Chapter 41
[Can’t let my guard down.]
Bled muttered above my head. I gave an awkward smile and shoved food into my mouth.
Kaiden interjected.
“Oh, as payment for borrowing the Diamond Palace, I’ve agreed to make a three-day trip to the east ten days before the wedding.”
It was a nice change of topic.
The Grand Duke looked displeased.
“For what reason?”
“The number of magical beasts coming from the eastern mountains is unusual, and Marquis Fernandi requested assistance.”
“So you’ll return a week before the wedding?”
“Yes.”
Kaiden bowed his head with an apologetic expression.
“Tch. It’s not a bad deal, but the timing isn’t great. Would it be difficult to go after the wedding?”
“They seemed very urgent.”
“Then why not go now?”
“The head mage said he’d take the mage corps to handle it first.”
The Grand Duke let out a groan.
“Fine. It can’t be helped, but that means Marion will be alone during that time.”
I waved my hands in surprise.
“It’s fine! It’s only three days.”
“I’m sorry, Marion. Wedding preparations should be done together as a couple.”
Kaiden looked genuinely apologetic. His acting was so convincing it caught me off guard. Did he take acting lessons on his own?
“Haha. It’s work, after all.”
I forced a smile in response, and Kaiden gave me a grateful look.
By the time the meal was wrapping up, everyone started to leave their seats.
“Your Grace, His Majesty the Emperor summons you.”
As the aide Vito delivered the message, Kaiden set down his napkin and asked.
“Just me?”
“He requests Sir Marion to come as well.”
Kaiden looked at me.
“Marion, are you okay with this?”
Since it was the Emperor’s summons I’d been waiting for, I nodded without hesitation.
* * *
In the audience chamber, the Emperor, Crown Prince Marius, and Prince Lucas were present.
The Captain of the Guard stood behind the Emperor. Around the room, other knights surrounded the chamber with tense expressions.
There were mages scattered among them, but the head mage was absent.
It seemed he had left for the eastern beast issue, leaving only a minimal number of mages in the palace.
There were no other nobles. Only Kaiden and I stood below the Emperor’s dais.
[Marion, they must be nervous you’ll go wild and try to kill the Crown Prince.]
Bled chuckled beside me. I agreed with him.
I had never seen so many knights and mages surrounding the room like this before. They were clearly wary of me.
‘…Honestly, I don’t even trust myself.’
With the Crown Prince standing in front of me, I felt a strange surge of anger, and my fists itched.
No one could know my inner turmoil, but their caution toward me was a wise move.
“There was a commotion at the Grand Duke’s residence.”
The Emperor’s heavy voice made me lower my head further. Lucas
It wasn’t out of guilt but because I feared I might accidentally throw a punch if I saw the Crown Prince’s face.
“You caused a ruckus, saying you’d kill the Crown Prince?”
Kaiden responded.
“We apologize for troubling Your Majesty.”
The word “Crown Prince” made my body flinch.
Is this what it feels like for your fists to cry out?
I wanted to leap forward and land just one punch on the Crown Prince’s face. No, if possible, I wanted to beat him until he was unrecognizable.
[Hold back.]
But as Bled said, I had to restrain myself.
This was a critical moment to make it clear I had no intention of killing the Crown Prince.
“Marion, raise your head.”
At the Emperor’s command, I lifted my head.
I tried to focus my gaze solely on the Emperor. I couldn’t afford to look at the Crown Prince beside him and let my murderous intent flare up.
“Speak for yourself. What happened?”
Kaiden had said the Emperor was a “reasonably” just person. Trusting his judgment, I spoke.
“I’m sorry for causing you concern, Your Majesty. But I am wronged.”
At that, a figure near the Emperor moved. It was the Crown Prince.
Ugh, don’t move. It makes me want to kill you.
For a brief moment, a surge of murderous intent rose within me. I could sense Kaiden, standing beside me, flinch slightly at my aura, but I quickly suppressed it.
The Emperor, unaware of my inner thoughts, asked with a stern face.
“What is it that you find unjust?”
I took a deep breath and spoke as if exhaling.
“Some wicked person sent me a brainwashing gem under the guise of a wedding gift. In my foolishness, I didn’t know what it was and picked it up, causing me to disgrace His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if I had ten mouths, I’d have no excuse. I’m sorry.”
The Emperor, seeming to already know I had been affected by the brainwashing gem, nodded.
“Bring the brainwashing gem.”
Kaiden stepped forward, producing the gem. The Captain of the Guard took it and presented it to the Emperor.
“This is…”
The Emperor, looking at the faded red gem, showed signs of discomfort. Kaiden, returning to my side, spoke.
“The gem has lost its effect, but it was imbued with brainwashing magic strong enough to subdue Marion, a Swordmaster.”
“Are you saying someone used Marion to target the Crown Prince?”
“That is what I suspect.”
The Emperor let out a groan.
I spoke confidently.
“Under the influence of the brainwashing gem, I fought against its wicked whispers. I nearly succumbed for a moment, but with the help of His Grace beside me, I was able to regain my senses.”
Kaiden followed up.
“No, I only provided slight assistance. In the end, it was Marion herself who overcame the brainwashing magic.”
In other words, I did my best to resist the brainwashing magic, and it was clear some lunatic tried to ruin both Kaiden and me. So it’s not my fault! That’s what I was emphasizing.
I decided to drive the point home.
“How could I dare harbor such intentions? This is a conspiracy. It’s clearly the work of someone who wants to harm His Highness the Crown Prince and a highly skilled mage capable of targeting a Swordmaster like me!”
The mages nearby stirred. They were startled because the accusation was directed at them.
“W-What are you saying, Sir Marion!”
“Are you suspecting us?!”
Of course I am.
The one I suspected most was the Crown Prince.
The initial brainwashing was clearly a whisper to “love the Crown Prince.” But I didn’t mention that to the Emperor.
Explaining that the brainwashing had changed midway was too vague, and this gave me a subtle way to pressure the Crown Prince.
‘I know what you did.’ A psychological tactic, so to speak. Mind games are crucial in a confrontation.
“Enough, enough!”
The Emperor raised his hand and shouted, and the room quickly fell silent.
“I understand your words. But it’s not good to recklessly suspect others.”
No, we should suspect them! What’s he talking about?!
“It’s possible they were targeting you, not the Crown Prince.”
That’s true. I nodded at the Emperor’s words.
If the Crown Prince was the culprit, he had used the brainwashing magic to sway my heart. But I couldn’t comprehend why.
Why is the Crown Prince so fixated on me? Is he trying to stick to the original story? But I no longer have feelings for him…
[Marion, focus on the Emperor for now.]
Right, no more thinking. It only clouds my mind.
After a moment of deliberation, the Emperor reached a conclusion.
“Uttering words about assassinating the Crown Prince is certainly a grave offense deserving punishment. However, considering the clear mitigating circumstances, I sentence you to one week of confinement.”
A whole week of confinement. The wedding is just a month away—will that be okay? Should we postpone the ceremony?
But for someone who went wild about killing the Crown Prince, it was a very lenient punishment. I had even braced myself for prison, so I felt a bit deflated. Looking at Kaiden, he had an expression like he expected this.
The Emperor continued.
“Marion, always be cautious of your surroundings and refrain from touching suspicious objects to flaunt your skills.”
Ugh. I had no words. But it’s unfair! Who could’ve known it was brainwashing magic?
“You have a child in your womb, so be careful.”
As I pursed my lips, the Emperor softened his tone to soothe me. I looked up at him, surprised by his words. He was looking down at me with a kind expression.
[He’s too nice. Makes him suspicious.]
Really? Bled’s suspicion made me suspicious too. For now, I bowed my head and responded.
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s great leniency.”
“Good. You may leave now.”
The matter was resolved unsatisfactorily.
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By Anna 💓
