200th Chapter Reached. 1 Million Characters Reached. Part 2 Chapter 3 End.
A murmur rippled through the Imperial nobles in the audience chamber.
I think that was Crown Prince Aslan-denka… or something like that. In reality, they’re uncle and nephew, so he doesn’t resemble Ron-san much. I’d heard from Ron-san that he wasn’t an ambitious person, but…
Hearing that remark, Elena, who was near the Emperor and the others, narrowed her eyes slightly. Normally, this wasn’t something to be discussed in such a place, and moreover, the words “take as a wife” could also be interpreted as looking down on the Kingdom of Claydale.
Just as His Majesty the Emperor was about to open his mouth to admonish him, a man stepped forward from among the lined-up nobles.
“That is most excellent! If Elena-sama, known even in the Kingdom of Claydale as a beautiful princess of both talent and beauty, were to become the Crown Princess, the Empire would surely achieve further development and grasp a glorious future!”
What authority did that noble have? He began to speak as if it were a matter of course.
As the person who seemed to be the Prime Minister, glared at by Sera, became flustered, His Majesty the Emperor raised his voice.
“Lord Demil, this is not the place for such matters. Elena-dono, I must apologize for the remarks of the Prince and my vassal. Aslan, you too, restrain yourself. You already have a fiancée candidate, do you not? Do not say such rude things to Elena-dono.”
“I deeply apologize, Your Majesty, Elena-dono.”
The admonished Aslan-denka bowed his head to the Emperor and Elena with a face that didn’t look like he thought he’d done anything wrong. Following his lead, the man called Lord Demil also bowed his head silently and returned to the line.
If he could obtain Elena, he could also obtain Ron-san’s achievements as they were. Even if he wasn’t ambitious, did Aslan-denka himself desire the position of Emperor? I didn’t know if it was his own will or the machinations of his relatives, but at the very least, I felt that Aslan himself looked down on His Majesty the Emperor, who was his adoptive father and biological elder brother.
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
Elena said so and bowed her head lightly to His Majesty the Emperor. Only lightly, mind you. This wasn’t my place to step in. Just as I have my own battlefield, this place was Elena’s battlefield.
Seeing Elena’s lips curve into a smile that only I could discern, I was sure she considered Aslan-denka’s remark as nothing more than a weakness to be used in negotiations with the Empire.
But… if they were to lay a hand directly on Elena, I would dispose of them without leaving a trace of evidence.
Perhaps a sliver of those emotions leaked out, as the auras of Dolton and Sera beside me tensed slightly, and Elena gave a small, wry smile.
The audience ended in such an atmosphere, and just as we were about to leave, I was a little concerned by the expression on Ron-san’s face, who had remained silent next to the Second Prince until then.
＊＊＊
“How was it?”
“…No, that one’s impossible. Dolton-dono and Lady Layton are no pushovers either, but from the moment I sensed that little girl’s ‘aura,’ I haven’t stopped getting goosebumps.”
“Is she that formidable…?”
In the office of Lord Demil, the Minister of Finance, a knight sighed with a boorish attitude at Demil’s words.
Lord Demil was the younger brother of the Imperial Consort, who was the Crown Prince’s mother, and also the younger brother of the current Marquis Demil. He had attained his current position through that power, but if either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince ascended to the throne, his faction would likely monopolize key positions within the Empire.
Even though he was also the son of the Imperial Consort, the Second Prince had a gentle personality and there was a possibility he might be drawn into the Empress’s faction rather than his biological mother’s. From here on, they had to act with the intention of bolstering Aslan.
He had been astounded by the Crown Prince’s remark about making her his consort, which could be taken as thoughtless, but if they actually welcomed Princess Elena as the Crown Princess, the position of the next Emperor should become unshakable.
The knight before him was also a spy for the Crown Prince’s side, inserted through connections. He was formerly a person from the underworld and now served as a warrior personally trained by a certain individual.
His skill was comparable to a Rank 4 assassin, but the baron’s daughter who he said gave him goosebumps was likely an even greater master, unbelievable from her appearance.
“It’s impossible for me to win against her. …But if it’s just about injuring her, that’s a different story.”
“Do you have a way, Elam?”
“Leave that to me. No matter how strong she is, I’ll teach an inexperienced little girl the filth of adults.”
As Elam said that and was about to leave the room, Demil, guessing where he was headed, called out to his back.
“Please convey my best regards to Radwan-dono.”
“Understood.”
Elam bowed with an exaggerated gesture and then left, not for the knights’ station, but out of the castle.
＊＊＊
A short while after the audience, an elderly butler who visited the state guesthouse told me about the suspicious individuals he had investigated.
Lord Demil, who had followed the Crown Prince at that time, was indeed one of the Crown Prince’s relatives, a member of the Crown Prince’s faction who had attained his current position through power… to be precise, a person from the Imperial Consort’s faction.
The Empress Dowager had already passed away, and in the Imperial Palace, they were dividing power with the Empress, Ron-san’s biological mother.
“However, Lord Demil is ultimately nothing more than a pawn. Normally, this would be kept from you, as it’s a matter unrelated to those from another country, but there is another person believed to be the mastermind.”
The person backing the Crown Prince and the Imperial Consort’s faction was not a noble, but one of the merchant houses in the city.
One might think it’s just a merchant house, but the Radwan Trading Company is a merchant house with a long history, spanning over a dozen generations in the Empire. By lending money to multiple noble families, they sent their relatives as wives and concubines, eventually gaining influence even among high-ranking noble families.
One of those noble families was the Marquis Demil’s house, which had sent the Imperial Consort, the Crown Prince’s mother. The Imperial Consort’s faction seems to be increasing its influence through the power of that money.
Regardless of the Crown Prince’s own intentions, if his surroundings were solidified with nobles under the Radwan Trading Company’s influence, it would likely be easy to sway his opinions.
But I have no intention of getting involved in that. Elena might be able to grant Ron-san’s wishes to some extent from a political standpoint, but Ron-san doesn’t want that.
I have no intention of getting involved.
Unless they lay a hand on Elena or my companions…
＊＊＊
Two days after the audience with His Majesty the Emperor, the evening soiree was held as scheduled.
Normally, since we were to set sail tomorrow, we all had a mountain of things to do, but maintaining relations with the Empire was also an important task.
The members of the Rainbow Sword were also participating in formal attire, but the only one mainly conversing with nobles was Dolton, surrounded by knights. Feld and Viro had dispersed throughout the venue, guarding Elena’s surroundings.
Viro, with his scouting skills, had truly become an inconspicuous part of the background. Feld, however, had changed from his usual attire to formal wear, and by just shaving his stubble, he blended in as a proper noble.
…I recall hearing once that Feld was related to nobility, so perhaps that was his true appearance.
Mira, being a Wood Elf, which was rare at such soirees, used her conspicuously beautiful appearance to ward off male nobles who seemed likely to bother us.
I had heard that prominent nobles would gather, but those participating were probably only high-ranking nobles from the Imperial Capital and their associates, likely less than a hundred people. I thought this was probably the Emperor’s consideration for us, who were guarding Elena.
The soiree began with a greeting from His Majesty the Emperor, after which members of the Grand Ducal houses and Ducal houses came to greet Elena. The Second Prince, who had been silent during the audience, also came to greet her, but just as Ron-san had said, he was not ambitious and seemed to have no interest even in the throne, which was anticlimactic.
“It’s not just Crown Prince-denka, but if either of those two becomes the next Emperor, my generation will likely have an easier time, won’t we?”
“…That’s true.”
Elena whispered to me and smiled cheerfully. It was good that she seemed to be enjoying herself in her own way.
The person presumed to be the Imperial Consort greeted Elena only at the beginning, and then disappeared into a circle of people who seemed to be her relatives.
Aslan-denka, who had made that remark, was still trying to attract Elena’s attention, but he was called by the Imperial Consort and disappeared in that direction.
“Unnatural, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded slightly in return to Elena, who muttered beside me.
The Imperial Consort’s faction was keeping an unnatural distance from us. As if to avoid being suspected if something happened.
Just as Elena and Ron-san had tried to avoid the false accusations that could be leveled if I were targeted and retaliated, they too were avoiding being put at a disadvantage by being suspected.
The unnatural absence of Lord Demil, whom I had expected to try something at the soiree, further reinforced this thought.
Perhaps because of that, other nobles also found it difficult to approach, and the area around Elena, who should have been the star of the night, had become an empty zone. I thought the Empress-sama would notice, but she was also in a position to receive greetings and hadn’t come over here yet.
If this were just a normal soiree, it would be easy, but… they’ll probably make a move.
And that concern arrived surprisingly quickly.
“Your Highness the Princess. I have come to inform you that His Highness the Third Prince requests your presence on the west terrace.”
At the young maid’s words, Elena narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at me for just a moment.
“…Yes, please show us the way. Aria, would you come with me?”
“Certainly.”
Ron is calling for her. It’s not impossible, but it’s unreasonable to expect me not to be suspicious in this situation. However, if we refuse, the Consort’s faction will likely start clamoring that our claim of being close to the Third Prince is false.
As we were guided by the maid through the venue, we could see men sobering up and couples enjoying trysts on other terraces. But the terrace we were led to faced the inner part of the castle, offering a poor view, and perhaps because of that, no one was there.
The maid didn’t seem to be plotting anything; she had simply been told by one of the civil officials to convey Ron’s message, and after guiding us, she returned to the venue.
“…Wait.”
“What is it?”
I noticed a small object covered in Magical Element lying in the shadows of the terrace.
Is that… a suicide knife? That Woman also had a used one, but why is it lying in a place like this?
“Elena?”
“Your Highness Lawrence…”
Called from the direction of the venue, we turned to see Ron actually appear.
“What’s wrong? To be summoned by you to a place like this, I really suspected it might be a trap.”
“…Eh?”
A murmur escaped Elena at Ron’s words.
In that instant, I lightly swung my arm, grabbed it, and turned back to Elena.
“Aria, His Highness Lawrence is—”
“I know. Ron, I’m entrusting Elena to you for a bit. …I’m going to check the surroundings, so could you wait for me?”
“I understand that, but…”
“No, Aria. If you go alone…”
“It’s fine. I’ll be back soon.”
Moving away from the slightly bewildered Elena and Ron, I headed into the shadows of the terrace and picked up the fallen knife, wrapping it in a handkerchief. There was no poison. But instead, the Blade inside the sheath was thickly coated with blood.
So this is your scheme… But there’s no need for further speculation.
You laid a hand on Elena.
“――【Iron Rose】… 【Real Breaker】――”
In that instant――my figure vanished from the world, and a gust of wind chased after something running in the darkness.
＊＊＊
As Aria headed into the shadows, saying she would check the surroundings, Ron, as if having made up his mind, spoke to Elena, who was gazing worriedly into the darkness.
“…I don’t quite understand, but am I right to assume you two were also summoned here?”
“Yes.”
When Lawrence confirmed this, Elena gave a slight nod.
“Let’s return to the venue as soon as Aria gets back. …Before that, may I speak with you for a moment?”
“You may, but…”
Elena tilted her head slightly at Lawrence, who had started saying such things in this situation.
However, Lawrence had also been waiting for a long time for a situation where they could be alone. Even before Aria returned, Sera or the imperial lady-in-waiting was by Elena’s side, and this was the only chance, now that Sera had entrusted her protection to Aria and was negotiating with the Prime Minister.
The Crown Prince’s remark may have been the trigger, but those feelings had always been in Lawrence’s heart.
“Your Highness Lawrence…?”
As Lawrence suddenly knelt before her, Elena let out a bewildered voice, and to her, Lawrence gently extended his hand.
“Elena… would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
＊＊＊
“――Tch.”
Elam, having failed his assassination attempt, immediately fled the scene.
His plan was simple: leave a bloodstained knife concealed by Dark Magic on an unfrequented terrace, and then snipe with an arrow made of Dark Magic.
Elam, a Dark Magician, had his original magic, 【Dark Arrow】. Unlike other attributes, even if he formed an arrow from dark particles and shot it, it wouldn’t cause a significant wound.
However, detecting a Dark Arrow fired at night was difficult, and his objective would have been achieved if even one of the three people present had been injured.
If the Princess was injured, it would imply the Third Prince had harmed her. If the Third Prince was injured, the girl, the Princess’s guard, would be the culprit.
The truth didn’t matter. As long as they had the knife as evidence, the testimonies of those involved would be meaningless. The rest would be stirred up by those around them, and the relationship between the Third Prince and the Kingdom of Claydale within the Empire would collapse.
It is said that a Rank 4 warrior can dodge a fired arrow, and a Rank 5 warrior can catch one. However, dodging a Dark Arrow fired in the darkness should be impossible even for a Rank 5.
But――that girl easily caught the fired arrow.
Elam couldn’t believe his eyes. The moment the girl’s gaze turned towards him, even for an instant, he lost all composure and began to flee with all his might.
Elam was a former assassin. Not a member of the Assassin Guild, but an assassin privately employed by a certain noble. Due to certain circumstances, he had killed that noble and was on the run when the Radwan Trading Company took him in.
For now, he had to report this to Radwan. He didn’t think anyone could pursue him in that situation, but in the worst-case scenario, he would have to fake his own death and escape the country.
As he raced through the imperial capital at night, Elam recalled hearing the faint song of a minstrel drifting from a distant tavern.
It was a story about a single girl defeating the Assassin Guild and the Thieves’ Guild. It was an outlandish tale brought by a foreign merchant, but it was a popular song among adventurers and mercenaries.
What was the name of the song…? As he searched his memory, Elam remembered something a thief who had drifted in from a foreign country, whom he had worked with, had said.
――”Don’t get involved with the Ash Covered Princess”――
“Boss, we’re in trouble!”
The place was in a prime location in the imperial capital, near the castle. It was a particularly large mansion where an old man, who was meeting with relatives of the Crown Prince unable to attend the night party, glared sharply at Elam as he burst in.
“…You’re being noisy, Elam. What happened?”
The old man, the head of the Radwan Trading Company and the one who secretly supported the Consort’s faction, frowned at the state of Elam, an assassin he had employed many times.
The members of the Consort’s faction present knew of Elam, but it had not been explicitly indicated that he was employed by Radwan.
He was a Rank 4 warrior who could also use Dark Magic and was skilled in deception, so he had been highly valued. However, if he had caused a problem on a job, it would be necessary to dispose of this man before his connection to the Radwan Trading Company was revealed.
“Speak in detail.”
A Rank 4 warrior was valuable, but not irreplaceable. However, before that, to ascertain what kind of situation had arisen, he urged Elam to speak. Just as Elam, having calmed his ragged breathing, was about to begin――
“――Gah…!”
Everyone present couldn’t understand what had happened. Even the victim himself probably didn’t.
But, as Elam looked at the minor nobles of the Consort’s faction… in their wide, dark eyes staring back at him, he saw the “Ash Covered girl” who had pierced his neck from behind with a knife, and Elam’s consciousness sank into a darkness from which it would never again surface.
No one noticed.
Even Elam, a Rank 4 who had worked as an assassin, didn’t realize the girl was there until the very moment he was stabbed.
It was as if――she had just appeared in the world――
The girl who had shattered their reality (Real) tossed aside the collapsing Elam and gently readied black Blades in both hands.
“You don’t need any last words, do you?”
＊＊＊
“――Your Highness Lawrence… I will become queen. If you aim to become emperor for the sake of your promise with him, I cannot be by your side.”
“…It’s true that I intend to do what I can for my promise with Camille. He too aimed for his own path. But it was you who taught me that there isn’t just one path.”
“Ron…”
“I’m still in the middle of searching for my path. I can’t guarantee I’ll reach it. But… if that path happens to intersect with yours, would you hear my proposal once more then?”
“……….”
Elena smiled, as if letting out a soft breath, and looked into Lawrence’s eyes once more.
“Three years… I will wait no longer than that. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Ah, of course.”
Lawrence, who had been kneeling, stood up and, as if to hide his embarrassment, quickly returned to the venue. He was supposed to return with Aria, but Elena gave a wry smile, as if looking at an awkward younger brother, at Lawrence who had become too flustered to even think of that.
“…Is it over?”
“Aria… were you watching?”
“If you mean where Ron ran off, then yes.”
Elena, as if truly relieved, drew closer to Aria, who had returned without a sound, perhaps having found nothing during her search.
“Did you… do something?”
“…Nothing.”
“…Speaking of which, I wonder if the academy’s ball will be cancelled? Do you remember our promise?”
“Of course.”
When Aria departed to subjugate Grave, the traitor of the Shadow Unit, she promised Elena she would return by the time of the ball.
Subsequently, there was an attack by the Evil Race, and though being flung to this land also meant the ball was cancelled, Aria had remembered that promise. When Elena gently offered her hand, Aria—who had become proficient primarily in the man’s dance parts—took that hand with flawless grace.
“Let us return. To Claydale.”
“Un.”
And so, the two of them, listening to the faint music drifting from the hall, began a ball meant only for them on the deserted night terrace.
This marks the end of Part 2, Chapter 3.
We will begin Chapter 4 next time.
Regarding the abilities of the World Rejection: the dragon battle was ‘Light,’ and this time it is ‘Darkness.’
I believe Aria will explain the details in Chapter 4!
Volume Two is also set for release this year, so we appreciate your continued support.
We might even have some good news to share.