Chapter 187

Perhaps taking my silence for something else, Camille spoke again.

“You may find this hard to believe, Baron, but it is true. Venizelos has sent an assassin—”

“I know.”

“Huh?”

“And that man died by my hand.”

“Is that truly so?”

Camille looked half in doubt, then shook his head.

“But that cannot be… He was no mere assassin. According to our intelligence, he was a mage who had long been active in the Knowledge Liberation Front—”

“I know that as well. As expected, he had even stolen and used one of Venizelos’s secret spells.”

“Then you truly encountered him! But how did you know he was a member of the Knowledge Liberation Front?”

“He told me himself. Asked whether I would join their cause.”

Camille’s gaze turned cold.

“Surely you did not accept that offer?”

“If I had, would I be standing here telling you all this?”

“Ah… Yes. I suppose not.”

“At first he tried to persuade me, saying he would spare my life if I joined them. But what use is that to me? If I kill him, that’s the end of it.”

Regaining his composure with some effort, Camille spoke awkwardly.

“Hmm. According to our original plan, our embassy intended to offer you proper protection, Baron. It seems that will no longer be necessary. We even went so far as to hire some quite capable mages.”

“Perhaps it is for the best. Even if you had brought a 7th-class mage, he would not have been able to defeat that man.”

“He was that skilled?”

“He was an executive of the Knowledge Liberation Front. In terms of pure ability, he was at the late 7th-class level.”

“To have defeated such a man… Baron, surely you have broken through the wall of the 8th class?”

Instead of answering, I unfolded a mana field before him.

I could not maintain it for long. The demonic chill gnawed at my body the more I channeled my power. But it was enough for Camille to grasp the extent of my realm.

A bead of sweat slid down along his temple.

“This is… truly astonishing. Just when did you reach such a level?”

“It has been a little while, in fact.”

“Does Karaf know of this?”

“As it happens, I was planning to visit Karaf soon to apply for advancement. But with turmoil breaking out in the kingdom, it no longer seems like the best idea.”

“When Karaf learns that another 8th-class mage has been born, there will be an uproar. Even among the current tower masters of Karaf, there are only a few who have reached the 8th class. Still, since you are training disciples here rather than in Karaf, Baron, I suppose there is no danger of the master of a magic tower being replaced.”

Ambassador Sapin offered his congratulations with an expression that was half relieved and half regretful.

“In any case, congratulations. Please visit the Karaf embassy sometime. I would be delighted to offer you a cup of tea.”

“I shall.”

After parting ways with Camille, I exchanged greetings with a few more distinguished guests and moved deeper into the hall.

There was someone there I absolutely had to meet.

If one has been invited to an event, it is only proper to show one’s face to the host.

Princess Roberta, the host of today’s charity function, was seated upon a splendid chair, surrounded by her attendants.

From the moment I arrived, Princess Roberta had been casting blatant glances in my direction.

As I approached, she halted her conversation and dismissed her attendants to the rear.

“I offer my deepest condolences for the unforeseen and unfortunate calamity that has befallen the sacred royal family. I pray for the swift recovery of both His Majesty and the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Baron Winslet. I have been wanting to meet you.”

Princess Roberta was three or four years younger than Estelle, and perhaps because of that, there was a certain lack of restraint in her words and manner.

In short, she was immature.

“Come a little closer. Let me see your face.”

Princess Roberta even seemed excited.

She looked thrilled to behold, up close, the most handsome man of the age, as though the tragedy that had struck her father and brother were of no concern to her at all.

At her side, the attendants who were likely assigned by the queen subtly tried to signal her to be mindful. But the youngest princess of Laurencia, who had likely grown up indulged by everyone around her, paid no heed to such looks and said:

“There’s something I’ve long wanted to propose to you. Would you consider becoming my private tutor?”

“That seems an inappropriate topic for discussion in this setting. And the only thing I know how to teach is magic. I doubt Your Highness has any particular need of magic.”

It was a tactful refusal.

But Roberta pressed on, revealing a possessive and rather sinister desire.

“Hmm. Was what I said difficult to understand? Whether I learn magic or not doesn’t matter. What I want is you, Baron.”

“May I ask why you want me?”

“I like your face. And Mother told me to draw you into my camp. And… if you become my tutor, I’m looking forward to how jealous Estelle will be.”

“Then I must refuse.”

“What?!”

“As I said earlier, this is not an appropriate topic for discussion here. This gathering is meant to express condolences for the fallen king and crown prince and to pray for their recovery. It would be best if Your Highness devoted yourself a bit more sincerely to that purpose.”

“What did you say?”

“And there is another reason. I am not inclined to accept.”

“Not inclined? To become my tutor?”

“That is correct.”

“How dare you!”

Princess Roberta growled.

She likely intended to appear threatening, but it had little effect.

The only courtesy I extended was refraining from laughing.

“I don’t know what gives you the confidence to be so defiant, but let me warn you, Baron. As long as you live in this country, nothing good will come from falling out of my favor.”

“Do you truly believe that?”

In Candela of Judgment, Roberta was a character who mistook her mother Queen Bridget’s authority for her own while at the same time living as her mother’s puppet.

In the end, she was a foolish girl destined to walk the path of self-destruction, unable to overcome her own desires and impulses.

If events followed the original storyline, her downfall was inevitable. There was no reason for me to curry favor with her or humor her whims.

Moreover, I had already built a favorable relationship with Princess Estelle, who would become Roberta’s rival faction.

“What is with that insolent attitude? You only need to do as I say. I am a princess of this kingdom and the one who will soon become queen!”

“You say queen. Is that a personal aspiration? Or part of a plan decided by Her Majesty the Queen?”

The king and crown prince’s fate had not yet been determined.

In such a situation, speaking of a new monarch could easily be perceived as improper.

Realizing her slip of the tongue, Roberta bit her lower lip.

“…It was a personal wish. Hmph!”

“A wise answer.”

“Cut it out. Who do you think you are trying to lecture right now?”

I let out a small scoff at her retort.

“Judging by what you’ve just said, even if I were to become your tutor, Your Highness would hardly be inclined to properly learn from me. I must decline the offer.”

“Y-You…!”

In the original Candela of Judgment, both the king and the crown prince died in the Royal Mile bombing incident. But in this world I came to, they both survived, so there was no telling how the future would unfold.

That was why I had come to the charity event. It was to observe how the situation was developing.

From Princess Roberta’s attitude, it seemed Queen Bridget had already given up on the prince’s chances of succession and decided to crown her own daughter as queen instead.

If that were the case, events would likely proceed according to the original storyline from here on.

Now that my curiosity was satisfied, I had no further business here.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Wait. Where do you think you’re going? Without my permission?”

“Do I require your permission?”

Princess Roberta ground her teeth.

“How rude. Come to think of it, you ignored me the last time I invited you to a banquet as well.”

“At the time, I was spending it with my fiancée.”

“And what excuse do you intend to use this time?”

“I have an engagement with my fiancée again this evening, Your Highness.”

Just before arriving at the charity event, I detected a strong magical signal calling for me.

It was coming from the summoning device I had placed inside the miniature palace I once gifted the princess.

I had told Josephine to use it only when she truly wished to see me. It seemed today was that day.

Therefore, once this event concluded, I planned to go find Josephine and Princess Estelle.

“By fiancée, you mean Lady Josephine of the Royal Guard?”

“I’m honored that you know her name.”

“I know that knight is assigned to Estelle’s protection. So if you’re going to see your fiancée now… you intended to side with them from the very beginning, didn’t you?”

“I wasn’t aware of that, but I suppose it could be interpreted that way.”

“Ha! Stop playing dumb. I already know everything. Just disappear. Right now, out of my sight.”

“With pleasure.”

As I left the venue without a shred of hesitation, our eyes met. Her eyes were burning as she glared at me.

Even though we were too far apart for her voice to reach, Princess Roberta deliberately mouthed the words:

You’ll regret this. I promise.

***

I headed toward Isola Palace, a detached residence standing alone in the southwestern corner of the royal grounds.

It was where Princess Estelle and her assigned guard Josephine were staying.

Since I had visited once before, finding the way was not difficult.

However, as I arrived at the main entrance and knocked on the door, I began to feel that something was terribly wrong.

The surroundings were unnaturally quiet.

Not even the faintest sign of movement could be sensed from within the palace.