Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Imperial Capital Karnias (6)
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Having finished his audience with the Emperor and even the surprise duel with Edella, the only thing left on the schedule was the banquet.
For Sion, it was a banquet she dreaded so much that death seemed preferable, but there was no refusing an invitation from the Imperial Family.
"Rion, do I really have to wear something like this?"
"No choice, Cloe..."
In the end, Sion and Cloe were heading to the banquet hall in dresses that didn't suit them at all.
"Why do I have to wear something this stuffy too?"
"Because Linie's casual clothes don't fit a banquet."
And that, too, alongside two unwanted guests she had no desire to be with.
'Why are these two coming along...'
During their stay in the capital, Sion had done her best to avoid Karl and Linie.
But the more she distanced herself, the more persistently Linie stuck to her.
What made Sion even more uncomfortable was the clear suspicion underlying that behavior.
'Seriously... I'm never coming back here.'
The trip to the capital had already seemed exhausting, but Linie and Edella's presence made it far worse.
The schedule in the capital would end with attending this banquet anyway.
Sion vowed to bolt from the capital the moment the banquet was over and slack off to her heart's content.
And watching Sion's retreating back was an elf with two eyes of different colors, glaring at her.
'Just as I thought, she's still conscious of my gaze.'
Linie, who had been wary of Rion from the moment they first met, now had her guard up even higher.
'Is that her real face? Or a disguise...?'
Though questions big and small still lingered, Linie had succeeded in confirming that the girl before her was Sion.
And the hero watching those two.
"Hey, Linie."
"...What."
"If you want to get friendly, staring isn't gonna cut it. Try talking to her."
"Hah?"
"Want me to play middleman? I'm kinda close to Rion."
"Buzz off."
He continued saying nonsense, oblivious to the mood as always.
The Grand Archmage who just wanted to go home and rest,
The elf lost in strange delusions,
And the hero unaware he was hated.
The three saviors of the world sadly didn't realize they weren't exactly normal themselves.
"Rion, try some of this."
"I'm good... The palace food never suits my taste anyway."
"Is that so? Well, yeah, it's definitely not your type."
The banquet was nothing special.
There was a short speech from the Emperor at the start,
Followed by music filling the air as everyone danced and enjoyed the food.
"Do you need anything?"
"No... Oh, just one more glass of that juice..."
"Right away."
For Rion, who disliked the food and had no interest in dancing, the banquet hall was just an empty shell.
Moreover, since this banquet celebrated the success of the Vestia Mountains operation, the actual hero Rion couldn't easily slip away.
"Rion, wanna dance with—"
"No."
After flatly rejecting the hero's invitation to dance, Rion sat at the least conspicuous table, downing juice.
It wasn't to her taste either, but in a place where she had nothing else to do but quench her thirst, she couldn't give that up.
It was while Rion was blankly killing time like that.
"Would you care for a dance with me?"
The one who approached Rion was a graceful young lady with black hair flowing around her.
"Uh... Your Highness the Princess?"
"Yes."
The last image Sion remembered of Edella was her fleeing after losing the duel.
After that, Edella hadn't appeared near Sion, nor at the banquet's start.
But now, she suddenly showed up.
[I challenge you to a duel!]
Sion figured it wasn't for any positive reason.
"Don't dances... usually involve a man and a woman?"
"Dance is just about connection. It transcends gender."
Besides, Edella was one of the people in this palace—right up there with Linie—who least welcomed her presence.
"Well... I'm not much of a dancer..."
"Oh? I'll lead then."
"Umm... Truth is, I hate moving my body..."
The spot where the two sat was in the corner of the banquet hall, at a table out of sight.
There was no need to worry about prying eyes, but looking at Edella still wearing her princess face only made Sion's heart more uneasy.
"Then, shall we talk for a bit?"
"Uh, well..."
Before she could answer, Edella sat across from her.
Faced with her flawless smile, Sion couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"Rion."
And then, the words from Edella's mouth were.
"Please take me as your disciple."
"...Pardon?"
Completely out of left field for Sion.
In the past, back when Edella hadn't yet realized her magical talent.
"No!"
Unlike her current poised demeanor, Edella back then was a wild child in the palace, more than deserving the tomboy label.
"Your Highness..."
"No! It's a hassle! I wanna play with big brother!"
"Crown Prince Highness has just returned from abroad... We should give him time to recover."
Siblings born to the imperial family usually competed to become emperor, but Edella's generation was different.
The eldest prince was the firm heir to the throne.
The second prince had no interest in the throne and entrusted himself to the Holy Kingdom to become a cleric.
In the midst of that, the youngest, a girl, coveting the throne?
Edella had no such intention, nor the power or backing for it.
"No! Nooo!"
"Your Highness..."
As a result, the palace became a peaceful place free of intrigue, and Edella grew up as the beloved youngest.
"Tch..."
Of course, it wasn't the environment Edella wanted.
Edella desired a life different from ordinary girls her age.
She had no interest in cute dolls or pretty jewels.
What she truly wanted was to leave the palace and travel the world.
That's why she loved hearing stories from the Crown Prince who roamed the continents.
"Then let's go outside the palace! Let me!"
"Your Highness... His Majesty won't forgive that!"
For Edella, with her unconventional mindset, the palace felt far too narrow and stifling.
That's why she snuck out alone on a reckless adventure,
Oblivious to the Eastern Continent assassins lurking around the capital targeting her.
"So, what do we do with the princess?"
"Take her to the nest. Then use her as a hostage to negotiate with the Empire."
Terror.
Edella felt fear for the first time in her life.
And she realized not everyone loved and cherished her.
Finally, she learned that without the power to protect herself, true freedom was impossible.
"What are you— Gaaah!"
"Wait, why are you— Aaaah!"
The one who saved such an Edella was a Grand Archmage wandering the continent aimlessly.
"Mm...? A kid, huh..."
She didn't know who her savior was back then, but the magic he unleashed remained vividly etched in her memory.
Blood-soaked robe, suspicious mask covering his face, eerie echoing voice.
Despite all the off-putting elements, Edella felt a strange pull.
Because the eyes glimpsed through the mask's gap, holding starlight, were utterly beautiful.
She later learned that figure was the Grand Archmage called Sion.
After returning to the palace, Edella began studying magic, and fortunately, her innate talent allowed her skills to grow quickly.
She even stubbornly demanded to be taken as Sion's disciple to see those starlit eyes again.
"After losing to you in that duel, I thought long and hard."
Why did Master Sion choose you as a disciple instead of me?
"The answer was simpler than I thought."
The answer was incredibly simple.
Rion was simply more talented and stronger than her.
And Edella had clearly seen it in the duel.
Not quite like Sion's, but definitely sparkling like starlight—Rion's eyes.
"Rion, forgive my past rudeness!"
This girl called Rion had already reached the realm Edella yearned for.
If Master Sion wouldn't accept her, she at least wanted to learn from Rion.
Sion couldn't help but be flustered by Edella's sudden plea to become her disciple.
"Please! Take me as your disciple, Rion!"
Because Edella's eyes now were exactly like the ones she had once gazed at Sion with.
While Sion was talking with Edella.
While Sion conversed with Edella, Cloe, left alone, received an unexpected guest.
"Why have you come to see me?"
Like Sion, this guest wasn't someone Cloe had been expecting.
And their relationship was far from friendly.
"Just had something to say."
The elf with hair like rippling water and heterochromatic eyes—Linie.
"Hey, wanna do a job with me?"
With those words, she extended her hand toward Cloe.