Chapter 525: Tail
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 525: Tail
"Ugh, I knew it. These balls are such a bore."
After stepping out of the ballroom, Ariel clasped her hands behind her head and began to wander aimlessly.
She hadn't been to the Imperial Palace many times—only twice, following her father, the current Count Bugard. Consequently, she was unfamiliar with the palace layout. After a few turns, she had completely lost her bearings.
Fortunately, she just wanted some fresh air.
Having grown up in the shadows of the Lower District, she found it truly difficult to endure the endless rules and regulations of a ball, not to mention the nauseatingly fake smiles.
She especially loathed those pot-bellied nobles. Dressed to the nines and swirling their wine glasses, they clearly looked down on her, yet because of her status as the heir to House Bugard, they would approach her with plastered-on grins to suck up. In those moments, she wanted nothing more than to bury a fist in their piggish faces.
Moreover, she had only attended this ball to improve her relationship with Celicia. Yet, from the start of the event until now, she hadn't had a single chance to speak with her aside from the initial greetings.
She thought she might have a chance once the social dancing began—she could invite Celicia for a dance. There wasn't any rule saying two girls couldn't dance together, right? But the moment the music started and she turned around, Celicia had vanished to who-knows-where.
The royal ballroom was massive, and the nobles had brought their entire families, so if she was hiding in some corner, she would be nearly impossible to find.
Everything about this made Ariel irritable. But of course, the thing she found most unpleasant and unbearable was...
"A royal ball and they don't even have Panini cakes! It’s all these fancy pastries that look good but taste like nothing. They're all cloyingly sweet and greasy. Who actually likes this stuff? Do these people even know what 'taste' means?!"
Ariel, who had just finished devouring nearly half a long table's worth of delicacies, picked at her teeth and spoke with utter disdain.
The act of picking her teeth was far from elegant, but luckily there was no one around, so it wouldn't—hm?
Just as she rounded a corner, Ariel blinked and looked ahead in confusion.
Just now... she thought she saw someone flash past a short distance ahead.
Of course, this was the Imperial Palace; it wasn't strange to run into someone. Even if it wasn't a person, urban legends claimed there were more than a few ghosts wandering these halls... but what caught Ariel's attention was...
"That back view, and that dress... it looks so familiar..."
"Should I go check it out? But... tailing someone seems a bit wrong."
Driven by her intense curiosity and a powerful desire for exploration, Ariel hesitated seriously for exactly half a second. Then... she chose to follow.
*
"Al... Your Highness, was your behavior earlier perhaps a bit too hasty?"
Elsewhere in the palace, the maid supporting Albert suddenly spoke. She lifted her face—which was merely pleasant-looking—but it no longer held any of the reverence or submissiveness she had displayed at the ball.
"At a time like that, you really shouldn't have provoked Prince Andrew. It’s unlike you."
"It’s not that I’m hasty; it’s that my dear brother is. Ever since the news of the First Prince’s recovery spread, he’s been desperate to prove he’s better than me. But the more he loses his cool, the more ridiculous he looks."
Albert gave a nonchalant smile, though a hint of mockery flickered deep in his eyes.
"With his narrow-mindedness, being contradicted to his face must have felt like a massive loss of face. That’s enough for now."
"But our preparations aren't sufficient yet."
"We just need to speed things up. He’s stupid, but not that stupid. There’s still time."
"Will he take the bait?"
"Whether he bites or not depends on the fish's mood. However, speaking of which..."
Albert rubbed his chin, about to say something, when the sound of clinking scale armor and rhythmic footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor.
The two immediately fell silent as a squad of patrolling Royal Knights approached in a neat formation.
"Prince Albert."
The knight leading the squad brightened visibly upon seeing Albert and offered a salute.
"Are you heading back already?"
"Yes, I’m feeling a bit unwell, so I’m leaving early. It’s a shame, after Andrew went to such great lengths to organize this ball for me. I’m quite a disappointment as an older brother," Albert said with a gentle, self-deprecating smile.
"No, it is not your fault. As a prince, your health is of the utmost importance."
The knight looked at Albert with an eager expression.
"In that case, would you like me to escort you?"
"That won't be necessary. There is no danger within the palace."
"I see. Then I shall take my leave."
A flash of disappointment crossed the knight's eyes, but bound by duty, he led his men onward to continue their patrol.
"Heh. The old Prince Albert never received this kind of treatment," Albert remarked softly as he watched the knight's retreating back.
Back when he was the "brain-damaged" prince, everyone in the palace—aside from the maids and guards assigned to serve and protect him—avoided him like the plague.
It wasn't just because they feared a prince with the mental capacity of a five-year-old might give them some bizarre command; it was a disdain that came from their very bones.
He never would have been offered a voluntary escort by a Royal Knight back then.
"Your Highness, to you, these are all trivial matters."
The maid turned and asked, "What were you about to say just now?"
"I was going to say... Heh, never mind. You'll find out when the time comes anyway."
As he spoke, Albert swept a glance behind him out of the corner of his eye. A profound, enigmatic smile played across his lips. Then, supported by the maid, he continued walking at an unhurried pace.
*
"Was I... discovered?"
At the corner on the other side of the corridor, Muen, hiding in a blind spot, frowned slightly. He had caught Albert's brief glance in his direction.
He thought he had been cautious enough during the tail, but this was the Imperial Palace, after all. It was covered by a massive Restriction that made it impossible to use Mana or Fighting Spirit freely.
Consequently, his Illumination Spell was useless here. He had to rely entirely on his own formidable control to suppress his footsteps and presence.
This was also why he had used a disguise technique earlier; without using Mana, he couldn't achieve total silence or guarantee he could slip away unnoticed. He hadn't undergone formal counter-reconnaissance training, and once he couldn't even spread out his perception, movement became quite inconvenient.
But... logically speaking, even without Mana or Fighting Spirit, he shouldn't have been noticed by an ordinary person who had never cultivated a day in his life.
"An illusion? Or..."
Muen's eyes flickered.
He pondered it for a moment before setting the thought aside. There were more important things to do.
"Next... I'll follow the plan and stage a 'chance encounter' near Albert's room."
This was the result of Muen's careful consideration. If they "happened" to meet near Albert's residence, he could naturally be invited into the room.
He believed this was one of the reasons Celicia had created this identity for him and specifically brought him to the ball.
The palace was full of eyes and ears. For Celicia's sake, he didn't want to be seen contacting Prince Albert in this identity, as it might lead people to believe Celicia had completely sided with the First Prince.
Furthermore, if the goal was merely to feel him out—as Celicia had instructed—one could often learn more from a person's living environment.
"Can't delay any longer..."
After reviewing his plan once more to ensure there were no loopholes, Muen moved immediately, intending to catch up with Prince Albert, who was nearing the end of his line of sight.
But right then...
"Hey, gorgeous!"
A shout from behind startled Muen, nearly making his soul jump out of his skin.