Chapter 90
Chapter 90: Call Me Council Member
A nimble figure slipped past the countless guards at the Clavena Manor Gate, concealing herself completely within the darkness of the night.
She scaled the second floor with practiced ease and pushed open the bedroom window.
Inside her own bedroom, Leah was quietly reading a book on her bed.
The figure climbed in through the window, closed it behind her, and came to stand before Leah.
The pointed ears visible on either side of the visitor's head confirmed her identity.
Without even looking up, Leah asked in an even tone:
"Did you bring the person?"
Leon nodded.
"There are too many guards outside. I left Chuer in the Mage Item Shop's Basement."
She tilted her head and looked at Leah, finding something slightly odd.
Why had Miss Leah started reading books?
"I think I understand a little better now why Viktor loves reading so much."
Leah slowly closed the book in her hands and set it on the cabinet beside her, explaining in a calm tone:
"Books let me temporarily calm down and relax. It's very helpful for thinking things through."
Leon stared at Leah with admiration, marveling inwardly:
As expected of Miss Leah—even at a time like this, she can keep her composure.
As if bringing it up casually, Leah addressed the Elf before her:
"Leon, if the First Prince really comes to propose to me, what do you think—what benefit would that hold for us?"
"Speak freely."
Leon paused slightly, resting her chin in her hand and falling into thought.
She naturally knew about Jess Rether's plan to have the First Prince propose to Miss Leah.
Soon, Leon gave her answer.
She told Leah plainly: "I don't like it."
Leah blinked, momentarily caught off guard by Leon's reply.
"What do you mean?"
Leon answered Leah's confusion with complete candor:
"I don't know what benefits an Arranged Marriage might bring, but I just don't want Miss Leah to marry into the Imperial family."
Hearing Leon's answer, Leah let out a soft laugh.
"The Imperial family is so prestigious—there are plenty of girls who would leap at the chance to marry a Prince."
Of course, she herself was definitely not among them.
If Leah had wanted to marry out that badly, she would have left the Clavena Family long ago.
Leah smiled with a helpless resignation.
"Jess Rether has simply set a trap right in front of my face."
It was an open scheme.
Jess Rether harbored the delusion of marrying her to the First Prince, binding the Clavena Family to the First Prince's chariot.
Everyone knew this would never be tolerated by the Second Prince.
Furthermore, Viktor had already become the Princess's teacher—under Emperor Aubrey's maneuvering, the Clavenas should not be supporting either Prince.
Through this affair, Jess Rether intended to draw the Second Prince's resentment onto Viktor, and in the same stroke, make the Emperor feel disappointed in him.
Leah understood all of this clearly, yet what left her feeling somewhat stifled was:
On the surface, Leah had no grounds to refuse the First Prince's proposal.
She was nothing more than a family dependent with no noble title of her own, forced to rely on the Clavena household.
For the First Prince to have taken a liking to her was her good fortune—so if the First Prince truly came to propose and Viktor did nothing, Leah would have no choice but to accept.
At first, Leah had believed that if Viktor were smart, he would surely refuse.
But then she realized:
If he did that, it would equally mean Viktor was actively declaring he would never support the First Prince.
The winds of allegiance would then shift swiftly toward the Second Prince.
The Clavena Family would be forced into opposition with the First Prince—and because Viktor was the Princess's private instructor, it would be equally impossible for him to support the Second Prince.
Clearly not supporting either side, yet the Clavenas would find themselves directly in everyone's crosshairs.
Had it not been for the Duke's visit today serving as a reminder, she would not even have caught this angle.
So whether she accepted or refused, the end result would be the same: Viktor would inevitably be drawn into conflict and opposition with both Princes.
Then which side would the Viktor of old have chosen?
Leah circled and marked the book's pages, and in the end, drew her pen to a circle around the First Prince.
Interest.
If forced to stand in opposition to 1 side, he would surely stand against the Second Prince.
Because as things stood, the First Prince was the more advantageous choice—he was, after all, the party actively seeking the marriage.
"But that was before."
Leah tore out the page, and the red gemstone on the Mage's Hand glimmered faintly with Magic, burning the paper in her hand to ash.
She would not hand her life over to anyone.
***
At dawn, the first light finally broke through the night and fell upon the Royal Capital.
At this hour throughout the Royal Capital, all the common folk were beginning to prepare to open their shops and start their work.
Inside the Imperial Palace, everyone was likewise waiting—waiting for the morning court session to begin.
Emperor Aubrey slowly settled onto the throne and surveyed the officials below.
Jess Rether stood at the head of one side, leading a group of ministers.
On the other side stood the Second Prince.
He too led a group of officials who supported him.
Standing beside the Emperor was Duke Livi.
Emperor Aubrey gave a nod to the officials below, signaling that the court session could begin.
With permission granted, Jess Rether was the first to speak:
"Your Majesty, His Highness the First Prince has returned this time laden with accomplishments."
"His Highness slew a Magic Dragon at the border that had long plagued the Empire—a great deed for which he shall bring back the dragon's head to proclaim victory."
The Second Prince simply stood to the side, watching Jess Rether's praise in silence, a smile on his lips but nothing to say.
Emperor Aubrey also did not speak, only listening as Jess Rether continued:
"The First Prince has yet to take a wife, and yet His Highness is already approaching 30—it is time to consider the matter of starting a family."
"Regarding a suitable partner, I have a recommendation."
"That would be Count Viktor's sist….."
Before he could finish his words, Gwen strode in from outside the court hall, clad in armor, a longsword at her waist, her bearing brisk and decisive.
"Lady Gwen! We haven't reported to His Majesty yet!"
The 2 Court Eunuchs who had been trailing close behind Gwen scrambled after her in a stumbling rush, urgently cautioning her along the way.
Yet Gwen had already arrived before the Emperor.
In her hand she led a disheveled man, whom she flung toward the center of the palace hall.
The assembled court looked at the man sprawled across the palace floor, exchanging bewildered glances.
Someone couldn't help but ask:
"Who is this person?"
"This man's name is Chuer. He is a soldier of the Kant Kingdom who assumed a false identity to infiltrate the Empire, becoming a grain merchant and working his way into the Clavena Family."
"His objective was to assassinate Viktor and his sister Leah."
"But he failed—and was instead captured by Viktor's sister."
Every official in the court hall drew a sharp breath upon hearing this.
The Viktor of before had been a Viscount—moreover a Viscount with actual authority over a Territory.
And yet, within such a noble house, a soldier of the Kant Kingdom had managed to infiltrate?
The gravity of this matter made it difficult not to suspect that someone within the Empire had been colluding with the Kant Kingdom.
What's more, the timing of the assassination attempt aligned precisely with the moment Viktor was elevated to Count and his strength ascended to the ranks of a 4th-Tier Mage.
Many could not help but let their gazes drift toward Jess Rether.
Why?
Before all this, no matter how much the nobles present had been displeased with Viktor, none of them would have gone so far as to speak of having Viktor assassinated.
Because Viktor was a person of the Empire—grievances between Imperial subjects should be settled by Imperial subjects themselves.
What did it mean for a person of the Kingdom to come slipping in?
So then—who had recently harbored a grudge against Viktor, and who had the motive?
The nobles who turned their gazes toward Jess Rether said not a single word.
Yet they had made their current attitude toward the Rether Family perfectly clear.
Jess Rether felt the weight of many hostile stares directed at him—like dozens of sharp needles piercing into him from all sides.
The Emperor raised his eyes and looked toward Gwen, speaking his first words:
"Where is the child now?"
"Your Majesty, Leah is waiting outside the palace."
Emperor Aubrey inclined his head and said:
"Let her come in."
At the Emperor's summons, several guards escorted Leah into the palace hall.
She stood before the Emperor, and under the gaze of all those assembled, gave a slight bow toward the figure on the Imperial throne.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Emperor Aubrey waved his hand.
"No need for formalities."
With that, he fixed his gaze on Leah and gave a light chuckle.
"Good—so long as you are unharmed."
"Otherwise, this old man of mine could not withstand Viktor coming to make a scene at my door."
Everyone present heard the warmth in the Emperor's tone. His appreciation for Viktor had even extended to Viktor's younger sister.
Fond of one, fond of all.
Leah slowly rose, and cast a glance toward Jess Rether.
Within that gaze, there seemed to be a deep and concentrated mockery.
But the mockery vanished in an instant—with such a sudden turn of events, no one paid attention to Leah's expression.
At a gesture from the Emperor, a Mage-soldier stepped forward, guiding the unconscious Chuer with a crystal orb in hand.
A Mark gradually materialized on the crystal orb, then turned red and dissolved away.
The Mage-soldier turned around and spoke to the Emperor:
"Your Majesty, he is indeed not an Imperial subject—and furthermore, his Vital Energy is noticeably dense."
Dense Vital Energy indicated that the man was a warrior, and no weak one at that.
This effectively authenticated the truth of Leah's account.
Setting aside for the moment whether this warrior had actually intended to assassinate Viktor's household—the fact alone that such a powerful warrior from outside the Empire had slipped in was worth investigating.
Duke Livi, at this apt moment, added from his position beside the Emperor:
"Your Majesty, this matter ought to be thoroughly investigated."
The Emperor gave a nod, sounded an affirmative "Mm," and smiled toward Leah.
"Child, come closer."
Leah gave the Emperor another bow and walked toward him.
Looking at Leah as she approached, the Emperor said with a smile:
"Your brother is Auréliane's teacher—standing before me, you need not be stiff."
"I will pursue this matter. For capturing such a Kingdom warrior, you have rendered a great service."
Everyone present took note of the Emperor's choice of words.
By pointedly reaffirming the relationship between the Princess and Viktor, he was issuing a warning to all those assembled.
Bring your scheming little moves no further before me.
The Clavenas will not be supporting either side.
No one noticed that Jess Rether had quietly clenched his fist.
Why?
Why could the Emperor treat these 2 with such favor?
We are the Imperial Relatives—Dewen and I are your own nephews by blood!
A seed called jealousy was planted, unnoticed, in the depths of his heart—taking root and slowly sprouting within Jess Rether's chest.
Suddenly, the Emperor turned his gaze to Jess Rether and asked:
"Speaking of which, you had something to say just now."
"Continue."
Jess Rether froze. At this moment, he had become the one being roasted alive over an open flame.
Viktor's sister had just survived an assassination attempt, and now he was going to bring up the First Prince forming a marriage alliance with her……
Wasn't that just asking to be berated?
"Your Majesty, I……"
Jess Rether opened his mouth, but the words were like a boulder jammed in his throat—he could not get a single syllable out.
The old Emperor let out a sigh and said mildly:
"Come out, Viktor."
"If there's anything you want to say, tell him yourself."
Viktor?
Every single person present fell into utter bewilderment.
Where was Viktor in this place?
Alongside the confusion rising within them, the Imperial Palace suddenly bloomed with a rush of green—teeming with life.
Wildflowers and grasses gradually carpeted the entire floor. Winding, spiraling vines climbed all the way to the palace roof, wrapping themselves around every golden pillar.
A cluster of flowers that appeared behind the crowd began to stir. As those blossoms slowly retreated,
Viktor's figure gradually emerged.
He appeared out of nowhere before the assembled court, giving the tail of his Coat a casual flick.
The Viktor before them now was a different man entirely from the last time they had seen him.
If the Viktor of before had radiated terror and authority, then the Viktor of this moment was filled with a cold, austere elegance.
Yet he still gave off the same sense of mysterious distance.
His figure vanished in an instant, reappearing like a phantom behind Jess, his gaze ice-cold as he spoke slowly beside Jess's ear:
"There were certain things I failed to make clear in advance—perhaps that gave you the impression there was an opening to exploit."
"But from this moment on, I want you to remember this forever."
As Viktor spoke, several vines suddenly coiled around Jess's throat, tightening with every passing second.
Jess immediately began to struggle, frantically tearing at the thick vines around his neck.
His face gradually flushed a deep, swollen red, and the movements of his hands grew more and more frantic.
All he could hear was Viktor's ice-cold voice ringing out, indifferent:
"Stay away from the people around me."
Everyone present stared in stunned silence at the scene before them.
At the Viktor who had appeared out of nowhere, and the words he had spoken like a warning.
Even Gwen and Leah wore expressions of confusion and bewilderment.
Why had Viktor suddenly appeared?
As if realizing something, a few nobles standing behind Jess Rether called out in alarm:
"Viktor! Have you lost your mind!"
"Are you going to kill someone in the Imperial Palace!"
Viktor's gaze swept coldly toward the man who had spoken—the other party, like a chick that had suddenly been plunged into deep water and seized by the throat, didn't dare say another word.
But he truly had not gone so far as to kill anyone. The vines gradually retreated from Jess Rether's body.
Jess clutched at his own throat, gasping for breath in great heaving lungfuls.
The prolonged inability to breathe had left his eyes completely bloodshot—a vivid, terrifying crimson.
"Viktor!"
Jess's voice came out slightly hoarse, yet there was no fear in it.
In this moment, the jealousy within his heart had transformed into boundless, explosive fury—he wished nothing more than to tear the man before him apart with his own hands.
But he couldn't. He could only suppress the fire raging inside him and meet Viktor's gaze with a forced calm.
"What grudge, what grievance do you have against me?"
Yet Viktor seemed to have vented all his aggression. He straightened his collar with an elegant tug.
"Mr. Jess, before we discuss any grudge or grievance between us, I would have you first acknowledge the gap in our standings."
Jess felt a wave of confusion and bewilderment—and that confusion spread through every person in the palace hall, save for the Emperor.
As if by accident, there appeared on Viktor's collar a circular silver insignia.
The 3 shattered heads upon it seemed to be proclaiming some kind of mysterious identity.
Under Jess's furious glare, Viktor's tone was faint—as though mocking, as though looking down on him:
"Please call me, Council Member Clavena."