Chapter 394: Court Intrigue (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 394: Court Intrigue (3)
Marquis Laxion was at a loss for words at the scene unfolding before him.
He had already realized that Kang Hyun-woo was intentionally provoking them.
It was an undeniable fact that Kang Hyun-woo had become Elisabeth's loyal subordinate.
Of course, he had no idea how a puppet princess with no money, power, or honor had managed to recruit such a mage. Still, Elisabeth had been called a genius since she was young, distinguishing herself in various fields.
That was why the Second Queen had been so wary and kept her in check.
It wouldn't be strange at all if Elisabeth had piqued the mage's interest through some extraordinary means.
‘Come to think of it, they say relics from the Age of Myths are often discovered in the Lucania Kingdom, the First Queen's homeland.’
Of course, most of these so-called relics were nothing more than junk.
In the hundreds of years of the Lucania Kingdom's history, a genuine magic tool had been discovered only once.
However, what seemed like worthless junk to an ordinary person would have been more than enough to stimulate a mage's curiosity.
Then again, just as the Second Queen had suggested, Elisabeth might have seduced Kang Hyun-woo with her body.
In fact, most of the heirs from influential families within the Noble Faction wished to marry Elisabeth.
The only reason they desired a puppet princess with no backing was her beautiful appearance.
In any case, Marquis Laxion could more or less accept that Elisabeth had recruited Kang Hyun-woo.
“Oh dear, the floor has gotten dirty.”
“W-We'll clean it up...!”
“No, I'll help.”
Marquis Laxion stared blankly at Kang Hyun-woo, who was cleaning the floor alongside the maids.
It was already hard to believe that a mere mage had moved faster than most knights and burst the man's head in a single blow, but Kang Hyun-woo hadn't used any aura or magic in the process.
Pure physical strength.
It was simply beyond common sense.
“How dare you... in a place like this!!!”
Unaware of this fact, the Second Queen shot up from her seat, unleashing the emotions she had been suppressing.
The servants, who knew the Second Queen's temperament, thought that the inevitable had happened and quickly bowed their heads.
—Your Majesty! You must endure it!
“?!”
But, uncharacteristically, Marquis Laxion stopped the Second Queen.
The queen turned her head at the sound of the marquis's voice echoing in her mind.
Knights in this world could not use telepathic messages.
Instead, they could use short-range telepathy with the person to whom they had sworn their knight's oath.
—He clearly accepted the invitation with the intent to provoke us from the start. If we play into his hands without knowing anything about our enemy, we are bound to lose. For now, it is best to retreat.
—...Are you telling me, the future Queen Dowager, to tuck my tail between my legs and run like a scared dog from a single mage?
—Yes, for the sake of the grand plan, you must do so for now.
—...
Even the Second Queen, infamous for her foul temper, could not ignore Marquis Laxion's words.
The marquis, leader of the Noble Faction, was not only her father but also her lifeline.
The only reason the Second Queen hadn't been plagued by assassins despite her countless evil deeds was because of Marquis Laxion's protection.
Grit!
The Second Queen's face twisted viciously, her wrinkles deepening.
After glaring at Kang Hyun-woo as if to kill him, she averted her gaze and sat back down.
“...I don't seem to be feeling well, so I think it would be best to end our meeting here for today.”
At the Second Queen's words, Kang Hyun-woo seemed to ponder something for a moment before politely nodding his head.
“I understand. However, I have prepared a small gift for you, Your Majesty. Would you please accept it?”
“...A gift?”
The moment she heard Kang Hyun-woo's words, a strange sense of unease began to creep into a corner of the Second Queen's heart.
Clink.
Regardless, Kang Hyun-woo took out a bottle of Holy Water from his coat and placed it on the table.
“My mother also used to say that her whole body ached as she got older. Fortunately, after taking Holy Water regularly, her condition improved greatly. Although I am no cleric, I will pray for Your Majesty's swift recovery.”
“...”
At Kang Hyun-woo's words, the expressions of Marquis Laxion and the servants hardened.
There was no one present who didn't realize he had just indirectly mocked the Second Queen's age.
The teacup in the Second Queen's hand began to tremble.
“Then I shall take my leave. May the blessings of the arcane be with you, Your Majesty.”
Kang Hyun-woo gave an affable smile, bowed his head lightly, and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.
A moment later, the sound of something shattering came from within the room.
*
Aboard the carriage heading to the Ruby Palace, Kang Hyun-woo frowned as he looked out the window.
“Tsk, that old man is unnecessarily sharp.”
When Marquis Laxion showed no signs of falling for the provocation, Kang Hyun-woo had decided to change tactics and agitate the Second Queen instead.
And when she lost control of her emotions and raised her voice, he was inwardly cheering.
Of course, he had no intention of killing the Second Queen in a public setting.
If Kang Hyun-woo, who was so obviously Elisabeth's subordinate, committed the atrocity of assassinating a royal, the neutral faction would never support Elisabeth.
Above all, killing the Second Queen was by no means a wise choice for establishing a stable monarchy.
Assassination was the only answer.
‘They would never imagine that a mere mage could assassinate a royal protected by a Sword Master.’
Of course, they would have their suspicions.
Logically, when the princess's rivals, who could drop dead at any moment, start dying one after another, there would only be one person to think of.
But Kang Hyun-woo had no doubt that another piece of common sense would suppress their certainty.
*
Elisabeth Francesca Nivia.
Born to the last princess of the Lucania Kingdom, which had fallen years ago, and the current king of the Nivia Kingdom, she had lived a precarious life from a young age, as if standing on the edge of a cliff.
The First Queen, who had always been frail, left a young Elisabeth behind and departed for a distant territory to recuperate. Left all alone, Elisabeth became the target of the Second Queen's true nature.
The maids, under the Second Queen's orders, starved the young Elisabeth almost daily, and the physical punishments administered under the guise of 'education' grew more severe by the day.
The blatant disregard and torment from those around her were too much to even speak of.
And that wasn't all.
There were dozens of assassination attempts, including poisonings, and countless political schemes.
It was no exaggeration to call it a miracle that Elisabeth had survived until now.
But her life was still in peril.
If the Second Queen wished it, Elisabeth could be dead by tomorrow.
Of course, it wasn't as if there were no ways to save her own life.
The king had taken Elisabeth's mother, a princess of a fallen kingdom, as his wife for one reason only: her dazzling beauty.
Elisabeth had inherited her mother's looks entirely, and thanks to that, she had constantly received courtship from the sons of numerous prestigious families.
If she were to marry the son of an influential family belonging to the Noble Faction, she could at least preserve her life.
“It has been a while, Your Highness, Princess Elisabeth.”
“...What brings you here without any notice?”
Elisabeth looked at the man sitting across from her.
A wrinkle formed on her fine brow.
Despite Elisabeth's blatant contempt, the man's lips curled into an amused smile.
Eden Hereis Klude.
He was the eldest son of the House of Count Klude, which, along with the House of Marquis Laxion, led the Noble Faction.
Clink.
Eden set down his teacup, leaned back on the sofa, and crossed his legs.
His attitude was far too insolent for the son of a mere count to show a princess.
But there was no one to point it out.
A puppet princess and the heir to the House of Count Klude, who was practically one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom.
It was obvious who had the upper hand.
“Please forgive my rudeness in visiting without a prior appointment. However, as you did not reply to my letter, I had no choice but to come in person.”
On the surface, his tone was polite, but it carried a nuance that subtly blamed Elisabeth.
At the sight, Tina clenched her jaw, barely suppressing her killing intent.
If she had her way, she would call out Eden for his insolence and force him to his knees, but she knew all too well that such an action would only hinder her mistress.
Moreover, Eden's escort knight was a high-level Aura Expert, just like Tina.
There was no way Tina, who specialized in assassination and intelligence gathering, could win against a knight in a direct confrontation.
For reference, the letter he mentioned was a marriage proposal.
“...I'm quite sure I told you I refuse.”
“Are you serious?”
Eden let out a small laugh, as if mocking Elisabeth's firm stance.
“Your Highness, do you know what is most precious in life? It is one's life. Money and honor? Of course, they are important. But when you die, that's the end. An honorable death is nothing but an illusion created by knights who died a dog's death.”
“...What are you trying to say?”
“I wish to give an opportunity to a princess who has neither power nor money.”
Eden extended a hand toward Elisabeth.
“Become the lady of the House of Count Klude. In return, I will guarantee your life and a life of luxury.”
“I refuse," Elisabeth muttered, glaring at Eden.
At her answer, which held not a trace of hesitation, Eden stroked his chin in surprise.
“...I thought you were a wiser person, Your Highness. Are you confident you will not regret your choice?”
“That is none of your concern.”
In the past, Elisabeth would not have been able to refuse Eden's proposal so firmly.
No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't see even a sliver of hope.
But not anymore.
“I will say it again. Even if I am to be sent to the guillotine, I have no intention of becoming your wife, so please leave.”
“...”
In that moment, Eden's face twisted viciously, as if his playful expression until now had been an act.
“You, a descendant of a fallen kingdom...!!”
As Elisabeth watched Eden snarl like a savage dog, the corners of her mouth lifted in a mocking smile.
“Well, isn't that better than Gabel Klude, who bought his title with money?”
“?!”
Gabel Klude.
He was the first head of the House of Count Klude, a man of common birth who had amassed a great fortune, bought a title, and became a noble.
To mention his name was no different from touching a raw nerve for the House of Klude.
It was a reminder that they carried the blood of a commoner, something the nobles so despised.
At Elisabeth's words, Eden's body trembled as he glared at her murderously.
“...I've made my decision. I will speak to Her Majesty, Queen Serphina, and have you made into a slave—”
“Shh.”
Thump.
In that instant, Kang Hyun-woo appeared from nowhere, sat down next to Eden, and slung an arm around his shoulder.
Elisabeth's eyes met Kang Hyun-woo's, and she broke into a radiant smile.
Eden, on the other hand, felt his breath catch in his throat from the immense killing intent and pressure.
Indeed, his breathing became ragged, as if he couldn't get enough air.
“One more word out of you, and you're dead.”
“You bastard!! What are you doing to the young master!!”
Enraged, Eden's guard gripped the hilt of his sword.
The moment he drew his sword and charged forward, ready to slice off Kang Hyun-woo's head.
Tap.
“?!!”
Kang Hyun-woo, who had already risen from his seat, gently pressed down on the sword's pommel with the tip of his foot.
The guard tried to draw the sword with all his might, but the blade would not leave its scabbard.
Looking at the guard straining with a reddened face, Kang Hyun-woo muttered in a low voice.
“You shouldn't draw your sword so carelessly, mister.”
Though his tone sounded like a joke, his face was colder than ever.