Chapter 82 - Remnant (3)

“Grand Duke. My son and I have known each other for quite some time. Since he was born, at the very least.”

“Please observe the proprieties even in private, Your Majesty.”

“Shut up. What the hell is this?”

Grand Duke Aslan sighed at the Emperor’s casually abusive language before answering.

“I am recommending that you declare martial law. The prince’s movements are troubling.”

“I know Arden’s been up to some nonsense lately. But martial law? What kind of insane suggestion is that?”

Under ordinary circumstances, the Emperor’s reaction would have been perfectly reasonable. Martial law was reserved for national emergencies, after all. It was far too drastic a measure to propose out of nowhere.

However.

“Considering His Highness’s disposition, it may indeed be something of an overreaction. He is not the sort to do as he pleases without caring whether civilians die.”

“...”

At those words, the Emperor’s demeanor visibly sobered. Anyone who wasn’t an idiot would understand the implication.

“Are you saying he’s plotting treason?”

“Yes.”

“Your source?”

“The same man who requested the declaration of martial law.”

“...”

Without a word, the Emperor leafed through the documents the grand duke had handed him. All manner of tricks had been employed to keep the man’s identity out of the official record, but anyone familiar with the circumstances could immediately deduce who it was.

“... Looks like Noel landed herself quite a husband. He can sniff out even this?”

“I agree.”

Grand Duke Aslan continued smoothly.

“Allow me to explain how he arrived at that conclusion, Your Majesty.”

Of course, even so, anyone would surely struggle to accept that their own son was plotting treason against them—

“Approved.”

—or apparently not.

The grand duke blinked blankly as the Emperor immediately slammed his seal of approval onto the document.

“You must have reviewed it dozens of times before bringing it to me. What would denying reality accomplish now, other than wasting time?”

“We are discussing a member of your family coming for your throne. You accept that so easily?”

“I’m saying this because he’s family, and I know him well. If things have reached the point where people are saying this about Arden, he really would do it. More importantly...”

The Emperor flipped through the papers and pointed at a passage.

“What about you? Are you planning to make the boy your heir?”

It stated that personnel from the ducal House of Aslan would be mobilized under martial law, and that full authority over their deployment and command would be delegated to Aiden Kellermain.

... That was enough authority for anyone to believe he was acting in Grand Duke Aslan’s stead.

“That would violate the law, Your Majesty. He is not a direct blood relative.”

“...”

... To the Emperor, that sounded very much like he would already have done it if the law allowed.

“I was going to nurture that boy and take him for myself later. Why is everyone trying to stake a claim on him?”

“You make it sound as though I’m not the only one.”

Instead of answering, the Emperor took a document from a drawer and flung it at Grand Duke Aslan. The grand duke caught it, inwardly marveling at the remarkable skill that sent a single sheet of paper flying straight without so much as a flutter.

Its contents, however, were rather displeasing.

“... The Holy Kingdom’s ‘Perfected One,’ and the Great Plains’ ‘Right Hand of God’? Is this genuine?”

“Would it be fake? The latter is such a... bizarre fellow that I can let it pass. But the former is a real problem. They’re making the most aggressive overtures, with the Pontiff leading the effort.”

Grand Duke Aslan frowned as well. The title of Perfected One carried even greater weight than the name Lionhearted did in the Empire.

In a way, this was worse than dealing with the Pontiff. The Pontiff stood at the pinnacle of all wielders of divinity, but the Perfected One ranked among the strongest wielders of any supernatural power.

A monster who could reasonably be placed above even the Pontiff in combat ability alone.

People even called this prodigy out of place in the modern age, when techniques for wielding supernatural power had fallen several levels behind those of antiquity. That said it all.

“I hear information has even started reaching the people operating in the shadows. No one knows who else will come crawling out next.”

... And one of them had apparently already approached the boy directly.

Recalling the information on the assassination organization Dark Moon, the Emperor joined the grand duke in frowning.

“... It feels like someone’s smashing my secret honey pot.”

“Men that useful are certainly rare.”

Their lamentations hung thick in the air.

▣

... Rarely had he ever felt quite so useless.

“...”

“...”

Even a pair of wooden dolls seated together would have produced a livelier atmosphere. Watching a deathly pale Noel barely touch her food as she kept stealing apprehensive glances at him, he couldn’t help feeling that way.

And her very condition was what made Aiden feel so helpless.

‘... I haven’t the faintest idea what she’s thinking.’

No, he genuinely had no idea why she was acting like this. He had made a living delving into the depths of other people’s minds. Naturally, having someone this terrified sitting across from him for no discernible reason would make him feel that way...

Looking her up and down, he could at least tell that she wasn’t thinking straight. The irrational fear was plain to see.

He had only invited her out for a meal. Even Aiden had no idea how things had turned out like this.

“... Dame Noel, please calm down.”

When he tried to soothe her, she nodded, though she was still trembling.

“Why are you so nervous?”

“...”

At that, Noel actually squeezed her eyes shut. She took a deep breath like a warrior preparing to march onto the battlefield.

“I’m ready either way, Aiden.”

“... Pardon?”

“I did plenty of studying before coming. I’ve prepared myself mentally, too.”

“... Pardon?”

At this point, he was better off saying what he had prepared than trying to decipher what she meant.

Facing the tense Noel, Aiden cleared his throat and spoke.

“Dame Noel. I only invited you so we could talk about ourselves.”

“...”

Noel blinked slowly, as though he had said something utterly unexpected.

“Talk... about ourselves?”

“Yes. We’ve never really done that before, have we?”

He was simply following Teresa’s advice to have a personal conversation. Living together had given them a general sense of what sort of people they were, but they had rarely connected through an honest, serious exchange.

Yet the response he received was:

“... Surely learning things about me wouldn’t be any fun for you?”

“...”

“... Would there be any point?”

... This woman.

Just how little did she think of herself for an answer like that to come out so casually?

“We’re engaged, aren’t we? I want to grow closer to you.”

The moment he answered, Noel’s expression stiffened. Something seemed to trouble her so deeply that all the tension she had built up vanished in an instant.

As if a stifling pressure had caught her breath in her throat.

“... Because I’m your fiancée?”

A bitter smile crossed her face. She briefly closed her eyes, opened them again, then patted both cheeks with her hands.

As though reminding herself not to get the wrong idea.

‘... Of course it couldn’t be that.’

After all, she and this man were bound by a contractual marriage. Their relationship had never gone beyond that, nor had there been any sign that it would.

Every part of it was closer to a relationship she had imagined all by herself, without ever asking what he wanted.

‘How stupid.’

Misunderstanding on her own, getting her hopes up on her own. What was the point of working herself into a nervous wreck all by herself?

Feeling foolish all over again, Noel pressed her lips tightly together.

But she did not let it show. She was spending time with Aiden. There was no need to spoil the mood any further.

He was the man she liked, after all.

“All right. Is there anything you’d like to know?”

“Yes. First, I’d like to ask what foods you enjoy.”

“... My taste in food? I’ll eat just about anything...”

She was a war veteran. It would have been stranger if she were picky.

“No. I mean your absolute favorites,” Aiden said calmly.

“I’m actually a fairly good cook. I’d like to make a meal for someone I like, at least once—”

-System Message

▶ Target ‘Noel’s’ ‘Utter Infatuation’ toward you rises to Level 2.

▶ Skill ‘Weaver of Fate’ activates. You may copy an additional skill!

▶ Your influence over target ‘Noel’ increases significantly.

▶ You have caused a major change in target ‘Noel’s’ state of mind. The possibility of altering the future has arisen.

▶ An additional ‘Personal Quest’ for the target will open soon.

▶ Unique Trait ‘Origin’ is unlocked.

▶ Unique Trait ‘Spirit Invocation’ is added.

“...”

What the heck?

As Aiden stared at the windows in genuine bewilderment, Noel’s face before him was scarlet. Even a tomato would have looked pale beside her.

“... Dame Noel? Are you all right?”

“... W-well...”

When he asked, wondering if something was wrong, Noel moved as stiffly as a wooden doll and barely managed to speak.

“Since we met, I think, that’s the first time, you’ve actually said you like me...”

“...”

... Was it?

Now that he thought about it, perhaps it was. He hardly ever seemed to say things like that outright.

While Aiden was considering this...

‘Oh, damn it.’

Noel covered her face, the curse slipping through her mind unbidden.

‘... Just a moment ago.’

Just a moment ago, she had nearly resigned herself. She had been on the verge of deciding to stop getting her hopes up all by herself.

Why, again?

Why did this man keep doing this?!

‘... How am I supposed to stop hoping when you do this...?!’

When she looked at him reproachfully, Aiden, flustered in turn, hastened to explain.

“I’m not lying.”

“...”

“Who could possibly dislike someone like you? I truly, sincerely—”

“... Aiden, stop.”

“Pardon?”

“Stop, please stop—”

Noel barely mustered a voice from a throat that kept producing nothing but air. Both hands still covered her face.

To Aiden, it almost looked as though he was hallucinating something bursting from her face with a pop.

“A-A-Aiden, I-I have something—”

Before she could finish, a flare suddenly shot up with a bang.

“...”

“...”

What impeccable timing.

With that thought, Aiden turned toward the rising flare.

A black flare. Its arcing trail radiated an unmistakably ominous air, even in the brilliant midday sunlight.

It was so sudden that everyone dining nearby turned toward it at once, but as Aiden watched, a chill raced down his spine.

‘... That.’

He had seen this before.

Without a doubt.

... It was one of the signs heralding the start of Act 3, Rift in the Capital.

And it had appeared far earlier than he had expected.

Something was happening.

-System Message

▶ A change is occurring in the ‘main story.’

▶ The event will begin earlier!

... Something enormous.