Chapter 19: The Crown Prince’s Request part 2
“When it comes to water magic, no one surpasses you, Miss Fay. But even more important is the fact that you’ve been in the Tower for less than a year.”
“…?”
“In other words, your reputation hasn’t spread yet. You are the perfect candidate for this mission, in my judgment.”
“Oh…”
What exactly was the Crown Prince planning?
Fay’s curiosity ballooned like a snowball. She couldn’t begin to guess what he had in mind. After all, even the noblewomen who frequented high society hadn’t seen the Crown Prince in years.
Duke Klein seemed to encounter him occasionally, but the Duchess grumbled that she hadn’t seen Prince Sillas even once a year.
What lay behind this hidden past she knew nothing about? Fay’s curiosity deepened.
‘A commission from the royal family… I know it’s dangerous, but I need to know what it’s about.’
“The mock battle attached to the upcoming Harvest Festival is set to take place. Miss Fay, during that event, you’ll need to cause a minor incident to encourage friction between the gathered factions.”
“Wouldn’t doing that cause serious trouble for Fay under human law?”
Lucius’s voice was so cold that Fay couldn’t help but flinch. Despite his polite words, the chill in his tone felt even colder than the ice she wielded.
The Crown Prince, however, answered earnestly, showing not even the slightest sign of displeasure.
“No, even if Miss Fay doesn’t attend, the undercurrents of discord will eventually begin. We’re just bringing it forward a bit. And I promise you, Miss Fay will not be harmed.”
“A minor incident, you say…?”
“If Miss Fay’s identity were to be fully revealed at that moment, she’d actually be safer. All I need from her is to light a small magical flame at the designated location.”
“A flame?”
“That flame will cause an explosion, but it’s merely a loud display with minimal destructive power. No one will be seriously injured. However, the two factions present will begin to suspect each other as the culprit.”
As the Crown Prince continued his explanation, Fay felt herself sinking deeper into confusion.
‘A mock battle during the Harvest Festival… isn’t that just a fight between noble houses? Why would they want to encourage such conflict?’
Could it be…?
Gathering her courage, she asked, “…Your Highness, does this have anything to do with the reason for your seclusion?”
For the first time since they’d met, Sillas’s warm demeanor began to shift. The once gentle light in his eyes turned into a cold, fathomless abyss, like staring into a violent sea submerged in darkness.
How amazing. To think that gazing into his pale gold eyes would remind her of the ocean.
In any case, Fay was certain she had hit the mark.
“If you wish to know more from this point on, you’ll need to formally accept the commission, Miss Fay the Mage.”
“What will I gain if I succeed?”
Her question was bold.
Fay had already chosen to bury the secret of her birth, a secret that had nearly led her to her death. She had no reason to cling to this commission out of greed.
“I don’t expect you to fail, but… regardless of the outcome, I guarantee your identity will remain protected. Should you face a serious threat in the future, you’ll be given a token that allows you to call upon the power of the Imperial Family.”
Sillas unpinned the brooch from his cloak and placed his hand over it. The imperial emblem of the Arkan Empire glowed red before gradually fading. A binding oath from the Imperial Family that could not be broken!
“Ah…”
“What is your answer?”
He’s serious.
Eyes wide, Fay placed the vial of Oblivion’s Water on the table and answered.
“I’ll do it.”
“Good.”
As the two bottles of Oblivion’s Water were put away and Sillas handed her the brooch, Fay struggled to suppress a laugh.
Not because the situation was amusing.
‘After rejecting them and running off to the Magic Tower, I’ve ended up walking straight back to them. This is a fate I’ve crafted myself, untouched by anyone’s interference.’
No matter how she framed it, by accepting the Crown Prince’s commission, Fay had taken a significant step toward confronting the Klein Duchy’s people once again. The path ahead was fraught with danger and hardship, yet she had chosen it willingly. Even before her battle with Dott had begun, she was already making such choices.
Anyone who knew her full circumstances would likely click their tongue in disapproval.
She kept silent, listening closely to Sillas, choosing her words carefully in his presence.
“Miss Fay, you mentioned my seclusion earlier, didn’t you?”
“My apologies.”
Perhaps it was because she had accepted the commission, but Sillas’s expression had once again relaxed.
“No need to apologize. For a mage, curiosity about the truth is a vital trait. How could I fault you for that? On the contrary, do you know who I was once engaged to?”
Fay, being Fay, responded directly without hesitation.
“I believe it was Lady Manuela de Lâtel.”
In the Arkan Empire, there were only two true ducal families: the Klein Duchy and the Orleans Duchy.
Manuela de Lâtel, however, was a princess of the fallen Lâtel Kingdom. Her family had been dragged into the Empire and reduced to a titleless house, left with no lands, and only one remaining princess.
If the Princess failed to leave descendants, the Lâtel family would lose even their nominal dukedom. Had the Princess married the Crown Prince as originally planned, the Lâtel family would have naturally disappeared with time.
However, despite the broken engagement, the Lâtel family had yet to be recognized as a proper Ducal house.
