Mess 166

166.

As soon as Seraphie arrived at the imperial palace, every gaze fell upon her.

“How can this be so unfair?”

Following the senior attendant toward the emperor’s office, Seraphie grumbled to Orchis.

“I didn’t do anything, so why do I have to go be punished?”

“We don’t know if it will be a punishment yet.”

Orchis tried to reassure her, telling her not to worry too much.

“In the worst case, you can use Penny as a scapegoat. Lady Alveolos will surely follow on her own then.”

“That’s a great idea!”

“It is absolutely not a great idea.”

Turning at the familiar voice, Seraphie saw the empress, smiling awkwardly.

‘Where has she been?’

The empress was dressed much as she had been for Bia’s art exhibition.

“Let us save the greetings for later.”

Waving away the formalities, the empress led them into the office together.

Seraphie was startled when they arrived.

“That will do for greetings.”

Just as the empress had done, the emperor dispensed with formalities and, without turning, gestured to the empty seats.

There were already others present—familiar faces. They were the emperor’s faction of nobles, those who had clashed with the crown prince at the council of elders. None looked well.

“Your Grace…”

Taking her seat, Seraphie shot a worried glance at the Duke of Felikia, who had grown haggard overnight.

“Count, welcome.”

The duke was listless, his energy spent. For the first time, Seraphie worried about his health.

“Are you all right, Your Grace?”

“This has become too big for me to bluff and claim I’m fine.”

“You don’t look well yourself, Count.”

“Your Majesty, it seems everyone has arrived,”

Marquis Castane, arms crossed and silent till now, spoke.

“Close the doors.”

As the emperor sat at the head, the senior attendant and staff shut the doors and exited.

Only the emperor, empress, and the nobles summoned by the emperor remained in the securely closed office.

“About yesterday.”

The emperor began.

“It is truly regrettable.”

Sighs were heard here and there, scarcely audible.

“Count Validus, I am sorry your banquet in celebration of your achievements turned out as it did.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

Seraphie was worried about something else.

“What will happen to Lady Felikia and Lady Alveolos…?”

“Nothing will happen to them.”

At the emperor’s firm assurance, Seraphie let out a sigh of relief. Orchis and the duke were visibly eased as well.

“Truth be told, I feel unable to show my face. It’s my shame to have raised my son so poorly that you suffered such indignities.”

“No, Your Majesty.”

The duke shook his head. As a parent, he could well imagine what the imperial couple was feeling.

Thus, the engagement between Peonia and the crown prince was formally dissolved.

“But there must be consequences for the White Mage.”

The emperor said. Whatever the circumstances, it was a grave crime to lay hands upon the crown prince.

Worse still, the offender was a mage from the Magic Tower—a politically neutral institution—leaving them in an awkward position as well.

And now, Seraphie herself was tangled in all this…

A pained sigh slipped from her lips. She really didn’t have time to worry about anyone else.

“What is the Magic Tower’s position on this?” asked the emperor.

“They said they have nothing to declare,” replied the empress, her answer brief.

Seraphie then understood why the empress was in traveling attire—she had hurried to visit the Magic Tower.

“This was the White Mage’s act alone, unconnected to the Tower itself.”

“They wish to draw a clear line, do they?”

“But if the palace makes an issue of this, they said they too would lodge a formal protest, citing oppression of mages.”

Seraphie was inwardly surprised.

She quite understood the Tower wishing to protect Lilia. It would be natural for them to be furious, after the crown prince tried to seize one of their rarest assets.

It wouldn’t have been surprising if they’d thrown a celebration over last night’s events.

But there was another implication in the empress’s words—

The Magic Tower was now opposing the crown prince.

A first—the Tower, so fiercely neutral, taking a political stance.

“In that case, we shall have to deem it legitimate self-defense.”

The emperor immediately began to spin a story to fit Lilia’s situation.

“The White Mage—no, Lady Lilia Alveolos, hailing from a provincial house, could hardly defy the crown prince’s force.”

And finally, at the banquet, she had let out her pent-up anguish.

All nodded at the reasonable justification, based in truth.

“Let her punishment be a mere fine…”

“I’ll pay the fine on her behalf.”

The Duke of Felikia spoke.

“We’ll send someone to Alveolos as well. They would be alarmed if someone sent from the royal family appeared unexpectedly.”

“Very well, I leave it to you.”

And so, the commotion at the banquet was thus resolved.

…I fretted for nothing.

After all that head-clutching at home, what was it for? Seraphie regretted the few hairs she had lost in her anxiety.

“And as for Count Validus…”

Her low spirits shifted to alarm as Seraphie looked up suddenly.

“What’s with the strange expression?”

The emperor suppressed a smile.

“Did not Lady Felikia and the White Mage embrace you last night, shouting it was all thanks to you?”

“They are not my friends.”

Seraphie protested quickly.

“What sort of punishment should I assign you…”

But the emperor paid her no mind.

Seraphie genuinely wanted to weep. The pitying stares aimed her way made her oddly grateful, but also stirred an urge to snap at everyone to stop feeling sorry for her.

The emperor considered briefly, then spoke.

“Exile from the capital seems fitting.”

Seraphie’s jaw dropped.

“From tomorrow, you are forbidden from entering the capital for about two weeks.”

“But…!”

Seraphie stopped, realizing she was about to complain of injustice.

…Wasn’t I leaving for vacation tomorrow anyway?

She had, in fact, intended to be away from the capital for two weeks.

Finally catching on to the emperor’s mischief, Seraphie slapped her hand to her neck. Orchis, as if he’d seen it coming, gave a short, weary sigh.

“Isn’t that too harsh?” the empress asked, perhaps unnecessarily grim.

“It’s a bit grating, watching her preen and dash about all over. It’s like she’s begging for her luck to run out…”

Within the emperor’s grumbling tone was an unmistakable affection for Seraphie.

“So, let us decide what to do in the Count’s absence.”

The warm atmosphere turned cold at once.

All faces at the table grew stern, and Seraphie herself adjusted her posture.

Someone asked, “Your Majesty, what of the crown prince?”

“He is quiet for now.”

More precisely, he hadn’t made any moves yet.

The emperor had cleared everyone out of the crown prince’s quarters and posted two royal knights to keep watch. Should the prince emerge, they were to bring him immediately.

But so far, there had been no sign.

“I doubt he will leave his rooms for the next few days,” said the empress to the emperor. “After suffering such humiliation, the crown prince is unlikely to appear soon, owing to his temperament.”

“Which is why this is our only chance. No telling what he might do, otherwise.”

Seraphie was startled to see the emperor and empress discuss the crown prince as a dangerous element, even before the assembled nobles.

Did everyone here know the crown prince’s true nature?

Still flustered, not yet grasping the full situation, Seraphie heard Marquis Castane give a bitter reply.

“Count, by our age, there are things you come to know whether you wish it or not. Character is one of them.”

He massaged the bridge of his nose.

“But even so…”

His muttered words, spoken as if to himself, were devoid of strength, as though the gravity of the matter had shaken him deeply.

The others were much the same.

“How much do you all know?” Seraphie asked the Duke of Felikia, so only he could hear.

“He murdered a maid, and there is evidence suggesting he was involved in the Iris rebellion. Beyond that, little else.”

“The new explosives and the murder at Glake…”

“That was not something to divulge lightly.”

The duke replied quietly to Seraphie’s cautious inquiry.

In short, those gathered had long harbored doubts about the crown prince’s character. That was why he was checked at the council of elders.

And now, with the Third Prince revealing his role in magical communications research—

Seraphie forced herself to steady her pounding heart, trying not to let down her guard.

From here on, you must keep your wits about you.

From the day she had first learned of the crown prince’s secrets in the Iris domain, Seraphie had known his ambitions were doomed.

Starting today.

The struggle for the throne would truly begin.

“Count Validus.”

Seraphie nodded to the emperor’s summons.

“All is ready to bring down Vaglos.”

“When you next return to the capital, the Empire may look quite different.”

That was just as she had wished.

---

That night—

Seraphie could not easily fall asleep.

“To think I’d be making plans to topple the crown prince in the palace…”

There was a certain thrill in the tense strategy and debate, but just as much, she fought desperately to keep a cool head.

She felt for the emperor and empress, who now had to personally bring down their own son. But more than that, she pitied herself for being dragged into such a ridiculous, messy family drama.

Her heart surged anxiously.

Thinking of what was to come gave her a headache, but she was somewhat relieved to finally have the chance to sweep these wretched problems from her sight.

The uneasy feelings lingered, even after.

“…Ah.”

Suddenly recalling something, Seraphie reached for the item she had left in her drawer.

It was the letter Peonia had entrusted to Orchis before Seraphie left for the palace.

In her haste, Peonia had sealed the envelope clumsily, hot wax dripping all across it, with ink stains marring the outside.

Seraphie carelessly ripped open the flap with her finger.

“Hm?”

Inside was a letter and a few rings. That explained why it had felt heavier than expected.

Seraphie tipped the rings into her palm.

Three in all. One was a lavish ornament, studded with expensive gems—easily enough to buy a mansion or two if sold.

The other two, by contrast, were quite plain. They looked more like the cheap rings sold at the market during big festivals.

Tossing the rings onto the table, Seraphie unfolded the letter.

[Sorry for leaving without saying goodbye.]

No sooner had she begun than Peonia’s crisp voice sprang vividly to mind.