Chapter 509: Jealousy is My Power (9)
Chapter 509: Jealousy is My Power (9)
The Emperor’s request was unexpectedly simple.
“Help my daughter become her disciple.”
Despite the simplicity, I couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. There were details within that short sentence that were difficult to grasp.
First, there was one question I had to ask.
“By daughter, you mean…?”
It was a reasonable question.
The Emperor didn't have just one or two daughters. As the supreme ruler of the Empire, he had a duty to preserve his bloodline, and it was common practice to have as many children as possible just in case.
The current Emperor was no different.
He had about ten children. While only a few of them could actually challenge for the throne, there were several individuals the Emperor could refer to simply as his ‘daughter.’
Two princesses came to mind immediately.
The Second Princess, Iris, and the Fifth Princess, Cien.
Therefore, I needed more specific information. The difficulty of the mission would vary greatly depending on who I had to help.
Unlike me, the Emperor showed no sign of hesitation. The old man’s voice continued without pause.
“Only one of my daughters is currently enrolled in the Academy.”
“…You mean Her Highness Cien.”
The name I reflexively thought of slipped out of my mouth.
The Emperor nodded, confirming my guess. For me, this was quite a relief.
To be honest, I had no desire to accompany any member of the imperial family other than Cien.
First of all, their status was too high, which was a burden. Furthermore, there was a high probability that their personality would be self-centered, and I doubted how much of that I could tolerate.
I might find a hand axe in my hand before I even realized it.
Even Cien hadn't always shown such an arrogant yet composed temperament.
I remembered how much I had suffered back then.
My body shuddered involuntarily at the memory of that unfortunate past. Meanwhile, the Emperor’s explanation continued.
“Have you heard the news that the ‘Great Witch’ is coming here?”
“Ah… yes, I believe I heard something about it in passing.”
It was something mentioned in the letters from the future.
The Great Witch visited the Academy for some reason. According to rumors, it was to select a disciple, and in the process, she would engage in a bloody battle with a ‘vampire.’
That was the rough outline of the future I had grasped.
Though, it was merely a skeletal frame with the most important parts missing.
I was used to it.
the love letters from the future weren't particularly kind. They always only contained a general overview; it was always up to me to find the crucial clues.
Today was no different.
I instinctively realized that the Emperor was involved in this incident. Since the ‘Sword Duke’ had been mentioned in the letters, there was a high probability that the Imperial Household was intervening in the upcoming events.
Wasn't that why he went as far as to stage an attack on his own escort?
Sure enough, the Emperor began to recite the details I wanted to hear.
“Then you must have heard that she intends to choose a disciple. To put it bluntly, I want you to do everything in your power to ensure my daughter becomes her disciple.”
“How exactly?”
“Well, wouldn't that depend on your own capabilities?”
I couldn't tell if he was joking or being serious.
He wore a playful smile that made it hard to discern his intent.
Of course, he wasn't wrong. Most problems one encounters in life depend on one's own actions.
Nevertheless, I had to swallow a bitter groan.
Even so, the path forward seemed far too obscured.
The one choosing the disciple was the ‘Great Witch.’ An awakened being who had turned her back on the secular world couldn't be swayed by money or power. Therefore, there was only one way to make the Princess her disciple.
To captivate the Great Witch’s heart.
In other words, there was a limit to what I could achieve, no matter how hard I tried.
Ultimately, the result depended on the Great Witch and the Princess.
There was no room for a third party to intervene in such a clear-cut relationship.
It was then that the Emperor’s subtle advice reached my ears.
“Come to think of it, she seems to have quite an interest in you….”
“Pardon?”
That was enough to make me tilt my head in confusion.
I had never met the Great Witch in my life. At most, I had stolen a few glimpses of the memories of the ‘me’ from the future.
And yet, the Great Witch was interested in me?
Was my previous duel with the Saint that impressive?
However, the Emperor didn't bother to satisfy my curiosity.
Instead, he simply moved on to another piece of advice.
“Also, you aren't the only one trying to get Cien apprenticed to the Great Witch. I heard that ‘Vilteon’ and ‘Iris’… those two have already arrived at the Academy.”
This was also news to me.
‘Vilteon’ and ‘Iris’—names I had heard before. Any noble of the Empire would naturally know them.
Weren't they the most prominent candidates vying for the next throne?
The more I heard, the larger the scale of the situation became. Well, it made sense, considering it involved the ‘Empire’s Great Ambition.’
I wet my parched lips with saliva.
I had overcome crises far worse than this several times. The only difference was that back then I needed a sword, and now I needed my brain.
I resolved to find Reto as soon as possible.
However, the person who would determine my first step was someone else.
“Kid, it would be best if you went to see the Alphenhauser twins first.”
The Sword Duke said in a dry tone.
In those blue pupils staring at me, I could see a hint of excitement. He looked as if he was quite looking forward to seeing how I would navigate this ordeal.
Personally, that excessive interest was just a burden.
Not that the Sword Duke was the type to care. His cheerful voice continued without fail.
“I heard they’re preparing something under Iris’s instructions. You said you were already acquainted with the two of them, right?”
Of course, the Sword Duke’s intentions didn't seem entirely pure either.
A suggestion he had made once before flickered through my mind.
Hadn't he told me to take the Alphenhauser twins as my wives?
It was a suggestion so absurd I couldn't even muster a hollow laugh.
But I had no other path forward right now, so I didn't have the luxury of rejecting the Sword Duke’s advice.
That was the background of why I had to take these reluctant steps.
However, there was one thing that surprised me.
That obnoxious Senior Sienne was acting remarkably humble today. I had spent the previous night agonizing over what kind of humiliation I would have to endure since I was the one asking for a favor, but now that seemed almost ridiculous.
Even now, look at her.
Her silver-gray eyes were stealing glances at my expression.
She had made a fairly radical offer, and she seemed anxious because I wasn't biting.
“I-Is there something you’re unhappy with? Our Luna is pretty, smart, and has a great memory! She’s even rich, so if you marry her, you’ll never have to worry about money for the rest of your life!”
“No, no… Senior Sienne, isn't your premise all wrong?”
As I spoke, I glanced behind Senior Sienne’s back.
Senior Luna was standing there, her face turning beet-red all the way to her ears.
And for good reason. Her own sister was suddenly trying to decide her life partner in front of a strange man.
It would be stranger if she were sane.
She looked so embarrassed that she didn't even have the energy to stop her sister; she just stood there fidgeting.
Or perhaps an agreement had already been reached between the two of them.
No, that was an impossible assumption. Even if the Alphenhauser family was a prestigious merchant house, they weren't so lacking in roots as to decide on a marriage of convenience so abruptly.
I just felt sorry for Senior Luna for having such a pathetic older sister.
Out of pity, I spoke with a firmer tone.
“Is Senior Luna an object? Deciding on a lifelong partner so suddenly is….”
“And if you marry Luna, you get to have me, Sienne, as your sister-in-law!”
Of course, Senior Sienne didn't even pretend to listen to me.
She was a woman who was always headstrong. At this rate, a conversation wouldn't even be possible.
In the end, I sighed and sent a pleading look toward Senior Luna.
It was a signal for help.
But Senior Luna looked just as troubled. With her eyes squeezed shut, the gentle-looking woman managed to squeeze out a few broken words.
“I-I-I’m sorry… Sir Ian, my sister is being a bit….”
“How about it? Isn't it amazing? You can brag about it wherever you go, Aran Koinus! Because you’ll be my brother-in-law!”
Regardless, Senior Sienne just kept talking in a boastful tone. Her chest was emphasized by her squared shoulders, a symbol of her confidence.
Finally, unable to bear the shame, Senior Luna’s body began to tremble. She looked so pitiful, clutching her hands tightly in embarrassment.
I let out a sigh-filled rebuke.
“You can’t even remember your brother-in-law’s name correctly, so what are you even….”
It was a futile effort.
Senior Sienne didn't even pretend to listen. Instead, caught up in the mood, she even began to proceed with the negotiations on her own.
“A-Are you still dissatisfied? Hmph, you’re surprisingly greedy… Fine, then let’s make her a concubine instead of a wife! I did hear you have another lover in the Holy Kingdom… Gack!”
Thwack.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, Senior Luna’s palm struck the back of Senior Sienne’s head. Perhaps she had learned self-defense, because the sound of it cutting through the air was quite crisp.
It certainly wasn't a force a mere merchant could take head-on and remain standing.
Senior Sienne’s focus wavered violently once, and then never returned. Her body, unable to find its balance, staggered and then collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
Then, silence.
Before I could even rejoice in the regained peace, Senior Luna let out a deep sigh.
“My sister… is sometimes a bit ignorant of etiquette….”
I didn't say anything.
I just stared at Senior Luna with a flat expression. Senior Luna cleared her throat, trying her best to smooth over the situation.
It was a useless attempt.
In the end, Senior Luna asked with drooping eyes.
"How can I make it up to you?"
My eyes naturally drifted toward Senior Sienne.
"…Can I hit her just once?"
As my hand toyed with the handle of my axe, Senior Luna sighed once more.
"I'll give you all the information you need, so please, just a rap on the head…."
Senior Luna couldn't bring herself to ask me not to hit Sienne at all.
Thanks to that, I achieved my goal.
"I heard the Great Witch has recently taken an interest in the Abnormal Heat."
"And?"
"It seems the Great Witch believes the source of it is here at the Academy."
I started to open my mouth, then closed it again.
"We have to find it first."
Her words followed, filled with strong determination.
"…Before Vilteon finds it."
The struggle for the throne.
A topic I had never been interested in my entire life was now taking center stage.