Betrayal – Part 02
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Translator: Kell
“When I learned that you two were coming back, I rushed to get ready and came to pick you up. If Thirteenth was plotting something, I was sure he’d target you.”
Given the current situation, introducing the priest and Lily to Albus would only complicate things—especially the priest—so we decided that only Zero and I would join Albus in her carriage.
I thought the priest would complain, but he was suprisingly understanding in situations like this. It was probably his only redeeming feature.
Some time after the carriage started running, Albus began to talk about the situation in the kingdom, like its relationship with neighboring countries, and what the Church was doing, things that Pooch already explained to us. There was, however, one thing that caught me off guard.
“Thirteenth took the prince of Wenias and locked him up somewhere,” Albus said.
“What?! He kidnapped the prince?!”
“No. The prince himself left of his own will.”
“Wait. So the prince eloped with Thirteenth?”
“You can be really dumb sometimes, you know that?” She looked at me with pity in her eyes.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like giving this kid a fist bump to the head.
“When Thirteenth left this kingdom a year ago?” Zero said.
Albus nodded.
Come to think of it, when Thirteenth faked his death and secretly left Wenias for Moonsbow Forest, he took several disciples with him. So the prince was among them.
“By becoming a Magical State, Wenias made many enemies. There was a high chance of the royal family being assassinated. Thirteenth suggested the prince be hidden somewhere safe. I thought he made a good point, and I believed him at the time. But then recently His Majesty was poisoned. I immediately contacted Thirteenth and demanded the prince’s return, but he refused, saying it’s not safe yet.”
“What about the other heirs?”
“They all died of unknown causes within three days of His Majesty’s passing. The funny thing is, it’s rumored that I assassinated them as well.”
I clutched my head.
Zero heaved a sigh. “The ruffians who attacked the tunnel were saying that witches murdered the king and usurped the throne. So that is what they meant. It seems they are trying hard to make you look bad.”
After losing its ruler, the kingdom was falling out of balance. Rumors about Mages killing the king was spreading. A rift between the pro-Church and the pro-witches had formed once again. All kinds of pressure were coming in from abroad.
To make matters worse, there was a new group of sorcerers plotting something horrible.
“But I can deal with them on my own,” Albus said. “I just need His Highness back. And for that, I have to take down Thirteenth!”
“If you kill him, you won’t find out where the prince is being held,” I rebutted.
“Even if I try to kill him, he won’t die anyway. You can’t go easy on that guy.”
“That is true…”
I couldn’t imagine Thirteenth dying at all. If he didn’t die instantaneously, he could probably survive using some kind of Magic.
In that case, the best move would be to come at him with the intention of killing him.
“Uh, Zero,” Albus muttered.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier. I lost my cool when I saw Thirteenth. It’s my fault for not telling you about him.”
“It is fine.” Zero smiled.
Albus finally relaxed a little.
“But still,” I continued. Albus’s golden eyes turned to me. “Why didn’t you tell us something so important? Most of your later letters were just ‘Understood. Please continue your investigation’.”
“You can blame yourself for that!” Albus shot me an accusing stare, her lips pursed.
“Because you were cold,” Zero added in a teasing tone.
What, it’s my fault? I frowned.
Albus chuckled. “You two haven’t changed a bit. Um, I’m glad you’re back. I was a little lonely. With Zero’s help, I’m sure we’ll catch Thirteenth soon.”
“Thiteenth told me to find him, and then he will tell me everything. Either way, we need to pursue him.”
“Yay!” Albus clung to Zero’s neck.
“Calm down, lass. I did not agree to kill Thirteenth. I am saying I will see what his real intentions are.”
“I know, I know. But the result will be the same anyway.” She was smiling. It felt like she really wished for Thirteenth’s death after his supposed betrayal. “Oh, I almost forgot!” She pulled away.
She couldn’t even sit still for a second.
“It’s been almost a year since Wenias became a Magical State. We’re planning to hold a festival to celebrate the anniversary. Some people say it’s inappropriate to hold a festival right after His Majesty’s death, but His Majesty was looking forward to this festival more than anyone else, so we’re definitely going through with it. We’re also organizing a ball at the castle, and we’re inviting VIPs from here and outside the kingdom! You two should come too!”
Zero and I exchanged glances, eyes wide.
“Organizing a brawl,” the witch said. “That sounds like a fascinating festival. Will there be a contest to determine the nation’s strongest?”
“Are you pretending?” I asked. “Or are you actually serious?”
Zero frowned. “I suppose that is not the case.”
She was actually dead serious.
“There will be no fighting involved. Men and women wearing fancy clothes dance together.”
Zero cocked her head, looking more and more curious. “What for?”
“I have no idea. Maybe it’s fun for them?”
“I do not quite understand.” Zero frowned.
Albus leaned forward. “Which is why you have to go! You don’t have to dance. You can just watch. I’ll have fun with you two around.”
“Us two? You’re not actually thinking of inviting me, are you?” I asked.
“Of course I’m inviting you. We’ll have Beastfallen as guards as well, so Holdem will be attending.”
“Are you crazy?! The guests will scream and run away!”
“Don’t worry about a thing! I explained that in the invitation. If they don’t like the idea, then they don’t have to come.”
I thought it was more complicated than that, but Albus seemed to have already decided that Zero and I would be attending the ball.
Albus hummed a tune. “I’m so excited!”
On the way to the capital, I told Albus that Lily and the priest would be with us, but she didn’t seem to mind. In fact she seemed to welcome it.
“I don’t want to oppose the Church,” Albus said. “I wish we could coexist here in the kingdom, but it’s just not easy.” She wore a distressed expression. She looked like an intelligent witch, and she had the presence of mind befitting of a Mage governing a whole nation.
After saying his greetings, the priest did not say anything else. The meeting between a priest and a witch went more peacefully than I had imagined.
The carriage arrived at the royal capital of Plasta.
People crowded the streets. Just like before, there were many stalls and entertainers. Cloths dyed in various colors decorated the houses and stores.
The spirit of festivity filled the city. It was more lively and jovial than the weekly day of the goddess.
Lily’s eyes lit up at the sight of it all. When we reached the castle, her mouth dropped open, and she said, “It’s so big.”
As soon as Albus disembarked from the carriage, a number of apprentices and officials surrounded her, asking for instructions.
Albus looked clearly annoyed. She glanced at us and smiled. “I have to work,” she said. “I’m a bigshot, after all. I’ll have a room prepared for you, so make yourself at home in the meantime. I’ll see you at dinner. I have a lot to tell you.”
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