Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Mirror (5)
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“Ah, I’m starving to death.”
The familiar voice came from behind me. When I turned around, Wedin and Shuren were wheeling over a cart full of food.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
“Bro, what’s going on?”
I was shocked that they’d brought an entire cart of food, but Shuren’s sudden appearance was even more startling.
“Eh, I did a bit of networking. It’s nice and quiet here.”
Wedin portioned out food onto empty plates, and we sat on benches or leaned against the railing to fill our empty stomachs.
“They offered to sponsor me.”
Shuren downed a glass of light wine in one gulp.
He’d been separated from us and followed a beautiful noblewoman, only to find himself surrounded by a group of elegant ladies at the end of it all.
“Sponsor? What kind of sponsor?”
“Something like that. Nobles pick out promising knights and support them. Mutual benefit and all that. You get sponsorship money, learn etiquette, get introduced to good people...”
“And what do the sponsored knights have to give in return?”
When Wedin asked, Shuren frowned, clearly displeased with that part.
“Personal bodyguard duty outside of missions. They have their own private soldiers, of course, but the ‘Prius’ name seems to carry a high price these days. And they hinted it could lead to even deeper relationships, so... I bolted.”
Ugh. I couldn’t help but shudder and shake my head.
“We couldn’t do that anyway. Personal bodyguard duty?”
“And we can’t accept sponsorship money like that.”
Shuren sighed and set down his glass.
“But someone might quit Prius for sponsorship money. Being a ‘Prius alum’ carries a lot of weight.”
“Yeah, probably...”
I stared at the bustling nobles and knights inside the banquet hall.
I couldn’t even imagine the diverse and tangled thoughts swirling in there. I had no desire to dive back in.
Into my view came a silver-haired girl draped in a blue shawl, as I gazed at the hall.
She looked around as if searching for someone, then turned and our eyes met.
Her deep blue eyes widened round.
Clemence hurried toward us. Trailing silently behind her like a shadow was Kalia.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you! You ran off here, didn’t you?”
The moment she stepped onto the terrace, Clemence said.
She’d nailed it right away, leaving me waving happily with nothing else to say.
Wedin offered her some food from the cart, but she shook her head, saying she’d already eaten lightly. Instead, she picked up a cup of slightly cooled fruit tea.
“Who was that you were with earlier?”
“Oh, the daughter of a marquess my mom introduced me to. She’s my age, so we hit it off right away. She wanted to introduce me to her friends, so I got held up for a while.”
Clemence smiled happily as she talked about her new friends.
Fortunately, the people she’d met seemed nothing like the rude nobles we’d encountered.
“Those people sound decent. It’s good to know a lot of folks if you’re staying here.”
As the daughter of the Lesis ducal family, plenty of people must want to get close to Clemence. I had no doubt she’d choose her friends wisely.
“What are you talking about, Lib? I’m going back to Prion.”
Clemence set down her empty teacup and laughed. I was a bit taken aback.
“Uh... Didn’t you say you were staying with the Lesis ducal family?”
“That’s just while the delegation is here. I’m going back to Prion to finish school. And after that...”
Clemence hesitated a moment before cautiously opening her mouth.
“I’m still thinking about it, but... I might come back here and go to university.”
She scratched at her slightly flushed cheek as she said it.
Wedin, Shuren, and I all froze in surprise.
Wedin, who’d been clearing the cart after our meal, clattered the empty plates down loudly.
“University?”
“Yeah, there’s a big royal university here. It has a great reputation.”
“Didn’t know you were into studying.”
Clemence shot Wedin a glare at his words.
“I can fix my grades from now on. More than that, I want to learn more about politics and diplomacy. After this incident... I realized something.”
Clemence leaned against the bench and stared down at her hands.
“That there’s not much I can actually do...”
She clenched her hands tightly, then lifted her head.
The night breeze from outside gently rustled her puffed-up silver hair.
“So I’m going to do what I can. I want to help Grandpa, and stop my parents from going down the wrong path. To do that... I’m going to become a diplomat bridging Prius and Lesion.”
We all gaped in shock, unable to speak, and Clemence’s face gradually turned redder.
She fidgeted with her flushed cheeks, letting out an embarrassed “Ah, ugh!”
“I-I mean, that’s just what I’m thinking! I don’t know if it’ll work out. But it’s the best idea I’ve come up with.”
“A splendid idea, miss.”
Kalia bowed lightly, and Clemence’s face flushed even deeper.
“Right, it’s a great idea.”
I said it sincerely.
I’d never imagined Clemence thinking like this. Impressive.
Clemence peeked at me while cupping her cheeks.
“Really? You think I can do it?”
“What’s stopping you? The White Guard Knights and Prius folks will all help you out.”
“If you pull it off, it’ll be a huge help to the White Guard Knight. Relations with Lesion Kingdom will improve too.”
Shuren added with a smile, and Clemence nodded.
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I want.”
“Give it your best, Clemence.”
Wedin’s expression looked a bit complicated.
He still seemed unable to fully believe her resolve. But his support was genuine.
“Gonna have to study hard when you get back to Prion. Might need to take administrative officer classes at knight school.”
“Dad could help with that. He’d definitely think it’s admirable.”
I recalled the various majors at knight school, including the one training Prius administrative officers.
Dad would happily support Clemence’s dream.
“Thanks. Might be a bother when I get back to Prion.”
“At least your family’s gardeners will get a break.”
Wedin snickered with a joke, and Clemence retorted that she hadn’t given up on being a gardener.
As I watched them bicker, it suddenly hit me that I couldn’t return to Prion with my friends.
A chill ran through me, like cold air seeping into my body.
Shuren, who’d applied to the Silver Moon Knights, wouldn’t be going back either.
I turned to look at him, and he was already gazing at me, as if reading my thoughts.
Shuren turned to Clemence with gentle eyes.
“You can do it, Clemence. I won’t be able to help from Prion, but I’ll always be cheering for you.”
“Thanks, Shuren bro...”
Clemence smiled in response, then caught the implication.
“What’s that mean? Not helping from Prion. Aren’t you joining the White Guard?”
“I got into an even cooler place. The Silver Moon Knights. The strongest special task force that operates missions around the world.”
At Shuren’s calm words, Clemence and Wedin’s faces stiffened.
“Around the world?”
“Hold on, what’s that? Never heard of it. Lib, did you know?”
Clemence panicked, and Wedin snapped in anger. Suddenly, all eyes were on me.
“I... knew.”
It was hard facing Wedin’s distorting face and Clemence’s widening eyes.
I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t.
“I’m going with him.”
The moment we left the sealing chamber, the Silver Guard Knight took Miles away, and Miles followed with the look of a lamb led to slaughter.
His retreating figure looked utterly pitiful, but there was nothing I could do.
“Let’s take a short walk in the garden, Lib.”
Dad placed a hand on my shoulder and said.
I sensed it wasn’t just a simple stroll.
Leaving the Silver Moon Knights’ lounge was far simpler than entering.
Just push open the door and step out. The long, complicated maze was gone, replaced by stairs leading up to the first floor right in front of us.
Ash bounded up the stairs first.
As Dad and I climbed, Ash had already dashed outside and out of sight.
We walked the garden path thick with greenery, casually chatting about the events of the past few days.
They were already in the past, out of our hands, so we could talk lightly.
“Back then, I never thought we’d actually see a living dragon.”
“Really?”
“Despite all those rumors. I figured it was some mutant like a Gatra or something.”
Dad laughed heartily, running his right hand through his hair.
His left arm, out of its splint, hung naturally, but he said he still felt no sensation in it.
“But demons and a black dragon? Who could’ve predicted such an epic journey?”
“I was prepared for it.”
I mumbled, gazing down at the soft dirt path.
I’d steeled myself for whatever we’d face on this journey beyond Prion. Still immature, still a mess, but ready.
“You did great, Lib.”
Dad smiled and gripped my shoulder, as if answering me.
I looked up at him.
“When Kaela tried to attack the Silver Moon Knights, no one but you could move. No one else could’ve stopped that attack.”
When Kaela noticed the Silver Moon Knights’ ambush and tried to cast her spell.
I couldn’t even remember how I’d moved to block it now. Just that I had to.
“Ambushing mages like Kaela isn’t easy. You have to be prepared for sacrifices. But you stopped it.”
“Just did what I had to.”
I didn’t want to see the Silver Guard Knight or Shuren get hurt. That was all.
Dad grinned.
“Doesn’t make it easy. Even if you’d refused at the annex, I’d have understood. You’re only fifteen. You’d already been through so much, and the night before was terrifying too.”
I see. I thought quietly.
When I’d accepted Dad’s order to go with the White Guard Knight as natural, he’d smiled and patted my shoulder.
“I thought it was just my duty as the delegation’s mage.”
“I’m glad you saw it that way.”
Dad said with a laugh.
“The Silver Guard Knight praised that about you too. Hunter’s not one to compliment or ask for help, but today he did both.”
“H-He did?”
“Yeah, weird, right? He told me...”
Dad paused, as if at a loss for words, then continued.
“...that he needs your help.”
“My help?”
I widened my eyes. Dad let out a small sigh.
“He wants you to officially join the Silver Moon Knights. Asked me... to allow it.”
“Dad...”
Dad’s expression was complicated as he walked the path in silence for a while.
I followed behind, at a loss for words.