Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: The Schemer's Dilemma
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"Hmm... What on earth should I do...?"
"Moreover, Your Majesty, the fellow has also made contact with a merchant company operated by a Shanam man named Derun."
"A Shanam man?"
"Yes. When he entered the Academy, he approached him to sound him out, and they have maintained continuous interaction. Things like transporting strange books or establishing bases for him. And the recent popular beauty soap business might very well have been information that Beonald fellow provided."
"...That guy? Ah, there was such a report."
"Yes. He claimed to have knowledge of alchemy as well. Furthermore, the merchant house this Derun belongs to has absolutely no history or connection to alchemy or soap making, so the sudden release of products confirms it."
The Emperor frowned at the spy's explanation.
The fellow's value kept rising, filling the Emperor with displeasure, regret over his own miscalculations and poor judgment, and an even more infuriating suspicion that the guy was toying with him. On top of that, the worry about whether he should change his judgment even now, given the increasing worth. Countless thoughts tangled in his head.
"Uuuuuuuuuuh~"
"Your Majesty?"
'...It's too late to turn back now. I've already come too far.'
Considering the treasures and support received from Count Banilo over the past several years, using Zelcy as bait, the situation was already beyond reversal.
Even if he returned everything now, the Count's feelings would be deeply wounded.
Furthermore, having already sent the message, if he overturned this matter now, not only Count Banilo but also the resentment of other nobles under him would grow.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuh!"
The bigger problem was that he wanted to find some middle ground for compromise, but it simply wasn't appearing.
He didn't want to lose Beonald, but he couldn't discard Count Banilo either, so he needed to draw a line where both could be somewhat satisfied, but he couldn't find it, leaving the Emperor in a dilemma.
After pondering for a while, he finally concluded that he must maintain the plan to send Princess Zelcy to Count Banilo as is.
"There are cases where trying to catch two rabbits results in catching neither. So, first, we must catch the rabbit we absolutely cannot miss..."
But making one decision wasn't the end.
Now, the problem was what that fellow was scheming with that Shanam merchant. He was worried they might be planning something else he hadn't anticipated, but imagining the unknown yielded no answers.
"What do you think he's trying to do by meeting a merchant?"
In the end, times like these called for borrowing others' wisdom.
When the Emperor asked the spy he had assigned about the fellow's purpose, the man thought deeply for a moment before opening his mouth to reply.
"Hmm, if he met a merchant, then... wouldn't it be about money or business? If that Beonald gave him the soap manufacturing method, he'd demand his share. Moreover, with funds, he could buy magical equipment to strengthen himself. If he fought dozens of exchanges with the heir of the Kmel family, he'd think such factors combined could create a chance of victory."
"Hmmm, continue. Even other assumptions are fine."
"Yes, I'll continue. Another assumption could be that he's helping with business to dominate the capital's commercial district? Or perhaps he's plotting a scheme to enter the Imperial court through a noble ally he knows. And..."
The Emperor listened to the various methods the spy laid out, one by one, and began checking off ways to block them and countermeasures.
He ordered the strengthening of palace security and Princess Zelcy's confinement, decided to ignore the commercial district issue since by the time it was resolved, Zelcy would already be in Count Banilo's arms, and planned to handle the magical equipment and tournament countermeasures by first providing information to the Kmel family.
"And let's move the schedule up a bit. Send her off to get married first, and then I'll attend the wedding at Count Banilo's territory later. Hmm... That should suffice. You continue monitoring that friend."
"Yes."
"*Sigh*~ I have much to do, yet I've spent too much time on this. If it weren't for the Valderian family, I wouldn't have to think so hard..."
If only he could just send Imperial Knights to capture him. Then he could hold him, use torture or persuasion to make him his man, or if that failed, simply kill him to remove a future threat. But this was merely wishful thinking.
'Anyway, a talent of that caliber would eventually become a nuisance if made an enemy. Once sending Zelcy is confirmed, I'll offer other compromises or carrots to request reconciliation. Human emotions are never something that can last forever...'
For the Empire, he could do anything, and must do anything—that was his creed. For that, Beonald, once an enemy, could become an ally, and Beonald, once an ally, could have his position changed to enemy at any time. That was the Emperor.
Praying that no dark clouds would gather over the Empire's future, he moved on to handling other matters.
***
At the same time, Princess Zelcy was currently not even allowed to leave her room, effectively under house arrest.
And at the Emperor's sudden order to proceed with the marriage, she was flustered but thought the inevitable moment had finally come. Yet, part of her couldn't accept it.
'Why now of all times?'
She had thought it would happen after at least graduating from the Academy, so she was puzzled by the rushed engagement.
The only recent irregularity was finally socializing with Beonald, a peer with whom she could have a normal, human conversation.
Although he was a man, he showed no ulterior motives toward her; rather, he was someone who tried to keep his distance, allowing for peaceful conversation. She couldn't understand why her surroundings were under constant surveillance—what exactly were they guarding against?
'...I want to talk with him more.'
Only after having free conversations with Beonald did she learn the joy of people interacting as people, and realized even more keenly how stifling this imperial palace was.
Now, surrounded by attendants, maids, servants, knights, intelligence agents, and more... there were many people, yet she felt a loneliness as if alone on a deserted island. She was troubled about what to do.
'Huh?'
Thud, thud, thud! Clank, clank, clank!
Suddenly, a sound like people rushing toward her room startled her.
Thinking perhaps His Majesty the Emperor or the Empress might be visiting, she prepared to greet them with proper etiquette, but there was only commotion, and the door didn't open.
Curious, she cautiously pressed her ear against the door to listen to the sounds outside.
'What's happening that requires more people?'
"...That concludes the briefing. Maintain strict vigilance. The captain said that Beonald fellow is up to some scheme right now."
"Yes. By the way, this is just like a romance story girls love, isn't it? Overcoming insurmountable walls of status and bloodline to seize love—isn't that romantic?"
"Ahem! This is no laughing matter. If Her Highness the Princess is taken, our heads will roll. So keep a thorough watch."
"Yes!"
'What is this talk...?'
She tilted her head, struggling to interpret the knights' words... According to them, Beonald was currently running around pulling schemes to target her.
Moreover, the fact that her own security had been strengthened proved the story was true, but she couldn't understand why Beonald would target her.
'That's strange. He clearly doesn't think deeply of me, does he?'
Having received courtship from numerous nobles, she knew well what gazes filled with affection, lust, and other desires looked like.
In Beonald's case, it was merely admiration for her beauty at most; none of the usual reactions from men were present.
That meant it wasn't for love or similar reasons. If not, then why would he need to go around devising methods to reach her?
'Then... for what reason? It could even become an act of treason against the Kalleum Empire...'
It made no sense.
Charging bare-handed at a dragon from legends would be less reckless than this.
He didn't even aim for her body or status.
Then why was he fighting against the Empire for her sake?
'...Why?'
She still knew nothing of Beonald's personal history.
She didn't know about his personal ambition and challenge to overcome an Emperor who held similar thoughts to his father in a past life, Felix von Neumel.
So, as Princess Zelcy, she had no way of knowing where this reckless challenge of Beonald's originated.
'...Unbelievable. Then could it be? That person is... doing this reckless act purely for my sake?'
She had only seen such stories in fairy tales or scriptures.
Tales of brave knights slaying countless monsters and challenging the Demon King to save a princess; stories of saints in scripture enduring hardships, trials, and the temptations of demons through faith in God alone to attain enlightenment.
The tutors and knights appointed by the Emperor all spoke of the world's terrors and cold, harsh truths, and most of the other nobles and commoners she met at the Academy acted largely as she expected.
'How can he do this?'
Thump... thump!
Princess Zelcy's heart began to beat loudly.
She thought such an act would be impossible without pure, sublime human goodwill and love, and her thoughts about Beonald began to change in her mind.
He attended Academy classes perfunctorily, knew she was a princess yet only showed basic courtesy, grumbled, and showed no interest in her. The fact he was moving like this now could only lead to the conclusion that he was helping her with no other ulterior motive.
'...Many in the world preach nobility and honor, but this is the first time I'm seeing the real thing.'
Of course, his goal might lie elsewhere.
He might be using her as a tool for honor.
But that excuse only works for threats one can endure to some extent. To challenge the Emperor of the Empire meant it could only be sincere.
'That's why I want to meet him even more.'
A throbbing heart and blooming desire. Proof that she was human, not a puppet or tradable tool of the Emperor and the Imperial family, awakened and made her aware of her situation.
When she realized that if she did nothing now, she might someday be unable to face him squarely if they met again, her eyes began to burn with determination.
***
A few days later, at the Imperial Academy.
Even if Beonald hadn't noticed surveillance on him, he was already acting and speaking cautiously, assuming someone was watching.
Currently, he was at the Imperial Academy, diligently swinging his sword while participating in training to prepare for the Sports Festival's team battle. He held the issued armor and sword, maintaining his position in the formation.
"Don't give ground! Don't break from the phalanx! Remember, if your back touches the ground, you're disqualified!"
'How ridiculous. Mimicking war, yet with so many restrictions.'
The knight major's team battle in the Sports Festival was the climax and most honorable position for the Noble Faculty, but due to numerous casualties and covert struggles to assassinate rival family heirs during the matches, many restrictions had been added.
Weapons must have unsharpened edges; blunt weapons must be made of fragile materials; no attacking a fallen opponent, etc. The defeat condition was immediate "death" if one's back touched the ground.
'Of course, I understand we must be careful since they're precious noble scions and heirs...'
"Ah, right. By Imperial decree, new safety rules have been added. For this Sports Festival, the use of magical equipment and family heirlooms is prohibited; only standard Academy-issued equipment is allowed. And..."
'...He's playing his tricks there too.'
At the Emperor's scheme to eliminate variables from the Sports Festival, Beonald let out a faint, scornful smile.
He was almost grateful that they were so blatantly showing they knew all his movements. Keeping his guard up, he continued to review his plans.