Chapter 51: Three Weeks Later — 7 PM, A Moonless Night
3 weeks later, 7 PM. A night shrouded in dark clouds, not even moonlight piercing through.
In the house controlling Laura's Full Moon's Curse, I sat alone in a chair, quietly awaiting my guest.
Creak…… After a long wait, the door slowly opened.
Entering from beyond was an elderly man who appeared at least seventy years old.
“You’ve arrived.”
I adopted formal speech for appearances’ sake.
Borrowing the power of mimicry, the Second Prince of the Robelium Kingdom—disguised as this old man—set his cane aside, straightened his hunched back, approached, and sat facing me.
“I didn’t expect you to have vaguely discerned my intentions. I’d heard you rarely show yourself, but your grasp of the political landscape is impressive.”
“Unlike the past, there’s only one changed variable, is there not?”
“When we crossed paths briefly at the Cathedral, I didn’t deny your speculation…… So, I may take your waiting here for me as tacit permission?”
“Of course.”
I smiled faintly.
The kingdom’s princes, mere pawns on the empires’ chessboard, harbored no true attachment to the throne.
It was all for show, after all.
The noble title of prince was nothing more than qualification to serve as a proxy piece for each empire.
Thus, the princes of the kingdom—backed by their factions—put on a show of snarling at one another……
But in the end, they always converged on decisions beneficial to the kingdom.
Until now, with the Ernes Empire as the sole power, it had been little more than a decorous princely civil war. But now, with the Elmark Empire entering the fray—having abandoned the two kingdoms to defend only the Obern Kingdom—the dynamics had shifted dramatically.
After all, if ascension to the throne was a foregone conclusion in the hands of the Ernes Empire, how much more could they extract by escalating the conflict?
But now, a clear rival had emerged.
However, Elmark had only recently eliminated its southeastern threats, while Ernes had long extended its influence over the two kingdoms. To lure Elmark into confidently selecting its support……
A solid justification was essential.
Especially in Robelium, where only two princes remained as viable successors—pawns—making it the most critical front.
To that end, I had approached Inas den Proissen Robelium, the Second Prince backed by the First Prince.
Why? Because the First Prince was supported by the Alfred family.
If a prince under such imperial patronage sought to break from Ernes’s embrace, Elmark could extend its hand without hesitation.
From the kingdom’s perspective, this would stoke competition, ensuring better rewards regardless of who claimed the throne—a clear win.
But to achieve it, they needed a collaborator undaunted by the Alfred family’s position or the imperial gaze.
And as that collaborator……
‘No one more fitting than Brutein’s heir.’
Indeed. What Brutein blood couldn’t countenance made me all the more ideal.
That very fact had Ferzen’s deeply entrenched ego demanding I abort this meeting immediately, but I forcibly suppressed it.
I wanted to live.
“Then trust in me. On May 7th, at the Ernes Empire’s imperial banquet, I shall become the empire’s most wretched fool, daring to scorn Brutein’s second son. But as it’s mere theater, show no mercy to the knight who steps forth to defend my paltry honor.”
“That knight……”
As I opened my mouth to say I’d choose him—
“I’ve already selected him. Sir Ciel Midford…… You may not know him, but he hails from fallen nobility—practically a commoner with only a name. He has no honor to lose, making him ideal.”
“……”
“More than that, things proceeding so smoothly is unnerving. I believed there was little chance of swaying you, with the First Prince backed by Alfred…… But I never imagined you’d propose first. Isn’t Brutein’s foremost creed to avoid anything detrimental to the imperial family?”
Perhaps feeling awkward now that his probing visit had serendipitously landed in his lap, the Second Prince cleared his throat needlessly.
“I am Brutein’s heir, but my current fief is Ruerg. I trust that suffices as answer.”
“Is that so……”
“Indeed.”
The Second Prince had asked me to show no mercy, but I had no such intention.
Even in theater, accidents happened.
Killing Ciel Midford while eroding Alfred influence and checking the Claudia family—a triple gain.
A once-in-a-millennium opportunity.
I couldn’t let it slip.
With one of Robelium’s pawns defecting to Elmark, imperial scrutiny would intensify somewhat, but the Second Prince would provide the justification……
The real issue was facing my brother—who’d surely grab the back of his neck in dismay—after attending the banquet as Ruerg’s lord.
‘I’ll worry about that later.’
Deeming the clandestine meeting sufficient, I rose from my chair.
The Second Prince followed suit.
“No one expects Brutein blood at the banquet. The reactions that night will be a sight.”
Gripping his cane, he hunched his back once more.
“Your Highness.”
“Speak.”
“Take the cane in your left hand and step forward three paces, if you please.”
“……?”
“Surely such a simple request isn’t too much?”
“Well…… Is there special meaning to it?”
Puzzled yet compliant, the Second Prince—as he had entered holding the cane in his right hand for three steps—now switched to his left and took three steps forward.
I’d debated pointing it out from the start but held back to avoid souring the mood, suppressing my OCD flare-up. With a genuine smile, I bid him farewell and stepped outside.
“……”
The rain continued to fall.
* * * * *
Knock knock.
‘……?’
8 PM. At the knock echoing from outside, Laura felt a mix of puzzlement and caution as she stroked the altar, opening the subspace and radiating mana to activate the corpse.
With the recent attack, she couldn’t help but be wary of a visitor at this late hour.
Moreover, the drizzling rain outside lent the atmosphere an eerie chill, leaving Laura……
……Laura!
She startled.
……How long are you going to keep Mom waiting outside!
“R-right, r-right now! O-opening……!”
Laura panicked.
At this hour, why had her mother—who should be in Rosenberg—come to the Academy dormitory?
Come to think of it, she’d heard the Claudia and Alfred families’ wedding was today.
Invited and attending, perhaps?
‘If she was attending, she could’ve at least sent a letter in advance……’
Click!
“P-please…… come in……”
“Got yourself a man, and you’re not even happy to see your mother after so long. We have much to discuss—come, let’s sit.”
“Th-that……”
She’d altered the letter to invite misunderstanding, but only to seem like harboring ordinary affection.
Yet her mother blurting out “got a man” suggested she’d interpreted it rather exaggeratedly.
“Sit.”
“……”
“Put the corpse back in the coffin and store it in the subspace.”
“Yes……”
Meekly, Laura obeyed her mother’s instructions.
Her father was far too mild-mannered, while her mother was the very picture of a strong-willed matriarch—making her several times more intimidating than her father.
“Laura, what is it you want?”
“Pardon?”
“Ruerg Count.”
“……”
“To gift a blessed instrument for free…… He must fancy you greatly.”
“It’s! M-my…… o-one-sided…… c-crush!”
Because of the letter’s contents, the piano Ferzen had forcibly sent to Rosenberg could be seen in that light……
Laura only realized it now.
“I attended the Claudia-Alfred wedding today and spoke with Ruerg Count……”
“Yes……”
“He said instead of you coming to Rosenberg, he occasionally visited for private lessons?”
“Ah……”
Bound by the Full Moon’s Curse, she had no choice—but Ferzen had crafted the perfect excuse. Laura nodded in affirmation.
Smack!
“Ow!”
Smack!
“I-it hurts……!”
“Think how much this mother’s heart hurts!”
At the sudden smack on her back, Laura grimaced and tried to flee, but her mother’s arm—befitting a tough woman—held her fast.
“You’re an unmarried virgin already yielding your body to a married man—do you give no thought to the consequences?”
“Y-yes……?”
“I hoped against hope, but perhaps he sent that piano out of mere guilt, not affection.”
“N-no……”
“Always so composed and cautious, yet in love, you give everything without a thought for tomorrow.”
Did her mother truly believe those “private lessons” weren’t for study, but secret trysts?
This was overimagination if she’d ever seen it. Face flushing crimson, Laura declared loudly.
“I-I! Am s-still…… a v-v-virgin!”
“You, denying it even now……”
“R-really…… I a-am! N-never…… m-mingled bodies with the p-professor!”
Squeals like pigs and dogs.
Fingers licked with care.
Changing clothes right before her eyes.
Prodded in the rear, bursting into tears.
Tied with ropes, mouth gagged with a ball……
Impure acts aplenty, but she’d truly never gone all the way. Laura insisted on her innocence.
“……”
Veronica Riel Reina Rosenberg, seeing her daughter deny it so vehemently, wondered if she’d misjudged. Her anger softened.
Nay, it fully dissipated.
If it was true—if Laura had merely harbored personal affection and maintained a chaste relationship……
That alone meant Ferzen had fallen for her daughter deeply enough to gift a blessed piano to the Rosenberg domain for free.
“Oh my……”
Now she saw: her worries were needless.
Her daughter had been handling the man with shrewd finesse all along.