"Hmm......" Alicia looked deep in thought and replied, "We found out—the noble who invited Sir Filkorn is secretly connected to Third Brother."
"So that means Third Prince Theodore did it?"
"That’s what it looks like, but only if Sir Filkorn is the only one who was impeached......"
"Are there others who encountered the same thing?"
"Yes. The Vice Captain of the Royal Mage Corps was targeted too."
"Who does that vice captain align with?"
"Fourth Sister, Felena."
"Alicia, could it be......"
"That’s right. Third Brother did that too."
......
Bang!
A woman with cascading golden hair and crimson eyes glinting with cold fury slammed her palm on the table.
"How dare he! Does he think I’ll do nothing?!"
"Your Highness Felena, please calm down. There are still many doubts about this matter."
A mage acting as her advisor urged cautiously.
"Doubt? It’s obviously that bastard Theodore! He’s absolutely capable of such a thing!"
The advisors hung their heads, pretending not to hear the insult.
After all, he’s still your brother. If His Majesty the Emperor hears this, you’ll definitely be reprimanded—though such scoldings are nothing new for Felena......
"Your Highness, the thing is, besides us, Ninth Princess Alicia was also targeted."
"I’ve heard about it, but so what?"
"Your Highness, according to reliable intelligence, Third Prince is also secretly behind what happened to Ninth Princess."
"Huh?"
Felena frowned.
"That can’t be. Is that guy an idiot? He’s already in this state, yet he dares to declare war on two people at once?"
"Exactly, Your Highness Felena! This doesn’t make sense! Moreover, as you must have noticed, Crown Prince Drehack has stayed out of it entirely......"
"......"
Silence fell over the hall for a moment.
Then Felena’s cold voice echoed:
"Investigate! Find out the truth for me!"
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Yes!!!"
......
"Something’s off......"
"Yeah, very off."
"......"
Miko glanced at them several times, itching to ask what was wrong.
"It’s Crown Prince Drehack,"
Hulim said, looking at her.
"Huh...... Huh? I didn’t ask anything?!?"
Miko looked like she’d been caught red-handed, her eyes darting around. But soon, she leaned in and asked:
"Why is the Crown Prince off?"
"It’s not that he’s off—it’s that his absence from this matter is off."
"???"
"There are four heirs vying for the throne, including Alicia,"
Hulim explained to Miko.
"Among them, Crown Prince Drehack is the most powerful and currently the most likely to inherit the throne. Third Prince Theodore, because of what happened two years ago, is the weakest of the four."
"In this situation, the weakest one wouldn’t launch a reckless provocation against the two in the middle."
"Mm......"
Miko thought for a moment.
"So that means this is all the Crown Prince framing the Third Prince?"
"It’s very likely, but we need further confirmation. Alicia must be investigating this too, right?"
"Yes, we are. But......"
"Most likely, we won’t find anything."
......
In a dimly lit room,
the man with the balance tattoo on his forehead stared intently at the newly published magic journal.
After a long while,
he slowly set the journal down.
The moment it touched the table, it shattered into pieces.
"Hulim Heyerar...... This person is far more dangerous than anticipated. She can’t be allowed to exist any longer......"
Several figures entered the room,
kneeling on one knee before him.
"My lord."
"Prepare yourselves. We need to accelerate the plan."
"Yes!!!"
The figures replied in unison, then left the room.
"Now, let the show begin......"
As his words faded, the mysterious man’s figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.
......
Unnamed Potion Shop.
"Haha, this is amazing! Haha!"
"......How long are you going to laugh, Irus?!"
Hulim said helplessly.
"Ah, sorry, sorry! But seriously, you’re incredible, little genius!"
Irus held a copy of the magic journal, her tone lacking any sincerity in her apology.
"Now you’ll be even more famous. Don’t bring any creepy stalkers to my shop when you come, okay?"
"I won’t!"
Hulim set down her teacup and protested.
"Besides, no one comes to your shop except me! Sometimes I even wonder if you’ve set up a ward to repel people!"
Wait, could she have actually set one up?
Hulim quickly glanced around.
Hmm, no signs of it......
With her current eyesight, no matter how hidden or advanced a magic circle was, it couldn’t escape her notice.
So it’s probably just that the shop looks too suspicious, which is why no one comes in.
"That’s mean~. I’m running a business after all. How would I make money if I set up such a ward?"
Hulim stared at Irus in surprise.
So she really is running a business. Also, this person doesn’t deny that she can use that extremely advanced lost magic circle......
"What’s that look on your face? I’m going to get mad~!"
Irus’s smile gradually turned dangerous.
"N-Nothing."
Hulim quickly picked up her teacup and took a sip, looking down.
"Hmph~"
Irus smiled, setting aside her teacup and just watching Hulim with a grin.
"Hey, Hulim."
"What is it?"
Hulim looked up, meeting Irus’s gaze again.
"Starting next month, I’m going to close the shop for a while."
"Huh——?"
Hulim froze, holding her teacup.
"......Why?"
"Well, something came up in my hometown...... I’ll be gone for about half a year, maybe two months less if things go quickly?"
"Irus’s hometown is Ravenrim, right? What’s the matter?"
"A very important Elven ritual—held once every twenty years. For certain reasons, I have to attend."
"So...... Does that mean I won’t be able to drink Irus’s special flower tea anymore?"
"......Is the only reason you come to my shop for tea?"
"What else would it be?"
Hulim tilted her head and asked.
"You really......"
Irus looked speechless.
Hulim picked up the teapot and poured herself another cup, not looking up.
Gurgle~!
The sound of boiling tea echoed clearly in the quiet shop.
She finished the cup slowly.
"So that means......"
Staring down at the empty teacup, Hulim said softly:
"I’ll never get to drink it again?"
"......"
Irus watched Hulim silently, then smiled and shook her head.
"Not at all~."
"Huh?"
Hulim suddenly lifted her head, looking at Irus in surprise.
"What I mean is——"
At that moment, Irus spoke:
"Our time together is only just beginning!"
......
