Lord of Caldera - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Chapter 94
The count’s wine glass was still in his hand when a frantic voice rang out from outside the door.

“Count! There’s something I need to tell you!”

“What’s going on?” Bill called back, looking up in alarm.

“Sirs Ulrich and Sylas… they’re meeting in the garden!” came the reply.

“What?” Bill was so startled that he dropped his wine glass, shattering it. His heart pounded. Just recently, one had poisoned the other, and now they were meeting again?

His lingering buzz vanished instantly as he sprang to his feet and rushed toward the door.

“Out of my way! I’ll see for myself!” he commanded, moving past the servants without hesitation.

Once Bill had departed, Max, who had been watching from a tree near the window, dropped down and hurried toward the garden, mimicking the call of a crow. The caw echoed through the trees, reaching Toby’s ears.

“My lord, when will it be all right for us to enter the garden?” one of the servants asked anxiously.

“Just wait a little longer. It should be over soon…”

Caw, caw.

“…although it seems their conversation is taking a bit longer than expected. You may enter now,” Toby said, moving aside.

“Oh, thank you, my lord,” the servant replied, and the gardeners filed into the garden, still keeping their distance from Ulrich and Sylas, not wanting to get too close during such a tense time.

Ulrich frowned as he watched the servants hover at a distance. “When can we start?”

“Everything’s ready now. Just make small talk until then,” Sylas instructed.

“Small talk? About what?” Ulrich grumbled.

“You can just mutter to yourself. As long as it looks like we’re talking,” Sylas replied casually.

“That’s probably easier,” Ulrich muttered.

The two of them began speaking toward each other, though it was hardly a real conversation. They were merely murmuring nonsense and filler phrases, but from a distance, it looked like they were engaged in a genuine discussion. A few minutes later, Ulrich noticed a stir near the garden entrance.

“There’s some commotion by the garden entrance…” he whispered.

Hoo-hoo, an owl called.

Ulrich’s attention snapped back. The owl’s hoot was Max’s signal that things were about to begin. It meant Count Bill was at the entrance, arguing with Toby. Sylas looked at Ulrich with a smile.

“It’s time. Do you remember your lines?”

“I remember them all; you don’t need to remind me,” Ulrich grumbled, standing up. He couldn’t believe he was actually about to go through with this.

With a trembling voice, he began to shout loudly.

“Why are you stopping me? Do you have any idea what could happen if those two are left alone together?” Count Bill demanded, attempting to push his way into the garden.

“Please, Your Grace, you must stay calm!” Toby insisted, blocking his path.

The count was at a loss. How could Toby, a knight, stand back while Ulrich and Sylas were left alone together? A knight should be by his lord’s side, after all!

“Stand aside! I’ll break through if I have to!” Bill threatened.

“If you step in, the curse will never be lifted!” Toby responded urgently.

“A… curse?” The count paused, taken aback. Why mention a curse now?

“Think about it, Your Grace. This is Sir Ulrich we’re talking about. Why would he poison his own brother’s drink?” Toby asked.

“Well…” Count Bill stammered, trying to think. There were countless possible reasons: jealousy, a desire for power, or perhaps a hidden personality finally surfacing. But still, Ulrich’s previous behavior didn’t entirely align with such an act.

“My lord believes that Sir Ulrich is cursed,” Toby added.

“A dungeon curse…?” the count repeated in shock.

“Ancient dungeons are often said to curse those who enter, driving them mad. Think, Your Grace—was Sir Ulrich’s behavior ever anything but exemplary before this?”

No, Ulrich had always been a proud heir, dedicated and composed. And now, without warning, he had poisoned his younger brother’s drink. It was too out of character, Bill thought, almost irrational. But if it was because of a curse from a dungeon…

“That would explain everything!” Bill realized.

It was only natural for a father to want to believe in his son. Toby, seeing the wavering look in Bill’s eyes, spoke in a heavy tone.

“My lord believes that Sir Ulrich has been driven mad by a curse. He hopes that the holy sword might be able to lift it,” Toby said.

“Sylas…!” the count whispered, his voice choked.

“I trust our lord, so we must not interfere. Listening from nearby should be fine, but if you step in, everything could be ruined,” Toby cautioned.

Bill swallowed hard, nodding slowly. If there was even a chance the curse could be lifted, he was willing to do whatever it took.

“I understand. I’ll be careful. But allow me to listen in on what they’re discussing,” he requested.

“Of course. Just make sure they don’t notice you,” Toby replied.

As Bill entered the garden cautiously, Ulrich’s voice rang out, loud and desperate.

“Yes! This curse is eating me alive! Since that day, voices have echoed endlessly in my head!” Ulrich cried out, his voice trembling. There was a note of helplessness, as if he didn’t want this but had no choice. To any observer, he sounded like a young man losing his mind to despair.

“Dammit, this is so humiliating,” he thought as he held his face, continuing his monologue.

“I… I’m terrified of myself! I don’t know what I might do next! I never should have entered that dungeon out of greed…” he shouted.

“Brother! Please, calm yourself!” Sylas called out, moving to embrace him from behind.

“Calm myself? Calm myself?” Ulrich shrieked, shaking as if truly panicking.

In truth, he couldn’t stand having Sylas wrap his arms around him like this. He felt like he was about to lose his mind for real.

“Get away from me! I am Ulrich! I am Ulrich Corleone!” he screamed, pushing Sylas away.

“U-Ulrich…” Seeing his son in such agony, Bill felt tears rise to his eyes. It was true—Toby’s words had been true. If Ulrich was suffering under a curse, that would explain everything, including his actions toward Sylas. All the pieces fit.

“Go away! Don’t come near me, Sylas! Even now, the curse screams at me to kill you…!” Ulrich yelled.

“I won’t leave you!” Sylas replied.

“Stay back! I can’t hold myself back anymore!” Ulrich’s patience was wearing thin, and he could barely contain his irritation. “Let’s get this over with already,” he thought, prompting Sylas to draw his sword.

“Holy sword Volberk! Cleanse this curse!” Sylas intoned, swinging the blade downward.

‘Hey, flame. Just a quick, discreet burst at the tip, alright?’ Sylas whispered mentally.

As you command, master…

Fwoosh.

A small burst of flame ignited at the sword’s tip, almost too brief to notice, giving the illusion of a faint light. The flame burned the black herb in the censer behind Ulrich, sending dark smoke rising around him. Seeing this, Sylas gave his next command.

‘Now make the sword shine, as brightly as you can.’

As you wish…

A blinding light radiated from the sword, illuminating the garden. At the same time, the smoke rose behind Ulrich, making it appear as if dark energy were pouring from his body.

“Ugh! The… the curse… the curse is breaking!” Ulrich groaned, clutching his chest and curling up, using his body to shield the censer from view. Count Bill watched the scene in a daze.

The holy sword’s radiant light, the dark smoke billowing around Ulrich as he writhed in apparent agony—it was a spectacle that conveyed exactly what they intended. Toby murmured in awe.

“Sir Ulrich’s darkened soul is being purified by the light…”

“Is that… what’s happening?” Bill thought, watching in realization. Ulrich was finally being freed from the dreadful curse, his son triumphing over the darkness.

“Stay strong, Ulrich! Don’t give in to the curse. You’re my heir, after all!” the count thought, biting his lip, fervently rooting for his son in silence.

Watching the count’s intense expression, Toby mused to himself, “Hmm, maybe I should add some extra commentary. Something more dramatic to make it perfect…”