Chapter 49
“No!”
Everyone answered loudly at the same time.
Of course they did. The Second Prince had asked the question. Who would dare say yes?
“If you’re not bothered, then I can keep holding on.”
“Uh…”
At this point, it felt like I should step away quickly and read the mood.
But…
‘I’m really not bothering him though?’
Lionel called the trainee knights one by one and had them stand before a scarecrow. Whenever they swung their wooden swords, he told them what they were doing wrong.
Sometimes he lightly poked their waist or shoulder with his own wooden sword and gave advice like, “Relax your strength,” “Narrow the distance,” or “Widen it.” But even that he managed with just one hand.
‘Guess I don’t have to worry about it!’
While Lionel taught the trainees, I quietly practiced wind magic, using the mana that kept filling up inside my body.
Using magic, draining mana, and then feeling it fill up again.
It felt like playing on a phone while it was connected to a power bank.
It was really fun!
From a distance, the people sent by Prince Kaien were watching.
They had been given a mission: loudly spread the rumor that the duke’s daughter, who had a one-sided crush on her fiancé, was clingy and desperately chasing after the Second Prince, who did not love her.
“…They’re holding hands tightly right now. We’re supposed to say that?”
“And the one who reached out first was the Second Prince…”
And that wasn’t all.
Whenever Lionel needed both hands to teach, he would briefly let go of Cecilia’s hand. But once he was done, he immediately took her hand again—always interlocking their fingers.
It was true that the Second Prince’s face was expressionless. His attitude toward the duke’s daughter was more polite than affectionate.
But anyone who saw how he kept her firmly by his side would laugh if someone claimed he had no interest in his fiancée.
…And yet, we’re the ones who have to pretend to be blind?
And what about that earring?
They had lived for decades but had never seen a man wear an earring.
Giving a gift was up to the giver. Wearing it was up to the receiver. And this was a prince.
He didn’t need to care about the duke’s daughter’s opinion or try to please her. So the fact that he openly wore that earring meant he accepted her involvement in his life.
At the very least, it showed he had no intention of upsetting her over other women.
“Should we just go back…?”
“Refuse the First Prince’s order?”
Refuse the First Prince and be punished? Or stay here, talk nonsense, and get glared at?
There was no need to think. The second option clearly won.
So they had no choice but to shout ridiculous things about the couple who, honestly, looked very close and happy together.
“How pitiful the duke’s daughter is! Trying so hard to catch the eye of the Second Prince, who doesn’t even look at her!”
The reason the Second Prince wasn’t looking at her was because she was standing right next to him.
“The Second Prince doesn’t seem interested in anything she does. Why does she keep talking to him?”
In truth, it was the duke’s daughter who seemed uninterested in what the Second Prince was doing beside her.
When a flower petal fluttered toward her, she became distracted. The Second Prince gently pulled her closer to him.
“She’ll end up ignored again. If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to leave the house!”
The Second Prince caught a flower drifting in the wind and handed it to her.
Cecilia pouted slightly, as if dissatisfied, but soon accepted the flower with a smile.
“She’s so naïve! Looking for love in a political marriage!”
It was just a small wildflower, but the young lady and young man exchanging it looked as fresh as a flower bud just beginning to bloom.
Lionel’s face remained calm, yet because Cecilia smiled brightly, the atmosphere around them felt soft and pink, like fluffy cotton candy.
“I almost feel sorry watching this!”
The most pitiful ones were the people desperately forcing out lies.
At first, bystanders listened with curiosity. But now they were clicking their tongues and turning away.
“I don’t know where you’re from, but if you’re going to keep shouting nonsense, please leave.”
“Thank you!”
Yes, they had no choice but to leave after causing a disturbance!
They hurried away and reported honestly to the First Prince.
“Well… it seemed like the Second Prince cares about the duke’s daughter more than we expected.”
“We spread the rumors as ordered, but she didn’t even pretend to listen. I mean, the Second Prince was holding her hand and even giving her flowers in public…”
“Holding hands in front of everyone? Giving flowers? Hah!”
So shameless. Acting like they own the world.
Kaien gritted his teeth.
‘The Crown Prince position, the duke’s daughter as fiancée… Yes, everything must seem like yours right now.’
Anger boiled inside him.
He had planned to stay quiet for at least three years until his health improved. But that would not do.
He needed to break that arrogance. Only then would his proud younger brother learn humility.
Luckily, there was a good opportunity.
“There’s a hunting competition next month.”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“Who is hosting it this year?”
“I believe it’s Marquis Liam.”
“Marquis Liam… Is he someone who can be reasoned with?”
The real question was whether he could be bribed and made to do something dirty.
Someone familiar with the marquis quickly nodded.
“I heard Her Majesty the Empress once helped him. If the request goes through her, he will agree to anything.”
“Anything, you say…?”
That meant the marquis had a weakness tied to the Empress. And that meant Kaien could control the hunting competition however he wished.
“Poor Marquis Liam. The hunting competition he worked so hard to prepare will be ruined by an unfortunate accident.”
Those who understood what he meant swallowed nervously.
But none of them dared advise against it. Anyone who would have already been driven away.
‘The Second Prince won’t actually die anyway…’
Just as the First Prince would not die unless by his own will, the Second Prince also would not die before ascending to a noble position.
Since the gods had granted them such glorious destinies, there was no need to worry.
Thinking this, they lowered their heads before the First Prince.
Chapter 5
No Other Woman But Me!
“Neigh!”
“Easy.”
Beloze jumped lightly off her horse and gently patted her restless mount, which still seemed full of energy.
After handing the reins to the stable keeper, she asked the butler who had come to greet her:
“Is everyone already here?”
“Yes. You may go straight to the drawing room.”
“Alright.”
She nodded and headed there.
Inside were Duchess Sophia, her eldest son Albert, and Melania, the master of the Western Magic Tower. Through a crystal orb on the desk, the Duke of Rohaim was also visible.
“I apologize for being late.”
“It happens. Sit down.”
“Where’s Cecil?”
“In her workshop. She said she’s making a new magic tool… Though she’s probably practicing magic instead.”
Albert shrugged, and Sophia sighed softly.
“I told her not to, but it seems she received mana from the Second Prince again.”
Cecil tried to hide it, but it was impossible.
How could they not know? She was using all kinds of magic in her room and workshop.
“I still can’t believe it. Cecil is really using magic?”
“Yes. She studies so hard. Even though she’s teaching herself secretly, she’s already reading advanced magic books.”
“As expected of my daughter! If not for that accident when she was young, she would have already become a Sage!”
“Father, becoming a Sage isn’t that simple…”
Albert carefully glanced at Melania.
Among mages, those recognized as outstanding in both theory and practice are called Archmages.
Only five Archmages can become masters of the Magic Towers, and among them, only one might rise to the level of Sage.
Natural talent is not enough. Even relentless effort is not enough. They say one does not become a Sage by trying. It happens in a moment of lightning-like enlightenment.
According to rumors, a Sage can glimpse the past and foresee the future.
It was a realm far too high for a sixteen-year-old girl.