Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Holy Kingdom's Knight #2
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Lucius Asterion.
A sub-male lead on the Northern Grand Duke route, he's a sub-lead with a family background similar to yet different from the Northern Grand Duke.
He lost his family to the hands of black mages, and he's a holy knight who screams "die, black mages, die."
"The servant of the Goddess greets the Sun of the Empire. May the blessings of the divine be upon Aquitaine."
Lucius bowed his head.
"Indeed. Even I have heard the name of the Pure White Paladin."
Honestly, I hate this guy.
You know the type, right?
The ones who strike all sorts of poses, frustrate everyone around them, and pull every troll move in the book just to cling to their so-called beliefs.
And on top of that, they're handsome with a tragic backstory and all this dramatic flair that builds them a massive fanbase.
Lucius is exactly that kind of character.
A tragic past?
So what?
I made my displeasure blatantly obvious, and even the Varka side looked flustered.
"Your Majesty, is something the matter?"
"No. Ignore me and carry on with what you must do."
"Yes, yes."
"Then let's hear what Varka Kingdom has to say first."
Elisabeth stepped forward.
"What are these suspicious traces that Varka Kingdom claims to have found?"
"This is it."
Plenipotentiary envoy Mahad pulled out a small box.
With a click, he unlocked it, revealing a single small magic stone inside.
"What's that?"
"It reeks of black magic residue."
Lucius furrowed his brow.
He strode forward and picked up the magic stone.
"Where was this found?"
"Several were discovered throughout the royal castle. Doesn't this prove that black mages have pulled some trick?"
"Hm, indeed."
"Hold on. Isn't that a bit of a leap?"
Elisabeth cut into the conversation.
"Drawing a conclusion based solely on a magic stone suspected of being used in black magic is far too flimsy as evidence."
"Pardon? But."
"Aquitaine Empire's plenipotentiary representative. Black mages are fiends of unimaginable evil and depravity."
At the words "unimaginable evil and depravity," Elisabeth's lips twitched ever so slightly.
"Ahem. I have no counterargument there. But it feels premature to jump to conclusions."
"I'm not trying to conclude that Varka Kingdom invaded the Empire due to black magic trickery. I'm merely suggesting the possibility that black mages may have meddled in Varka affairs."
"Fine. But even if black mages pulled some scheme, that doesn't absolve Varka Kingdom of all responsibility, does it?"
"Pardon?"
"The Empire believes it deserves ample compensation from the Kingdom for this incident, separate from any black mage involvement. What say you to that?"
"That is—."
"Oh, I'm not asking Sir Lucius. After all, you're just an outsider called in for the black mage matter, aren't you, Sir Lucius?"
Naturally, the discussion shifted from black mages to holding Varka accountable.
Mahad, who had tried to pin everything on the black mages, bulged his eyes in shock.
"Hm."
Now, what would Lucius say?
"...It would be hard to see it that way, wouldn't it? If they fell victim to black mage trickery, Varka Kingdom is closer to a victim itself. How could we hold a victim accountable?"
"Aha."
Elisabeth nodded.
Not so much in agreement.
It was more like she'd pegged exactly what kind of character Lucius was.
The type who wedges himself into any conversation involving black mages, invited or not.
"So, Sir Lucius, what do you plan to do? Do you have a way to prove that black mages manipulated Varka into invading the Empire, as you claim?"
"I intend to investigate from here on."
"How long will that take?"
"...I can't promise. Black mages are an exceedingly insidious lot."
"......"
The insidious Elisabeth smiled radiantly.
"In that case, how long must the Empire wait for compensation for its damages?"
"That is."
"Even if we wait, supposing you're right and Varka is an innocent victim with black mages as the sole cause, who exactly does the Empire bill for it?"
"...Naturally, we'd extract it from the black mages."
"Oh my. Do you really think those insidious, evil, depraved black mages will hand over compensation willingly, Sir Lucius?"
"......"
Lucius fell silent.
The insidious, evil, depraved Elisabeth chuckled oh-so-gently.
"So, plenipotentiary representative, you're saying we should seek compensation from the Kingdom regardless of black mage involvement."
"Precisely. Wouldn't it make more sense for the Kingdom to pursue the black mages for reparations afterward? If that's truly the case."
Elisabeth said it with a smile, but this was her drawing a line—as kindly as she knew how.
Don't cross it. This is between our two nations.
Investigating black mages is something you and Varka can handle on your own; the Empire has no stake in it.
"...Quite a valid point."
Lucius nodded.
"Now, hold on."
As if sensing the tide turning against them.
The Varka side spoke up.
"Your Majesty, could you grant us just a bit more time? One more day would suffice..."
Hm.
What are these guys up to?
If they didn't see this coming, they're hopelessly incompetent.
If they did and ignored it anyway, they must have something up their sleeve.
Looks like the latter.
I'd initially thought it was Lucius.
But he wasn't steering the meeting as much as I'd expected.
Though that just speaks to Elisabeth's competence.
"Will one day be enough?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Let's see what they prepare with that extra day.
"Very well. Granted."
I raised my hand.
Today's negotiations were adjourned.
Once we were alone, the smile vanished from Elisabeth's face.
"You brought him here on purpose, didn't you?"
"Misunderstanding."
I hadn't expected a "die black mages die" holy knight to show up here either.
How could I have predicted that?
"Elisabeth, I don't know what you're misunderstanding, but I'm not that clever."
"Sigh. Not this again."
Why doesn't she believe me even when I'm honest?
"To be frank, how could I know something you don't?"
"...Hm."
Even so, she never turns down praise that elevates her.
She wears that mask so well in front of others.
But with me, she's an open book.
"Anyway, you're saying it wasn't intentional? Fine, I get it. I didn't expect that paladin to come here himself, though."
"Scared?"
"Hardly."
Elisabeth chuckled.
Her proudly thrust-out chest asserted its presence.
"Even a Holy Kingdom paladin won't uncover my true nature just by looking at me."
"Good to see you're confident, but what if he presents a document denouncing you to me, just like the one sent to me?"
"I've accounted for that, but it's not direct evidence anyway. Reacting to it rashly would only turn suspicion into certainty."
I see.
Just like the parchment I'd received, any such "evidence" would bear the taint of black magic.
Lucius, who despises black mages to the extreme, would sooner doubt than trust it outright.
Especially if Elisabeth, who'd examined it firsthand, detected no traces.
As she said, best to ignore it entirely.
"Those types obsessed with their convictions are easy to manipulate but a nightmare to face head-on. Still, I've figured out how to handle him, so don't worry."
"Indeed."
"Pardon?"
"Indeed, you truly are an insidious, depraved, and evil black mage. I'm glad you're on my side."
"What did you say?"
Elisabeth's eyebrow arched sharply.
"Do you even know who I'm going through all this for? Figuring out the opponent's tendencies and devising strategies is basic."
"Yes, thank you."
"...What's this all of a sudden?"
After a brief silence, Elisabeth stood.
"I'm exhausted from fighting nonstop since reaching the border without rest. I'll retire first."
"Do that. Rest well."
"...I-I mean, sure."
"Sure?"
"Forget it. Good night."
She hurried off.
Truly an attitude unfit to show an emperor.
But what can you do?
I've already tasted the luxury of having Elisabeth handle everything in my stead.
The Empire would crumble without you.
Plus, she's my childhood friend.
And anyway, she was a character I quite favored in the original story.
-Is this all the fate permitted to me? No, that can't be! If this is my destiny... then I'll deny it with my own hands!
-Even if everything given to me is mere props to make you shine, it doesn't matter. I'll crush you with my own power.
-Of course I'm the most precious to myself. What nonsense? I'd sacrifice Valerian, the Empire, and the entire world to preserve my nobility.
I loved that venomous, desperate edge.
She's too ruthless, which makes it scary to fully entrust everything to her in reality.
That aside.
Theodor better be holding up okay.
It's about time he's smitten with the heroine and blowing the royal budget.
I'd overlook some secret spending if he'd just seduce her properly.
That's when I sensed a presence beyond the door.
"Your Majesty."
It was Lucius.
"May I have a moment? There's something I'd like to ask."
At this hour?
A knight from another nation, to the Emperor? It was absurd for a second.
Then it made perfect sense, because it was Lucius.
Yeah, he would.
"Enter."
The door opened.
Lucius entered slowly, not in armor but in simple training garb.
A hint of wariness, eyes sizing me up.
"What is it?"
"...Has Your Majesty ever heard rumors that plenipotentiary representative Elisabeth von Valerian is a black mage?"
So that's why they asked for a one-day delay.
This was their goal?