Welcome to the Café of the Dark Guild’s Successor - Chapter 62

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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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A café operated by the heir to the Dark Guild.
Episode 62
‘Would the Empress remember Mother, who was adopted into Slorfan?’
There was an impulse to remove my mask in front of her.
I was curious about her reaction upon seeing me, who resembled Mother so closely, but with so little information now, I decided to observe for the time being.
Bidler arrived before Clione and exchanged greetings with the princess of Roah. The princess smiled shyly.
‘They suit each other well.’
Born as they were—a crown prince and a princess—they belonged to a different world entirely, one with which I would normally have no dealings.
I set down my empty champagne glass on the table and stepped onto the terrace for a breath of air.
“Quite high up.”
Looking out over the gardens below, I thought how I wanted to slip away from this stifling party and explore the Imperial Palace instead.
That was when someone else stepped onto the terrace.
‘I should avoid this.’
There was nothing good to gain from getting entangled with anyone without Bidler. I turned to go inside when I caught sight of a silver mask.
“Rosia? Isn’t it?”
I have always had a good memory for faces and voices of those I’ve encountered before, so I recalled who he was the moment he spoke.
“We finally meet. Ah, I’ve been searching for you for so long.”
Kayan, the chief researcher.
The man who had made me uncomfortable when I first entered the Imperial Palace on Seniel’s business.
“I didn’t expect to see you again here. I’m pleased to see you. Do you remember me?”
He approached with the enthusiasm of one greeting an old friend.
“Yes. This is the second time.”
Reluctant to engage in lengthy conversation, I gave a curt reply, and his lips curved gently upward in a smile.
“I apologize for the cold reception back then. There was a fire in the Research Laboratory, and I was overwhelmed.”
“It’s fine.”
“You have no idea how hard I’ve searched since that day. I even sent people looking for you. In the end we came up empty, but the fact that we’ve met again like this—don’t you think it’s rather fate?”
“……I’m not sure.”
“Seniel is impossible. He knew I was looking for you but refused to tell me anything.”
The casual way he admitted to sending people after me was already troubling.
Sensing he had some ulterior motive for this approach, I raised my guard and pulled my jacket closer.
“I should get back inside.”
“Wait a moment.”
As I moved to pass him, Kayan seized my wrist.
I pulled my hand away with obvious displeasure, and Kayan apologized, his eyes suddenly bright with intensity.
“You touched a Magic Stone in my Research Laboratory that day, didn’t you?”
“No.”
The memory was vague, but I tilted my head slightly, feigning ignorance.
“I’m not trying to blame you. But after you left that day, the Magic Stone was refined. Do you understand how exceptional it is to refine a Magic Stone in such a short time?”
Kayan spoke with rising excitement.
‘It was refined just from my touch?’
Refining a Magic Stone requires commissioning a mage of at least the fifth circle.
Even with the high cost, the profit margin is so substantial that anyone with refined Magic Stones to sell keeps a sharp eye on the business.
Raven had attempted it once, but gave up after finding both the supply of Magic Stones and the selection of reasonably-priced mages too difficult.
The possibility that I could refine Magic Stones myself smelled of enormous profit, enough to pique my interest, though I gave no sign of it.
“I wish I had such an ability. Unfortunately, I didn’t touch anything that day.”
“……Really?”
I lowered my head slightly, hoping he would give up, but Kayan’s lips parted once more.
“The party seems to be boring you. Would you like to come to my Research Laboratory and undergo the examination we couldn’t do that day?”
There was something unsettling about the gleam in his eyes.
“If you saw me, then you must have seen who was beside me as well? I’m here as the Crown Prince’s partner.”
“The Crown Prince will soon have another partner.”
Kayan smiled darkly as he continued.
“The princess of Roah Kingdom has come as the fiancée of the Second Prince.”
I was taken aback by this news.
I thought they suited each other, but an engagement so sudden?
Of course, my shock quickly shifted to worry that this might mark the beginning of a purge against Bidler, following the First Prince’s Crown Prince Appointment.
My mind grew complicated, but I could simply confirm the facts directly with him.
“I’ll ask the Crown Prince myself.”
“Anytime!”
As I moved to leave, Kayan pressed a Brooch into my hand.
“Come see me. Show them this at the Imperial Palace, and anyone will guide you to me.”
“……If I have the opportunity.”
“Please, let’s meet again. Talents like you, Rosia, are truly rare. We desperately need you at the Research Laboratory.”
Here was an elite, born of one of the Five Great Houses and chief researcher despite his youth, clinging to me with transparent desperation.
I nodded and passed by him, returning to the party hall.
Then I quickly surveyed the room.
Hestanya, befitting a pillar of high society, commanded the party’s atmosphere and was surrounded by more people than anyone else.
Bidler was still conversing with the Empress, but his expression had turned angry, and he turned away roughly.
One look at his cold gaze as he walked toward me confirmed that something had happened.
Without a word, Bidler stood beside me, reached for a glass of Wine from the table, and drank it without pause, gulping it down in succession.
“Was the conversation unpleasant?”
Bidler exhaled heavily and set the glass down roughly on the table.
“I wondered why I was summoned, and then I heard a dreadful proposal.”
“What sort of proposal?”
Bidler’s eyes, which had been seething with anger, suddenly turned toward me.
“I was told to marry. To that princess.”
So what Kayan had said on the terrace was true. I mentally gave him high marks for obtaining the information faster than the subject himself knew it.
“You don’t seem very surprised.”
“I was.”
I glanced back and forth between the princess, who was watching us, and Bidler’s face.
“Following the First Prince’s Crown Prince Appointment, if a marriage with a distant kingdom is being pushed forward… they’re trying to send you far away.”
“You grasp the situation quickly.”
“But the Empress still showed room for negotiation. She’ll send you away, but in exchange she’ll keep you alive, so to speak?”
“That’s how it appears, but I have no intention of following such an obvious ploy. Not content with banishing me as a child, she now wants to send me off as she pleases.”
Bidler drank more Wine and wiped his mouth roughly.
“It might not be as bad a proposal as it appears.”
“What?”
“If you marry the princess and have the Roah Kingdom backing you, it could become considerable strength later. The path won’t be easy, but.”
Of course, this would only be possible if Bidler were to create justification for the smaller nation of Roah to mobilize military force against our great empire.
“Do you wish for me to marry?”
“Is this a matter of wish? It’s a matter of necessity.”
To my rebuttal, Bidler twisted his mouth and spoke.
“Quite rational. I understand your meaning.”
Bidler turned away sharply. A cold wind seemed to follow in his wake.
‘Is he angry? Why?’
I couldn’t fathom the cause of his sudden irritation and tilted my head in confusion.
I was wondering if I’d overstepped with my advice when the Crown Prince approached us from a distance.
The Crown Prince paused briefly before Bidler, tapping his shoulder.
Then he took another step forward and stood before me. His lips curved upward beneath the golden mask.
“It’s my first time seeing my brother bring a partner, so I came to pay respects. How is it that such a distinguished person couldn’t be found? I had no choice but to come myself.”
“I am honored, Your Highness.”
Sarcasm dripped from my words, but I bowed deeply with proper courtesy.
Bidler immediately returned and positioned himself in front of me.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“You’ve abandoned a beautiful princess, and I was curious what sort of woman has captured your heart so. I didn’t see your face at the appointment ceremony.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze moved from Bidler back to me.
“I was only invited to the party.”
“What House’s daughter are you? I’ve never seen this face before.”
“I come from a humble family with no notable name.”
“What? Ha. Not even a family name worth announcing?”
The Crown Prince burst into loud, mocking laughter.
“A bastard and a commoner. Quite the fitting pair. Now I understand why he rejected the princess. He knows his place.”
With that, he tapped my shoulder. His raised hand did not come down, instead lingering to caress it slowly.
‘Endure.’
I wanted to break his fingers on the spot, but held back given who I was dealing with.
“Even masked, you have a certain allure. Remove your mask.”
“Brother, please stop. There are many eyes watching.”
Bidler, who had been restraining himself beside me, struck the Crown Prince’s hand away and spoke coldly.
“How considerate. You’re worried about me?”
“She is my partner. I will not tolerate further insult.”
“Ha, not tolerate? What could a bastard possibly do against me, the Crown Prince?”
The Crown Prince reached for a glass that sat on the table with the hand he’d withdrawn from me.
He brought it toward his lips as if to drink, then spun it casually.
The dark red Wine that had been in the glass spilled out, drenching the hem of my Dress.
‘What a petty thing to do.’
I had already read his intentions the moment he began to spin the glass.
I could have dodged, but I thought it better to take the hit rather than provoke him further.
“Brother!!”
Bidler clenched his teeth and cried out.
I gently grasped his arm and shook my head.
“What a pity. My hand slipped. But don’t be too upset. It was very expensive Wine. It must have raised your value considerably. Kwahahaha.”

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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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