Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: A Prime Example of a Splendid Deal
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The royal palace walls had crumbled, and a bloodbath had erupted within the palace grounds.
Of course, those who spilled the blood were all enemies harboring treacherous thoughts, but the mere fact that blood had been shed inside the palace was already a massive problem.
All schedules were immediately halted, and the royal castle entered a state of utmost emergency.
Checkpoints and searches sprang up everywhere, and the castle's residents vented their rage toward the mysterious forces that had ruined such a joyous occasion and the Kashugar Count family—cursing their ancestors and everything in between.
The military was mobilized on the spot, and nobles eager to prove their loyalty to the royal family declared they would march on the Kashugar County at a moment's notice if the order came.
With the family head captured and the Kashugar County isolated in an instant, they proclaimed their innocence, but by then, uncovering the truth had lost all meaning.
In a time when the nation was in chaos, they were simply the perfect scapegoat to bear all the blame, get torn apart in the fury, and unite the public opinion.
Besides, Kashugar wasn't truly innocent, and with them pegged as prime suspects in the incident, no one was inclined to listen.
On the contrary, they were such an easy target—and capturing them would let the royals demonstrate loyalty while the nobles flaunted their houses' might—that every noble was clamoring to storm Kashugar right away.
'...It makes me sick, but this is the natural order of power. Nothing to be done.'
Vanessa thought she needed to get used to all this as quickly as possible.
Truth be told, she hadn't harbored much ambition for the throne herself.
Though she was only a year younger than Prince Erader, he was definitively the firstborn, and he had no glaring flaws.
Unless there was a fatal weakness, being the 'firstborn' granted near-absolute legitimacy, so it was only natural that Vanessa had set her sights away from the throne.
But that mindset of hers had completely changed just moments ago.
'Your Highness.
I hope you aren't too disillusioned.'
'What do you mean, Young Lord Sion?'
'They say politics is blooming flowers in the mud.
It has to be the dirtiest place because it's the most important.'
'...'
'Todays events shocked you, right? Then you change it, Your Highness.'
If anyone else had said that, she would've snapped at them on the spot.
How dare they drag her and her brother into that filthy fight?
Didn't they know how fierce the fallout would be once power struggles erupted in the royal family?
But the one who said it was none other than Sion Klauzen.
'Young Lord Sion.
Such words...'
'If I could wield mana, and if Sephyr's false testimony had sown even more chaos.
I'd be locked up in the royal castle's underground prison right now, not here.'
'...'
'I'm boldly suggesting you seek the bare minimum path to survival.'
Even after nearly getting hurt badly himself, enduring such ordeal, he said that.
Seeing him worry more for her—the princess—than for himself, and for the kingdom, Vanessa found herself nodding before she knew it.
And so, Vanessa went to King Edgar IV and brought it up.
'What did you just say?'
'I'm asking if we might resume the banquet from tomorrow onward.'
'...'
King Edgar IV wore an expression half incredulous, half surprised.
Vanessa might growl at Erader, but she'd never openly positioned herself as his rival.
Clear second in the line of succession.
Knowing her place so well, the king had let it slide.
Yet here she was, suddenly insisting they continue the banquet.
'I suppose I should ask why.'
'Today's humiliating events will spread not just across the kingdom, but to neighboring countries.
Hispania will go from a joyous victory celebration to the site of the worst palace attack imaginable.'
'That it will.'
'They'll mock us.
Everyone who opposes Hispania.
Our allies will cower.
Everyone who follows Hispania.
We can't just sit and watch.
We can't tremble endlessly over what's already happened.
Even with this incident, we must show Hispania can carry on with daily life unfazed.'
At Vanessa's fervent plea, King Edgar IV silently regarded his daughter.
Her words weren't entirely wrong, but nor were they perfectly right.
'Unknown forces might attack the palace again.
Even if not, incidents could still erupt inside the castle.'
'We have the royal knights, the mages, and the castle guard.
entrust it to them.
The attackers suffered a crushing defeat, so they'll lay low for a while.'
'...'
'Father.
We can't let Hispania appear huddled in fear.
No—we need an even grander banquet.
We repelled their perfect ambush perfectly!'
Everything Vanessa said rang true.
Despite the meticulously planned ambush, Hispania had countered it masterfully.
They'd even slain all the assailants except for one who seemed to be the fairy leader.
After a moment of heavy silence, King Edgar IV posed the question he'd always wanted to ask—but hoped he never would.
'Vanessa Linkle Hispania.
I'll ask.
Are you going to vie with your brother?'
'...'
Vanessa fell silent, but no denial came.
That silence was answer enough.
King Edgar IV let out a heavy sigh.
It was inevitable for a royal family at the heart of power, yet something he desperately wished wouldn't happen.
'Kashugar's been close to Erader for years now, you said.'
'...'
'Are you aiming to exploit that and challenge Erader now?'
'No.'
This time, the answer came swift.
King Edgar IV fixed his daughter with a look that said, 'Then what?' but Vanessa offered no further reply.
'...I understand your intent.
I'll think it over. Withdraw for now.'
'Have a peaceful night.'
After bowing, Vanessa left the king's office and headed to her room.
In her mind, Sion's words lingered.
'They say the greatest punishment for refusing to engage in politics is being ruled by inferiors.
At the very least, I wish for someone more capable than me to be my sovereign.'
Sion had said that, gazing at her with a faint smile.
Vanessa had averted her eyes and given a small nod.
'...If I had a retainer like you by my side, I'd want to rule this country as its monarch.'
―
Gone?
Yeah, gone.
Finally.
Once the royal knights assigned to escort him all the way to his villa had departed, Sion let out a sigh of relief.
Once word spread that he had no mana, the number of royal knights guarding him under the pretense of protection had doubled.
An entire squad—eight royal knights—now escorted a single noble.
Even if someone called it excessive, it was justified: he was the banquet's protagonist, a war hero, and had been 'injured' in the unfortunate incident, all approved directly by the royals, shutting down any complaints.
'Agh, pretending to limp was exhausting in itself.'
He hadn't sustained any real injury from the start.
His leg was fine, the coughs were deliberate, and the occasional groans were just a ploy to draw everyone's attention.
'Lucia's at the palace, and Kim Yuhyun's naturally with her as her guard.'
He'd altered the novel's flow, so no one knew what might happen next.
In the original story, the radical fairies' palace raids ended with this one, but since they'd failed, they might target it again.
'Though it's got nothing to do with me anymore.'
He'd helped as much as needed.
No more than that.
He'd banished Kashugar—Erader's future key ally—forever, and preserved national unity amid the palace raid fallout.
Helen Hynes, the hidden dagger in the castle who backed the radical fairies and waited for openings, was now his reluctant comrade in the same boat.
With Kim Yuhyun inside the castle, there'd be no major threats, and if played right, Princess Vanessa and Kim Yuhyun might naturally pair off.
'Now I just head back to Klauzen and prep for the next phase.'
Jimmy Faker's wounds should be nearly healed by now.
He had to meet Trisha Faker, the Four Wings, and secure her at his side without delay.
'Young Lord, you've arrived.'
Word must've spread, as the knights and soldiers who'd come from Klauzen gathered.
Their faces were stern, radiating barely contained fury.
Clearly displeased that their young lord had suffered such hardship.
'Has Rishe arrived?'
'Yes.
Per your orders, she returned to the villa earlier and has been awaiting you.'
Sion patted the knight's shoulder in thanks for their efforts.
The knights and soldiers watched in silence as he entered the villa.
Even the soldiers could manage basic mana operation.
A tiny amount, but worlds apart from none at all.
Yet that young man walking ahead couldn't handle even a speck of mana.
No issue for daily life, sure—but he was the heir to the Klauzen Margrave Territory.
A noble fated to war with Nudia someday.
Just recently, he'd fought on the front lines, rescuing soldiers through hellish flames.
And yet, he couldn't wield mana.
Still, he'd charged into battle, braved the danger, and now smiled and acted as if nothing happened.
'How his heart must ache.'
The gathered Klauzen knights and soldiers prayed fervently that the young man wouldn't despair or lose faith in himself.
Sion, meanwhile, was far from despair—he was wriggling in a little victory dance.
'Come to think of it, that digestive was just carbonated water, right?
This could be another nice little windfall if I play it smart...'
Muttering to himself, he entered his room.
Moments later, someone knocked.
'...Young Lord.'
'Rishe?'
He'd expected Rishe to come.
The problem was her voice, hoarse like death's door—and calling him 'Young Lord' instead of 'Master.'
'Come in.'
At his permission, Rishe entered.
Her every movement screamed exhaustion.
She shuffled weakly to stand before him.
'Rishe.'
'...Young Lord.'
'Why so drained?
Did I hurt your feelings by sending you back first?'
'No.'
'Then.
What's wrong?'
When pressed, Rishe bit her lip, then slowly spoke.
'Are you... discarding me?'
'...What?'
The question blindsided him.
What plot twist was this?
Sion fought to calm his racing thoughts.
'Rishe.
What are you talking about?'
'You said it was just a simple ruse to me.
But, but...'
Her body trembled; her voice more so.
Rishe stared at him with quivering eyes.
'I nearly... you nearly had a disaster.
Truly... truly...
I couldn't protect you, and you collapsed so suddenly from the explosion... I thought the world ended.'
'Ah.'
Right—he hadn't told Rishe about that part.
For him, getting lightly caught in the blast synergized with his plans and act.
But he'd kept her at a distance deliberately.
'No way she'd notice and rush in to shield me—that'd ruin the image.'
The steadfast war hero who rises unfazed from an accident, mana-less!
That was the new 'Sion Klauzen' image he wanted.
No way was he letting his guard knight yell 'Down, stay!' over him.
'Rishe.
Don't worry.
I'm perfectly fine.'
'Yes, I know.
I know, but... it terrified me.
That moment...
I'd finally found a master worth serving, only to lose him so pointlessly...'
Sion sighed inwardly.
Her trauma from being abandoned by her previous master had triggered oddly.
He'd never intended any such thing, but seeing him act without warning must've made her fear abandonment again.
'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry...'
Outwardly cool and curt, but inwardly fragile as glass.
Handling this character type was a nightmare.
Resisting the urge to clutch his forehead, Sion gripped her shoulders.
'Stay...
Hey, think carefully.
This is the crucial part.'
What did this character, Rishe, truly want?
Empty promises?
Of course not.
Something more.
Proof shown not in words, but in body.
'And I know why I'm so sure.
A reason to trust fully!'
This novel wasn't rated for all ages.
If asked what Kim Yuhyun was doing, Sion would say the guy had unique tastes.
'Rishida Amstel.'
'Y-yes.
Young Lord.'
'Why keep calling me that?
I said Master was fine.'
'That's...
Um...'
'Afraid I'll abandon you?'
'...'
'Come closer.'
Hesitant, Rishe shuffled forward at his command.
'Closer.'
Two more steps.
'Closer still.'
One more.
'There. Stop.'
Rishe halted.
Seeing Sion seated right before her, she froze.
Meanwhile, the faintly stern-faced youth rose.
'...Thanks, author.
I was sweating bullets if Rishe's height topped mine.'
Another perk of being Sion Klauzen discovered.
'I told you.
I've got so much to do, every person counts.'
'Y-you did say that.'
'And yet you still doubted me.'
'N-no!
Not at all!
That's not...'
'Quiet.'
The man's rough hand seized the knight's face.
Startled, Rishe gazed at her master with wide, flickering eyes.
Like a puppy clinging desperately to its owner's legs, fearing abandonment.
'If you won't trust words, no choice.'
'N-no.
Master.
I, I...'
Squeeze—
The youth tightened his grip on her chin, silencing her.
Her master leaned in close and slowly spoke.
'I'll show you directly.
How I see you.
Whether I'll discard you or not.'
―――――――Author's Note―――――――
Ahahaha.
I'll use the chapter-split technique just once too.
*Tap tap tap tap!*