The Night at the Imperial Palace
The night at the imperial palace was dazzling. Music drifted in through the window of my room. The elegant melody of string instruments echoed beautifully. A lavish banquet was unfolding in the imperial palace. But I could not enter that place. I had not been invited.
I bore the name of the emperor’s son, yet I lacked the qualifications to join the imperial night. If the idiot prince were dragged into that glittering banquet hall, he would only knock over wine glasses and become the butt of the nobles’ mockery. Filling their sense of superiority with ridicule and playing along with their pretend kindness through pity—that was my role.
In that case, it was far more comfortable not to receive an invitation at all. There was no need to act, and I could secure time for myself.
I quietly sat down at the desk. The lantern flickered low. I drew the curtains to cover the room. With a slight flick of my fingertips, I moved the shadows pooled at my feet. A thin layer of darkness brushed my ankle, slipped beneath the chair, and stretched out long across the floor.
At the same time, the Shadow Information Broker I had set up in a quiet alley in the northwestern part of the imperial capital slowly lifted its head.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached. Elena van Laque stepped into the tent.
“You’ve come.”
Elena looked at me for a moment before smiling.
“Because I received a promise. Even if it was one-sided.”
I asked as if it were nothing special.
“So, what information do you want?”
At that, Elena tilted her head slightly.
“I’m not sure yet whether I came to buy information or to confirm something.”
“Then take your time deciding.”
“All right.”
She leaned over the table, as if trying to see the face hidden beneath the hood. But after spotting the white mask, her interest seemed to fade as she said,
“Not long ago, His Highness the Prince said something strange.”
“What did he say?”
“Battery.”
I said nothing. In moments like this, answering immediately was a mistake. I had to let the other party reveal how much they already knew first.
Seeing my silence, Elena seemed even more convinced.
“I never imagined there would be anyone else in this world who knew that word.”
“Do you know what that word means?”
“It’s something only those who know will understand.”
“Then, Guild Leader, you must be on the side that knows.”
“As is Your Highness.”
Elena smiled.
“Since we already know everything about each other, is there any need to wear a mask?”
I answered in a low voice.
“It’s like a habit.”
“A habit, huh.”
She rolled the word around in her mouth for a moment.
“You’re a transmigrator, aren’t you?”
At the direct question, I simply laughed.
“Haha.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“I didn’t expect you to ask so bluntly.”
“So, what’s your answer?”
“Isn’t understanding it enough of an answer?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Elena let out a small chuckle.
“So, how did Your Highness end up acting like an idiot?”
She asked without dropping her smile.
“To survive.”
She must have recalled what happened to Noel in the original story, because Elena fell silent for a moment. Then she asked in a slightly subdued voice.
“Have you never thought about using the original story’s information to become emperor?”
“No, never once.”
The answer came immediately. There was no need to think about it. Emperor. Just hearing the word made me tired. Sitting at the center of the empire, receiving every noble’s gaze, listening to ministers’ reports, and bearing the imperial family’s grudges and power struggles with my own body. Only a madman would covet such a position. Fortunately, I was not insane.
I was simply an extremely ordinary person who just wanted to survive. As comfortably as possible. As quietly as possible. While doing the things I wanted to do, if possible.
“I’m a free spirit. I don’t like being tied down in one place.”
“There’s no place more binding than the emperor’s seat, that’s true.”
Elena laughed softly.
“But acting like an idiot seems even more stifling, doesn’t it?”
“I can endure it for a little while if it’s for the sake of the time ahead.”
“A little while, you say.”
She slowly repeated the words.
“It seems like you’ve been doing it for quite a long time.”
“In the span of a long life, it’s only a little while.”
“It’s impressive that you can say that.”
It wasn’t impressive. I simply had to think that way, or I wouldn’t have been able to endure it. Acting like an idiot was both a convenient escape and a prison. No one expected anything from me. No one was wary of me. No one spoke to me sincerely. It was safe. At the same time, it slowly ate away at a person.
But I didn’t voice those thoughts. There was no need to say them.
I wasn’t lonely. I wasn’t envious. After all, people are born alone and die alone.
Elena watched me for a moment before asking in a slightly lower voice.
“Wasn’t it hard?”
I smiled.
“It seems acting suits my aptitude. Honestly, I rather enjoy it.”
The pleasure of toying with those who ignored me from behind the scenes was indescribable.
“You seem like quite a twisted person.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Elena leaned back against her chair and asked,
“Do you have any plans for the future? You called me here, so it seems you need my help.”
I asked in a low voice.
“Can I trust you?”
Elena narrowed her eyes.
“Didn’t revealing that I’m a transmigrator mean you thought I was trustworthy?”
“That was confirmation. It’s different from trust.”
“You live such a tiring life. I’m overjoyed to have finally met a fellow transmigrator.”
She winked playfully.
I flicked my finger, and a thin shadow rose from the table. A single sheet of black paper emerged from within it. It was a contract with silver letters faintly floating above it. Even in the darkness, the characters were clear.
Elena’s eyes changed. Curiosity. Wariness. And the unique greed of a merchant. The eyes of someone who had discovered a new item.
“Is this a contract?”
“Yes.”
“It doesn’t look ordinary.”
“It’s a specially treated contract. It wasn’t easy to make.”
“What effect does it have?”
“If you break the contract, you’ll have to pay a tremendous price.”
“Specifically?”
“When the contract is violated, a mana backlash occurs. It won’t end with simple pain. The greater the violation, the greater the loss. It can lead to reduced physical ability, damage to mana circuits, and even memory confusion.”
“That’s brutal.”
“It’s a necessary device for us to trust each other.”
Elena picked up the contract. Her fingers traced the edge of the paper. She quickly read through the sentences with her eyes. After reading it to the end, she said,
“It’s clean.”
Then she bit the tip of her finger. Red blood welled up. Without hesitation, she wrote her name at the bottom of the contract.
Elena van Laque.
The letters glowed silver.
The Shadow Information Broker raised its hand and dropped black mana onto the contract.
Noel de Astrea.
There was no need to use blood. My shadow magic itself served as the signature.
The contract let out a low hum. I felt as if a very thin metal chain had wrapped around my wrist.
Elena looked down at her own wrist.
“What a strange sensation.”
After staring at the contract for a moment, she said,
“Any thoughts of selling this someday?”
“I’ll consider it.”
“I hope you finish considering quickly.”
Elena folded the contract and tucked it into her bosom.
“All right. Now tell me. What do you want from me, Your Highness?”
“I’m going to run away.”
Elena’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Run away.”
“Yes. I’d like you to help me with that.”
“Why? Is there a reason you must run away?”
“To survive.”
“But you’re already surviving, aren’t you? Even while acting like an idiot.”
“That’s enduring, not living.”
Ah, emotion had slipped into my voice without me realizing. I hid it behind a smile as if it were nothing and continued.
“I want an ordinary life.”
“Hmm.”
Elena looked me up and down.
“You already seem quite far from ordinary.”
“I’ll become ordinary from now on.”
“I see. Well, if that’s what you think.”
A life where I could do what I wanted and live freely. A life where I didn’t have to calculate every single day just to survive in the middle of the imperial family’s power struggles. That was what I wanted.
“An ordinary life where I can live freely doing what I want. That’s what I desire.”
Elena remained silent for a moment. Her eyes softened a little. Was it because we were fellow transmigrators?
“Everyone becomes honest in the face of desire. All right. If that’s your true intention, I’ll help you with all my heart.”
Then she leaned forward and asked immediately,
“So what do I get out of it?”
I answered as if I had been waiting for that.
“I’ll help you become the bride of the Second Prince, Cayenne.”
“Is that beneficial for me?”
“What are you saying? You’re the one who secretly makes and collects photocards of His Highness.”
She was such a passionate fan—what was she even talking about?