but ducks are bastards. They’re not soft. You should see duck-on-duck violence. The mating season for ducks is a particularly brutal time for them. I also know nine more horrifying facts about ducks, but I’ll stop here because I don’t want to traumatize you.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Princess Neoma.”

“No problem.”

The Black Witch fell silent for a moment before she spoke again. “Uhm, Princess Neoma, did you fight with Lord Ruto?”

“Maybe,” she said, sighing. “I’m just a little disappointed with him.”

“If it’s about Lady Phoebe, then I guess you should know..” Dahlia paused for a moment before speaking again. “Princess Neoma, actually, Lord Ruto has a plan to get rid of Lady Astrid. He didn’t just watch the Goddess of Beauty corrupt Lady Phoebe all this time.”

Neoma turned to Dahlia with knitted eyebrows. “Elaborate.”

***

.....

<“HEY, HANDSOME young man.”>

Jasper thought he had seen it all.

But THIS experience still blew his mind.

historical

<“You smell like money, and I money.”>

Huh?

<“You’re old money, aren’t you? People of money smell nicer than those who just got rich recently.”>

That was true, but he couldn’t speak because he was still stunned.

<“You also look like you’re a high-ranking noble even though you dressed down on purpose. Young man, can’t deceive my eyes.”>

Jasper finally found his voice. “I am not trying to deceive your eyes..”

<“I don’t have a name– but people call me ‘Duckie.'”>

That was quite befitting for a TALKING duck.

***

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