Chapter 35
Jade, who had returned to the capital, was immediately summoned by the royal siblings.
No sooner had he arrived than the Crown Prince and Princess called for him, as if they had been waiting.
“Lord Jade has arrived.”
“Bring him in.”
“Yes.”
The stern-looking chief attendant answered in a dignified voice and opened the door.
Soon, guided by the chief attendant, Jade saw the two siblings seated in a small garden.
“Welcome.”
The moment he saw Jade, Lloyd sprang to his feet to greet him.
Yet no one found his behavior strange.
Everyone knew how much Jade had accomplished in the civil war, so they all thought it natural.
“Did your trip go well?”
“Yes. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to resolve everything and return safely.”
“That’s a relief. I’m glad things went well.”
Following Lloyd, Rainy also greeted him warmly.
Yet her demeanor had changed completely over the past few days.
She had been beautiful to begin with, but it felt as though her beauty had blossomed even further.
“Now we can proceed with the title conferment we put off. The three of you have been waiting quite a while, even if you didn’t show it.”
“Lord Stephen was looking forward to it too.”
“Haha, we know that. He’s not very good at hiding what he’s thinking.”
Lloyd smiled faintly.
Yet his face held a relaxed air Jade had never seen before.
“Is the purge completely over?”
“Yes. We finished everything in time.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. It was only natural that I do it. In fact, I enjoyed it. I was able to go through such hardships because I won—and because I survived.”
Rainy, seated beside him, quietly nodded.
If she had not met Jade, she would not have been able to sit here like this.
That was why she and Lloyd absolutely needed Jade.
Even without Haines forcing the matter.
-There’s nothing but greed in that girl’s eyes!
-It doesn’t look like she’s given up yet.
Silestin and Elestra whispered to Jade.
Her greed seemed to have grown along with her enhanced beauty.
Of course, they understood why Rainy was acting this way, but the two spirits still disliked her.
It was because her intention to use Jade was far too obvious.
-So what if she doesn’t give up? I’m not interested in her.
-They say men should be careful around women. You always have to watch out for your middle leg!
-There’s no end to the things spirits can say.
Jade was dumbfounded.
Yet at the same time, he was curious.
Just where did she hear things like that?
-Hmph! Do you have any idea how long I’ve lived? Even I don’t know my own age.
-More precisely, I don’t bother calculating it. When you’re young, you don’t know what age is.
Elestra elaborated for Jade, who was bewildered.
But that explanation did not make it any more understandable.
Silestin remained unabashed.
“This is all thanks to you, Lord Jade. If we hadn’t met you in the Great Forest… Phew, just imagining it is terrifying.”
“We wouldn’t have been able to sit here like this. We’ll never forget this debt for the rest of our lives. And we intend to repay it from now on.”
“It wasn’t something I accomplished alone.”
“But it’s also true that you played the greatest role.”
Lloyd’s eyes gleamed as he spoke to Jade, who was shaking his head slightly.
Of course, Jade was right too.
Yet it was an undeniable fact that Jade, together with Haines and Arrelia, had played a pivotal role in leading them to victory in the civil war.
“I truly believe meeting you in the Great Forest was an incredible stroke of luck.”
“Indeed.”
“You’re both praising me so much that I hardly know what to do.”
“Oh, we’re not flattering you. We’re only stating the facts.”
Rainy said this with a coy sidelong glance.
At that, Silestin’s neck veins stood out.
Even though Rainy could not hear Silestin’s voice at all.
Instead, Whid, who was nestled in Jade’s arms, twitched his eyelids as if annoyed by the noise.
“Besides, we haven’t properly repaid you yet. The nobles’ faction may hope this will simply fade away, but I absolutely cannot allow that.”
“You mean the title.”
“Yes. That’s why I arranged this meeting—I wanted to discuss it with you, Lord Jade. Even though I want to give it to you, I doubt you’d accept it if I simply handed it over without asking.”
“Are you planning to grant me the title of duke?”
Jade said jokingly.
Yet Lloyd’s reaction was unusual.
His expression suggested that he had actually considered going that far.
“If it were up to me, I would give it to you. The kingdom is by no means small, after all. Of course, there is a higher position and a quicker way than that.”
Lloyd cast a sidelong glance at Rainy with a playful expression.
He looked back and forth between Jade and her meaningfully.
Rainy played along with the joke.
“I’m always ready.”
“Ahem! You shouldn’t take a joke so seriously.”
“But I’m serious.”
Rainy put on a wounded expression.
Yet everyone knew it was an act.
An act with genuine feelings underneath.
“As the foremost contributor to this civil war, I would like to make you a duke, but the nobles’ faction is too firmly opposed. Even though they know you’re a high-ranking spirit mage. Of course, I understand why. If a new duke appeared, the current duke’s influence would diminish, which would mean the nobles’ faction would weaken. So, regrettably, I think marquis is the highest we can go for now. But I promise you this: before long, I will raise you to the rank of duke.”
“I think even marquis is too high for me.”
Jade waved both hands.
He needed noble status, not a high title.
Yet Lloyd was oddly passionate about this.
“I can’t accept that. And, to be honest, I also want to keep you here by making this promise. That’s the main reason. For the kingdom’s future, too.”
Lloyd looked at Jade with fervent eyes.
His former awkwardness had vanished, and he had become a true Crown Prince who thought about the kingdom’s future.
Seeing that, Jade realized anew how much Lloyd had grown, albeit for reasons unrelated to the matter at hand.
“I have no intention of leaving, though.”
“I know. I also know you consider the Great Forest home. But no one knows what might happen in human affairs. You may not have that intention, but others might harbor different ideas.”
“That’s true.”
There was a reason people said that no two people were alike.
Society was not all that different from the political arena, either.
There were pure and good people, but there were also many vicious and cunning ones.
“That’s why I want to firmly keep you here, even if it takes a title. I also need you, as a spirit mage, for the plans I’m envisioning. Do you know about the Royal Academy?”
“Yes. I’ve heard of it, though I’ve never seen it myself.”
“There are currently three faculties at the Royal Academy: the Faculty of Knights, the Faculty of Mages, and the Faculty of Administration. I intend to establish a new faculty as well.”
At that moment, Jade had a sudden intuition.
Once Lloyd said this much, Jade understood why Lloyd needed him.
“The Faculty of Spirit Studies?”
“That’s right. Thanks to you, my view of spirit mages has completely changed. Of course, people like you are rare, but I believe that if we gathered dozens or even hundreds of them, they could wield power rivaling that of the Mage Corps.”
“Hmm.”
A glimmer of interest appeared in Jade’s eyes.
He could clearly see what kind of vision Lloyd was drawing up.
At the same time, he once again realized how important a catalyst could be.
At this point, Lloyd had practically awakened.
“I would like you to serve as dean of the Faculty of Spirit Studies, Lord Jade.”
“I don’t think that would be appropriate. I’m young, and I’m not suited to a position like that.”
“I disagree. Ability is more important than age. As for status, you’ll soon receive the rank of marquis, and your ability goes without saying. There is no spirit mage more outstanding than you in the Polshtein Kingdom at present. In fact, even if we expand our scope to the entire continent, I suspect you may be the best. Ah, among humans, that is.”
Lloyd said with a grin.
He did not hesitate, as though he had anticipated Jade would refuse.
“Besides, I’ve looked into it, and I hear that a spirit mage’s mentor plays an especially important role. I also hear that only another spirit mage can determine someone’s affinity for spirits in the first place. That’s why I believe you’re the right person for the job.”
“You’re only making me feel more burdened by putting it that way.”
“Oh, that’s not what I mean at all. If you accept the position of dean, Lord Jade, you’ll have almost nothing to worry about. Others will handle the minor duties. You only need to focus on two things: discovering and nurturing talent. That is what I want most. You needn’t concern yourself with anything else.”
Lloyd looked at Jade with pleading eyes.
That was how badly he needed Jade.
‘If only what Jade wanted were clear. Then I could give it to him, but it isn’t.’
Lloyd smiled bitterly to himself.
Anyone else would have tried to obtain an even higher title and position somehow.
But Jade was different.
He showed no particular interest in wealth, fame, or women.
‘That was one reason I liked him even more.’
If Jade had coveted power, Lloyd might have kept him in check.
Though Lloyd had received Jade’s help, he had no intention of placing Jade above himself.
But Jade did not seem to want anything in particular.
It felt as though he would accept only what he was given and return to the Great Forest.
Perhaps that was why Lloyd was even more anxious.
Jade seemed like someone he could keep on his side without any worries at all.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think that would be appropriate. I’ve never taught anyone before, and I have no desire to teach others. If you look a little further, I’m sure you’ll find someone more qualified than me.”
“Even so, I’ll leave a position open for you. You find it burdensome now, but you may change your mind later. So please tell me anytime.”
Despite Jade’s refusal, Lloyd smiled.
He had expected it to some extent, but his experience had taught him that things involving people rarely worked out on the first try.
Time changed the natural world, but it changed people too.
That was why Lloyd left the door open.
“I understand.”
“Then that leaves the matter of a fief.”
“I believe I already told you I wouldn’t accept a fief.”
“That’s right. But there’s an issue of fairness. Weren’t Sir Haines and you the two foremost contributors who allowed me to return to this position? Moreover, you will be receiving the rank of marquis. There has never been a marquis without a fief in the history of the Polshtein Kingdom. The same is true of other kingdoms.”
Lloyd said firmly.
He respected Jade’s decision regarding the Royal Academy, but not this one.
Since it would be unprecedented in the truest sense, Lloyd could not yield.
And he wanted to keep Jade by putting a fief into his hands, even if that was what it took.
‘I need time. Time to let things simmer.’