Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Did I… actually like something like this?
After the princess left, only two kinds of people remained in that place.
Alik, his head lowered and both hands trembling.
And the nobles watching his reaction cautiously.
The atmosphere was no longer that of a banquet. There was no one here who did not know Alik’s personality.
“They’re definitely thinking he’s planning some kind of ruthless revenge…”
Everyone thought the same.
A proud, emotionally immature mage would surely do that.
But reality was different.
“…Modularization? Standardization of specifications?”
He was too busy replaying the noble lady’s words over and over in his head.
At the end, it had turned into something like a childish argument, but if he thought about it calmly, nothing she said was wrong.
The Empire’s Heart, the mana core.
Alik’s invention, praised as a once-in-history masterpiece.
From the moment it was revealed until now, countless scholars had praised him without hesitation.
Its complex circuitry and the efficiency of concentrating such massive energy were things ordinary people of this era could not even attempt to replicate.
Because of that, no one had even tried to find flaws in it.
“She pinpointed the only problem in my mana core.”
Up to this point, fine. That much was possible.
Such a simple objection was something anyone who understood the system could raise.
What surprised Alik was the solution.
“She said… split the core…”
He had never even considered it.
Because he had always believed magic was efficiency, was energy itself.
Because his faith in himself and what his hands created had been so absolute.
Because as a mage, he had never even entertained the possibility of failure.
In his mind, her idea took shape and became something clear and concrete.
And surprisingly, it was fully realistic and even more stable than the current system.
So he had no choice but to admit it.
“This… is worth researching.”
His own inadequacy.
He hated to admit it, but in this matter, she was superior to him.
And even the argument at the end was the same.
“Sir Alik, are you refusing to acknowledge someone who pointed out flaws in your masterpiece and proposed a solution?”
Since when had I cared about status?
Even though he knew better than anyone that nothing was more noble than the passion to pursue knowledge regardless of rank.
It was his own embarrassment at having his weakness exposed that made him act so rudely.
So her expression at the end… was perhaps only natural.
“Fufu… heh.”
“…Huh?”
Alik instinctively touched the corner of his mouth.
“…Was I smiling?”
Why?
Why?
Because a noble lady capable of discussing the mana core on equal intellectual footing had looked at him with that kind of contempt… heh.
Ah.
“It seems Sir Alik has finally lost it from anger…”
“How pitiful. He must have been that frustrated…”
No, you foolish masses. That’s not it.
Then he realized something.
“…Could it be.”
After two rounds of reflection, Alik reached a conclusion.
“Do I… like this sort of thing?”
An inclination he had never been aware of.
At first, he had thought she was simply beautiful. That was all.
Most noble ladies were empty shells with shallow understanding anyway.
But now that he had discovered her intellectual depth…
A gaze filled with justified contempt was unexpectedly…
Gulp.
Not unpleasant.
For Alik, whose pride rejected even the slightest insult, this was new.
But if there existed someone who stood at the complete opposite extreme, yet matched him perfectly…
It was a new sensation.
Not unpleasant. Something that lingered in his mind.
Smack!
“Sir Alik…? Why did you suddenly hit your own cheek…?”
“He must be that frustrated.”
No, it wasn’t anger!
Anger would have been easier.
What even was this disgusting knot of thoughts?
Alik shook his head violently, hoping it would clear his mind.
But one thought remained untouched, crystal clear.
Charlotte von Rosewell.
Next time, I should speak with her again.
There are few people capable of conversation at this level of intellect.
So it was only natural to be curious.
He nodded to himself.
I should apologize for my rudeness and speak with her again.
And that house’s butler… what was his name?
Raon?
It might be worth speaking with him as well. I was already looking for capable assistants anyway.
With that thought, Alik left the banquet hall.
He felt like he had stayed long enough.
There was a faint feeling that he had forgotten something, but…
Well.
“It must just be my imagination.”
“Ah… achoo!”
Raon suddenly felt a chill crawl up the back of his neck.
“This feeling… I’ve had it before.”
Back when he was in university in his previous life.
The same unease he felt when his advisor suddenly called him in privately.
“Graduate school recruitment.”
He didn’t know why he felt this now, but it was deeply unsettling.
Back then, escaping had taken considerable effort.
Anyway, that wasn’t the issue right now.
His young lady had just done something completely beyond his control.
So instead of anger, he had to ask out of pure curiosity.
“…Why did you do that?”
What was the reason for that behavior?
Did she even understand the scale of what she had just caused?
Charlotte met his eyes with her usual expression.
Then she tilted her head slightly, as if asking why he was asking such a stupid question.
“He insulted you. Isn’t it only natural to be angry?”
Where should I even begin…
Raon pinched the bridge of his nose and began explaining why that was wrong.
“He’s the Archmage. If he insults a mere servant like me, it’s not something worth reacting like that over. And it wasn’t even that harsh of an insult.”
“He said ‘just a servant’! Without even knowing you!”
“Yes, but that’s because he doesn’t know. That’s normal for someone of my position.”
“But you’re not normal! I was just telling him that!”
“I appreciate your feelings, but…”
Raon said calmly.
“You don’t need to elevate me. I am simply a servant who attends to you.”
“……”
“If you push away suitable partners just for someone like me, I’ll only end up in a difficult position.”
Charlotte said nothing for a while.
Her expression darkened, and the usual clarity in her eyes faded.
After a pause, she asked quietly.
“…Am I making things difficult for you, Raon?”
At that question, something felt heavy in his chest.
But he had to say it.
Because this was the best ending.
“I am always grateful for your kindness. But you know this as well. Your father wishes for you to marry someone appropriate.”
“And you want that too?”
“I always prioritize your happiness.”
“Happiness…”
Charlotte’s eyes turned cold.
When she looked at him like that, his own heart felt like it was freezing too.
“What’s the problem? Is marriage that unbearable for you?”
In the original story, Charlotte was someone who dreamed of a happy family.
But at some point, she had changed.
She looked unfamiliar now.
Even when she looked at him like that.
“I just want to be with someone I love, and be loved in return. That is my happiness.”
After a pause, she continued, hiding a faint pain only Raon could notice.
“So if you want that kind of happiness for me… I’ll try.”
“….”
“I’ll try to love.”
He had been about to answer.
This was the outcome he had wanted, wasn’t it?
For her to connect with the main characters and find happiness, while he watched from the closest seat.
And then receive a generous retirement payment and quietly wish for her happiness with someone else…
“….”
But why wouldn’t the words come out?
Before he could understand the strange feeling, Charlotte spoke again.
“Also… let’s cancel today’s promise.”
“Excuse me? Why suddenly…”
“Because I was forcing you into something that made you uncomfortable.”
“That’s not—”
“And I didn’t even keep the promise properly. I didn’t act the way you wanted me to, did I?”
She smoothed the wrinkles of her dress, then slowly lifted her head.
And she smiled.
A perfectly composed smile that no longer revealed anything.
“I’m sorry for being selfish. I won’t do it again.”
No, that’s not it.
He needed to say something.
But just as he tried—
“The Crown Prince, His Highness Kael, is now entering. Please welcome him with a warm round of applause!”
The timing could not have been worse.
The main male lead had arrived.
“…I’ll go to my seat now. I just need to do exactly what you told me yesterday, right?”
Charlotte turned away.
Something felt wrong.
If everything went according to his plan, she would win the Crown Prince’s favor.
Even if not immediately, she would at least gain his attention.
But then why…
Why did it feel so unpleasant to think of her following his instructions perfectly?
“…Do I just hate easy difficulty settings or something?”
He pushed the thought away.
It didn’t matter.
Because from here on, the game’s biggest main event was about to begin.