Chapter 46
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Mage Jeremiah
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Mage Jeremiah.
He was the sub-male lead who harbored passionate feelings for Princess Ellensia.
Though her place by his side ultimately went to Nassar, he was described as the selfless figure who quietly watched over the woman he loved from afar.
The problem was that he was an extremely dangerous figure for the villainess 'Philomel'.
In the book, 'Philomel' had nearly been judged by him—not once or twice—after bullying Ellensia out of her inferiority complex about not being the real princess.
'To think that such a person of interest was siblings with him...'
The Princess Ellensia never delved into Jeremiah's family background, so she hadn't known.
As the shock swept past, irritation suddenly bubbled up in its wake.
'Why didn't they include such crucial information in the book!'
Fierce resentment toward the author of The Princess Ellensia surged within her, but now was the time to address the immediate issue at hand: Jeremiah.
'Even if I tried to stop him from leaving right now, it's obvious he wouldn't listen.'
In the book as well, Jeremiah was pathologically defiant, ignoring others' words. He had a natural rebel streak.
After agonizing over it for a while, Philomel approached Rguin.
"Rguin."
"What."
"You told me to live doing whatever I want, right?"
"I did."
"There's something I want right now. But to achieve it, I need your help. Will you?"
"Finally recognizing my true worth, eh?"
Rguin lowered his gaze to meet Philomel's eyes and let out a satisfied chuckle.
"Fine. Tell me anything."
"Keep Jeremiah from going anywhere."
"What? Are you insane? Why drag me into—"
Jeremiah's protest couldn't reach its end.
"Accepted."
Whoosh!
Because, by Rguin's hand, he had transformed into the exact same state as his brother, whom he had mocked just dozens of minutes ago.
"Mmph! Mmmphmmph!"
Though Jeremiah thrashed in fury with his limbs bound, it was sadly nothing more than futile struggling.
'I meant for him to persuade him, not tie him up outright...'
It was awkward, but the water was already spilled. Persuasion seemed impossible with someone like Rguin anyway—this might be for the best.
Philomel gave Jeremiah an apologetic look as she spoke.
"I'm sorry. Just bear with it a little. I'll let you go once I've decided what to do with you."
According to The Princess Ellensia, the two had met in the winter, some three or four months before Ellensia arrived at the palace.
Since Philomel had advanced Ellensia's appearance by about a year, they were originally meant to meet this coming winter.
Of course, worrying about the relationship between two people who hadn't even met yet might be jumping the gun.
If she just let Jeremiah leave like this, they might never cross paths at all.
'Ellensia will be residing in the palace, after all.'
Moreover, now that Jeremiah knew she was his little sister, there was a chance he wouldn't hate 'Philomel' like he did in The Princess Ellensia.
But...
'I can't let my guard down so easily.'
Since she planned to stay in the palace for the time being, Philomel intended to proceed with utmost caution.
But what if Jeremiah left and unexpectedly ran into Ellensia somewhere and fell in love? Especially now, when Ellensia already seemed subtly hostile toward Philomel—she couldn't afford to add a liability like Jeremiah to the mix.
'No choice but to keep potential risks close and manage them.'
The best option was to win him over. But if that proved impossible...
'If impossible...'
"Planning to dispose of him, are you?"
"Hey, that's the face of someone plotting to imprison him."
"..."
She was trying to think, but Rguin and Lexion interrupted.
"Phil, even you can't ask me to eliminate him. But simple confinement? I could consider that positively."
"Mmmphmmph!"
"Mmmph."
At the word "confinement" from Rguin's mouth, the two bound brothers rolled across the floor in protest.
Philomel let out a small sigh before speaking.
"For now, why don't Lexion and Cardin head inside? You've officially become court mages, so you should attend to your duties. As for Jeremiah..."
Rguin cut in, interrupting her.
"Shall I toss him into the dark void?"
"...Is that dark void place really that bad if you go in?"
"Not at all. It's cozy and nice. Nothing there at all, perfect for lying still and reflecting on yourself."
"Then do that."
Philomel nodded in agreement. She'd figure out what to do if Jeremiah couldn't be won over later.
With a snap of Rguin's fingers, Cardin was freed from his bonds.
"Hoo! Thought I was gonna suffocate!"
Cardin sprang up and stretched vigorously. His slightly tanned skin only enhanced his healthy appeal.
"Phil, call me anytime you need me! For your summons, I'll drop everything and come running!"
Philomel gave Cardin a slight nod.
Cardin laughed heartily and vanished beyond the labyrinth with Lexion.
Now, only Rguin, Philomel, and Jeremiah remained beneath the canopy.
With another snap of his fingers from Rguin, a magic circle etched itself into the floor, soon giving way to a pitch-black hole.
'Is this the dark void Rguin mentioned earlier?'
Out of curiosity, Philomel peeked inside. It was just utterly dark, without a single speck of light—nothing particularly special.
"Up you go."
Rguin strode over, hoisted Jeremiah up, and shoved him into the void as casually as if stowing socks in a wardrobe.
"Mmmphmmphmmph!"
Jeremiah, veins bulging on his forehead as he flailed, vanished into the dark hole just like that.
Philomel didn't know Jeremiah well yet, but she guessed it was something along the lines of 'Damn you old coot! I won't let this slide!'
"What's next?"
Rguin dusted off his hands and asked Philomel.
"Do I really have to stay in the palace? What about a mansion nearby?"
"You have a place in the capital?"
"I can buy one."
"Uh..."
Buying a mansion in the capital would no doubt require an astronomical sum.
Watching Rguin say it so offhandedly, Philomel was struck anew by the fact that he was the Magic Tower Master who had amassed a colossal fortune.
"No need for that much trouble. There's something I can only do if I stay in the palace."
Philomel turned her head away deliberately as she replied.
Of course, thinking of the gossipy bunch who would whisper about her if she stayed made the decision far from pleasant.
But the subject she planned to observe closely from now on was the princess.
'And the princess lives in the palace.'
Observing from afar wouldn't cut it.
"Tch, fine."
Rguin clicked his tongue reluctantly at Philomel's firm words.
"You don't like the palace?"
Philomel asked cautiously.
"The air's thick with divine power. Pisses me off."
Come to think of it, she'd heard that mana and divine power clashed.
The palace, home to the descendants of the gods, brimmed with divine power. Philomel had lived there for over a decade without discomfort, but it seemed different for mages.
"Sorry. Because of me..."
Philomel mumbled with a sullen expression. Somehow, it felt like everything was her fault.
Rguin flinched and denied it.
"No, it's not that unbearable."
"Still..."
"It's fine. As long as I don't get near that guy, it's tolerable enough."
"That guy?"
"Who else? The one oozing foul divine power just by existing."
"Ah."
Philomel easily recalled who Rguin meant.
"Then turn into a cat and head back to my room first, Rguin."
"Why?"
"I'm planning to go meet him now."
She had one issue left to resolve with Emperor Justis.
A short while later, Philomel arrived at the office and requested an audience. She'd thought he might refuse to see her, but the emperor readily granted it.
"You're here early. Without giving it more thought."
His face was grim, but unlike last time, he didn't avoid her.
"I've thought it over plenty, and I'm here to give you my answer."
Philomel sat on the sofa facing Emperor Justis and spoke carefully.
"No. Before that, I have something to say first. Regardless of your answer."
"Please, go ahead."
Emperor Justis lowered his eyes and opened his heavy mouth.
"I'm sorry."
His low voice echoed through the office.
"I've... committed a grave wrong against you. I shouldn't have said such things. I want to apologize now, at least."
The self-deprecating apology continued.
"That's not all. I've been too neglectful of you all this time. I didn't even try to see you properly, using my own misfortune as an excuse."
Emperor Justis slowly rose from his seat and approached Philomel.
"It's too late, but I want to beg your forgiveness. No— you don't even have to forgive me. Just don't vanish without a word. You're only just sixteen now. You haven't even had your coming-of-age ceremony."
In the Belleroph Empire, adulthood was recognized at eighteen. Philomel still had nearly two years until then.
"Even if I'm not your real father, I'm still your guardian. You need an adult's protection."
A gloved black hand gently rested on Philomel's shoulder. It was an exceedingly careful touch.
"If you don't want to stay by my side, I'll find a place that's more comfortable for you. But even if you avoid seeing me, stay somewhere within my reach. That way, I can protect you if anything happens."
"..."
Philomel gazed at him, unable to say a word.
"I'm truly sorry. I have no better way to express it than these paltry words."
Agony that he hadn't fully erased lingered in the furrowed crease of Emperor Justis's brow.