TCML 27

Chapter : 27

This Time, I’ll Change the Male Lead

A faint light flickered above it, as if to signal that the connection had been established.

Come to think of it, it’s already been almost a month.

The promised date to take Messis with me was approaching.

“I was just about to contact you anyway. Messis, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

—Yes.

I recalled a monastery on the outskirts of the capital that I had looked into before entering the palace.

“Go to the Newol Monastery outside the capital. I’ve already registered your name there.”

—…Newol Monastery?

I nodded.

Back when we first made the contract, I had planned to keep Messis by my side until he truly came to serve me as his master.

But since I had suddenly entered the imperial palace…

For now, it’s better to hide him at the monastery and buy some time. It’d be good for him to properly learn how to control his power while he’s there, too.

In the original story, Karl raised Messis into a killing weapon by entrusting him to a dark guild.

But now that I had destroyed the original plot and become Messis’s master, I bore the responsibility of completely changing his life.

“That place was built for people like you—those who never had the opportunity to learn.”

Before entering the palace, I had used the information guild to find the most trustworthy monastery and had already enrolled Messis under his name.

“Most importantly, the abbot there is a former Holy Knight Commander. They say he was famous for his integrity even among all the past commanders, so you’ll be able to learn a lot.”

Above all, the reason I chose Newol Monastery was because of its abbot.

Among all the Holy Knight Commanders in history, he was said to be one of the most upright and capable.

Though one day, he had suddenly resigned and left the capital.

—……

Messis remained silent for a while.

He seemed flustered, but at the same time, he appeared to think it wasn’t a bad suggestion.

“I can’t explain everything in detail, but this is a decision I made because it’s dangerous for you to stay by my side right now.”

I spoke gently, as if soothing him.

“I’ve already prepared everything, so all you need to do is go there. Until I come to get you, build up enough strength to protect yourself.”

—Yes… I understand.

He accepted it surprisingly easily.

Well, staying at a monastery was probably more comfortable than serving a complete stranger like me as his master.

“Oh, by the way, where are you right now? Are you still with that merchant group?”

—Something happened to the merchant group.

“Something happened?”

—It was discovered that they recently committed a serious crime. I’m hiding in a safe place, so please don’t worry.

A serious crime…

Selling slaves wasn’t enough for them—did they commit something else too?

“Are you okay? Where is this ‘safe place’?”

If their crimes were exposed, it meant the merchant group had been uncovered or was in danger.

And if Messis was in a safe place, did that mean he had escaped from them…?

—I’m fine. This place is very safe.

But Messis didn’t explain any further. Thinking that he must have his reasons, I didn’t press him.

—I’ll be moving to the monastery soon.

“Alright. Do that.”

With a slightly troubled heart, I looked out the window.

Aside from the lights flickering from the temple supporting the back of the imperial palace, everything was shrouded in darkness.

“Messis.”

—Yes, Master.

Without realizing it, I clenched the key tightly. As if to show that Messis was listening, the key glimmered.

“No matter what, you must never forget that I am your master.”

—…Yes.

“Good boy.”

I smiled slightly, finding his obedient reply endearing.

“You’ll be much freer at the monastery than you are now, so… let me know what’s happening outside from time to time.”

Late at night, countless gazes crossed my mind—Saintess Phoebe, Aiden, the head maid, even Lina.

If I said this place, where everyone was hostile toward me and constantly testing me, wasn’t suffocating, I’d be lying.

—If I can be of help to you, Master, I will do so.

“You’ll be helpful in one way or another.”

Outside the window, the temple tower glowed alone in the darkness. Had it always been lit this late?

“If even the voice of someone whose face I’ve never seen feels comforting tonight…”

With my arms crossed, gazing at it, I muttered softly.

—……

After my words, silence flowed between Messis and me for a long time.

—Whenever you need me.

That was when it happened.

As if it were a final signal, the light from the key flared brightly—

—I will stay by your side.

And just like that, the connection was cut off.

* * *

“Why have you lost so much weight?!”

Raphael practically jumped when he saw me in the imperial garden.

Since he was studying at the Imperial Academy, we could meet like this from time to time.

“Is someone bullying you? Or are they starving you?”

“No.”

‘No’? What do you mean ‘no’? You’re nothing but skin and bones!”

Raphael clicked his tongue irritably and undid the buttons of his jacket.

“You’re not being mistreated, are you? Well, with that temper of yours, it’s hard to imagine you being pushed around…”

“It’s not that. I just have a lot of classes, so I’m tired.”

“Classes? Ah, right. The capital’s buzzing with rumors. They say you completely wrapped Madam Leita around your finger.”

He burst into a hearty laugh.

Oh, so that’s how the rumor spread?

In many ways, it was a rumor that benefited me—especially in high society, where I’d eventually appear as the future Crown Princess.

“By the way, is everyone doing well? Nothing unusual?”

“Nothing unusual? That’s a joke. Honestly, it’s safer inside the palace right now. The capital’s in complete chaos.”

“Why?”

“Because of the slave merchants.”

Stretching lazily, Raphael continued.

“With the Crown Prince stepping in personally, illegal merchant groups have practically been wiped out. Most of them are already dealt with, but there’s one group that got caught smuggling Loquorum.”

“Oh, that poisonous plant only the Ratan tribe supposedly knows about?”

I had heard of Loquorum before.

A poisonous plant said to grow only on Cretin Island, where the Ratan tribe lived, rumored to dry a person up until they died.

No one knew what it looked like, where exactly it grew, or how it was used.

“They say even among the Ratan tribe, only a few know what Loquorum really is. Just obtaining it is impressive.”

“There were rumors that the owner of the Morbel Merchant Group was actually a Ratan—and one with immense magical power, at that.”

Raphael chuckled, as if even he thought it sounded ridiculous.

It was just a joke born from how little was known about the merchant lord.

“Well, they’re as good as dead now. The Crown Prince was already watching them closely.”

—

—Something happened to the merchant group.
—It was discovered that they committed a serious crime.

—

Ah. So that was what Messis had meant.

“So what’s happening to that merchant group now?”

“They’re probably hiding. The fact that they’re still holding out means the leader must be quite something…”

He clicked his tongue softly.

“Poor bastards. Of all people to get caught by, it had to be Lucius. Tsk.”

For some reason, I recalled how Babel, who occasionally visited me, had looked quite exhausted lately.

If Babel was like that, it meant Hyperion was deeply involved in this matter.

Wait. Come to think of it, Karl must be looking for that merchant group too.

Since I had taken Messis from him, Karl would surely seek out that group again in search of a Ratan slave.

—

—Ah, this is something I’m telling only you, my lady…

—

A memory suddenly flashed through my mind.

—

—On the third weekend, at two o’clock, the final market will open in the western alley.

—

“Raphael, do you have a pen and paper?”

“I do, but why?”

I smiled lightly at him.

“To help His Highness the Crown Prince.”

It was a chance.

A chance to take down both the slave merchants and Karl at once.

* * *

“Saintess, what seems to be the problem?”

“I’m fine, Karl. I’m just a little tired.”

Karl looked at Phoebe, who lay weakly on the bed, with concern. Her pale skin looked deathly white.

“As soon as she made contact with Lady Veritas, a strange flash erupted. Since her body is already weak, it seems she exhausted her vitality.”

Aiden, standing by her side, let out an irritated sigh.

“A flash? Could it have been a rejection caused by the Saintess’s divine power?”

“I’m not sure, but it felt like… something dirty splashed back.”

“That’s enough, Aiden. Stop. You got scolded by Leon because of me, didn’t you?”

The Saintess soothed Aiden, who was still visibly upset.

“How is that your fault? It’s because that woman didn’t know her place and dared to poke around our lord’s office.”

As he spoke, Aiden gently stroked the Saintess’s pale face.

“It’s the first time our lord has ever gotten that angry at me. He’s been acting strange since that woman came.”

“Even so, don’t do anything that upsets Leon. Lady Veritas must have been so hurt and frightened to barge into his office like that.”

“Still… how can a noble lady be so ill-mannered?”

Hearing their conversation, Karl’s expression subtly changed.

“Karl, what’s on your mind?”

“Ah, Saintess. I was just reminded of what happened in the plaza not long ago.”

Aiden, remembering it as well, let out a short hum.

“You mean the day you kidnapped—no, spoke with the young lady?”

“Yes. Even then…”

Karl frowned, clearly unsettled.

—

—A normal human would lose consciousness immediately.
—The magic didn’t work on the young lady.

—

Just like then, the sleep-inducing herb infused with magic hadn’t worked on Kaella.

“Magic didn’t work on Lady Veritas.”

“What? That’s impossible.”

Aiden laughed in disbelief.

“Magic only doesn’t work on those with divine power.”

“Yes. And in Ignis, there are only two such people.”

Aiden and Karl spoke at the same time.

“His Highness the Crown Prince… and the Saintess.”

A cold silence suddenly settled over them.

“It must have just been a coincidence.”

Phoebe slowly sat up.

“There are times when sleep herbs are imbued with faulty magic.”

Her hand movements as she draped a shawl over herself seemed unusually sharp.

“The festival is coming up soon. Sir Karl, I prepared something special this time—how is the response?”

As she walked toward the window, Phoebe deliberately changed the subject.

The temple was filled with people who had gathered to receive gifts ahead of the festival.

“The response is excellent. Praise for the Saintess’s grace is overflowing everywhere.”

“That’s a relief.”

Phoebe smiled in satisfaction and turned to Karl.

“I called you because I wondered if there was a gift you wanted as well.”

“For me… I’m not sure…”

“Shall I guess?”

Karl couldn’t quite read Phoebe’s expression.

A shadow of night obscured half her face.

“You haven’t been able to meet Lady Kaella Veritas since she entered the palace.”

“…Yes. That’s true.”

“You were engaged for quite a long time. Don’t you have something left to say to her?”

“But now Kaella is in the imperial palace. I can’t see her.”

Karl lowered his gaze and smiled bitterly.

—

—Your Highness, get back!

—

Once again, the memory flashed through Karl’s mind.

Kaella rushing toward Hyperion was etched with unnatural clarity.

He had thought she was a woman he could discard for the sake of his future…

So why wouldn’t that thought fade?

“Wait for me at the top of the holy tower on the last day of the festival. The gift I prepared for you will be there.”

“Ah… no, Saintess.”

Realizing what Phoebe was implying—perhaps even bringing Kaella there—Karl shook his head.

“Now that her engagement to His Highness the Crown Prince is decided, even meeting her would—”

“The engagement ceremony hasn’t been formally held yet.”

“…What?”

Phoebe slowly stepped into the brighter light.

“That means there’s still time to turn things around, Sir Karl.”

“What do you mean by that?”

For a moment, Karl could only stare at her, speechless.

Now that both sides of her face were visible, her expression—

“I’ll help you.”

—was chillingly unsettling.