Lord of Caldera - Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Chapter 93
That evening, Ulrich headed to the mansion’s garden, carrying the elixir and a small container of wasabi he’d swiped from the kitchen. When he arrived, three people were already there: Toby, Max, and Sylas.

Sylas got straight to the point as soon as he saw Ulrich.

“Welcome, brother. Did you bring the necessary items?”

“If you mean the wasabi, I have it,” Ulrich replied tersely.

“No, no, that’s not what matters. The important thing is the elixir,” Sylas corrected him with a confident smile.

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Ulrich pulled the elixir from his coat, holding out the entire amount he’d used previously.

“Will this be enough?”

“Perfect,” Sylas said, snatching the vial and passing it to Max, who carefully wrapped it in cloth and tucked it away. The three of them couldn’t suppress their grins now that such a precious item had landed in their hands.

“I see you’re pleased,” Ulrich said, “but let’s not forget our deal. You promised to restore my honor.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Sylas replied. “Frankly, you’re in a dangerous position right now, aren’t you?”

“You talk as if it’s someone else’s problem. I’d say this is all because of you,” Ulrich retorted.

“Oh, really? Isn’t it more like you stabbed yourself in the gut while swinging your sword around?” Sylas shot back, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Ulrich’s face flushed with anger, but neither of them found the situation strange, despite the sudden dropping of their usual façades. They both knew the truth—that they were two of a kind. Beneath their carefully crafted public images, they were both foxes in disguise.

“Enough. What’s the point of arguing over the past?” Ulrich said dismissively.

“Now, that’s the mark of a leader, brother—focusing on the future rather than dwelling on the past,” Sylas teased.

“Cut it out. Are you really serious about this?” Ulrich asked, his voice tense.

“About what?”

“The thing in the letter! You expect me to go through with that? Isn’t there some other way?” Ulrich was willing to do what was needed to reclaim his honor, but he couldn’t help but hope for an alternative.

Sylas was blunt. “If there were, I’m sure you would’ve thought of it by now.”

“…”

“If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you,” Sylas continued. “Of course, I won’t be returning the elixir, either…”

“Who said I wouldn’t do it? I’ll do it!” Ulrich shouted, realizing that his last option had been shut off. Sylas grinned and handed him a piece of paper from his coat. Ulrich looked at it, puzzled.

“What’s this?”

“It’s the script. These are the lines you’ll need to say. You can adapt it as long as you don’t stray from the main points,” Sylas replied.

Ulrich scanned the contents of the paper, his expression darkening as he read. This plan was more outrageous than he’d imagined. But he had no other option—this was his only chance to regain his standing.

“Here’s the censer. Keep it nearby and make sure it stays hidden so it’s not visible from the other side. And don’t make any big movements,” Sylas instructed.

“When do I use the wasabi? When should I swallow it?” Ulrich asked.

“First, rub it on your thumb. When I give the signal, swallow it to produce tears. Be careful not to leave any evidence behind,” Sylas warned.

“I don’t need you to remind me of that,” Ulrich replied curtly.

“Good, then go ahead and memorize the lines I gave you. Time is short, so the sooner the better,” Sylas urged.

With a sigh, Ulrich reviewed the lines. It wasn’t a long speech, so memorizing it wasn’t difficult. After reading it about five times, he handed the paper back to Sylas.

“I’ve memorized it. Let’s get this over with as quickly as possible,” Ulrich said, clearly eager to be done.

“Understood. Everyone, take your positions. Toby, Max, you know what to do,” Sylas directed.

“Got it,” Max said, sprinting to his designated spot, while Toby moved to block the entrance to the garden. The servants assigned to tend to the garden were taken aback when they saw him there and stammered in confusion.

“M-my lord, we need to attend to the garden…”

“Wait just a moment. The two young masters are having an important conversation. It won’t take long, so stay back for now,” Toby instructed.

The servants, unsure of what else to do, backed away reluctantly. They weren’t about to make a scene if they were only being asked to wait.

Toby had no intention of blocking them for long. He knew that for rumors to spread, there first had to be witnesses. Glancing over at Sylas and Ulrich, Toby held his position and waited for Max’s signal.

Meanwhile, Count Bill was sitting in his study, taking deep sips of wine. He wasn’t one to drink often, but on a day like today, he couldn’t help himself. Dani was one thing—he had always been a reckless troublemaker. But for Ulrich, the son he had always been so proud of, to do something like this…

“Is this my punishment?” Bill muttered, taking another drink. Perhaps it was a consequence of abandoning his wife for another. But another thought weighed on him just as heavily.

“Still, isn’t this punishment far too severe for the crime?” he wondered bitterly.

It wasn’t just that his sons had tried to kill each other—Ulrich had tried to enslave his own sibling, using his life as a tool. It was an unspeakable act. Gordon, watching his master continue to drink, spoke with concern.

“Your Grace, this is your third bottle. For the sake of your health, perhaps you should stop.”

“I thought I’d stop once I felt the effects. But strangely, I can’t seem to get drunk. I used to get tipsy after just a little wine,” the count replied with a sigh.

“Your Grace…” Gordon murmured, at a loss for words. He couldn’t even imagine the depth of the count’s anguish. Any attempt at comfort felt like it would only add insult to injury.