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[CHAPTER 100]
“That was after falling from the horse.”
“And around that time, my daughter went to meet the Crown Prince. Now that I think about it, it’s strange. Suddenly, someone who never showed interest sent Amelia a whole basket of flowers.”
“Oh, really?”
The Marquis of the Magic Tower showed interest at the Duke’s words.
“Philips, does Amelia Wentworth have absolutely no suspicion on her?”
“Other than being foolish, what suspicion could there be? You know I am not covering for my daughter out of bias, right?”
“Hmm, it does seem that way.”
It was already known that he had no particular affection for his illegitimate daughter.
If he had cared, he would have brought her in from the streets long ago, and he wouldn’t have pushed her into the Crown Prince’s palace, where she was certain to be ignored.
“Well, fine. Good. Anyway, if she’s in the way, can’t we just get rid of her?”
The tone was casual, but the content was anything but.
The Duke of Wentworth froze and looked around.
Even though he knew the Magic Tower’s Marquis had installed soundproofing, he still reacted instinctively.
“Remarkable. You seem to show a reaction you’ve never considered before.”
“No, I have considered it, but whether to speak it aloud or not makes little difference.”
“Yes, exactly. Since I spoke it for you, think seriously about it. Of course, it doesn’t have to be that method. The urgent matter is ensuring my experimental materials are supplied without disruption.”
The Duke of Wentworth furrowed his brow slightly.
He was accustomed to treating humans as tools and held no particular sympathy for slaves.
But the Marquis went further, not even treating them as the same species or lifeforms.
At times, this made him seem more like a monster than a man.
“Regarding the slave… I will consider a plan.”
“Yes, you should. But you should also think long-term about how to take control of state affairs over the Crown Prince. We only need a figurehead emperor.”
It would be ideal if he could also assist with our work, but at the very least, not obstructing it was enough.
The current emperor was exactly that type of person.
He led the empire smoothly but quietly turned a blind eye to illegal activities.
“If the day comes when the final method I mentioned is necessary, inform me. I will provide a bit of assistance.”
“Assistance?”
“The Crown Prince is under divine protection, so assassination is impossible. Magical attacks won’t work either.”
The Duke of Wentworth glanced at the Marquis of the Magic Tower, as if expecting more explanation, but the Marquis changed the subject abruptly.
“If the Crown Prince disappears… Amelia Wentworth will be alone.”
“What do you mean all of a sudden?”
“Then send her to me.”
The Duke of Wentworth looked at him with slight contempt.
“Surely you mean… marriage with my daughter?”
The Marquis received the gaze calmly and smiled faintly.
“I have never considered marriage, but such a form would be natural.”
“Do you know how big the age gap is? That young girl…”
He did not care for Amelia personally.
It was merely a question of common sense.
The Marquis of the Magic Tower was at least seventy, possibly over eighty.
Though it wasn’t rare for older men to desire young women, those women were usually of lower status.
Amelia Wentworth, even if neglected in her household, was still the daughter of a duke.
It was a waste to give her to such an old man.
“If the Crown Prince falls, he’ll be useless anyway. Better send her to me than some petty noble or wealthy merchant. I won’t abandon the guardian.”
“Guardian… Do you really feel that way about her?”
The Duke of Wentworth grimaced but did not resist.
He was partly shocked, partly incredulous.
“It’s not simple lust. I have a personal curiosity about her. To put it plainly, it’s related to magic.”
“Do you plan to use Amelia as experimental material?”
“In this case, she’s more like data than material. Her flesh and blood aren’t required. Still, she will be called ‘Countess,’ so I won’t handle her recklessly.”
The Duke of Wentworth waved his hand in disgust and quickly ended the topic.
“But we haven’t concluded anything about the Crown Prince yet. We need more time. Amelia’s matter will be discussed afterward.”
“Of course. If there’s still potential, your approach is logical.”
Then the Marquis raised his hand.
The air around them seemed to ripple, and the sounds of the banquet hall grew louder.
The soundproof barrier had disappeared.
While the Duke of Wentworth looked around nervously, the Marquis vanished, and a large crow perched on the terrace railing.
Much larger than the last time one of the Marquis’s minions had transformed into a crow.
The crow glared at the Duke and then flapped its wings and flew off.
“Phew.”
The Duke exhaled and turned.
Though he met the Marquis out of necessity, every encounter left a lingering unease.
Rubbing his arms to calm the goosebumps, he entered the banquet hall.
* * *
Vincent walked down the corridor toward the emperor’s audience chamber.
About twenty steps from the door, it suddenly opened, and an unexpected figure appeared.
He saw Crown Prince Vincent and approached with a leisurely smile.
“I greet the Crown Prince of the Empire. Have you been resolute these days?”
“…It’s been a while, Marquis of the Magic Tower.”
Vincent had heard that the Marquis had been appearing in various places recently.
He was momentarily flustered at meeting him face to face, but received the greeting calmly.
“Yes, it has been a while. I have been busy with the Magic Tower, so my visits to the palace have been infrequent. You have grown so much in the meantime.”
The Marquis looked at Vincent with nostalgia.
It had been nearly ten years since his last visit.
Vincent was only fourteen then, still showing a youthful innocence.
“Yes, and you… remain the same.”
No wonder he seemed monstrous.
All living beings age. Even if slowly, no one remains unchanged.
Other high mages aged normally, but the Marquis appeared untouched by time.
A man in his seventies looked like a man in his twenties.
It was as if he existed in a separate flow of time.
Vincent, however, hid all thoughts behind a smooth smile.
As a young boy, he had not been able to fully conceal his wariness, but now he did.
The Marquis looked at him quietly and, as if recalling something, spoke.
“Ah, I actually stopped by the academy on the way. There were some graduates today.”
If it was the academy graduation, Amelia had attended.
Something felt off. She had never shown interest before, so why this year?
“I see. Was it a meaningful visit?”
“Yes, the Magic Tower needs talent. I found no students with magical aptitude. But I met an unexpected person. Someone Your Highness knows well.”
“Who could that be?”
The Marquis blinked in mild embarrassment.
“Ah, I haven’t mentioned yet. My, I met Miss Amelia Wentworth. I hear she is betrothed to Your Highness.”
