Chapter 93
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: A Message to the Traitors
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“Professor Aiden?”
Princess Lilian glanced at me cautiously from the side.
It was her way of asking what on earth I was so deeply lost in thought about, but since she only had suspicions and no solid proof, she kept her mouth firmly shut.
“So, what was the result?”
“I passed it on.”
I nodded in approval.
‘Who would’ve thought Elin was acquainted with Lianel, but it all worked out well.’
It was true that I had used her for my own purposes, but trying to move Count Roosevelt through Lianel wasn’t exactly the right choice.
It was necessary, of course, but this was purely official business.
If personal feelings for her child got involved, it could ruin everything.
‘That said, as the one who dragged her into this, I can’t exactly complain.’
In that regard, Radia was trustworthy.
She wasn’t the type to get swept up in emotions, and as one of the protagonists, she could strictly separate public and private matters.
“More importantly, is this really okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“Me… continuing with volunteer work? Or just spending time like this… you know.”
She trailed off, clearly uneasy, while stealing glances at me.
After the academy’s collapse, the university had recruited not only laborers but also volunteers from the student body for reconstruction efforts.
Handing the recording magic stone to Lianel had been part of that volunteer activity for Princess Lilian.
“Do you think my response has been too lukewarm?”
“No! I don’t think that, but… um… well, yes. Probably. It might make me a little anxious. Silveia’s been avoiding me all of a sudden, too.”
She waved her hands in a fluster before her voice grew quieter as she affirmed it.
At the end, she seemed to be asking if I knew why Silveia was avoiding her, but I didn’t answer.
“It’s because all eyes are on you.”
With Princess Lilian out front, Silveia—who was merely her stand-in—naturally had to stay cooped up in the residence more often.
Silveia and Princess Lilian shared such similar appearances, habits, and speech patterns that one might suspect they were identical twins.
To reiterate, only a few who knew of her existence could distinguish between Silveia and Princess Lilian; otherwise, countless people would mistake Silveia for the princess.
Thus, if Princess Lilian was out and about, Silveia had to hide herself.
The fact that the princess had a stand-in was a top-secret matter.
‘A puppet, no, a replica perhaps.’
What if Silveia harbored resentment for having to live her whole life in the shadows and betrayed her to become the “real” Princess Lilian?
It was entirely plausible.
‘Does that make Silveia a traitor colluding with the devil worshipers?’
I couldn’t conclude that for certain.
“You and I both have all eyes on us. I for repelling the heretical magician’s attack last time, and you for catching the ire of some shadowy force.”
Princess Lilian set aside her anxiety and nodded in agreement.
She was one of the parties involved in this mess.
She knew her movements were restricted.
“On the flip side, if we take any overt action, attention will inevitably focus there. If it’s just a bluff, that’s one thing, but if we’re truly trying to make a move, we shouldn’t act directly.”
“Then how…?”
“We move beneath the surface. From within the grand fortress you’ve created.”
The grand fortress referred to the residence where Princess Lilian was staying.
The princess reacted sensitively to my choice of words.
“It must be because I listened to Lady Philia’s words.”
She was referring to how Philia had clashed with the suggestion to dismiss the knights early on.
With the knights densely stationed in the mansion, I had no choice but to call it an ironclad fortress.
“I’m aware you were thinking of the future. And I don’t see that as a bad thing. To be frank… if you hadn’t stopped me there, I would’ve torn off one of your arms.”
Princess Lilian shivered at the chilling words, brushing her skin.
“Lady Philia is a knight said to be just below a master.”
I flashed a sly smile at her barbed remark.
What Princess Lilian subtly meant was something like, “Don’t underestimate her.”
It was amusing how, even while certain of a traitor among her closest aides, her heart still leaned toward them.
Even if she sent them away in the end, these closest aides were comrades she had shared decades with.
“Your stand-in Silveia has ample grounds for suspicion, so conversely, what of the attendant who manages your schedule?”
The attendant.
They coordinated all official duties’ schedules, kept primary records of everyone Princess Lilian met, and could easily obtain related information.
“If Silveia has grounds for suspicion, the attendant has more than enough capability to plot schemes and even cover their tracks.”
“……”
That was all I said as I glanced toward the door.
“What about that Lady Philia? She follows you everywhere with escort knights no matter where you go, and you’ve even given her your heart on top of that.”
“Lady Philia… is the most trustworthy. That’s why I assigned her to escort duty.”
“Blades planted by those who were originally your own people—and to whom you entrusted your full trust—hurt twice as much and strike fatally.”
A faint mocking smile scattered through the air.
Instead of arguing back, Princess Lilian clamped her mouth shut.
She had plenty to say but held it in to avoid dragging things out.
“Our actions will first be detected by the knights, officially reach the attendant, and privately be noticed by Silveia or the head maid.”
“…….”
“Of course, I don’t think you erred in your personnel choices. Picking me was a gamble of sorts, but a reliable one.”
I responded lightly to her troubled expression.
“Worst case, no matter who comes, I can shield you from any threat head-on.”
A master’s personal might alone could rival an entire nation’s defense force without much shortfall.
Just as the beast tamer had dragged in war-like forces from the tunnels to face me, any attempt on my life would require comparable manpower.
“The fact that we’re under such intense scrutiny is proof your personnel choices were perfect. Isn’t the wolf that once herded sheep now cornered, baring its teeth and prowling around?”
“I… see.”
“Rest easy—the groundwork continues even without you moving.”
Radia was on the move.
Count Roosevelt would follow.
That was sufficient for personnel.
‘Solid proof isn’t necessary.’
As long as I held even one firm suspicion, it wouldn’t be too late to act after they made their move.
“Then I’ll take that as it is.”
I added as Princess Lilian regained some composure.
“So now, they’ll try to pry me away from you.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
If there’s a monster you can’t oppose directly to get at the prey, you lure the monster away and eliminate it instead of attacking it head-on.
“While we work behind the scenes, do you think the enemy will sit idle? They’ll scheme to separate me from you.”
“Y-Yes… Yes?!”
“The moment I’m gone is the moment your head rolls.”
I gave her a kind, reassuring smile, telling her not to panic too much.
But contrary to my intent, it backfired, and Princess Lilian let out a barrage of coughs.
“Why, why is that?”
“If I stick right back to you, they’ll never get another shot at you. They can’t just delay indefinitely either. So they’ll push hard to take your head, even if it strains them.”
Only then did she realize her lifeline was in someone else’s hands, and her face drained white.
“Then shouldn’t we respond quickly?”
“How could we know when the enemy will make their move?”
“…….”
“I jest—it’s just a hunch, but I have a rough idea.”
“When?”
I chuckled at her sudden intense interest.
Princess Lilian glared at me as if she’d devour me alive, clearly fretting hard.
“…This is serious, so please don’t laugh, Professor.”
“My apologies.”
“Pardon?”
“When the commendation ceremony opens, I’ll have to stand before His Majesty to receive praise, won’t I? My attention on you might slacken then.”
“Cancel the commendation cer—huh?”
Princess Lilian finally noticed something off and turned to me.
As I’d mentioned before, the plan was to use Count Roosevelt’s cooperation during the commendation ceremony to catch the spies’ tails. But now, a threat during the ceremony?
“You mean they’ll use me as bait to draw them out.”
The princess’s expression hardened.
At the same time, she seemed to grasp the risks and rewards involved.
“You intend to uproot them all at once.”
I leaned forward with interlaced fingers, saying nothing.
The gentle pressure in my gaze blended seamlessly into the conversation, lending it weight.
In other words, it was called trust.
“Don’t worry—I have no intention of abandoning or giving up on you.”
After locking eyes with me steadily, the princess backed down.
“I’ll trust you. I have no choice anyway.”
“It’s fortunate you trust me in some way.”
The princess let out a deep sigh and left the room.
She seemed bitterly aware of her position, where she had no choice but to cling to me.
I watched the spot where she’d left, then closed my eyes.
When I slowly opened them, my gaze settled on something in one corner of the room—neither too hidden nor too obvious, perfectly blended with the furnishings.
“I’ve said this much, so I look forward to seeing how you all conduct yourselves.”
The princess had enlisted me to root out and execute her betrayer.
Her closest aides had no choice but to perk up their senses and monitor my every move.
Their own lifelines were tied to hers.
Just think a little about where the emperor’s wrath would turn after the princess was assassinated.
However, before that.
“If you earn my needless suspicion and die for it, that’d be the most unjust thing.”
So for now, they’d banded together.
They’d hunt the traitor among themselves, but also watch me closely to avoid needless suspicion.
“You stubborn fools. Preying on each other’s suspicions like that will only draw more doubt from outsiders—who will praise you for policing yourselves?”
I clicked my tongue and continued.
“But if luck is on your side, I’ll use even gray-area elements who can’t be cleanly sorted as white or black when needed. If you want to prove your innocence, you know what to do.”
I fed them these words, whose recipient was unclear.
No—all the conversation up to now.
“These are my hands at work since mine are full, so labor diligently. And if there’s a traitor listening by any chance—you above all, I will surely…….”
Tear you apart, so know that.
With that, I rose from the chair and crushed the eavesdropping device hidden in the flower vase.
Now, the grand finale would unfold at my commendation ceremony.