Chapter 82

EP.82 The Tower of Oddities (3)

"If I were to describe my older brother in one word, I would choose the word 'psychopath' without a moment's hesitation. Ah, if I could add a few words before it, 'obsessed with power' would be appropriate, I think."

The first princess, Ruelle, had a unique presence.

As a member of the royal family, she inherited platinum blonde hair and golden eyes. This was the appearance that manifested due to the faint blessing of the stars bestowed upon members of the royal family.

I thought of the fourth princess, Ayla.

Though they were sisters, it was difficult to find any similarities between them. While Ayla had hair that was almost white gold, Princess Ruelle's hair was closer to silver.

'Her eyes are the same.'

Ruelle's eyes had a faint golden hue.

Overall, they were faint. Compared to Ayla, everything about her was faint. While Ayla had a sparkling presence, Ruelle had a subdued color.

However, there were two elements that overturned that faintness.

'Sharp eyes, and...'

As I glared at her sharp eyes, I slowly listened to her words.

"Long story short, it means a fucking brat."

A coarse, unrefined tone.

That was the problem.

I genuinely wondered if I should cover my ears. Normally, it would be a sacrilegious act to hear someone disparage the royal family. I should either block my ears or leave the room immediately.

'But this person is also from the royal family.'

The royal family was criticizing itself.

I thought that ignoring her words and covering my ears might also be a sacrilege.

"Um..."

While I was pondering this, the princess continued to speak.

"The royal family is sick. My father is a man who doesn't even think about managing his own children, and my older brother, under my father's tacit approval, stirs up trouble everywhere."

Ah, the princess said calmly.

"By 'stirring up trouble,' I mean it in a double sense. It means both causing chaos and literally seducing various noble children."

I learned about the first prince's promiscuity, which I didn't really want to know.

"It's a ridiculous situation."

The princess chuckled.

"Sometimes, I worry that he might even come after me. I'm quite pretty, you know. Don't you think? I believe I belong to the category of beauties, even objectively."

"Ah, yes..."

"I'm busy every day because of my good looks."

What exactly is she talking about?

'It's confusing.'

I slowly nodded my head.

Regardless of my confusion, I needed to show at least some reaction.

"Is that so?"

"Indeed it is."

The princess also nodded.

She showed no hesitation in criticizing her older brother, speaking as naturally as discussing the weather. She continued.

"Anyway, it seems that the tendency to play with others' lives is hereditary. The idea that such a psychopath will be the next ruler of the throne is unbelievable, isn't it? I don't really want to believe it."

That's why I stepped down from the throne.

As she muttered this, the princess took a sip of coffee. She spoke while swallowing the coffee.

"Even though I lived my life like a doll, as my brother wished."

I also reached for my coffee.

"My brother doesn't seem to be satisfied yet."

She slowly put down her coffee cup.

Then she lifted her head. A faint golden light flowed between her narrowed eyes.

"Judging by his attempts to kill the two of them and now trying to kill me..."

Thud.

I stopped my hand reaching for the coffee cup.

With my hand stopped, I lifted my head and looked at the princess. Our eyes met.

There was no wavering in her eyes.

There was no wavering in her expression.

After a moment, she spoke. Her red lips moved, and the words she spoke were matter-of-fact.

"And the next target will be the youngest, I suppose."

It was as if she found nothing strange about it.

2.

The fourth princess, Ayla.

'...I wonder if she'll be okay.'

She was lost in thought, feeling the wind blowing in from outside the window. What came to mind was her older sister who had visited her not long ago.

The first princess, Ruelle.

When she suddenly visited, she asked Ayla a question.

The question was straightforward.

'Recommend a competent and trustworthy mage.'

If it were someone else asking, Ayla would have introduced a suitable mage. However, the first princess was different.

'She's a capable older sister.'

She was always full of confidence. She didn't care about others' judgments. She set herself as the standard for everything.

Such a person was asking for help.

If that was the case, it must have been a very important matter. Ayla couldn't recommend just anyone.

'That wouldn't be respectful.'

Ayla disliked the royal family.

She was tired of the blood-soaked royal family. Normally, she would have shown only superficial respect in such a situation.

'There was no one I truly respected.'

However, Princess Ruelle was different.

If it weren't for her, Ayla would have already been killed by the first prince.

Just like the second and third princesses.

"..."

So, she recommended someone.

The most talented and trustworthy mage she knew. A mage chosen with the help of the stars.

The stars and Ayla's intuition aligned.

Ayla told Princess Ruelle the name of the mage she had chosen.

-Lania von Trias.

-...Is she Sir Roselle's adopted daughter?

-Yes, if it's her... I think she's trustworthy.

I don't want to get her involved with the royal family.

So, Ayla made sure to get a promise from Ruelle.

-Don't drag the professor too deeply into the royal family.

-Don't worry, I'll use her cleanly and return her to her place.

-...What?

-I'll make sure it doesn't affect the academy.

...In any case, she accepted it.

The direction was a bit strange, but...

"Will everything be alright?"

Surely, she wouldn't reveal all the royal family's affairs.

Even if her sister was blunt, she couldn't be that crazy.

Ayla trusted Ruelle.

That's why, when she was trying to focus on her overdue assignments, her thumb suddenly tingled. Ayla looked at her thumb.

Throb.

Her thumb throbbed.

Suddenly, a sense of unease overwhelmed her.

"Ah, no way."

It couldn't be.

3.

"And the next target will be the youngest, I suppose."

As she said this, Ruelle narrowed her eyes.

She looked at the professor sitting opposite her. The professor was also looking at her.

Pale blue eyes.

There was no sign of shock in those eyes.

When people hear something hard to accept, their reactions usually fall into two categories.

'Shocked, or...'

Or.

'Trying to understand the intent immediately.'

Most people fall into the first category.

However, occasionally, someone falls into the second. The professor in front of her clearly belonged to the second.

'Not bad.'

Ruelle remained silent.

By remaining silent, she waited for the professor to speak. The dice had been thrown. All that was left was to observe how the professor would move.

She anticipated the possible reactions while maintaining her silence.

'The most boring reaction would be, "What do you mean by that?"'

Someone who makes you repeat what you've already said is boring. Someone who doubts their own ears lacks confidence. Such a person was not what Ruelle needed now.

"..."

Then, the professor spoke.

Her lips moved, and she spoke.

"Why me?"

Not bad.

Ruelle thought.

The professor didn't ask what she needed to do. She just asked why it had to be her. Not a bad response.

"Hmm."

Ruelle smiled.

"I needed the help of a mage."

"You must be facing some magical danger, then."

"Yes. Though I have some expertise in magic, my ability to handle mana is lacking. I have no way to know what is targeting me."

My ability is lacking.

"That's why I need a mage. A competent one."

Lack of ability is compensated by others.

"The ability to see circuits, the skill to activate and modify them, and the ability to handle mana well."

The professor in front of her met these criteria.

At the Ivory Tower, Ruelle had assessed the professor's level with her own eyes. It exceeded her expectations.

'There's no problem with her skills.'

However, if she needed a competent mage, she could find one anywhere.

'The issue is...'

Whether the person had fallen into her brother's hands or not.

If the person she sought to escape from her brother had already fallen into his hands, it would be the most ridiculous thing.

The professor in front of her was relatively free from such issues.

'My brother hasn't had the chance to contact her.'

Lania von Trias.

This young professor had made a name for herself in less than three months. It was too early for her brother to have contacted her.

'And...'

She was raised under the wise Sir Roselle, free from any political influence.

'A person free from political interference.'

Such calculations were in place.

In place, but...

"Besides, you have sufficient qualities in my eyes."

Ruelle didn't explicitly state this fact.

The professor didn't ask about it either. She just asked another question.

"Why trust me?"

This question touched on the essence.

If all the conditions were met, there was only one thing left. Was this person trustworthy?

To this question, Ruelle replied bluntly.

"Don't misunderstand. I don't trust you."

When it came to trust, Ruelle didn't trust the professor in front of her. She acknowledged her skills but not her character. There hadn't been enough time to build trust.

-Recommend a competent and trustworthy mage.

If that was the case, why entrust her life to this person?

-Lania von Trias.

-If it's her, I think she's trustworthy.

"Ayla recommended you."

"..."

"I trust the youngest's judgment. I don't trust you; I trust the youngest who recommended you."

Ruelle pursed her lips.

Then she continued calmly.

"I've said all I need to say. If there's a story left to tell, it will be when the professor, you, accept my proposal."

Ruelle had a premonition of her own death.

There had been times when she thought it would be fine to die. She had lived every day prepared for death.

But not now.

If she died now, everything would be ruined. She needed to stay alive for a while. She estimated the time.

'At least three years.'

She needed to stay alive until the child secured her position. Even if she was prepared to die, she wanted to decide when it would happen.

"Four days."

To achieve that.

"Work for me for four days."

The mage in front of her was necessary.

"If you do that for me..."

Ruelle said.

"I will give you everything I have, even my life."

* * *

Facing Princess Ruelle, Lania sighed inwardly.

'I knew the royal family was a mess, but...'

I didn't expect it to be this bad.

Since the country seemed to be running smoothly, I didn't pay much attention.

'It's worse than I thought.'

Lania looked at the princess sitting opposite her.

She rarely met people of this kind. However, she knew those with similar inclinations.

People who lived for a single purpose.

For a single destination, they would abandon everything. Sometimes even their own dignity.

'...Uncle Kuntel comes to mind.'

Lania finally sighed.

Even though she sighed in front of the princess, Ruelle didn't point it out.

"What will you do if I tell you?"

"That would be a foolish question."

The princess chuckled.

"Professor, didn't I say?"