Symbols of Peace Are There to Be Used for Political Gain (9)

"I met the Duke of Achenwald, Princess Tsetsilia-sama's grandfather, at a dinner in Lotzen..."

"Why, I had no idea she was such a lovely young princess..."

"It is an honor to meet you today..."

As nobles came to see her one after another, Tsetsilia smiled and nodded along.

Every noble in the room was trying to size Tsetsilia up. She couldn't let her guard down for even a moment.

Pretending to adjust her lace stole, Tsetsilia pressed down on her stomach, which was twisting itself into knots.

She truly wanted to return to the palace right now and shut herself away. But tonight, she had to remain here until the last possible moment and exchange greetings with as many people as she could.

Was she conducting herself with dignity? Was her lack of confidence showing on her face? Was she responding appropriately?

With every exchange, Tsetsilia read deeper into the meaning behind each word and reflected on whether she had been discourteous.

(Ah, am I smiling properly? Was that the right response? Did I offend that person? Could I have given a more tactful reply...?)

Yet another person took their place before Tsetsilia.

Her next conversational partner was a flamboyant woman wearing a rose-patterned dress.

With the 〈Silent Witch〉 standing diagonally behind the woman, perhaps she was involved with magic as well.

As Tsetsilia wondered about this, the woman lifted her bright-red lips into a smile.

"How do you do, Tsetsilia-sama? I am Melissa Roseberg, the fourth-generation 〈Thorn Witch〉."

The Roseberg family was the most famous magical lineage in the Kingdom of Riddle.

Above all, the first-generation 〈Thorn Witch〉 had a deep-seated history with the Empire, and her name was feared in every quarter.

Melissa narrowed her green eyes and stared intently at Tsetsilia. Tsetsilia knew what that clinging, probing gaze meant.

(I'm being sized up.)

In situations like this, the right thing to do was smile serenely and let it roll off her.

Keep it inoffensive and safe. That was how she had made it through high society until now.

"How do you do, Melissa-sama. The fame of the Roseberg family has reached even our Empire. I am delighted to meet the renowned 〈Thorn Witch〉-sama."

"Oh, I'm honored."

Melissa laughed, "Ho ho ho," but her eyes did not smile.

Those eyes were observing Tsetsilia's every movement.

What topic would be appropriate here? Should she bring up the current head of the Roseberg family? But if, by some chance, Melissa and the current head were on bad terms, it could sour the atmosphere.

As Tsetsilia agonized over whether it would be safer to compliment the woman's dress or accessories, Melissa stepped closer, raised her fan to her mouth as though sharing a secret, and spoke.

"I may not look it, but I am quite skilled at making magic potions. If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I am sure you would be satisfied, Tsetsilia-sama."

"Yes, I will be sure to do so when the time comes."

I see. Apparently, she was looking for customers. If Tsetsilia formally became crown princess, there could be no more lucrative business partner.

Then the safest course would be to act as though she was interested in magic potions.

But before Tsetsilia could bring up the subject of magic potions, Melissa looked behind her and cried out loudly, "Oh my!"

"Isn't that the famous 〈Mirage Mage〉 Kaspar Hütter-sama over there? Look, look, 〈Silent Witch〉-sama, take a look! That's the 〈Mirage Mage〉 Kaspar Hütter-sama!"

Melissa was being so blatantly excited that 〈Silent Witch〉 Monica Everette wore an uneasy expression.

Melissa narrowed her eyes as though she had just noticed something and lowered her voice.

"...Oh my, could it be that 〈Silent Witch〉-sama doesn't know 〈Mirage Mage〉-sama?"

At those words, Tsetsilia went pale.

〈Mirage Mage〉 Kaspar Hütter was the mage assigned to guard Tsetsilia.

That meant the 〈Silent Witch〉 didn't know him—they had not yet been introduced.

(Oh no! Hütter still hadn't introduced himself!)

This diplomatic discourtesy was Tsetsilia's failure, since Hütter was her retainer.

Tsetsilia hurriedly turned toward Monica. She had to apologize at once, summon Hütter, and have him introduce himself.

"〈Silent Witch〉-sama, I am terribly sorry that the introductions were delayed..."

"Oh my, it's a pleasure to meet you, 〈Mirage Mage〉-sama! I am Melissa Roseberg, the fourth-generation 〈Thorn Witch〉."

As though cutting Tsetsilia off, Melissa raised her voice in a syrupy tone.

Melissa sidled up to Hütter and excitedly fawned over him, acting as though Tsetsilia had vanished from her sight.

"I hear that 〈Mirage Mage〉-sama is a master of illusions! They say no one can match the precision of your illusions!"

"...You flatter me, fourth-generation 〈Thorn Witch〉-dono."

〈Mirage Mage〉 Kaspar Hütter was thirty-two that year. He was a tall man with short black hair and glasses.

A rugged, taciturn man if anything, he responded to Melissa with few words.

Since Melissa was making such an obvious show of her excitement, Tsetsilia couldn't find a chance to speak and could only fidget helplessly.

Ah, should she apologize to the 〈Silent Witch〉 first? But perhaps she should summon the 〈Mirage Mage〉 first... While Tsetsilia agonized over the matter, Melissa took the conversation wherever she pleased.

"Illusions must be terribly difficult, mustn't they? There are hardly any practitioners even in my country! I would love to see one of 〈Mirage Mage〉-sama's illusions! ...Would that be all right, Tsetsilia-sama?"

(Oh dear... what should I do? If I refuse, it might cause offense...)

In that case, she could have Hütter demonstrate an illusion, then apologize to the 〈Silent Witch〉 for the delayed greeting and have Hütter introduce himself.

Tsetsilia quickly devised this plan and gave a small nod at Melissa's words.

"Yes, I don't mind. Hütter, show her something."

"...As you command."

When Hütter nodded, Melissa immediately cut in.

"Then I would like to see a bird! How about a white bird, the symbol of peace? It would be perfect for a bright future between the Empire and our Riddle Kingdom!"

It was not a bad bit of staging. It would enliven the room and advertise that the Empire was friendly toward the Kingdom of Riddle.

"Very well. Hütter, please."

"Of course."

Hütter closed his eyes, focused his awareness, and began to chant.

Illusion magic occupied a somewhat unusual position among the magical arts. Like barrier magic and curse magic, its system differed from that of ordinary elemental magic.

When Hütter finished his long incantation, white birds appeared floating around him. There were more than ten of them, flying with movements indistinguishable from those of real birds.

Illusions of moving objects were naturally much more difficult than illusions of stationary ones.

To create more than ten birds at once—and have each one move differently—was proof of extraordinary skill.

The ladies and gentlemen in the room let out an awed cry.

Melissa, who had asked Hütter for the illusion, shook the shoulder of the 〈Silent Witch〉 beside her and became even more loudly excited.

"Look, 〈Silent Witch〉-sama! What magnificent illusions! ...Though they are a little lacking in color, aren't they?"

Having requested white birds herself, Melissa casually commented on the lack of color and lightly tapped the 〈Silent Witch〉 on the shoulder.

Then the 〈Silent Witch〉 smoothly raised her right hand and pointed at the ceiling where the white birds were flying.

As everyone around them turned their attention to the pointing finger, a huge rainbow appeared on the ceiling. The 〈Silent Witch〉 had created it with illusion magic.

White birds and rainbows were motifs commonly cited as symbols of peace in every country.

An Imperial mage and two mages from the Kingdom of Riddle recreating a peaceful motif—it was a perfect performance.

(Oh, thank goodness... 〈Silent Witch〉-sama wasn't angry.)

If anything, she had helped create this display of peace.

Tsetsilia breathed a sigh of relief.

＊　＊　＊

Around the time Tsetsilia was breathing a sigh of relief, Monica was also quietly letting out a sigh of relief.

(Sis had planned this far ahead...)

When Melissa had said she was going to make a big move, Monica had been on tenterhooks, wondering what she intended to do. But the instruction Melissa had given Monica was an extremely peaceful one.

Namely, "When I give the signal, create a rainbow with an illusion cast without an incantation."

That was all.

Monica could use illusion magic, but her precision was by no means high.

Illusion magic was useful, but it consumed a great deal of magical power, and controlling it was extremely difficult.

That was why, while using illusion magic, Monica couldn't use any other magic, and unlike the 〈Mirage Mage〉, she couldn't make multiple moving objects appear through illusions.

A rainbow was a relatively easy subject among illusions. It didn't move, and its shape was simple. More importantly, it looked more realistic when it was slightly blurry.

(How many years has it been since I last used an illusion...?)

With a wry smile, Monica looked toward the people in the room. Everyone was absorbed in the white birds flying around the ceiling and the beautiful rainbow.

Melissa had surely calculated this performance so that she could uphold the 〈Mirage Mage〉's dignity while also showcasing the presence of the 〈Silent Witch〉.

More importantly, using a symbol of peace would leave a favorable impression on everyone watching.

(Sis really is amazing...!)

If Raul had been here, he would have said, "No, knowing Sis, there's definitely a catch."

Or if Ray had been there, he would have said, pale-faced, "It's that woman we're talking about. Just watch—she's definitely going to do it. She's going to pull something..."

But Monica still had no real understanding of just how extreme a woman Melissa Roseberg was.

"Oh my! Oh myyy! What a moving sight! I feel as though I could burst into tears!"

Melissa spread both arms in a theatrical gesture and spoke in a ringing voice loud enough to carry throughout the room.

"As expected of first-rate mages. Both of you have created magnificent illusions!"

Then Melissa narrowed her eyes and, in a tone that sounded like she was muttering to herself—but was loud enough for the entire room to hear, said one thing.

"...Though mine was cast without an incantation."

The atmosphere froze.

Monica's eyes flew wide.

(S-Siiiiiiiiis!!)