Episode 96
Her voice and gaze were more serious than ever.
Elonia knew she couldn’t lie to Caroline, not like she had with Artius.
Caroline’s sharp blue eyes, holding the wisdom of sixty years, saw right through her.
There was no escape.
Elonia met her gaze, then lowered her head, admitting defeat.
“Yes, you’re right.”
She sighed, then slowly blinked, her lavender eyes now holding the weight of her past life.
“Are you going to report this to Artius as well?”
Elonia, now fully embracing her Chelon persona, asked. But her gentle features lacked Chelon’s intimidating aura.
Caroline couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I never dreamed I would become Chelon Heilan’s mentor.”
“So, are you going to tell him?”
Elonia asked, leaning back casually, though she was actually quite nervous.
Caroline was, after all, Artius’s spy at the academy.
Ricardo had been her disciple in her past life, so he was an exception. But Ethan would still report to Artius if she did anything suspicious.
Caroline laughed heartily and shook her head.
“Words can be more dangerous than any weapon. Of course, I’ll keep your secret.”
She seemed genuinely pleased, which annoyed Elonia.
“I don’t trust you.”
“Then let’s make a contract.”
“Huh?”
Elonia was taken aback.
A contract?
“If I reveal your secret, I’ll give you all my mana. How about that?”
“You’ll… wager your mana?”
Was she insane?
Mages treasured their mana more than their lives. They would rather die than give it away.
And she was offering all of it?
Caroline, ignoring Elonia’s stunned silence, pulled out a fresh parchment and began writing a contract.
“Here, just sign here.”
She handed Elonia the contract, already signed with Caroline’s mana-infused signature.
The moment Elonia signed it, the words would gain power and bind Caroline’s tongue.
If Caroline tried to reveal Elonia’s secret, the contract would drain her mana and transfer it to Elonia.
Elonia looked at Caroline, who echoed her earlier words,
“It’s better to be safe than sorry, Your Highness. Even if we’re immune to that holy tool, caution is always advisable.”
“…You won’t regret this?”
“No. I have nothing to lose, since I wasn’t planning on telling anyone anyway.”
“…”
If Caroline was this determined, then Elonia had no reason to refuse.
She reluctantly took the quill and signed her name, imbuing it with her mana.
The contract floated into the air, the words rising and entering Caroline’s mouth.
“So, how do you plan on getting into the Rossi estate? I doubt His Majesty will approve.”
Caroline, as if nothing had happened, smiled cheerfully. Elonia, too tired to argue, simply shrugged.
“Well…”
Meanwhile,
Artius, in his office at the Imperial Palace, was tapping his pen nervously against his desk.
Aaron, who had been enduring the incessant tapping for two weeks, finally spoke, his face pale with exhaustion,
“Your Majesty, you’re going to drive away all your good fortune.”
“Don’t talk like an old man.”
Artius and Aaron were the same age.
Aaron almost lost his temper at being called an old man by his same-age boss, especially after enduring the constant noise pollution.
But rank had its privileges.
Aaron, exercising his years of cultivated patience, spoke again,
“Your Majesty, when has Her Highness ever backed down? You should trust her more.”
“I do trust her, but—”
“Dad.”
Elonia entered the office, interrupting him.
Artius jumped in surprise.
“Elonia, you should use the door.”
“Why bother when magic is more convenient?”
“…”
Elonia, who had just depleted her mana, had quickly recovered thanks to the mana potion Caroline had given her. She looked at him, genuinely puzzled.
Artius was momentarily speechless.
‘Even the mages in the Magic Tower struggle with teleportation magic… She’s truly gifted.’
He didn’t say it out loud, of course.
She was home, and that was all that mattered. She had been staying at Caroline’s office for the past two weeks, working on the magic tool.
Her return meant she was done.
Before Artius could ask about her progress, Elonia spoke,
“Dad, let’s go to the Rossi estate.”
“…”
Both Artius and Aaron, who had just advised him to trust Elonia more, facepalmed.
At least she was asking this time, instead of sneaking off.
But he wasn’t going to agree.
After Aaron discreetly left the room, Artius put on a stern expression.
“Elonia.”
“Wait, look at this first.”
Elonia held out a pocket watch.
“I just finished the brainwashing detection device.”
…Already?
Artius was surprised.
Even though he didn’t know much about magic, he knew how much time and effort it took to develop a magic tool.
And she had done it in just two weeks?
Elonia, ignoring his stunned expression, continued,
“But I haven’t tested it yet. It’s designed to react to the presence of brainwashed individuals, but testing it at the academy would be too much trouble. And more importantly, I don’t trust the academy. It’s better to test it at the Rossi estate.”
That was true.
He had received a report about Julietta being suspicious.
And it was better to cause trouble in enemy territory than at the academy, a neutral zone. It would also serve as a warning to Heilan.
But he wasn’t going to send Elonia there.
“Then I’ll go alone.”
“You already visited the Rossi estate, and Count Rossi is already suspicious of you. He’ll be more cautious.”
“I can just barge in with an imperial order.”
“Why are you being so reckless? We won’t find any conclusive evidence that way. You know we can’t afford to be hasty.”
Artius had thought it was a slightly risky move.
But Elonia had pointed it out.
Elonia, seeing his embarrassed expression, suggested,
“Tell them I want to see Dianne. That I want to apologize. Count Rossi seems to care about Dianne, so he’ll reluctantly let me in.”
“…”
Artius frowned.
Everything she had said was true.
As the Emperor, he agreed with her logic, but as a father, he couldn’t approve of her reckless plan.
He didn’t want to lose anyone else he loved.
But he also didn’t want to stifle her.
So he had decided to love her freely, while eliminating any potential threats before they could harm her.
But Elonia kept walking into danger herself.
He wanted to protect her, keep her safe until she was older, more capable.
But he knew that wasn’t what she wanted.
“You wouldn’t like it if I told you I would handle everything, would you?”
“Of course not.”
Elonia replied instantly.
As expected.
Artius, suppressing his disappointment, asked,
“Then what will you do if I still refuse?”
He looked into her unwavering lavender eyes.
Her love was different from his selfish, possessive love.
She always prioritized others, even as a child.
“I’ll still go.”
It was the answer he had expected.
Artius sank back in his chair, defeated.
She could leave the palace whenever she wanted now. He didn’t even know when she had learned such powerful magic.
But she had still asked for his permission.
Because she trusted him.
So he had to give her an answer she deserved.
“I won’t stand by if your life is in danger.”
“I know.”
“And if anyone harms you, I’ll use it as an excuse to destroy House Rossi, or anyone else involved.”
“…Wait, so…?”
Elonia’s voice brightened.
Artius, seeing her hopeful expression, couldn’t help but smile.
“So let’s go together and come back safely.”
“Dad!”
Elonia beamed.
But they weren’t leaving immediately.
“Let’s rest today and go tomorrow. We have to contact Count Rossi first.”
Artius stood up, knelt before Elonia, and patted her head.
“You’ve worked hard for the past two weeks. You’re more dedicated to this nation than I am.”
A gentle smile touched his lips.
Elonia, embarrassed, mumbled,
“Stop patting my head.”
“…Sorry.”
Artius withdrew his hand.
She didn’t dislike it, but it was still embarrassing.
The next day,
Artius, fully prepared, came to see Elonia.
“Elonia, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Elonia, already dressed and ready to leave, nodded.
But Artius wasn’t satisfied.
He had raided the Magic Tower, just in case. He handed Elonia a bag.
“…What’s this?”
“A bag with teleportation scrolls that will take you directly back to the palace, in case you can’t use your magic.”
“…It’s a subspace bag. Isn’t it a waste of space for just a few scrolls?”
“I can’t let you go there alone. We have to collect all the evidence we can from the Rossi estate in one go.”
“…”
He was serious.
It was a little scary, actually.
And the bag didn’t even look like it was enchanted.
It matched her outfit perfectly.
‘And the Rossi estate is quite far from the palace. The mages in the Magic Tower must have worked overtime last night.’
Elonia also packed the protective spray Alberich had given her.
She had never used it since testing it on Ricardo when she first received it, but she thought it might come in handy.
They were finally ready.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay.”
Artius and Elonia headed towards the carriage.
It was time to catch those Calamity God fanatics.