Chapter 184
Translator: uly
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Give and Take #3
There had been quite a few visitors to my room.
Elga came and went frequently, treating it like her own hideout. Mirna and Professor Stella Bellhawk had dropped by as well.
I had been surprised in all sorts of ways when they showed up out of nowhere without any warning, but nothing had ever made my heart drop like it did today.
“Theo, I asked you where you’d been until now. As you well know, I don’t like repeating myself.”
Queen Aira was sitting on my bed, elegantly crossing her legs.
She looked so much like the owner of the room that I half-wondered if I wasn’t the rude intruder who had barged in.
Isn’t this my room?
I glanced around in a brief panic, and sure enough, my belongings were everywhere. This was undeniably my personal space. Realizing that calmed my thoughts.
“Queen Aira, I was just out handling some business. And what brings you all the way here? If you’d given me a heads-up, I could’ve at least tidied up.”
My room was fairly clean. I didn’t really live in it much—just slept there.
Still, with Elga poking around and leaving things, there might be stuff I wouldn’t want Aira seeing.
—Fairy Eyes—!
I maxed out my mana sight, scanning every corner of the room. No Elga’s underwear or discarded stockings or anything awkward in view.
Phew, good.
Swallowing my relief, I asked again.
“The door was locked, though. Must’ve been a hassle picking it.”
I phrased it like I was praising her effort while subtly chiding her for breaking in. But Aira didn’t seem to catch on.
“There’s no lock I can’t open. So, Theo, what did you and that girl, Serazade, talk about?”
“……”
Straight to the point.
I wondered if she’d planted a spider on me or something. How else would she know I’d met Serazade?
“How did you know?”
“I’m a wise queen. A wise queen knows everything happening in the world. So, Theo, that Serazade didn’t try anything funny with you, did she?”
“Nothing like that. She just wanted to hear about my future. In exchange, she gave me some Clear Oil—”
I rambled on, laying out everything that happened before Aira could get the wrong idea. She seemed relieved, murmuring, “Oh, nothing much after all.”
It suddenly struck me as odd—this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, but it felt new.
Had Aira ever reacted this sensitively when I met Mirna or Elga?
“Serazade’s a viper. She could latch onto your ankle and immobilize you, so watch out. Anyway, was that the end of your chat with her?”
At her question, I recalled Serazade wanting to grow taller and asking if I’d ever consider joining Turki’s court.
The height thing was our little secret, so mentioning it felt off. And telling her about the recruitment pitch might set Aira off.
She’d been so well-behaved lately. The thought of it all going to waste made me dizzy.
“There’s more.”
Aira’s voice turned sly as she addressed me.
“There’s definitely more. Out with it.”
Her instincts were sharp at times like this.
She stroked my head, urging me on. Dodging now might direct all her wrath at me.
“Will you promise not to misunderstand or get mad?”
“Theo, you know I never jump to conclusions or get angry when listening to stories.”
“Lady Serazade asked if I’d ever consider coming to Turki’s court.”
“Hmm, I see. So she said that.”
And that was all Aira said.
“……”
“……”
Neither of us spoke.
My half-fairy senses screamed that she was furious, on the verge of exploding, yet her face remained serene.
Then Aira asked.
“So, Theo, what’s your answer going to be?”
“I was obviously going to refuse. I belong in Angmar Palace, by Queen Aira’s side.”
“I see. But Theo, I respect your choice. Even if you went to Turki’s palace, I wouldn’t mind much.”
“Really?”
I was a bit shocked. Aira, letting me go that easily? Our peaceful days in Ark must have softened her.
She smiled beautifully.
“Of course. If you went to Turki’s palace, I, Queen Aira, could just take it over.”
“What?”
“I’ll send a messenger bird to Reinhardt right away, ordering an expedition to invade Turki. It’s time to end the long feud between Angmar and Turki.”
“……”
So, she’d conquer wherever I went. Aira hadn’t changed. Or rather, she had, but in a craftier direction.
“Then fetch some paper, a pen, and the royal seal.”
“You’re really going to war with Turki?”
“Yes. With their queen and prince away, now’s the perfect time for invasion, don’t you think?”
My vision darkened. Turki was no match for Angmar.
But it wasn’t to be underestimated. It was famed for its battalions of firepower-heavy mages.
And wasn’t the great Suleiman, who repelled Demon King Solomon’s advance, still alive? I couldn’t imagine Aira taking a country even the Demon King couldn’t conquer.
Even if they won after pouring in resources and troops, they might inherit ashes. That could doom Angmar too—diverted forces leaving barriers unmanned, resources cut off, letting evil hordes pour through.
No.
I had to stop this—!
“Queen Aira, Gracia is a neutral nation. Deciding on political actions, let alone war, based on events here would be a major rules violation.”
I hurriedly persuaded her. Aira tilted her chin up, as if to say, “Go on.”
“Theo, Turki’s harlot provoked us first. Should I just tolerate it? As a queen, that doesn’t sit right.”
“Provocation?”
“Serazade saying that to you wasn’t innocent. She’s trying to drive a wedge between us and profit from it. No matter your answer, she wants to sow distrust.”
Smarter than I thought.
She was right.
Serazade arranging a private chat was bound to make Aira suspicious.
If cracks formed between us and discord spread in Angmar, the neighboring nations watching from afar would benefit.
It was surprising Serazade schemed this, and even more that Aira saw through it so quickly.
Impressive.
In that light, Turki had struck first.
But jumping straight to military action seemed excessive—like stabbing someone’s gut for a flick on the forehead. Overkill.
The Church wouldn’t approve.
Aira said.
“Turki’s girl started the fight. Charging in without knowing her place. She should pay the appropriate price.”
“……”
It was so reasonable I couldn’t respond.
The world’s iron rule: give and take. If something comes, something goes.
If struck, you strike back equally. Staying passive just makes you look weak.
“But Theo, you might be right—invading Turki isn’t the best way.”
“You agree with me?”
“Even if Tarantara’s flag flies over Turki’s palace, Serazade won’t admit she’s inferior. We need a more thorough victory.”
Aira laughed elegantly—fu hu hu—but shadows on her face made her look sinister. Like the Aira awaiting the protagonist’s party on her throne.
“Indeed, Theo. Thanks to you, I’ve had a great idea. From the duel trial to Turki’s little empress. You planned all this, didn’t you, Theo?”
Then she cupped my cheeks in her palms and started pinching and pulling. I had no idea what was going on.
* * *
“Compared to your luxurious chambers, Queen Aira, this must seem cramped and shabby. Sorry I can’t offer better hospitality.”
I handed her a beer from the fridge. With two people in the small room, the air was stuffy, and no breeze today made it sweltering.
It was cheap vending machine stuff, but with ice, it’d be refreshing enough. It was Elga’s, but it was the best I had on hand.
Aira took a sip.
“Nice and cool.”
“I’ll escort you out once the sun sets and it cools off.”
“Alright. But Theo, living in such a tiny room—doesn’t it bother you?”
I glanced around. A single room—not spacious, but not cramped either.
Just right for me, but to Aira, used to grandeur, it must feel like a beast cage.
“Some guys live in even smaller spots.”
I pointed at Squirrel Kungkung.
He was spinning furiously in his glass cage. His home was less than a square yard, but he’d never complained once. Aira watched indifferently, took a few more gulps of beer, and said.
“This is a good chance, Theo. You should join us Single Numbers. Their private rooms aren’t bad.”
“Me, a Single Number…?”
“Yeah. Looks like that gift from Serazade broke through your 5th Circle wall. Your mana’s surging, and your body feels light, right?”
As expected of a master mage, Aira gauged my level perfectly. But her expression seemed somehow forlorn.