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Chapter 21
The rumor that Tien had destroyed the Mage Tower sent the entire social circle into a state of tension. The family that had been fully supporting the Mage Tower’s research was none other than the Namaretti Marquis family.
The Namaretti family was the maternal family of the First Prince and the current Empress, Radana. Since Radana became Empress, they had rapidly expanded their influence, and with her giving birth to the First Prince, Euclid, their power had steadily grown.
To attack the Mage Tower, backed by the Namaretti family, was nothing less than an act of hostility against the Marquis family itself. People were convinced that, if it weren’t for the Elopezz family, the Namarettis would have already been wiped out.
Those who had looked at the Namaretti family with envy because they were the Empress’s maternal family secretly rejoiced at Tien’s actions.
“All the research at the Mage Tower was rather suspicious anyway. Good riddance.”
“Honestly, if you ignore the fact that they’re the Empress’s maternal family, they’re not much of a family at all.”
“That’s exactly why they’re formidable. Just wait until the First Prince ascends the throne… their influence will soar…”
“Which brings me to this—could it be that the Duke Elopezz family is trying to side with the Second Prince? Otherwise, there’s no way Tien would attack the Namaretti family so openly.”
Reactions were divided into two: those who believed the Elopezz supported the Second Prince, and those who thought Tien Elopezz had acted on her own initiative. Either way, even the rumor that the Elopezz might side with the Second Prince unsettled Empress Radana.
Unlike the Empress, who kept her composure, the First Prince Euclid revealed his violent temperament and raised his voice.
“What in the world are Your Majesty’s thoughts?! Using this incident as an excuse, you could have thrown the Elopezz princess out of the Mage Tower! Yet you do not hold her accountable?!”
Euclid slammed his fist onto the table. Tea spilled from the cup before him, but he didn’t even glance at it.
Of all people, it had to be the Elopezz princess. If the Duke family sided with that wretched Cier, his own position would be at risk.
“Calm yourself, Euclid.”
Even in the face of her son’s outburst, the Empress quietly set down her teacup on the table.
“Mother, aren’t you angry?! If the Elopezz side aligns with Cier—!”
“Do you truly believe that wretch can match you?”
Radana cut off Euclid’s words.
“You are the legitimate heir, First Prince. You are not the same as that lowly Cier.”
“…I understand, but—”
“Nothing else matters. Remember that.”
Euclid gave a crooked smile at his mother’s unwavering gaze. She was right. What was there to be anxious about? His mother, the Empress, stood before him, and behind her was the steadfast Namaretti Marquis family. In every way, they surpassed Cier Persent.
“My apologies, Mother. I misspoke.”
“That is enough. You may leave now. To be the Crown Prince, you must also be adept in your studies.”
“Of course. I shall take my leave.”
Bowing, Euclid left with the sense of superiority instilled by his mother etched onto his face. Radana gave a subtle smile and brought her teacup back to her lips.
Click—
By the time the door closed and Euclid’s footsteps faded, the teacup in the Empress’s hand slipped and shattered loudly on the floor.
“Tien Elopezz…”
Though she had kept her composure in front of Euclid, the involvement of the Elopezz family had become troublesome. The nobles were divided between supporting the First Prince Euclid and not supporting him, meaning there were few openly backing the Second Prince Cier.
“…for now.”
There were still many families, like the Elopezz, who maintained neutrality. Most of their retainers, such as the Arvid family, followed the Elopezz.
But if the Elopezz family chose to support the Second Prince, those neutral families following the Dukes would naturally begin to move as well. The reason the Duke family needed to restrain the Elopezz was not only their overwhelming authority but also the number of nobles who followed them.
“By any means, I cannot let the Elopezz interfere in the succession struggle.”
Winning over Euclid’s side would be ideal, but caution was necessary. In the past, when trying to betroth a daughter of the Arvid family (an Elopezz retainer) to him, things went wrong, and she ended up betrothed to Cier instead. If a similar mistake happened now, Cier’s position would only strengthen.
In that case…
“They must be cut off. All obstacles in my son’s path.”
The Empress muttered in a chilling voice. The smile she had shown Euclid was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp expression.
At that moment, a sound of breaking alerted a maid, who knocked lightly. Radana told her to enter. The maid, surprised to see the broken teacup, asked:
“Your Majesty, are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. The cup slipped from my hand.”
The maid did not doubt her words at all, relieved that the Empress was unharmed.
That Night
I slipped out, unnoticed, hooded, and headed for the stables. Being the hub for mages, the building could be restored in an instant. Of course, only the exterior would remain intact; the research inside would have been reset.
‘That’s none of my concern.’
“You know, it seems the demon here is not me, but you, Contract Holder.”
Shut up, Bael. I closed his mouth effortlessly and picked up the saddle, placing it on the back of the white horse I had raised since childhood.
“Why a horse at this hour?”
“I have somewhere to go.”
“Can’t you just use magic? Even mages wouldn’t notice if it were you.”
I knew that. There was no mage in this world superior to me. But the reason I rode a horse wasn’t because of the mages in the Mage Tower.
“There’s a Sword Master in my house.”
Perhaps being a Sword Master awakens animalistic senses; Kalian’s intuition was extremely sharp. Unlike mages sensing mana, his perception was different—he saw what others could not and heard what others could not.
“Of course, I’ll return before morning, but if anyone notices I’m gone… no mana used, horse and carriage untouched, it would be suspicious to anyone.”
Riding out was just to create an alibi. But more frightening than Kalian’s instincts…
“You wouldn’t know, but Mother’s intuition is incredibly fast.”
No matter how skilled my second brother was, he could not surpass Mother’s instinct.
“…Understood, Contract Holder. It hurts my pride to admit it, but your mother is terrifying.”
Normally, I would have laughed it off, but the sincerity in her voice gave me a strange sense of camaraderie.
As I led the horse out of the stable, I sensed someone approaching in the distance.
‘Who’s wandering around at this hour…?’
It was past 2 a.m. I had checked that everyone, except the guards, was asleep. I quickly closed the stable door and hid in the shadows.
It wasn’t Kalian, nor Mother or Father. The footsteps were heavy and clumsy, betraying an inability to conceal their presence. Lantern light seeped through the cracks, gradually illuminating the area.
“Where are you sneaking off to at this hour, my beloved youngest?”
“…”
“I know you’re there, Tien. Come out quickly.”
Her voice was eerily soft, just like Mother’s. I reluctantly got up from hiding.
“…Ruenthe, Brother.”
A careless laugh escaped me.
…Zzzennzzang.
