Confessions on the Balcony
Breaking things would be a bit much for the balcony. It was something I always felt, but why did every secret meeting or important conversation have to start on a balcony? Maybe I should station a dedicated balcony surveillance guard later. With that thought, I locked eyes with Tina, who was staring at me wide-eyed.
"Your Highness, what do you mean..."
"No, it's just that you seem to be hiding something or feeling uncomfortable the whole time."
"..."
Tina shut her mouth at my words. Right. Being this direct would probably work best on her. People raised with constant indulgence tended to fold under straightforward questions. Sure enough, her eyes darted around before she bowed her head deeply.
"..."
She kept her mouth shut, and I simply watched her without saying a word. After a brief silence, she slowly spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"No, it's fine..."
I wasn't particularly bothered. It wasn't an unpleasant encounter, and there was no reason to feel offended by words from a fourteen-year-old girl.
"Was it your own decision?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean, uh... were you doing it because you like me...?"
"Ah, well. Your Highness certainly has outstanding looks and excellent character, but..."
"You don't need to say any more."
I knew exactly what kind of denial was coming if she continued.
"S-Sorry."
"I said it's okay."
I shook my head calmly.
"So, who asked you to do it?"
"..."
Tina turned her head slightly at my question.
"..."
Complex emotions flickered in her eyes. She stared at me quietly, then murmured, "It's just that you're drawing too much attention from everyone right now..."
"I understand."
After hearing her out, I closed my eyes and focused my mind. There was a spell among magic ones that blocked out noise. The empty rooms around the banquet hall weren't soundproofed, or so I'd heard. I wouldn't ask why I needed to block noise. Anyway, once I'd cast the spell—imbued with the practical wisdom of ancient mages—to seal off sound, I opened my mouth again.
"Even if you scream your lungs out here now, no one will hear."
"R-Really?"
"Yes. Even if the sky splits open and you wail, don't worry. I tested it myself—it really doesn't leak."
"Th-That phrasing..."
She trailed off, averting her gaze. Inside the banquet hall, everyone else except us seemed to be chatting merrily. Of course, there were also those watching us with keen interest. It felt like being under surveillance. Following her line of sight, I realized she wasn't looking at the emperor but...
"...Who is that?"
Inside the hall, she was staring at an old man with a beard laughing and talking to others.
"...That's Duke Mayer," Tina muttered.
"He asked me to do it."
"...Am I hearing this right?"
A duke asking the kingdom's princess to seduce the empire's prince, and her actually going along with it? Either she was lying, thinking I was an idiot, or...
"...It sounds insane, but it's true."
She murmured in a flat voice, squeezing her eyes shut.
"After meeting Duke Mayer, my father changed completely."
"Changed?"
"Yes. He still treats me well now, but..."
"..."
"It's like he absolutely has to obey Duke Mayer's words."
Absolutely obey? Hearing it that way...
"Did Duke Mayer brainwash your father with magic...?"
"Brainwashing magic isn't that easy, though."
Brainwashing magic did exist. But few could wield it, and it consumed an enormous amount of mana. If I had to name someone who could pull it off right now, only the Mage Tower Lord or Lily came to mind. Of course, with my own mana reserves, it was worth a try, but...
"Are you sure?"
"Not completely."
She slowly shook her head at my question.
"But... I don't know what to do..."
"..."
I glanced at her, then back at Duke Mayer.
"You're the only one who's noticed something off about your father, right, Princess Tina?"
"...It seems so."
"..."
I closed my eyes, deep in thought. This was more dangerous than I'd expected. After pondering briefly, I looked at Duke Mayer, who had been chatting happily but suddenly turned to stare at us. He gave me a formal bow, and I nodded back.
"Got it. I'll look into it myself for now."
"Pardon?"
"I know some people skilled in magic."
"..."
"I'll check it out."
"Th-Thank you, Your Highness."
As Tina looked at me gratefully, I raised a hand to stop her.
"Don't do anything suspicious."
"Ah, yes..."
I needed to inform others too. I met Tina's eyes.
"Your Highness?"
"Hold on."
Blending in without raising suspicion was key for now. I knelt and took her hand.
"Y-Your Highness?"
"Be quiet. I'm helping you right now."
I covered her flustered murmur and gently pressed my lips to the back of her hand—a classic hand kiss. After the kiss, I looked up at her and spoke.
"Be careful."
"...Yes."
"We'll send someone from our side. When you talk to him, make it sound like you've... well, firmly won my heart, enough that Duke Mayer believes it. Then come."
Tina nodded at my words. I stood, glancing discreetly into the hall. Sure enough, Duke Mayer was sneaking peeks at me.
"See you later."
I channeled mana to flush my face with heat, feeling my cheeks redden. With that, I walked out, looking just like a pubescent boy experiencing first love.
"...Your Highness, what happened—"
"Later."
I silenced Lucy, who followed with a worried expression, and kept walking. Clue had caught on and trailed quietly, but Lucy, unlike her, couldn't pierce the magic to overhear. To her, I'd suddenly had a serious talk with Tina and ended with a hand kiss. But I had no intention of explaining it all now. Words had to be chosen carefully.
"For now..."
Before I could continue with a cough, I glanced at Clue. She opened her mouth slowly.
"Please wait a moment, Master."
Soon after, a man dropped from the ceiling.
"Your Highness. You called?"
It was the rogue.
"No one overheard or spied on our conversation, right?"
"None. We shook them off cleanly."
The rogue spoke confidently, and Clue nodded.
"Is something wrong, Master?"
"Yes. Going straight to the ministers... would that risk exposure?"
"Well..."
The rogue coughed awkwardly and nodded.
"Sorry to say it, but we haven't fully secured the palace interior yet..."
"Then let's head to my room first."
Time for a meeting. *
Lucy and Clue's faces filled with bewilderment as they heard my explanation.
"So, this guy called Duke Mayer seems to have brainwashed the King of Cassius?"
"Yeah."
"And without any obvious signs... just a vague sense of unease?"
"According to Tina."
"...Is that even possible? Magic isn't that simple."
Lucy muttered in confusion, but
"It is possible."
"Exactly. It is."
Clue and I answered in unison.
"But an ordinary mage couldn't do it."
"Right. You'd need at least Master's level of mana, and Lily's magical skill..."
"..."
I considered calling Mother, but decided to save that as a last resort. If she came, the situation would shatter completely. I wanted to resolve this without destruction. On the flip side, with Mother here, I'd be safe no matter what.
"...For now, contact Lily secretly."
"Understood."
Clue nodded and pulled out a magic communication device from somewhere.
"But as you know, Her Highness Lily is currently away from the empire..."
"I know."
Lily was out on inspection. At least I could get her advice. Once the message to Lily was sent...
"...But what if it's not magic?"
Lucy murmured curiously, and Clue rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
"...A magic tool could do it."
A magic tool? I paused, then met Clue's gaze. Come to think of it, there was someone skilled with them. No—someone who got rich off magic tools.