The Waltz of the Stars (1)
There is a saying in the Empire: if you sleep while holding someone’s possession, you will dream of that person. Charlotte Eschenbalt was not the type to believe in such superstitions. However, in a world where magic exists, there might be unknown laws she had yet to discover. And so, clutching a single silver coin tightly in her hand, she pulled the blankets up to her chin. She rationalized it by telling herself this was merely an exploration of the unknown, and that she was different from other girls.
How much time had passed? When she regained her senses, she was looking down at a waterfall.
'Where is this...?'
The sound of water plummeting dozens of meters below battered her eardrums mercilessly. The spray had risen like mist, soaking her up to her waist. In that dreamlike landscape, she spotted a man standing at the very edge of the falls.
"Julian Schnabel."
Charlotte’s mouth began to move of its own accord. At her call, the man standing at the precipice turned around. The young man appeared to be just past his twenties. Jet-black hair, like the feathers of a crow, partially obscured his forehead. Beneath that hair, cold, lifeless grayish-blue eyes turned toward her.
"You’ve come, Miss Hausen. No, wait. Perhaps you would prefer I call you Princess Eschenbalt?"
Charlotte ignored the greeting. Suddenly, a scroll appeared in her hand. The end of the parchment trailed off into the mist, its length seemingly infinite. Her mouth, now beyond her control, began to recite the contents written upon the parchment.
"Julian Schnabel. Ruler of the Shadow Empire, screenwriter of every cold case in this world, the Godfather of Depravity."
"You mustn't forget the Darkest Saint, either."
The man with the cold expression smiled faintly. It was a smile that had led countless noble ladies to contribute to his crimes without even realizing it. Yet, seeing that smile, Charlotte did not change her expression in the slightest and continued to recite his charges.
"You pickled the Empire’s living wisdom in lead, turning the Great Sage into a senile old man."
"It was a necessary task. Humanity cannot learn to walk on its own if it only leans against a pillar. Only after that pillar collapsed did humanity finally begin to stand on its own two feet. Even the Great Sage chose to remain a senile old man of his own volition after witnessing that."
Charlotte ignored the rebuttal and continued.
"Guilty of involvement in the disappearance of ninety-five nobles across the Empire."
"They were people who had forgotten why nobles receive special treatment. Don't you remember, Miss Charlotte? Among your own clients were those who used beastman tribes as targets for magic practice, and then, when the tribes escaped, hired you to hunt them down. I merely ushered such scoundrels off the stage."
"Guilty of corrupting the 152nd class of the Hero Academy."
"That is a reversal of cause and effect. It was the world that abandoned them first."
Julian waved his hand and continued. "I took them in and provided them with the opportunity to unfold their talents. Therefore, the word 'corruption' is incorrect. They were my people long before they ever entered the Academy."
"...Guilty of causing chaos in the Empire by inciting corrupted heroes."
"They are the heroes who have pioneered more magical domains than anyone in human history and have received the most support from the citizenry. Yet, if they are branded as 'corrupted' simply because they offended the sensibilities of those in high places, then what exactly is the definition of corruption?"
"Guilty of distributing narcotics across the continent through your own cults and organizations."
"There is no absolute medicine in this world, nor is there an absolute poison. It is only the dosage that determines it. I am the same. Evil is merely another form of justice that changes depending on one's perspective."
"..."
The sound of the water filled the space between them. Charlotte could not bring herself to deny that last statement. Because, at the very least, this man’s words were not entirely wrong. He was clearly evil. But he had cut away the Empire’s rotting flesh, and in its place, new flesh had undoubtedly grown. Julian Schnabel was a man far too complex to be dismissed as mere evil.
"..."
And so, she chose to throw the warrant into the mist. The parchment was swept away by the spray and vanished below the cliff.
"Honestly, the rest is just insults, defamation... things the nobles wrote down to shift their own filth onto your name. It’s embarrassing to even recite them."
"Now you sound more like yourself, Miss Charlotte."
The man’s smile changed. It was no longer a smile meant to bewitch women, but one that looked genuinely glad to meet someone dear. Charlotte sighed at him.
"I know you don't touch innocent people. They were all rude, without exception. But there were more moderate methods. Especially the serial murders... even I cannot defend those."
"When a tumor grows too large, medicine is no longer enough, Miss Charlotte. There are times when excision is the only way."
Charlotte watched him for a moment. She couldn't refute him because he wasn't wrong, but she had swallowed too much to admit he was right. She looked down at her empty hand that had held the scroll, then raised a finger.
"Then I will ask you one thing."
"Ask anything, Miss Charlotte."
"Can you honestly say you had no personal feelings while committing all those acts?"
The man laughed. It was a silent laugh, a small tremor of his shoulders.
"While working for a greater cause, is it not acceptable to satisfy one's own private interests and appetite on the side? I merely provided those rude people with an opportunity to be useful in their final moments."
"Does that 'usefulness' refer to their place on a dining table?"
"Precisely."
"I thought so."
Charlotte took a step forward. She moved toward the cliff as if sliding over the mossy rocks. As the edge of the cliff drew one step closer, the spray soaked her ankles.
"You are the person I must stop."
"That is exactly what I hoped for. That the Empire’s brightest star would personally declare herself my adversary."
The man’s smile deepened. "However, there is one thing you are forgetting, Miss Charlotte."
"..."
"There was a girl who was bullied in the Imperial Palace. A child who was shunned by everyone because of her eyes that could see into the past, a child who withered away in boredom in the corner of the palace."
"..."
"Who was it that manipulated the Great Sage into teaching her magic, cleared away the rude people who blocked her path, and placed her where she stands today?"
"..."
"You must not forget, Miss Charlotte. You, too, are my work. Whatever choice you make, it is also a part of my plan."
Charlotte shook her head.
"No. There is one option you haven't anticipated yet."
No sooner had she spoken than she kicked off the ground and lunged forward. She buried her face in his chest, embracing him. The rock beneath her feet vanished. As the sound of water turned into the sound of wind, as up and down inverted, and as she heard the rapid beating of the man’s heart—
"Hup!"
With a dizzying sensation of falling, Charlotte opened her eyes. What she saw was the familiar ceiling of her room in the detached palace. Upon waking, she habitually checked outside the window. The sun was high in the sky.
'...I overslept today.'
Perhaps it was because she had gone to sleep too late yesterday. But Charlotte didn't care. She was a forgotten royal, a child half-abandoned. She had almost no public duties, so sleeping in for a day wouldn't cause any problems. She pulled back the blankets, shivering for a moment as the cool air brushed against her bare skin. Then, her gaze drifted downward to the hard sensation she felt in her left hand. When she opened her fingers, a silver coin lay in her palm.
'A silver coin?'
At that moment, a face flashed through her mind. '...I think I dreamed about that person.'
She couldn't remember the details. But one thing she could be certain of: even in that dream, being by his side would not have been boring.
Some time after the aftermath of the incident had settled, the five of us were sitting in the dining room of the Nihilit mansion, as always. While the servants prepared the day's meal, our family, already seated at the table, shared a simple conversation.
"Brother. I heard about your performance at the tea party today."
Young ladies and gentlemen of this age usually socialized with their peers, like Freya. I, on the other hand, was the odd one out. It wasn't just that I didn't fit in with my peers; I was simply too busy with other work to find the time. And today, it seemed Freya had heard about me through those friends.
"What did you hear?"
"The rumors are everywhere—that you saved a baby at the Belheim Count's estate when even the healers couldn't do anything, and that you provided the decisive clue to catching the real culprit."
According to Freya, identifying the baby's symptoms and treating them first had been the decisive clue in solving the case, and the daughter of Inspector Hausen had used that process as a lead to finally reach the truth. 'Miss Charlotte must have explained it well.' For me, it was the perfect amount of rumor—not too much, not too little. Since I hadn't solved the case directly, there was no need to worry about political pressure, yet it was known that my contribution to the case was by no means small. On top of that, my skills as a doctor were further emphasized, so it had ended as well as I could have hoped.
"Brother, you really are amazing. Did you know you even got a nickname?" Freya said, her eyes sparkling. In this world, they liked to give nicknames to 16-year-old noble youths who stood out in high society. It was basically the same as giving nicknames to up-and-coming martial artists in a wuxia novel.
"Meaning that a hidden genius has finally taken flight into the sky—."
Oh. Is it something like 'Crouching Dragon'? Yeah. If I'm going to be the protagonist, I should at least have a nickname like this...
"They call you the ."
"...Black Swan?"
"They say swans are ugly when they're young but suddenly become beautiful when they grow up. That's why the nickname was given. Plus, your hair is black, and your face is..."
Freya trailed off. I couldn't hide my slight disappointment at the explanation. I wanted to be known as a genius, not famous for my looks.
"You really are my brother. They say gold coins are bound to stand out even when mixed among silver ones, and I knew you'd be able to make a name for yourself right away."
But seeing Freya so happy, the title didn't feel quite so bad after all.
"But that case, I heard some spice was the poison..."
"It was star anise."
"Right, star anise. Is that spice really that dangerous?"
"No. The star anise itself isn't the problem; it was an accident caused by it looking similar to a poisonous plant. Mushrooms have cases like that, too."
"I think I understand. Then, do you know how to distinguish them?"
"Just be careful with star anise that comes from D-Sector."
Clatter. Upon hearing that, Eri dropped the water she was drinking back into her glass. She looked at me with a shocked face.
"W-what? I used to eat star anise every day when I lived in the alleyways?"
"...How?"
"I was hungry, so... I just picked up stuff that fell in corners near the slaughterhouse... I thought it was leftover ingredients from cooking..."
"Why?"
"Well... it smelled similar to the braised pork belly they sometimes make at the restaurant... I was hungry..."
My god.
"How much did you eat?"
"Countless amounts? A lot?"
"Did you know it was rat poison?"
"No wonder. It always felt a bit numb when I ate it."
"Did you ever vomit?"
"No? Other than my urine turning black, there wasn't anything else."
I'd leave the urine discoloration as a chronic condition, but, "Any other symptoms?"
"Can't think of any?"
What is this? Charlotte, and now Eri—is being immune to all poisons a basic requirement for girls in this world?
"Ahem."
At that moment, Father cut off our conversation with a cough. The food was starting to come out. We stopped our pre-meal chatter and focused on the bowls placed in front of us. Today's menu was butter-sautéed calf sweetbreads. It was a dish called Ris de veau. Obviously, I was the one who cooked it. Who else in this world would cook with something like this? And naturally, I had done it with the mindset that I'd deal with the consequences even if my parents caught me. The plating was different from our house's exclusive chef's style, anyway.
Sure enough, Father's eyebrows twitched as he saw the unfamiliar dish on his plate.
"...Julian."
"Yes."
"Do you have no intention of hiding it at all?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
This was my new tactic: pushing through with shamelessness. No one had ever seen me go in and out of the kitchen, so I just had to play dumb. "..." Father glared at me, but I placed my napkin on my lap as if nothing had happened. However, Father's next words were enough to make me freeze.
"Fine. Since your marriage has already been arranged, there's no point in stopping you now. That family wouldn't care if you cooked, anyway. Do as you please from now on."
...Excuse me? I almost let out a stupid sound. Clink. Freya, sitting next to me, dropped her fork. Father didn't care about Freya's reaction and continued to speak after wetting his lips with his pre-meal drink.
"I had intended to tell you after the meal, but since the subject came up, I'll let you know. Julian, your fiancée has been decided."
"Suddenly?"
I'm only 16! I haven't even finished making my appeal! Wasn't it supposed to be decided in a year?
"It's not sudden. Haven't you met the other party?"
"Who... oh."
Suddenly, the face of a woman flashed through my mind. A blonde-haired, gold-eyed detective with a somewhat unique personality.
"Don't tell me... is it Miss Hausen?"
"Yes. They say that young lady is quite smitten with you."
No sooner had Father finished speaking than Freya's gaze pierced my temple.
"Brother, you didn't tell me you met a young lady there!"
Freya puffed out her cheeks. It was a size I wanted to poke once. "Didn't you hear the rumors? They said Inspector Hausen's daughter solved the case. Since I provided the clues, wouldn't it be natural for us to meet?"
"T-that... I wasn't interested in stories about other young ladies, so I didn't listen properly..."
Oh dear. It seemed Freya was the type to only listen to what she wanted to hear, just like me. I hope she didn't pick that up from me...
Then, perhaps curious about her future sister-in-law, Freya began an unexpected interrogation.
"I've never even heard of the Hausen Marquisate. Is there something wrong with that family?"
It wasn't me who answered, but Father.
"It's natural that you don't know. They are a family of inspectors. Inspectors have a duty to maintain political neutrality. They must not join any faction, and they rarely show their faces at social gatherings. The Hausen Marquisate is a new family even among such inspector families."
"New?"
"The current head's unique magic and talent were well-suited for inspector work, so they were promoted to Marquis in one go. However, because of their inspector duties, almost nothing is known about them. I've only exchanged greetings with them a few times for work."
Freya kept her mouth shut, perhaps because that answer didn't satisfy her. Then, after thinking deeply about something, she asked Father again.
"Then why would a family like that choose Brother? Is there some problem with that family?"
"A sharp question, Freya."
"Yes? Was it really?"
"Yes."
Father paused for a moment and looked around the dining room. After checking the faces of the servants, he opened his mouth again.
"The young lady of that family has her own circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"Her personality is a bit unique... so it seems other families don't really want to get close to her."
I couldn't help but nod at that. Charlotte is definitely unique. She reveals everyone's past with her deductions the moment she meets them. Most nobles have their own secrets. In this era, respecting each other by not implicitly exposing those secrets or secrets between spouses is considered a virtue. In such a time, Charlotte, who knows everything about the other person just by looking at them, would inevitably be uncomfortable. Moreover, if Charlotte had a personality like a great detective...
'Hmm. It is a point to worry about for a marriage partner.'
Great detectives are cool when viewed from afar, but they aren't exactly good people to live with. Perhaps people ran away after seeing the Marquisate sign, only to retreat after seeing her, thinking, 'This is a bit...'
"Then why would they choose Brother for such a problematic woman!"
"I saw them last time, and they got along quite well. I don't know about others, but for Julian, I thought it wouldn't be a problem."
Hmm. That's true, too. Great detectives are a bit problematic as roommates. But I'm not the type to worry about that too much.
"Especially look at your brother's room. I haven't met that young lady for long, but I imagine it's probably similar to Julian's room."
"..."
"Inspector Hausen also seems to have valued Julian's performance in this case highly. As expected, it's no coincidence that he became a Marquis at that age."
From my perspective, it was the best condition I could ask for. A Marquis, no less. It's the rank right below a Duke. A Duke is a title granted to a family that has achieved feats comparable to my teacher, the Great Sage. Naturally, it's a position ordinary nobles can't even dream of. Therefore, a Marquis is the highest rank a noble can realistically reach.
'A Marquis thinks highly of me.'
Honestly, I don't know which part of me caught their attention. But how many times has a misunderstanding-trope protagonist been recognized without even knowing it? Besides, it wasn't a bad story for me, either.
'An engagement with Charlotte...'
The status of being a Marquis's daughter is one thing, but what I liked even more was the fact that the partner was Charlotte herself. Honestly, it was a short meeting, but it was worth it. Even if it wasn't for others, she felt like a quite ideal partner to me.
'If it really doesn't work out, I can just break it off.'
And there's always the option of breaking the engagement. The weight of an engagement isn't as light as dating, but it's not as absolutely heavy as marriage, either. In the first place, the engagement system was created to check if there were any problems between each other before marriage. Therefore, if you don't get along or if circumstances are bad, breaking it off isn't particularly strange. You can see that just by looking at the case of my biological parents and my current parents.
Most of all, in a world of noble engagements where there are no options, this is honestly the best harvest.
"I understand."
"Yes. I will coordinate the date with the Marquis, so let's just have a simple meal together."
Father also wiped his mouth with a napkin and said calmly. Beside him, Mother clapped her hands softly, saying she had found a really good match. Only Freya's expression was a bit dark at the dining table.
Clatter. At that moment, Eri, who had emptied her plate and was reaching for another, said, "Hmm. Then do I have to follow along to that seat?"
"You have to. You're a person of our family now, too."
I need to make it clear over there that Eri is a person of the Nihilit Barony. Especially if you look at marriage from the perspective of an alliance between nobles. Eri muttered, holding her fork in her mouth.
"Nobles are complicated. Preparing for marriage at this age. Well, I just need to eat delicious food."
"Sister... haa..."
Freya let out a deep sigh beside Eri. Eri smiled at Freya. And so, along with the engagement talk, dinner came to an end.