Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 31

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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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Chapter 31
With a voice dripping with cuteness, Yereninobika pestered him earnestly.
“Just once. Just for a moment!”
“No.”
“But then how will I know what suits me best?”
“I’ll have everything sent to your palace. Don’t take them off.”
“Wow, extravagant. Aren’t you spending too much money?”
“That’s hardly an appropriate thing to say to me.”
Auredhian chuckled and gestured to the merchant. The sharp-witted middle-aged woman immediately broke into a grin and began sweeping the crafts into boxes.
“In Belgot, I have the most wealth.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
The Princess, whose eyes had been darting about for a moment, soon smiled brightly again. It seemed she had decided not to worry about it.
“Right. Money circulates anyway!”
Her reasoning was utterly incomprehensible.
Auredhian shook his head and matched pace with the woman heading in another direction. With his attention divided between two places, he had to exercise twice his usual caution. It was quite rare for Auredhian Belgot, who was always somewhat loosely wound, to maintain such tension.
Yet I had no desire to deliberately shatter that innocent exuberance. I didn’t want to make her anxious or on edge. I simply liked her this way—unbound by anything, bouncing freely and spiritedly. So it would suffice if the Princess of Lebovni simply enjoyed sightseeing in my capital and returned home happily. That would be enough.
That’s why Auredhian didn’t bother telling her. That suspicious things were teeming everywhere.
“…”
A small, round stone fragment kicked against my foot. I gazed quietly at that transparent shard-like object. For a moment, I had the illusion that a black vortex was swirling inside it. I furrowed my brow. I knew what it was. A barrier stone. A magical artifact used by mages to confine something within or to move what’s inside.
The intent to deliberately scatter such things along the path where the Princess and I walked was far too obvious. Moreover, I had never seen a barrier stone with a black vortex swirling within it before.
‘Is it something related to dark magic?’
But it was only circumstantial evidence.
Auredhian Belgot had inherited the most formidable divinity of Raulus, and precisely because of that, I was one who could not sense magical power. Divinity was a force in complete opposition to magical power—the only force capable of destroying each other. And paradoxically, that very fact was why these two mighty forces had been able to coexist until now. Because divinity and magical power could not perceive each other.
They were forces that could never mingle. No matter how keenly I observed my surroundings, if my opponent was a mage, there were limits to what I could discern.
Destroying such crude barrier stones was as simple as breathing, but I could not identify who was behind them. Of course, the reverse was equally true. No matter how hard a mage tried, they could not discover that their opponent was one blessed with divinity. Especially not amidst such a throng of people.
Yes, but then. My reddish eyes flashed coldly. So where did this filthy feeling of being constantly pursued originate from?
“Wow, what’s that mural?”
“A mural depicting the founding mythology of the Belgot Imperial Family. The longest and oldest mural on the Laigar Continent.”
Auredhian answered her cheerful question while scanning the surroundings. The moment the Princess of Lebovni turned her gaze back to the mural, my reddish eyes sharpened. I swept my gaze around the square, counting the number of holy knights waiting for orders.
Radin. Lugie. Selbier. Eliga.
It was the first time I had brought along four attendants in tow. Had I not discovered that scheming woman in the Imperial Palace, I would never have gone this far.
Soleia Elad in front of Bellirook Palace. Mages’ barrier stones lurking to encircle us the moment we stepped outside the palace. Mages who kept bumping into us, feigning accidents.
By now, there was more than enough to confirm their intent. Which one was that dark-haired woman targeting? Auredhian let out a short laugh. The hand holding her slender fingers suddenly tightened.
Who, exactly, was trying to abduct whom?
I felt the Princess startle. She turned around and looked up at me, whispering softly.
“Your Majesty?”
Beneath her feet, another small stone fragment rolled across the ground with a clattering sound. My reddish eyes glanced downward. Seeing my expression, the Princess tilted her head and drew closer.
“Why do you have that expression again?”
“Be careful.”
I had lost count of how many times I had uttered the word “careful.” The woman who came nestled into my embrace at my pull opened her eyes wide. She would not know how dangerous a place she was walking through, how precariously she was avoiding mines. She would not know how acutely I was on edge right now.
My sky-blue eyes filled with questions.
“Your Majesty…?”
“I told you not to call me that.”
Auredhian relaxed his grip and let out a loose laugh. At the same moment, the transparent boundary stone rolling across the floor shattered beneath his feet with a sharp crack. Fragments of dust scattered lightly into the air. A crooked smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Whether the one employing such crude tactics against an emperor and his guest was truly Soleia Elad, her subordinate, or someone entirely different—there was no way for him to know.
“You should watch your step carefully.”
“But there’s nothing there…?”
Auredhian silently released the Princess from his embrace once more. In any case, between worrying about this and that, his mind was somewhat scattered. But he had absolutely no reason to stand idle while a kidnapping unfolded before his eyes.
* * *
Though there were brief squabbles in between, the tour of Ugel Square proceeded normally. My guide, who held my hand, was excessively excellent, and I was a remarkably well-behaved tourist.
After admiring the howling wolf statue and the murals depicting Belgot’s founding mythology, I pulled Auredhian toward the western entrance of the square.
“That over there is the Raulus Temple. And directly opposite the temple stands that black, pointed spire—the Belgot Magic Tower. You must absolutely never approach it.”
“Ah, so that’s the Magic Tower.”
I gazed up at the distant tower piercing the sky. Soleia Elad was said to be the second-strongest mage in the Magic Tower. But that woman deceived both Belgot’s emperor and Rosel, the current master of the Magic Tower, without a trace. A woman capable of hiding her identity to such an extent—her true power might far exceed Rosel’s. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Soleia had already seized the Magic Tower for herself.
“I’m not interested in that. Let’s go.”
I turned my back on the Magic Tower without hesitation. I had no desire to go anywhere near it.
From Ugel Square, dozens of small alleyways branched out from the wolf statue at its center. I chose an alley in the direction opposite the Magic Tower. As I led the way, Auredhian followed obediently.
The marketplace in the square’s alleyways was incredibly crowded and noisy. First and foremost, there were far too many people.
Despite my bold venture into the street, even taking a single step proved difficult. I was jostled back and forth through the throng until Auredhian, unable to bear it any longer, finally dragged me to the edge of the street.
“Why are there so many people…?”
My face had turned pale from the murderous crowd. Auredhian lowered his head slightly to check my face, then clicked his tongue.
“The timing isn’t ideal. I didn’t realize the market was open today.”
“Ah, the market.”
Using Auredhian’s body as a shield, I peeked my head out and scanned the alley. Indeed, between the passing crowds, vendor stalls stretched out in a line.
After several groups chattering loudly hurried out of the alley into the square, it became somewhat quieter. I seized that moment to quickly move closer to the opposite wall.
All manner of goods were displayed on the stalls lined up in a row.
Hair ornaments strung with colorful beads, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other accessories. Beside them sat a heap of hats, and next to that, oddly enough, fruits were stacked and sold. It was a sight utterly lacking in consistency.
My gaze soon became fixed on one spot. On a certain display stand sat an abundance of ornaments carved from rough gemstones.
One of them caught my eye. A round, transparent crystal fragment with a black spiral pattern carved inside it. Wait, that one. Suddenly, what had happened in the square moments ago flashed through my mind.
The transparent bead that had rolled across the floor and vanished. This crystal resembled it perfectly. What a strange coincidence.
As I blinked, the black spiral seemed to actually spin. My arm suddenly tingled.
“…?”
I unconsciously reached out my hand. It wasn’t a deliberate action. My hand extended as if enchanted by something. Even before my fingers touched the bead, a sharp electric current coursed through my fingertips.
“Ow, that stings.”
“…?”
I clenched my index finger and frowned sharply. My finger burned and stung as if I’d been scalded. What is this?
Auredhian, who had been staring at something down the alley, turned his head toward me. I shook out my aching hand and opened my mouth.
“Your Majesty, something’s strange about this.”
“What is?”
“This. This stone.”
The sting hadn’t even faded before my hand reached out again of its own accord—a movement I hadn’t consciously willed. I stared down at my traitorous fingers in alarm.
“It keeps pulling me toward it, like—”
But I never got to touch it. The moment my fingertips brushed that transparent surface, my body was yanked backward. This seemed to be becoming a recurring theme today.
A low voice settled near my ear.
“Don’t touch it, Princess.”
“What?”
“Dangerous artifacts shouldn’t be wandering the streets so openly.”

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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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