I Am the 5-Year-Old Spy Who Kidnapped the Villain - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 99】

 

Peaceful afternoon, Queen’s Palace.

 

“…A public duel, you say?”

 

“Yes. The rumors are spreading everywhere and everyone’s excited! Was it supposed to be a secret…?”

 

Grace fell silent for a moment at the question from the maid who was styling her hair.

 

Then, hiding her bewildered expression, she smiled gently at the frightened-looking maid.

 

“Oh right. That’s what it was. I forgot.”

 

“Phew, you startled me. I’m really looking forward to it! Seeing abilities in person isn’t an ordinary thing.”

 

The maid continued chattering with an excited face, but Grace could no longer hear her.

 

‘King Arzen is preparing a public duel with the Croste Ducal Family? Without informing me?’

 

Grace had been troubled for some time because of Pose Duke, who had been executed after taking responsibility for all of King Arzen’s crimes.

 

Did Arzen really try to kill Callipus by joining hands with a duke from another country out of personal greed?

 

It was the most fundamental question, but since the witness was already dead, she couldn’t investigate properly.

 

However, Callipus’s words clearly indicated that the incident was true, and Pose Duke had also said something meaningful just before his death.

 

Then. Did he have the qualifications to be the King of the Frozen Kingdom?

 

Also, if he touched Callipus once more in this situation, what attitude should she take?

 

Grace was officially King Arzen’s wife.

 

The kingdom’s people didn’t doubt the relationship between the royal couple, but in fact, she had known for a long time that Arzen found her disagreeable.

 

‘Teleportation portal? That trivial thing, I could have made it too if I had researched for just one more year, so why did you bother making it? Did you want to steal my achievements so badly?’

 

Arzen, who was proud and jealous, had often envied Grace from before.

 

When she created the portal, he grumbled that she had stolen his achievements.

 

‘You say you’re preparing a banquet but all you made were artificial candles? Well, people’s reactions weren’t bad… but you’re the inner palace of the royal family. You need to pay attention to other aspects besides magic. Things like chandeliers or display items.’

 

He would nitpick trivial matters and grumble at her.

 

Grace had to acknowledge after years of married life.

 

Arzen lacked the ability to rule a country.

 

He was a man with excellent abilities as a mage, but he was someone who had not yet learned human decency.

 

How could such a person rule a kingdom?

 

‘…Even using black magic on Princess Aisha…’

 

Her breath stopped momentarily at the horrific thought.

 

Grace had been pretending not to know until now, but she had somewhat suspected since she decoded the complex formula inscribed on Aisha’s body.

 

That only she and Arzen could create such complex formulas.

 

‘I should meet with him to ask about that too.’

 

She needed to have a deep conversation with him before something bigger happened.

 

“Ask His Majesty King Arzen if we can have tea time tomorrow afternoon.”

 

Grace, who immediately sent a maid, waited for Arzen in the warm glass greenhouse the next day.

 

“Once the tea leaves are steeped, everyone may leave.”

 

She dismissed even the servants because it was a topic that could be sensitive for others to hear.

 

After waiting alone in the greenhouse for 10 minutes.

 

“Grace.”

 

Arzen, who was a bit late, appeared shrugging his shoulders without any sign of apology.

 

“What’s gotten into you, thinking of having tea time with me?”

 

“You’re having a public duel with the Croste Ducal Family?”

 

Grace didn’t bother asking him tediously why he was late.

 

She knew she wouldn’t get a proper answer, and in fact, since trust had already hit rock bottom, she hadn’t expected him to arrive on time.

 

“Ah. Right. The public duel. I forgot to tell you. I’ve been too busy with work lately.”

 

It was an excuse that didn’t even sound like an excuse.

 

Grace was doing almost all the work, so all Arzen had to do was just sit on the throne.

 

Then Arzen, who suddenly looked at Grace, frowned.

 

“By the way, you need to learn a bit more about noble etiquette.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“If you invite someone, shouldn’t you greet them first? Going straight to the main point like this. It’s so boring…”

 

Grace, surprised by those words, looked at Arzen carefully.

 

There was only one case when he, who usually read her mood, would boldly speak rudely – when he was drunk.

 

Looking closely, his face was slightly flushed.

 

He had definitely been drinking late into the night, was late due to a hangover, and was clearly still under the influence.

 

Grace sighed and pretended not to hear his words, going straight to the main point.

 

“So, why the sudden public duel? I even heard that Croste Duke himself will participate.”

 

“Ah, that. People have been constantly trembling in anxiety because of the recent incident with Pose Duke and the monster. I called the duke directly to calm that down.”

 

“…”

 

“Seeing the ice ability should improve people’s reactions. You should observe with me too. It’ll be quite a sight.”

 

“I see.”

 

Grace nodded roughly and hardened her expression imperceptibly.

 

It was time to bring up another main point.

 

“Your Majesty Arzen. There’s one more thing I’m curious about, may I ask?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“About Princess Aisha.”

 

The moment the word Aisha came from Grace’s mouth.

 

Arzen’s eyes, which had been dazed from alcohol, widened and then narrowed.

 

‘He suspected it himself.’

 

Seeing that, Grace thought.

 

She didn’t want to hear it, but she had no choice but to listen.

 

“From Your Majesty’s perspective, wasn’t there anything strange?”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

“During this banquet incident, I noticed that Princess Aisha had black magic cast on her. I removed it, but the formula was quite complex.”

 

A moment of silence flowed.

 

Arzen, who had become surprisingly serious, lifted his teacup and asked.

 

“So?”

 

“I know there aren’t many people in the Frozen Kingdom who can create such complex formulas.”

 

“How many do you think there are?”

 

“Two people.”

 

There was no hesitation in the transparent light green eyes staring at Arzen.

 

“I think there are exactly only two people.”

 

With her answer, an even more suffocating silence flowed.

 

The teacups tilted toward the lips of the two people who had lowered their heads.

 

Clack.

 

The teacups they were each holding settled onto the saucers with sharp sounds as if competing.

 

“…”

 

Arzen raised his head first, but instead of answering, he chose silence.

 

And because of that silence, Grace came to realize.

 

That the one who cast that black magic was really this country’s king and her husband.

 

And on a person’s body, even on Princess Aisha of the Croste Ducal Family when she was just a baby.

 

‘Right now, it’s publicly known that Pose Duke used black magic on the princess.’

 

In fact, Pose Duke couldn’t use magic.

 

Since he already had the poison ability, there was no need to learn it.

 

But people weren’t interested in that fact. They just needed good gossip to chew on.

 

If they learned the truth…

 

“Grace.”

 

That was when.

 

A voice that had instantly lowered rang in her ears.

 

When she raised her head, Arzen, who had been wearing a serious expression until just now, was smiling.

 

And somehow, it sounded deflated.

 

“How sad. Are you saying that one of those two people is you, and the other one is me?”

 

She had expected him to get angry out of nowhere or pretend not to understand.

 

At his unexpectedly emotional question, Grace felt something was strange but still answered.

 

“No. I’m not trying to corner you like that, I’m asking because I don’t know anything either…”

 

Her mouth, which had been trying to explain calmly, suddenly closed.

 

Grace had definitely dismissed all the servants before Arjen entered.

 

But then, a strange sensation brushed past her.

 

She began to feel blatant stares from behind her.

 

“…!”

 

Grace’s eyes wavered slightly as she turned her head.

 

There were servants. Even guards too.

 

She had definitely told them to leave…!

 

Grace, who had been thinking that, suddenly realized.

 

They all had cold expressions on their faces, and they were all Arjen’s people.

 

“…I only asked because I had no way of knowing. As far as I know, you and His Majesty are the only mages capable of creating formulas to control someone’s mind.”

 

“I see.”

 

Growing anxious, Grace hurriedly answered and thought of the people who would be outside the greenhouse.

 

She had stationed guard knights on standby in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

 

Whatever happened, she could immediately scream…

 

“Grace.”

 

Her rapidly spinning thoughts came to a complete halt at Arjen’s voice.

 

“I’ve known you well since we were children. When you’re thinking hard, you don’t even blink because you’re so focused. Remarkably so.”

 

He had already risen from his seat and approached Grace closely, slowly lifting her chin.

 

“Even now. You’re not blinking.”

 

“…”

 

At the very least. Even if she dismissed everyone else, she should have kept a guard knight by her side.

 

At the very least, she should have told them to just come in if things seemed strange inside.

 

But she hadn’t done that.

 

Because she never thought such an unreasonable thing would happen in the peaceful royal palace.

 

“I don’t want to make you my enemy.”

 

But just as in the history books she had read, wars and unexpected situations always occurred when least expected.

 

Like how a single pebble, when touched, could cause an avalanche through the butterfly effect.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Before she knew it, the knights had surrounded Grace.

 

After being momentarily flustered, she only raised her gaze to look at Arjen.

 

He was looking down at Grace while maintaining a relaxed smile.

 

“But you dare to slander the King of the Frozen Kingdom and attempt treason.”

 

“That’s not what this is…”

 

“If that’s not what this is, then you shouldn’t have suspected me in the first place.”

 

This was wrong.

 

“I don’t want to see you commit treason.”

 

Something was very wrong.

 

“So please, shut your mouth.”

 

Thud.

 

With Arjen’s command-like words as the end, her vision turned black.

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