Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: What Kind of Scheme Is This?
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What kind of scheme is this?
Going there had been tough enough, but coming back was even worse.
Of course, I was perfectly comfortable.
It was the knights, soldiers, workers, and commoners who suffered.
Unpacking and sorting all the baggage we'd lugged back to the royal castle was a massive undertaking in itself.
We'd even packed up every last tablecloth from the servants' hall.
"If the entire kingdom had just vanished into thin air, I might not have won Canelian's affection, but her trust would've shot through the roof."
No, enough of these wicked thoughts.
Ceres's entourage had safely recovered the wedding gifts they'd abandoned in the Karbalon Mountains.
The Wyvern Knights had really earned their pay on that one.
We were supposed to hold the wedding in just a few days, but it had all fallen apart.
My fiancée had changed to Canelian, after all.
We needed to make an official announcement and reschedule.
No chance of it happening this year.
"Above all, Canelian has no reason to rush into marriage."
My companion NPC didn't put much stock in things like marriage anyway, but she'd want to be cautious.
"To avert Canelian's death flag, I need to win over Ceres."
That's why I frequented the guest palace where Ceres was staying.
My excuse was ironclad.
We hadn't announced the change in fiancées yet.
Only the three of us knew: me, Canelian, and Ceres.
Today, as always, Ceres greeted me with her violet eyes sparkling in anticipation.
"What story will you tell me today?"
"Duchess, did you know the Karbalon Mountains were actually formed when a blue dragon failed its ascension and crashed?"
"Oh my, is that true?"
"About 330 million years ago, a blue dragon named Hydranos, who lived in the sea, attempted the world's first ascension."
Tragically, its body was too large to fit through the hole it barely tore into the sky, so it couldn't reach the higher dimension...
After exhausting all its power, it plummeted to earth, and over eons, its scales and flesh rotted away to form the mountains we know today..."
"Wow, how do you know all this, Your Highness?"
Because I'd devoured every storybook, setting guide, and scrap of lore without missing a single letter.
"Dragons pop up in all sorts of myths, legends, and folktales, but I never spotted a single one during actual gameplay."
Then I possessed this wastrel prince NPC, and suddenly I'm seeing dragon bones in the palace basement and communing with the Ancestral Dragon God.
When I shared worldbuilding and story details even the NPCs didn't know, Ceres absolutely loved it.
"Yes, if I build up your favor diligently, it'll help make Canelian my companion NPC again."
The Arcana Kingdom had no Swordmasters.
The Empire had only two.
For a teenage genius beauty who'd awakened Swordmaster realm on her own, making her a solid ally was worth any effort.
This was nothing.
Canelian was a Swordmaster with extraordinarily keen senses.
She could hear attendants gossiping dozens of meters away as clearly as if they were right beside her.
"How long has it been since His Highness last flogged someone?"
"Almost two full months now, hasn't it?"
"He hasn't made noble heirs lick food off the ground for his amusement anymore, either."
"It's all thanks to Duchess Ceres."
"Looks like marriage is making His Highness come to his senses."
"They say he visited the duchess again today and chatted with her for half the day."
"Word is, neither of them could stop smiling."
"Even the guest palace maids say they can serve His Highness and the duchess without worry now."
"I saw them from afar—they really do make a perfect pair."
"Who could've guessed? Duchess Ceres changing a prince even His Majesty had given up on."
"Originally, the duchy wanted to betroth him to the healthy Duchess Canelian, but the young prince insisted on Ceres, they say?"
"The power of love is truly great."
Canelian unconsciously tightened her grip.
When she came to her senses, Maid Emma was looking at her with concern.
"Lady Canelian, is something wrong?"
"...It's nothing, Emma."
Of course, Emma hadn't heard a thing.
It was just attendants whispering among themselves dozens of meters away.
"Is it the rumors from the Prime Minister's office?"
"Prime Minister's office? What do you mean?"
Emma glanced around furtively, then whispered.
"His Highness insisted on that reckless nationwide pilgrimage to restore royal dignity, right? They say it's wrecked the royal finances."
"Who doesn't know that? Even infants in convents have heard."
"It's worse than anyone imagined."
"...Worse than imagined?"
"They say he's racked up huge debts even with noble houses. He was supposed to buy mana stones from the Tebe Kingdom with Lumière de Ver to cover some of it."
"I know that. But His Highness offered it all up at the altar."
Maid Emma whispered even softer.
"They say even this month's Royal Guard salaries and court salaries are at risk of delay, so the Prime Minister dipped into his personal funds as a stopgap."
"...That bad?"
"It's not just draining the treasury—he's borrowed from central nobles, provincial nobles, even neighboring countries."
It made sense.
There was no other way to gather the entire kingdom's populace at the Holy Site in such a short time.
"They say the nobles are getting restless now that they know the full debt scale. If they rise up..."
"Enough. Someone might hear."
Canelian cut her off with a stern face.
"Why hasn't this wastrel come to see me once since then? Instead, he visits my sister every single day?"
She understood the reason.
He was restoring her sister's honor, lost due to the fiancée switch, and fulfilling her own request.
(Canelian had no idea it was to prevent her death flag.)
"This isn't the time to dodge the kingdom's finances being in shambles."
If the kingdom collapsed, the duchy—tied to its economy—would follow.
Irritated for no good reason, Canelian headed to the training grounds and vented her stress by swinging her sword freely against the knights.
"Urk! Duchess Canelian!"
"Mercy just this once!"
"Gah! Incredible! Kyaak!"
The spectating knights paused their training, mouths agape in awe.
"To wield sword aura so freely at her age."
"Even Senior Knight Balteg is getting pushed back without landing a blow."
"The Elryad Duchy might have a Swordmaster within twenty years."
From the shade, Maid Emma muttered.
"Lady Canelian's spars feel extra fierce today..."
Guest palace.
Canelian lay in thin nightclothes, her sword propped by the bed.
"There might even be a rebellion."
Huge debts to multiple noble houses.
If word spread that even Royal Guard and court salaries couldn't be paid, who knew what the nobles might think.
"But would they really rebel? Arcana's royal dignity has never wavered in thousands of years."
Because they were descendants of the dragon.
All kingdom folk, nobles included, feared and revered the royal family.
"I need to prepare for the worst. If it happens, I'll..."
Side with the prince and suppress the rebellion?
Or seize the chance to back Princess Raisha?
Then she sensed footsteps approaching her bedroom—not those of an attendant.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"Duchess, it's me. I'm coming in."
Canelian bolted upright.
"Your Highness. Entering an unmarried lady's bedchamber at this hour?"
"I'm your fiancé. What's the issue?"
"But the palace folk don't know that yet."
"Is that so? Anyway, I wanted to talk quietly, just us."
The prince casually sat in the chair by the bed.
Canelian threw a robe over her nightclothes and sat facing him.
"How's the return of the kingdom folk to their homes going?"
"They say it'll take at least another month or two. Gathering was so quick, but going back to their original homes is agonizingly slow..."
"The kingdom has no money. They have to scrimp even on the dispersal."
"Ahem."
The prince cleared his throat softly.
Canelian crossed her arms, stared him down for a moment, then asked.
"How's the mana herb cultivation coming along? I haven't heard a thing."
"That's exactly what I came to discuss."
"Discuss with me?"
"You're to be crown princess. Who else would I consult on national matters?"
Canelian felt a flicker of pleasure, then quickly scolded herself.
"People don't change that easily. Maybe he's doing this because he fears a Swordmaster like me might try to make Princess Raisha queen?"
It was true she'd considered that plan.
True she hadn't abandoned it yet.
Canelian pictured the old prince—whipping a flayed, bloody attendant while cackling.
"Pure evil. Pure evil..."
Over that image overlaid the recent sight of him kneeling, offering her sister an artifact-level ring...
"Agh! What kind of nonsense am I imagining?!"
Shaking off the jumbled visions, Canelian asked in a curt tone.
"Shouldn't we handle the formalities first before discussing national affairs with your prospective crown princess?"
"Formalities?"
"When will you announce the fiancée change to our ducal house?"
"Ah, that..."
"The kingdom and duchy both remain ignorant. What right do I have to discuss state matters with you?"
"But announcing it right away would tarnish Duchess Ceres's reputation, wouldn't it?"
She came all that weary way for the wedding, only to be abandoned on arrival—the social circles would whisper about the pitiful duchess."
"...You're right."
"For now, use His Majesty's health and the royal finances as excuses to postpone the wedding as long as possible. Announce the fiancée change in six months to a year."
"...Sounds good. So, you want to discuss mana herb cultivation with me?"
"Let me be clear: I'm a knight. I know nothing about that."
"I spoke with Duchess Ceres—she has profoundly deep magical knowledge. Intellectually, she surpasses even the empire's chief court mage."
"...Thank you for the praise, but you know my sister can't handle mana."
"It's fine. The mana herb plantation manager doesn't need to be a mage."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"I'm thinking of entrusting the mana herb plantation's management to Duchess Ceres. What do you think?"
A position concentrating immense profit and influence.
Rather than joy at her frail sister taking it, Canelian felt baffled at the prince's intentions.
"Your Highness, what kind of scheme is this with my sister?"
"Scheme? It's not like that..."
"Then why do you visit her every day lately? She's not even becoming crown princess—it's suspicious."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Canelian realized her mistake.
"What did I just say?"