Chapter 483: The Root of the Problem
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 483: The Root of the Problem
"Did you have a good time in the Holy City, Mr. Muen Campbell?"
Under the bright lights of the bathroom, Celicia’s skin was as white as fine alabaster, appearing almost translucent. From beneath lashes dusted with silver frost, those ice-blue, crystal-clear eyes betrayed not a single ripple of emotion, resembling primordial ice that had remained frozen for ten thousand years.
Her tone, her expression, and even that frigid gaze were no different from the Imperial Third Princess—the "Ice Witch" revered by countless people—that Muen knew. There was no obvious sign of any particular feeling, yet for some reason, Muen felt an inexplicable chill creep up his spine.
Was the bathwater too cold?
Muen gave his body a little shake and forced a dashing smile onto his face.
"What... what do you mean 'good time'? Celicia, you’ve got it all wrong. I wasn't there to play; I was there on official business!"
"Official business? True, the Holy Ceremony certainly qualifies as official business. But why is it that the people who went with you to conduct this 'business' returned half a month ago?
"Oh, and by the way... I heard you traveled back in the company of Anna Kabulin?"
Celicia’s brow arched slightly.
"It seems you had quite a pleasant journey with her."
"You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever you want!"
Muen’s eyes widened as he rubbed his nose. Realizing the texture felt wrong, he remembered he was still wearing Bruce’s face. He quickly peeled off the precious human skin mask, his joints popping and clicking as his body shifted back to its normal proportions.
Resuming the handsome smile that was enough to make any ordinary girl’s heart skip a beat, Muen explained, "Celicia, you’ve misunderstood! My time with Senior was strictly professional! I stayed in the Holy City for an extra two weeks solely for the interests of the Empire. During that time, there was only work, no romance! I swear to the Goddess—if I’m lying, may my most respected teacher remain four feet tall forever..."
"Is that so?"
Celicia remained expressionless, her face giving no hint as to whether she believed him.
"Then... can you explain why you’ve broken into a young lady’s bathroom in the middle of the night?"
Muen’s smile instantly froze.
He turned his head stiffly. Beside him, Wei’er—who had been watching the drama with amusement just a second ago—suddenly flipped a switch. Her face crumpled, and she squeezed out a few pathetic, dainty tears.
"Waaaah... President, you have to give me justice! I don't even have a boyfriend yet, and I’ve been seen stark naked by this lecher. No one will ever want to marry me now!"
"..."
Who are you trying to kid?!
You were already fully dressed before I even stepped inside! I didn't see a damn thing!
Muen glared at her fiercely in protest, but he was met only with Wei’er’s mischievous, gloating grimace.
"It’s a misunderstanding..."
Muen found himself defenseless against the accusations. He could only pull a long face and play dead.
"The reason I sneaked in was because I heard you were under house arrest, Celicia, so I..."
"You were worried about me?" Celicia interrupted.
"Uh..."
Muen blinked. Looking into Celicia’s cold, unreadable eyes, he said tentatively, "Right, exactly... I was indeed worried about you—hiss! Ow, ow, ow!"
Before Muen could finish, he felt the soft little foot pressing against his chest suddenly exert a massive amount of force...
Gentlemen, I must clarify one thing first.
I am not a pervert.
Even though this foot was very cute and soft, and the toes encased in black stockings looked like works of art that made one instinctively want to grab them and admire them closely...
I am truly not a pervert.
Being stepped on this hard only produced a tiny bit of pleasure.
Yes, just a tiny bit.
"Forget it."
Just as Muen was struggling between pain and pleasure—occasionally hoping the girl’s movements might grant him a glimpse into more mysterious depths—Celicia suddenly withdrew her foot.
She turned away, her expression hidden, and casually tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"We will discuss the Holy City later. For now, follow me."
"..."
She’s just letting me off like that?
Muen blinked in shock, instinctively wondering if this was some kind of trap. The moment he stepped out of the bathroom, would Celicia drop a glass as a signal for hundreds of Royal Knights to rush in and mince him into fine, uniform bits of meat?
"I said..."
Celicia turned her head again, her cold gaze landing on Muen.
"Follow me."
"Coming!"
Muen scrambled to his feet and immediately followed at Celicia’s heels like a loyal puppy.
Behind him, Wei’er shot him a look of pure disdain. Muen simply pretended not to see it.
Gentlemen, this wasn't cowardice.
As a true gentleman, knowing when to yield and showing courtesy to a lady are the most fundamental of virtues.
...
Following Celicia out of the room, Muen realized that her actual bedroom was next door.
He simply hadn't been able to tell the difference earlier and hadn't had the time to confirm, which was why he’d entered the wrong room.
"Your Highness."
The voices of knights drifted in from outside the courtyard.
"Is something the matter? We heard a strange noise just now."
"It is nothing. Wei’er took a spill in the bathroom. Just stay at your posts."
"Understood."
The knights faded back into the darkness, faithfully carrying out their duties.
And so, in the dead of night, Celicia brought a grown man like Muen into her private chambers.
As soon as he entered, Muen looked around curiously. He found that the style of the room was completely different from Wei’er’s. There were hardly any decorations; it didn't look like the residence of an Imperial Princess at all. Everything felt remarkably austere.
The most prominent feature was a desk cluttered with a few haphazardly placed books. One was lying face down on the surface, suggesting that Celicia had been sitting there quietly reading before Muen’s intrusion.
"Working so hard even at this hour?"
"I am not like a certain playboy; I don't have much time to waste on romantic dalliances."
Celicia turned to pour some water.
"..."
"Here."
Celicia placed a steaming cup of coffee on the table in front of Muen. At the same time, she poured a cup for herself and began adding sugar cubes to the rich black coffee.
One after another. It looked like it was going to be staggeringly sweet.
"This... you’re drinking black coffee this late at night?"
"...You’re not drinking yours?"
Celicia stopped stirring with her delicate hand and looked up, staring quietly at Muen.
"I’m drinking! I’m drinking!"
Muen quickly tilted his head back and downed half the bitter coffee. The intense aroma made him feel much more alert, and the heat warmed his chilled body.
After finishing the coffee, Muen sat across from Celicia and began looking around again.
"This place looks... a bit different than I imagined..."
"What? Did you think I should be languishing in a dark dungeon, lonely and helpless, waiting for Young Master Campbell to come and rescue me?"
"No... of course not."
Muen laughed awkwardly. "I just heard that His Majesty ordered you to be imprisoned, so I..."
"It is merely house arrest."
Celicia’s movements were elegant as she took a small sip of her coffee. It seemed the massive amount of sugar satisfied her, as her icy expression softened slightly.
"Regardless of the circumstances, I am still the Third Princess of the Empire. As long as Father still recognizes me as his daughter, who would dare do anything to me?"
"True..."
Muen scratched his cheek, suddenly at a loss for words.
"Ask whatever questions you have. I cannot let you stay until morning."
Celicia looked up, her cold eyes fixed on Muen, revealing a rare glint of something meaningful.
"After all, trespassing into a Princess’s estate and forcibly entering a young lady’s bathroom are serious crimes. I would rather not have the next time I see my fiancé be behind bars."
"..."
That’s uncalled for.
It was just a small accident. Do you really have to keep mocking me for it?
Muen grumbled inwardly, then took a deep breath and straightened his back, looking the girl directly in the eye.
"I want to ask... about the current situation in Belland."
"You don't know?" Celicia asked back. "The Duke’s estate should have its own intelligence sources."
"That information is too chaotic. It’s hard to piece it all together into a clear picture."
Muen shook his head. "If you aren't at the eye of the storm, it’s very difficult to see the source of the gale. That’s why I had to ask you, Celicia. You are one of the people closest to the center of power in this country. You should understand the root of the problem better than anyone."
"Indeed, I understand it very well."
Celicia nodded. "There are many problems right now, and with so many factions involved, it looks like a mess. But in reality, there is only one true problem..."
Celicia paused for a moment, then spoke each word with deliberate weight.
"Father... he isn't going to make it."
"What?"
After taking a split second to process the explosive nature of this news, Muen’s pupils shrank. "But the reports I received only said he was 'critically ill'..."
"To the public, it can only be called 'critically ill.' What do you think the reality is?"
Celicia’s tone was devoid of emotion. Muen scrutinized her perfect face, but he still couldn't see a single ripple of feeling.
"I see... It’s because His Majesty is so close to death that certain people, who usually wouldn't dare show their faces, are starting to have ideas they shouldn't have."
Muen rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Things were looking much more troublesome and serious than he had imagined. If something really happened to the King, creating a vacuum of imperial power, the Royalist faction would naturally be at a disadvantage in this conflict.
"Damn it. His Majesty looked so healthy the last time I saw him. Why so sudden?"
Muen recalled the tall, imposing figure he had seen during his last audience. He didn't look like someone who would be on his deathbed just a few months later.
"That is not all."
"What?"
"I said, that is not all."
Celicia set down her coffee cup and let out a rare, soft sigh. "The true source of the storm brewing in Belland is actually... the struggle for that seat."
"You mean the succession conflict?"
Muen frowned. "That makes sense. If His Majesty really... in this situation, the heir to the throne would definitely be an issue... Wait, no!"
Muen suddenly realized something. "Why would that be an issue?"
The current King had only three children.
The First Prince, Albert Leopold, who suffered from a congenital brain affliction and currently had the intellect of a child.
The Second Prince, Andrew Leopold, who was perfectly normal and seen as the natural choice.
And the Third Princess, Celicia Leopold, a woman.
Given those three, there was no question who the successor should be. In fact, the entire Empire had already tacitly accepted that the Second Prince would be the next Emperor.
So why...
"Originally, it wasn't an issue."
Celicia looked out the window toward the Imperial Palace, her voice trailing off.
"But when my brother Albert’s brain affliction was suddenly and miraculously cured not long ago, it became a very big issue indeed."