A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 96

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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96.
What could this be about?
For now, I went to my room with Aurora and Cecilia to discuss the advantages that Prince Chris possessed.
His appearance, for instance.
But before we’d even finished chatting for thirty minutes, Leonard Blake returned.
“Leonard Blake. Did your conversation with His Majesty end so quickly?”
“When I entered the Office, the Emperor was asleep.”
“What?”
I laughed briefly at the absurd statement, but Leonard Blake’s serious expression made me grow grave.
“Someone put him to sleep with medicine.”
Cecilia cried out in alarm.
“Isn’t this serious? We should postpone the Hunting Festival or whatever and investigate immediately!”
“If it’s not poison, we won’t investigate.”
“That doesn’t make any sense….”
Cecilia was shocked, but Leonard Blake continued calmly.
“Just before I entered, the Empress was leaving the Office. Once the Emperor wakes, he’ll likely realize the Empress is the culprit.”
“Then will the Empress be arrested?”
“She won’t be. The Emperor was trying to tell me information about the Succession War, so there’s much that could implicate us as well.”
The Emperor was going to share information beforehand? This man fights dirtier than I expected.
I barely managed to hold back the words threatening to escape my lips.
“So the Empress put the Emperor to sleep to take that hint…. What do we do?”
“Actually, we didn’t need to receive the information. I could roughly predict the Succession War anyway.”
Unlike me, who was consumed with worry, he sat on the sofa with a composed expression.
“This Succession War will proceed by solving riddles.”
“How do you know that?”
“In a Hunting Festival where you catch game, that’s the only thing possible. Though the riddles will likely be ambiguous.”
He slowly tapped his fingers against the sofa’s armrest.
“More importantly… if the Succession War happens tomorrow, Demian will participate in the Hunting Festival with full force, so there’s a high chance we won’t be able to talk to him.”
“Perfect!”
Cecilia rose from her seat with determination. Aurora followed suit.
“Let’s go see the Saint right now.”
【Eye of Truth】
That sacred relic could not only discern truth from falsehood in a person’s words when questioned, but could also read the memories of the one speaking.
It reads deeper truths within memories, spreading like branches from a tree.
That’s why it requires an enormous amount of holy power, leaving one bedridden for a month.
About three hours later, seeing Cecilia’s condition upon her return, I couldn’t hide my guilt.
As expected, Cecilia was lying in bed.
“I’m sorry, my lady….”
“Don’t be so sad. It’s not like I’m dead or anything’s wrong with me, right?”
Cecilia, who had been smiling brightly, soon took on a serious expression.
“Princess, I had our family’s Mage record my memories in full detail on these documents.”
The Maiers Family Mage handed me three pages of records.
“This is what I read from Demian’s past using the 【Eye of Truth】.”
“Charlotte, he became extremely agitated when we asked about Aria. I seized that moment and continued questioning him about various things.”
“I’m truly grateful….”
I offered my sincere thanks to Aurora and Cecilia.
I would definitely give Aurora my Brother’s secret photo album, and introduce Cecilia to a handsome man.
“Well, shall I read through it all at once?”
With firm resolve, I sat in the chair beside Cecilia’s Bed.
And I began reading… that night, I couldn’t sleep a single moment.
* * *
The next day, seeing me with dark circles under my eyes, Aurora spoke with concern.
“Charlotte, will you be able to participate in the Hunting Festival today? You look terrible.”
“I was only planning to pretend anyway, so it’s fine.”
“But why were you so shocked after reading those documents?”
Aurora asked in a puzzled voice as she pulled on her leather gloves.
“Honestly, it’s not really shocking, is it? It’s exactly the kind of thing the 1st Prince would do.”
“It’s just that.”
I recalled Demian’s past that I had read yesterday once more.
‘It seems like Aria might end up being our final boss.’
I trailed off while adjusting the brooch of the cloak Abigail was fastening around me.
“It’s just… unpleasant.”
“Right, let’s forget about it quickly.”
Aurora shook her head as if thoroughly disgusted.
“But what about the Sixth Prince? Didn’t he say yesterday that he was meeting with the Aristocratic Elders?”
“Well, actually….”
I gestured to Aurora to listen closely.
“He went to Witness Mountain to investigate something. It seems he’ll enter the Reception Hall with Lord Lucas.”
“What? Does it make sense to have a wife enter the Hunting Festival with a Guard Knight? People will think they have a bad relationship!”
Aurora made an exasperated expression, and I could only sigh.
Ah, Leonard Blake.
You’ve lost points with my friend again today.
Just before the trumpet announced the start of the Hunting Festival, Leonard Blake barely made his way into the Wedding Hall.
“I apologize for being late.”
Leonard Blake whispered quietly as he arrived at my side, drawing everyone’s attention.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“Not a single place.”
There was no hesitation in his brief answer. A sigh of relief escaped.
Emperor Yukal was refreshingly straightforward. After finishing his commemorative speech for the Hunting Festival in just a few minutes, he moved straight to the main event.
“The Aristocratic Elders and I have planned to conduct this Hunting Festival in a rather special way.”
Extraordinary.
Beneath hundreds of chandeliers, every nobleman fell into a silence so profound it seemed the world itself had stopped breathing.
Leonard’s face, too, was gradually hardening.
“My sons. Come to the center of the hall at once!”
A thunderous command reverberated through the Wedding Hall. From the suffocating silence, three figures parted through the crowd and stepped forward.
Demian of Blueheart.
Prince Chris of Redford.
Leonard of Blackwood.
While everyone else was in disarray, they alone remained composed.
All three possessed the tranquility of a still lake, utterly devoid of tension.
Apparently satisfied, Emperor Yukal laughed heartily.
“I shall bestow upon you the first trial for the throne.”
The Emperor unrolled a scroll handed to him by his Aide. The moment it unfurled, golden letters began inscribing themselves across the empty air.
[ They are verily the king of the forest.
They contend for the throne without drawing steel,
And offer their bodies before the starving,
Forever burning like flame.
Find this king who returns each year as though reborn anew, casting off the old self, and subdue it. ]
The Reception Hall filled with murmurs at the enigmatic words shimmering in gold.
“Find the quarry that answers this riddle and present it as an offering to the Aristocratic Elders. You have approximately half a day.”
The Emperor folded the scroll sharply and handed it to his Aide as though discarding it.
“And as always, you must not focus solely on what is visible.”
Attendants approached and offered the three of them magical hourglasses, blunt blades, and rope.
“You can manage this, yes?”
The Emperor concluded his words and departed the Reception Hall. The crowd followed suit, streaming out through the doors in droves.
Even Demian, who seemed as though he might scratch us with a parting jab, left without a word.
He was likely eager to resolve the task swiftly.
Only Leonard, Prince Chris, and I remained.
Prince Chris approached us.
“Leonard, do you know the answer?”
“Yes. And you?”
“I do as well. But I must return to my Office. This year’s crop yield has been poor, and I need to investigate why.”
After that, Prince Chris lowered his voice.
“I am now publicly renouncing my claim to the throne. I trust you will keep your promise.”
Prince Chris then departed the Reception Hall. Leonard gently tugged at my arm.
“Charlotte, time is passing.”
The sand in the magical hourglass we had received was falling slowly.
Once that sand ran out, the trial would certainly end.
“Let us depart as well.”
As I mounted my horse to head to the Hunting Festival, Leonard suddenly posed a question.
“Charlotte, care to take a guess at the answer?”
That smug smile playing across his face was utterly infuriating.
“You think I wouldn’t know?”
“No, I asked because I thought you would know.”
“Hmm, really? Seems more like you’re asking because you think I wouldn’t.”
I narrowed my eyes and spoke with absolute confidence.
“Isn’t it a red stag?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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