Chapter 6 Part 5
Criele was almost expelled from the empire. The marriage arrangement for Criele had been orchestrated by Rubieno. Rubieno despised the idea of her sister setting foot in Amarantha, so she pushed her away through trade with the Ivan Empire. Dias was Criele’s daughter and a legitimate princess of Ivan.
Elia met Dias’s gaze. With a composed demeanor, Dias stepped forward as if to reassure Elia.
“I never expected a sword fight at a ball. Truly, it was astonishing,” Dias said, placing a hand on her chest.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to her left shoulder. Where the silk wrapping her arm had parted, a red mark stood out against her pale skin.
The Empress’s face grew pale as she struggled to comprehend the chaos and injuries. Blood had already welled up in Dias’s wound. This was no ordinary blood—it was the blood of the Ivan royal family, a matter that could escalate into a diplomatic issue.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Empress hurried to her niece.
“Oh, heavens. Dias, what should we do? I am so ashamed.” Rubieno grasped Dias’s hands tightly, repeatedly apologizing.
“No, Your Majesty. You bear no fault. It was Princess Violet who attacked me,” Dias stated matter-of-factly, leaving the Empress speechless.The Emperor, who had been observing, wore an equally troubled expression.
‘This is problematic,’ he thought.
If Elia had been the only one involved, he might have managed the situation. But Dias was not just the Empress’s niece; she was an Ivan princess, and relations between Ivan’s Empress and Amarantha’s were fraught. This incident could serve as a pretext to pressure the empire.
After careful deliberation, the Emperor made a decision. “Until a precise judgment is made, I order the confinement of Violet Amarantha. Further measures will follow according to the law.”
“Your Majesty!” Violet cried out, clinging to the Emperor. However, her tears could not alter the situation. She was eventually escorted out of the ballroom by knights, her confinement a stark reality on her own birthday. Elia watched with cold eyes as Violet was led away.
The ball was closed. Guests murmured among themselves as they prepared to leave. Aksion took off his cloak and draped it over Elia’s shoulders.
“Are you hurt?”
“Of course not. You saved me,” Elia replied. It had all happened so quickly; without Aksion’s intervention, she might have been seriously harmed.
“She is nothing like you, Elia,” Aksion remarked, his gaze fixed coldly on the entrance where Violet had exited.
‘He must have been quite shocked,’ Elia thought. The sudden sword fight had evidently unsettled Aksion. ‘It’s time to go.’
Having achieved both the business promotion and the introduction of the prophet, the benefits gained from the Cherry Blossom Banquet were significant. As Elia prepared to leave the ballroom with Aksion, a voice called out.
“Hello, Princess,” Dias approached, her left shoulder now bandaged from treatment. Her green eyes were friendly as she addressed Elia. “Could you spare me a moment?”
The first time Elia met Dias wasn’t in the back alleys. When Elia was very young, she had encountered Dias, who had accompanied the Empress of Ivan on a diplomatic mission.
‘She used to be so shy,’ Elia remembered how Dias had hidden behind the Empress.
“Of course. May my husband join us?” Elia asked.
“Certainly. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord. I’ve heard of your marriage—congratulations, albeit belated,” Dias said with a warm smile. The three of them were led to an empty drawing room.
Elia expressed her gratitude as she took a seat. “Thank you for stepping forward earlier.”
“I should be thanking you. You helped me first, Princess,” Dias replied. Elia hesitated to respond, thinking, ‘So those were just street thugs I saved her from?’
Dias was renowned across the continent as a prodigious swordswoman. Rumor had it she manifested her first aura at thirteen, a remarkable feat even in Ivan, the land of knights. Elia remained silent, prompting Dias to chuckle softly while lifting her teacup.
“I almost killed a foreign national. In Ivan, we carry swords even over our dresses, but it’s prohibited here, unfortunately,” Dias explained, covering her mouth as she laughed. Elia scrutinized her before asking, “Why were you there?”
“Oh, no special reason. I just enjoy street food,” Dias replied cheerfully. She mentioned various dishes she had tasted in Amarantha, her mood light and pleasant.
Suddenly, Dias clapped her hands. “Ah, I didn’t get a chance earlier due to the incident. Could you show me the crafted items?”
“Of course,” Elia said, extending her wrist. The same accessory adorned Aksion’s wrist as well. Dias’s eyes gleamed as she swiftly examined the bracelet, letting out a sigh.
“It’s indeed a marvelous piece. I wish Ivan had such excellent artisans,” Dias commented. If there was one thing Ivan lacked, it was magicians. For some reason, magicians were scarce in Ivan, forcing the emperor to import them from other nations.
‘Magicians,’ Elia mused, recalling the streets she had visited. Near the commoners’ district, there was a gate exclusively used by magicians for the mage tower. ‘She must have consulted the mage tower.’
It was known that the current emperor of Ivan was gravely ill, and his numerous children were embroiled in a power struggle. ‘Perhaps the one who commands magicians will seize the throne,’ Elia thought, facing Dias.
“Princess, would you like to make a deal with me?” Elia proposed. The idea of a transaction between the two princesses intrigued Dias, who leaned in closer.
Elia fiddled with her bracelet, drawing Dias’s attention.
“This is a secret. No one must know.”
“I swear on my name and my empire,” Dias pledged. Ranked third in line for the throne, she had a fighting chance but needed a decisive advantage. Elia took a deep breath before speaking.
“Ivan is not devoid of magicians. Once, it was teeming with them,” Elia explained. The decline of magicians in Ivan was linked to the Philosopher’s Stone, an artifact revered as a national treasure but one that gradually absorbed the magical power of the entire empire.
‘The more it absorbed, the stronger its ability to consume magic,’ Elia thought, which hindered the emergence of new magicians. If the stone could be suppressed, existing magicians would enhance their abilities.
“Something is devouring the magic meant for potential magicians. I know how to resolve this issue,” Elia declared, recalling the past. The Philosopher’s Stone and the Fragment of the Moon were originally in the same location until the empire relocated its capital, separating the items and causing the problem.
‘It wasn’t until the sun disappeared that I understood,’ Elia reflected. In the darkness, the Philosopher’s Stone emitted light, and Dias, against all advice, disassembled the stone, distributing its light across the empire.
‘The magical power must be immense,’ considering it had absorbed the potential of many magicians. Elia knew she needed to verify the Philosopher’s Stone someday.
Dias listened intently, her playful demeanor replaced by a resolute determination befitting a future sovereign. “If what you say is true, what do you want in return, cousin?”
Helping someone who might become an emperor was risky but also came with significant rewards.
