Chapter 105
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Chapter 105
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Grand Archmage's House Call (1)
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“Lately, Big Brother's been acting strangely, Sis.”
A dazzling chandelier adorned with magic stones poured brilliant light into the parlor.
On the table sat a three-tiered cake and a tea set filled with mana-restoring brew that cost a gold bar per drop, all ostentatiously arranged.
It might look like the extravagant tea time of some naive young lady oblivious to the world.
But the atmosphere in the room was far from such an innocent gathering.
Knights stood vigil at each corner of the room and around the table.
The air thrummed with lethal tension, as if a single cough would prompt swords to be drawn.
In the midst of it all sat half-siblings facing each other.
“Ever since the Grand Archmage inauguration, his complexion has noticeably improved—not that that's the point. He's been on an aggressively bold rampage, like he's making up for all the time he stayed out of the spotlight.”
The intellectual-looking man tapped the table lightly with slender fingers.
“The day before yesterday, he observed the Imperial Knights' training. Yesterday, he had a private meeting with Albert, who's about to be appointed captain of the Imperial Mage Corps.”
“Hmm~”
“And today, he's been reviewing the Finance Ministry's budget proposal since dawn. You'd never believe this is the same man who spent more time lying down than upright.”
Third Prince Cedric Belhart fixed his opponent with a cool gray gaze through his monocle.
His neat silver hair, impeccable attire, and sharper-than-most intellect drew in countless rational nobles.
He approached everything with calculation, valuing ability over bloodline.
The third prince, Cedric, rarely stepped outside his allotted palace.
For him to come in person meant the situation was that serious.
Yet the woman across from him didn't seem to think so.
“So, that's why you've come to ruin my precious tea time?”
She had listened quietly to Cedric's words, then set down her teacup and spoke in a soft, honeyed voice.
First Princess Isabella Belhart tilted her head slightly.
Luxuriant platinum hair cascaded in waves below her collarbone.
Between the strands gleamed eyes like burning sunlight.
Among the empire's three great beauties, hers was the most breathtaking, overwhelming viewers to the point of breathlessness.
So noble was her bearing that anyone would fall instantly in love, drop to their knees, and yearn to kiss the back of her hand.
But.
“Looks like my cute little brother really wants to fall behind.”
Her personality was the absolute worst.
Another nickname for First Princess Isabella was the Imperial Mad Dog (though uttering it in her presence would get your tongue cut off).
A vicious mood-swinger, she had to possess anything she wanted, no matter how.
She tired of things quickly and discarded them without mercy.
If anything irked her even slightly, she'd personally punish the offender regardless of status—a sadist without peer.
And she spared no one.
Not high nobles, not even fellow royals like her own siblings.
Years ago at a social gathering, she'd slapped the cheek of the Fourth Prince, who was slyly trying to ingratiate himself, drilling etiquette into him proper. Every noble knew of it.
The tale of her grabbing the young Fifth Prince running down a hallway, deeming his tutor incompetent, and whipping the tutor on the spot had long spread quietly.
And when the Second Princess drew more attention than her at a ball one night, Isabella had burned the entire dress shop to ashes the next day, shocking everyone.
Few in the Belhart Empire could meet the eyes of this temperamentally shattered princess without flinching.
“If you're gunning for the throne too, Sis, wouldn't Big Brother Calian be your biggest eyesore?”
Cedric was one of those few.
“After all, he's the eldest. If we play the legitimacy card, none of us...”
“Ha, legitimacy?”
Isabella scoffed.
“What threat is a halfwit who can't handle a scrap of mana? Healthy or not, trash spawn stays trash spawn.”
The first princess flashed her yellow eyes and glared at her brother.
“Frankly, you're the slimy little serpent who bugs me more.”
“...”
“I could gouge out your eye right now and make that monocle fit proper.”
At her words, the knights behind Isabella openly exuded killing intent.
Not to be outdone, Cedric's guards placed hands on their sword hilts.
A powder keg ready to explode into bloodshed.
The parlor brimmed with taut hostility—right then.
“Ex, excuse me, Your Highness.”
A trembling voice came from outside.
“Sir Bellus requests an audience... May I let him in?”
The murderous tension evaporated like water on a hot stone.
Isabella elegantly lifted her teacup to her lips and replied.
“Let him in.”
The parlor door opened, and in strode a knight clad in full plate mail.
Swordmaster Bellus, who had forsaken the Imperial Knights' honors to remain Isabella's first sword.
One of the few talents the wild princess truly cherished for years.
“So, what is it?”
Isabella's tone softened slightly.
“Important enough to interrupt my tea time?”
“My apologies, my liege.”
The knight knelt on one knee before the first princess, head bowed, and reported.
“Moments ago... First Prince Calian collapsed while attending to state affairs.”
“...!”
Cedric's eyes widened for the first time.
Isabella, meanwhile, merely smiled with intrigued amusement.
“Oh my.”
The princess jerked her chin at her brother.
“See? I told you Big Brother Calian wasn't even competition. Couldn't even defy fate before dropping. Ahahaha!”
“...Sis.”
Cedric's eyes narrowed.
“You didn't... already make a move, did you?”
“Oh, come on~ Even I wouldn't stoop that low, little brother.”
Isabella shrugged.
“I want to enjoy the fun a bit longer first.”
She pointed her fork at Cedric, twisting her lips into a smirk.
“Frankly, you're the one who looks suspicious.”
“...What are you getting at?”
“Come on~ Isn't sneaky poisoning or staging accidents your specialty? All those dirty tricks.”
Isabella mimed slitting her throat.
“Even making that cute little Celestina jump in fright and flee to Elterion Academy? All your doing, right?”
“Haha. Misunderstanding. Total misunderstanding.”
Cedric smiled wryly and shook his head.
“Besides, I don't do things so openly and flashy.”
“Hmm.”
“If it were me, it'd be quieter. Slower. No one the wiser until he withered away.”
Collapsing in public during state affairs? Too contrived, too loud, he added with a shrug.
Isabella burst into a chuckle at her shrugging brother.
“Sure~ I suppose so.”
The first princess popped cake into her mouth, murmuring with interest.
“Deep down, you and I aren't so different, are we?”
“Long time no see.”
I'd just finished touring the drama club and was heading back to Linea Hall.
“First time since the inauguration, right?”
No sooner had I stepped outside than Senior Miriel blocked my path.
After some outdoor activity and racking my brain, I was exhausted to death—why was she doing this now?
“We're both top of our years representing them. We should meet up more, exchange ideas...”
“Get to the point.”
Fatigue made my voice sharper than intended.
“I'm tired.”
“Okay, okay! Geez, your personality...”
Miriel flinched in surprise, then let out a deep sigh.
Come to think of it, no other students trailed her today.
She'd set aside her usual academy queen haughtiness.
“Truth is, since the Grand Archmage inauguration, Second Prince Adrian's been hounding me nonstop. Asking when I'll set up a meeting.”
“And?”
“Wh-what do you mean 'and'...?!”
Miriel chewed her lip and stepped closer.
“P-please.”
“...?”
“Just once. Meet Second Prince Adrian just once.”
Her voice trembled like it had in the palace.
“Whatever you want, name it. On the Adrian house's name, I'll make it happen. Money? Magic stones? Or...”
“I don't really want anything.”
If anything, maybe time.
Yeah, uninterrupted time to sprawl out and sleep.
“Besides, you already met Second Prince Adrian at the inauguration.”
“B-but we barely talked...”
“And it's obvious one meeting won't end it.”
I turned to dodge, annoyed, but Miriel desperately blocked me again.
“Haa...”
She rubbed her dry face in frustration and hung her head.
“I should've taken you to the palace sooner.”
“...?”
“His Highness kept pressing, but I've been holding him off until now.”
But she'd reached her limit.
Miriel looked utterly drained as she said it.
“Drag this out more, and His Highness will come to the academy himself.”
Uh... that sounded extremely annoying.
“You glimpsed his personality. He'll pester you endlessly no matter what you do.”
Miriel looked up at me.
Her usually confident eyes shook with desperation now.
“Better to go with me now and avoid the hassle, right?”
“...”
“After today, I'll fend him off for a while longer. Please? For my sake.”
Her sincerity shook me—just a little.
I hadn't realized she'd been buffering Second Prince Adrian for me all this time.
...But that didn't change my situation.
Annoying was annoying.
No, I decided, lips parting to refuse—right then.
“Ah! There you are, Miss Lunaris!”
A familiar voice rang from above.
-Thud!
A heavy impact kicked up a cloud of dust.
Miriel and I both startled back.
I parted the dust cloud with a gust from natural mana, revealing a familiar face.
“...Vice-Captain Albert?”
Why'd he fall from the sky?
Wait, more importantly—this was the academy.
“What brings you here? Black Mages?”
“No time to explain.”
Vice-Captain Albert approached, his usual sly grin gone, face pale as death.
“Come with me to the palace right now. Immediately.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden...”
I tilted my head in confusion, and he spoke in a quavering voice.
“First Prince... Prince Calian has collapsed.”
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