Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Radiant Knights Order (1)
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The First Imperial Princess's office was nothing short of majestic, as if one were gazing upon the Emperor's grand palace.
It took a full ten minutes just to pass through the main gate.
A massive fountain stood before the office itself.
*As expected of the First Imperial Princess's forces.*
Upon arriving at the entrance, a man who had been waiting after prior notice greeted me.
He wore a white uniform and had a lean build.
A knight with an intellectual style, complete with glasses.
"Pleased to meet you, Sir Veil. I am Damian, operational staff officer and secretary of the Radiant Knights Order."
A handsome young man with a refreshing smile.
Unlike the other nobles I'd met so far, he didn't look down on me as a defensive knight.
It was as if he wore the same benevolent smile for everyone, much like Lea.
"What brings a knight from the North all the way here?"
He asked as he led me to his staff room.
"I've come to see Her Highness the Princess."
"Sir Veil, to see Princess Lea?"
Damian asked back with a surprised expression.
"Is it that strange for me to meet with Her Highness?"
"No, it's not. It's just... before, you said she seemed to ignore you..."
*Oh no.*
Could it be that her pride was hurt from Lydia's birthday party?
Well, her face back then was quite the sight.
She'd been huffing and puffing like any other twenty-something princess.
As I thought that, Damian seated me on the guest sofa.
He served tea and spoke matter-of-factly.
"Of course, it's not because of that incident, but Her Highness is not present at the moment."
"You're saying she's not in her office?"
When I asked back, Damian let out a deep sigh.
He gazed out the window at the princess's residence and said,
"Yes, she's caught a cold recently."
She was always meticulous about her duties.
For such a princess to be absent during working hours, it didn't seem like a mere cold...
*It feels like they're deliberately hiding how ill she is.*
"She'll likely return in a few days. Please don't worry, sir."
A forced expression to conceal it.
Yet Damian truly seemed worried about her, his face clouded with concern.
"If it's not too much trouble, might I ask why you've come to see Her Highness? I could relay the message later."
He picked up a cream-colored sheet of paper and a quill pen and asked me.
I shook my head.
"No, I'll ask her directly later."
I still didn't know who was behind the magic tower arsonist.
In this situation, I couldn't afford to increase the number of people who knew the information.
I rose from my seat without gaining anything.
Then I stared at the small residence visible outside the window that Damian had been looking at.
Trees densely planted around it, specialized for recuperation.
And the quaint grove in the garden.
Compared to the grand office, it felt quite modest.
As I thought that and turned to leave,
But at that moment.
A faint energy seeped through the thick trees.
A pitch-black, sinister energy.
"...!"
I furrowed my brow and focused all my attention there.
Thanks to that, the evil energy emanating from all around the residence became clearly visible.
An energy so faint that even I, a Sword Master, could barely sense it.
*It's hidden extremely well—only a captain-level expert would notice.*
The Radiant Knights Order captain's office was far from here.
He'd never detect the curse's presence in his lifetime unless he came himself.
I mulled over that energy in my mind as I left the staff room.
Damian saw me off as I departed the office.
"Take care on your way back."
On the way out, I glanced back at Damian.
The handsome young man with a benevolent smile.
*Doesn't seem like his doing...*
As someone specialized in strategy and command, he probably couldn't sense the energy from the residence.
Or rather, since even the mage Lea couldn't sense it, it was only natural.
I pretended to head toward the office entrance alone.
Given the office's vast size, security naturally laxed once inside.
I scanned the surroundings and slipped into the grove.
Completely masking my mana presence, I headed toward Lea's residence.
That sinister energy from earlier had caught my attention.
She'd always taken care of her health due to her hereditary illness.
Thanks to that, there were plenty of trees and woods perfect for sneaking through.
By the time I reached the front of the residence via the garden,
As I got closer, the scent of black magic grew thicker for sure.
Especially around this tree.
An ash tree, renowned for its antibacterial properties and health benefits.
*How ironic.*
Hiding such filthy energy beneath a symbol of health.
I bent my knees.
Lightly brushing away the dry leaves with my palm revealed signs of someone digging and covering it artificially.
"Ugh..."
A rotting corpse stench began to creep up.
Then, a pile of white bones and a single black crystal appeared.
Black goat bones, typically symbolizing demons with their horns.
And a black crystal infused with sinister magic.
This confirmed it.
Someone had buried this to curse Lea.
"With this crap embedded near her home, no wonder her illness worsened."
I crushed the goat bones under my military boot.
Black smoke surged up from beneath my sole.
Soon, the sinister energy vanished, leaving only the black crystal.
*This must be what masks the presence...*
I picked up the gem and examined it closely.
Then I realized one fact.
The black crystal's ability to conceal the turbid energy had a clear limit.
The buried black magic energy could only remain hidden if the crystal was replaced every 24 hours.
Meaning, whoever installed this had to come here every 24 hours.
I pocketed the black crystal.
Then I moved to find the other totems around the residence.
Crunch!
Second bone removed.
Afterward, I went to deal with the last totem, closest to the residence.
So close that the princess's bedroom window was visible.
How bold must this guy be to install it right under her nose...
Fortunately, the curtains were drawn, so no risk of facing the princess at the window.
Thanks to that, I casually brushed off the ground.
And the moment I found the final totem...
Black shadows loomed over me.
Looking up, I saw Damian's face from earlier.
And the guards he'd brought along.
"Sir Veil, what are you doing here?"
The smile vanished from his face.
Soon, Damian revealed the same cold, expressionless face hidden behind a smile, just like Lea.
"And what is that item you're holding...?"
I carefully gauged the guards and Damian's reactions.
"It's a black magic tool."
When I stated it plainly, Damian's expression twisted further.
I calmly explained the situation.
"Someone probably planted it intentionally to harm Her Highness's health."
Even the battle-hardened guards were flustered.
I could easily be suspected as the culprit.
But...
Damian soon approached me with a composed face.
And he showed an unexpected reaction.
"I can't fathom that such a thing was hidden near the residence..."
The staff officer took the black crystal, adjusted his glasses.
He seemed more focused on pondering the crystal's mechanism and placement than on me, observing it intently.
"You don't think I'm the culprit?"
When I asked, Damian glanced up.
And answered with a resolute face.
"Yes. Her Highness has been unwell for about three days now. That means this was planted at least three days ago..."
The staff officer placed a hand on his chin and pondered deeply.
Then, as if reaching a conclusion, he said,
"It couldn't be you, Sir Veil, since this is your first visit here today."
I nodded at his reasoning.
It also cleared my suspicion that he was the culprit.
Normally, if he were the culprit in such a situation, he'd frame me.
But excluding me, a first-time visitor, meant he wasn't the culprit either.
Which implied someone who frequented this place regularly was...
"But how did you know there was a curse here? I didn't notice at all."
"I may lack talent in mana, but I'm sensitive to energies like this. I felt it clearly on my way out."
Damian stared blankly at my nonchalant demeanor.
Then, I handed him one of the collected black crystals to defuse the situation.
"Hmm... Understood. For now, I'll report this scene to Her Highness..."
He took a deep breath and returned the black crystal to me.
He gestured as if heading back to the main residence to write a letter.
"And how long will that take?"
"..."
Damian turned with a troubled expression.
And confessed honestly about the princess's condition.
"Truthfully, Her Highness's condition is quite poor right now. Suddenly hearing this could strain her health, so I planned to relay it by letter."
What a loyal retainer.
Even in this situation, he prioritized her health.
However, what mattered now was not consideration, but speed.
She would prefer the situation be reported quickly to superiors for swift action.
"No need for that."
I stated resolutely to him.
And boldly approached the princess's residence.
"S-Sir Veil...! Where are you going right now?"
"Where else?"
I reached the princess's bedroom window.
And knocked firmly on the window.
Knock knock―――.
He rushed over and reached out to grab me.
"Her Highness is currently recuperating! What if disturbing her rest worsens her health!"
"Don't worry. I've already destroyed all the totems, so she should be fine now."
Damian hurried to my side.
However, he soon had no choice but to freeze pale.
Because the tightly drawn curtains suddenly flew open.
"I told no one to enter the residence..."
A frail, haggard voice.
A golden-haired woman in silk pajamas opened the window.
She, famous for her benevolent image,
Even she, disturbed from rest, revealed a cold expression.
Radiant golden hair cascading to her waist.
Stray hairs sticking out, likely from lying down too long.
A soft white pajama top revealing her bust line.
The princess leisurely pulled up the precarious collar at her shoulders.
"Who dares disturb my rest?"
But her expression soon froze solid.
Because the one facing her outside the window was the man who had once shamed her by preferring the sofa over her.
"Long time no see, Your Highness?"
I smiled warmly with crinkled eyes.
"Veil Mikhail?"
The foolish knight who said the sofa was better than her.
At his appearance, Lea furrowed her delicate face.
"What brings you here...?"
The First Imperial Princess looked around.
Guards gathered up to the front of the residence, and Damian too.
The sight of people filling the once-quiet residence left her bewildered.
"I heard you were ill, but you seem a bit better already?"
At my question, the princess made a reluctant face.
Then, rubbing her temple, she replied,
"It does feel a little improved, certainly..."
Lea cleared her throat.
And, embarrassed at showing such a defenseless side, spoke in a stern voice again.
"More importantly, explain what this is all about first."
Under the princess's icy gaze, Damian and the guards hurriedly bowed their heads.
However, I kept my head raised leisurely.
"I'll explain."
Leaning naturally against the window frame, I answered her amiably.
"Your headaches have gotten worse lately, haven't they?"
She eyed me suspiciously, as if wondering how I knew.
"Even as the weather warms, it feels cold only around you, chills and all-"
"How do you..."
Lea's expression shifted from displeasure to bewilderment.
I grinned and replied.
"It's because of the black magic totems buried around Your Highness's residence."
I showed her the black crystal and stated plainly.
As a mage, she understood immediately upon seeing the gem.
That someone had tried to curse her.
"Who the hell would do such a thing...!"
Soon, the princess's face twisted fearsomely.
"I know a way to catch the culprit."
"What can you possibly do?"
I placed my hand reverently on my chest.
And proposed to the princess with a serious expression.
"If Your Highness follows my instructions, you can catch the culprit at midnight tonight."
The black crystal replacement cycle was 24 hours.
The culprit would appear right at midnight tonight.
If I caught him and handed him over, Lea might soften a bit.
By then, she might readily give clues about the arsonist.