Chapter 297: Explosion(2)
Chapter 297: Explosion(2)
"What on earth were you thinking when you did that?"
"Thinking about what?"
It had been exactly fifteen days since I had given Hiriya a satisfying slap across the cheek.
I answered Lina’s question in a blunt voice. Currently, Lina and I were heading toward the teleportation facility installed within the Imperial Palace.
As you might have guessed, we were scheduled to depart for the Kingdom of Ters.
I wasn't just some ordinary noble; I had delivered a crisp slap to a princess, and there were many witnesses. For all intents and purposes, I was being dragged away as a 'criminal.'
No matter how much Hiriya insulted Adelia, the moment I laid a hand on her, it was game over.
After all, I was merely the son of a Baron, while Hiriya was a princess.
Even in my past life, I often saw cases where power was used to suppress wrongdoing; how much worse would it be here, in a society with a rigid peerage system? If anything, it would be more severe, not less.
"We’re busy right now, but if we had time, it was a problem we could have solved. Stealing a man who is already engaged is nonsense even in our eyes. If you had just endured a little longer, there’s a high chance the Kingdom of Ters would have stepped in to stop her, even without our intervention."
"That’s only a possibility. My sister, Adele, was insulted right down to her parents. Was I supposed to just sit there and take it?"
"That’s true, but… Sigh. Hiriya must have wanted something like this to happen, so what are we going to do…?"
Lina placed a hand on her forehead as if the mere thought gave her a headache. From her perspective, this was like a bolt from the blue, so her predicament was understandable.
I felt a twinge of guilt and gave a bitter smile, recalling the events of fifteen days ago. Specifically, the moment right after I slapped Hiriya.
With a sharp, clear sound, Hiriya’s head snapped to the left. Someone gasped, and a deathly silence descended upon the room.
Afterward, I declared that I was Xenon, speaking only loud enough for Hiriya to hear. Naturally, her reaction was one of pure bewilderment.
Seeing her standing there dazed, cupping her cheek with one hand, was incredibly satisfying—but the problem was that there were too many witnesses.
Hiriya couldn't just let it slide, so she filed a formal protest, and the startled Minerva Empire had to take action in response.
"By the way, this is a personal matter. Is there really a need for you to go as well?"
I asked Lina, noting her troubled expression. As I said, this was a personal affair, so the Minerva Empire could have easily feigned ignorance.
It’s called 'cutting the tail'—a common tactic in politics. And it would have been very appropriate for the current situation.
Even if one of their nobles had committed a wrong, this was strictly a personal issue. There was no reason for the Imperial Family to get their hands dirty.
Furthermore, the Maishal family isn't 'aligned' with any particular faction. Though it looks peaceful on the surface, the Minerva Empire is currently divided into two main groups.
There is the Imperial Family, to which Lina and Mari belong, along with the Duke of Rekilis. Then there are the counts, who currently wield the most significant influence.
In actual history, counts who can exercise practical power are often stronger than dukes or marquises. Those of marquis rank are essentially the military, so they are an exception.
In this climate, the Maishal family belongs to neither side, living in isolation.
"Because you’re engaged to Mari. For all intents and purposes, you’ve already joined hands with us."
"If that’s the case, shouldn't the counts be trying to keep me in check? Nothing has happened so far, though."
"They’re likely just watching for now. The moment you and Mari marry and we grant you a separate title, the interference will come pouring in. However, the Maishal territory is developing into a cultural city, which is rare in the Empire, so it’ll be tricky for them to move against you."
Even if it is a cultural city, it would be difficult to pressure us simply because of my father’s existence. The moment they realize my father is the Red Lion, they’ll naturally back off.
In his prime, my father’s status within the military was higher than that of most knights. Touching my father would be the same as picking a fight with the entire military institution.
"Hmm. I understand."
"Does someone who understands go around slapping princesses? Do you have any idea how shocked we were? When I first heard the news, I thought someone else had hit her, not you."
Seeing Lina grumble, which was unlike her usual self, it seemed she was truly startled. Then again, I wasn't exactly the type to go around hitting people, and even a brainless noble wouldn't normally touch a princess—especially one from another country.
What made it more serious was that Princess Hiriya had come to the Academy for diplomatic exchange with the Empire. There were even rumors that it was for a marriage with Leort.
They sent a princess with nothing but goodwill, and then some Baron’s son—one who hadn't even inherited his title yet—slaps her?
It was an issue that could turn both Ters and Minerva upside down. It was more than enough for both the Kingdom of Ters and the Minerva Empire to demand a heavy price.
However, the fact that only Lina, the highest authority, was by my side without anyone else suggested they were indeed 'cutting the tail.' Of course, I would be accompanied by escort knights, including Adelia, but they were largely symbolic.
If I weren't Xenon, I wouldn't have had a leg to stand on even if I were summarily executed in the Kingdom of Ters. In the worst-case scenario, it could even spark a war.
Insulting and assaulting a leader is excellent fodder for a casus belli.
"Isaac."
"Yeah?"
"Can you handle the aftermath? Seeing as you brought that along, it looks like you’ve made up your mind."
Lina gestured with her chin toward my hand. I was holding a parcel containing the manuscript of the Xenon Biography.
As she said, since I had already revealed it to Hiriya, my mind was made up. I just had to figure out how to play my hand depending on the situation.
When I told Hiriya, I made sure those around us couldn't hear. This meant that, for now, only Hiriya knew my true identity.
Even after being slapped, she didn't even argue; she just turned tail and ran. To an onlooker, she looked like a tragic heroine, which only drew more attention to the situation.
Anyway, the path forward would likely depend on whether Hiriya told her family or not. Of course, if the Ters royalty acted like total assholes...
No. I was the one who hit her first, so I suppose it can't be helped.
It was inevitable that they would be hostile. I’d have to wait and see if there was any room for extenuating circumstances.
Bringing the manuscript was strictly for when I was driven into a corner or if they acted completely irrationally.
Even if I slapped a princess, any sane person would listen to the context of the situation.
However, there was a 'very' high probability they would act like scumbags just to deny Adelia’s existence. Calling it 'insurance' was just a nice way of saying I was prepared to royally screw them over.
"I’ve made up my mind. But if the Ters royalty hands down a punishment that’s reasonable, I’m willing to overlook it."
"To what extent?"
"Maybe just me bowing my head? Anyway..."
I stopped mid-sentence and glanced around. Lina and I were currently in a waiting room at the teleportation facility.
Teleportation facilities require mutual interaction to activate, but for some reason—perhaps the Kingdom of Ters was throwing a tantrum—there was a delay.
So, it was just Lina and me in the waiting room. I wasn't sure if the room was soundproofed, though.
"Don't worry about the soundproofing."
"Thanks. Anyway, in the heat of the moment, I told Princess Hiriya. That I’m Xenon. I don't know if she’ll believe me, though."
"Hmm... I see. We’ll find out once we get there. I hear the Kingdom of Ters is quite flustered as well. Since it doesn't make sense to them, they’ll likely want to hear the full story."
Knock, knock, knock—
As soon as Lina finished speaking, someone knocked. Because of the soundproofing, we couldn't hear anything from outside, but it seemed everything was ready.
At that, both of us stood up simultaneously. Sensing the atmosphere had grown a bit heavy, I didn't forget to mix in a joke.
"What would you guys do if I revealed I was Xenon?"
"I’d have to marry you. That wouldn't be my choice; my father would decide it personally. You expected that much, didn't you?"
Lina winked and answered casually to my joke. But while she looked relaxed on the outside, being used as a 'tool' wasn't something she enjoyed.
From what I’d seen of Lina so far, she wasn't like the typical women of this era; she was self-directed and proactive. In many ways, she was too talented to be used as a mere pawn for a political marriage.
"If you want, I can make it so that I only accept your feelings. I’d be fine with just receiving a title."
"What does it matter? I don't have any man I like anyway, so going to you wouldn't be bad. And..."
Lina was speaking slyly when she suddenly clamped her mouth shut. As I tilted my head in confusion, I caught a glimpse of her expression.
Her cheeks were beginning to turn a subtle shade of red, as if she were lost in one of her fantasies again. Since Lina was the type to spy on my relationships with women and daydream about them, she was likely doing the same thing now.
"...I might be able to see it in person."
"What?"
"If you didn't hear it, forget it."
Lina wore a mysterious smile on her reddened face before speaking in her characteristically elegant tone.
"At least in my eyes, there is no man as magnificent as you."
"You mean that?"
"I do."
"No other intentions behind that?"
"...None at all?"
The answer came a bit late, but I decided to let it slide.
*
The symbol of the Kingdom of Ters is, without a doubt, 'culture.' The reason it is called the land of culture stems from its immense cultural power.
There is one reason why most people, even Elves, refer to the Kingdom of Ters as the land of culture.
If Albenheim is the origin of all civilization, the Kingdom of Ters is the nation where humans first established civilization.
Here, one must reconsider how far the scope of 'culture' extends. As is well known, culture encompasses countless varieties.
Language, customs, religion, academics, art, systems, history, technology, and so on. Culture cannot be defined by a single thing, and even scholars have differing opinions.
In such a context, human culture was born in the Kingdom of Ters—or more accurately, the state that was its predecessor.
On Earth, humanity was spread far and wide, allowing various civilizations to emerge, but this world is inhabited by 'monsters.'
To ancient humans who couldn't even use mana, monsters were walking disasters. While they could handle low-level monsters like goblins, gnolls, or orcs with their bare hands, an ogre could wipe them all out.
Due to these chronic problems, humans chose 'safety' over exploration. Even if they established a civilization, they merely protected that nation and rarely thought of moving elsewhere.
However, the story changed after culture and faith were born, technology and science advanced, and furthermore, after they became able to wield 'mana.'
The 'monsters' they once considered disasters were downgraded to beings that could be sufficiently dealt with. Society also advanced, leading to various internal conflicts.
So-called 'exiles' or 'pioneers' broke away from civilization to establish new ones, and as this process repeated, numerous nations were born.
Yet, in terms of clothing, customs, faith, technology, and more, they couldn't help but resemble the original nation from which they had branched out.
Though much time has passed through events like the Demon War, the birth of the Demon Clan, and the Race Wars, scholars speak with one voice.
The Kingdom of Ters is the nation where human culture was born—a country that can never be surpassed culturally or symbolically. It is the region where humans gained a sense of pride similar to that of the Elves.
Albenheim, the starting point of all civilization, could also be seen as a land of culture, but the reason the Kingdom of Ters is specifically cited is that human nations are more numerous than those of other races.
As such, the Kingdom of Ters possesses not only symbolism but has also continuously developed its culture to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
Even the Minerva Empire, a military powerhouse, cannot treat them recklessly because they know that if they were to rule by force, they would face the direct brunt of the kingdom's citizens' backlash.
To slowly dismantle that, the Empire has been nurturing numerous talents, including artists, or using economic power to lure them away, but the culture of the Kingdom of Ters remained steadfast.
There were incidents, like the Jayros Revolution, where their own blunders almost caused their culture to collapse all at once, but fortunately, the situation has been well-managed for now.
However, just as a nail can be pulled out but leaves a hole and causes cracks around it, many anxieties remain in the Kingdom of Ters.
In particular, at this point, what the Kingdom of Ters is most wary of is none other than the Xenon Biography. The Xenon Biography has transcended the level of mere culture, and they are striving to pull it into their sphere by any means necessary.
If Xenon were to fall into the hands of another country, especially the Minerva Empire, it would be more than a catastrophe—it would drastically increase the possibility of an invasion.
Currently, the Xenon Biography has penetrated so deeply that it’s harder to find someone who hasn't read it, and even renowned artists display related works in exhibitions.
An empire that collapses from external attacks can rise again, but an empire that collapses from within has a 100% chance of being beyond recovery.
For the Kingdom of Ters, which felt this truth poignantly through the Jayros Revolution, recruiting Xenon is an indispensable choice.
And there was one person who was about to not only blow that choice away but potentially bring the kingdom to ruin...
'It can't be. It can't be. How could someone like him...'
It was Hiriya, the Second Princess of the Kingdom of Ters, who had been slapped by an exploding Isaac.
Even after returning to the Kingdom of Ters, she remained holed up in her bedroom, showing no intention of coming out.
This was because the words Isaac had said while slapping her cheek had been ringing in her head all day.
Rather than the insult he threw at her, it was his confession, made in the heat of the moment, that he was Xenon.
Not even a day after she had been certain he wasn't, that certainty had shattered into pieces and rained down upon her.
'What if he really is Xenon? No. There’s no proof that red-haired guy is Xenon. But if he said it right in front of me, isn't there a high chance it’s true?'
The swelling on her cheek had completely subsided over time, but over the past fifteen days, Hiriya’s appearance had rapidly become haggard.
She ate properly and was cared for by her maids, but her mind was still preoccupied with the relationship between Isaac and Xenon.
In particular, no matter how much care one receives, it’s all for naught if one cannot get proper sleep. As if to prove this, deep dark circles were etched under her eyes.
She could hide them with the makeup she hated so much, but it would be largely meaningless.
'Please, let it not be true. If it’s real, then I...'
Hiriya bit her nails anxiously. If Isaac really was Xenon, not only she but the entire Kingdom of Ters was in danger.
With a single letter from Isaac, the citizens of the Kingdom of Ters would harbor great resentment, and perhaps an incident even greater than the Jayros Revolution could break out.
If that happened, the kingdom would crumble from the inside out. The Minerva Empire would nibble away at the divided pieces.
It was horrific. It was the worst. She was fucked. All sorts of negative thoughts swirled in her head.
'S-should I have told them?'
She hadn't informed her family of the possibility that Isaac might be Xenon. She had only told them the circumstances of how she got slapped.
Naturally, her family—excluding Lara—were threatening to give him a taste of his own medicine. If things continued like this, they would go beyond intimidating Isaac and commit a grave discourtesy.
If a truly pissed-off Isaac revealed himself as Xenon and, furthermore, presented evidence...
Knock, knock, knock—
"Princess Hiriya. The distinguished guests have arrived at the palace."
While she was imagining the worst-case scenario, a maid knocked on the door and quietly delivered the news.
At that news, Hiriya, who had been hiding under her covers, snapped her head up.
The mental anguish of the past few days was evident in the deep dark circles under her eyes.
"T-they’re here? You said they just arrived?"
"Yes. Also, there was an order from the Crown Prince for Princess Hiriya to attend the upcoming trial."
"I-I see. I’ll be out shortly."
"Would you like some help with your makeup...?"
"No, it’s fine. I’ll do it myself."
She figured she’d be fine if she just covered the dark circles. Hiriya jumped out of bed without even properly straightening her clothes.
'Please, let it not be true...'
Was this how it felt to walk toward the fires of hell?
'If it’s really him...'
If Isaac really was Xenon.
'...I’ll have to offer my very body.'
She was willing to become his toy if it meant saving her skin.