Chapter 171
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Are You Crazy?
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There had been a close call of a crisis, but the second broadcast of Music Challenge ultimately succeeded.
Considering the chaos that erupted midway through the live show, it was a result that defied common sense, but not a single soul found it strange.
No matter what accident occurred, a music program featuring Aynsha simply couldn't fail.
The world's top diva, known to all.
The song and fame of the "Singing White" held that much power.
But the biggest reason Music Challenge succeeded was, without a doubt, the shocking performance by Rimon and Aynsha.
Even Aynsha's fans, who had watched countless of her performances, were left speechless and endlessly replaying the broadcast.
"I don't know. I really don't know!"
"What? You can't invite Aynsha? Why are you asking me?"
"B-because I don't speak English well... I'm sorry?"
That was why.
Interest in the violinist 'Ri' who performed alongside Aynsha had exploded.
His playing was so extraordinary that anyone with ears couldn't miss it.
Of course, there was nothing to learn about the fictional identity of 'Ri' anyway, so Kim Seungjun was bombarded with calls because of it.
Whether it was about Rimon or Aynsha.
Yet one of the main causes keeping him insanely busy...
Aynsha was calmly sipping her tea.
"This is good tea."
"I'm glad you like it. I felt bad for not even offering you a cup last time you visited."
"It's my fault for refusing the tea. Not Li Chingwei's."
Aynsha shook her head impassively at the black-haired girl smiling brightly, Li Chingwei.
She set down her teacup and spoke.
"I've caused the Black Dragon Clan much trouble with this incident."
"Trouble? No need to worry about that. As a fellow member of the Seven Dragon Society, I only did what was natural."
"No. Trouble is trouble."
Her blunt tone made it sound ambiguously like neither a full apology nor thanks.
But Li Chingwei knew it was sincere.
The princess of the White Dragon Clan, who knew nothing of pretense—unlike herself—wouldn't offer empty words.
Besides, Aynsha's apology didn't end with words.
"So I'll repay you."
"Repay... with words?"
"I'll help capture the Liberation Brigade."
"...You're offering more than I expected."
"It's not just repayment to the Black Dragon Clan. It's to Ri."
"To the Sword Duke?"
"Yes. Ri didn't need to help me, but he did. He taught me much."
Aynsha spoke impassively.
From the perspective of the false Rimon, he could have just watched events unfold.
If Tata's terror succeeded, he could have pinned the blame on the White Dragon Clan and forced their cooperation.
Yet Rimon went through all that effort to change the future.
Even if his main reason was to prevent innocent casualties, the help she received was immense.
Whether stopping Tata's death.
Learning so much.
Or realizing her own feelings.
In many ways.
"Above all, I told Ri that if he changed my future, I'd fully cooperate with the Black Dragon Clan. So I'm keeping my promise."
"I see. Is that how it is."
'Something our clan could never imagine.'
Li Chingwei gave a wry smile.
For the Black Dragon Clan, where even promises were broken if possible, it was an incomprehensible decision.
Then again, it made sense.
The White Dragon Clan, always charging straight toward the future, and the Black Dragon Clan, scheming from the shadows, were natural opposites.
In a way, like natural predators to each other.
It was ironic that the first cooperation from the Seven Dragon Society came from such a White Dragon Clan.
But turning such a hard-to-win-over group into allies was a satisfying outcome.
"By the way, Li Chingwei, there's one thing I want to confirm."
"Anything, just say it."
That was why Li Chingwei nodded readily.
After Aynsha so readily promised cooperation, answering a few questions was nothing.
So she thought.
Until she heard Aynsha's question.
"—Did you know about 'that'?"
"Pardon?"
Li Chingwei tilted her head in confusion.
It was a perfectly natural reaction to a sudden question made only of a pronoun, without subject or context.
But Aynsha wasn't fooled.
Her perpetually expressionless face grew chillingly cold as she repeated,
"Don't play dumb. No lies. I already know your answer, Li Chingwei."
"..."
"I'll ask again. Did you know about Ri's 'that'?"
It wasn't a question to hear an answer.
She was merely going through the motions to confirm the response she'd already heard in the future.
At that most White Dragon Clan-like interrogation, Li Chingwei slowly straightened her tilted head.
Then she smiled faintly and countered.
"You noticed, huh?"
A bit troubled.
Or embarrassed.
Or awkward smile.
But her eyes held no trace of actual amusement, despite the smile.
After staring silently at Li Chingwei with an impassive face upon hearing what was essentially an admission...
Aynsha finally spoke softly after a long pause.
"Li Chingwei, are you crazy?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
"If you're not crazy, you're insane. No sane person would do that."
Blunt slander that crossed the line, even between fellow princesses.
But Li Chingwei didn't get angry or argue back.
No, she couldn't.
What she was hiding was a secret of that magnitude.
Even in this room alone with two people, Aynsha had to call it 'that' out of caution for listeners.
"I realized Ri's 'that' from that performance. And if I figured it out, other princesses could too."
"Not necessarily. Not everyone has your intuition."
"Still, the possibility is high enough."
Of course, noticing 'that' just from the performance was possible only because Aynsha was so attuned to music.
Even then, only because Rimon played the Heart of Darkness violin right in front of her.
But she couldn't rule it out for the other princesses.
Especially if any felt that 'resonance' while singing along to Rimon's performance—they'd realize the truth instantly.
That's how she knew.
That was the reason Tata foresaw the future where Music Challenge had to be ruined.
If Rimon ever performed there himself, and 'that' got exposed, everything would fall apart.
"If the other princesses find out, they won't let it slide."
"Probably."
"No 'probably' about it."
Aynsha stated flatly.
Then she described the worst future she'd foreseen, where the other princesses learned the truth.
"You die, Li Chingwei. Torn to shreds."
"Hm, that's milder than I expected, at least."
"Then war breaks out in the Seven Dragon Society. The Black Dragon Clan is nearly wiped out. Beyond recovery—utterly destroyed."
"That's so on the nose, I have nothing to say."
"...I don't get why you're so calm, Li Chingwei."
Even after hearing of her death and her clan's annihilation from the greatest seer of the era.
Aynsha asked bluntly, unable to comprehend Li Chingwei's relaxed attitude, and she replied with a faint smile.
"Because you're telling me this—it means you don't plan to tell anyone else."
"..."
"That's why you even used the Dragon Throat Singing Style to perform with the Sword Duke, right?"
Aynsha had no choice but to fall silent at Li Chingwei's friendly question, as if addressing a accomplice.
If she'd played dumb completely, maybe.
But having already helped hide 'that', she couldn't escape responsibility now.
"Not because of you. Because of Ri."
"Then I should be even more grateful. I didn't expect you'd take this risk for the Sword Duke."
Fully cooperating to capture the Liberation Brigade was one thing; helping hide Rimon's secret was another level.
The former just needed some prophecy and force lent.
The latter could drag her entire clan into peril.
But Aynsha took no credit.
She answered bluntly, as if it was just doing what needed doing.
"It's for my consort. No need for your thanks, Li Chingwei."
"I see, then I understa—"
That natural attitude was why.
Why Li Chingwei nearly nodded along absentmindedly, only blinking in realization a beat late.
"Aynsha, have you already found another consort?"
"No."
"Then why call it 'for my consort'?"
"Ri is my consort. Helping him is natural."
"...Just in case you forgot, the Sword Duke is my fiancé?"
"I know."
Aynsha stated flatly, as if she wasn't the type to forget something so important.
Then she corrected Li Chingwei's misunderstanding.
"I'm marrying Ri. So you marry the Sword Duke. No problem."
"..."
This must be what they mean by speechless.
Truly unlike her, Li Chingwei stared blankly at Aynsha before awkwardly speaking up moments later.
"Are you claiming the Sword Duke's dual identity belongs to two different people right now?"
"Not the Sword Duke. Ri."
"Even if you say that, it just sounds forced."
"It's not forced."
Regardless of Li Chingwei's exasperation.
Aynsha declared confidently.
"Ri went on a date with me. You said you'd help me marry Ri. That means you agreed to my proposal to him."
"That's..."
"If Ri is the Sword Duke, then you deceived me, Li Chingwei. I'll be furious. We'll go to war."
Li Chingwei was at a loss for words.
Aynsha didn't seem angry at all despite her words, but yes, she'd been the first to pass off Rimon and Ri as different people.
In the end, she responded in true Black Dragon Clan fashion.
"...That's different from this. My cooperation was conditional on compensation anyway."
That's that, this is this.
Moreover, having secured help against the Liberation Brigade, she had no reason to aid Aynsha's romance.
Her brazen attitude was a model for the Black Dragon Clan.
But Aynsha showed no wavering.
She replied bluntly, as if she'd expected as much.
"I know. So I've prepared alternative compensation."
"Alternative compensation?"
"You don't have to help with my proposal. Just don't interfere, and the White Dragon Clan returns 7% of Leviathan shares."
Li Chingwei's eyes widened round.
Aynsha delivered the finishing blow.
"And if Ri marries me, we'll give him 49% of Tiamat shares as his bride price."
"..."
"Deal, or war. Choose."
Like that certain sword master who demanded peace or death, Li Chingwei fell silent watching impassive Aynsha spout the absurd.
Returning Leviathan shares was shocking enough.
But staking shares in Tiamat, the White Dragon Clan's holding company, was beyond imagination.
That was why Li Chingwei finally spoke softly after a long moment.
"Aynsha, you've changed."
"Yes. The old me and now are different. New Aynsha."
Not like the casual 'you've grown' praise from their last meeting.
Not bringing Tata.
This extreme carrot-and-stick.
That intense gaze despite the blank face.
Seeing how much she'd transformed in just days, Li Chingwei voiced her realization, and Aynsha replied bluntly.
"I learned from Ri. The future isn't set. You make and seize it yourself."
Even futures thought fixed could be changed with effort.
Declaring what she'd learned from Rimon, Aynsha proclaimed boldly.
"So I'll seize my love myself."
"...I see."
Only then did Li Chingwei understand.
She'd never intended to negotiate; this 'offer' was a challenge and declaration of war.
Aynsha's unnaturally eager cooperation wasn't pure goodwill.
So Li Chingwei said,
"Aynsha, sorry, but I don't think I can like you anymore."
"That's a shame. I was just starting to like you, Li Chingwei."
Like seeing a cute kitten that bristled at her now grown into a leopard.
Li Chingwei sighed softly at the impassive Aynsha.
And thought.
Should've gone with the marriage scam plan from the start.