Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 540

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The meeting proceeded swiftly with Count Mok’s solo presentation.
Kale Heniatus sat in silence, listening to the operational details unfold exactly as they had discussed the previous night.

‘Just as planned.’

The White Star appeared to have accepted Count Mok’s proposal without reservation.
In that moment, a face materialized in Kale’s field of vision.

A thin smile curved across his lips.

Priest Gersei was gazing at him with a gentle smile.

‘What is this?’

Irritation flared within Kale, but he simply returned the smile.
Then Count Mok’s voice rang out—firm yet notably brighter.

“With that, I declare this meeting concluded!”

Count Mok wore a subtle smile as he addressed the Nobility Candidates with measured courtesy.

“Those among you who wish to participate in the Black Castle destruction operation may visit my office within the Royal Palace.”

The Nobility Candidates exchanged tense glances, gauging one another’s reactions.

‘The opportunity has arrived!’
‘If I distinguish myself here, they said I could gain at least a Barony, at most an Earldom!’
‘…I will absolutely participate in the Black Castle destruction operation.’

Yet only forty-eight Nobility Candidates would be deployed for the Black Castle destruction operation—precisely half of the ninety-six total.
Every eye among the Nobility Candidates turned toward Count Mok.
He alone possessed absolute authority over the selection of those forty-eight.

‘Excellent.’

Count Mok, receiving their gazes, expertly suppressed the laughter threatening to escape his lips.
Conversely, one figure could not seem to relax their hardened expression.

‘…except me!’

The Black Knight. Count Hubesa.
She realized that among everyone gathered at this table, she alone had been kept in the dark about Count Mok’s announcement of the ‘Black Castle Destruction’ operation.

‘What in the world happened overnight?’

Her gaze sharpened, fixing upon Count Mok.
As fellow counts, they were, in a sense, the most direct rivals.

‘That old fool, scheming behind the scenes like this!’

Her eyes, which had been openly blazing with fury as she regarded Count Mok, suddenly froze, locking onto a single point.
There stood Kale—wearing Nar’s form—rising from his seat and attempting to slip from the conference hall.

‘…Something’s off.’

Among all those she knew, Count Mok possessed the most sinister nature.
Surely it was Count Mok who had drawn Nar and the Vampires into this affair.
Yet her instinct as a knight.
The senses of one who fights on the front lines.

‘…Why does my gaze keep drawn to Nar?’

It warned her.
That boy was strange.

As Count Hubesa’s eyes studying Nar grew more penetrating.

“Nar.”

I paused mid-stride toward the exit of the Grand Conference Hall, arrested by that soft voice calling out to me.

‘…Damn it.’

A gentle touch.
A hand came to rest softly upon my shoulder.
I turned my head slightly, looking up at whoever had called me.

“…Your Majesty.”
“The meeting is over. Call me Uncle again.”

White Star wore a gentle smile.

‘…Right…. I should think of those cookies and food he gave me.’

Recalling how delicious they were, I decided to endure it for now.
Kale Heniatus smiled as brightly as I could manage.

“Oh dear.”

Seeing that expression, sorrow flickered across White Star’s face.

“Nar. You don’t need to force a smile when things are difficult.”

Damn it. That’s not what this is.

“And the fact that you’re participating in this operation troubles me. I worry. But I’ve decided to respect your wishes.”

At that moment, Priest Gersei approached White Star. White Star turned toward Priest Gersei and left a final farewell for Kale Heniatus.

“Don’t get hurt. Don’t fall ill. Eat your meals properly. Let me see you healthy and grown.”

Then White Star left the Grand Conference Hall with Priest Gersei.
Kale Heniatus watched quietly before leaving the Grand Conference Hall himself and meeting Solena, who had been waiting outside.

“How was the meeting?”

She stood quietly beside Kale Heniatus, hidden from the others’ view, and asked.
Kale Heniatus climbed into the carriage waiting at the entrance to the Palace near the Grand Conference Hall, the corners of his mouth lifting.

“His Majesty said something.”

Kale Heniatus leaned back leisurely in the carriage seat.
Solena sat across from him.
In her eyes reflected the young man’s twisted smile.

“Don’t get hurt, don’t fall ill, eat well. And grow strong and healthy so I can see you that way.”

Huff, huff.
The Young Prince let out a hollow laugh.
He pointed at me.

“He said that to me. His Majesty spoke those words to me. What do you think, Solena? How does it sound to you?”

Solena closed the carriage door.
Click.
The moment we were alone in that quiet space, she opened her mouth.

“That’s amusing.”
“Isn’t it?”

Both Kale Heniatus and Solena’s lips curved upward.
But soon Solena’s smile faded. A faint anxiety settled across her face.

“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“…When do you think we’ll be able to learn the details regarding the Roan Kingdom?”

For a moment, my brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing what appeared to be displeasure, Solena hesitated briefly, but soon I returned to my usual expression and asked her.

“Are you waiting eagerly for word from Roan?”
“…There’s a matter we decided to determine together with the Roan Kingdom. The safety of our Vampire knights and warriors is at stake.”
“That’s true.”

There was indeed a matter to be decided together before the operation.
Wasn’t that why I hadn’t even sent a video call to Alberu Crown Prince?

“Sigh.”

I exhaled a shallow breath.
With my brow still furrowed, I shook my head slowly. Anxiety bloomed within Solena at the sight.

‘Did the discussions with the Roan Kingdom not go well?’

If that were the case, the Black Castle destruction operation couldn’t proceed as originally discussed between me and Duke Fredo.
Solena swallowed her anxiety as she watched my lips slowly part.

“Just wait a little longer, and it will be fine.”

However, Kale Heniatus’s response was positive.

“You don’t need to worry.”
“Yes! I understand!”

Kale Heniatus was not one to speak empty words.
Even Solena, who had been with him for only a few days, had picked up on this, and she smiled at his positive assurance.

Soon the carriage departed, and I gazed out the window, lost in thought.
It was then that Solena’s cautious voice reached my ears.

“But truly, is it acceptable for that many people to infiltrate the Black Castle destruction operation? Dark Elves, Vampires. And with 48 Nobility Candidates on top of that—it’s certainly no small force.”
“Are you concerned about the Black Castle?”
“…Yes. The Duke and Young Master must have devised an excellent plan, but given the sheer quality and quantity of personnel being deployed, I cannot help but worry.”

I regarded the Black Castle, then the Vampire who fretted over me, with quiet scrutiny.

Can Solena be trusted?
The corners of my mouth lifted.

“Don’t worry.”

Solena cannot be trusted.
Her eyes lacked the genuine concern that Rosalind and Choi Han displayed. She was merely voicing worry in words alone.
Solena’s gaze was instead assessing me.
As though gauging the abilities of a rival.

‘Indeed. There is nowhere to let my guard down here.’

After all, she too was Fredo’s subordinate.
Moreover, she was one of his most capable and trusted retainers.

I spoke to Solena in a flowing manner.

“Thank you for worrying about me.”

For a moment, Solena faltered, but she soon offered a gentle smile.

I mirrored Kale Heniatus’s smile, but the moment the carriage arrived at the Grand Mansion, I turned away.
I returned to my room and closed the door behind me.

Click.
The door shut, and I opened my mouth.

“Did you find it?”

I lifted the corners of my lips as I observed the gleam in Choi Han and Raon’s eyes as they looked at me.

“Looks like you did.”

I had instructed Choi Han and Raon to investigate Duke Fredo.

‘I’ll admit those two worry me sometimes, but when I actually give them a task, they perform admirably.’

After confirming that Choi Han and Raon were unharmed, I approached them with a satisfied smile.

“H-human!”
“Why, why are you like this?”

But Raon was faster.
Raon rushed toward me and grabbed the hem of my upper garment.

“H-human!”
“…What’s wrong with you?”

Raon’s eyes were wide and trembling.

“Kale Heniatus.”

Then Choi Han approached and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Do not be alarmed.”
“…What exactly did you two find that’s making you act like this?”

Raon and Choi Han’s reactions were far from ordinary.

“Kale Heniatus. Don’t be alarmed.”
“There’s no need to repeat yourself. And from where I’m standing, it seems like you’re the one who needs to calm down, Choi Han.”
“…You’re right.”

A deep breath escaped him.
Choi Han inhaled deeply.
Then he fixed me with an unwavering gaze and spoke.

“We found no useful information in Duke Fredo’s bedroom. However, I saw Raon entering through Duke Fredo’s secret passage and followed him discreetly.”

That passage, he explained, led to the Mansion Basement.

“And it appeared to be an ordinary Study.”
“That’s right! It was just a normal Study! Small too!”
“But there was information about the White Star there.”

Raon gripped my sleeve even tighter.

“Human! I couldn’t examine things thoroughly because Duke Fredo was in the same space! But I saw every single paper hanging on the Study walls clearly!”
“…Right. You did an impressive job, so let go of my sleeve, would you?”
“Human!”

He gripped it even harder.

‘Seriously.’

My brow furrowed. In this young form, I was being dragged along helplessly by the strength of Raon’s front legs.
The Young Dragon was stronger than Nar.

“Raon. Let go for a moment—”
“Human! Kale Berrow!”
“…What?”

I stopped mid-sentence and looked at Raon.
In that moment, I could see the trembling in both Raon’s and Choi Han’s eyes as they gazed at me.
Choi Han opened his mouth.
His voice wavered slightly.

“The White Star’s original life. His name was Kale Berrow.”

…What?
Kale?
That’s the same name as mine.

“He broke his oath with Sherit and received a curse from the God of Death. It’s not entirely clear, but Kale Berrow is estimated to be in his early twenties. However, we have confirmed the exact date he received the curse. That date is November 8th.”

I watched Choi Han’s pupils tremble as he spoke that date.
And my heart pounded violently.

‘Could it be a coincidence?’

That day is my birthday, Kim Rok-soo’s birthday, isn’t it?
Choi Han, Choi Jung-soo, Neran Berow. Everyone’s birthday?
Having spent my twenties once as Kim Rok-soo and now entering my twenties again at twenty years old, I—Kale Heniatus—could not shake November 8th from my mind. That was the day Kale Berrow, who was in his early twenties, received the curse of the God of Death.

November 8th for twenty-year-old me was also the day I had to make a decision regarding the condition the God of Death had set.

“Human.”

Raon released the hem of my clothes from his front paw.

“The moment Fredo turned around to leave the secret space, I secretly stole a single piece of paper hanging on the wall.”

I sensed Choi Han becoming even more tense than before.

“Human, I had to steal this.”

Raon’s voice was trembling as well.

“Look at this.”

From the subspace, Raon pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper and handed it to me.
I took it and unfolded the paper.

Whoosh—
The paper unfolded.
My gaze locked onto a single drawing etched upon the paper.

“Human! I’ve brought you a drawing of the White Star’s current face—the mask removed!”

Raon’s voice trembled with the intensity of the situation he had experienced, along with a sense of pride and satisfaction.

“Fredo drew the White Star’s face without the mask! I even saw a memo next to the drawing that said ‘a face I saw a month ago’!”

Then he added further.

“Ah! And there were four human faces drawn next to the White Star too! But since one of the human faces wasn’t me, I didn’t bring it!”

The White Star portrait wasn’t quite as detailed as a photograph or video, but it was remarkably intricate.

“The human portrait on Fredo’s study wall is drawn very similarly to your actual face, so I believe the White Star in that painting Fredo owns is indeed his true visage!”

Raon thrust his round belly forward proudly.

“I did well! I’m amazing!”

He praised himself while subtly waiting for what I would say.
That was when it happened.

“Kale.”

Choi Han stepped closer to me.
He placed his hand on my shoulder as I stood motionless, my gaze fixed upon the White Star portrait.
Choi Han opened his mouth with a rigid expression.
His voice poured out filled with confusion.

“There are differences in facial structure between Eastern and Western faces, of course. Hair color and eye color are all different, but…”

Choi Han recalled the moment when he first saw the portrait Raon had brought.
How shocked he had been.
His gaze, like mine, turned toward the portrait.
Choi Han opened his mouth, and without realizing it, his voice cracked.

“…Isn’t there something oddly similar about it?… The atmosphere, the overall feel of the face.”

My eyes turned toward Choi Han.
Choi Han, seeing my wavering gaze, whispered as if afraid someone might hear.

“…Kim Rok-soo. With you.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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